Nester Takes Toledo by Storm

Photo courtesy of Todd Ridgeway of Ridgeway Photos

April 21, 2007

The 2007 Season Opener for the O’Reilly USA Modified Series proved to be hot as 37 open wheeled monsters arrived at the famed Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio.  Scott Tomasik of Avon, Indiana took fast time with a 16.810.  Only .030 seconds separated the top 18 drivers with only the top 16 being locked into the A Main.  Tomasik grabbed the win for the first 6 Fast Dash of the season.  2006 Championship Runner Up Tim Burkett of North Manchester, Indiana took the Heat Race victory.  Two B Mains decided who would take the transfer spots and advance into the A Main.  In the first B Main of the evening Cory Setser of Fort Wayne, Indiana took the win with Tim Taylor of Indianapolis, Indiana and Jason Dietsch of Edgerton, Ohio advancing into the Feature event.  In the second B Main Shawn Stroble of Urbana, Ohio grabbed the checkers with St. Clair Shores, Michigan’s Claude Plante Jr. and Indianapolis, Indiana’s Mike Hadley Jr. both advancing into the Feature event. 

          Burkett and Tony Dager of Spencerville, Indiana would lead the field around to the green for the Toledo Speedway 50 Lap Feature Event.  Burkett grabbed the early lead as the entire pack made their way into turn 1.  Rodney Scott of New Castle, Indiana made light of an motor change earlier in the evening and started in the 5^th position and worked himself around his father Harold Scott also of New Castle, Indiana then looked to the outside of Dager.  On lap 17 the younger Scott made his way around Burkett to take the lead.  A late race caution on lap 41 found the leader, Rodney Scott spinning in turn 3.  Rodney Scott would be given his position back with Dager being sent to the tail for the caution.  When the green flew it was a 9 lap dash to the checkered.  Brian Nester of Edon, Ohio worked his way up from his 7^th place starting position powered his way around Rodney Scott for the lead with only 7 laps remaining and would hang on for his first O’Reilly USA Modified Feature win of 2007.  Rodney Scott was second with Kale Asztalos of Angola, Indiana taking third.  2006 O’Reilly USA Modified Champion Bob Curry of Plainwell, Michigan found a fourth place finish with the Allstar Performance Hard Charger of the race being fifth place finisher of Indianapolis, Indiana’s Mike Hadley Jr.  The LEAF Racewear Hard Luck of the race recipient was Jon Beach of Mt Morris, Michigan, being the first driver to compete in all events not able to advance into the A Main.

          The next event for the O’Reilly USA Modifieds is set for Saturday May 26 at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis, Indiana for the “Night Before the 500”.  For more information about the O’Reilly USA Modified Series log on to www.usamodifieds.com.