Jacob Hawkins
As part of its Eldora Dirt Derby that featured the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, the Eldora Speedway staged racing in the Open Wheel Modified class as well. At the end of Wednesday evening, it was Jacob Hawkins of Fairmont, WV who earned the winner’s trophy and a $5,000 payday.
Preliminary action on Tuesday placed Ray Bollinger on the pole with Dean Hoffman, Kenny Schrader, Evan Taylor, Brian Ruhlman, Hawkins, Kenny Wallace, Taylor Cook, Tony Anderson and David Stremme rounding out the top-10 on the starting grid.
At the start of the 20-lap feature it was Hoffman taking the early lead with Schrader, Bollinger, Taylor and Hawkins in his tire tracks. Bollenger wasted little time in making a move as he passed by Schrader for second on lap 2 with Hawkins also sweeping by Schrader to grab third.
Cook roared forward on lap 3 when moved into the fifth spot from his eighth starting position. On the next lap it would be Hawkins putting a bi slide job maneuver on Bollinger to wrest the runner-up spot away.
The action would prove to be non-stop during the caution-free race as Hawkins then moved in and began to challenge Hoffman for the top spot on the leader board on the sixth circuit. Further back, Stremme and Wallace traded spots within the top-10 on both ends of the track during lap 7.
Hawkins continued to pressure Hoffman and finally took the lead with a slide job pass on lap 9. At the same time, Cook moved around Bollinger to seize third. Cook then kept the momentum going as he took second away from Hoffman two laps later.
Meanwhile, former NASCAR Cup racers Schrader, Wallace and Stremme fought over positions 5-7 on lap 11. Wallace was successful in taking fifth one lap later while Stremme would also pass Schrader on lap 14.
Over the closing laps, Hawkins drove away from the pack with only slower traffic to battle on his way to the checkered flag at the famed half-mile facility.
Feature Finish: 1. Jacob Hawkins, 2. Taylor Cook, 3. Dean Hoffman, 4. David Stremme, 5. Kenny Wallace, 6. Ray Bollinger, 7. Kenny Schrader, 8. Evan Taylor, 9. Dylan Woodling, 10. Brian Ruhlman, 11. Jonathan Taylor, 12. Josh Morton, 13. Brian Gray, 14. Jeff Koz, 15. Tony Anderson, 16. Ryan Sutter, 17. Brandon Vaughn, 18. Mike Learman, 19. Jerry Bowerstock, 20. David Reutimann, 21. Scott Williams, 22. Mark Anderson, 23. Joel Dick, 24. Mike Hohlbein, 25. Tim Richardson, 26. Aaron Orr, 27. Scott Orr, 28. Adam Schaeff, 29. Lenny Guyton, 30. Jordan Canover, 31, Frank Paladino
