Shady Bowl Speedway kicked off its 75th season Saturday night with a full program of stock car racing.
The Wooten Automotive Modifieds 30-lap main saw Jim Lewis Jr. jump out front. Lewis held the lead for 25 laps before tangling with another car, ending his night. Fast qualifier and defending track champion Chris Parker of Bellefontaine then took over the lead and led Gregg Jackson to the checkered flag. Daniel and Logan McPherson were third and fourth, with Scott Jones fifth.
Logan McPherson won the dash, with the heat win going to Mark Timmerman.
The Harrod Septic Solutions Compacts saw 19 cars take the green flag for their 25-lap feature. The race turned out to be the best race of the night. Columbus driver Jason Parsons and Keven Baggett put on a driving clinic as they ran side-by-side as the laps counted down. The fans were up and cheering as they were headed for the white flag when Baggett slipped high and caught the wall on the backchute.
Parsons went on to get the win, followed by dash winner Tony Heath, Nick Barrett, Jordan Sage and Baggett. Ethan Pope and Scott Henson took heat honors.
Next up on the track was the Bullet Liners of Dayton Thunder Cars. They ran the first of a series of four Thunder and Lightning 75-lap features. The winner of each event will pick up $1000. Nine cars dove into turn one at the drop of the green, with Curtis Noble out front.
Noble led the first 28 laps before mixing it up with another car and officials placed him at the rear of the field. Xenia’s Scott Drake then took over the lead and he led the remaining laps to get the win.
Dash winner Brad Blue was second, Noble clawed his way back to third, fast qualifier Robert Roush was fourth with Bob Coppock fifth. Landen Jones was the heat race winner.
The night also marked the debut of the Minor Crown Vics. Drivers in the Minor class must be 14-17 years old. In an event that was shortened, Gavin Wilcoxson of West Liberty won his first ever feature. Sam Marquis was second and Mason Armbruster third.
Action returns Saturday at Shady Bowl, featuring the Garrett Automotive Street Stock Shoot Out. The Shoot Out will be a 75-lap feature paying $1,575 to win. The Nagel Excavating Late Models, The Bullet Liner of Dayton Thunder Cars, the Adult Crown Vics and Harrod Septic Solutions Compacts will also be on the schedule. Racing starts at 7 p.m.