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Drivers fly into high gear as season nears finish line
Nevada Daily Mail
A grand total of 91 cars signed-in Saturday to compete for cash and points as a full moon illuminated Nevada's I-49 Speedway dirt track.
The exciting Mod-Lite division made its first ever appearance at the track, putting on a great show for race fans in attendance.
---- Mini Stock ----
Six mini stock racers comprised one heat race. Last weeks winner, Jerry Wheeler of Nevada, started on the pole and ended up winning the heat race. The win handed Wheeler pole position in the feature event, where he led wire-to-wire, capturing his second victory of the season.
John Willard of St. Joseph finished in the runner-up position after starting fourth, and Joshua Lawson from Nevada, settled in the third position after starting fifth. Track points leader, James Barker of Nevada finished in the fourth position after starting third, and John Starnes of Osceola, rounded out the top five finish after starting sixth, this being his first trip to the speedway this season.
---- Pure Stock ----
In the pure stock division, three heat-races were lined up. After starting sixth, Matthew Hendren of Nevada picked up the first heat-race win after starting sixth,
Joshua Parcell of Joplin bagged the second heat-race victory after starting fourth, and Shawn Hendren of Nevada collect the third heat-race victory after starting third.
In the feature race, Matthew Hendren started in pole position and proceeded to take the win. Hendren led all 20 laps. The man on the move, Mike Churning of Chanute, Kan., battled with Hendren in the late stages of the race ---- settling for second.
Pure stock points leader Jason Agee of Fort Scott, Kan., started eighth and worked his way up to the third position. After starting ninth, weekly competitor John Shaver of Lamar would round out the top five finish.
---- Street Stock ----
Two heats were divided up among the street stock drivers as Jay Lamons from Savonburg, Kan., who started with pole position, secured the first heat-race win.
Scott Johnson, a weekly competitor at the speedway, collected the second heat-race victory after starting in outside pole position. In the feature event, Lamons notched his first victory of the season, as his son Ethan Lamons, picked up back-to-back wins in consecutive weeks.
After battling Lamons for the lead, Johnson, who won his earlier heat-race, finished in the runner-up position.
Thomas McManis of Mulberry, Kan., recorded his best run of the season as he finished in the third position. Robbie Sullins of Butler, started seventh and finished fourth on his first run of the season. Brandon Hart of El Dorado Springs, maneuvered into fifth place after starting eighth.
---- B-Mod ----
A total of 20 B-mods were divided up into three action-packed heat races for the fans. After starting third, weekly competitor Rusty Skaggs of Fort Scott, Kan., registered the first heat-race victory. After starting with outside pole position in the second heat-race, Cody Jolly flew to the checkers, while Matt Rose of Liberal won third heat-race.
The win gave Rose pole position later in the feature event. After some cautions in the early part of the race, it was Skaggs who collect his third win of the season, as he is currently sitting in the top three in points.
Russell Niehoff, of Lockwood, finished in second after starting fifth. This was Niehoff's best run of the season. Brent Bloom of Nevada, placed fourth.
Shawn Duncan of Lockwood, finished fourth after battling through traffic, moving up from 10th. Moving all the way up from 13th, Park Jones of Joplin, slid into fifth. This Jones' first 2015 trip to the I-49 Speedway.
---- A-Mod ----
A grand total of 13 A-mods were divided into two heat-races. Making the trip from Wichita, and taking the first heat-race with outside pole position, Tanner Mullens sped into victory lane.
Lucas Dobbs of El Dorado Springs, who had pole position, won the second and final heat-race. In the feature event, race fans witnessed one of the best races of the night as Mullens and Johnny Fennewald of Appleton City, battled side-by-side for many laps vying for the lead.
Towards the end of the race, Mullens pulled out in front, taking the victory, this being his first of the season, and also being his first trip to the speedway this year.
After starting on the pole, Fennewald finished runner-up. Dobbs, who had won his heat-race earlier, finished in third. Dobbs has been having tough luck this season. However, it looks like it might be turning around.
Last weeks winner, and the current A-mod points leader, Jackie Dalton of Carthage, passed Jerry Morgan to finish fifth. Morgan finished in the fifth position.
---- Mod-Lites ----
The mod-lites did not disappoint race fans as they brought a good field of cars, showcasing some excellent racing. Two heats were scheduled as Chad Shartzer claimed the first heat-race victory and Travis Alexander of Tonganoxie, Kan., flew to the finish in the second heat-race.
In the feature, Ed Griggs of Pleasant Hill ,took the lead after starting from the fifth position, never looking back. Alexander placed second. Mike Zrubek notched third, while Charles Laizure of Adrian finished fourth. Ryan Secrest (yes, this is his real name) dropped three spots to fifth.
---- Late Model ----
Eight late models were put into one heat race. Niehoff took the lead and swept the heat-race from the fourth position. This put Niehoff on the pole for the feature event.
In the feature, it was Niehoff and Billy Humble on the front row. After battling most of the race, Humble of Rich Hill, emerged with his third victory of the season. Late model points leader, Shannon Phillips of Joplin, finished second. Pole sitter, Niehoff, put away a solid third place finish. Scotty Bough of Nevada, finished fourth after battling with Dylan Timmerman of El Dorado Springs who claimed fifth.
Only two more race nights remain before the season championships Action hits the track at 7 p.m., Saturday.