Gentry, Shaw, Tucke pad points leads; Dawson stays hot with Stanley also claiming victory at WCS
ORRVILLE – With next week’s mid-season championship fast approaching, points racing was already in the cross-heirs of many on OhioMeansJobs night at the O’Reilly Auto Parts Wayne County Speedway.
Three of the four season-long leaders put exclamation points on remarkable starts to their 2023 campaigns as well on Saturday night at the 3-8-mile near Orrville.
JR Gentry notched victory number three at WCS, and fourth overall, in claiming the Malcuit Tavern Super Late Model headliner, while Colton Shaw was victorious a third time at the speedway and a career-best sixth tally overall with a dominating performance in the Flynn’s Tire and Service Center Modified main event. Just turned 19-year-old Braden Tucke continued the theme of the night with his second McKenzie Concrete Super Stock victory, his sixth top-four finish of the season.
Chaz Dawson stayed red-hot with a late-race pass of points leader Doug Hensel for his second consecutive JoyRide Mini Stock triumph. Dawson’s win also came on the first of three King of the County events at the speedway presented by Bad Boyz Tree Service. Former WCS sprint car racer Doug Stanley recorded a popular win, his first of the season, in the 12-lap Mod Lite night capper.
With third row starting Gentry gunning for his ninth top-five overall finish of the season to go along with an astounding three seconds and a third at WCS, all eyes were glued to the MB Custom’s No. 14 march to the front. For the second straight time this season, though, Kyle Moore seemed poised for his first SLM win until mechanical woes sidelined the “Mansfield Madman” early on.
Ryan Markham inherited the point next, but a back-and-forth duel with Larry Bellman ensued before Gentry made his way to second on lap 11. Markham and Gentry then engaged on an all-out assault for the top spot before a flat tire relegated the 5M of Markham to the infield for repairs. Gentry comfortably led the remaining eight laps to finish ahead of Cortland invader Eric Young, Bellman, Brett Bee, and Ryan Abel from 11th.
“We’re very fortunate to be enjoying the kind of start we’ve had to the season, because Kyle was very fast again, and I’m not sure how the battle with Ryan would’ve turned out but it would’ve been a good one,” Gentry said. “We have a lot of confidence right now and are really looking forward to the big races coming up (the first a $10,000-to-win Iron Man tour event on July 8).”
Shaw, along with occasional visitor Nate Young and an always fast Brad Goff, a feature winner two weeks ago at WCS and a competitor on Saturday before mechanical issues scratched the No. 41, have been the dominate Modifieds all season long and the 01 was at it again this week.
Tristen Bickford provided the early race challenge to Shaw by leading through lap five, before Shaw took command off turn 2, with the battle behind starting to heat up. Young Caden Alexander continued his rookie season ascent by vaulting to second by lap 14 with Ryan Robey, DJ Cline, and Bickford in tow. Robey eventually grabbed the runner up spot for good late, with Alexander snaring the last spot on the podium ahead of Cline and Bickford.
“We’ve got this thing dialed in right now, and hope to just keep doing what we’re doing the rest of the season,” said Shaw. “We have so many people to thank for getting us (in victory lane), and this is a lot of fun right now.”
Not only has Tucke been super-fast all season, but the youngster also topped the best of the best at WCS on Saturday. Tucke chased early-season winner Rob Melzer at the start with top-five finishing machine Larry Kugel, Tyler Wiles in a brand-new Don Rutt 910 entry and perennial favorite Kyle Moore in pursuit from his 11th starting spot.
Tucke took command on lap seven, then withstood a late-race charge from Moore at the finish in winning by two car lengths. Melzer, Kugel, and Kyle McAfee rounded out the top five.
“These guys up front in this division are so fast and consistent,” Tucke said. “I didn’t do any scoreboard watching, but l knew eventually Kyle had to be coming. He’s helped us out a lot, and anytime you can finish in front (of the Daugherty 21) it’s got to feel good.”
The Mini Stocks hit the speedway next, and the ultra-competitive compact flyers once again failed to disappoint.
Doug Hensel, starting from the pole, was an early favorite to claim victory number four on the season, but Kyle Petit and Johnny Bruce Sr. had other plans. The duo never left the rear bumper of Hensel’s 18 through the opening seven laps, before a yellow bunched the field with an unpredictable, but customary finish certain to follow.
On the restart, Anthony Collins, a feature winner already in 2023, and Dawson emerged from the pack and put immediate pressure on Hensel. Dawson claimed second on lap nine, then set sail for Hensel during the closing three laps. Dawson rode the cushion to Hensel’s bumper before a move low in turns one and two brought the 42 to the front. Slight contact was made exiting turn 4 as the duo raced for the same piece of real estate with Dawson claiming the victory. Collins, Petit, and Bruce rounded out the top five.
“I have the upmost respect for Doug, and he always races you clean,” Dawson said. “Track position is huge here, and we needed that yellow to bunch the field. The track was awesome, and there were two lanes. It’s hard to make a pass on the bottom in these cars but the track was so good that it made the pass stick. This class is so competitive, and it feels great in getting a win.”
Stanley grabbed the lead from 14-year-old Nash Gierke on a lap seven restart and recorded his initial victory of 2023 in the Mod Lite main, with the division making its first of two appearances this season at WCS.
Gierke appeared on his way to his second victory of the year before the late caution bunched the field for an ensuing double file restart. Stanley led the remaining laps to finish ahead of Gierke, Carson Hubbard, Logan Lewis, and Nick Large. Mechanical issues sidelined early leader Teddy Williams and eight-time 2023 feature winner Jimmy Smith early in the event.
The popular FAST Series sprint cars visit the speedway next Saturday night as the Fast Five Series returns to full force. Point leader Ricky Peterson, Brandon Spithaler, Jordan Ryan, Sean Rayhall and the rest of the series regulars do battle with WCS frontrunners Tyler Gunn, Tyler Street Trey Jacobs, Henry Malcuit, Chris Myers, Danny Mumaw and the rest of the speedway’s stout weekly challengers.
Visit waynecountyspeedway.com or visit Wayne County Speedway on Facebook for more information.
Regular Show + Mod Lites 06-17-2023
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Modifieds – Elite Ammunition
Qualifying
1.O1-Colton Shaw, 19.128; 2.41-Brad Goff, 19.215; 3.75-Tristen Bickford, 19.231; 4.33-Bob Moskey, 19.280; 5.69-Ryan Robey, 19.371; 6.76J-Jeremy Waite, 19.443; 7.4-DJ Cline, 19.446; 8.185-Ron Miller, 19.701; 9.29-Scott Smith, 19.945; 10.16-Caden Alexander, 20.115; 11.88-Barry Jacobs, 20.163; 12.21-Dwayne Powell, 20.331; 13.36-Brent Coffman, 20.474; 14.73B-Cody Basinger, 20.685; 15.69M-Jacob Myers, 20.989; 16.76T-Tristen Waite, 21.005; 17.8X-David Giauge, 22.410; 18.78-Richard Grogg, 99.000;
Heat 1 – (8 Laps)
1. O1-Colton Shaw[4] ; 2. 4-DJ Cline[1] ; 3. 75-Tristen Bickford[3] ; 4. 69-Ryan Robey[2] ; 5. 88-Barry Jacobs[6] ; 6. 36-Brent Coffman[7] ; 7. 8X-David Giauge[9] ; 8. 69M-Jacob Myers[8] ; 9. 29-Scott Smith[5]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps)
1. 33-Bob Moskey[3] ; 2. 76J-Jeremy Waite[2] ; 3. 16-Caden Alexander[5] ; 4. 41-Brad Goff[4] ; 5. 76T-Tristen Waite[8] ; 6. 185-Ron Miller[1] ; 7. 73B-Cody Basinger[7] ; 8. 21-Dwayne Powell[6] ; 9. 78-Richard Grogg[9]
A-Main – (20 Laps)
1. O1-Colton Shaw[3] ; 2. 69-Ryan Robey[8] ; 3. 16-Caden Alexander[7] ; 4. 4-DJ Cline[6] ; 5. 75-Tristen Bickford[2] ; 6. 185-Ron Miller[12] ; 7. 76J-Jeremy Waite[1] ; 8. 8X-David Giauge[13] ; 9. 73B-Cody Basinger[14] ; 10. 88-Barry Jacobs[9] ; 11. 36-Brent Coffman[11] ; 12. 76T-Tristen Waite[10] ; 13. 21-Dwayne Powell[16] ; 14. 69M-Jacob Myers[15] ; 15. 41-Brad Goff[4] ; 16. 33-Bob Moskey[5] ; 17. 29-Scott Smith[17] ; 18. 78-Richard Grogg[18]
Super Stocks – McKenzie Concrete
Qualifying
1.21D-Kyle Moore, 20.105; 2.O-Larry Kugel, 20.109; 3.18-Braden Tucke, 20.166; 4.5S-Luke Sprouse, 20.588; 5.14-Codee Schneider, 20.629; 6.77-Rob Melzer, 20.660; 7.3B-Kyle McAfee, 20.831; 8.44-Zach Hockensmith, 20.877; 9.27B-Don Baney, 21.046; 10.45-Denny Shear, 21.519; 11.745-Billy Dawson, 23.035; 12.777-Matt Hensel, 24.592; 13.7-Evan Large, 24.778; 14.910-Tyler Wiles, 28.061;
Heat 1 – (8 Laps)
1. 14-Codee Schneider[2] ; 2. 18-Braden Tucke[3] ; 3. 3B-Kyle McAfee[1] ; 4. 27B-Don Baney[5] ; 5. 7-Evan Large[7] ; 6. 21D-Kyle Moore[4] ; 7. 745-Billy Dawson[6]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps)
1. O-Larry Kugel[4] ; 2. 5S-Luke Sprouse[3] ; 3. 910-Tyler Wiles[7] ; 4. 77-Rob Melzer[2] ; 5. 44-Zach Hockensmith[1] ; 6. 45-Denny Shear[5] ; 7. 777-Matt Hensel[6]
A-Main – (15 Laps)
1. 18-Braden Tucke[3] ; 2. 21D-Kyle Moore[11] ; 3. 77-Rob Melzer[1] ; 4. O-Larry Kugel[6] ; 5. 3B-Kyle McAfee[8] ; 6. 777-Matt Hensel[14] ; 7. 7-Evan Large[9] ; 8. 910-Tyler Wiles[5] ; 9. 27B-Don Baney[4] ; 10. 45-Denny Shear[12] ; 11. 44-Zach Hockensmith[10] ; 12. 745-Billy Dawson[13] ; 13. 5S-Luke Sprouse[7] ; 14. 14-Codee Schneider[2]
Late Models – Malcuit’s Tavern
Qualifying
1.1*-Kyle Moore, 17.670; 2.27W-Eric Wilson, 17.870; 3.14JR-JR Gentry, 18.026; 4.5M-Ryan Markham, 18.061; 5.8B-Brett Bee, 18.067; 6.24-Jerry Aber, 18.155; 7.59-Larry Bellman, 18.387; 8.7-Nick Cox, 18.405; 9.21-Wes Morrison, 18.522; 10.14G-Brandon Gentry, 18.532; 11.11-Ryan Abel, 18.822; 12.69R-Doug Baird, 18.939; 13.22-Dominic DeNero, 19.027; 14.612-Race Gardiner, 21.774;
Heat 1 – (8 Laps)
1. 8B-Brett Bee[2] ; 2. 1*-Kyle Moore[4] ; 3. 59-Larry Bellman[1] ; 4. 14JR-JR Gentry[3] ; 5. 21-Wes Morrison[5] ; 6. 11-Ryan Abel[6] ; 7. 22-Dominic DeNero[7]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps)
1. 27W-Eric Wilson[4] ; 2. 5M-Ryan Markham[3] ; 3. 24-Jerry Aber[2] ; 4. 14G-Brandon Gentry[5] ; 5. 7-Nick Cox[1] ; 6. 69R-Doug Baird[6] ; 7. 612-Race Gardiner[7]
A-Main – (25 Laps)
1. 14JR-JR Gentry[6] ; 2. 27W-Eric Wilson[4] ; 3. 59-Larry Bellman[3] ; 4. 8B-Brett Bee[8] ; 5. 11-Ryan Abel[11] ; 6. 5M-Ryan Markham[1] ; 7. 7-Nick Cox[10] ; 8. 21-Wes Morrison[9] ; 9. 24-Jerry Aber[5] ; 10. 14G-Brandon Gentry[7] ; 11. 22-Dominic DeNero[13] ; 12. 69R-Doug Baird[12] ; 13. 612-Race Gardiner[14] ; 14. 1*-Kyle Moore[2]
Mini Stocks – Joy Ride Transportation
Heat 1 – (6 Laps)
1. 7C-Billy Dawson[5] ; 2. 71-Anthony Collins[2] ; 3. 31-Valek Menough[3] ; 4. 100-David Potter[6] ; 5. 29-Mitch Reichard[7] ; 6. 54C-Clayton Evans[4] ; 7. 98-David Dawson[8] ; 8. 18X-Dustin Bedlion[1]
Heat 2 – (6 Laps)
1. 23P-Kyle Petit[7] ; 2. 89-Travis Hutton[3] ; 3. 22JR-Jake McMillen[2] ; 4. 46-Craig Randall[5] ; 5. 2-Justin Cranmore[6] ; 6. 41-Eugene Arkenburgh III[1] ; 7. 17-Wayne Newbury[8] ; 8. 33S-Justin Shreve[4]
Heat 3 – (6 Laps)
1. 420-Robert Searls[2] ; 2. 42JR-Chaz Dawson[5] ; 3. 1*-Steven Lester[6] ; 4. 278-Zach Hershey[4] ; 5. 711-Kenny Long[1] ; 6. 42R-Bryan Wilson[8] ; 7. F7-Josh Ramirez[3] ; 8. 11-Trent Bishop[7]
Heat 4 – (6 Laps)
1. 66-Johnny Bruce Sr.[2] ; 2. 18-Doug Hensel[6] ; 3. 7CM-Cody Musselman[1] ; 4. 5-Jordan Twinem[4] ; 5. 7D-Daytona Hensley[3] ; 6. 8-Cory Brown[5] ; 7. 97S-Brock Searls[7]
B-Main – (8 Laps)
1. 711-Kenny Long[3] ; 2. 97S-Brock Searls[12] ; 3. 98-David Dawson[9] ; 4. 29-Mitch Reichard[1] ; 5. 54C-Clayton Evans[5] ; 6. 42R-Bryan Wilson[7] ; 7. 11-Trent Bishop[15] ; 8. 8-Cory Brown[8] ; 9. 41-Eugene Arkenburgh III[6] ; 10. 17-Wayne Newbury[10] ; 11. 2-Justin Cranmore[2] ; 12. 7D-Daytona Hensley[4] ; 13. F7-Josh Ramirez[11] ; 14. 18X-Dustin Bedlion[13] ; 15. 33S-Justin Shreve[14]
A-Main – (12 Laps)
1. 42JR-Chaz Dawson[8] ; 2. 18-Doug Hensel[1] ; 3. 71-Anthony Collins[6] ; 4. 23P-Kyle Petit[2] ; 5. 66-Johnny Bruce Sr.[5] ; 6. 31-Valek Menough[9] ; 7. 1*-Steven Lester[11] ; 8. 100-David Potter[13] ; 9. 97S-Brock Searls[18] ; 10. 7CM-Cody Musselman[12] ; 11. 5-Jordan Twinem[16] ; 12. 278-Zach Hershey[15] ; 13. 711-Kenny Long[17] ; 14. 22JR-Jake McMillen[10] ; 15. 420-Robert Searls[3] ; 16. 7C-Billy Dawson[7] ; 17. 98-David Dawson[19] ; 18. 46-Craig Randall[14] ; 19. 89-Travis Hutton[4] ; 20. 29-Mitch Reichard[20]
Mod Lites –
Heat 1 – (8 Laps)
1. 22-Logan Lewis[2] ; 2. 56-Nash Gierke[5] ; 3. 7A-Mike Amass[4] ; 4. 77-Nick Large[3] ; 5. 21J-Justin Cutshall[6] ; 6. 84-Titus Purtee[7] ; 7. 73-John Large[1]
Heat 2 – (8 Laps)
1. 1C-Alan Dellinger[1] ; 2. 280-Jimmy Smith[4] ; 3. B4U-Clint Snyder[7] ; 4. 1S-Doug Stanley[5] ; 5. 11C-Carson Hubbard[3] ; 6. 64-Mark Sibila[6] ; 7. 818-Teddy Williams[2]
A-Main – (12 Laps)
1. 1S-Doug Stanley[2] ; 2. 56-Nash Gierke[4] ; 3. 11C-Carson Hubbard[10] ; 4. 22-Logan Lewis[6] ; 5. 77-Nick Large[7] ; 6. 84-Titus Purtee[11] ; 7. 7A-Mike Amass[3] ; 8. 64-Mark Sibila[12] ; 9. 21J-Justin Cutshall[9] ; 10. B4U-Clint Snyder[5] ; 11. 818-Teddy Williams[14] ; 12. 1C-Alan Dellinger[1] ; 13. 280-Jimmy Smith[8] ; 14. 73-John Large[13]