Hopkins, Wallace claim LPS feature wins

Monday, July 24, 2017
Greencastle's Josh Boller (No. 05B) and Kenny Wallace (No. 36) battle for the lead coming through the final two turns of the UMP Modified feature Saturday night at Lincoln Park Speedway. Wallace was able to edge Boller at the finish line by several feet.
Carey Fox photo

PUTNAMVILLE — Hammer down dirt race tracks are a test of man, mettle and machinery.

Such was the case Saturday night at Lincoln Park Speedway as a lightning fast racing surface tested the race drivers on hand.

AJ Hopkins bested 17 other sprint car pilots in dominant fashion, topping Kevin Thomas Jr. by nearly a straightaway after a late race caution. Kenny Wallace was able to edge out Greencastle’s Josh Boller in a thrilling UMP Modified main event. Boller pulled even with Wallace off the final corner, but lost out by a couple of feet at the finish line.

The UMP Super Stock A-main was on the track as a drizzling rain began to fall. Moments later a steady downpour meant that Mother Nature would claim the final two classes and three features of the evening.

Thomas Jr. was a fresh off an Indiana Sprint Week Championship last week as he switched rides to the Mike Gass Racing No. 17 for Saturday’s LPS date. The results were much the same as Thomas claimed heat race number one ahead of Jerry Coons. Hopkins rocketed to a win in the second heat race ahead of Brazil’s Nate McMillin and Shane Cockrum claimed the third heat ahead of Jeff Bland Jr.

Coons and Cockrum would start on the front row for the sprint car A-main with Hopkins and Thomas in the second row. When the green flag fell it was Hopkins jumping out to the lead and quickly building himself a cushion as Cockrum had his hands full with a Jeff Bland Jr. as Cockrum and Thomas were in tow.

Just nine laps into the feature, Hopkins had caught and began to lap traffic in the back of the field. The Brownsburg native was ripping around the cushion and had opened up a full straightaway lead over Thomas and Bland before a spin by Brady Ottinger brought out the caution flag.

With seven laps remaining, the field had a last ditch shot at trying to knock Hopkins from the top spot. When the green flag fell once again, Thomas gave Hopkins everything but the kitchen sink on the restart. Hopkins bobbled briefly as he hopped the cushion in turn two with four circuits remaining. However, he quickly hammered the throttle back out of the corner to stay wheel-to-wheel with Thomas. The pair made a full laps next to each other before Hopkins’ powered back in front and would not look back. Over the final few laps, Hopkins again opened up a large lead to put the Ottinger No. 4J sponsored by Franklin Equipment, CEP Concrete, G&D Realty, Greg Hubler Chevrolet and Hovis in victory lane just eight days after a flip into Bloomington Speedway’s parking lot.

Thomas Jr. came home second ahead of Bland, Coons and Brandon Mattox in the top-five.

Twenty-seven UMP Modifieds were on hand at Lincoln Park Speedway this weekend in pursuit of the winner’s share of the purse.

RJ Pruitt, Boller, Wallace and Jacoby Hines were heat race winners with West Terre Haute’s Sydney Landes capturing the B-main victory to set up the main event line-up.

Hines and Wallace made up a stout front row with Wallace currently sitting seventh in the UMP National Points Standings. Five other members of the Southern Indiana Regional top-10 were also on hand to challenge Wallace.

Wallace, Boller and Hines were early challengers for the top spot before Wallace crossed the line in first by lap five with Boller in tow. Hines ran third ahead of Pruitt and Tyler Loughmiller at that stage of the race.

By lap 10, it would have been easy to throw a beach towel over the top-three as Wallace held a tenuous advantage over Boller and Hines. Several car lengths back of the front runners, Pruitt had fourth as Loughmiller and Derek Groomer gave chase.

The final battle began to take shape as Wallace and Boller opened up some breathing room in their chase for the checkers. By lap 15, Wallace and Boller were door-to-door through the corners as Wallace held fast to the top line and Boller dove to the bottom to make up valuable ground. With two laps to go it appeared as if Wallace was going to be able to salt away the win as he opened up a car length lead crossing the finish line.

Boller gathered his plan of attack as Wallace attempted to take away his preferred line with one lap left. Wallace slipped slightly up the track into the final two corners as Boller rocketed through turn three and came out of turn four even with the former NASCAR star. The pair had a drag race to the finish line that Wallace narrowly claimed for the victory. Boller, Hines, Groomer and Pruitt wrapped up an exciting top-five finish at the Putnamville oval before the rains came.

This weekend will feature the 30th running of the Putnamville Clash with a $3,000 payday for sprint cars. UMP Modifieds, super stocks and bombers are on the card along with the MMSA mini sprints.

Sprint car feature

1. AJ Hopkins, 2. Kevin Thomas Jr., 3. Jeff Bland Jr., 4. Jerry Coons Jr., 5. Brandon Mattox, 6. Nate McMillin, 7. Shane Cockrum, 8. Lee Underwood, 9. Brian Karraker, 10. Josh Cunningham, 11. Brent Stapp, 12. Alec Sipes, 13. Harley Burns, 14. Brady Ottinger, 15. Daylan Chambers, 16. Ethan Barrow, 17. Koby Barksdale, 18. Brandon Spence

Heat winners: Thomas Jr., Hopkins, Cockrum

UMP Modified feature

1. Kenny Wallace, 2. Josh Boller, 3. Jacoby Hines, 4. Derek Groomer, 5. RJ Pruitt, 6. Tyler Loughmiller, 7. Scott Ricketts, 8. Kenny Carmichael Sr., 9. Michael Fish, 10. Kenny Carmichael Jr., 11. Rob Brickert, 12. James Walters, 13. Jay Humphrey Jr., 14. Brent Hudson, 15. Sydney Landes, 16. JR Watkins, 17. Boomer Houk, 18. Cole Parker, 19. Dan Lewellen, 20. Aaron Draage

B-main winner: Landes

Heat winners: Pruitt, Boller, Hines, Wallace

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