GAS CITY, Ind. — Todd Sherman, aka “The Shermanator,” had a nearly perfect night during a special Saturday evening show at Gas City I-69 Speedway. He topped his qualifying group, won his heat, and then led all but the first six laps of the 20-lap UMP modified feature.
Sherman started on the pole of the modified feature in his Hogue/Team SE Avenger No. 65 sponsored by Vision Homz, All Star Performance and Pro Strip. Brent Lee, who was making his first Gas City start, started alongside Sherman and snagged the early lead by charging by Sherman in the outside of turn 2 on the first lap.
Lee survived a restart with three laps down after Terry Sroufe slowed between turns 3 and 4. He also survived some contact with Sherman in turn 4 working lap five. But two laps later Sherman made the winning pass, and he was never again headed.
After a yellow with nine laps down for a spin by Brian Post in turn 4, the worst accident of the night occurred on the restart. Jimmy Hayden, who was third at the time, took advantage of the opportunity to take a stab at Lee for second, only to spin on the backstretch in front of the rest of the field. Four drivers couldn’t miss him. Although all five escaped injury, a red was thrown so wreckers could return the crumpled cars of Hayden, Jesse Strange, Tony Anderson, Jim Post, and Dan Snyder to the pits. Hayden, who makes his living as an insurance appraiser, was glad he didn’t have to tally up the damage.
One more yellow waved two laps later for an incident between Tyler Loughmiller, who had made his way into third, and Cole Sink, which sent them both to the rear. Zeke McKenzie, who had started sixth, suddenly found himself in third and he took full advantage of it. He dipped under Lee in turn 4 on lap 14 to grab second place, and then fought Lee off the rest of the way.
Sherman had about a half-straightaway lead at the checkered, but McKenzie and Lee were nose-to-tail for second and third, respectively, at the line. Dylan Woodling was in the mix all night and finished fourth. Loughmiller passed Nick Richards at the line to place fifth.
Garrett Bradley posted his first street stock feature victory of the year at the Grant County quarter-mile dirt oval. Heisman Skeens duplicated his winning efforts of June 24 in the 15-lap hornet feature. Brandon Freeburg dominated the Hoosier State Modlites competition, leading all 15 laps of that main event in a program that concluded with a Fourth of July fireworks show.
The Finish:
Feature (20 Laps): 1. Todd Sherman (1); 2. Zeke McKenzie (6); 3. Brent Lee (2); 4. Dylan Woodling (4); 5. Tyler Loughmiller (8); 6. Nick Richards (5); 7. Darren Mallery (20); 8. Brian Post (11); 9. Dalton Bishop (18); 10. Josh Betts (19); 11. Dalton Lane (22); 12. Cole Sink (13); 13. Jimmy Hayden (7); 14. Jesse Strange (12); 15. Jim Post (21); 16. Tony Anderson (10); 17. Dan Snyder (15); 18. Percy Gendreau (14); 19. Bobby Davis (9); 20. Clayton Bryant (3); 21. Terry Sroufe (16); 22. Bub Roberts (17).