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2024 Buckeye Bob 33 Recap

The Buckeye Bob 33 in honor of Gary Ricketts was Saturday night at LPS. 24 UMP mods were going for the 2K prize at the end of the night. Single car qualifying would be the 1st task and Josh Harris, Derek Groomer, Derek Losh, Jerry Bland and Matt Mitchell were the top 5 times. The heat invert spin was a 1 so the top 3 each had the pole for their heats. The top 2 would make a dash and the way the dash would finish would be the top 3 rows of the 33 lap A main event. Heat race 1 was won by Josh Harris over RT Gamble and Wes McClara. Heat race 2 was won by Derek Groomer over Matt Mitchell and Tyler Loughmiller. The final heat was won by Derek Losh over Wil Bennett and James Walters. This setup the dash and Derek Losh would win the 6 lap shootout over RT Gamble and Josh Harris. The last chance to get in the big show for the B main was won by Jay Humphrey Jr. over Scott Ricketts and Jimmy Hayden. It was now time for the main event Buckey Bob Gary Ricketts 33 laps. The front row with Derek Losh on the pole he would be tough to beat from there for sure. He started out really strong and would lead the 1st ten laps starting to build a lead. Things started heating up after the 20 lap range. Derek Groomer had made it to 3rd and was battling for 2nd with Josh Harris. Josh gave some room in turn 4 and Derek was there to take the spot. Josh would spin and have to go to the back which setup a restart for the 2 Derek’s to battle for the top prize. Derek Groomer would get the high side to work and he would pass for the top spot in the closing laps and James Walters would also pass Derek Losh for the 2nd spot. At the checkers it was Derek Groomer, James Walters, Derek Losh, Tyler Loughmiller, Cole Parker and Matt Mitchell. Thanks to all the teams and the Ricketts family for putting on a great show. Also thanks to all the sponsors that added money to the purse for Gary’s race.

The Sprint Cars had 19 entries for the night and the 3 fast times in their groups were Kyle Cummins, Brayden Fox and Seth Parker. The 3 heats were won by the same 3 after the spin of 1 came out and these 3 definitely showed their speed carried over from qualifying to the heats. This would setup the 25 lap A main and the invert was a 5 which put Chance Crum and Harley Burns on the front row. Both Seth Parker and Kyle Cummins showed their speed again as the last 10 laps of the feature they were on the cushion and dicing through lapped traffic like it was already their summer momentum that each had last year. Kyle Cummins would hold on for the win over Seth Parker, Chance Crum, Tye Mihocko and Brayden Fox. It was another excellent show put on by our non wing heroes at the big Curb!!

The UMP Super Stocks had 16 entries. Fast times were Larry Raines and Wade Goodale. The heat race winners were JD Nash and Justin Massie. This setup another classic to end the night at LPS. Justin Massie and JD Nash started on the front row. Both of these drivers have looked really strong in the early season. Justin would take the lead but towards the end Wade Goodale was definitely the quickest car. On lap 19 Wade took the lead and the yellow would come out. This setup a 1 lap shootout. What would have been a great shootout among the 14G and the 55J sadly didn’t happen as when the green came out Wade had what appeared to be an axle problem slowing his speed. Justin would take the lead and go on to take the victory over Larry Raines, Jordan Almanza, JD Nash and Devin Wallen.

The Lentz Paving Indiana RaceSaver Sprint Series started Saturday night at LPS. Opening night had 15 cars enter the pits for the first IMCA points night in Indiana for the RaceSavers. This setup 2 qualifying groups and since it was nice one the new wraps looked great on the winged cars. Qualifying group 1 was led by former Usac Rookie of the Year Dustin Clark who set quick time over Ethan Fleetwood, Tres Mehler and Levi Hinck. Group 2 in qualifying was led by very fast and veteran of the group Jordan Welch over John Wolforth, Justin Matthews and Blayne Ridgley. This setup the 2 heats and the invert spin was a 1 so both quick guys would be on the pole. Heat race 1 was a wild one. Ethan Fleetwood looked strong early in the 7F. A good battle between Dustin Clark and Tres Mehler unfortunately ended after contact caused the 23F to break and sent Dustin to the infield with what appeared to be a broken front end. On the restart Ethan Fleetwood hit his marks and went on for the Riverway Plumbing Heat 1 win over Tres Mehler, Levi Hinck and Blake Sholders. The Riverway Plumbing Heat 2 was won in dominating fashion by Jordan Welch over Justin Matthews, John Wolforth and Ashton Thompson. This setup the 20 lap main event and the invert spin for the feature was a 1 which put the heat race winners side by side for the A main shootout. It was a good shootout for sure with Fleetwood and Welch looking very strong early. The 23F team made repairs and Dustin Clark would start 15th but by the halfway point he was into the top 10. Keith Langley who started 9th also was into the top 5 by the halfway point. The 20 laps definitely didn’t last long at all as Ethan and Jordan were flying up front. The last 5 laps Ethan would hold on for the Brawley Group Feature win over Jordan Welch, Keth Langley (from 9th), Justin Matthews, John Worlforth, Tres Mehler and the Bridlewood Consulting Hard Charger from 15th to 7th Dustin Clark. Thanks to all the teams and sponsors for night 1 of the Lentz Paving Indiana RaceSaver IMCA battle. Next Friday at the Red Clay of Bloomington will be the next race for the RaceSavers. Join us next weekend as all 3 tracks run with the Indiana Late Model Series at Bloomington, the modlites at LPS Saturday and the 1st night at Terre Haute with the Maverick Series set to sail in 2024!! Thanks to our great teams and fans for coming out to LPS Saturday night honoring Gary!!

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