Kevin Thomas, Jr. of Cullman, Ala. was as successful Saturday evening as any one driver could. The only minus was a slight bump from Robert Ballou on the last lap of the feature.
Thomas set quick time of the 22 cars during qualifying with a lap of 13.089 sec. Eighteen of the 22 cars had times in the 13 second range.
Thomas went on to win his heat race joining Kokomo’s Shane Cottle and Chris Windom, of Canton Ill.
Sweeping qualifications, winning the heat and the feature is a rare feat only happening once in the last four seasons.
Thomas started sixth in the feature, Dave Darland started second and lead the first lap. Chase Stockon lead the next two laps with Tyler Courtney leading the fourth lap and looking like he was going to check out on the field.
Courtney built a sizable lead when a couple of cautions put the field back in touch. Robert Ballou steady worked his way up from his eleventh starting position to be near the front on the third and final restart on lap 19 of the 30 lap feature.
On lap 23 Thomas was able to slip under Courtney in turn on with Ballou getting by on the outside.
That is how the top three would race until Thomas slowed slightly in the moisture at the bottom of the track on the last lap when Ballou tapped him. Thomas was able to get it gathered up and beat Courtney to the line and Ballou finished third.
Ballou’s eleventh to third run earned him the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger award.
The win in Plymouth was Thomas’s second in a row also winning the previous week at Tri-State Speedway. Thomas leads the championship points with Windom in second. Courtney, C.J. Leary and Darland rounding out the top five.
This was the non-wing sprints only stop at Plymouth this season, next USAC will visit Eldora Speedway for a two day show.
UMP Modified and Thunder Stocks shared the evening racing with the non-wing sprints.
Derek Losh of Rennsselaer, started from the pole of the feature and just kept the number 21 out front all evening.
Warsaw’s Dylan Woodling was able to get past second place starting Bobby Stremme of South Bend, late in the event. Woodling started seventh to work his way onto the podium.
Last week’s winner Zeke McKenzie of Claypool, started eighth and was also working his way towards the front when he was collected in a spin not of his own making sending him to the tail. McKenzie was able to work his way back up to sixth when the checkers flew on Losh.
Losh credited his ability to avoid the tires marking the inside the turns with improving his finish from last week.
Earlier in the evening Losh, Curt Spalding from Watervilet, Mich. and Lafayette’s Matt Mitchell won their respective heat races.
Austen Hubbard of Valparaiso won his first feature in the Thunder Stocks in the final race of the evening. Hobart’s Kevin Kerlin was leading the event when on the final restart his car began to overheat and had to retire a lap later.
Finishing second was Chad McLean also from Hobart who had started on the pole. The final spot on the podium was Knox’s Cole Schroeder in his first start.
Thunder Stocks and UMP Modifieds will return next week joining Wing Pro-Sprints, Non-Wing 600s and Super Streets for a full slate of racing action.
Highlighting Marshall County and Mom’s Night at the track will be Spectator Races. Grandstands open at 4 p.m., Hot laps will start at 6 p.m. with Racing starting at 7 p.m.
Tickets for Adults are $13 with Children six to 12 $5 and race fans five and under are free.
Saturday, May 19 is School Team Spirit with Kenny Schrader racing an UMP Modified. All students will be admitted free with a current school id from an area school. The school that has the highest praticapation will win a $500 scholarship for their school to award to a deserving student.
Sunday, May 20 the Indiana Dirt Karting Series comes to Plymouth Speedway for a special racing event.
Photos attached: Kevin Thomas Jr. passes Clinton Boyles to take the lead and eventual heat race win. Thomas set quick time, won his heat and the feature to complete the rare perfect event.
Kevin Thomas, Jr., celebrates his Plymouth Speedway win Saturday acknowledging the fans on the main straight of the dirt track.
Kevin Thomas Jr. has slid past Tyler Courtney while Robert Ballou gets past on the high side setting up the final finish in the USAC Amsoil Sprint Car feature Saturday at Plymouth
Provided by Greg Hildebrand from Plymouth Speedway
