A couple hundred people show up every other Saturday night at Ona Speedway to catch up with friends and see a night of local racing.
Last Saturday, fans got an added treat with the Super Cup stocks, which included local driver Jake Keaton. Yes, after a few weeks' absence, "Jake the Snake" was on Ona asphalt for three races.
Brenda Pitts, the Super Cup scoring director, said Jake's become her newest son. She also said at the series tryouts, the young man from Barboursville won, and gained a spot in the series.
After taking a position in my usual spot in the bleachers under the press/announcer box, looking around I didn't recognize anyone and they all had on R/E headsets with mouthpieces. Family members of the Super Cup drivers. Then, Brenda came up and asked if I'd like to be a scorer for the night. Sure, why not?
She handed me a clipboard with a name and car number. All it said was "Jake" and "10." Did I really need to ask who the driver was? Serendipity. The local blogger got the local driver.
It was not necessarily a good night for young Mr. Keaton. He DNF'd the Super Cup race around lap 50 of 100. Shoot. In front of the home crowd, no less.
He came back in the Modified race to finish 4th, and took the checkered flag in the Classics division. OK, it didn't toally redeem the night, but it ended better than it started.
Winner of the Super Cup race was a teenager, Todd Peck. It was his first series win, and obviously his first win at Ona Speedway. Keeping with tradition, when you take your first Ona checkered flag, you get to wear the Jester Hat of trackside reporter Mike Gue for a victory lane photo. But the hat's been altered. It now lights up. Yes, there are photos from Jim Ellis Photography on the Ona Speedway Web site.
Other winners at Ona on Aug. 16th were Hobby Stock, Gary Queen; Modifieds, Thomas Mays; Classics, Jake Keaton; Street Stock, David Bell; and U-Car, Keith Watson.
Racing continues Saturday, Aug. 30 at Ona Speedway, with a Kids Bike Race before the featured events.
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