ORRVILLE – Jared Miley found himself in a perfect position to capitalize on his long-awaited to return to the O’Reilly Auto Parts Wayne County Speedway on Saturday night.
The Pittsburgh driver seized the moment with a dominating performance in sweeping the $3,500-to-win Zimmer’s Service Centers United Late Model Series event at the 3-8-mile oval near Orrville. Sikeston, Missouri pilot Hunter Schurenberg led all 30 laps of the Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions feature event, while local hot shoe Kyle Moore captured the speedway’s McKenzie Concrete super stock main.
Miley, who finished fourth in the series’ visit to Lernerville (PA.) Speedway on Friday behind winner Greg Satterlee, made the long tow even more profitable by leaving Orrville’s Historic Oval with the ULMS points lead as well. Miley started his evening by setting quick time and winning his heat before leading all 30 laps from his inside front row starting slot.
“It’s been like 12 years since we last visited (Wayne County Speedway), but l remember enjoying coming here and tonight the track was awesome,” said Miley beside his Blue Mountain Energy-backed, Colussy Chevrolet No. 10. “We’ve had a few seconds and thirds here, so it’s good to finally get in victory lane.”
Although “The Jet” dominated the event, all eyes were peeled to the action behind Miley. Regional aces Todd Brennan and Ryan Missler, and local WCS frontrunners Mitch Caskey, Doug Drown and JR Gentry waged a torrid battle of their own. Inadvertent contact, however, between Missler and Brennan in turn 2 on the second circuit sent Brennan’s mount to the tail, with locals Larry Bellman and Ryan Markham along with Keystone state driver Chad Wright also joining the mix on the restart.
Missler moved into second on lap 6 past Caskey, as the top three broke away from the pack as Brennan motored his way through the field. By lap 21, Brennan had moved into fourth as Drown and Wright each went pit side. Miley’s advantage, though, had grown to a half-lap at the stripe with Missler, Caskey, Gentry, Markham, Bellman, Eric Wilson, ULMS regular Dave Stamm and Jason Henderson completing the top 10.
The WCS super stocks hit the speedway next, with Took Wiles grabbing the early lead with Brandon Craver and Friday night Hilltop Speedway feature winner Moore in tow. Yellows on laps one and three bunched the field, with Wiles and Moore exchanging slide jobs when the green replaced the yellow.
Moore went to the high side of turn 2 in a bid to take the point a lap later with the hard-luck Wiles simultaneously retiring from the event with mechanical woes. Moore hung on to the lead over the last eight circuits in visiting Summit Racing victory lane. Paul Holmes, Craver, Tyler Wiles, and Chase Alexander completed the top 5.
WCS returns to action on Saturday with the first of three consecutive Fast Five shoes before the Tezos All Star sprints make their return on Monday June 13 for its annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek stop.
Zimmer’s Service Center ULMS late models
Heat 1- 10-Miley, 14-Gentry, 59-Bellman, 88-Dustin Smith, 24X-Jason Skelly, 11-Ryan Abel
Heat-2-12-Drown, 50-Missler, 27-Wilson, 5M-Markham, 7-Nick Cox, 217-Howard Fraley
Heat-3-20-Brennan, 79-Caskey, 6-Wright, 10S-Stamm, 28-Henderson, 69-Baird
Feature- Miley, Missler, Caskey, Brennan, Gentry, Markham, Bellman, Wilson, Stamm, Henderson, Skelly, Baird, Wright, Cox, Drown, Smith, Fraley, Abel
McKenzie super stocks
Heat- 18-Braden Tucke, 187T-Took Wiles, 21D-Moore, 187-Tyler Wiles, 70-Holmes, 910-Don Rutt, 771-Craver, 77-Rob Melzer, 60-Don Baney, Jr., 8-Kevin Ake, U4-Paul McVicker
Feature- Moore, Holmes, Craver, Tyler Wiles, Alexander, Baney, Jr., McVicker, Rutt, Tucke, 313-Virgil Masters, 2-William Sidel, 187T-Took Wiles, Ake, Melzer
Written by Randy Worrell