(Peoria,IL) Steve Lance,Jr. has dominated at times this year at Peoria Speedway, but he had to earn it Saturday night at Peoria Speedway.

Drake started 3^rd behind front row starters Todd Bennett and new track record-holder Bobby Pierce, who ripped off a 12.113 second lap in qualifying. As the green flew over the field, Pierce went to the top in turn one and Bennett slid out of the bottom groove just enough for Drake to pounce. Drake dove under Bennett and Pierce to make it 3 wide coming out of turn 2 and took the lead going down the back stretch.

Late-arriving Donny Walden made a great run , working into 2^nd after a lap 8 re-start but his night ended on lap 11 as his engine expired, causing another caution flag. Drake led Lance, Jr. and Pierce through one more caution on lap 14 for Charley Hess and John Garnder, Jr.

Drake had struggled with lapped traffic, spinning Fank Shickel out down the back stretch earlier in the race, and it proved to be the difference in the end. On lap 24, the lapped car of Scott Schoener was running Drake’s preferred line on the bottom  Lance, Jr drove to the top in turns one and two, and Drake got pinned behind Schoener coming out of two. Lance, Jr. made the winning pass down the back stretch and ended up with 2 lapped cars as a cushion for his 6^th straight win. Drake finished 2^nd with Pierce 3^rd. Jason Jaggers made a terrific run, charging from dead last (20^th) to 4^th. Nathan Balenseifen completed the top 5.

“I think our car was faster anyway, but that lapped traffic was hard to get by on the bottom, said Lance, Jr. “Billy got held up there in two so I knew I had to make my move. We’ve really got this Rayburn hooked up here!”

Erik Bruce cruised to victory in the UMP Modified division, surviving 6 caution flags for the flag-to-flag win. 8^th-starting Donovan Lodge finished 2^nd, with 15^th-starting Ray Bollinger 3^rd, Steve Turner in 4^th, and Derrick Doerr 5^th.

“The car was really good tonight”, said Bruce. “It was a good night to be out front with all these cautions. It feels good to get a win”.

The Limited Late Model feature also featured 6 caution periods and plenty of mangled metal, but Steve Shannon jumped to the lead at the start over Jack Siegel and stayed out front for his 2^nd consecutive win. Brian Crebo ended up 2^nd,with Siegel 3^rd, Matt Mills 4^th, and Amanda Ellis posted a career-best 5^th place finish.

“I want to thank my dad and grandpa, and everyone who helps me on this car”,Shannonsaid. “We are really getting this car dialed in. It was a long race with all those cautions.”

John Farris and Chuck Barnes, Jr, entered the night in a dead heat for 2^nd in their chase for the UMP National Street Stock and Nothern States titles. Farris led flag-to-flag, with Barnes, Jr. ending up 2^nd, followed by Paula Harrison, Wally Zander and Jamie Balenseifen. “This may put us in the lead (for the National Championship)”, said Farris. “Chuck and I were both only 9 points out so this may put us in first”.

UMP National Sport Compact points leader Kenny Butterfield dominated the Hornet division, extending his lead and getting one step closer to being a National Champion in a flag-to-flag win. Tommy Wisher finished 2^nd, with Shane Kelly, Zach Bollinger and Todd  Breithbarth rounding out the top 5.

“This sure helps our cause” Butterfield said. “The track was awesome and should lead to some good racing later tonight.”