SOUTH BEND, Ind. — With more than 130 cars in the pit area, South Bend Motor Speedway hosted another stock car racing program Saturday night with Austin Woodcox and Steve Stacy coming home the big winners.
Woodcox, from LaPorte, Ind., won the 30-lap Kenny Esmont Memorial street stock feature race with Woodcox taking home more than $1,000 for his winning effort. Picking up his first win of the season at the banked, quarter-mile, paved oval, Woodcox had a .281-second lead over veteran Brian Ross at the checkered flag.
Chasing the leading duo to the finish line were the “Maynard Gang” – Logan, Austin and Ronnie, with rookie driver Andrew Coates finishing sixth. The race went flag to flag with no yellow caution periods with a field of 14 starting the 30 lapper.
Steve Stacy, from Plymouth, Ind., captured the 30-lap main event for outlaw late models. Another first-time feature winner this year, Stacy bested Rich Boal and Wade Berger. Vern Sauer and rookie Scott Reel finished in the top five.
Keeping his record perfect so far this season in feature race action, Austin Maynard was the winner of the 30-lap sportsman headliner. Maynard came through the field to score his fourth victory in as many nights of racing this year at the speedway. Maynard had a huge margin of victory of 5.324-seconds over Brandon Smith, who saw his car burst into flames as he raced to the checkered flag. Smith was not injured.
Doing double duty during the evening, Austin Woodcox finished third, followed by Keith Wilfong and Donnie Mangun.
The front-wheel drive division saw David Keuhs win for the second time this season. Keuhs defeated Carl Prince and Matt Davis. With some rain drops making for a damp track, Cordell Davis held on to win the 20-lap feature race for Hornets (four-cylinder) division drivers. Davis finished ahead of Kris Kane and Mike Turner.
The visiting Illini Racing Series saw Jordan Caskey come home the winner of 20-lap feature race for the open-wheel midget racers. Caskey worked his way by Ryan Finley for the top spot and took the checkered flag with a 0.450-second margin of victory over four-time Illini champion, Scott Koerner. Rich Drangmeister, Finley and Bill Dunham rounded out the top five.
Scotty Gardner was leading the B feature for street stock racers when rain finally halted the night’s competition. The rest of the feature will be completed next Saturday.