Racers rake in prize money at I-49 Speedway

Jerry Davis/Special to the Daily Mail/ Nevada's Brantlee Gotschall (center), sped all the way to victory lane in Saturday night's Late Model feature race at Nevada's I-49 Speedway.

Nevada Daily Mail

A grand total of 95 racers participated in the quick-quarter mile in pursuit of cash and points Saturday night at Nevada's I-49 Speedway.

Race fans filled the grandstands to watch some of the best side-by-side racing in the four-state area as the Late Model and B-Mod divisions raced for added prize money.

Randy Zimmerman of Fort Scott, Kan., is all smiles in the winner's circle after taking the $750 purse in the B-Mod feature event.

---- Street Stocks ----

After starting midway through the pack, Ethan Lamons of Savonburg, Kan., claimed his first victory of the season. Scott Johnson of Nevada cruised into the runner-up position, while points leader Mike Bitner of Frontenac, Kan., rounded out the top three.

---- B-Mods ----

Nevada's James Barker took the checkered flag in Mini Stock event after moving into first place on the final lap.

A total of 24 B-Mods signed in for the $750-to-win special event. In his first race in over a year, Randy Zimmerman of Fort Scott, Kan., would take the early lead and go on to win the purse.

Zimmerman was pressured by weekly competitor, Rusty Skaggs of Fort Scott, who slid into the second place position after battling with Brian McGowen of Pittsburg, Kan. McGowen finished third.

---- Mini Stocks ----

Matt Johnson of Archie, led wire-to-wire in the A-Mod feature event.

Early in the Mini Stock feature race, Rob Hail of El Dorado Springs and Mike Baxter of Sheldon, were side-by-side vying for the lead.

Later in the race, points leader James Barker of Nevada, reeled in the runner-up car, taking the lead on the final lap as he stormed by Hail to notch the victory. Hail placed second, and Joshua Lawson of Nevada finished third.

---- A-Mods ----

A good field of A-Mods signed in to compete as Matt Johnson of Archie started on the pole and led the entire feature event. Johnson was piloting I-49 Speedway owner Daniel Anders machine. Craig Wood of El Dorado Springs, a weekly competitor at the speedway, grabbed second place, for his best finish of this season.

Wood hopes to keep the good run of success going as he looks for a first place finish next week. After starting deep in the field, Jackie Dalton of Carthage, spun into a third place finish.

---- Late Models ----

Nevada's Matthew Hendren.

A highly competitive field of Late Models showed up for the special $1,800-to-win event.

David Turner, a well known I-49 Speedway racer by way of Creighton, made his first appearance at the track since 2010.

Turner and Justin Wells of Aurora began on the front row. Brantlee Gotschall of Nevada, started on the second row after winning his heat-race earlier that evening.

At the beginning of the race, Gotschall took an early lead and led the rest of the race (despite the cautions that occurred during the race). This was Gotschall's first visit to the I-49 Speedway this season.

After battling for position, Wells nabbed second place.

---- Pure Stocks ----

Nevada's own Matthew Hendren captured another victory at the speedway. Mitchell Coulter of Fort Scott, finished in the runner-up position, and Jason Agee, also of Fort Scott, grabbed third.

Saturday's race was the first I-49 Speedway event in 2015 to field 95 cars.

The I-49 Speedway is planning another fantastic and family-friendly night, Saturday.

The feature events include: A-Mod racing for $750-to-win, mechanic races, and the weekly racing program.

Upcoming schedule and future events

* Aug. 29: Weekly racing plus powder puffs and mod lites.

* Sept. 5: Weekly racing.

* Sept. 12: Weekly racing, plus $1,000-to-win USRA B-mods, sponsored by Camarillo Construction.

* Sept. 19: 52nd annual season championship night.

* Oct. 16-17: Fall Shootout .

Go to nevadadailymail.com to view more pictures from Saturday night's racing festivities