BEST MEDICINE EVER FOR STOUT AS DOCTOR CLEARANCE LEADS TO WIN

By Larry Boos

SANDUSKY, OH (June 28) – So many cliches could be tagged to Saturday’s Outlaw 350 Supermodified/Sprint Series (OSS) main event at Sandusky Speedway, but in the end, they all resulted with the same ending – Sawyer Stout in victory lane after a Stewart Title sponsored hard-fought 30-lap win.

First and foremost, it’s not over until it’s over.

Kenny Sharp had a vision during the week that he would be pulling into victory lane and at the onset of the race he looked as if he was going to fulfill that dream. With three Snow Otter Rookie of the Race candidates filling the first three spots at the drop of the green flag, Sharp catapulted from his outside second row to take command of the field and literally was flying around the half-mile paved oval. He looked invincible, but behind him a battle was brewing between Stout and current Team Willis points leader and new Jim Valentine track record holder (16.122) Danny Shirey.

An early race caution from a spinning Doug Neubauer bunched up the field, which did not seem to faze Sharp as he again pulled out to a commanding lead. Eventually a broken heim joint on his wing mount pulled him pit side, with Stout taking command on lap 14 and pulling every trick in the book in his efforts to hold back Shirey.

One of the daring strategies came following a Brian Neubauer spin/caution. Using the ‘choose cone’ and knowing that Shirey was fastest in the second groove, Stout chose that lane on the restart, rather than his preferred inside line. It seemingly worked for three laps as he bested Shirey into the turn and held him at bay. But Shirey got the job done on lap 17 and was headed to the checkered flag.

As he navigated the lapped traffic, a new scenario was brewing, with Stout coming back into the picture, along with defending champion Todd Buchanan. Add to the mix A. J. Lesiecki who finally cleared his path and suddenly when everyone thought it was going to be another Shirey homerun at Sandusky, it was that same lapped traffic that became the game changer.

With the flag man showing the five fingers, five-laps-to-go signal, Stout pulled off a Hail Mary going into turn 3 that brought the crowd their feet. He dove as low as you can go at Sandusky below two lapped cars, forcing Shirey up into the third groove and inched into the lead. He was able to thwart everything Shirey threw at him for the final four tours and pulled into victory lane to became the third OSS 2025 winner in as many races this year This was only two days after before cleared from his medical team to return to racing after a non-racing illness that forced him to the sidelines at the first of the month and missing a race. For his run, he advanced six positions from his start and earned the Lang’s Automotive Hard Charger Award.

Completing the podium was Buchanan for his best finish of the season and a sure confidence booster. Lesiecki finished fourth to continue his run of top five finishes on the season, while veteran Denny Fisher rounded out the top five.

Other award winners on the night included Buchanan with the Big and Little’s Cart “Let’s Celebrate 3” bonus for third quick time in qualifying, Tyler Capodice as the Snow Otter Rookie of the Race. Quest Restoration “Fight to the Finish” cash awards went to Denny Fisher as the final car on the lead lad and Brian Neubauer as the final car running at the finish. Additionally, with the win, Stout moved into a three-way first-place tie with Shirey and Frank Neill for most OSS feature wins (4 each).