By Jeff Bartlett
Big money was at stake in all of the classes this past weekend at Dominion with the annual Soles4Souls charity race with racing over two days at the Raceway. Friday night kicked of the action with features in the Dominion Stocks, UCAR and Any Car division, and Saturday night saw twin 100’s for the Geico of Fredericksburg Late Models as well as features for the Truckin Thunder Virginia Racer division and the INEX Legends and Bandos.
Geico of Fredericksburg Late Model driver Mason Bailey was fast right off the hauler posting some of the fastest times in practice and backed that up by taking the pole with a time of 15.366 over Doug Barnes’s 15.368. But Bailey drew a five on the redraw putting John Goin on the pole. For much of the 100-lap feature, Goin looked like he was going to drive away, but Peyton Sellers was able to use the three cautions during the feature to keep him close enough to be able to take over the top spot with about 20 laps to go. Once clear of Goin, Sellers was able to drive away for his eighth consecutive win on the season. Rounding out the top three were Landon Pembelton and Goin.
The second feature saw G.R. Waldrop roll off from the pole with Chase Borrow on the outside of him. Sellers chose not to start eighth, but rather go to the rear of the field to try and get some bonus points in the national standings. Rain caused a brief red flag early in the feature, with Goin on the point once again and looking like the car to beat. Once racing resumed, Goin was able to pull away and maintain a comfortable lead under green flag conditions. However, the rain was not done and when a caution flew with 9 laps left, the field ran 2 caution laps and with seven to go, the yellow and checkered flew together giving Goin the victory. Sellers had marched through the field and was running second when the rain shortened his attempt for the national bonus points. Burrow rounded out the top three.
In the Truckin Thunder Virginia Racer division, Chris Donnelly had a top three car in practice and started on the pole when pole sitter Eddie Slagle drew a four on the redraw. Donnelly had his car out front the entire feature and had to survive three cautions, the last of which set up a green, white, checkered finish. Donnelly and Slagle had one of the closest finishes in the history of the track with Donnelly getting the win by a fender over Slagle. Coming home in third was Andrew Lang. Points leader Ryan Matthews had one of his most disappointing finishes this season finishing eighth after bringing out one of the early cautions in the feature, but still holds a substantial lead over Mike Ganoe who finished fourth.
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n the INEX series, Layton Harrison got his first win ever. This was a very emotional win for him as his father passed away earlier in the year. Charlie Beals and Trevor Krouse rounded out the top three. In the Bando division, Ryley Music picked up the win coming from fourth starting position. Trey Williams and Ayden Millette rounded out the top three.
On Friday night the Alcova Mortgage Dominion Stocks headlined the card and they did not disappoint with plenty of action which saw several cautions. Carson Higgs picked up his first ever win over Richard Powers and Dan Rogers. Gary Burke, last year’s track champion and currently third in points, came home ninth after blowing his motor.
The Alcova Mortgage UCAR division seemed to run more caution laps than green ones, and once the dust settled, Michael Frayser took home the win over hard charging Kris Kurtz and Jimmy Parker. Current points leader Mike Chapman came home fifth.
On other action, Bradley Wilson took the checked in the 4-cylinder division and Troy Curtis picked up the win for the eight-cylinder division in the Absolutely Amish Structures Any Car class.
This coming Saturday is twin night with the Truckin Thunder Virginia Racers, Alcova Mortgage Modifieds, and the mini cups all running twin features. Gates open at 5 and green flag drops at 7.
