The Zimmer’s Service Center United Late Model Series (ULMS) pulled into Wayne County Speedway and when the racing was finished it was all Max Blair’s night. The Centerville Pa. driver started the evening off by just missing the track record held by Chris Madden of 16.580 seconds set back on May 27, 2017. Blair stopped the clock with a time of 16.598 seconds in the Integra Shocks qualifying. Driving the Murphy’s Logging, Viper Risk Management Group and Privity’s Auto Wrecking #111, Blair would win his heat, be the best in the Scramble to start on the pole of the 30 lap feature.

At the drop of the green flag, Mitch Caskey would follow Blair closely for the opening five circuits, but the WCS points leader tried to get by Blair coming out of turn four on lap five and would spin bringing out the caution. Jared Miley, the other heat winner, would take over second with Doug Drown in third and those two would go back and forth for second until lap 14 when Drown belted the guardrail in turn one and that would end his night. This would move Chub Frank into third with Corey Conley and Ryan Missler battling him for third. Miley was trying every part of the 3/8 mile oval to overtake Blair but never could during the middle part of the feature, A lap 22 caution for a slowed Jerry Aber would bunch the field back together and when the green flew again, Blair was able to pull away from Miley as Missler worked on Frank for third until Conley edged past Missler with five to go. Caskey had worked his way back and caught Missler with three to go for fifth. As the checkered flag waved, Blair was followed by Miley, and Frank making it an all Pennsylvania podium, Conley was fourth followed by Caskey.

Jared Miley won the rubber match in his personal race with Max Blair. Each had won races earlier in the weekend with the ULMS Late Model tour, with the other driver running second. Well, Miley got the bragging rights as a result of the win on Sunday night at Tri-City Raceway Park. Blair was second.

“Max is pretty good, especially in the area, so running second to him is pretty good, and we can beat him,” Miley noted. When asked what he credits for his recent success, which included a win worth nearly $8,000 at another area speedway, Miley said, “I think that I got my rust knocked off as a driver. I am going pretty good right now.” That, sir, is quite an understatement.

Miley started on the pole as a result of his quick time in the ULMS scramble. Boom Briggs lined up beside him, with Blair and Wyatt Scott in row two.

Miley pulled into the lead and he ran a smooth and consistent pace, mostly in the low groove around the speedway. The battle was for second, with Blair and Briggs swapping the spot several times in the early going. Blair grabbed the position for good by the midpoint of the thirty lapper. While running third, Briggs suffered a mechanical failure on lap 24 and he retired from the race.

Miley was superb on each of the restarts and the final one was no different. He pulled away from Blair with ease and he maintained a safe margin for the rest of the way.

Darrell Bossard, a former Pro Stock champion at Tri-City in the early days of his career, came home third. Ryan Scott was fourth, with Deshawn Gingerich, the youngest driver in the field, getting fifth.

Wayne Weaver was the sixth and final finisher despite pitting twice for new tires. Briggs, Wyatt Scott, Tyler Dietz, and Logan Jaquay rounded out the top ten based on laps completed.  Jaquay was driving a team car to Briggs.

The heat races for the ULMS Late Models went to Blair and Briggs. There was no B Main. The evening’s fastest qualifier was Max Blair, turning a lap of 17.443 seconds around the big half mile. Jared Miley topped the ULMS scramble with a quick time of 18.291 seconds.

The ULMS Late Model Series return to action this weekend with feature only format on Thursday at McKean County Raceway to conclude the May 20th event that was postponed. The series will then head to Freedom Motorsports Park for the first time since 2019 as the track sat idle last year due to Covid 19 regulations, followed by back to back days at Stateline Speedway and Eriez Speedway to round out the holiday weekend.