ST: Johnny Paradzinski Slides to First Career Feature Victory at Sunset Speedway

Even a bump from behind and a four-wheel slide couldn’t stop Johnny Paradzinski on Saturday night at Sunset Speedway as he would score his first career victory in the Mighty Mini feature. Notably, this past weekend marked Paradzinski’s third career Sunset Speedway start and second in the Mighty Mini division.

After winning the feature opening night, Chris Allard won the first heat ahead of Daniel Montanari, Eric Rainey, Dylan Holmes, Melissa Bullen, James Levi, Peter Wakeling and Harold Noseworthy.

Doug Wilman scored his first career heat victory in the second heat ahead of Ken Townsend, Paradzinski, Jeremy McLean, Joe Dunlop, Chandler Bos, Robert Toope, Lisa DeLeeuw, Billy McLeod and Josh Inglis.

Allard went for the daily double with the Fast Qualifier’s Dash ahead of Paradzinski, Townsend, Montanari, Wilman, Holmes, McLean, Bois, Dunlop, Rainey, Levi and Noseworthy.

Come feature time, it’d be Harold Noseworthy starting on pole ahead of Doug Wilman, James Levi, Dylan Holmes, Peter Wakeling, Johnny Paradzinski, Wendy Adams, Daniel Montanari, Robert Toope, Chandler Bos, Ken Townsend, Jeremy McLean, Eric Rainey, Lisa DeLeeuw, Chris Allard, Melissa Bullen, Morgan Robson, Josh Inglis, Billy McLeod and Joe Dunlop.

Doug Wilman put the No. 14 Rama’s Original D’s Smoke Shack, Muskoka Bay Clothing, and Cabral Racing Promotions Mini Stock out front as Paradzinski battled Holmes for second. Paradzinski got the spot on Lap 2 ahead of Holmes, with Montanari fourth.

Johnny Paradzinski got alongside Wilman at Lap 3, putting the No. 4 Stella Auto, Mega Wheelz, Prime Motors, Vinyl Obsessed and Image Wraps Honda Civic out front a lap later. Wilman now ran second as Holmes and Montanari battled for third ahead of Allard, Townsend and McLean.

Allard quickly began making his move, getting all the way up to third by Lap 5, and passing Wilman a lap later to move into second. Montanari passed Wilman to move into third on Lap 7. Allard’s run to the front ended on Lap 9 as he would go up in smoke, ending his race early and bringing out the caution. With 12 laps to go, Paradzinski led Montanari, Holmes, Wilman, Townsend, McLean, Bos, Levi, DeLeeuw, Rainey, Noseworthy and Bullen.

Paradzinski got a good restart to maintain the lead ahead of Montanari and Holmes. Townsend got alongside Holmes for the third spot at the halfway point, taking third a lap later. Holmes now ran fourth ahead of Wilman as McLean and Bos battled for sixth ahead of DeLeeuw. The caution then flew on Lap 14, though, as Noseworthy stopped in turn two with a problem. With seven laps to go, Paradzinski led Montanari, Townsend, Holmes, Wilman, Bos, McLean, DeLeeuw, McLean, Rainey, Levi, Adams, Inglis, McLeod, Wakeling and Robson.

Paradzinski got a good restart to maintain the lead ahead of Bois, Townsend, Holmes as Bos got by Wilman to move up into fourth at Lap 17. The third caution then flew at Lap 18, though, as Robson spun in turn two. Under caution, Montanari would be forced to pull off as he had a mechanical issue.

The first attempt at a restart didn’t go as Robson would’ve hoped as Wakeling wouldn’t go, with Robson making heavy contact with the back of him, putting a hole in the radiator to end his night.

The second attempt at a restart saw contact between Paradzinski and Townsend. Townsend got into the back of Paradzinski, getting him sideways. Paradzinski held on to it, though, making the impressive slide-save through turns three and four to keep the lead. Behind them, Inglis stopped with a problem.

The officials then made the choice to fly the checkered flag with Johnny Paradzinski picking up the win. Ken Townsend crossed the finish line in second, but was disqualified post-race. As a result, Dylan Holmes finished second followed by Chandler Bos, Doug Wilman, Jeremy McLean, Melissa Bullen, Lisa DeLeeuw, Eric Rainey, James Levi and Billy McLeod.

Stay tuned to OnPitRoad.com for an article on Johnny later on this week.