SANDUSKY, Ohio — Otto Sitterly showed the fast way around the Sandusky Speedway Friday night, leading all but one lap of the traditional 40-lap prelude to Saturday’s Hy-Miler 100 supermodified classic.
Sitterly took the black No. 7 to the front by the second lap and took off like a rocket, not to be challenged for the front spot despite a couple yellows along the way that grouped the field on two occasions.
“Once this car gets wound up it’s pretty good,” Sitterly said. “We were a little tight in the feature. I ran with Trent (Stephens) a little bit there but basically I had to stay out front because the car was getting tighter.”
A.J. Lesiecki led the first lap in the 88 before Otto claimed the spot. Coming up behind Lesiecki was the 19 of Trent Stephens, who took over second to give chase to the flying Sitterly. Lesiecki held onto to third but fast-qualifier Kyle Edwards was on the move as was Mark Sammut, Ben Seitz and Mike Ordway Jr, all ready to challenge Sitterly as the pace quickened as the laps clicked off.
Stephens picked off Edwards just after a lap 17 yellow flew for Moe Lilje, who moved to the pits. Both Lesiecki and J.J. Henes pitted and returned.
On the restart, Stephens gave it his all as he got alongside Sitterly for a brief time. Edwards moved up to take second from Stephens a short time later while Mike Ordway Jr. applied pressure on Stephens from behind, near the halfway mark.
On lap 23 it was Sitterly, Edwards and Ordway with Stephens, Seitz, Jeff Abold and Dave Shullick Jr. all trying to keep the 7 in their sight.
Lap 30 saw the last slowdown when Kyle Capodicd slowed and pulled pit side.
Sitterly faced a 10-lap sprint to the finish while Edwards, Ordway Jr., Stephens, Seitz , Abold, Shullick, Sammut, McVetta and Henes were the final challengers behind.
Abold was the mover as he picked off Seitz and then headed for Stephens, who he passed with five laps to go.
At the line it was Sitterly way out front with Edwards, Ordway, Abold and Stephens following.
The finish:
Feature (40 laps): 1. 7 Otto Sitterly, 2. 11E Kyle Edwards, 3. 61 Mike Ordway Jr., 4. 05 Jeff Abold, 5. 19 Trent Stephens, 6. 97 Ben Seitz, 7. 95 Dave Shullick Jr, 8. 78 Mark Sammut, 9. 36 JJ Henes, 10. Mike McVetta, 11. 8 Kyle Capodicd, 12. 88 AJ Lesiecki, 13. 32 Moe Lilje, 14. 12 Jake Smith, 15. 9 Tim Jedrzejek (dns).