Thursday Throwback: 2024 Jackpot Nationals

JFoose December 5, 2024

(SOUTH AMHERST, OH) The Inaugural Jackpot Nationals at Lorain Raceway Park was delayed to Sunday afternoon but the wait was worth it.

51 Modified drivers showed up to Lorain Raceway Park for the inaugural running of the Jackpot Nationals at The County, 41 stayed for the Sunday Feature event. Among the drivers in the field were recent Bristol Short Track Nationals runner-up Matt Dimit, Lorain’s Opening Night winner Spencer Stineman, Defending Lorain Cavalcade winner Bubba Smith and many more.

Spencer Stineman set quick time and started 11th for the 75 lap feature event.

Parker Ennes, Jeff Dunfee, Jason Drew and Brandon Lemmerman won their respective heat races to join the Jackpot Nationals starting line-up. Austin Eaton, Andy Booten, Terry Fisher, Jr. and Jeremy Menninger also secured starting positions in the feature event by finishing second in their heat races.

Sam Bigham picked up the B-Main win to add himself to the field for the 75 lap feature event.

Matt Dimit and former Lorain Raceway Park Modified Champion Doug Meyer brought the field to the green flag for 75 laps under the clear Northern Ohio sky. Dimit led through early cautions until the field was stopped at lap 40 for refueling. Meyer had held on to second but slid back to third just before the fuel stop as Spencer Stineman had worked his way from 11th starting position to secon

When the green flag dropped for the second half of the Jackpot Nationals the race was on between Dimit and Stineman, Stineman tried the high side numerous times and couldn’t complete the pass. With 20 laps to go Stineman made the pass stick and put Dimit in his rearview mirror. Stineman battled through lapped traffic for the final 15 laps while Dimit slid back to battle with Doug Meyer for second. Spencer “Speedy” Stineman would take the checkered flag leading Matt Dimit (2nd), Doug Meyer (3rd), Brian Nester (4th) and Bubba Smith (5th) rounded out the top five. Spencer’s father TJ Stineman would finish sixth, Rick Groetsch (7th), Lucas Ripley (8th), Sam Bigham from the B-Main (9th) and Bob Sibila, Jr. completed the top ten finishers.

Indiana’s Mike Basham bested Noah Allison to pick up the Crown Vic Feature Win. Wellington, Ohio’s Dan Smith picked up the 20 lap Pure Stock Feature event.