FRANKLIN, Pa. – Jack Sodeman, Jr. picked a perfect time to score his first victory of the season in the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint Cars.
With his point lead shrinking, Sodeman changed the narrative by beating his challenger, A.J. Flick, in both the heat and feature events.
The 25-lap feature for the Shawgo Real Estate LLC 410 Sprint cars started with Bob Felmlee and Brandon Matus sharing the front row. Matus led the first round of the big oval, but Felmlee took control on lap two. He built an advantage in the early going, but his competition was gaining on him as the field approached halfway.
Soon after the crossed flags were displayed, Matus and third-starting Sodeman, Jr. caught the leader. Sodeman took second from last year’s champion on lap 14.
One lap later, Sodeman went by Felmlee for the lead. Matus followed him into second at that point, but Sodeman began to pull away from him.
With the laps winding down, Sodeman continued to lead despite his engine sounding sour. At the white flag, A.J. Flick passed Matus for second. However, Sodeman held on for the win.
The victory was Sodeman’s first of the season at Tri-City Raceway Park and his fourth all-time. The multi-time champion currently leads Flick by 25 points.
“With seven to go (the engine) picked up a miss,” Sodeman explained after the event. “But, I’m the one that pays the bills, and we needed a win. We will know for sure tomorrow what is wrong with it.”
Behind Sodeman at the finish was Flick, who was second in the race and also in the championship standings. Defending kingpin, Matus, matched his best finish of the season, with a third. Last week’s winner, Carl Bowser, was fourth, with Felmlee fifth.
Veteran racer Sid Unverzagt, Jr. took his first victory at Tri-City Raceway Park in the Donovan & Bauer Auto Group 358 Modifieds.
Also grabbing wins were Tyler Dietz in the Hovis Auto & Truck Supply Pro Stocks and Ayden Cipriano in the RUSH Sportsmen Modifieds. Sharing the glory in the 4 Your Car Connection Mini Stocks were Levi “the Rascal” Maskal and Matt Urey.
The Finish:
Feature (25 Laps): Jack Sodeman, Jr., A.J. Flick, Brandon Matus, Carl Bowser, Bob Felmlee, Leyton Wagner, Logan McCandless, Jeremy Weaver, Brent Matus.