MEDARYVILLE, Ind. — Debuting a new car, Jamie Lomax led from flag to flag to capture the $2,500-to-win, 25-lap, Memorial Day special for DIRTcar UMP modified stock cars at Shadyhill Speedway Saturday night.
Lomax, the Lake Village, Ind., speedster and defending modified champion at the quarter-mile dirt oval, started on the outside of the front row of the 18-car field and jumped into the lead at the green flag only to see a quick yellow flag wipe out the original start.
A compete restart saw Lomax again jump into the lead, wrestling the top spot from fellow front row starter Nick Allen.
Lomax seemed to be in control most of the way with Allen, an eight-time Shadyhill modified champion, closing the margin ever so slightly as the race wore on. The race’s only yellow flag flew on lap 17 as Lomax led the way followed by Allen, Lynn Johns, Toby Howard and Dylan Caldwell.
When the green flag reappeared, Lomax held off a quick challenge by Allen only to see Allen come back in the closing laps to make a run to the checkered flag.
At the finish, it was Lomax out front, picking up his fourth overall win of the year, including now two at Shadyhill. Allen grabbed second, followed by two-time modified track champion Brad DeYoung, Howard, Johns, and Caldwell.
“I caught that rut coming out of (turn) two on the last lap and it ripped the steering wheel out of my hands, said Lomax. “I don’t know how I didn’t hit the wall. I saw Nick (Allen) under me and I gave it all I had to be able to hold him off. Lapped traffic was kind of sketchy. I know he (Allen) was close to my heels. I was trying to make smooth laps and trying to stay out of lapped traffic.”
Veteran Chicago area stock car racer Bobby Gash picked up his first career feature win on dirt as he won the 20-lap main event for UMP Pro Late Models. Racing on paved tracks in the “Windy City” area since 1980, the Orland Park, Ill., resident led all the way, taking the checkered flag in front of Mitch Bailey, Zach Hall, Kyle Cooper, Kyle Barger and Michael Marden.
“This mean a lot to me,” said Gash, who has been racing on dirt the last few years. “It means almost as much as my late model win (on pavement) did. We broke down twice coming here (today). I almost gave up and turned around and went home. I want to thank my dad and everyone who works on this car.”
Paul Minter won he 20-lap main event for the Bombers stock car division. Minter defeated Calvin Corning and Terry Henderson. 19 cars started the 4-Bangers division 15-lap feature race with Jake Momper coming home the winner. Momper bested Adam Kuehn and Matthew Baker. 17-year-old Cameron Shidler closed out the night of racing by winning the 20-lap I-Mod division headliner. Ready to be a high school senior next school year, Shidler, from Monticello, Ind., finished ahead of Richard Gynn and Bob Fortner.