Bobby Jones scored a big Modified double Saturday night at Mahoning Valley Speedway, winning the 35-lap feature and nailing down the 2021 class championship in the process.

Jones came into the evening having to beat out Kyle Strohl and Brian DeFebo in order to secure his second Modified title (2019) and fittingly, it would be that trio who would contest for the win throughout most of the race.

Second-starting DeFebo took charge early on over Nick Baer and Strohl with Jones holding down fourth. By lap eight, the title seekers were then running 1-2-3, with DeFebo in a nose-to-tail battle ahead of Strohl and Jones.

Strohl began applying some intense pressure on the leader, and on lap 13 he looked to the inside as they raced into Turn-1 and in doing so, nipped DeFebo, who then lost his footing and made a great save. Strohl also backed off, and reacting quickly was Jones, who shot to the outside and finished off the lap as the new leader.

From then on Jones would have to keep the insistent Strohl at bay, including a hard-fought effort over the final few tours en route to his fifth victory of the season.

“It was an all-around good day. We came here to win a race, and ultimately the championship. It’s always a hell of a race when you run with them guys (Strohl, DeFebo) who are the top of the field,” said Jones.

In the Late Models, Nick Ross capped off a great first year at Mahoning Valley, as he not only won for the sixth time, but also earned himself the division championship as well.

Ross went to the outside of Rich Cooper on lap three, and from there on it was smooth sailing..

Jaden Brown concluded his first year of Sportsman Modified action by winning for a class-leading third time, and finished first in final points.

In the Street Stocks, there were several drivers vying for the crown, but it would become evident once the feature got underway that the quest for the championship would come down to a pair of perennial titleholders in TJ Gursky and Jon Moser.

Moser was able to check off the victory, his first of the season. However, Gursky clawed his way to third at the checkers, which was enough to gain his fourth Street Stock title, and seventh overall.

In the Hobby Stocks, there were high expectations for no less than seven drivers, with the most focus on the top three of Trisha Connolly and Taylor Schmidt, who began the night tied with Cody Boehm just three points behind.

Corey Edelman proved to be too much as he jumped to the front by lap six, and never looked back en route to his third victory of the year. Meanwhile, the title fight was very intense and would come down to the final lap as a restart set up a thrilling final dash and when the checkers waved, Connolly had powered her way to second and the championship.

In the Pro 4s, the night began with Cody Kohler already clinching his second straight and third career title. For the 20-lap race, Jake Kibler needed only one lap to take control, and then cruised to a solid fourth win over teammate Randy Schaffer.

Reid Levengood was the overall winner of the Futures/Rookie Hobby Stocks, his career first victory. The same went for runner-up Maggie Yeakel, who was the victor in the Futures.

The titles were claimed by Brody George and Greyson Ahner in Futures and Rookies, respectively.

Modified feature finish (35-laps): 1. Bobby Jones, 2. Kyle Strohl, 3. Zane Zeiner, 4. Rod Snyder, 5. Nick Bear, 6. Brian DeFebo, 7. Cody Kohler, 8. Lou Strohl, 9. BJ Wambold, 10. John Bennett, 11. Al Arthofer, 12. Earl Paules DNS: Terry Markovic

Late Model feature finish (25-laps): 1. Nick Ross, 2. Geno Steigerwalt, 3. Seth Van Fossen, 4. Jacob Kerstetter, 5. Todd Cooper, 6. Brooks Smith, 7. Rich Cooper

Sportsman Modified feature finish (25-laps): 1. Jaden Brown, 2. Avery Arthofer, 3. Bobby Jones, 4. Earl Paules, 5. Paul Hartwig III, 6. Peyton Arthofer, 7. Mia Guy, 8. Randy Ahner Jr

Street Stock feature finish (30-laps): 1. Jon Moser, 2. Brandon Christman, 3. TJ Gursky, 4. Todd Ahner, 5. Mark Deysher, 6. Matt VanSyckle, 7. Jillian Snyder, 8. Randy Ahner Jr, 9. Tucker Muffley, 10. Rick Reichenbach, 11. Mark Martini, 12. Lonnie Behler Jr, 13. Jamie Smith, 14. Rich Moser, 15. Tommy Flanagan, 16. Jeremy Scheckler, 17. Randy Green, 18. Dennis Buss, 19. Thomas Flanagan, 20. Tobie Behler

Pro 4 feature finish (20-laps): 1. Jake Kibler, 2. Randy Schaffer, 3. Josh Kuronya, 4. Kadie Pursell, 5. Tyler Stangle, 6. Cody Kohler, 7. Cody Boehm, 8. Terry Peters, 9. Colton Breiner

Hobby Stock feature finish (25-laps): 1. Corey Edelman, 2. Trisha Connolly, 3. Justin Merkel, 4. Taylor Schmidt, 5. BJ Wambold, 6. Tad Snyder, 7. Devin Schmidt, 8. James Tout, 9. John Petro, 10. Dave Imler, 11. Mallory Kutz, 12. Travis Solomon, 13. Larry Spencer, 14. Steve McDonough, 15. Cody Boehm, 16. Nicholas Kerstetter, 17. Ralph Boger Jr, 18. Kip George, 19. Jacob Boehm, 20. Nick Schaffer

Futures/Rookie Hobby Stock feature finish (12-laps): 1. Reid Levengood, 2. Maggie Yeakel, 3. Adam Steigerwalt, 4. Deegan Underwood, 5. Dave Kerr, 6. Brody George, 7. Gabi Steigerwalt, 8. Makayla Kohler, 9. Josh Dise, 10. Greyson Ahner, 11. Lexus Kutz, 12. Zoey Moyer, 13. Arland Moyer, 14. Zoe Kuchera