MORRIS, Ill. — The ARCA Midwest Tour returned to the Grundy County Speedway Saturday night with Paul Shafer Jr. capturing the 34th running of the Wayne Carter Classic presented by Rod Baker Ford and Illinois Truck & Equipment.
The 23-year-old Portage, Ind., racer, wheeling his Paul’s Auto Yard Chevrolet, became the 23rd different winner of the traditional late model stock car special at the third-of-a-mile paved oval.
Being shown sixth in the Midwest Tour points before the night’s racing began, Shafer leads the current Grundy County Speedway Friday night late model points standings. It was career series win No. 2 for Shafer, who has finished twice in the runner-up spot in final Midwest Tour points.
A field of 23 took the green flag with Shafer, the evening’s ninth fastest qualifier, taking the lead from his outside front row starting spot. Shafer seemed in control the entire race with the race’s three yellow flag caution periods the only thing slowly Shafer down on his way to the checkered flag.
As the race progressed, Shafer built a half straightway lead and then an almost full straightaway margin over Ricky Baker, who won the Carter Classic in 2017. The closest Baker came to Shafer was when they lined up for double-file restarts after a yellow flag.
Despite a late caution flag with seven laps to go, Shafer had a 1.252-second margin over Baker after the 100-lap chase. Gabe Sommers finished third, followed by Casey Johnson and fastest qualifier Jonathan Eilen.
“There were a couple of yellows there at the end and we were just hanging on,” said Shafer. “I had a pretty good car all day. It was awesome. We were lacking in qualifying, ending up ninth. I don’t know what happened but the car got tight. I was trying to ride a little bit (during the feature) but this thing (the car) didn’t want to turn unless I was on the gas. So when I was on the gas, it turned real good. I didn’t want them to catch me, so I just kept burying it in there.”
As the season goes on, Shafer might have to make a choice whether to chase the Midwest Tour title or the Grundy County championship. This coming Friday night is a conflicting date with the series competing at Madison Int’al Speedway in Wisconsin, while Grundy hosts its weekly Friday night program.
“We’ll have to look where we are at in points in the tour and decide what we want to do, said Shafer. “Winning the Midwest Tour championship and the Grundy championship are both on my bucket list.”
Support division feature race action saw Randy Weese win the 15-lap street stock feature with Paul Bittle winning the Midwest Compact Touring Series (four-cylinder) 25-lap main event. Bittle and his Honda Civic bested Justin Pearson, Phil Malouf, Jake Doxey and Grundy regular James Dean.
The finish:
Paul Shafer Jr., Ricky Baker, Gabe Sommers, Casey Johnson, Jonathan Eilen, Rich Bickle Jr., Austin Nason, Michael Bilderback, Joe Vinachi, Justin Mondeik, Josh Nelms, Dalton Zehr, Clay Curts, Nathan Kelly, Alex Clubb, Tony Brutti, Andy Jones, Steve Dorer, Scott Koerner, D.J. Weltmeyer, Cayden Lapcevich, Eddie Hoffman, Jamie Wallace