Before the races commenced, the staff at Plymouth Speedway honored the memory of John Stone who passed away suddenly on Monday, May 16. The Swan Lake UMP Modifieds class fell in behind Stone’s four-wheeler with an American flag waving proudly as the crowd halted for a moment of silence. Stone worked tirelessly to help make the race track the success of what it is today. He was also a respected member of the Plymouth and Marshall County community. His wife, Judy Stone, continues to work at the pit gate for the track.
With the wave of the green flag, Jamie Lomax, of Lake Village, started on the pole for the first Swan Lake Resort UMP Modified feature – a make-up feature that was postponed due to inclement weather on Friday, May 13. He got out to a solid lead while Derek Losh worked his way to the front through the field. While Lomax was enjoying a comfortable lead, Losh, of Rensselaer, was side-by-side for third position by lap six with Dillon Nusbaum and Losh was able to grab the spot coming out of turn four on that lap. He then set his sights on Marion’s Randy Lines who was in the runner-up position. Losh was able to secure second by lap eight by running on the top groove of the race track. Nusbaum and Lines would battle it out for third place as the feature continued, often times door to door. Lines was able to keep the position when the checkered flag flew. Lomax was the winner with Losh in second and Lines in third.
In the second Swan Lake Resort UMP Modified feature, it would be Lomax and Losh once again finding each other in the first and second spots. Lomax jumped to the lead on the start of the race while Losh gathered second in five laps. It wasn’t until late in the 20-lap feature that Dylan Woodling used a lot of the outside racing groove to collect multiple spots and reign in the the leaders. Woodling, of Warsaw, started the race in the 17th position and quietly moved into the top five by lap 15 and in third place with barely two laps to go in the race. Woodling was in danger of losing the finishing spot and barely crossed the start/finish line with the position. Lomax would sweep the wins in the class with Losh taking second and Woodling in third.
Nick Yoder, of Nappanee, commanded the Dickies Restaurant 600 Open Sprints feature from the drop of the green flag. Yoder and pole-sitter Tyler Orr had contact in the opening lap but Orr was able to keep going and he joined the tail of the field under green. Yoder then shot to the lead with a fast race car. Chad Hartzell, of Granger, and Breiden Mooney, of Etna Green, would battle for the second place piece of real estate by lap nine, but he couldn’t make the pass. Hartzell would get the position by lap 13. Yoder raced to the win with Hartzell in second and Mooney with his first podium finish with third place.
The WTCA Super Streets feature found a new face atop the podium. Joshua Frye, of Ravenna, Michigan, wasn’t about to give up his immediate race lead even though Black Oak, Indiana’s Roger Duszynski, Jr. gave him reason to sweat behind the wheel. Frye saw a lot of Duszynski closely in his rear view mirror, especially after a restart following a late-race caution where Duszynski went side-by-side with Frye for the lead. Duszynski wasn’t able to capitalize on the threat. In the meantime, Hobart’s Calvin Peek, Jr. was fending off a charging Eric Hunter who raced up into the top four by the end of the race. Hunter, of Kokomo, started ninth. Hunter closed in on Peek, Jr. on lap 14 and fought until he captured the spot. Peek, Jr. got out of his line and Hunter took advantage of his mistake. It was Frye dominating the race with the win, Duszynski with second and Hunter with the last spot on the podium.
The Walmart Thunder Stocks feature found five drivers going for the lead near the beginning of the contest. Jim Henson, John Rhoads, Austin Hunter, Tony Bowman and Shane Sanders were all focused on the number one position but Henson, of Winamac, came out front. He got loose coming out of turn four and ran Rhoads and Hunter up the race track which caused a tire failure on Hunter’s car. On the restart on lap eight, Shane Sanders took the lead from Henson while Henson and Rhoads kept the second and third positions, respectively. As the cautions continued and time was running out, Flagman Denny Long warned the drivers of a green-white-checkered finish. Sanders was able to keep the lead while Henson and Rhoads continued to race side-by-side for second place. Sanders crossed the finish line first with Henson following in second. Rhoads, of Mentone, got sideways coming out of turn four on the last lap and crossed the finish line in fourth place. It was Tony Bowman, of Wabash, who claimed the third and final spot on the podium.
Zane DeVault, of Plymouth, dominated the Shepherd Firearms Pro Sprints feature. He started on the pole position and whipped the winged sprint around the race track in captivating fashion. Kevin Atkins wheeled his way from fifth to second by lap three with Garrett Saunders in third. Bill Hartman challenged Saunders for the third spot by lap 17 and snuck into position. DeVault was able to get the win with Warsaw’s Kevin Atkins in second, and Hartman, of Marcellus, Michigan, in third.
Join us on May 28 when NASCAR’s Ken Schrader joins a field of Swan Lake Report UMP Modifieds in the most challenging event of the season. Plus, enjoy one of the biggest fireworks displays to be presented at the Playground of Power. The evening of action will also include the Shepherd Firearms Pro Sprints, WTCA Super Streets, Walmart Thunder Stocks and Dickies Restaurant 600 Open Sprints. The gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. ET.
On June 1, the ASCS Lucas Oil Winged Sprints will compete for the first time at Plymouth Speedway. The gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 7 p.m. ET.
The staff at Plymouth Speedway is proud to offer new, comfortable stadium seating along with family affordable pricing. Enjoy a bite to eat at the concession stand where the food is the best around with affordable food prices, including $3 kids meals.
Plymouth Speedway is where every race fan wants to be every Saturday night. Come and see what changes await you at the Playground of Power. For more information on future events, go to www.plymouthspeedway.net.
By: Anita Goodan, Plymouth Speedway
