With just a few regular season point races to go, Kyle Strohl, who sits second to Bobby Jones in the Modified championship standings, did the only thing he could to remain in close contention.

That was win Saturday night’s 35-lap main at Mahoning Valley Speedway, and in the process, gained much needed ground in the title hunt with three shows until the finale on Sept. 21.

It was a thrilling race that waged in a Strohl vs. Strohl encounter, as Kyle Strohl topped Lou Strohl for his fifth win of 2019.

From the front row, L. Strohl jumped to the early lead and instantly had K. Strohl on his tail. What then followed was an intense fight, as lap after lap, the duo put on an amazing display of their driving skills as the laps clicked off.

L. Strohl has been fast all season long, and was primed to score his first win of the year. However, it was going to be hard-earned in every sense of the word as his opponent was making him work to maintain his lead.

Nose-to-tail and side-by-side was the scene as K. Strohl kept swooping down in his attempt to lead. His chance to pass finally took place on lap 15 when he stuck his No. 44 to the inside and was able to score the lap the ensuing time around.

L. Strohl didn’t give in though, as he stayed fixed on K. Strohl to the finish and had to settle for his third runner-up of the season.

A smooth and steady run through the pack saw Austin Kochenash taking third, with Earl Paules and John Markovic rounding out the top five.

For the past three weeks, Late Model point leader Frankie Althouse watched from second place as Mike Sweeney took the checkers in each of the those events. Despite those near misses, Althouse was able to retain his standings lead over Sweeney, albeit by a slim margin.

For Althouse, enough was enough, as he seized the lead after a torrid double file fight with Jeremy Miller in the early going. By lap four, he was in front for good, streaking solidly away for his seventh win of the season, and just as importantly, adding insurance points to his lead over Sweeney, who was second, with Miller third.

It also marked the extension of an amazing string this year in which Althouse has been either first or second in 16 of 17 races.

The Street Stocks contested in a special 75-lap/$1,000-to-win feature that was won by veteran Randy Schlenker.

The race would get underway with rookie Brennen Coulter leading the first two laps. Shayne Geist and Schlenker then took over as they would engage in a lead-trading battle over the next eight laps.

Schlenker then settled into the front spot by lap nine, but had little breathing room as Geist tried time and again to regain control. By the later stages, his car tightened, and he slipped back a few spots. Taking up the chase behind Schlenker was Eric Kocher, who relied on some late race restarts to attempt to pass, but to no avail.

Schlenker, who last won on Opening Night, raced to the checkers by a car length while Kocher had to fend off Randy Ahner Jr., for second. Geist stayed with the leaders to the end and settled for fourth, while Mark Martini rounded out the top five.

In the Pro 4, Cody Kohler made what would be the race-winning pass on lap six, going to the outside of Tyler Stangle for the lead. Once in front, he was in total control and cruised to his fourth win of the season, and 25th with the class.

Jake Kibler was second and Jeremy Guerra third. It was a tough night for point leader Bobby Kibler Sr., who crashed out on lap one. However, he still is preserving a modest lead atop the standings with just three races remaining.

Jacob Boehm had one very spirited race with Devein Schmidt en route to his second Hobby Stock win of the season.

Despite the ongoing pressure from Schmidt, Boehm kept his focus on the lead and did a superlative job of holding his line and racing his way to a warranted victory.

For Schmidt, second did come with some benefit, as he retook the division point lead.

Modified Feature (35 laps)

1. Kyle Strohl, 2. Lou Strohl, 3. Austin Kochenash, 4. Earl Paules, 5. John Markovic, 6. Brian DeFebo, 7. Bobby Jones, 8. Nick Baer, 9. Terry Markovic, 10. Jake Kibler, 11. Eric Kocher, 12. Heath Metzger, 13. Rick Wallace, 14. BJ Wambold

Late Model Feature (25 laps)

1. Frankie Althouse, 2. Mike Sweeney, 3. Jeremy Miller, 4. Samantha Osborn, 5. Dylan Osborn, 6. Avery Arthofer

Street Stock Feature (75 laps)

1. Randy Schlenker, 2. Eric Kocher, 3. Randy Ahner Jr., 4. Shayne Geist, 5. Mark Martini, 6. Jon Moser, 7. Rick Reichenbach, 8. Todd Ahner, 9. Jillian Long, 10, Mark Deysher, 11. Aaron Kromer, 12. Brennen Coulter, 13. Josh Mooney, 14. Jamie Smith, 15. Louis Horvath, 16. Dennis Buss, 17. Kevin Weierbach, 18. Jarred Ahner

Hobby Stock Feature (25 laps)

1. Jacob Boehm, 2. Devin Schmidt, 3. Al Arthofer, 4. Trisha Connolly, 5. Peyton Arthofer, 6. Taylor Schmidt, 7. Eddie Jones, 8. Phil Sabatine, 9. Tad Snyder, 10. John Petro, 11. Mallory Kutz, 12. Jesse Bollinger, 13. Mackenzie Adams, 14. Cody Kohler, 15. Cody Boehm, 16. Travis Solomon, 17. Austin Ahner, 18. Todd Geist DNS: Kassidy Altemose

Pro 4 Feature (20 laps)

1. Cody Kohler, 2. Jake Kibler, 3. Jeremy Guerra, 4. Bobby Kibler Jr., 5. Tucker Muffley, 6. Randy Schaffer, 7. Kadie Pursell, 8. Matt Clark, 9. Bobby Kibler Sr., 10. Josh Kuronya DQ: Tyler Stangle