Underwood Is BOSS, Takes Jack Hewitt Classic

Todd Ridgeway
Area Auto Racing News
August 4, 2018

WAYNESFIELD(OH) – 26-year-old Troy Ohio driver Lee Underwood went from fifth to the winner circle on a late race restart to capture his career first 410 Sprint Car feature victory at Waynesfield (OH) Raceway Park at the Annual Jack Hewitt Classic. With but a handful of laps to go in the 30 lap contest Underwood would find a bite in the middle of the track and power by two cars on the restart and then dispose of two more a lap later and with but four to go zip by then race long leader Dave Darland to secure the victory in a fast paced, thrill filled event that had the fans on their feet.

“This is my fourth year driving this 410 Sprint Car, we race here about six times a year.” Said Underwood. “My very first 410 Sprint Car win and I am so excited. I found the middle of the track about halfway through the race, and I knew if I could just get a restart I would have something for them, and we did. Boy, it feels so good, this was a good race for the fans,” noted the happy race winning driver.

Darland and Kody Swanson would bring the field of 24 non-winged warriors to the start as Darland had little trouble pushing to the point as Swanson dropped back through the field. Luke Hall would settle in second and push to the lead at the race ten lap mark in turn one only to see Darland power back by in turn three. Bill Rose would battle his way into second getting by Hall and pull up on Darland as the pair blistered the Ohio dirt. The late race yellow would drop when a car had a flat and stalled on track. Dallas Hewitt had moved into fourth and Underwood cracked the top five in fifth from his seventh starting position. As the front four stayed in line on the restart Underwood went to the middle of the track and blistered past both Hewitt and Hall into third before they would see the backstretch. Next on the agenda, zip by Rose for second and bring Hewitt along as the hitchhiker into third. Two laps later and Underwood was challenging Darland, the next lap Underwood was the leader and would never look back. Hewitt would muscle his way by Darland on the final lap to score the runner up position with Darland third followed by Scotty Weir and Rose rounded out the top five.

“I really like getting around this track. I can’t say what an awesome feeling it was to pass Dave Darland for the lead, but I had to concentrate on the race. But to finish in front of guys like Darland and Dallas Hewitt really means a lot. And then to come to the winner’s circle and see the smile on Jack’s (Hewitt) face, it was all worth it. Just so excited, the car was great tonight,” finished Underwood.

“On that restart Lee (Underwood) went right by me, that middle was the place to be. I found out the car was really good when I moved down there were Lee was in the middle groove, it was really good. A couple laps short tonight but, congratulations to Lee. I am just happy to be here, if you never met my Uncle Jack Hewitt you should. He will either make you laugh or embarrass you to death,” finished Hewitt.

A dejected Darland had to settle for third. “We were pretty good early, but just not as good as those couple of cars in front of us. You know BOSS has this open tire rule, we hardly ever get in that situation but rarely, we just missed it tonight,” said Darland.