Final Practice This Coming Saturday Night!
by Tom Wilson-pma
Warrensburg, Missouri
April 12th, 2003
The first practice week two Saturdays ago produced what was expected; a hard to contain racing surface after a long ‘hibernation’ all winter. But the ‘Fast-Action Excitement” racing surface did exactly as predicted. What many would call a night-time track during a warm, sunny day was there for the second round of practice Saturday. The speeds and handling were top-speed.
This Saturday is marked as the final practice session, this time under the lights. Gates will open at 5 pm with practice laps rolling at 7:30. Admission, in the back-stretch stands only, will again be free.
Many who were there the first time last week were satisfied, but many more cars re-filled the pits. First time, 2003 season ‘show-ups’ included six time champion ‘Fast’ Richard Layne, again piloting Warrensburg’s Bobby Hunt’s ‘Miraculous Modified Machine’, Oak Grove’s Jim Billings, Sedalia’s “Dusty” Dustin Gehlkin, Charlie Laizure from Overloand Park, Ks and Dean Bowers from Holden. True rookies in the “Mighty Modified” sector were Michael McCoy from Hamilton and Rick Braley (only a rookie in modifieds after running sprint cars previously), hailing from Belton.
Limited Late Model, 2002 champion Bruce Curry showed for the first time this year along with his new team-mate, a rookie who also from Clinton, Daren Rapp. Other fresh faces were Jim Burge from Sedalia, Kyle Judd from Knob Noster, Concordia’s Ryan Lovercamp, Troy Turley from Warrensburg, moving up to Ltd. LM’s from Street Stocks and Odessa’s David Finkemeier.
Chad Amos from Russellville showed this year with an all-new WOFC Sprint car while Steve Hammon from Pleasant Hill, Mayview’s Roger Millward, Independence's 'wonder driver', Jesse Wheeler and rookie Fred King, also from Independence, who is the older brother of last season’s Street Stock rookie of the year, Bob King. Bob was trying out the reigns in his new modified ride with excellent results.
After this Saturday’s final practice round, the first race of the year at CMS, which is always on the final Saturday of April, has been carded as the “KOKO Radio/Sunoco Race Fuels Season Opener” for the 26th.
For up-to-the-minute racin’ information, call the CMS ‘Track Report’ at 660.747.2166 or log-on to : www.centralmissourispeedway.com.
—–30—–
As a rookie "Mighty Modified" driver, Belton's Rick Braley will use his previous sprint car experience to drive his new machine. His engine let go during Saturday's CMS practice. He'll be back.
All-time "Mr. Modified Nice Guy" and former CMS champ, Oak Grove's Jim Billings, will go at it again this season with his trusty, number 7 mount.
The first of the many, regular Sedalia drivers, "Dusty" Dustin Gehlkin, was the first from that hometown that took to the track this season.
Most know that 6-time, CMS "Mighty Modified" champion 'Fast' Richard Layne drives this car. But much of the total success was made possible by Warrensburg's Bobby Hunt (pictured above), who has always run the number 03 on his self owned and well-maintained cars. Hunt has earned many owner's championships for his racers, including Chad Lyle at the wheel.
Watch Out for this Young Racer! Independence's Jesse Wheeler wowed the fans when he started his short racing career last year at CMS. He also won the final CMS feature in the Street Stocks last season. His cars' engine sounds 'super-mean'!
by Tom Wilson-pma
Warrensburg, Missouri
April 12th, 2003
The first practice week two Saturdays ago produced what was expected; a hard to contain racing surface after a long ‘hibernation’ all winter. But the ‘Fast-Action Excitement” racing surface did exactly as predicted. What many would call a night-time track during a warm, sunny day was there for the second round of practice Saturday. The speeds and handling were top-speed.
This Saturday is marked as the final practice session, this time under the lights. Gates will open at 5 pm with practice laps rolling at 7:30. Admission, in the back-stretch stands only, will again be free.
Many who were there the first time last week were satisfied, but many more cars re-filled the pits. First time, 2003 season ‘show-ups’ included six time champion ‘Fast’ Richard Layne, again piloting Warrensburg’s Bobby Hunt’s ‘Miraculous Modified Machine’, Oak Grove’s Jim Billings, Sedalia’s “Dusty” Dustin Gehlkin, Charlie Laizure from Overloand Park, Ks and Dean Bowers from Holden. True rookies in the “Mighty Modified” sector were Michael McCoy from Hamilton and Rick Braley (only a rookie in modifieds after running sprint cars previously), hailing from Belton.
Limited Late Model, 2002 champion Bruce Curry showed for the first time this year along with his new team-mate, a rookie who also from Clinton, Daren Rapp. Other fresh faces were Jim Burge from Sedalia, Kyle Judd from Knob Noster, Concordia’s Ryan Lovercamp, Troy Turley from Warrensburg, moving up to Ltd. LM’s from Street Stocks and Odessa’s David Finkemeier.
Chad Amos from Russellville showed this year with an all-new WOFC Sprint car while Steve Hammon from Pleasant Hill, Mayview’s Roger Millward, Independence's 'wonder driver', Jesse Wheeler and rookie Fred King, also from Independence, who is the older brother of last season’s Street Stock rookie of the year, Bob King. Bob was trying out the reigns in his new modified ride with excellent results.
After this Saturday’s final practice round, the first race of the year at CMS, which is always on the final Saturday of April, has been carded as the “KOKO Radio/Sunoco Race Fuels Season Opener” for the 26th.
For up-to-the-minute racin’ information, call the CMS ‘Track Report’ at 660.747.2166 or log-on to : www.centralmissourispeedway.com.
—–30—–
As a rookie "Mighty Modified" driver, Belton's Rick Braley will use his previous sprint car experience to drive his new machine. His engine let go during Saturday's CMS practice. He'll be back.
All-time "Mr. Modified Nice Guy" and former CMS champ, Oak Grove's Jim Billings, will go at it again this season with his trusty, number 7 mount.
The first of the many, regular Sedalia drivers, "Dusty" Dustin Gehlkin, was the first from that hometown that took to the track this season.
Most know that 6-time, CMS "Mighty Modified" champion 'Fast' Richard Layne drives this car. But much of the total success was made possible by Warrensburg's Bobby Hunt (pictured above), who has always run the number 03 on his self owned and well-maintained cars. Hunt has earned many owner's championships for his racers, including Chad Lyle at the wheel.
Watch Out for this Young Racer! Independence's Jesse Wheeler wowed the fans when he started his short racing career last year at CMS. He also won the final CMS feature in the Street Stocks last season. His cars' engine sounds 'super-mean'!
