Staff Report

WHEELERSBURG — One of the most anticipated moments of the dirt track racing season occurred on last Friday as the legendary Southern Ohio Speedway reopened after a five-year hiatus. A huge crowd was in attendance with cars from as far away as Iowa.

The night’s 30-lap ADRA Late Model A-Main started with a three-wide battle for the lead between R. J. Conley, Eddie Carrier Jr., and Tim Dohm on the opening lap. Conley would lead lap one with Dohm moving into the second position.

On lap four Dohm went low in turn one and threw a slide job on Conley with the two making contact off of turn two resulting in the No. 6t machine of Dohm getting spun around.

Dohm’s car was not damaged but would have to restart the race from the tail via the no stop rule.

On the restart, Conley and Carrier had a fierce battle for the lead. Carrier would end up taking the lead on lap nine while all eyes were on Dohm as he blazed his way through the field.

In an incredible show of driving talent, Dohm moved all the way from last to third by lap 12. Dohm then made the pass on Conley for second and set his sights on Carrier.

On lap 16, Dohm did the unthinkable and passed Carrier for the lead, going from last to first in only 12 laps. Conley would get by Carrier as well and move into the second position.

Dohm ran off to a sustainable lead while all eyes were on the battle for second between Conley and Carrier. With five laps to go, Carrier made the pass back on Conley to move into second with Dohm still maintaining a one-second lead.

Dohm looked destined for victory until the three-lap to go mark when his machine was slowed down by lapped traffic, allowing Carrier to catch him running the high side to battle side by side for the lead coming to the line for two laps to go.

The two battled side by side the entire lap with Carrier taking the lead coming to the white flag. Dohm battled hard on the last lap to try to get back by Carrier but came a car length short as Carrier Jr. came across the checkered flag to win the Southern Showdown.

Dohm finished second with Conley third, Kenneth Howell fourth, and Mark Frazier fifth. R. J. Conley, Delmas Conley, and Harold Redman Jr won heat races while Paul Davis won the B-Main.

The $3,000 to win UMP Modified A-Main started with the “Bartman” Bart Hartman taking the lead and Joey Kramer moving into the second position.

Hartman and Kramer battled side by side for the lead for nearly the entire thirty lap race with Hartman running the middle groove and Kramer down low.

Hartman would hold off the numerous challenges from Kramer to come across the checkered flag and take the big win. Kramer finished second with Chad Kinder third, Kevin Morehouse fourth, and Chris Stotts fifth.

Hartman, Kramer, Morehouse, and Anthony Kinkade won heat races while Tim Tribby and Shawn Holliday won B-Mains. Jimmy Lemenx won the $400 non-qualifiers race.

Conard Newman dominated the nights 15 lap Bomber A-Main to take the feature win. David Dunn finished second with Danny Aldridge third, Keith Anderson fourth, and Jeremy Akers fifth. Newman also won the heat race.

The Southern Ohio Speedway will be in action this Friday with “Veteran Appreciation Night.” On the card will be a full racing program of Late Models, UMP Modifieds, Bombers, and Sport Mods.

Adult general admission is $12 with pit passes $25. Veterans that show proper ID will be admitted into general admission for only $5. Gates open at 4:00 pm with hot laps at 7:15 pm. For more information visit www.southernohiospeedway.com.