As McClelland was driving through the final turns, the red flag came out when Steve Storrie flew into the catch fence and tore it down in turn one. Storrie was uninjured, but concern over the damaged catch fence forced promoters to end the race with 24 laps complete.
Fans were moved from turn one before the features were run for the other three divisions.
For McClelland, it was his sixth win of the season and 26th “358” sprint win of his Trail-Way career. Counting his 74 micro-sprint wins, McClelland became the first driver to ever win 100 races at the McSherrystown oval.
At first, it didn’t appear he’d be in the hunt.
“There were six laps down and I wasn’t going anywhere,” said McClelland of his early run when the first caution of the event came out for a three-car spin in turn two, “I saw the top was open, and hoped it would come in.”
It did, and McClelland began making his move, advancing to ninth by the time a red flag came out when Brian Garland tipped over in turn four.
McClelland had moved up to third when Scott Fisher vaulted over the third turn wall and down over the hill on lap 16. Fisher was uninjured in the spectacular crash, but the race was halted for several minutes.
When asked by track announcer Scott Hockensmith if he made any changes during the red, McClelland quipped, “Just my attitude.”
McClelland took second from Mike Duncan, Jr. on the restart, and drove under polesitter and race-long leader Billy Heltzel III for the front spot in turns one and two of lap 18.
He was well in front of tenth starting and runner-up Logan Schuchart when the final red came out on lap 25.
McClelland thanked his mom and dad for all their support through the years, and also thanked Joe and Sandy Trone, whose car he drove to several 270cc micro-sprint wins during an earlier championship year.
Schuchart was credited with second, followed by ninth-starting Dale Hammaker, Keith Prutzman, and Randy Davis, Jr. Sixth through tenth were 15th-starting Austin Reed, Tim Wagaman, Duncan, 13th-starting Arron Spahr (who competed in his first-ever “358” sprint car race), and 17th-starting Michael Ruttkamp.
Heats for the 25 “358”sprinters were won by McClelland, Schuchart, and Wagaman.
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