Springfield,Mo.-If Sat nights action at the racy “Quick-Quarter” of the Springfield Raceway is any sign of what ot expect in 2012,then drivers and fans a-like are in for more than they can bargin for this racing season as the Speedway held its Transport Graphics points opener and hometown driver Erik Maggard had to fend off challanges from 5 time track champion Jackie Dalton and 2010 champ Mitch Keeter to take the opening shot in the chase for the championship in the USRA Budweiser Modified feature as close to 90 race teams checked in to the pits as the Speedway remember fromer official Don Haase as his kids were special guest tonight.
After the top 8 in passing points redrew,it was ever improving Bobby Pearish and 2010 champ Mitch Keeter grabbing the front row while Dalton and Erik Maggard took row 2.Pearish quickly took to the high-side while Keeter,Dalton,Maggard and Danny DeMasters II followed as action was already 3 wide.On lap 4 the top 4 were dicing it on the high-banked quarter mile as King Of America winning engine builder John Yeoman moved from 8th to the top 5.On lap 9,defending USRA track champion Jackie Dalton moved around Keeter to grab second place. Again 3 wide battles thorughout the pack as veteran and many time Flippin Speedway modified champion rob Muilenburg was quietly coming from his 15th starting spot into the top 8.On lap 12 Maggard moved around Dalton and was setting up to challange Pearish who was hitting his marks perfect tonight.On unlucky lap 13,a tire gor hit moving it on the track just a bit more as the leaders were entering turn 1,Maggard was making a move to get around Pearish while a car spun right in front of the leaders.As the duo of Pearish and Maggard went to try and split the spining car,Pearish got the worst for wear as damage was suffered to the car.this placed Maggard in the top spot with Dalton picking the bottom groove for the double-file restart.As caution waved 2 laps later as Nick Whitehead’s strong run tonight ended as the car stalled with a burnt out coil.On the restart,Maggard went up the track in turn 2 as Dalton took his car to the inside and took the lead while Keeter was gaining quickly along with Yeoman.Behind this lead battle,Brian Green,Rob Muilenburg,DeMasters II Billy Dalton,Jerry Lankton and Marvin Forrest were swapping spots. Dalton would get credit for leading lap 16,but Maggard gathered it back on lap 17 as Dalton swung wide to set-up a late race run.As the white flew,Dalton made a wide swing and then dovel ow,but Maggard held the line tonight taking his BAS Security/State Farm/Shaw car to the win as Dalton in the Garrison Performance/Hoffman/Carthage Lock and Key finished close behind.Keeter in the Mid-America Rebuilders/Hoffman/Yeoman Engines stayed a steady third followed by Yeoman in the Yeoman Engines/Hoffman and Green in his KIDS Trucking/Slagle Auto Service/Hoffman in the top 5 as 12 of the 17 starters finished on the lead lap.Rob Muilenburg was the Transport Graphics/Budweiser Hard charger advancing 9 spots from 15th to 6th.
The Reliable Chevrolet USRA B-Modified feature stagged a race of two hard charging veterans getting ready to make a run at the track USRA Championship.Webb City’s Scott Drake drew the pole for tonight’s feature as Brandon Maggard was behind the whel of former track champion and past IMCA Super Nationals winner Wayne Graybeal’s car drew out-side front row.On the start,Brandon Maggard got the early jump as Drake,former Midwest Modz champion Kaleb copher,andy Beauchamp and defending champion Bobby Maggard Jr completed your top 5 early.Side by side was the call as Drake and Brandon Maggard both in GM Performance 602 Crate motors went wheel to wheel while Mike Hailman was quietly coming forward after starting 7th.On lap 4,Drake and Maggard swapped spots as Drake was making the top groove work while Maggard was running the middle lane.On lap 6,Bobby Maggard Jr moved into the top 3 as Crate motors were running strong tonight.On lap 8,the outcome would change as Maggard had something let loose under the car as parts flew all down the front stretch.With Drake in control,2011 champion Maggard Jr now stayed on the leaders Bumper.As the lead duo pulled away,Mike Hailman moved into third place and was setting sail to the front.During the long green run,Maggard Jr found the extreme top groove to work quickly as he gather up Drake and was setting up for a lead swap on lap 15 when the yellow flew.Drake would fend off Maggard’s late charge to take the win as Hailman,Andy Beauchamp and Copher completed the top 5 behind the lead duo.Robert Baltzell gathered the Reliable Hard Charger award moving 6 spots from 13th to 7th.
The Casey’s General stores Midwest Modz picked-up where they left off last season with another outstanding feature.The redraw placed Nathan Gold making a return to area racing on the pole with Rusty Forrest to his outside.Forrest used the outside lane to his liking taking the early lead while Gold,Dakota Maggard,Bobby gough and Gary Krebs followed.With 2-3 wide action it was Forrest trying to pull away as Gold stayed close behind while young Dakota Maggard was having a solid run also.The only caution flew on lap 5 as Shawn Eggeman got loose and went around in turn 2 bunching the field-up.Gold picked the inside lane on the restart as defending champion Trevor Drake who redrew 8th tonight was climbing up the leader board.Forrest stayed to pside as Drake and Gold battled back and forth with Drake finally gettinga round on lap 10 and began to challange Forrest.Side by side the leaders went for the final 5 laps with Forrest holding off Drake’s inside moves to take the opening win as Drake,Gold,Dakota Maggard and Gough completed the top 5 as 17 of the 18 starters completed the lead lap with side by side racing all over the field.Drake and Charlie Gentile would share the Transport Graphics Hard Chargers moving 6 spots each.Drake from 8th to 2nd and Gentile from 16th to 10th.
Wheeler Metals Legends always provide otstanding side by side action as 17 signed-in tonight.Calvin Garner and Rob Watson shared the front row redraw but it was Jim McDugle woh grabbed the opening lead form row 2.Again 3-4 wide action as all eyes were not only up front but also in the back part as defending champion Dave Comer and veteran Wayne Johnston who had issues in their heats were coming from the back field.McDugle was quickly setting the pace as Jay Reynolds made a bold move down low placing cars 4 wide for position early.McDugle looking for that first Legends win was flawless early as Garner the second year driver and former area drag racer was holding second place as Mike Hailman was picking his way forward.Reynolds slowed early and to the pits after coming quickly in the field on lap 5 ending his night.On lap 8,hailman made the wining pass around McDugle as McDugle wasn’t to lay down as he came right back at Hailman.Young Caleb McDugle was quietly making ground forward as was Billy Cottrill.THe only yellow waved on lap 11 bunching the field-up.Hailman got the hole shot and pulled away for the win leaving great racing behind for second place.Caleb McDugle would get around father Jim to secure the runner-up spot as Jim McDugle,Billy Cottril and Rob Watson completed the top 5 as 15 of the 17 starters finished on the lead lap.Wayne Johnston grabbed the Wheeler Metals Hard Charger moving 10 spots from 16th to 6th place in the feature.
Defending Pepsi Pure Stock champion Jack Hamer found himself in both the wrong place and perfect place at the right time.Hamer who almost got crossed-up with Darrell Stroment on the start lost alot of ground.Up front Lenny Bell in his 911 call for help car was leading and Philip Schloesser coming quickly.As the leaders kept getting closer and action picked up,last years Rookie Bret Testerman was closing in also.In turn 2 on lap 8 of the feature contact between Bell and Schloesser ended Bell’s night and sent Schloesser to the rear.This placed Testerman up front with Hamer quietly in second place.For the final laps,Hamer got closer to the young Testerman and on the final lap moved to the insdie lane as Schloesser tried to make it 3 wide for the win.Hamer would cross the line with the win followed by Testerman,13 year old Tyler Thulin,Stroment and Schloesser in the top 5.Both Hamer and Testerman would share the Pepsi hard charger as Hamer started 4th to finish 1st and Thulin from 6th to third both moving forward 3 spots.
The Williams Lawn Care Strret Stocks provided great racing and plenty of action as Wayne Morris of Miami,Oklahoma moved from pure Stocks to the street Stocks to grab the opening lead as Bryan Tillman wasted no time in charging from the back to get himself into second place.This battle stayed true until lap 12 when Tillman’s air filter caught fire bring the field to a red flag.With Morris leading,Springfield’s Jim Reid now was a solid second place and started to close in on the leader Morris while Tillman was coming quickly again.On the final lap,Morris was smooth but Reid really turned-up the wick closing in while Tillman was trying to move ahead.Morris grabbed the win as Reid,Tillman,Wayne Bysor and Bill Schoen completed the top 5.Tillman would be the hard charger moving 3 spots from 6th to third place
The Kids Young Lions Legends went Green,white Checkered as this new class to the Speedway provided 5 entries tonight.Former Texas resident Wesley Smith now living in Nixa and Kylan Garner battled back and fourth for the 12 lap feature with Smith getting the win leading all 12 laps.A big deal for these kids 12-16 years of age as his class provides youngsters with a growing ground for circle track racing.Grayson Cox,Arkansas Ty McWhirter and Jeremy Watson followed the lead duo across the line.
The Transport Graphics Championship chase continues Next Sat April 28th with USRA Modifieds,USRA B-Modifieds,Midwest Modz,Legends,Pure Stocks,Street Stocks and Young Lions with Grandstand gates opening at 5PM,hot laps at 6PM and Racing at 7PM.
Pit Gates open at 4PM and Grandstand General Admission is only $12 for Adults with kids 6-12 $5 and under 6 Free.More information at WWW.SpringfieldRaceway.com or contact Jerry Hoffman at 417-673-7426
Results-Don Haase Memorial
USRA Modifieds
A Ft-1)Erik Maggard-Brighton 2)Jackie Dalton-Carthage 3)Mitch Keeter-Webb City 4)John Yeoman-Granby 5)Brian Green-Pierce City 6)Rob Muilenburg-Nixa 7)Danny DeMasters II-Neosho 8)Bill Dalton-Exeter 9)Jerry Lankton-Lampe 10)Marvin Forrest-Shell Knob 11)Tim Simon-Neosho 12)Rusty Weir-Warsaw 13)Scott Symmonds-Bolivar 14)Nick Whitehead-Nixa 15)Bobby Pearish-Oronogo 16)Corey Weir-Nixa 17)Fred Slagle-Pierce City DNS-Corkey Waters
1st Ht-1)Yeoman 2)Keeter 3)Forrest 4)B Dalton 5)Simon DNS-Walters
2nd Ht-1)E Maggard 2)J Dalton 3)Pearish 4)Green 5)Muilenburg 6)C Weir
3rd Ht-1)Lankton 2)Whitehead 3)DeMasters II 4)R Weir 5)Slagle 6)Symmonds
USRA B-Mods
A Ft-1)Scott Drake-Webb City 20Bobby Maggard Jr-Republic 3)Mike Hailman-Reed Springs 4)Andy Beauchamp-Springfield 5)Kaleb Copher-Webb City 6)Michael Maggard-Republic 7)Robert Baltzell-Springfield 8)Gary Rodocker-Willard 9)Ron McClellan-Jasper 10)Ryan Stacye-Fair Grove 11)Brandon Maggard-Springfield 12)Jeremy Thulin-Miami,Okla. 13)Blake Ellis-Sarcoxie 14)Thomas Hylton-Joplin DNS-Aaron Speck-Republic,Don Luna-St James,Jared Thulin-Miami,Okla,Jon Yeoman Jr-Granby,Marcus Cheney-Joplin
1st Ht-1)Brandon Maggard 2)Beauchamp 3)Michael Maggard 4)Thulin 5)J Thulin 6)Speck 7)Stacye
2nd Ht-1)Copher 2)Drake 3)Hailman 4)Ellis 5)McClellan 6)Baltzell
3rd Ht-1)B Maggard Jr 2)Rodocker 3)Hylton 4)Yeoman Jr 5)Luna 6)Cheney
Midwest Modz
A Ft-1)Rusty Forrest-Ozark 2)Trevor Drake-Webb City 3)Nathan Gold-Willard 4)Dakota Maggard-Republic 5)Bobby Gough-Joplin 6)Todd McGregor-Clever 7)Gary Krebs-Clever 8)Taylor Moore-Bois D’Arc 9)Steve Moore-Springfield 10)Charlie Gentile-Ozark 11)Michael Page-Webb City 12)Shawn Eggeman-Willard 13)Jordan Green-Rolla 14)Rusty Adams-Miami,Okla 15)Ken Walker-Springfield 16)Austin Johnson-Joplin 17)Craig Keeter-Webb City 18)Matthew Thulin-Miami,Okla
1st Ht-1)McGregor 2)Gold 3)Page 4)Walker 5)Eggeman 6)C Keeter
2nd Ht-1)Drake 2)Gough 3)Moore 4)Green 5)Johnson 6)Gentile
3rd Ht-10Krebs 2)Forrest 3)D Maggard 4)Moore 5)Thulin 6)Adams
Legends
A Ft-1)Mike Hailman-Reed Springs 2)Caleb McDugle-Quapaw,Okla 3)Jim McDugle-Quapaw,Okla 4)Billy Cottrill-Joplin 5)Rob Watson-Billings 6)Wayne Johnston-Rolla 7)Rodney Baird-Oldfield 8)Dave Comer-Joplin 9)Calvin Garner-Sarcoxie 10)Matt Gruenburg-Joplin 11)Rick Nichols 12)Justin Comer-Joplin 13)Bill Cottrill-Joplin 14)Larry Smoot-Joplin 15)Darrell McWhirter-Bentonville,Ark 16)Nichole Cottrill-Joplin 17)Jay Reynolds-Springfield
1st Ht-1)J Comer 2)Baird 3)C McDugle 4)J McDugle 5)Billy Cottrill 6)Nichols 7)Bill Cottrill 8)N Cottrill
2nd Ht-1)Hailman 2)Reynolds 3)Watson 4)Garner 5)Gruenburg 6)McWhirter 7)Smoot 8)Johnston 9)D Comer
Pure Stocks
A Ft-1)Jack Hamer-Ava 2)Bret Testerman-Miami,Okla 3)Tyler Thulin-Miami,Okla 4)Darrell Stroment-Bolivar 5)Philip Schloesser-Clever 6)Lenny Bell-Willard DNS-Danny Vasquez,Josh Bell
1st Ht-1)L Bell 2)Schloesser 3)Stroment 4)J Bell
2nd Ht-1)Testerman 20Hamer 3)Vasquez 4)Thulin
Street Stocks
A Ft-1)Wayne Morris-Miami,Okla 2)Jim Reid-Springfield 3)Bryan Tillman-Branson 4)Wayne Bysor-Bolivar 5)Bill Schoen-Brighton 6)Daniel Deason-Bolivar 7)Shawn Schmidt-Springfield
Ht-1)Tillman 2)Morris 3)Reid 4)Schoen 5)Deason 6)Schmidt 7)Bysor
Young Lions-Legends
A Ft-1)Wesley Smith-Nixa 2)Kylan Garner-Sarcoxie 3)Grayson Cox-Joplin 4)Ty McWhirther-Bentonville,Ark 5)Jeremy Watson-Billings
Ht-1)Smith 2(Garner 3)McWhirther 4)Watson 5)Cox