7/2/2018
Salina Highbanks Speedway
Russell takes home eagle; Jolly, Wayne, Campbell garner Freedom Classic wins
photo credit: No Limit Photography by B. Dilbeck
Support class action in the 5th Annual Freedom Classic presented by ARMI included Super Stocks and the AmeriFlex B-Mods on Friday and S&J Plumbing Pure Stocks and Modifieds on Saturday. All four classes’ share of the spotlight was well spent as the four NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions thrilled fans with great racing throughout the weekend.
The Super Stock A-Main would be the first of the weekend. Jason Wayne proved to be a showman winning on the big stage again; his first win of the season came at the 6th Annual Allen Frailey Memorial earlier in the year. Wayne, however, had to earn it in a comeback that put fans on their feet on the white flag lap. Wayne had faded to as far back as fourth after leading early then passed Dalton Garrison on the final lap to pick up his third win of the season. Garrison held on to second, Jeff Metcalf was third, Nick Artherton ended up fourth and Andy Morris rolled from the sixth row to finish fifth.
The AmeriFlex B-Mods took to a slicked off racetrack following Friday’s Super Late Model A-Main. Three and four-wide racing took place from the front of the field to the back in what resembled Talladega pack racing. By the time the dust settled, Cody Jolly had worked from the fourth row to score his third win of the season and 15th in the past two seasons. Willie Gammill finished in the runner-up spot with Brett Hansen in third. Justin Shoemaker ended up fourth and pocketed an additional $100 in the AmeriFlex “Lucky Draw” keeping the bonus money in the Shoemaker Brothers Racing camp for the third straight week. Brian McGowen led an impressive charge from the 14th starting spot to finish fifth after winning B-Main number two in his first appearance here this season.
The first Feature of the Freedom Classic finale on Saturday was the S&J Plumbing Pure Stocks in what turned out to be a wild one. Cautions plagued the middle portion of the 15-lap A-Main until a solid green flag stretch took the field to the final lap of the race. Paul Dilbeck looked to be the car to beat as he led the field for 14 laps. However, when Dilbeck rounded turn four for the final time to take the checkered flag the car broke sideways in front of second-place runner Nathan Campbell and the rest of the field causing a small melee that sent cars scattering to the finish. Campbell managed to cross the line first after the tangle winning his fourth race of the season and 20th since the track’s re-opening. The Shive Brother trio finished second through fourth again with Jordon Shive finishing second, Josh Shive rocketing from 16th to third and Erick Shive fourth. Mark Martin advanced ten spots to round out the top five.
The final Feature of the weekend was the Modifieds racing for a $1,000 top prize in a 25-lap A-Main. From the drop of the green flag pole-sitter Jared Russell led the field with Andy Morris in tow and Russell picked up his first win since 2016 in dominating fashion. Morris took runner-up honors, Chad Wheeler finished third with Brett Hansen and Tate Cole finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. Just outside of the top five the hard-charging duo of Tyler Wolff and Joe Duvall finished sixth and seventh. Wolff officially started 20th on the grid while Duvall forfeited the pole to take the Smith All-Fab Back Row Challenge worth a $1,000 bonus if he had won. Despite falling short, Duvall’s run to seventh place kept fans entertained for all 25 circuits.
For complete results from Friday, June 29th visit:
http://www.salinahighbanksspeedway.com/profile/schedule/results.aspx?r=236067&rt=sch
For complete results from Saturday, June 30th visit:
http://www.salinahighbanksspeedway.com/profile/schedule/results.aspx?r=236112&rt=sch
Salina Highbanks Speedway will be off on Saturday, July 7th and NWAAS points racing along with Custom Coatings Trophy Cars will return on Saturday, July 14th during Buddy’s Home Furnishings Night.
Submitted By: Elizabeth Davis