From Kevin Greven
Many stories also contributed by Ronnie Williams
NASCAR Monster Energy Sportsman Rewind of the 2013 Season at Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Lebanon, Mo / December 9, 2013 – The NASCAR Whelen All American Series Monster Energy Sportsman Division at the High-Banks of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway underwent a rebuilding season in 2013. The class featured the regular Stock Appearing Bodies, Wedge-Type Bodies and even Truck Type Bodies and mixture of rules to equal the field and keeping costs in line.
For the 1st time since 2001, drivers were a part of the NASCAR Whelen All American Series and were billed as the division 3 class. The Sportsman kept the features interesting every night as only once during the season did a driver go back to back with feature wins. Despite a small car count, 5 different drivers took wins out of the 12 Monster Energy points events held this season in a season which saw 5 different nights lost to weather and scheduled nights off for different classes.
Camdenton’s Robert Reeves headed the win column in 2013 with 4 victories while veteran driver JC Newell of Decaturville grabbed 3 checkered flags. Point champion Randy Besser of Branson and Inola, Oklahoma young charger Austin Johnson each grabbed 2 victories each with Lebanon’s Aaron Douglas taking home 1 win.
After attempting to get the season underway twice, mother nature finally cooperated for the Monster Energy Sportsman on May 11th with 9 entries checking in for the action. In an action packed feature, Reeves in his Wedge Type Outlaw Bodied car outlasted Besser to take the win while Douglas gathered a third place finish. Following a week off, the Sportsman were back in action on May 25th as Besser took his first checkered flag in over 15 seasons by outlasting Reeves in the feature with his Outlaw Wedge Bodied Car as 13 year old Austin Johnson made the jump from Baby Grands to the bigger type of cars with a third place finish.
It would be almost a full month before the Sportsman took to the track again as weather plagued the Speedway along with a scheduled night or two off for the class. On June 22nd, For the Third time in three different race nights a new feature winner was crowned as “The Gentle Giant” JC Newell took his full-bodied car to win number 1 as Aaron Douglas with a late race rally came-up just short while Besser again was on the podium with a third place finish which allowed him to take the point lead.
The following week on June 29th, opening night winner Reeves was a dominant force taking his second win of the season and regaining the point lead as Besser and young Johnson rounded out the top 3. A non-point event was slated for the class on a special Wednesday night July 3rd “Salute To America” race program as Austin Johnson gathered his first ever Sportsman win by holding off Reeves at the finish with Newell also on the podium.
The Monster Energy Chase for the Championship continued on July 20th as Robert Reeves came from the back of the pack to take his third feature of the season while early leader JC Newell hung on for his first runner-up spot and Besser third. Reeves would go back to back for his 4th win of the season on July 27th as Newell again was the bridesmaid and young Johnson took home a third place finish.
A big turning point of the season would happen on Aug. 10th following another rainout the week before. As discussed early in the season, if one of the rules packages was dominating, it would be discussed with all in the class and adjustments would be made. After some adjustments to keep the competition close, Newell would take the win after a wild mid-race incident placed the top two runners Reeves and Besser to the rear of the field. Besser would rally back that evening to secure the second place spot as Aaron Douglas returned in a new car after selling his over a month ago to finish third. Following the feature, per the Tracks rule package, Reeves would have his shocks claimed and refused forcing a disqualification with actions resulting in a NASCAR suspension ending his attempt for a track championship.
For the Aug. 17th feature night, Douglas took his new ride into the winners circle to become the fourth different points winner of the season while rookie Jim Fohn of Eldridge drove his best feature of the season with a solid second place finish and Besser rallied for third. The point battle was now between Besser and Newell as young Johnson was lurking in the shadows.
The fifth different points event winner would take the flag on Aug. 24th as Johnson had the car on a rail taking the win with Newell and Besser following.
The following week, Newell grabbed win number 3 of the season as Douglas and Besser followed as the title was up for grabs.
For the second time in three weeks, Oklahoma’s Austin Johnson took home the win. Besser placed some distance between himself and Newell as a runner-up spot was awaiting Besser and Jacob Blair of Kansas City grabbed the podium third place spot in only his 3rd race in the full bodied cars after being a Baby-Grand top runner.
On the Sept. 14th Monster Energy Championship night, Besser would celebrate his crew chief and Son Martin’s Birthday in style by not only grabbing win number 2, but also the Championship. Young Johnson kept his strong second half run solid with a runner-up spot while Kansas City Veteran front runner Ron Hartford took his truck bodied familiar 97 to a third place finish.
Final Monster Energy Sportsman Points
Pos Car # Driver Total
1 21 Randall Besser-Branson 1326
2 84 James Newell -Decaturville 1283
3 22 Austin Johnson -Inola, Oklahoma 1279
4 48 Jimmy Fohn -Eldridge 1081
5 7 Aaron Douglas-Lebanon 852
6 6 Robert Reeves -Camdenton 732
7 76 Jake Piel – Decaturville 366
8 81 Jacob Blair – Kansas City, Missouri 265
9 97 Ron Hartford – Kansas City, Missouri 201
10 5 Dustin Reeves -Osage Beach 168
11 25 Darin Owens – Strafford 166
12 12 Justin Darby (Allen) – Urbana 87
For 2014, The Speedway will host 3 practice Saturdays before opening night on April 26th and again will be sanctioned by the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. Look for more information about the 2014 schedule in coming weeks.
For more information visit the website at WWW.I44Speedway.Net or contact General Manager Kevin Greven at 417-399-5756. Be sure to view and like the Facebook page also and follow us on Twitter for updated information.
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About Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Lebanon I-44 Speedway is Missouri’s only NASCAR facility and weekly Asphalt Racing Oval settled nearly 300 miles from any other and is Missouri’s only NASCAR sanctioned facility. Located in Lebanon, Missouri, along Interstate 44 on Route 66 adds easy access from any direction. Just about 45 minutes to the East of Springfield, Missouri on I-44 and just 2 hours West of St. Louis on I-44 as well as just 30 minutes south of Lake of the Ozarks.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway has a history of producing great racecar drivers, and some of the biggest stars in American motorsports honed their skills on our tracks high banked 3/8-mile asphalt oval. Legends such as the great Larry Phillips, the only 5-time national champion in NASCAR’s weekly racing series, along with NASCAR stars like Mike Wallace, Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and the late Tony Roper have either won races or even track championships over the years.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway has perhaps the smoothest racing surface of any weekly racing facility in the nation along with new aluminum backed Monster Energy grandstand seating, Budweiser “Wild Side” tier parking that you can pull up in your car or tailgate in your pickup and enjoy all of the racing from a great view, the new Central Bank VIP Suites in the middle of the front stretch and entering turn one is the newest addition, the Budweiser Fan Deck.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway runs many special events throughout the race season as well as an exciting NASCAR weekly show that consists of Pro Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Road Warriors and the Chargers with special appearances by the United States Super Truck Series, Pro National Baby Grand Cars, NASCAR racing special events and various Concerts.
For all of the latest information always visit
www.i44speedway.net
2013 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Official Partners:
NASCAR – National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing
Big Surf Water Park – Preferred Amusement Park
Budweiser – Official Beer
Caddy Shack Golf Cars – Official Golf Cars
Central Bank – Preferred Banking Partner
Compliance Fire & Safety – Preferred Fire & Safety Provider
Green Earth Technologies – Preferred “Totally Green” Clean Tech Company
Hampton Inn / Lebanon – Preferred Hotel
Holiday Inn Express / Lebanon – Preferred Hotel
Hoosier Tire – Official Race Tire
K&N Engineering – Preferred Performance Filter
Mercy – Official Health Care Provider
Missouri Eagle – Official Beer, Energy Drink & Tea Supplier
Monster Energy – Official Energy Drink
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Preferred Auto Parts Store
Ozarks Coca-Cola Dr. Pepper – Official Supplier: Soft Drinks, Water, Sports Drinks
Peace Tea – Official Tea
Racing Electronics – Official Communications Supplier
Safety-Kleen – Preferred Environmental Services Company
Springfield Yamaha – Official UTV & ATV Supplier
Sunoco – Official Racing Fuel
Super 8 / Lebanon – Preferred Hotel
2013 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Supporting Partners:
Advanced Electric & Communications, Auto Body Supply, Auto Meter, Commerce Bank, Cometic Gaskets, Contingency Connection, Dickies Barbecue, Emerson Climate Technologies, Energy Companies, ESPN Radio, E-Z Disposal, Graven Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Headley’s Value Tire Center, Helton’s Home Furnishings, Heritage Bank, Home Depot, Independent Stave Inc., JEGS, KZNN Superstation, Lebanon Ready Mix, Liberty Tire, Lindsay Auto Group, McGunegill Engine Performance, Missouri Tool & Automation, Owens Sandblasting, Ozarks Harley Davidson, Regional Radio – KJEL, Reliable Toyota, Rock Auto, Royal Purple, Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, Sherwin Williams, Show Me Guns, Sprint, Starnes Auto, Totally You, Toyota Motorsports, Unilever, United Insurors, US Foods, Waffle House, Whelen Engineering, Willard Asphalt, Z102.3 Radio, 107.9 The Coyote
Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Kevin Greven / General Manager
lebanoni44speedway@yahoo.com
Track (417) 532-2060 / Cell (417) 399-5756 / Fax (417) 532-7624
24069 Route 66 / Lebanon, MO 65536