Pole Position: Hometown drivers fly the checkers
A trio of Nevada drivers flew the checkers Saturday night at Nevada Speedway. Collecting his first career victory was Nevada High School senior Cayden Campbell. Other hometown drivers finding victory lane, were Morgan Campbell and Shawn Hendren.
The evening’s festivities opened with the Mini Stock division, as a new face emerged in victory lane. Wenldon Rotramel opened the 15 lap feature with outside pole position and never looked back as the Nevada Speedway newcomer notched the win.
Rotramel was followed by James Witt, with the Grandview native moving up one spot from his original starting position en route to the runner-up finish. Sheldon’s Mike Baxter fell back one spot, settling for third. Advancing up three spots was Joplin’s Ken Leverich, would slid into fourth, while weekly competitor Jon Starnes rounded out the top five finish.
— Pure Stocks —
Taking full advantage of outside pole position, Nevada High School junior Morgan Campbell nailed down his third feature victory of the season.
Fort Scott’s Jason Agee mounted a strong challenge to Campbell, before being relegated to the runner-up spot. Hot on Agee’s trail was Nevada’s Zach Hendren, who collected a strong third place finish, after moving up four spots from his original starting position.
Meanwhile, Osceola’s James Leiber weaved his way through the pack, moving up seven spots to nab a fourth place finish. Another hard-charger was Carl Junction’s Thomas Dunham, who placed fifth after opening the race in the 14th position.
— Street Stocks —
The third hometown driver to claim a feature victory Saturday night was Nevada’s own Shawn Hendren. Hendren was in dominant form, leading every lap of the race, while also fending off fellow Nevadan Karl Lehmann.
After Lehmann in the runner-up position, was Mike Keever of Dewey, Oklahoma in third, while Frontenac’s Mike Bitner finished in fourth, after opening the race in the second position. Butler’s Dale Douty took home fifth.
— Midwest Mods —
Pulling off what should be considered a big upset, Nevada’s Cayden Campbell knocked track juggernaut Rob Muilenberg from victory lane, after making a critical pass on the Sparta native. Muilenburg, who has a track leading eight feature victories this season, was forced to settle for second.
Osceola’s Larry Drake advanced up two positions to finish in third, while Lamar’s Devin Crockett dropped two spots en route to fourth place. El Do’s Kelby Keith ascended three spots to finish fifth.
— B-Mods —
Notching his third victory of the season in the B-Mod division was Liberal driver Matt Rose. Rose was in full bloom, parlaying pole position into a wire-to-wire victory.
It was a hard-earned win for Rose, as last week’s winner, Rusty Skaggs of Fort Scott applied some major pressure. Skaggs, however, was unable to make the crucial pass on Rose. Following Skaggs in the runner-up spot was his son, Brayton in third, while Butler’s Jeff Douty moved up four positions for the fourth place finish. Fort Scott’s Jerry Morgan fell back a pair of spots, settling for fifth.
— A-Mods —
Locking up his fourth A-Mod feature win of the season was Pleasanton’s Jessy Willard. After a highly competitive battle with the Kansas native — Mitchell Niemi, by way of San Diego, California, emerged with a strong second place finish.
Iola’s Chase Sigg, who won last week’s feature, tallied a top three finish, while El Do’s Craig Wood placed fourth; and Seneca’s John Romesburg, fifth.
— Late Models —
Dustin Mooneyham has been burning up the dirt oval as of late, with Verona native making it a three-peat Saturday night — leading wire-to-wire as he flew to his third consecutive feature victory.
Steve Johnson trailed Mooneyham in the runner-up spot, while Joplin driver John Coats made a dramatic pass on Lynn Jones to grab third. Jones, of Independence, placed fourth, while El Do’s Dylan Timmerman topped off the top five finish.
Up next
Grass roots racing action returns to historic Nevada Speedway Saturday night, with a full program of races slated to begin at 7 p.m.