“Ray Kable Wins The Don Shipley Jr Memorial”
“Michael Carter Wins His First Limited Late Model Feature”
By Brent Hottle
Winchester(VA)-It was another hot Saturday in the Shenandoah Valley. However, the only thing that can stop racefans from attending a race is rain, and for a change this season the skies were clear. This week we honored another great supporter of racing, Don Shipley Jr. Don was a very dedicated military man and a devil dog to his core. He would give you the shirt off his back, but also fight you if the situation was needed. He was passionate about all aspects of life. He was a huge part of the racing community and always made sure that young drivers were in a seat. All he asked for before he was called home, was to have a memorial race in his honor. This night the UMP modified event would be all about Don and the military.
Once time trials and heat races were completed for the UMP Modifieds, and the heat races for the Racesaver Sprints, limited late model, and SCDRA divisions were completed, we would pause shortly for our weekly Invocation and playing of our National Anthem.
The first feature of the night would be for our Racesaver Sprint Cars. Drew Young would get the holeshot and be the first to head into turn one. Young would lead lap one over Matthew Leach and Ryan Lynn. The top two would begin to pull away from Lynn until a lap seven caution. Ethan Beasom and Landon Price would both come to a stop on the front straightaway. After the restart there would be no change in the top three. During the next few laps Young would begin to pull away from Leach as he also would begin to pull away from Lynn. Ken Duke would spin in turn three on lap eleven to bring out the second caution of the twenty lap event. Young would continue to lead the field after the restart and once again pull away from the field. Drew Young would go on to win the event. Matthew Leach and Ryan Lynn would round out the top three.
Next it was time for the Don Shipley Jr Memorial for the UMP modifieds. Before the feature event we asked all current and former military personnel to join us on the front straight away. Next, we would see a fourwide salute with cars presenting the Marine, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Army, and American Flags. As the cars started to parade around the speedway as a final salute to Don and our Military we would see our service men who were on hand saluting the flags and cars as they went by in honor. It was a beautiful sight to see and what a great way to honor a great man. Once pre-race ceremonies were completed it was time for the forty lap main event. Front row starters Cody WIlliams and Ray Kable would charge side by side into turn one. Kable would lead lap one over Williams and Ty Norder. The caution flag would quickly fly on lap two for a four car spin in turn four. Kable would quickly show he would be the car to beat as he completed lap three with a four car lead over now second place running Ty Norder. Williams would now find himself in a side by side battle for the third position with Mike Corbin. By the end of lap four Corbin would move ahead of Williams to take over the third position. The field would once again slow for a lap five caution involving Owen Lacey who would go for a spin in turn two. After the restart Kable would continue to lead as Corbin would now move ahead of Norder for
the second position. Justin Milburn would slow to a stop at the bottom of turn two and bring out a lap eight caution. Kable would continue to lead after the restart and begin to pull away quickly. He would pull out to a full straight away lead by the end of the thirteenth lap. Kable would find himself having to start navigation lap traffic by lap sixteen. This couldn’t stall his momentum as he would continue to hold his lead as he made his way around lap cars. His lead would be erased on lap twenty-four, as Mike Franklin would slow to a stop at the top of turn two. During the next restart we would see Kable continue to lead as Norder and Michael Alltobelli would shuffle Corbin back to the fourth position. Cody Oliver would spin in turn four to bring out the caution on lap twenty-seven. Alltobelli would use the next restart to move around Norder for the second position, as Mitch Thomas quickly moved around Norder also to move into the third position. We would see two more cautions before the event would end. Ray Kable would prove to have the best car as he went on to lead every lap and take the feature win. Michael Altobelli and Mitch Thomas would round out the top three. Ray Kable would comment in victory lane how much this win meant to him because early career he got his first win in the division behind the wheel of one of Don’s cars.
It was now time for the limited late model division to pull onto the speedway. Outside pole sitter Jimmy Jesmer Jr would lead lap one over Ray Kable and Michael Carter. Brad Omps would bring out the caution on lap two, as he would slow to a stop at the exit of turn two. Jesmer would continue to lead after the restart as Carter would begin to challenge Kable for the second position. Carter would take over the position fully by the end of the fourth lap. The caution flag would once again fly on lap six as Austin Stover would slow to a stop in turn two. There would be no change in the top three after the restart. Carter would now begin to search for a way around Jesmer for the lead. On lap eleven we would see Carter pull alongside Jesmer as the pair raced up the front straightaway. Carter would then slide ahead of him as the pair raced into turn one and took the lead out of turn two. Carter would show his strength during the closing laps of the twenty lap event as he would pull out to a half of a straightaway lead over Jesmer who had pulled ahead of Kable around six car lengths. Michael Carter would go on to win his first limited late model feature event. Jimmy Jesmer Jr and Ray Kable would round out the top three.
The last feature event of the night would be for the SCDRA division. Outside pole sitter Stephen Suite would lead lap one over Allen Griffith and Brian Skelly. Griffith would challenge Suite for the lead as the pair raced side by side to complete the second lap. Griffith would pull ahead and take over the lead by the end of the third lap. Brody Tolstyka would spin in turn one and bring out the caution on lap seven. After the restart Griffith would continue to lead as Skelly would now move around Suite for the second position. During the closing laps of the race Suite would begin to defend a challenge from Shawn Payne for the third position. Allen Griffith would take the feature win. Brian Skelly and Shawn Payne would round out the top three.
We want to thank all of the teams and fans who attended this week's events. Also a big thank you to all of the sponsors and supporters who made the Don Shipley Jr. Memorial a huge success. We look forward to seeing you back at the track this coming Saturday night as the Modified Mafia comes back to town.
Racesaver Sprint Results
Drew Young, Matthew Leach, Ryan Lynn, Kasey Weaver, Paul Moyer, Kolby Weaver, Kruz Kepner, Tyler Schell, Dylan Shatzer, Donnie Hendershot, Braeden Varner, Jerald Harris, Jarrett Cavalet, Ken Duke, Hunter McFadden, Aj Barton, Reed Thompson, Aaron Leach, Daren Bolac, Matt Mullins, (DNF Chris Dolan, Landon Price, Ethan Beasom)(DNS John Smith, Chris Ware)
Don Shipley Jr Memorial UMP Modified Results
Ray Kable, Michael Altobelli, Mitch Thomas, JP Roberts, Justin Cullum, Cody Williams, Ty Norder, Tj DeHaven, Rick Hulson, Joey Polevoy, Vance Williams Jr, Josh Hughes, Nick DIbella, Ryan Dolan, Haley Kaiser, Dan Patterson, Tim Schulte, Joey Clower, (DNF Mike Corbin, Owen Lacey, Cody Oliver, Benjamin Seals, Mike Franklin, Justin Milburn, Brian Buckler)
Limited Late Model Results
Michael Carter, Jimmy Jesmer Jr, Ray Kable, Gerald Davis, James Lichliter, Bubby Tharp Jr, Davin Kaiser, Steven Powell, Kristopher Hutton, Brad Omps, Charles Smith, Calvin Michael, Tom Chaffins, (DNF Chuckie Johnson, Austin Stover, Frankie Helmick, Scott Corbin)
SCDRA Results
Allen Griffith, Brian Skelly, Shawn Payne, Stephen Suite, Tyler Kline, Brody Tolstyka, Lonnie Hobday, Jason Kline, Kiltan Martin |
