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Eldora Speedway
Nick Hoffman
Scores Main Event Late Model Victory
Jacob Hawkins Scores Modified Victory and Rob Trent Tops Wild Stock
Feature
ROSSBURG, Ohio (April 15, 2017) – Nick Hoffman has been winning major
modified races across the United States but Saturday night he etched
his name into the Eldora Speedway record book by capturing his first
Late Model checkered flag, winning the 25-lap Sunoco American Late
Model Series main event in the speedway’s 64th season opener.
Jacob Hawkins dominated the 20-lap UMP Modified feature event, while
two-time and defending track champion Rob Trent closed out the evening
with a win in the 15-lap Stock Car chase.
Hoffman, from Mooresville, North Carolina, inherited the lead when race
leader Kent Robinson jumped a restart on the second lap and Hoffman
never looked back running the high-line around the high-banked,
one-half mile oval to perfection to beat Robinson to the checkered flag
by nearly five car lengths.
“This isn’t just my first win here in a late model, this is my first
win ever in a late model,” Hoffman said. “I guess there is no
better place to win one then here. This is really amazing.”
Robinson finished in the runner-up position, while defending Late Model
track champion Jon Henry finished in third-place ahead of Hawkins and
Jeff Babcock, who rallied to his top-five finish after a spin on the
opening lap.
“I didn’t know the leader could jump a start,” a disappointed Robinson
said. “But I am not sure it would have made any difference.”
Rusty Schlenk, Casey Noonan, Nick Latham, Jared Bailey and Dustin Nobbe
completed the top ten.
Hawkins, of Fairmont, West Virginia, then jumped into his modified and
jumped to the early lead from his outside pole starting position and
never looked back picking up his 6th career win at Eldora.
“We were a little off after the heat race and the guys made a couple
adjustments and they obviously were the right one’s because the car was
flawless,” Hawkins said.
Jerry Bowersock finished in the runner-up position, while defending
track champion Jeff Koz, Mike Learman and Jonathan Taylor completed the
top five. Rounding out the top ten were Dylan Woodling, Jared
Spalding, Evan Taylor, Joel Dick and Aaron Orr.
“He was really good up there in the top groove and I just wasn’t sure I
want to run that close to the wall,” Bowersock said. “I was
hoping I could force him up a little higher on one of the restarts and
may he would make a mistake but he was just too good. We finished
second to what I consider one of the best modified teams in the country
so I have no complaints.”
Trent had dropped as far back as fifth-place in the Stock Car main
event but then go the break he needed when Woodard spun from the lead
just three laps from the finish. Trent then moved around Craig
Swartz and Paul Pardo on the restart and held off a late charge by
Donnie Jeschke to pick up the opening night win.
“We were a little loose early, but the tires really came in right
before that and we were hooked up those last three laps,” Trent, from
Lima, Ohio said.
Jeschke finished in second-place ahead of Pardo, Craig Swartz and Ed
Hounshell. Frank Paladino, Anthony Goode, Jeremy Creech and
Brandon Archey rounded out the top ten.
Next Saturday night Eldora Speedway hosts the Saturday Night Speedfest
featuring the UMP Modifieds, the Eldora Stock Cars and the Vores
Compacts. The springtime start-times will once again be in effect
with spectator gates opening at 4:00 p.m., hot laps beginning at 5:00
p.m. and show time at 6:00 p.m.
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