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O’Keefe cashes in as Legends return to Mahoning

Riley O’Keefe celebrated the return of Legend Car racing to Mahoning Valley Speedway with a clean sweep Saturday night.

O’Keefe won his heat race before drawing the pole for the 25-lap feature, the first for the division at Mahoning Valley in more than 10 years.

He took command at the start and led every lap of the caution-free feature to collect the $600 winner’s payday. Anthony Marsh stayed close but was unable to make a move for the lead and finished second, followed by Brad Lowmaster.

The Legend Cars will return to Mahoning Valley for the Oct. 17 race program.

Brian Romig Jr. earned his second Late Model victory of the season on an emotional night for his team.

Romig’s father-in-law unexpectedly passed away just hours before the event, and the team initially did not plan to compete. After making the decision to race, Romig took control following the only caution of the 25-lap feature on Lap 2.

While Romig maintained the lead, Cody Kohler and Ryan Rochelle battled for second. Kohler moved past Rochelle on Lap 17 and went on to record a career-best Late Model finish. Rochelle placed third, while Marc Aigledinger charged from 11th to fourth.

Shayne Geist strengthened his Hobby Stock championship lead with his sixth victory of the season, the most feature wins by any driver at the speedway this year.

Terry Peters led the first 19 laps of the caution-free 25-lapper before Geist worked underneath him to take over the top spot. Geist pulled away for the victory, while Ryan Berger charged from sixth to finish second. Peters was third.

Geist entered the night with a four-point advantage over Travis Solomon, who finished fourth.

In Pro4 action, Bobby Kibler Jr. ended his father Bob Kibler’s three-race winning streak. Kibler Jr. took the lead from Ron Pierson Jr. on Lap 3 and drove to his class-leading fifth victory of the season. Bob Kibler was second and Mark Fister third.

Brandon Christman led the entire 30-lap Street Stock feature to earn his third victory of the season.

Christman encountered lapped traffic late as Jill Snyder and Frankie Althouse closed in, but successfully worked through the slower cars to maintain the lead. Snyder finished second and Althouse third in another caution-free feature.

Mahoning Valley’s all-time winningest driver, Earl Paules, added another victory in the first of two 30-lap Junk Car features.

Paules initially took the lead on Lap 5 before Lonnie Behler Sr. moved in front two laps later. Jaden Brown, Paules’ grandson, took over on Lap 13, but Paules reclaimed the lead three laps later and held off Brown to the finish. Kevin Behler placed third.

Glenn Anderson won the second Junk Car feature after a full-field invert put Jeremy Spanburgh on the pole. Anderson emerged from a battle at the front with Justin Anderson to take the victory.

Paules charged from the 20th starting position to finish second, while Kevin Behler again placed third.

The seven features produced just one caution all night.

Riley O’Keefe celebrates his victory in Saturday’s Legend Car feature at Mahoning Valley Speedway, the division’s first at the track in more than 10 years. GAVIN KESTER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Riley O’Keefe (39) races during Saturday night’s Legend Car action at Mahoning Valley Speedway. O’Keefe completed a sweep of the night by winning his heat race and the 25-lap feature. GAVIN KESTER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS
Brian Romig Jr. celebrates after winning Saturday’s 25-lap Late Model feature at Mahoning Valley Speedway. GAVIN KESTER/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS