Photo Credit: Ashley McCubbin
For the 10th time at Sunset Speedway, Gary McLean would make his way to the front of the field, scoring the victory in the Hoosier OSCAAR Modified feature.
The night started off with Dean Scott going for a pair of spins in the first heat. Mike Hearty would then pull off with a flat left front tire. Justin Demelo went on to score the victory ahead of Brad Pearsall, Gary Elliott, A.J. Emms, Dan Price, Ryan Dick and Mark Saul.
Gary McLean won the second heat ahead of Chad Strawn, John Baker Jr., Brian McLean. Cory Horner, David Balych, Davey Terry, Tommy Robb and the 34.
The third heat didn’t start off smoothly as Brian McLean would spin Balych on the opening lap. Davey Terry went on to pick up the win ahead of Demelo, Dick, Hearty, McLean, Balych, Emms, the 34 and Saul.
The fourth heat also saw a quick caution with Scott spinning on the frontstretch. Gary McLean picked up the win, edging Strawn by a bumper at the line. Baker Jr. finished third, followed by Robb, Horner, Elliott, Pearsall and Price.
Come feature time with the invert, it’d be Brad Pearsall starting on pole ahead of Davey Terry, Gary Elliott, John Baker Jr., Chad Strawn, Justin Demelo, Gary McLean, Brian McLean, Ryan Dick, A.J. Emms, Mike Hearty, Tommy Robb, Cory Horner, Dan Price, David Balych, Mark Saul, Chris Milwain and the 34.
Davey Terry would put the No. 14 Wasteco Modified out front on the opening lap ahead of Pearsall, Elliott and Baker. Gary McLean would immediately begin his climb to the front, though, getting alongside Baker for fourth at lap three while Strawn and Demelo rounded out the top-seven. McLean and Baker would run side-by-side till the first caution flew at lap six for Balych going around in turn two. With 25 laps to go, Terry led Pearsall, Elliott, Gary McLean, Baker, Strawn, Demelo, Brian McLean, Dick, Hearty, Horner, Emms, Robb, Price, Milwain, the 34 and Saul.
The restart would allow Pearsall to put the No. 15 Plaza, Murf’s Manufacturing, Performance Signs, Syracuse Nationals, Rust Check, Ponderosa Nature Resort, Hosking Race Engines, KRP Vehicle Source, Hwy 400 Transmission, Dynesty Rebuilders, Scott Reinhart and Dream Machines Ltd. Modified out front of the field as Gary McLean slipped into the second spot behind him. McLean would then get alongside Pearsall at lap eight for the lead, putting the No. 8 McLean Farms Modified out front on lap nine. Pearsall slipped back to second ahead of Strawn, Terry, Elliott, Baker Jr., Brian McLean and Demelo. The field would be brought back together, though, as the caution flew at lap 13 for Robb spinning in turn two. With 17 laps to go, Gary McLean led Pearsall, Strawn, Elliott, Baker Jr., Brian McLean, Demelo, Horner, Dick, Emms, Price, Milwain, Balych, Hearty, Saul, the 34 and Robb.
The first attempt at a restart didn’t go cleanly with Brian McLean spinning in turn four. The second attempt went cleaner with Gary McLean keeping the lead ahead of Pearsall, Strawn, Terry, Elliott, Baker and Horner. However, the green flag racing would be shortly lived as the caution would fly at lap 16 for Price spinning, which left Milwain nowhere to go but into him. With 11 laps to go, Gary McLean led Pearsall, Price, Terry, Elliott, Horner, Demelo, Baker Jr., Dick, Balych, Emms, Brian McLean, Robb and Saul.
The restart brought forth hard-racing within the top-five, which ended badly for Strawn as he’d ended up turned around in turn two. Demelo and Saul would then also go around in the aftermath.
The second attempt at a restart which cleaner with Gary McLean grabbing the lead ahead of Pearsall, Terry, Horner and Elliott as Dick and Baker Jr. battled for sixth ahead of Emms. Dick would get the spot on lap 19 ahead of Baker Jr. while Emms and Robb battled for eighth behind them. The seventh caution then flew, though, as a result of Strawn and Hearty getting tangled up in turn one together. The pair were battling for position deep in the pack, and Hearty would crowd Strawn up against the outside wall. With eight laps to go, Gary McLean led Pearsall, Terry, Horner, Elliott, Dick, Baker Jr. and Emms.
Gary McLean would get another good restart to keep the lead ahead of Pearsall and Horner. He would lead the rest of the way, scoring the victory in the event. Cory Horner would get by Brad Pearsall late to take second, while Davey Terry and Ryan Dick rounded out the top-five. Gary Elliott finished sixth, followed by John Baker Jr., Tommy Robb, David Balych, Brian McLean, A.J. Emms, the 34 and Mark Saul.
The Hoosier OSCAAR Modifieds are back in action this weekend on June 13 for the first race of the Rick Woolner Memorial at Full Throttle Motor Speedway. They’ll be joined at the quarter-mile oval by the Midas of Orangeville OSCAAR Midgets.
