Sheets, Collins capture memorial victories

Monday, July 24, 2017
Nevada’s own Ben Sheets (center, holding $3,000 check) poses with friends and family of the late Monty Grice on Saturday night at Nevada Speedway.
Submitted photo

A record breaking total of 108 cars showed up to compete Saturday night at Nevada Speedway, with the festivities dedicated to the memory of former fellow racers Monty Grice and Mike Clark.

A-Mods

Jon Sheets nailed down pole position, en route to a wire-to-wire feature victory, netting the Nevada native a cool $3,000 payday, the biggest speedway payout of the season. (Note: A-mod race was in honor of Grice).

Terry Shultz of Sedalia attempted to track down Sheets, but was unable to make the pass, settling instead for a strong second-place finish. Weekly speedway competitor Jessy Willard of Pleasanton, Kan., netted a third-place finish, while fellow Kansan, Iola’s Chase Sigg’s, who has multiple feature wins at the track this year — placed fourth. Curtis Allen rounded out the top five finishers.

B-Mods

Shane Collins parked in victory lane with members of his family.
Submitted photo

The final race of the night was brought to an early. It was Shane Collins, however, who was in the lead of the 15-lap feature as the checkered flag flew under a caution due to rain. Collins was all smiles in victory lane after nabbing the special $1,000 payday, the second largest speedway payout of the season. (Note: The B-Mod feature was in honor of Clark.)

Mike Hailmann of Reed Springs was on the move, settling for a close second-place finish, while Clark’s son, Gary Clark of Walker collected a third-place finish. Weekly competitor Jeff Douty worked his way up to score fourth, while Fort Scott, Kansas driver Brayton Skaggs maneuvered up through the field to finish fifth.

Midwest Mods

No stranger to victory lane, Rob Muilenburg went on to capture his track-leading sixth feature victory of the season, as the Sparta native added to his impressive collection of hardware.

Attempting to reel-in Muilenburg was Osceola’s Larry Drake, who sped to a runner-up finish. Joplin’s Jerad McIntire, making his first speedway appearance of the season, placed third. Devin Crockett of Lamar finished fourth, while Ryan Smith took fifth.

Late Models

Just prior to capturing the Monty Grice Memorial victory in the A-Mod division, Sheets was already in dominant form, as he flew the checkers in the Late Model division.

Sheets, who completed the wire-to-wire victory in the A-mod feature, also led every lap of the Late Model feature, as he held off a strong challenge from Republic’s Payton Looney, who slotted into the runner-up position.

Steve Johnson emerged in third-place, taking away the top three finish from competitor Mark Daye, who coasted into fourth, while current Late Model points leader Dylan Timmerman grabbed fifth.

Pure Stocks

Scoring his second feature win of the season and third of his young career, Nevada 16-year-old Jaren Powrie parked his pure stock in victory lane Saturday night.

The Nevada High School junior battled it out with Tyler Schoen, as the Halfway native slid into second-place.

After a tough battle with hometown driver Alex Christensen, Osawatomie’s Billy Shadden emerged with a third-place finish, as Christensen settled for fourth. And it was Thomas Dunham, who worked hard to score another top five finish.

UP NEXT

Nevada Speedway racing action resumes Saturday evening at 7 p.m., with a full program of races, featuring all seven classes.

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