8/5/2018
Salina Highbanks Speedway
Cole snags first win; Jolly, Metcalf, Campbell also victorious
photo credit: No Limit Photography by B. Dilbeck
Back To School Night at the Highbanks saw the largest car count of the 2018 season with 103 drivers checked in to compete across five divisions. In addition to the four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions the Custom Coatings Trophy Cars ran their fifth race of the season also boasting their biggest field of the year.
A whopping 35 drivers signed in to compete in the S&J Plumbing Pure Stock division and after four big heats and two B-Mains the stage was set for a 15-lap Feature event. Jack Kirby wired the field for all 15 circuits in what was seemingly his second win in the division this season. However, Cadillac Jack failed to pass technical inspections and was disqualified for a frame width infraction. Nathan Campbell was in turn handed the win to complete an unparalleled feat of four wins in row. Josh Shive nipped Roger Starling at the line by 0.005 seconds to officially finish second giving Shive the point lead by a thin two-point margin over Campbell. Jordon Shive, who led points entering the night, drove from 15th to fourth but slipped to third in points a mere four markers behind his brother. Jake Lloyd also led an impressive charge driving from 16th to finish fifth.
The AmeriFlex B-Mod A-Main was intense from the get-go and filled with action as well as controversy. Cody Jolly was involved in an opening lap caution but was in contention for the lead by lap four. Jolly pulled the trigger on a slide job to take the lead from Paul Cates as the two exited turn two on the fifth circuit and the pair of cars made contact. When Cates made it to the next set of turns he lost control, slamming sideways into the implement tires at the top of turn four. At that point, Cates retired from the race while Jolly secured the lead and drove on to his fourth victory of the season. Despite missing two races while serving a suspension, the defending track champion has closed the points gap to just 55 on point leader Justin Shoemaker, who had a less than desirable evening with a DNF in an 18th place effort. Tate Cole rolled from the inside fifth row to the runner-up finish while Jeran Frailey logged another solid performance at third. Clint Johnson rallied from the B-Main to finish fourth as Brady Walsh rounded out the top five. 17th place finisher, Chris Smith was the AmeriFlex Lucky Draw winner.
A full field of Super Stocks greeted fans in the third Feature of the night. Boone Johnson was quick in the slick for the greater part of the 20-lap affair, leading the first 13 trips around the speedway. However, contact between he and Tyler Hopson unfortunately sent Johnson to the tail of the field and Hopson to the pits. Jeff Metcalf assumed the lead at that point and never faltered in picking up his second win of the season. Point leader Jason Wayne, who has been rock-solid in his 2018 campaign, took home the runner-up honors just ahead of Darin Rigney, who finished third in his return to the Highbanks. Ray Roberts blasted through the field finishing fourth after starting 18th as Kyle Davis finished fifth in his first Super Stock start of the season.
The track was cleaning off nicely in time for the Modified headliner and Tate Cole found the smooth, slick racing surface much to his liking. John Yeoman led the first circuit but the next 19 belonged to Cole. Although Cole seemed to be unchallenged if you just looked at the score sheets, he never did shake off the presence of Mitch Keeter. Keeter never lost sight of Cole and stayed right in the wheel tracks of the Fort Gibson, Oklahoma veteran the entire distance. Cole’s win was his first since the track re-opened. Keeter settled for second and Yeoman maintained third while Jared Russell and Jonathon Beyer rounded out the top five.
By night’s end it was time for the entertaining Custom Coatings Trophy Cars to hit the speedway. Highlandville, Missouri racer Justin Gantt dominated the field but was the second winner of the evening to have his accolades revoked. Gantt’s car measured around four inches short of the minimum wheelbase requirement and therefore he was disqualified. That handed sixth-starting Jason Metcalf his second win of the season. Pole-sitter Craig Boldt finished second as Lear Colvin, Karla Leland, and Tim Walsh completed the top five.
For complete results from August 4th, 2018 visit:
http://www.salinahighbanksspeedway.com/profile/schedule/results.aspx?r=236082&rt=sch
Whelen Engineering Night and Powder Puff races are next up on the docket on Saturday, August 11th. Normal start times and general admission prices will apply.
Submitted By: Elizabeth Davis
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