By Carol D. Haynes, ISMA PR; photos by Jim Feeney
SANDUSKY, Ohio – Jeff Abold of Pennellville, N.Y., came close to winning the 2020 Hy-Miler 100 last year but fell short. Friday night Trent Stephens and Abold started front row in the Fast Forty feature and began a battle for the top spot. But moving quickly into the duel up front was Timmy Jedrzejek in the Lane Racing 9 and Chris Perley, a four-time Hy-Miler and two time Fast Forty winner.
The battle was up front was electric but nearing halfway, the 97 faded from the fray putting Trent Stephens in the lead, but once again Abold was challenging the 19 and Jeff would take the point not to relinquish it to the checkered.
A few yellows slowed the action involving the cars Rich Reid and Lichty, who pitted and returned but Reid’s car was out of the running.
With four laps to go, it was Abold. Stephens, Perley, Edwards and Shullick, but previous ISMA champ Kyle Edwards wasn’t done. In those last laps, Edwards charged past Perley and Stephens to finish behind Abold as the checkers flew.
Abold, who has won an Oswego Classic and a Star Classic might just have a chance to join the elite 5 drivers (Doug Heveron, Bentley Warren, Joe Gosek, Mike Ordway Sr. and Dave Shullick Jr.) who have achieved that Supermodified Triple Crown feat over the years. Jeff’s dad Pat, incidentally, won the Hy-Miler 100 in 1992 and again in 2005.
2021 HY-MILER FAST 40 • SANDUSKY SPEEDWAY; Sandusky, OH
FAST TIME: Kyle Edwards
HEAT 1: Timmy Jedrzejek (9), 2. Mike Ordway Jr. (61), 3. Trent Stephens (19), 4. Jim Paller (64), 5. Moe Lilje (32), 6. Tyler Thompson (98), 7. Aric Iosue (27)
HEAT 2: 1. Jeff Abold (05), 2. Ben Seitz (97), 3. Otto Sitterly (7), 4. Dave Shullick Jr. (49), 5. Mike Lichty (84), 6. Talon Stephens (30), 7. AJ Lesiecki (88)
HEAT 3: 1. Chris Perley (11), 2. Johnny Benson Jr. (74), 3. Rich Reid (55), 4. 1e Kyle Edwards, 5. Ryan Locke (37), 6. Johnny Payne (78), 7. Jonathan Lesiecki (8), 8. JJ Henes (36)
Fast Forty Finish: 1. 05 Jeff Abold, 2. 1E Kyle Edwards, 3. 19 Trent Stephens, 4. 11 Chris Perley, 5. 49 Dave Shullick Jr., 6. 97 Ben Seitz, 7. 7 Otto Sitterly, 8. 30 Talon Stephens, 9 32 Moe Lilje, 10. 37 Ryan Locke, 11. 84 Mike Lichty, 12. 98 Tyler Thompson, 13. 27 Aric Iosue, 14. 88 AJ Lesiecki, 15. 55 Rich Reid, 16. 9 Timmy Jedrzejek, 17. 61 Mike Ordway Jr., 18. 78 Johnny Paine, 19. 64 Jim Paller, 20. 8 Jonathan Lesiecki, 21. 74 Johnny Benson Jr., 22. 36 JJ Henes (accident at start)
Fast Time: Kyle Edwards 1E – $200 sponsored by ISMA
Hard Charger: 1E Edwards – $200 sponsored by Doc Hathaway
Last Car Running – AJ Lesiecki – $15 sponsored by 4th Turn Crazies
Heat Winners – Top 3 $25, $15 and $10 to sponsored by Jim Feeney and Carol D Haynes.