KENNEDALE, Texas (June 22, 2024) – The same IMCA Sunoco Stock Car took two different drivers to the winner’s circle Saturday night at Kennedale Speedway Park.
Shane Ellis won the make-up feature postponed from May 11 before Fully Involved Motorsports teammate Mark Adams parked in victory lane following the evening’s scheduled event.
Both drivers led all 20 laps of their respective races in the Adams’ owned 2013 Terminator. The win by Ellis was his career first in the class while Adams’ was his first in a Stock Car since 2018.
“Normally we do not allow two drivers to race one car the same night but these were two separate shows,” noted IMCA President Brett Root. “And the unique set of circumstances allowed both to win in the same car.”
“It was quite an event,” said Ellis, who’d also become a first-time heat winner before rain brought an early end to the Mothers’ Day Eve show. “It’s something that happens once in a blue moon.”
He’d started pitting for the late Kirk Martin 10 years ago and along with Adams was part of the crew that helped Martin earn the EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region crown in 2017.
“I’ve only been racing a Stock Car myself for a year and a half. This is something that’s hard to put into words. I’ve still got that cloud nine feeling,” Ellis said.
“My dad Mike and all the guys have put in so much work on this car,” he added. “Dad went through chemotherapy and radiation for bladder cancer last year. This felt like a good victory for him.”
Ellis went out for dinner to celebrate his win and 35th birthday after taking the checkers. He’s getting closer to having wiring issues in his 2013 Medieval Chassis figured out and plans to be back in his own car this weekend.
Mark Adams raced to the second of two Fully Involved Motorsports IMCA Sunoco Stock Car feature wins Saturday night, followed teammate Shane Ellis to victory lane at Kennedale Speedway Park. Ellis had won the make-up feature earlier in the show in the same car. Also pictured are Adams’ son Andrew, wife Alison and crew chief Mike Ellis. (Photo by Mike Frieri)
Back in a Stock Car after a successful Friesen Performance IMCA Modified stint, Adams had both the advantage of watching the changing track conditions in earlier features and the pressure to match Ellis’ accomplishment.
“I was thinking I’d better come through, too, but I knew the car would be good. I’ve worked on this car since 2015 so I know it was well built and I know its history,” said Adams, who had been at son Andrew’s go-kart race and missed the May 11 show. “I ran this car a handful of times last fall and knew if we stayed smooth and straight that we’d stand a good chance.”
“It’s hard to believe how the night went. It was incredible,” he’d add. “It was cool watching Shane win. I was super proud and super excited. My win was just icing on the cake.”
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