Earl Gaerte Classic Features ASCoC, 600 Open Sprints
By: Anita Soltis
(Plymouth, IN) The Earl Gaerte Classic is always a racing event to mark on the calendar every year at Plymouth Speedway and this year’s event didn’t disappoint.
The UNOH All Star Circuit of Champions (ASCoC) saw a repeat winner in Friday night’s 35-lap feature. Dale Blaney started the main event in the fifth position and soon got by competitors Cody Darrah, Rico Abreu, and James McFadden. Darrah started on the pole but Abreu took the quick lead. McFadden attempted to reel in Abreu, but couldn’t get the track position.
Meanwhile, Blaney was using the high line to move his way through the field. Lapped traffic helped Blaney move in on McFadden and took second place. Blaney then set his sights on the lead. On lap 19, Blaney took the low lane of the track and Abreu slid up the track which opened up the door for Blaney to assume the lead. Abreu started a run on Blaney in the closing laps but they skillfully weaved in and out of traffic on the dirt surface to stay in position for the remainder of the race.
Blaney claimed his second consecutive win in the series and the 117th win of his career while Abreu finished second and McFadden third.
Ryan Smith was the biggest mover of the race, finishing 13th after starting in the back row in 25th.
The Dickies Restaurant 600 Open Sprints feature was led by Garrett Saunders who grabbed the early lead in the 20-lap feature. Billy Cribbs quickly snuck into the second position and Bradley Jameson moved his way from the sixth position to a podium spot. Cribbs had a chance to move in on Saunders, but ran out of laps. Saunders stood atop the podium for his second win of the season while Cribbs was second and Jameson posted his first top-three finish this season.
The racing continues Saturday night at the Playground of Power when Ken Schrader visits to wheel a Swan Lake Lake Resort UMP Modified. The Dickies Restaurant 600 Open Sprints, WTCA Super Streets, Walmart Thunder Stocks and Bane-Welker Cyber Stocks will also race in the second night of a busy race weekend at Plymouth Speedway. The gates open at 4 p.m., hot laps begin at 6 p.m. and racing begins at 7 p.m. ET. For more information, visit www.plymouthspeedway.net.
About Plymouth Speedway:
Plymouth Speedway features a three-eighths (0.375) mile banked dirt oval owned by Ed Kennedy. Five different classes of racing are featured: UMP Modifieds, Non-wing 600 Sprints, Thunder Stocks, Cyber Stocks and Super Streets. Regular season races are scheduled in the months of April through August on Saturday nights with several special events. For information, visit www.plymouthspeedway.net, follow Plymouth Speedway’s official Facebook page, @PlymouthSpeed on Twitter or email info@plymouthspeedway.net.