Daniel Hughes, right, receives the trophy for winning the UCARs points championship at Caraway Speedway. (Courtesy photo)
SOPHIA – Not all track champions needed top finishes in the final event of points racing at Caraway Speedway.
But it brought about some close racing Saturday night.
Championships in six divisions were confirmed. Here’s how it unfolded:
** In Late Models, Jason York had already clinched the championship.
Dean Ward won the Late Models feature, with Brody Duggins placing second ahead of Chase Murphy. Duggins was in Late Models for the first time at the track. Jamie York, son of Jason York, placed fourth with his father in sixth place.
Murphy was second in points for the season.
** In Challengers, Allen Vance did enough to secure the points championship with a sixth-place finish in the race among a dozen entrants.
Alex Stoltz was the race winning Saturday night, with Tommy Raino in second place and followed by Daniel Schadt, D.J. Dean and Matthew Smith. Brian Melville had contended for the points total, but was ninth in the final race.
** In Modifieds, Justice Calabro claimed the championship with a second-place finish in the final race by overcoming Jaxson Casper.
Fast qualifier Dean Lowder won the race. Casper never got started in an alternate car because of a dead battery, so that cost him a shot at the points title despite holding the third spot on the starting grid for the 35-lap finale. Jacob Creed placed third ahead of Nate Gregg and Jody Utt.
** In Mini Stocks, Chuck Wall’s second stop of the day at a track proved worth it as he won at Caraway Speedway, engaging in tight action with fast qualifier A.J. Sanders. Wall won the race, while Sanders dropped out late.
Still, Sanders is the division’s track champion, edging Bryson Pickard for the points title.
** In UCARs, a sixth-place finish for Daniel Hughes was enough to secure the points title.
The race winner was Justin Smith, who snatched his first victory of the year. He beat Tito Clapp to the finish line, while Mason Vance, Jason Richmond and Steven Collins held the next three spots.
Collins ended up as the points runner-up.
** In Bootleggers, Jon Morton showed championship form. The track champion also won the race, topping early leader Robbie Perkins. Third place in the race went to Andy Shores, followed by John Turner, Wade Turner and Jaclyn Morton.
