Yontz Wins Shenandoah Primetime 150

Jun 4, 2006
By Russell Schmidt

Shenandoah, VA -- June 3, 2006 – Alex Yontz started on the pole, fell back, yet took the UARA checkers when leader Mark Setzer fell out with 10 to go in the running of the Primetime 150 at Shenandoah Speedway on Saturday night.

More than a thousand race fans witnessed the initial UARA outing at the Shenandoah racetrack when Yontz of Walnut Cove, NC edged Jamie Yelton and rookie Scooter Hillis in the 150-lap race.

"Oh man, that was a tough one there," said Yontz. "That 48 car was a good piece. We could run with him on the long runs, but we just couldn’t figure it out on the git-go, ya know, the first couple of laps. We had a good piece."

The big race started with Yontz on the pole and Setzer alongside, the result of a two-lap fast qualifying session.

Setzer swept down into the lead on the opening lap from the outside with Yontz and Ross Furr nearby. The top two ran side by side for several laps before Yontz pulled ahead by half-a-dozen car lengths.

The first caution fell on lap 14 when Mike Giessen turned around Jake Crum, the first of many spins for the young driver (age 14). Giessen was sent to the back for rough driving and the race resumed with Yontz out front. Setzer filled the leaders mirrors for many laps before taking the point on lap 52.

At the 2/3rds mark, Setzer and Yontz distanced themselves from the rest of the pack by nearly a straightaway. On lap 108, Crum was spun again, this time by Mark King with the same ruling...to the back.

While Crum was quickly working his way back to the top five, Setzer was setting his sights on his first win of the season. But, bad luck and losing his rear right wheel in turn 4 with only 10 to go handed the lead and the eventual first win of 2006 to Yontz.

Rounding out the top five were the cars of Crum and Joey Miller.

The Super Stocks took to the track with Kenny Bradley and Junior Wright leading. Bradley quickly took over the point with Sean Ballantine and Scott Marshall large in the leader’s mirrors.

Marshall wasted no time in moving by Ballantine for second, then set his sights on Bradley. Wright spun in turn 2 on the second lap, the first of what would be three times.

Throughout the 40-lap race, Marshall stayed close, took a few looks low, but couldn’t muster his way by Bradley, as the Waynesboro driver notched his third feature win of the season.

"Yeah, Scott gave me all I could handle, he’s a good race car driver and I appreciate him driving me clean," Bradley said.

Marshall said, "I felt like I had the car, but it seemed to go away later. I thought I had him there one time, but I think he rode the brake a little there when I got into him...I think I should have just turned him around then, I don’t know."

Rounding out the top five finishers were the cars of Ballantine, newcomer Tom Beckman and John Skelly.

Over in the U-Car combo feature, 16 domestics and imports took the green with Randolph Ratabush out front. While the leader was pulling away, Jeremy Cubbage smacked the inside Jersey barrier off turn two, forcing track officials to bring out equipment to move it back into place.

Racing resumed with Ratabush out front, but by lap 13, Tim Brown moved his car ahead with Greg Abbott close behind.

The car on the move however, was Beaver Dean. Dean started fifth, but slowly moved his way to the front, making the move for the lead on the back chute during the final lap.

Dean and Brown drag raced to the line off turn 4 with Dean taking back-to-back wins in front of Brown, Abbott, Eric Morris and David Turner.

"I’m grateful for Timmy (Brown) running me clean...if he wanted to get me, he could have," said Dean.

Of particular interest was Chris Headman competing in the same race. The Toyota driver started scratch on the field, worked all the way to the front, and took his fourth Import U-Car checkers in front of all of the domestic front-wheel drivers.

Next week’s racing schedule for Shenandoah Speedway includes the Super Stock, U-Car divisions, Mini-Cups, Baby Grands, Shenandoah Scale Racers and INEX Legends.

Check www.shenandoahspeedway.com for further details.

Shenandoah Speedway Results for June 3, 2006



UARA Main Event (150 Laps)



1. Alex Yontz 55
2. Jamie Yelton 8
3. Scooter Hillis 40
4. Jake Crum 92
5. Joey Miller 19
6. Lucas Ransone 46
7. Mark King 44
8. Justin Hill 45
9. Mike Giessen 68
10. Brandon Ward 98
11. KC Cunningham 61
12. Josh Hale 29
13. Ross Furr 25 (-3 laps)
14. Kyle Grissom 31 (-3 laps)
15. Mark Setzer 48 (-9 laps)
16. Zeke Shell 57 (-11 laps)
17. Barry Andrews 11(-59 laps)
18. RA Brown 60 (-81 laps)
19. Clay Jones 50 (-83 laps)
20. Shotgun Miller 3 (-125 laps)