By Dusty Luthy
I-44 Speedway
LEBANON - Although Bill Frye won the Mid America Racing Series Late Model race at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway on Saturday night, the race hype seemed to surround the drivers who finished a little lower in the night's feature.
Frye, of Greenbriar, Ark., won his heat after starting fifth, winning the pole for the feature race, where he stayed for the duration of the 40-lap feature. Springfield's Terry Phillips started on the outside of him, but was plagued with problems all night long.
"That's the worst this car's been all year long," Phillips said. "We've got to study on it and figure it out."
Phillips chose to run the high side of the track, but by lap two, got too high in the cushion, allowing Jeff Taylor to take a steady second place. Phillips was able to continue on the cushion, building his momentum to take back second on lap six. Going too high again, Taylor found himself back in second by lap 20.
As Phillips was about two car lengths away from lapping his own teammate, Jeremy Payne, a caution came out on lap 30 for Taylor, which also sent Phillips to the pits with a flat tire.
Payne, a Tucson, Ariz. native, has joined Terry Phillips Autosports and Andy's Frozen Custard racing as teammate. The former Modified driver just made the move to Springfield this week from Batesville, Ark., making his second career start in a Late Model at I-44 Speedway and he's quickly turning heads.
"We got to break him in here," Phillips said. "He's already done an outstanding job tonight, winning the heat race, he finished in front of me, I guess."
That's right. Payne's black No. 74 came in for an eighth-place feature finish, one spot ahead of his new boss and mentor.
"I was a little nervous about performing well," Payne, 20, said. "We ran real well in the heat race, got in the main, which is the most important thing. I'm pretty excited."
The two currently share crew members and sponsors, but Phillips said Payne is standing out.
"I hope he runs right out in front," Phillips said. "That's why we signed him on. I think he's the deal. We're pretty serious around here and expect a lot, and so far, he's done a heck of a job. I don't think he'll have any problems."
"Hopefuly it just keeps getting better from here," Payne said. "Hopefully he'll teach me a lot. He already has in this short time, so hopefully, he makes me as good a racer as he is."
The spotlight was also on Will Vaught. The young driver from Crane, with embroidered ARCA patches emblazoned on his racing suit, said after the race he was pretty "hyped up" about his MARS career-best, second-place finish.
"It could have been better for me," Vaught joked. "It would have been better for me if I would have been out there on that front straightway."
But Vaught harbors no ill feelings toward the winner and said he would take second to Frye any night. Vaught can frequently be seen in the pits of a race track talking with Frye - his car builder and mentor.
"I respect the man more than anyone around here," Vaught said. "He helps us out a lot. I'm glad he won."
The victory came as an extra boon for Frye after his car was totaled at a previous MARS race at Monett Speedway. Knowing that it was his cars that came in at the top two spots makes him just as proud.
"I feel good watching anyone that I help out," Frye said. "I feel just as good watching them run good. For me, it's about building a car. I've told a lot of people that I'm not that good of a race car driver, but I've got a really good hot rod. A lot of people can get in it and win races. It makes me feel good to see another driver do that."
Vaught started the feature 14th before making his late-race run to the top. Dewaine Hottinger came in third, followed by Justin Wells and Jeff Floyd.
Jeff Cutshaw added another Modified victory to his list of achievements Saturday night. Cutshaw started the feature on the outside of pole sitter Tony Jackson Jr.
Cutshaw won his 10th Modified victory in 17 races.
"Winning never gets old," Cutshaw said. "You always want to win. People in the stands, it might get old for them, but you still go out there and do the best you can. You want to be faster. If you win by a big margin you still want to win by a bigger margin. That competitive edge- you never want to lose that. And I will lose it eventually. But I cherish what I got right now."
Jackson finished second followed by Steve Martin, Steve Muilenburg, and Jason Meadors.
The Factory Stock feature saw three different race leaders. Richland's Tim Brown won the pole and held the lead for a few laps before Lake Mooneyham, of Republic, took the lead for several laps. David Hendrix, of Buckhorn, came charging on the high side and took the lead for good.
Mooneyham took second, followed by Brown, Chad Smith, of Lebanon, and Kenny Carroll, of Osage Beach.
Lonnie Muhlbauer won his second Pro-4 victory in a row. Brian Miller also won his first Bomber victory of the season.
Mid America Racing Series Late Models
Heat 1
1. Jeff Taylor
2. Brandon McCormick
3. Leslie Essary
4. Bill James
5. Steve Rushin
6. Christian Rayburn
7. Jordan Jones
Heat 2
1. Terry Phillips
2. Darrin Barton
3. Justin Wells
4. Ken Essary
5. Kyle Steffens
6. Reid Millard
7. Richard Foster
8. Shannon Anastosopolis
Heat 3
1. Jeremy Payne
2. Dewaine Hottinger
3. Jason Bodenhammer
4. Denny Woodwarth
5. Jesse Stovall
6. Shane Essary
7. Burl Woods
8. Leroy Johnson
Heat 4
1. Bill Frye
2. Jeff Floyd
3. Will Vaught
4. Chris Smyser
5. Joey Mack
6. Dustin Mooneyham
7. Larry Jones
8. Larry Moon
Main B Feature 1
1. Jesse Stovall
2. Shane Essary
3. Steve Rushin
4. Burl Woods
5. Jordan Jones
6. Larry Moon
7. Reid Millard
8. Shannon Anastosopolis
Main B Feature 2
1. Joey Mack
2. Kyle Steffens
3. Larry Moon
4. Dustin Mooneyham
5. Christian Rayburn
6. Leroy Johnson
7. Dane Dacus
8. Richard Foster
Feature
1. Bill Frye
2. Will Vaught
3. Dewaine Hottinger
4. Justin Wells
5. Jeff Floyd
6. Leslie Essary
7. Chris Smyser
8. Jeremy Payne
9. Terry Phillips
10. Bill James
11. Steve Rushin
12. Jason Bodenhammer
13. Joey Mack
14. Ken Essary
15. Denny Woodwarth
16. Brandon McCormick
17. Jeff Taylor
18. Jesse Stovall
19. Darrin Barton
20. Kyle Steffens
21. Shane Essary
22. Dane Dacus
Modifieds
Heat 1
1. Jason Meadors
2. Tammy Mitchell
3. Justin Moon
4. Don Luna
5. Sam Petty
6. Eddie Whitney
DNS Craig Holderman
Heat 2
1. Tony Jackson Jr.
2. Steve Martin
3. Bob Test
4. Justin Neuman
5. Doug Crider
6. Mook Cunningham
Heat 3
1. Jeff Cutshaw
2. Joe Bradshaw
3. Steve Muilenburg
4. David Holder
5. Jimmy Willis
6. Tony Blue
7. Corey Simpson
Feature
1. Jeff Cutshaw
2. Tony Jackson Jr.
3. Steve Martin
4. Steve Muilenburg
5. Jason Meadors
6. Justin Neuman
7. Bob Test
8. Joe Bradshaw
9. Jimmy Willis
10. Tammy Mitchell
11. Justin Moon
12. Don Luna
13. Corey Simpson
14. Mook Cunningham
15. Tony Blue
16. Sam Petty
17. Eddie Whitney
18. Doug Crider
DNS David Holder
Factory Stock
Heat 1
1. David Hendrix
2. Derrick Peterson
3. Chad Smith
4. Ben Solberg
5. Troy White
6. Dennis Price
7. Justin Stoufer
Heat 2
1. Tim Brown
2. Lake Mooneyham
3. Kenny Carroll
4. Derrick Brown
5. Lonnie Henderson
6. Tim Petty
7. Robbie Bryant
Feature
1. David Hendrix
2. Lake Mooneyham
3. Tim Brown
4. Chad Smith
5. Kenny Carroll
6. Derrick Peterson
7. Ben Solberg
8. Lonnie Henderson
9. Derrick Brown
10. Tim Petty
11. Troy White
12. Justin Stoufer
DNS Dennis Price, Robbie Bryant
Pro 4
Heat 1
1. John Ryan
2. Cody Cypret
3. Robert Schoefield
4. Pat Schudy
5. Darrin Widener
Heat 2
1. Lonnie Muhlbauer
2. Randy Galloway
3. Don Lacey
4. Tom Valustuin
5. Kyle Bellm
Feature
1. Lonnie Muhlbauer
2. John Ryan
3. Don Lacey
4. Robert Schoefield
5. Cody Cypret
6. Kyle Bellm
7. Darrin Widener
8. Tom Valastuin
9. Pat Schudy
DNS Randy Galloway
Bomber
Heat 1
1. Jason Huey
2. Brian Miller
3. Brandon Pister
4. Richard Talley
5. James Scroggins
6. Corey Dun
7. Dane Bartle
8. Joe Francis
9. Grant Scharp
10. Sheldon Stoufer
Heat 2
1. Tyler Brown
2. Donnie Jackson
3. Landen Johnson
4. Jon Muilenburg
5. John West
6. Josh Lewis
7. Kevin Morrison
8. Thomas Powers
9. Jared Monger
Feature
1. Brian Miller
2. Tyler Brown
3. Landen Johnson
4. Richard Talley
5. Josh Lewis
6. Jon Muilenburg
7. John West
8. Dane Bartle
9. Thomas Powers
10. Corey Dunn
11. James Scroggins
12. Donnie Jackson
13. Brandon Pister
14. Jason Huey
15. Kevin Morrison
16. Joe Francis
DNS Grant Sharp, Jared Monger, Sheldon Stoufer
I-44 Speedway
LEBANON - Although Bill Frye won the Mid America Racing Series Late Model race at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway on Saturday night, the race hype seemed to surround the drivers who finished a little lower in the night's feature.
Frye, of Greenbriar, Ark., won his heat after starting fifth, winning the pole for the feature race, where he stayed for the duration of the 40-lap feature. Springfield's Terry Phillips started on the outside of him, but was plagued with problems all night long.
"That's the worst this car's been all year long," Phillips said. "We've got to study on it and figure it out."
Phillips chose to run the high side of the track, but by lap two, got too high in the cushion, allowing Jeff Taylor to take a steady second place. Phillips was able to continue on the cushion, building his momentum to take back second on lap six. Going too high again, Taylor found himself back in second by lap 20.
As Phillips was about two car lengths away from lapping his own teammate, Jeremy Payne, a caution came out on lap 30 for Taylor, which also sent Phillips to the pits with a flat tire.
Payne, a Tucson, Ariz. native, has joined Terry Phillips Autosports and Andy's Frozen Custard racing as teammate. The former Modified driver just made the move to Springfield this week from Batesville, Ark., making his second career start in a Late Model at I-44 Speedway and he's quickly turning heads.
"We got to break him in here," Phillips said. "He's already done an outstanding job tonight, winning the heat race, he finished in front of me, I guess."
That's right. Payne's black No. 74 came in for an eighth-place feature finish, one spot ahead of his new boss and mentor.
"I was a little nervous about performing well," Payne, 20, said. "We ran real well in the heat race, got in the main, which is the most important thing. I'm pretty excited."
The two currently share crew members and sponsors, but Phillips said Payne is standing out.
"I hope he runs right out in front," Phillips said. "That's why we signed him on. I think he's the deal. We're pretty serious around here and expect a lot, and so far, he's done a heck of a job. I don't think he'll have any problems."
"Hopefuly it just keeps getting better from here," Payne said. "Hopefully he'll teach me a lot. He already has in this short time, so hopefully, he makes me as good a racer as he is."
The spotlight was also on Will Vaught. The young driver from Crane, with embroidered ARCA patches emblazoned on his racing suit, said after the race he was pretty "hyped up" about his MARS career-best, second-place finish.
"It could have been better for me," Vaught joked. "It would have been better for me if I would have been out there on that front straightway."
But Vaught harbors no ill feelings toward the winner and said he would take second to Frye any night. Vaught can frequently be seen in the pits of a race track talking with Frye - his car builder and mentor.
"I respect the man more than anyone around here," Vaught said. "He helps us out a lot. I'm glad he won."
The victory came as an extra boon for Frye after his car was totaled at a previous MARS race at Monett Speedway. Knowing that it was his cars that came in at the top two spots makes him just as proud.
"I feel good watching anyone that I help out," Frye said. "I feel just as good watching them run good. For me, it's about building a car. I've told a lot of people that I'm not that good of a race car driver, but I've got a really good hot rod. A lot of people can get in it and win races. It makes me feel good to see another driver do that."
Vaught started the feature 14th before making his late-race run to the top. Dewaine Hottinger came in third, followed by Justin Wells and Jeff Floyd.
Jeff Cutshaw added another Modified victory to his list of achievements Saturday night. Cutshaw started the feature on the outside of pole sitter Tony Jackson Jr.
Cutshaw won his 10th Modified victory in 17 races.
"Winning never gets old," Cutshaw said. "You always want to win. People in the stands, it might get old for them, but you still go out there and do the best you can. You want to be faster. If you win by a big margin you still want to win by a bigger margin. That competitive edge- you never want to lose that. And I will lose it eventually. But I cherish what I got right now."
Jackson finished second followed by Steve Martin, Steve Muilenburg, and Jason Meadors.
The Factory Stock feature saw three different race leaders. Richland's Tim Brown won the pole and held the lead for a few laps before Lake Mooneyham, of Republic, took the lead for several laps. David Hendrix, of Buckhorn, came charging on the high side and took the lead for good.
Mooneyham took second, followed by Brown, Chad Smith, of Lebanon, and Kenny Carroll, of Osage Beach.
Lonnie Muhlbauer won his second Pro-4 victory in a row. Brian Miller also won his first Bomber victory of the season.
Mid America Racing Series Late Models
Heat 1
1. Jeff Taylor
2. Brandon McCormick
3. Leslie Essary
4. Bill James
5. Steve Rushin
6. Christian Rayburn
7. Jordan Jones
Heat 2
1. Terry Phillips
2. Darrin Barton
3. Justin Wells
4. Ken Essary
5. Kyle Steffens
6. Reid Millard
7. Richard Foster
8. Shannon Anastosopolis
Heat 3
1. Jeremy Payne
2. Dewaine Hottinger
3. Jason Bodenhammer
4. Denny Woodwarth
5. Jesse Stovall
6. Shane Essary
7. Burl Woods
8. Leroy Johnson
Heat 4
1. Bill Frye
2. Jeff Floyd
3. Will Vaught
4. Chris Smyser
5. Joey Mack
6. Dustin Mooneyham
7. Larry Jones
8. Larry Moon
Main B Feature 1
1. Jesse Stovall
2. Shane Essary
3. Steve Rushin
4. Burl Woods
5. Jordan Jones
6. Larry Moon
7. Reid Millard
8. Shannon Anastosopolis
Main B Feature 2
1. Joey Mack
2. Kyle Steffens
3. Larry Moon
4. Dustin Mooneyham
5. Christian Rayburn
6. Leroy Johnson
7. Dane Dacus
8. Richard Foster
Feature
1. Bill Frye
2. Will Vaught
3. Dewaine Hottinger
4. Justin Wells
5. Jeff Floyd
6. Leslie Essary
7. Chris Smyser
8. Jeremy Payne
9. Terry Phillips
10. Bill James
11. Steve Rushin
12. Jason Bodenhammer
13. Joey Mack
14. Ken Essary
15. Denny Woodwarth
16. Brandon McCormick
17. Jeff Taylor
18. Jesse Stovall
19. Darrin Barton
20. Kyle Steffens
21. Shane Essary
22. Dane Dacus
Modifieds
Heat 1
1. Jason Meadors
2. Tammy Mitchell
3. Justin Moon
4. Don Luna
5. Sam Petty
6. Eddie Whitney
DNS Craig Holderman
Heat 2
1. Tony Jackson Jr.
2. Steve Martin
3. Bob Test
4. Justin Neuman
5. Doug Crider
6. Mook Cunningham
Heat 3
1. Jeff Cutshaw
2. Joe Bradshaw
3. Steve Muilenburg
4. David Holder
5. Jimmy Willis
6. Tony Blue
7. Corey Simpson
Feature
1. Jeff Cutshaw
2. Tony Jackson Jr.
3. Steve Martin
4. Steve Muilenburg
5. Jason Meadors
6. Justin Neuman
7. Bob Test
8. Joe Bradshaw
9. Jimmy Willis
10. Tammy Mitchell
11. Justin Moon
12. Don Luna
13. Corey Simpson
14. Mook Cunningham
15. Tony Blue
16. Sam Petty
17. Eddie Whitney
18. Doug Crider
DNS David Holder
Factory Stock
Heat 1
1. David Hendrix
2. Derrick Peterson
3. Chad Smith
4. Ben Solberg
5. Troy White
6. Dennis Price
7. Justin Stoufer
Heat 2
1. Tim Brown
2. Lake Mooneyham
3. Kenny Carroll
4. Derrick Brown
5. Lonnie Henderson
6. Tim Petty
7. Robbie Bryant
Feature
1. David Hendrix
2. Lake Mooneyham
3. Tim Brown
4. Chad Smith
5. Kenny Carroll
6. Derrick Peterson
7. Ben Solberg
8. Lonnie Henderson
9. Derrick Brown
10. Tim Petty
11. Troy White
12. Justin Stoufer
DNS Dennis Price, Robbie Bryant
Pro 4
Heat 1
1. John Ryan
2. Cody Cypret
3. Robert Schoefield
4. Pat Schudy
5. Darrin Widener
Heat 2
1. Lonnie Muhlbauer
2. Randy Galloway
3. Don Lacey
4. Tom Valustuin
5. Kyle Bellm
Feature
1. Lonnie Muhlbauer
2. John Ryan
3. Don Lacey
4. Robert Schoefield
5. Cody Cypret
6. Kyle Bellm
7. Darrin Widener
8. Tom Valastuin
9. Pat Schudy
DNS Randy Galloway
Bomber
Heat 1
1. Jason Huey
2. Brian Miller
3. Brandon Pister
4. Richard Talley
5. James Scroggins
6. Corey Dun
7. Dane Bartle
8. Joe Francis
9. Grant Scharp
10. Sheldon Stoufer
Heat 2
1. Tyler Brown
2. Donnie Jackson
3. Landen Johnson
4. Jon Muilenburg
5. John West
6. Josh Lewis
7. Kevin Morrison
8. Thomas Powers
9. Jared Monger
Feature
1. Brian Miller
2. Tyler Brown
3. Landen Johnson
4. Richard Talley
5. Josh Lewis
6. Jon Muilenburg
7. John West
8. Dane Bartle
9. Thomas Powers
10. Corey Dunn
11. James Scroggins
12. Donnie Jackson
13. Brandon Pister
14. Jason Huey
15. Kevin Morrison
16. Joe Francis
DNS Grant Sharp, Jared Monger, Sheldon Stoufer
