Oakes Scores First Feature Win

(January 10, 2012) – Frankie Oakes started the 2012 racing season by accomplishing something he has never done before, winning a feature race.

Oakes not only won the WMDH Thunder Car feature, but he also recorded a heat win during the Aqua Systems New Year’s Day Bash presented by EDCO Welding on Saturday at Anderson Speedway.

Brad Cain took the early lead in the feature with Ronald Adams, Mike Peters, Oakes and Nick Warner. Before one lap was completed, Oakes and Warner both had gained positions.

On lap four Oakes got outside of Adams down the back straight to move into the second spot, the running order remained unchanged until lap nine when Warner and Phil Jenkins got outside of Adams in turn one.

For several laps Cain was able to use lapped traffic to his advantage to hold onto the point with several times the front-runners splitting slower cars entering the corners. On lap 12 Cain got trapped by a lapped car and was forced high in turn one, which allowed Oakes to grab the lead.

The only caution flag waved on lap 16 when Jenkins lost an engine while running fourth. At the finish it was Oakes, Cain, Warner, Adams and Jesse Bilbrey.

Oakes won the first heat race, which saw plenty of passing among the top five drivers, with an outside pass of Adams on the front straight with one lap remaining.

James Peterson led the first five laps before he was passed by Adams and Oakes, both of whom slipped inside going down the back straight. Cain and Sam Folsom both passed a slowing Peterson, who eventually pulled out of competition on lap 9.

Following Oakes and Adams to the finish line were Cain, Folsom and Donnie Ellis Jr.

Phil Jenkins passed Jesse Bilbrey with an outside pass going down the back straight on lap eight to record the victory in the second heat race.

Behind Jenkins and Bilbrey came Warner, Mike Yacullo and Thomas Paul.






































 
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