Boggs Buckeye Finale Winner

By Scott Wolfe
CHILLICOTHE, OHIO-Final Turn, Final Lap! That was the call! It took six weeks to determine a champion, but only one turn to determine a race winner as Jackie Boggs, Grayson, Kentucky, pulled off the slide job on the dominant Matt Westfall to claim the $5,000 Octane Race Products/Reno & Sons Lawn Care Buckeye Late Model Dirtweek finale at Atomic Speedway. Westfall of Pleasant Hill, Ohio claimed the championship for the series over Duane Chamberlain and Rod Conley, earning an additional $3,000 for the points’ crown. Drivers from six states were in the line-up with over 100 cars in the pits.
Cole Duncan, Lockbourne, Ohio won the sprint car main, while Greggie Oliver took first in the modifieds, and Bob Crace, Jr. won the sport mods. Matt Balsley won the enduro.
The Dirtweek finale was all but Westfall’s to win or lose. Westfall dominated the last 12 laps to half track the rest of the field in dominant fashion. Westfall had just taken the white flag with Boggs a distant second when Joe Buskirk’s disabled mount stalled on the backchute. As the script unfolded Boggs tried a pass in turn one on the single-file restart pulling along-side Westfall in turn two.
Westfall pulled ahead two car-lengths, but Boggs drove his Swartz Extreme 4B deep into turn three for a slide job to pass for the lead. Westfall lifted momentarily looking for a run off turn four, however, Boggs drove on to the narrow win with the dramatic last lap pass. The large crowd erupted into a tidal wave of cheers for both drivers in the exciting finish. A win for Westfall would have meant an $8,000 payday.
Westfall got the jump on Boggs to lead the first lap, but the first caution flew when Scott Edmisten made contact with the first turn wall. Westfall and Boggs pulled the field on the restart, but the race slowed again on an Adam Jones spin. Two laps later Montgomery challenged Boggs for second just as Mark Frazier looped it and J.T. Conley was collected in the mishap, ending his night.
Westfall and Boggs continued the battle as Duane Chamberlain slid past Zack Dohm into the top six. Chamberlain and Westfall’s stakes were high as they were the top two point men battling for the Dirtweek crown. R.J. Conley bagged Mongomery on lap 12 while Moran leap-frogged a couple spots into fourth ahead of Nick Latham and Chamberlain.
On lap twenty, top ten-running Chad Smith lost a driveline on the front chute. Westfall and Boggs continued their battle-royal for number one on the restart. Boggs and Westfall went nose-to-tail, pulling about six car lengths ahead of R. J. Conley. Conley began to reel in that duo by lap twenty-five, making it a three-car race.
Just one lap later, Westfall got a break when Boggs made contact with a lapped car, allowing the high flying Westfall to build a half-straight cushion. Bogg’s tires appeared to “give up”. Westfall went into overdrive!
Montgomery, Nick Latham, Devin Moran, and Zack Dohm battled wildly for position with Montgomery gaining momentum toward a top four finish. Westfall had the race in the bag at the 39-lap mark when Joe Buskirk slowed on the back chute, changing the entire complexion of the race. Boggs tried the slide job in turn one, but Westfall had the momentum. Momentarily, it appeared that a Boggs win was not possible, but the race-winning slider was successful and secured him the win.
“I would rather be lucky than good anyday,” said a winded Boggs. “I couldn’t run with Westfall. My left rear was giving up and I had no chance. But I knew when the caution came out, I knew I could get him right over there (pointing to turn 4). I raced him clean…he raced me clean and that was the only way to do it.”
“I love my fans to death and I appreciate them coming out every night. To pull off this win tonight was great, especially with this nice crowd.”
The win was Boggs’ second in the series. Moran had two wins, Chamberlain one, and Jason Jameson one.
“Matt had the car to beat and Jackie got the opportunity he needed with the caution,” said third place R.J. Conley. “We had a good car and when the yellow came out I thought maybe I could get them both. But it didn’t happen. But on the postivie side I had the best seat in the house and saw it all go down.”
“I was just trying to run my race,” said a visibly defected Westfall, “but next time the bottom wont be there. Thumbs up to Jackie Boggs. I had a great car. It was heart-breaking, but that’s the way it goes. He made a clean pass and I just didn’t have enough run off the turn to get it back.”
“I would like to thank Brad (McCown) and the race tracks and sponsors for putting this deal together. This is good for dirt track racing and I hope they do it again next year,” added the inaugural champion.
Rounding out the top ten were Jackie Boggs, Matt Westfall, R.J. Conley, Nick Latham, Jason Montgomery, Devin Moran, Zack Dohm, Duane Chamberlain, Rod Conley, and Greggie Oliver.
Octane Race Products, Reno and Sons Lawn Care, 803fire.com, RockAuto, Dirt on Dirt, Phantom Racing Gear, Hidden Gem Motorsports, Graphic Creations, Hoosier Tire and Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley, Lias Tire, and OVDTR.com were additional series sponsors.
Brandon Wimmer, Fairmount, Indiana has led as many laps as anyone in the sprint car division at Atomic in 2015. But once again the Hoosier driver had to settle for second as Cole Duncan made a late race pass for the $2,000 win.
Wimmer was dominate for half the race, then engaged in a torrid dual with Duncan. Slide jobs and multiple lead changes highlighted the latter part the race, allowing Kevin Swindell to make it a three-way battle.
Rounding out the top ten were Cole Duncan, Brandon Wimmer, Kevin Swindell, Ron Blair, Kory Crabtree, Cale Thomas, Ryan Broughton, Kody Kinser, Todd Kane, and Nathan Skaggs. Kody Kinser was the hard charger of the race.
Greggie Oliver led from start to finish, but Jason Montgomery was within striking distance for the duration of the 20-lap $1,000 to win modified main. A late race caution allowed Mongomery to make a bid for first, pulling alonside Oliver on several occasions, but the points’ leader Oliver held on for the win.
Rounding out the top ten were Greggie Oliver, Jason Montgomery, Brian Whiteman, Dave Pinkerton, Brandon Oliver, John Burdette, Mark Dickson, Donnie Miller, Jimmy Lennex, and Dave McWilliams.
Bob Crace, Jr. won a heated battle over three-time winner and his son-in-law Jason Cottrill. The race long battle came down to a failed pass attempt on the last lap, making for an exciting finish and a third Crace win in the C & M Racing Equipment Sport Mods.
Rounding out the finish were Bob Crace, Jr., Jason Cottrill, Tony Seibert, Steve Noble, Keith Shanks, Jay Dunaway,Derek Davidson,Chase Sansom, Bill Young, Patrick Hayes, and Ricky Roberts.
Matt Balsley, Hebron, Ohio won the enduro.
Atomic hosts the prize jewell Open Wheel Championships next Friday and Saturday nights, July 31 and August 1. Come out and experience the excitement!
For more information please call 740-703-9749 or visit the Atomic Speedway website at <<< www.atomicspeedway.net >>> or the Atomic Speedway facebook page. Atomic is located 12 miles South of Chillicothe, Ohio off SR 23, two miles out Blain Highway between Chillicothe, Ohio and Waverly, Ohio at Alma.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Friday July 31st – 1ST Night of the OPEN WHEEL CHAMPIONSHIPS Two-day show: Night 1- UNOH All Star Sprints $5,000 to win, BOSS Non Wing Sprints, Race Saver 305 Sprints, Mini Sprints ( Thursday, July 30 pit party and cornhole tournament starting at 6 p.m./ $20 per team to enter. Prizes awarded. Several All Star drivers will be in attendance.)
Saturday August 1st- OPEN WHEEL CHAMPIONSHIPS Night 2- UNOH All Star Sprints $10,000 to win plus AMRA Modifieds and Race Saver 305 Sprints
THE SUMMARY:
803fire.com AMRA LATE MODELS (24)
Reno and Sons Lawn Care/Octane Race Products
Fast Time: Jason Montgomery 13:421
DASH: Matt Westfall, Jackie Boggs, Jason Montgomery, Devin Moran, R.J. Conley, Nick Latham
Heat One-Walker Arthur, Duane Chamberlain, Zack Dohm, J.T. Conley, Greggie Oliver, Jeremy Berwanger, Jason Jameson, Jeremy Misel, Adam Jones
Heat Two-Mark Frazier, Chad Smith, Rod Conley, Tommy Mossbarger, Scott Edmisten, Joe Buskirk, Ben Adkins, Darin Roush, Mick Sansom
Hard Charger: Jason Jameson 19th to 12th

Feature: Jackie Boggs, Matt Westfall, R.J. Conley, Nick Latham, Jason Montgomery, Devin Moran, Zack Dohm, Duane Chamberlain, Rod Conley, Greggie Oliver, Walker Arthur, Jason Jameson, Jeremy Berwanger, Mark Frazier, Ben Adkins, Jeremy Misel, Mick Sansom, Joe Buskirk, Adam Jones, Chad Smith, Scott Edmisten, Tommy Mossbarger, J.T. Conley, Darin Roush
PINE TREE TOWING AND RECOVERY 410 Sprints (27)
Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association (OVSCA)
Fast Time: Cole Duncan 11:828
Heat One-Brandon Wimmer, Cole Duncan, Beau Stewart, Nathan Skaggs, Kody Kinser, George Hawkins, Jimmy Light, Brian Benson, Dustin Webber
Heat Two-Cale Thomas, Todd Kane, Ron Blair, Ryan Broughton, Dave Dickson, Nate Reeser, Randy Fink, R.J. Perkins, Eric Martin
Heat Three-Kory Crabtree, Kevin Swindell, Caleb Armstrong, Mike Terry Josh Davis, Eddie Slone, Brandon Conkle, Mark Coleman, Mark Imler
B-Main:Nate Reeser, George Hawkins, Eddie Slone, Jimmy Light, Brian Benson, Brandon Conkle, Randy Fink, Mark Coleman, Dustin Webber, Eric Martin, R.J. Perkins, Mark Imler
Feature: Cole Duncan, Brandon Wimmer, Kevin Swindell, Ron Blair, Kory Crabtree, Cale Thomas, Ryan Broughton, Kody Kinser, Todd Kane, Nathan Skaggs, Josh Davis, Caleb Armstrong, Beau Stewart, Nate Reeser, Dave Dickson, Jimmy Light, George Hawkins, Eddie Slone, Mike Terry, Brian Benson.
Hard Charger: Kody Kinser 13th to 8th
Precision Grading AMRA MODIFIEDS (20)
Fast Time: Jason Montgomery 15:406
Heat One-Greggie Oliver, Jason Montgomery, Donnie Miller, Clint Keenan, Jimmy Lennex, Bud Frazier, Josh Scott
Heat Two-Brandon Oliver, Dave Fireball Pinkerton, Mark Dickson, Seth Daniels, Pete Brunton, Eric Arledge, Trevor Chaney
Heat Three-Brian Whiteman, John Burdette, Dave McWilliams, Zac Ackley, Mike Conkle, Rick Shutts
B-Main-
Feature: Greggie Oliver, Jason Montgomery, Brian Whiteman, Dave Pinkerton, Brandon Oliver, John Burdette, Mark Dickson, Donnie Miller, Jimmy Lennex, Dave McWilliams, Clint Keenan, Josh Scott, Mike Conkle, Seth Daniels, Zac Ackley, Bud Frazier, Rick Shutts, Trevor Chaney, Eric Arledge, Pete Brunton
Hard Charger: Josh Scott 19th to 12th
C & M Racing Equipment Sport Mods (12)
Fast Time: Bob Crace, Jr.16:425
Heat One-Bob Crace, Jr., Blake Sheets, Steve Noble, Keith Shanks, Chase Sansom, Ricky Roberts
Heat Two-Tony Seibert, Jason Cottrill, Derek Davidson, Jay Dunaway, Bill Young, Patrick Hayes
Feature: Bob Crace, Jr., Jason Cottrill, Tony Seibert, Steve Noble, Keith Shanks, Jay Dunaway,Derek Davidson,Chase Sansom, Bill Young, Patrick Hayes, Ricky Roberts
Smokeatorium Enduro
Matt Balsley, Rusty Balsley, Matt Balsley, A.J. Todd, Rick Balsley, J.D. Broughton