Ledford maintains edge with Farmer City win
FARMER CITY — Two nights for drivers to position themselves in division track point standings has seen racers already clinching titles and one going down to the final night. The quarter-mile dirt oval located at the Dewitt County Fairgrounds in Farmer City saw five classes in competition on Friday.
The closest race for a track championship lies within the modified class. Pontiac’s Michael Ledford carried a 24-point margin over Trevor Neville entering the night and he hadn't lost any ground by the time the haulers left the track after racing.
In the 20-lap feature, Ledford took the lead at the wave of the green flag and never looked back. It was the fourth win at Farmer City for the senior at Pontiac Township High School, his eighth overall and keeps him 24 points ahead of Neville with one point night remaining.
Neville finished in second, with Hunt Gossum, Caden McWhorter, Troy Dodson, and Collin Alexander trailing. Ledford toured the speed plant at 13.809 seconds for fast time and won the lone heat race.
A late-race caution could not foil Mt. Vernon’s Devin McLean in his bid for the win in the 20-lap pro late model contest. McLean had to battle with Chris Dick early in the feature before opening a lead. The caution fell with two laps remaining, giving Dick an opportunity for the win. McLean was able to spoil Dick’s bid and went on to take his second feature win.
“The car is really good on the top here,” McLean said. “Blaze Burwell was telling me to run the car hard. I knew we had a good car. Just glad we could keep the car in one piece and win tonight.”
Dick took second with Bill Giannetti, Branden Lance and Jimmy Howard comprising the rest of the top five. Tom Merlo, Russ Adams, Bill Berghaus, Brian Wilson and Matt Mackey completed the top ten. McLean was the fast qualifier with a time of 13.714 seconds and he won his heat race. The second heat race went to Dick.
Getting off to a late start due to parts shortages, Catlin’s Logan Moody has been slow out the gate. Running fast early in the night, Moody had not been able to complete the deal until Friday. Moody led the 17-car field in qualifying with a time of 12.702 seconds. Moody and James Walters took the heat race wins.
In the 25-lap feature, Moody had to briefly contend with Donny Walden for the lead before smashing the load pedal and pulling away for a three-second win over Walden. Walden was making his first start since an accident last year left him with a concussion. For Moody, a successful modified and pro late model driver, it was his first career late model win.
“This is huge,” Moody said from victory lane. “There have been so many ups and downs. We could start the night out good, but couldn’t finish it.”
Walden, a former track champion, took second with Josh Boller, Walters, and Bill Hough completed the top five. Hunt Gossum charged through the field for sixth, followed by Thomas Hunzicker, Tucker Finch, Ron Donaldson, and Colton Billington.
West Lebanon, Indiana, wheelman Ian Keller led all 15 circuits in picking up his fourth street stock feature win at Farmer City. Keller had to contend with Jeremy Nichols early in the race before opening a five-car length lead for the win. Nichols settled for second with Braiden Keller, Nick Macklin and Zach Clark also finishing in the top five. Andy Zahnd, Jim Ransom, Ryan Taylor, Terry Reed and Scott Schoener rounded out the top 10.
Keller and Clark took heat race wins.
The night’s racing program ended with a 12-lap feature race for the hornet division. Bartonville’s Nick Johnson turned back track point leader David Lauritson for his first win of the year. Dalton Shafer finished in third, Jeremy Hancock, Dakota Schnick, Evan Eckhoff, Dale Kohler, Allen Line, and Mark Burgess Jr.following to complete the top 10. Lauritson won the lone heat race.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Michael Ledford maintains points edge at Farmer City
