The Pilot News - Landis wins Super Pro feature at Stock Car Festival

The mini stocks ran a feature on Saturday night that was a heated battle for 20 laps. Dale Oliver Sr. broke out front with a lead but there were three more competitors all vying for the top spot in a side-by-side battle that lasted for nearly half the race. When the checkered flag fell, Oliver crossed the line with the lead for the win. He was followed in a close second by Rich Hensley and John Koch rounded out the top three.
The front wheel drives also ran a 25-lap feature on Saturday night. Kelton Kaechle — with the most feature wins on the season — failed to finish the race with problems early in turns three and four. That gave the opportunity to Mark Sontag Jr. to make a name for himself in his first appearance at the race track for 2009. Sontag did just that by holding off a hard-charging Robert Reed. Reed finished in second when the checkered flag fell, while Steve Reinholt finished in the third position.
The racing was completed for the night after the free-for-all was finished. It featured 10 top-finishing competitors from earlier in the evening. Andy Bozell was able to overtake Rich Boal late in the event for the race win.
On Sunday the racing action kicked off at 3 p.m. and featured the Super Pro division for the season championship. Tom Smith was the points-leader going into the event and hoped to hold his ground through the qualifying and the 75-lap feature. In qualifying, Brett Sontag set the pace with a lap around the 3/8 mile in a matter of 13.25 seconds.
Kyle Hayden led for most of the feature event until Jack Landis was able to get up to his rear bumper. After a 20-lap battle, Landis was able to overtake Hayden and hold on for the win. Hayden finished in second with Jason Dietch in third. Smith was able to hold on and secure a top 10 finish to secure the points title for 2009.
The open class division ran three feature events. The ‘A’ feature was 75 laps. Brian Ross had been battling bad luck for the entire season at the Speedway, but Sunday night that would all change. Ross battled with overheating issues throughout the race but was able to use the high line to his advantage and take the lead from Shawn Amor. Ross never looked back until after the checkers had already fallen to collect his only win of 2009 at the speedway. Amor held on for second with Andy Bozell finishing third.
The open class ran a 50- lap ‘B’ feature with the middle part of the class from the qualifying times on Saturday. The racing was good throughout the event; however, when the checkers fell it was Cory Pressler first across the finish line for the first time this season in a feature event. He was followed in second by Rod England of Warsaw, and Joey Fadke rounded out the podium in third.
The final race for the open class was the ‘C’ feature consisting of 35 laps. Randy Pressler continued on his string of luck as he was able to race the event unscathed, and the street stock track champion got into victory lane for the final time of the season. He was followed in second by Andrew DeVreese, and Dave Manir of Mill Pond, Indiana finshed third.
The mini stocks ran a 15- lap feature on Sunday afternoon. Picking up the race win and making it a weekend sweep was Oliver Sr. He was finished in second by Rich Hensley for the second day in a row. Rounding out the podium was Zachary Newgant.
The front wheel drives ran a 25-lap feature to wind down the weekend. Steve Reinholt had the best race of his 2009 season and picked up his only feature win of the year. Finishing second was Kaechle, and Craig Miller finished third.
This Saturday the speedway will host its second and final Crashfest for 2009. It will feature the exciting figure 8 school bus races, a demolition derby, rollover contest, spectator races, trailer race, stunts by scarecrow, and Fred Sibley will be back with his “Little Red Beer” hauler to melt down a vehicle in front of the fans. For more information go online at www.plymouthspeedway.net .