A week after proposing on the podium, Shaun Wiltjer found himself in a three-way battle for the lead halfway through the Super Streets race at Plymouth Speedway Saturday night. He was able to pull away and win his fifth race of the season, in a complete green flag race.
“Well she said no during the week, are there any takers up there,” Wiltjer joked after the race. David Fritz was second and Josh Frye was third. Fourth was Charlie Poague and fifth was Bob McLean.
The Modifieds division saw a few cautions for spins, but Jamie Lomax dominated the 25-lap race, with Randy Lines in solid second; Frank Marshall took third.
“Car was good; track was good,” Lomax said. “Gotta thank all those guys who help me out and keep this thing going.”
“We took two weeks off. With so many races this week coming up, we thought we’d try this out tonight and maybe bring it back later this week,” Marshall said regarding driving a borrowed car. Marshall was referring to Thursday night’s Summer Nationals Hell Tour with Mods and Late Models coming to the Playground of Power.
The Pro Sprints race was won by Garrett Saunders, with Michael Summers in second and Eric Saunders in third.
“I gotta thank my dad, my cousins and aunts and uncles coming up from Florida to watch us race tonight,” Garrett said. “I could have ran at the bottom or the top tonight; the middle was kind of loose so I ran up top.”
“Getting to race just makes me emotional, I’m happy to be out here racing,” Summers said.
Eric Saunders ran the bottom of the track, and said he was comfortable running there. “There’s so many people and companies behind me. It’s a blessing to be able to do this. I want to thank all the kids out here for coming out.”
Brian Banta led every lap until a caution in the Thunder Stocks series. A single-car spin in Turn 2 bunched up the field at restart, and Plymouth’s Tom Grall hoped to take over the lead from second. Banta pulled ahead until a second caution for Shane Saunders closed up the field again, but Sheldon Oberle was hot on Grall’s tail and was nearing a pass when yet another caution happened, this time for a spin out, again in Turn 2. Oberle finally got past Grall at lap 17, and shot past Banta on the back stretch. Grall and Banta were neck and neck at the finish line, where Grall took second by a whisker.
“Thank everyone in the stands, we’re here doing what we do thanks to you. Bring someone new to the racetrack,” Banta said. “If they’ve never been, bring them here.”
Dylan Woodling won the 600 Open. Trey Johnson was second; Kevin Hapner was third; Jason Shields was fourth and Chad Hartzell was fifth.
In the Mini Wedge division, Ryin Zelmer was first; Clinton Hunter was second; Bracen Lowe was third; Grace Fultz was fourth and Preston Prater was fifth.
For complete results and season standings, go to plymouthspeedway.myracepass.
Thursday, June 29, the Plymouth Speedway hosts UMP DirtCar Racing’s Summer Nationals Hell Tour, featuring Late Models and Mods. Tickets are $25 for adults; $10 for kids 6-12 and 5 and under are free. Pit passes are $35. Gates open at 4; hot laps at 6 and racing starts at 7 p.m.
Visit Plymouth Speedway on Facebook for the latest event information, updates and photos.
Photo by Greg Hildebrand
Modified winners Saturday night are, from left: Frank Marshall 3rd, Randy Lines 2nd, Jamie Lomax 1st.
