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May 23, 2013
Double X Speedway
California, MO
By: Dean Reichel
For Immediate Release–
Double-X Speedway, drivers and fans celebrated the Memorial Day Weekend by offering a tribute to a favorite racer Jesse “The Rocket” Hockett, with the annual “Tribute to Jesse” Race. Headlining the evening was the ASCS Warrior Regions cars and stars, who came from near and far to do battle on the tight confines of the 1/4 mile clay oval in California, MO. Also on the card were the Mid America Lightning Sprints, street stocks and hobby stocks. The large crowd of racing fans were abuzz with excitement as some of the nation and regions ASCS stars gathered to remember one of their own.
The headlining class of the evening, the ASCS Warrior Sprint Cars put on a great show. With region point leader Jonathan Cornell, hometown stars Randy Martin and Tyler Blank, and visiting stars Jason Johnson and Russ Hall leading the charge the fans were sure to see some great racing. The feature line up was paced by Rob Hockett in the Massey Racing #2AZ sprinter that Jess had driven on his West Coast racing trips and it was joined by Bob Hiller’s DARE late model, the only car of this type that Jesse ever drove.The feature event was begun with the drivers doing the “Missing Man” parade lap in Jesse’s memory.
When the field came to the green the front row of Russ Hall and Jonathan Cornell led the charge into turn one. Cornell, the master of the high side led lap one with Hall, Randy Martin, Tyler Blank and Jason Johnson in tow. Consistently hitting his marks Cornell opened up a lead over the field and started encountering lap traffic by the sixth circuit. A lap 10 caution slowed the field but Cornell was able to have the benefit of lapped traffic between himself and second Randy Martin. Another caution for Casey Baker on lap 13 brought Martin to Cornell’s rear bumper on the ensuing restart. Cornell was able to continue his high line as the caution flew once more on lap 18 for debris. On the restart Cornell led and was pressured by Martin who was holding off challenges by Blank and Evan Martin who had also been consistently gaining on the leaders. Running from the restart until the checkered flag flew on lap 30, Cornell was virtually flawless as the laps ticked by. At the checkered Cornell was followed by Randy Martin, Evan Martin, Tyler Blank and Russ Hall in the top five. Cody Baker was sixth, Jason Johnson seventh, Bryan Grimes eighth, Adam Jones ninth and Kevin Whitworth brought the Jesse Hockett #77 home in tenth. Cornell and his crew were congratulated in victory lane by Jesse’s father Jack Hockett.
ASCS qualifying heats were won by Russ Hall, Evan Martin and Jonathan Cornell
The Mid America Lightning Sprints made a visit to Double-X with Phil Heavelow, no stranger to Double-X victory lane claiming the feature event. Chasing Heavelow to the checkered was another multi time winner at the speedway Gabe Maycock, finishing third was Beau Heavelow, Mark Billings fourth and Zach Morehead rounding out the top five. Iola, KS driver Rick Murcko climbed out of his machine after tumbling off of turns 3 & 4 during the feature event. Heat races were claimed by Maycock and Phil Heavelow.
The street stock division continues to put on some exciting racing. With the front row made up of contenders Derek Henson and visiting ULMA driver Jason Russell this shaped up to be an exciting feature event. Russell, a former weekly competitor at Double-X took the early lead on lap one but Henson was not to be denied as he put his machine on the low side in turns three and four and made the pass on Russell to take the lead on the second circuit. Henson opened a slight lead but was to soon feel the presence of Ted Welschmeyer who slipped by Russell to take second on lap three. Welschmeyer continued to pressure Henson as the laps went by but at the checkered Henson claimed victory by half of a car length. Following this duo across the stripe were Russell, Andrew Roark and Johnny Wyman in the top five. Curt Turpin came home sixth, Jerry Unger was seventh, Keeth Strange finished eighth, Dale Berry ninth and Jake Dent rounded out the field in tenth.
Henson and Russell claimed the heat races in the division.
A large field of Hobby Stocks were on hand to do battle as well. Gage Nicholson made his first visit to the track this year pay off as he claimed the victory ahead of Will Register. Brandon Lambert was third, AJ Wirts finished fourth and Mike Schrader came home fifth. Completing the top ten were Craig Bangert in sixth, Kevin Prall seventh, Rudy Wirts eighth, Racheal Olejniczak in ninth and Larry Dickson finishing tenth.
A regular weekly program is on tap next week at Double-X. Mark your calendars for June 9th when the stars of WAR will make their only scheduled appearance at Double-X this season. Upcoming events will also include the ULMA late Models and ASCS Warrior region will be returning for two more events. Be sure to check out the schedule at www.xxspeedway.com and like us on Facebook to receive updates also.
Race Results–
ASCS Warrior Sprint Cars–
Feature Event-
1. 28-Jonathan Cornell, Sedalia; 2. 14-Randy Martin, California; 3. 4-Evan Martin, California; 4. 75-Tyler Blank, California; 5. 45c-Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA; 6. 38-Cody Baker, Lone Jack; 7. 41-Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA; 8. 6-Bryan Grimes, Slater; 9. 1A-Adam Jones, Wright City; 10. 77-Kevin Whitworth, Ozark; 11. 1P-Curtis Evans, Norborne; 12. 72- Curtis Boyer, New Haven; 13. 76-Jay Russell, Elwood, KS; 14. 9-Casey Baker, Lone Jack; 15. Lanny Carpenter, Clarksburg; 16. 5-Matt Close, LaMonte; 17. 65-TJ Muths, Sedalia; 18. 49-Tyler Elliott, California; 19. 92J-JR Topper, St. Joseph; 20. 04-Brad Graham, Springfield; DNS XX-AJ WIrts, California.
Heat 1-
1. Hall; 2. Evans; 3. R. Martin; 4. Casey Baker; 5. Carpenter; 6. Muths; 7. Wirts
Heat 2-
1. E. Martin; 2. Blank; 3.Grimes; 4. Boyer; 5. Graham; 6. Whitworth; 7. Elliott
Heat 3-
1. Cornell; 2. Cody Baker; 3. Johnson; 4. Jones; 5. Topper, 6. Russell; 7. Close
Mid America Lightning Sprints–
Feature Event-
1. 44-Phil Heavelow, Buckner; 2. 49-Gabe Maycock, Middletown; 3. 4-Beau Heavelow, Independence; 4. 60E-Mark Billings, Columbia; 5. Z8- Zach Morehead, Grain Valley; 6. 51- Mark K. Billings, Liberty; 7. 85-Ken Billings, Liberty; 8. 8-Bird Schofield, Chilhowee; 9.09-Andrew Genkinger, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 10. 53- Greg Black, Des Moines, IA; 11. 48M-Rick Murcko, Iola, KS; 12. 6B-Andy Baugh, Mason City, IL; 13. 15H-Tony Hudson, Iola, KS.
Heat 1-
1. Maycock; 2. Morehead; 3. K. Billings; 4. Black; 5. Schofield; 6. Baugh; DNS Mark Billings (60E)
Heat 2-
1. P. Heavelow; 2. B. Heavelow; 3. Genkinger; 4. Mark K Billings (51); 5. Murcko; 6. Hulden
Street Stocks-
Feature Event-
1. 27D-Derek Henson, Russellville; 2. 21W-Ted Welschmeyer, Tebbetts; 3. 2J-Jason Russell, Henley; 4. H2-Andrew Roark, Henley; 5. 95-Johnny Wyman, Fulton; 6. 15-Curt Turpin, Jefferson City; 7. 17-Jerry Unger, Henley; 8. 7-Keeth Strange, Eldon; 9. 05-Dale Berry, Tuscumbia; 10. 38-Jake Dent, California.
Heat 1-
1. Henson; 2. Roark; 3. Wyman; 4. Berry; 5. Turpin; 6. Dent
Heat 2-
1. Russell; 2. Welschmeyer; 3. Unger; 4. Strange
Hobby Stocks-
Feature Event-
1. 12-Gage Wineland, Syracuse; 2. 77-Will Register, Sedalia; 3. 14L-Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 4. XX-AJ Wirts, California; 5. 1B-Mike Schrader, Sedalia; 6. 99B- Craig Bangert, Golden, IL; 7. 14-Kevin Prall, Sedalia; 8. 2X-Rudy Wirts, California; 9. 90R-Rachael Olejniczak, Windsor; 10. 34- Larry Dickson, Bunceton; 11. 4A-laura Atkinson, Eldon; 12. 775-PJ Grimes, Otterville; 13. 09R- Joe Reed, Tipton; 14. 25-Seth Jacobs, Centertown; 15. 84-Jeremiah Wallingford, Jamestown; 16. 90-Rodger Deatherage, Windsor; 17. Kurtis Pace, California; DNS-25M- Maranda Moser, Auxvasse
Heat 1-
1.Nicholson; 2. Register; 3. (14L) Lambert; 4. Prall; 5. R.Wirts; 6. Atkinson; 7. Grimes; 8. Pace; 9. Reed
Heat 2-
1. Jacobs; 2. Schrader; 3. (99B) Bangert; 4. AJ Wirts; 5. Deatherage; 6. Olejniczak; 7. Dickson; 8. Wallingford; 9. Moser.