The BOYS Were Back in Town at I-44

Lebanon, Mo / April 28, 2014 – The young generation of teenage sensations continue to roll at the High-Banks of the Lebanon I44 Speedway. Fifteen year old Kaleb Allison of Mexico, Mo. showed a lot of patience and overtook leader JC Newell on Lap 18 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts NASCAR Pro Late Model Feature as the track opened up the 2014 season with an exciting evening of side by side racing on Willard Asphalt And Quarries Night.

The 16 car field took the green flag as “The Stoutland Rocket” Newell and Austin “Grasshopper” Fullerton brought the field to the green. Before the opening lap was completed, Tucker Cory and Payton Lucas got together in turn 1 sending both cars over the embankment with Lucas ending on his top. Both drivers walked away, but they had severe damage to both cars. On the restart, Newell grabbed the top spot with Fullerton, Jim Reeves and Allison quickly following as rookie Kyle Donahue missed a shift and dropped back to 13th. Caution flew on lap 6 as JEGS/CRA All-Stars regular Corey Deuser, Steve Holt and Rookie contender Austin Johnson all went around in turn 4. Allison wasted no time in moving up to third as Terry Limberopoulos moved into the top 5. On lap 9 Allison moved into the runner-up spot with Newell still setting a quick pace. With some green flag racing ahead, Allison looked like a seasoned veteran and put pressure on the former Sportsman Champion as tight racing was behind the leaders while Jimmy Van Zandt moved up the ladder. On lap 18 of the 30 lap feature, Allison made the low groove stick and shot under Newell to take the top spot while Fullerton was holding off the challenges of Reaves, Van Zandt and Deuser for third spot. A lap 25 caution set-up a 5 lap showdown as Newell was able to pull-up on Allison’s CARQUEST bumper and Kyle Donahue had charged back through the field. On the restart, Allison wasted no time in pulling away and taking his first ever O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model feature as Newell, Fullerton, Donahue and Reaves completed the top 5.

“This is a new car and motor for us this season” quoted the winner,” During the 1st two practices motor problems never allowed us to turn a lap. We found the problem and on the 3rd practice day, the car was fast and we made just a couple of adjustments. Last season we came to learn and this season, we are going to run for a NASCAR Whelen All American Series Track and State Title. For Newell, the team had issues in the afternoon practice and took the car back to the shop and made the adjustments needed. We are happy with a second tonight, Kaleb had his car really good especially on the longer runs. For Fullerton his car was a tick tight and was set-up for extreme longer green flag runs but was happy with third. We will work on it and be ready for next Saturday night. Veterans Jimmy Van Zandt of Springfield and Steve Holt of Strafford won the qualifying heats.

In Budweiser Modified action, Veteran Terry Taylor took the opening lead as Stephen Counterman and David Bates followed closely. With side by side action, Counterman went to the low side of the track in turn 2 on lap 3, but the car slid up the track as he made contact with Bates who had went high. Counterman stalled on the track, Chris Johnson found the track blocked and contact sent both drivers to the pits. Taylor took advantage on the restart as Bates who was looking for his 100th career Asphalt Modified win stayed close while Kevin Hunt was enjoying his finest run ever in third. Caution waved on lap 6 for debris on the track. On the restart, Bates shot to the outside in his new Port City Modified Chassis and took over the top spot. As Bates began to open up the lead, last season’s Rookie of the Year Richard Lewis began to pick-up some speed along with positions as he moved to third place. On lap 15 of the 20 lapper, Taylor began to run down the leader Bates and got within 3 car lengths, but Bates took the opening night win with Taylor, Lewis, Hunt and Mark Riddle completing the top 5. Heat wins went to Counterman and Johnson.

The Coca-Cola Chargers brought 15 entries to the High Banks and didn’t disappoint anyone with some familiar 3 and 4 wide racing. Ben White quickly jumped to the opening lead with Larry Hunter, Jason Walls, Amanda Anderson and Adam Prine following. On lap 2, Jason Walls took over second as last season’s champion Jimmy Poindexter charged from 9th to third and was gaining on the lead duo. Walls was applying heavy pressure to White and on lap 6, made the smooth move to take over the lead as Poindexter, Jordan Nesbitt and Hunter all battled. Walls, last season’s Rookie of the year and points runner-up began to pull away leaving White, Poindexter, and Nesbitt to race for second place. Everything changed on lap 12 as Poindexter lost a right front wheel going into turn 1 taking him out of action. On the restart, Walls wasted no time in pulling away as Lauren Buhr took advantage of the restart and moved from 6th to third in no time. As the checkered flew, Walls took his first ever Asphalt NASCAR win with Nesbitt and Buhr moving around White to secure the second and third spot, followed by White and rookie John Hunn. Heat wins went to Buhr and Nesbitt.

The Keyser Manufacturing Road Warriors provided excellent side by side action as the opening lap had to be called back after Former Modified Champion Rick Sharp and Carl Harlow hooked bumpers. Sharp’s night ended early as Harlow restarted at the rear of the field and Lebanon’s Michael Juergensen went to the pits with problems. On the restart, Les Mallard grabbed the opening lead as last season’s runner-up Geoff Ledford followed with Aaron Wilke close behind. Harlow was wasting no time in recovering from the opening lap incident and moved into third by lap 3. Side-by-Side action had Ledford and Harlow with Mallard looking for running room. Harlow and Ledford ran side by side until lap 6 when Harlow opened up a 2 car advantage. The following lap in turn 4, Harlow went to low as Ledford took over the lead as Mallard and the Station Wagon of Riley Sharp went door to door for third place. With 2 races in 2 different places, the crowd had plenty of action as Harlow was trying hard to move around Ledford, but Ledford hung on for the win with Harlow, Mallard, Sharp and Mike Funcannon following. Harlow captured the heat race win.

In Monster Energy Sportsman action, 2012 Charger Champion Paul Jepson of Rolla made the move around Jake Piel to assume the lead as Toby Harden was gaining quickly. With Jepson maintaining a 6 car advantage, Harden returning to the track after a season away began to close up ground until lap 9 when Jepson put a little more distance and taking the opening night win as Harden, JC Newell, Piel and Keith Buckley followed at the strip. Harden won the heat race earlier in the night.
Round 2 of the Monster Energy Chase for the Cup in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series continues next Saturday May 3rd as the popular Baby Grands are scheduled to join the O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Models, Budweiser Modifieds, Monster Energy Sportsman, Keyser Manufacturing Road Warriors and Coca-Cola Chargers with gates opening at 5 and racing to start at 6:30.
4/26/2014 Results
COCA-COLA CHARGER – HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver
1 1 11 Lauren Buhr
2 5 10 Jason Walls
3 2 44 Benjamin White
4 7 74 Larry Hunter
5 3 7 Amanda Anderson
6 6 2 Jesse Poindexter
7 8 83 Patrick Borths
8 4 51 Japheth Nisbett
COCA-COLA CHARGER – HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver
1 2 95 Jordan Nisbett
2 6 5 Jimmy Poindexter
3 4 40 Mark Glorfeld
4 7 15 John Hunn
5 1 37 Jary Hudson
6 3 28 Adam Prine
7 5 43 Charles Appleby
COCA-COLA CHARGER – FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 6 10 Jason Walls St. James, Mo
2 10 95 Jordan Nisbett Lebanon , Mo
3 8 11 Lauren Buhr Neosho, Mo.
4 4 44 Benjamin White Rolla , Mo
5 5 15 John Hunn Rolla , Mo
6 13 51 Japheth Nisbett Rolla, Mo.
7 3 74 Larry Hunter Laquey , Mo
8 2 28 Adam Prine Springfield, Mo.-
9 11 43 Charles Appleby Cabool , Mo
10 7 40 Mark Glorfeld Springfield , Mo
11 1 7 Amanda Anderson Lebanon , Mo
12 9 5 Jimmy Poindexter Willard , Mo
13 14 2 Jesse Poindexter Willard , Mo DNS
14 15 37 Jary Hudson Edgar Springs, Mo DNS
15 12 83 Patrick Borths Willard, Mo.
DNS
KEYSER MANUFACTURING ROAD WARRIOR – HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver
1 3 7 Carl Harlow
2 1 45 Geoffrey Ledford
3 4 38 Mike Funcannon
4 6 5 Rick Sharp
5 5 8 Aaron Wilke
6 8 21 Leslie Mallard
7 7 0 Anthony Johnson
8 9 00 Michael Juergensen
9 2 99 Riley Sharp
KEYSER MANUFACTURING ROAD WARRIOR – FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 5 45 Geoffrey Ledford Neosho , Mo
2 6 7 Carl Harlow Exeter , Mo
3 1 21 Leslie Mallard Fair Grove, Mo
4 7 99 Riley Sharp Fair Grove, Mo
5 4 38 Mike Funcannon Cassville , Mo
6 8 0 Anthony Johnson Lebanon , Mo
7 2 8 Aaron Wilke Bridgeton, Mo.
8 3 5 Rick Sharp Fair Grove, Mo
9 9 00 Michael Juergensen Lebanon , Mo
MONSTER ENERGY SPORTSMAN – HEAT
Finish Start Car Driver
1 2 1 Toby Harden
2 1 84 James Newell
3 6 44 Paul Jepsen
4 4 14 Keith Buckley
5 3 76 Jake Piel –
6 5 48 Jimmy Fohn
MONSTER ENERGY SPORTSMAN – FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 3 44 Paul Jepsen Rolla , Mo
2 5 1 Toby Harden Ozark, Mo.
3 4 84 James Newell Decaturville , Mo
4 1 76 Jake Piel Webster Grove, Mo.
5 2 14 Keith Buckley Farmington , Mo
6 6 48 Jimmy Fohn Eldridge , Mo
BUDWEISER MODIFIED – HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver
1 4 25 Stephen Counterman
2 5 66 Terry Taylor
3 2 27 Kevin Hunt
4 6 9 Brian Lewis
5 1 91 David Bates
6 3 14 Tim Swearengin
BUDWEISER MODIFIED – HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver
1 1 00 Christopher Johnson
2 2 6 Richard Lewis
3 3 11 Mark Riddle
4 5 0 Christopher Kerperien
5 4 19 Brian Webster DNS
BUDWEISER MODIFIED – FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 9 91 David Bates Fair Grove, Mo
2 5 66 Terry Taylor Fair Grove, Mo
3 6 6 Richard Lewis Willard , Mo
4 3 27 Kevin Hunt Spring Hill, Ks
5 4 11 Mark Riddle Springfield , Mo
6 1 9 Brian Lewis Willard , Mo
7 8 00 Christopher Johnson Lebanon , Mo
8 7 25 Stephen Counterman Fair Grove, Mo
9 10 19 Brian Webster -Richland, Mo. DNS
10 11 14 Tim Swearengin Springfield, Mo. DNS
11 2 0 Christopher Kerperien Fort Leonard Wood,Mo DNS
O’REILLY AUTO PARTS PRO LATE MODEL – HEAT 1
Finish Start Car Driver
1 1 67 Jimmy Vanzandt
2 2 2 Kyle Donahue
3 3 22 Austin Johnson
4 4 07 Terry Limberopoulos
5 6 20 Austin Fullerton
6 7 15 Jc Newell
7 5 81 Jacob Blair
8 8 26 Payton Lucas
O’REILLY AUTO PARTS PRO LATE MODEL – HEAT 2
Finish Start Car Driver
1 2 35 Steve Holt
2 1 3 Brennon Willard
3 4 71 Corey Deuser
4 6 47 Kaleb Allison –
5 3 18 Jim Reaves
6 8 17 Josh Woody
7 7 9 Tucker Cory
8 5 7 Kevin Donahue
O’REILLY AUTO PARTS PRO LATE MODEL – FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 6 47 Kaleb Allison Mexico, Mo
2 1 15 Jc Newell Stoutland , Mo
3 3 20 Austin Fullerton Chelsea , Ok
4 9 2 Kyle Donahue Wildwood , Mo
5 4 18 Jim Reaves Strafford , Mo
6 10 3 Brennon Willard Sleeper , Mo
7 5 07 Terry Limberopoulos Cuba,Mo
8 7 22 Austin Johnson Inola , Ok
9 13 81 Jacob Blair Kansas City, Mo
10 11 67 Jimmy Vanzandt Fair Grove, Mo
11 8 71 Corey Deuser Lanesville , In
12 2 17 Josh Woody Waynesville , Mo
13 12 35 Steve Holt Strafford , Mo
14 14 9 Tucker Cory Quincy , Il
15 15 26 Payton Lucas Fair Grove, Mo
16 16 7 Kevin Donahue Wildwood , Mo DNS
Monster Energy Grandstand Adult Admission is only $10 while the Budweiser Wildside is $15 for Adults or get the 6 pack Special as 6 Adults in the same vehicle is only $75 (buy 5 Adults get 1 Free) along with discounts for military, seniors, juniors and kids 10 & under are always FREE.

For more information visit the website at www.i44speedway.net and be sure to visit and like the ever growing Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for updated information as drivers from Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Illinois compete each Saturday Night.

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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
2014 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
Hampton Inn / Lebanon – Preferred Hotel
Holiday Inn Express / Lebanon – Preferred Hotel
Hoosier Tire – Official Race Tire
K&N Engineering – Preferred Performance Filter
Lindsay Auto Group – Official NASCAR Pace Vehicle
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
Sportsland Accessories – Preferred Truck Accessories
Springfield Yamaha – Official UTV & ATV Supplier
Sunoco – Official Racing Fuel
Super 8 / Lebanon – Preferred Hotel

2014 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Supporting Partners:
Auto Body Supply, Auto Meter, Commerce Bank, Cometic Gaskets, Dickey’s Barbecue, Emerson Climate Technologies, ESPN Radio, E-Z Disposal, Graven Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Headley’s Value Tire Center, Helton’s Home Furnishings, Heritage Bank, Independent Stave Inc., JEGS, KZNN Superstation, Lebanon Ready Mix, Liberty Tire, 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, Waffle House, Whelen Engineering, Willard Asphalt, Z102.3 Radio, 107.9 The Coyote