Jason Witty scores Late Model feature victory at Sunset Speedway

After posting a DNF following a lap one wreck on Saturday night, Jason Witty bounced back in style and picked up the feature victory on Sunday.

Dwayne Baker won the first heat barely ahead of Witty, Mike Bentley, Rick Walt, Sean Grosman, Brittney Gresel, Jack Horner and Mike Wilkinson.

Billy Zardo won the second heat ahead of Chris Morrow, Nick Goetz, Mat Box, Ernie Fumerton and Gary Elliott. Paul Maltese would pull off on the last lap.

Taylor Holdaway won the final heat ahead of Dario Capirchio, Travis Hallyburton, Tyler Liscum and Mark Gordon. Tom Walters pulled off with three to go with mechanical problems after contact with Holdaway.

The consolation race would not go smoothly at all as Walters would get loose on lap four off of turn four, spinning sideways on the frontstretch. Gresel was left with no where to go, making minor contact with Walters. Though the wreck wouldn’t end there as Wilkinson would come around the corner, making heavy contact with Gresel’s back bumper that actually sent his front nose under her car. Grosman would pick up the victory ahead of Gordon, Fumerton, Horner and Maltese.

Zardo went for the daily double in winning the Dash for Cash ahead of Witty, Baker, Bentley, Capirchio, Holdaway, Morrow, Goetz, Walt, Box, Hallyburton and Liscum.

Come feature time, it’d be Dario Capirchio starting on pole ahead of Nick Goetz, Sean Grosman, Mat Box, Dwayne Baker, Mike Bentley, Taylor Holdaway, Travis Hallyburton, Jason Witty and a whole pack of hungry dogs.

Capirchio and Goetz would battle back and forth for the lead in the early going, as the field sorted out behind them. One of the drivers who wouldn’t have the best of luck would be Maltese, as he was forced to hit pit road with mechanical issues at lap four. Capirchio and Goetz continued to battle till the first caution at lap seven for Gary Elliott going for a spin.

The restart allowed the pair to continue the battle, with Capirchio putting the No. 03 Groundwork Drilling and Signs of Innovation out front in the lead at lap 10. Goetz would start to slip back a bit, with Box getting around him to grab the second spot. Box would then get alongside Capirchio for the lead at lap 14. The pair battled for the lead all the way till lap 20 for the lead when Capirchio would see his night end as the motor would go up in smoke. With 30 laps to go, Box would inherit the lead behind the wheel of his No. 27 Transport Trailer Sales, Glider Systems and Maple City Tire Late Model ahead of Witty, Bentley, Goetz, Grosman, Baker, Morrow, Zardo, Liscum, Walters, Gordon, Fumerton, Gresel and Elliott.

The restart would feature Box and Witty side-by-side for the lead, with Witty grabbing the lead in his No. 19 Larue’s Haulage, Carrot Express, Speedy Auto Machine, Queensville Sod and Matco Tools Late Model on lap 21. Witty would begin to stretch his lead out, while Elliott was forced to hit pit road at lap 36 with mechanical issues. Witty would continue to stretch his lead out ahead of Box as Morrow continued his climb through the field till the caution flew at lap 41 for Liscum stopping in turn two. With nine laps to go, Witty led Box, Morrow, Bentley, Zardo, Walters, Grosman, Baker, Goetz, Fumerton, Gordon, Hallyburton and Holdaway.

Witty would get the jump on the restart ahead of Box as the battle broke out for the third spot. The battle would turn three-wide at lap 45 with Morrow, Bentley and Walters. Contact would happen among the three, resulting in Morrow going around and the caution flying. Morrow would rejoin the field, while Walters kept his spot and Bentley exited the track, with a possible mechanical problem as some sparks were seen under his car at the time of contact in turn three. Now with five laps to go, Witty led Box, Zardo, Walters, Baker, Grosman, Goetz, Hallyburton, Holdaway, Gordon, Gresel, Morrow, Horner, Fumerton and Elliott.

Jason Witty would get a good restart, and lead the final five laps en route to victory. Tom Walters would finish second after making a pair of passes, while Billy Zardo, Mat Box and Dwayne Baker rounded out the top-five. Sean Grosman finished sixth in his first appearance of the 2014 season, ahead of Nick Goetz, Travis Hallyburton, Chris Morrow, Ernie Fumerton, Britney Gresel, Cory Horner and Gary Elliott.

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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