Racing across platforms is always interesting. The first leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, fell on this particular race day at the Dominion Raceway Entertainment complex. Horsepower was the show at Dominion but the infield pit big screen was also showing some of the spectacle from Churchill Downs.
Throw in a high school prom and the day is complete… Right…?
Such was the case for “Clean Culture Derby Day” at Dominion. The facility can host quite a bit from oval points racing to “road course” and drag strip racing to concerts and showcase events. A local high school had the concert hall for the evening, local drivers were testing their skills on the road course and “American Racer” late models (with a few other divisions) were racing nose to fender on the oval. Dominion is a multi-faceted focal point for motorsport and entertainment with a schedule full of… Everything.
The plan in place was to make the drive in to Dominion. It was a short trip as the wife had brought us to a nearby campground for the weekend. The set up was to get her situated for her event and activities, get online and place some Derby bets then get up to Dominion to check out some racing.
Once on site at Dominion, there was time to catch a few drivers putting it on the road course. It snakes around the oval with space for the drag races incorporated. Clubs and “social” drivers can test their cars and their skills on this course.
For the oval, the practices had run and qualifying was getting under way. It was an afternoon event to make way for the “Enchantment Under The Sea” prom. (No – I don’t know that was the name but there were ocean inspired decorations…)
Twin “American Racer” Late Models, Dominion Stocks and a combined “Mini Stock” 8/6 AnyCar race made the schedule. There was some heat on the track and some threat of weather coming in but the racing was tight.
The two late model races were dominated by Chase Johnson with a quick lead in the first and a drive up to grab the lead from an inverted start in the second. The field was stacked up a few times from cautions in each allowing other drivers a shot but the #57 of Johnson was out front each time.
Todd Ruggles gave a good chase on Mike Lowe in the Dominion Stocks but couldn’t make the run to get by. The finish had Lowe out front by several lengths as Richard Powers went around out of the final turn to give up a third place to Gary Burke.
The opener pooled the AnyCar and Mini Stocks into one race. That put a good challenge of racing with competition traffic on the track. The Rileys were chasing their Minis up front with Keith in the #59 leading out. A late race caution restart allowed Joe in the #2 to catch and pass for the lead and the win. Richard Storm won the 8C AnyCar and James Johnson won the 6C AnyCar.
TOP FIVE in each category event below
| 50 laps Race #1 American Racer Late Model 1 #57 Chase Johnson 2 #31 Aaron Donnelly 3 #8c Conner Weddell 4 #82 Mike Ganoe 5 #41 Davey Callihan | 50 laps Race #2 American Racer Late Model 1 #57 Chase Johnson 2 #45 Brady Penny 3 #41 Davey Callihan 4 #82 Mike Ganoe 5 #15 Kyle Terczak |
| 40 laps Dominion Stocks 1 #88 Mike Lowe Dominion Stocks 2 #07 Todd Ruggles Dominion Stocks 3 #3 Gary Burke Dominion Stocks 4 #69 Tommy Smith Dominion Stocks 5 #57 Richard Powers III Dominion Stocks | Combined: 6 /8 Cyl Any Car & Mini Stock 1 #2 Joe Riley Mini Stock 2 #59 Keith Riley Mini Stock 3 #43 Kevin Davis Mini Stock 4 #07 Richard Storm Any Cars – 8 cyl 5 #9 James Johnson Any Car 6 – Cyl 6 #K9 John Andrews – 8 cyl Any Car 6 – Cyl 7 #77 Michael Pifer Any Cars – 8 cyl |
Photo Gallery – Clean Culture Derby Day – Dominion Raceway – May 3, 2025
