Dwayne Baker scores Late Model feature victory at Sunset Speedway

A week after winning the Saturday OSCAAR Super Late Model feature and finishing second overall in the Don Biederman Memorial, Dwayne Baker returned in his Limited Late Model and drove it to victory lane after making the pass on Jason Witty with 14 laps to go. It marks Baker’s first limited late model victory of the year, however he did win the Pro Late Model 100-lapper on May 10^th earlier this year.

Tom Walters would win the first heat ahead of Sean Cronan, Mat Box, Taylor Holdaway, Thayne Hallyburton, Ernie Fumerton, Brittney Gresel and Mike Wilkinson.

Larry Jackson, driving Bruce Rankin’s car, won the second heat ahead of Billy Zardo, Baker, Scott Beatty, Brandon Watson, Mike Bentley, Travis Hallyburton and Lane Zardo.

The final heat wouldn’t go smoothly as Jarrod Ranson would go for the spin on lap seven after contact from Kyle Passer. Witty picked up the win ahead of Dario Capirchio, Chris Morrow, Paul Maltese, Nick Goetz, Dave Bartlett, Passer and Ranson.

The consolation race would feature a debris caution at lap two as a result of the front fender coming of Bentley’s ride due to contact with Goetz off of turn two. Then on lap five, Fumerton would spin Thayne Hallyburton for another caution. Travis Hallyburton would get the win ahead of Watson, Bentley, Lane Zardo, Goetz, Gresel, Bartlett, Thayne Hallyburton and Wilkinson.

The Late Model ‘Dash for Cash’ will be one of the most talked about events for weeks to come, and we’re not talking about the finish here. Contact on lap one between front row starts Larry Jackson and Tom Walters would send Walters down into the turn one grass, before shooting across the track and smacking the outside wall. Walters would express his displeasure with Jackson afterwards, and would not be able to make the repairs to run the 30-lap feature later that night. Witty would go for the daily double ahead of Cronan, Capirchio, Morrow, Box, Holdaway, Baker, Billy Zardo and Beatty.

Come feature time, Billy Zardo would draw pole for his No. 46 Holmes on Homes, National Exhaust, Hassell Automotive, Big Chute Marina, J.A. Towing, Smart Screen and Better Contracting Late Model ahead of Dario Capirchio, Dwayne Baker, Mat Box, Jason Witty, Lane Zardo, Taylor Holdaway, Scott Beatty, Brandon Watson, Sean Cronan, Chris Morrow, Paul Maltese, Travis Hallyburton, Dave Bartlett, Nick Goetz, Brittney Gresel, Thayne Hallyburton, Mike Wilkinson, Ernie Fumerton and Larry Jackson. Mike Bentley failed to start the feature as a result of a broken control arm following the contact during the consolation race.

Zardo would grab the early lead ahead of Capirchio while Baker and Box battled for third. Baker would grab the spot, bringing Witty and Holdaway through with him before the caution flew at lap four for Fumerton going around courtesy of contact from Jackson. With 46 laps to go, Billy Zardo led Capirchio, Baker, Witty, Holdaway, Box, Watson, Cronan, Lane Zardo, Morrow, Beatty, Travis Hallyburton, Maltese, Bartlett, Gresel, Thayne Hallyburton, Goetz, Wilkinson, Fumerton and Jackson.

On the restart, Capirchio would stick right with Billy Zardo and pass him, putting the No. 03 Groundwork Drilling and Signs of Innovation Late Model out front before the caution flew at lap six for Fumerton going around by himself. With 44 laps to go, Capirchio led Witty, Billy Zardo, Baker, Holdaway, Box, Watson, Cronan, Morrow, Travis Hallyburton, Lane Zardo, Beatty, Bartlett, Goetz, Thayne Hallyburton, Wilkinson, Jackson, Maltese and Gresel.

The restart wouldn’t go smoothly mid-pack as Watson’s car would die down the backstretch, however everybody was able to get through unscaved as Watson got his car down out of the way. Watson would then come down pit road, done for the night. He had been fighting motor issues all night long.

At the front, Witty used the restart to his advantage to put the No. 19 Larue’s Haulage, Carrot Express, Speedy Auto Machine, Queensville Sod, Matco Tools Late Model ahead of the field on lap eight while Capirchio battled with Baker for second. Baker would get by Capirchio a lap later while Billy Zardo and Holdaway battled for fourth. Holdaway got the spot on lap 13, bringing Box and Cronan with him before the caution flew at lap 14 for Goetz going for a ride through the turn three/four grass after contact from someone.

With 36 laps to go, Witty led Baker, Capirchio, Holdaway, Box, Cronan, Billy Zardo, Travis Hallyburton, Morrow, Beatty, Lane Zardo, Jackson, Bartlett and Thayne Hallyburton.

Witty got the advantage on the restart ahead of Baker as Capirchio and Holdaway battled for third. Holdaway would get the spot ahead of Capirchio on lap 15 while Box and Cronan battled for fifth. Cronan would get by Box to move into fifth and began hounding Capirchio for fourth when the caution flew at lap 21 for Wilkinson spinning on the backstretch.

With 29 laps to go, Witty led Baker, Holdaway, Capirchio, Cronan, Box, Billy Zardo, Travis Hallyburton, Morrow, Beatty, Jackson and Thayne Hallyburton.

On the restart, Lane Zardo would get out of the groove and end up making his way down pit road while Witty was able to hold the advantage ahead of Baker and Holdaway. Cronan would finally get alongside Capirchio for fourth at lap 25, passing him a couple laps later to take the spot. Box was holding down the sixth spot solidly, though Morrow would challenge and pass him for the spot a couple laps later. Morrow then kept his charge to the front going, passing Capirchio for fifth at lap 32.

The top 11 ran single-file at that point, though would get bunched back up by another caution at lap 35 for Bartlett and Fumerton going around. Fumerton would pull into the pits done for the night under the “three cautions you’re out” rule. With 15 laps to go, Witty led Baker, Holdaway, Cronan, Morrow, Capirchio, Box, Billy Zardo, Travis Hallyburton, Beatty, Goetz, Jackson, Thayne Hallyburton and Bartlett.

On the restart, Baker and Witty battled hard side-by-side for the lead with Baker putting his No. 48 Baker Performance Parts, Wild Wing South Barrie, Nissco National Leasing, Zancor Custom Homes, Clearview Heating, Four Valley’s Excavating Late Model out front of the field on lap 36. Witty slipped back to second ahead of Cronan and Holdaway as Morrow and Capirchio battled for fifth. Morrow would grab the spot, then challenging Holdaway for fourth at lap 38, able to complete the pass two laps later. Behind them, Capirchio and Billy Zardo battled for sixth and Capirchio was able to hold off the third generation driver to keep the spot as Zardo would have his hands full with Box in the final stretch to the checkered.

At the front, it was all Dwayne Baker as he grabbed the victory ahead of Jason Witty, Sean Cronan, Chris Morrow, Taylor Holdaway, Dario Capirchio, Billy Zardo, Mat Box, Scott Beatty, Larry Jackson, Nick Goetz, Travis Hallyburton, Dave Bartlett, Thayne Hallyburton, Paul Maltese, Britney Gresel and Mike Wilkinson.

About the Author

Ashley McCubbin

Joining OnPitRoad.com mid-2013 season, Ashley McCubbin is now the Managing Editor and contributes to each racing division as needed. Since studying journalism at the University of Guelph-Humber, Ashley has published articles on a couple of different websites, while serving as a public relations representative for different short track teams. Born in North York, Ontario, Ashley currently lives in Bradford, Ontario and spends her weekend at the local short tracks in the area. She has spent her entire life at the short track level, falling in love with the sport at the age of five. Beyond her love of short track racing, she also has grown an interest for both NASCAR and the IndyCar Racing Series. She also enjoys taking photos and working on websites, while playing a couple rounds of Candy Crush afterwards.

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