Dwayne Baker scores Late Model Feature Victory at Sunset Speedway

For the second straight event in a row, Dwayne Baker would hit victory lane as he claimed victory in the second lag of the Sauble to Sunset “home to home”. It wasn’t an easy victory by any means, though, as Baker had to come through the b-main to win it.

Billy Zardo kicked off his night in style, using a three-wide pass on the drop of the green flag in the first heat to claim the victory. Tom Walters finished second, followed by Scott Beatty, Scott McTeer, Dave Barlett, Dario Capirchio, Dan Wright and Tyler Liscum.

The night didn’t start off as Baker would’ve hoped as the left rear tire would fall on the opening lap of the second heat in turns three and four. Baker commented post-race that the team had the battery charger hooked up to the car before the race and taking it off and putting the tire back on, the lug nuts did not get tightened as much as they should have.

A second caution would come out in the heat when Kyle Passer went for the spin at lap five. Joshua Stade would get the victory just barely at the line ahead of Jason Witty. Chris Morrow finished third, followed by Brandon Watson, Jason Parker, Tom Gibbons and Brittney Gresel.

The final heat was eventful to say the least as it started off with a caution on lap one for Thayne Hallyburton’s truck lid flying off. Then on lap three, Paul Maltese would go for the spin, collecting Nick Goetz. There was almost a caution at lap seven when Fumerton went sideways, with Maltese sliding behind – though both saving. However, there’d be a caution at lap 12 when the 85 spun. Mike Bentley picked up the win ahead of Taylor Holdaway, Mat Box, Fumerton, Travis Hallyburton, Goetz, Maltese, Thayne Hallyburton and the 85.

Setting the bottom six in the field, Dwayne Baker took the win in the b-main ahead of Liscum, Gresel, Wright, Maltese, Passer, Thayne Hallyburton and the 85.

Come feature time, Jason Witty would start pole ahead of Tom Walters, Mike Bentley, Joshua Stade, Billy Zardo, Taylor Holdaway, Scott Beatty, Chris Morrow, Mat Box, Scott McTeer, Brandon Watson, Ernie Fumerton, Dave Bartlett, Jason Parker, Travis Hallyburton, Dario Capirchio, Tom Gibbons, Nick Goetz, Dwayne Baker, Brittney Gresel, Dan Wright, Paul Maltese, Kyle Passer, Thayne Hallyburton, the 85 and Tyler Liscum.

The first attempt at starting the race didn’t go smoothly as contact between Zardo and Walters would resulting in Walters spinning and Stade collecting some damage as well; Passer would also get a piece of it, as well. All involved cars would be sent to the rear for the second attempt at starting the race so Witty now led Bentley, Holdaway, Beatty, Morrow, Box, McTeer, Watson, Fumerton, Parker, Bartlett, Capirchio, Travis Hallyburton, Goetz, Gibbons, Baker, Wright, Maltese, Walters, Passer, Zardo, the 85, Liscum, Gresel and Stade.

The second attempt was not much better, though, as Capirchio would go for the spin while Witty would head down pit road. Witty commented after the race that there was a fuel pressure issue with his No. 19 Larue’s Haulage, Carrot Express, Speedy Auto Machine, Queensville Sod, Matco Tools Late Model. Stade would also come down pit road, done for the event. As a result, Mike Bentley would take over the lead ahead of Holdaway, Beatty, Morrow, Box, McTeer, Watson, Fumerton, Parker, Bartlett and others.

The third attempt went smoothly with Mike Bentley getting the advantage in his No. 51 Streamline Race Products and ARP Stockcar Bodies Mustang while Morrow and Holdaway battled for second. The pair continued to battle till lap five, with Morrow grabbing the advantage, bringing Watson through with him. Beatty would grab the fifth spot at lap seven from Box, while Travis Hallyburton looked to grab seventh from Bartlett. Hallyburton was able to grab the spot on lap 10, bringing Baker through with him, while Box back alongside Beatty for fifth. The pair would battle for a good four laps, with Beatty holding off Box. Hallyburton, Baker, Parker and Bartlett rounded out the top 10 as the caution flew at lap 17 for Zardo having a flat tire going into turn three.

With 33 laps to go, Bentley led Morrow, Watson, Holdaway, Beatty, Box, Travis Hallyburton, Baker, Parker, Bartlett, Fumerton, Thayne Hallyburton, Walters, Goetz, Liscum and Capirchio.

On the restart, Morrow would grab the advantage and put the No. 11 CRS Rentals, Advance Landscapes, Duraflo Ventilation, Halls Service Center, Morrow Electric Late Model out front as Bentley battled with Watson for second. Watson would grab the advantage on lap 19 ahead of Bentley, with Holdaway and Beatty behind as Box and Baker battled for fifth. Beatty would get alongside Holdaway for fourth at lap 20, with that battle turning three-wide at lap 22 as Box stuck his nose in. Holdaway would get the advantage and the fourth spot, whole Box and Beatty were left to battle for fifth. They would battle till the caution flew at lap 24 for Maltese spinning. With 25 laps to go, Morrow led Watson, Bentley, Holdaway, Beatty, Box, Baker, Travis Hallyburton, Parker and Fumerton.

Electing the outside of the restart would not go Morrow’s way as Watson was able to grab the lead on lap 28 while Bentley ran solidly in third ahead of Holdaway, Box, Baker, Travis Hallyburton and Beatty as Fumerton and Goetz battled for 10^th. Closer to the front, Holdaway would catch Bentley for the lead and began searching for every which way by. Bentley, in return, blocked Holdaway’s every move and the battle hit a high note at lap 33 with Holdaway sending Bentley for a spin. With 17 laps to go, Watson led Morrow, Box, Baker, Travis Hallyburton, Goetz, Fumerton, Billy Zardo, Thayne Hallyburton, Parker, Liscum, Capirchio, McTeer, Gresel, Gibbons, Bentley, Passer, Holdaway, Bartlett, Walters, Beatty, Maltese and the 85.

Watson would grab the advantage on the restart to put the No. 9 Sunrise Toyota and Royal Distributing Late Model for Smooth Racing out front ahead of Morrow and Baker. Baker would get alongside Morrow for second at lap 34, though had the battle cut short when Holdaway sent Bentley for a second loop around.

The restart would bring a hard fought side-by-side battle with Watson and Morrow for the lead, including some contact that results in the right front fender of Morrow’s car being pulled back. The pair continued to battle till lap 40 when Watson made contact with Morrow, causing Morrow to slide up sideways off of the corner. Morrow would save the car, though in the process allowed Baker to get the second spot behind Watson. A lap later, the caution would fly for a multi-car incident in turn two that started with contact between Goetz and Thayne Hallyburton. Parker, Fumerton and the 85 would all get a piece of it, as well. With nine laps to go, Watson led Baker, Morrow, Travis Hallyburton and Zardo.

Another restart, and more contact for the lead as Watson and Baker battled each other hard, with Baker grabbing the lead in his No. 48 Baker Performance Parts, Wild Wing South Barrie, Nissco National Leasing, Zancor Custom Homes, Clearview Heating, Four Valley’s Excavating Late Model on lap 44. morrow solidly held down third ahead of Travis Hallyburton while Zardo and Box battled for fifth. Zardo would clear Box with four laps to go, while Parker and Gibbons held serve behind them as Liscum battled with Capirchio for ninth. Capirchio would grab the spot with two laps to go, bringing Holdaway through with him.

At the front, it was all Dwayne Baker as he picked up the victory ahead of Brandon Watson, Chris Morrow, Travis Hallyburton, Billy Zardo, Mat Box, Jason Parker, Tom Gibbons, Dario Capirchio and Taylor Holdaway. Tyler Liscum finished 11^th, followed by Tom Walters, Scott McTeer, Brittney Gresel, Paul Maltese, Thayne Hallyburton, Dave Bartlett, Ernie Fumerton, Kyle Passer and the 85.