By David Darnell
It was Coca-Cola Fan Appreciation night at the Malden Speedway Friday with an added purse in the Street Stock division. Johnny Houart came through a tough field to win the feature. Billy James made it four for four in the Late Models. Jeff Greene won in Modifieds. Claudie Cook won his third Hobby Stock feature, and the team of Chris and Gene Kelly made it six in a row in Cruisers.
After a dismal fourth place finish in his heat race, Johnny Houart knew it would be an extra challenge to contend for the Street Stock victory. Houart started 15th and quickly worked his way through the field. Aaron Darby grabbed the early lead with Billy James and Paul Reeder in hot pursuit. On the second lap Reeder and Darby got together and brought out a caution and both were relegated to the rear of the field. James inherited the lead and pulled away briefly from the field. Houart used a slick move to knife between Chuck Tilley and Mike Elliott to take second coming out of turn two on the fourth lap. Dicky Jackson's car lost a drive shaft on lap six and brought James back to the field following the caution for debris. On the restart, James and Houart pulled away from the field and following a lap of bumper-to-bumper racing, Houart pulled even with James on lap eight. This battle lasted until lap 12 when Houart cut low out of turn four to grab the lead. On lap 15 Doug Moore overtook James for second but broke down before the lap was finished, eliminating him from competition. Houart had a comfortable margin on James when caution fell again for the last time on lap 17. Houart kept the lead on the restart, but James gave up second to a hard charging Scott Wicker. Wicker pulled along side Houart and the pair raced side by side the final two laps, with Houart edging Wicker by less than half a car length at the finish line. Wicker also came along way through the field, as he started 18th, gaining a position in the feature by winning one of the twin B-Mains. The win was the third of the year for Houart and moved him to within one point of Reeder for the season standings. James held on for third. Reeder battled back from his early setback and took fourth.
Gene Kelley picked up his first top five finish of the season. Heat winners were Darby, James, Steve McChristian, and Reeder. Danny Hampton and Wicker won the B-Mains. Great show drivers!
STREET STOCK
31 Entries - 20 Start Feature
1. 34 Johnny Houart Gideon
2. 28 Scott Wicker Steele
3. 4 Billy James Sikeston
4. 97 Paul Reeder Malden
5. 38 K Gene Kelley Portageville
6. C2 Tony Anglin Hoxie, AR
7. 81 Coot Wilson Portageville
8. 29 Aaron Darby Portageville
9. 26 Mike Elliott Ellsinore
10. 60 Mike Massie Van Buren
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Paul Reeder 220
2. Johnny Houart 219
3. Aaron Darby 173
4. Coot Wilson 143
5. Mike Massie 121
**************************************************
In the Late Model feature, Billy James found himself starting on the third row, but he nailed the setup for the feature and won going away. Steve Rushin took the early lead after battling Greg King for half a lap to open the race. The leaders were into lapped traffic by lap 8 and the margin closed on Rushin. James had moved to third behind Rushin and Joey Mack by lap four. A lap 11 caution reset the field and left clear track in front of the leaders. James overtook Mack for second on turn four after the restart and he was bearing down on Rushin. James got a good run out of turn four on lap 14 and passed Rushin for the lead on the front straight. James pulled away from that point, picking up his fourth feature win in four trips to the speedway. Rushin held on for second. Gary Stolba wrestled third away from Mack on lap 16. King rounded out the top five. Heat winners were King and Rushin.
LATE MODELS
11 Entries - 10 Start Feature
1. 5 Jr. Billy James Sikeston
2. 14 Jr. Steve Rushin Poplar Bluff
3. 33 Gary Stolba Willow Springs
4. 97 M Joey Mack Benton
5. 5 K Greg King Sikeston
6. 34 Scott Gibbs Bloomfield
7. J2 Jeff Moss Harrisburg, AR
8. 45 Scott Bell East Prairie
9. 11 X John Stephens Dexter
10. 11 Ron Elliott Sikeston
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Scott Bell 163
2. John Stephens 150
3. Steve Rushin 130
4. Joey Mack 122
5. Scott Gibbs 118
*************************************************
Jeff Greene took advantage of another's bad luck to pick up his first Modified win of the year. Greene was driving the 32 machine of Kevin McMillion. The race opened with pole sitter Robert Powers grabbing the lead and threatening to run away and hide. Powers had a half of a straight lead by lap 2, but caution closed the gap. Under caution, Powers' car lost power and had to be push started. Once the race resumed, Powers again pulled away from the field, but a caution on lap four once again halted the race and once again Powers' car lost power under yellow. This time Powers relinquished the lead and was done for the night. Jeff Greene took the lead and never trailed the rest of the way to pick up his win. As Greene pulled away for the win, the real battle was for second. Tony Anglin and Bart Richardson swapped the position twice on the final lap before Anglin took the spot. Richardson settled for third, despite starting the race from the 20th position. Ronnie Vernon and Mike Francis rounded out the top five.
Heat winners were Powers, Greene, and Larry Hull.
MODIFIED
22 Entries - 21 Start Feature
1. 32 Jeff Greene Paragould, AR
2. G1 Tony Anglin Hoxie, AR
3. 1 Bart Richardson Bradford, TN
4. G3 Ronnie Vernon Friendship, TN
5. 1 Mike Francis Fredericktown
6. 49 Robby Arnold Paragould, AR
7. 78 Larry Hull Old Appleton
8. P3 Mike Powers Burlison, TN
9. 10 Troy Fowler Portageville
10. Mee 2 Claudie Cook Portageville
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Robby Arnold 212
2. Mike Francis 189
3. Bart Richardson 157
4. Jeff Greene 149
5. Robert Powers 140
*******************************************
In a Hobby Stock feature that went green - white - checkered, Claudie Cook led from start to finish to pick up his third feature win of the year. Cook jumped out from the start and built a three second lead over second place by lap 8. As Cook maintained his cushion the rest of the way, Greg Sparks and Tony Anglin had quite a battle for second. They ran side by side for laps eight and nine before Sparks settled into the position. That was the way they would finish also. Doug Moore and Scott Tracer rounded out the top five. Heat winners were Cook and Moore.
HOBBY STOCK
11 Entries - 10 Start Feature
1. 54C Claudie Cook Portageville
2. 68 Greg Sparks Malden
3. 54A Tony Anglin Hoxie, AR
4. 007 Doug Moore Dexter
5. 94 Scott Tracer Rector, AR
6. 11 Sr. Chuck Tilley Essex
7. 30/30 Tim Winchester Gideon
8. KZ8 Lee Redden Steele
9. 25 Darrell Kelly Birch Tree
10. J19 Jason Palmer Bernie
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Greg Sparks 205
2. Claudie Cook 190
3. Doug Moore 185
4. Scott Tracer 135 (tie)
4. Chuck Tilley 135 (tie)
**************************************************
Justin McBroom led from start to finish to pick up his third E-Mod feature win of the year. McBroom pulled away from the field and was never challenged for the lead. Tim Prine took second, followed by Jamie Daughhotee for third.
E-MODS
8 Entries - 7 Start Feature
1. 19 Justin McBroom Delaplaine, AR
2. 3T Tim Prine Jonesboro, AR
3. 31 Jamie Daughhotee Paragould, AR
4. 47 Jim Eubanks
Dexter
5. 80M Jeff McGhee Van
Buren
6. 67 Jeff Jarrell Dexter
7. 34 Todd Gibbs Bloomfield
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Tim Prine 215
2. Justin McBroom 185
3. Jeff McGhee 138
4. Jamie Daughhotee 115
5. Roy Ward 76
********************************************
Chris and Gene Kelley won their sixth Cruiser feature in a row but they were challenged this week. Danny Rice and Cecil Malone grabbed the lead from the pole and held it until lap three, when they were joined by the Kelley's and the team of Doublin and Doublin. The lead trio came out of turn two three wide and raced down the back straight. When the dust cleared, the Kelley's were in their familiar lead position. On lap nine, they were joined by Keith Beeson and Paul Ruff in the 47 car for a duel to the finish. Although the Kelley's never gave up the lead, they did not pull away from their challengers either. Doublin and Doublin took third. Malone & Rice won the heat race.
CRUISERS
7 Entries - 7 Start Feature
1. 38K Kelley & Kelley Portageville
2. 47 Beeson & Ruff Benton
3. 90W Doublin & Doublin Wappapello
4. 57 Malone & Rice Malden
5. 84 Null & Null Puxico
6. 88J Wayne & Harbrueger Kennett
7. 911 Champlin & Champlin Gibson
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Kelley & Kelley / Moore 249
2. Doublin & Doublin 193
3. Champlin & Champlin 168
4. Wayne & Harbrueger 167
5. Malone & Rice 165
It was Coca-Cola Fan Appreciation night at the Malden Speedway Friday with an added purse in the Street Stock division. Johnny Houart came through a tough field to win the feature. Billy James made it four for four in the Late Models. Jeff Greene won in Modifieds. Claudie Cook won his third Hobby Stock feature, and the team of Chris and Gene Kelly made it six in a row in Cruisers.
After a dismal fourth place finish in his heat race, Johnny Houart knew it would be an extra challenge to contend for the Street Stock victory. Houart started 15th and quickly worked his way through the field. Aaron Darby grabbed the early lead with Billy James and Paul Reeder in hot pursuit. On the second lap Reeder and Darby got together and brought out a caution and both were relegated to the rear of the field. James inherited the lead and pulled away briefly from the field. Houart used a slick move to knife between Chuck Tilley and Mike Elliott to take second coming out of turn two on the fourth lap. Dicky Jackson's car lost a drive shaft on lap six and brought James back to the field following the caution for debris. On the restart, James and Houart pulled away from the field and following a lap of bumper-to-bumper racing, Houart pulled even with James on lap eight. This battle lasted until lap 12 when Houart cut low out of turn four to grab the lead. On lap 15 Doug Moore overtook James for second but broke down before the lap was finished, eliminating him from competition. Houart had a comfortable margin on James when caution fell again for the last time on lap 17. Houart kept the lead on the restart, but James gave up second to a hard charging Scott Wicker. Wicker pulled along side Houart and the pair raced side by side the final two laps, with Houart edging Wicker by less than half a car length at the finish line. Wicker also came along way through the field, as he started 18th, gaining a position in the feature by winning one of the twin B-Mains. The win was the third of the year for Houart and moved him to within one point of Reeder for the season standings. James held on for third. Reeder battled back from his early setback and took fourth.
Gene Kelley picked up his first top five finish of the season. Heat winners were Darby, James, Steve McChristian, and Reeder. Danny Hampton and Wicker won the B-Mains. Great show drivers!
STREET STOCK
31 Entries - 20 Start Feature
1. 34 Johnny Houart Gideon
2. 28 Scott Wicker Steele
3. 4 Billy James Sikeston
4. 97 Paul Reeder Malden
5. 38 K Gene Kelley Portageville
6. C2 Tony Anglin Hoxie, AR
7. 81 Coot Wilson Portageville
8. 29 Aaron Darby Portageville
9. 26 Mike Elliott Ellsinore
10. 60 Mike Massie Van Buren
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Paul Reeder 220
2. Johnny Houart 219
3. Aaron Darby 173
4. Coot Wilson 143
5. Mike Massie 121
**************************************************
In the Late Model feature, Billy James found himself starting on the third row, but he nailed the setup for the feature and won going away. Steve Rushin took the early lead after battling Greg King for half a lap to open the race. The leaders were into lapped traffic by lap 8 and the margin closed on Rushin. James had moved to third behind Rushin and Joey Mack by lap four. A lap 11 caution reset the field and left clear track in front of the leaders. James overtook Mack for second on turn four after the restart and he was bearing down on Rushin. James got a good run out of turn four on lap 14 and passed Rushin for the lead on the front straight. James pulled away from that point, picking up his fourth feature win in four trips to the speedway. Rushin held on for second. Gary Stolba wrestled third away from Mack on lap 16. King rounded out the top five. Heat winners were King and Rushin.
LATE MODELS
11 Entries - 10 Start Feature
1. 5 Jr. Billy James Sikeston
2. 14 Jr. Steve Rushin Poplar Bluff
3. 33 Gary Stolba Willow Springs
4. 97 M Joey Mack Benton
5. 5 K Greg King Sikeston
6. 34 Scott Gibbs Bloomfield
7. J2 Jeff Moss Harrisburg, AR
8. 45 Scott Bell East Prairie
9. 11 X John Stephens Dexter
10. 11 Ron Elliott Sikeston
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Scott Bell 163
2. John Stephens 150
3. Steve Rushin 130
4. Joey Mack 122
5. Scott Gibbs 118
*************************************************
Jeff Greene took advantage of another's bad luck to pick up his first Modified win of the year. Greene was driving the 32 machine of Kevin McMillion. The race opened with pole sitter Robert Powers grabbing the lead and threatening to run away and hide. Powers had a half of a straight lead by lap 2, but caution closed the gap. Under caution, Powers' car lost power and had to be push started. Once the race resumed, Powers again pulled away from the field, but a caution on lap four once again halted the race and once again Powers' car lost power under yellow. This time Powers relinquished the lead and was done for the night. Jeff Greene took the lead and never trailed the rest of the way to pick up his win. As Greene pulled away for the win, the real battle was for second. Tony Anglin and Bart Richardson swapped the position twice on the final lap before Anglin took the spot. Richardson settled for third, despite starting the race from the 20th position. Ronnie Vernon and Mike Francis rounded out the top five.
Heat winners were Powers, Greene, and Larry Hull.
MODIFIED
22 Entries - 21 Start Feature
1. 32 Jeff Greene Paragould, AR
2. G1 Tony Anglin Hoxie, AR
3. 1 Bart Richardson Bradford, TN
4. G3 Ronnie Vernon Friendship, TN
5. 1 Mike Francis Fredericktown
6. 49 Robby Arnold Paragould, AR
7. 78 Larry Hull Old Appleton
8. P3 Mike Powers Burlison, TN
9. 10 Troy Fowler Portageville
10. Mee 2 Claudie Cook Portageville
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Robby Arnold 212
2. Mike Francis 189
3. Bart Richardson 157
4. Jeff Greene 149
5. Robert Powers 140
*******************************************
In a Hobby Stock feature that went green - white - checkered, Claudie Cook led from start to finish to pick up his third feature win of the year. Cook jumped out from the start and built a three second lead over second place by lap 8. As Cook maintained his cushion the rest of the way, Greg Sparks and Tony Anglin had quite a battle for second. They ran side by side for laps eight and nine before Sparks settled into the position. That was the way they would finish also. Doug Moore and Scott Tracer rounded out the top five. Heat winners were Cook and Moore.
HOBBY STOCK
11 Entries - 10 Start Feature
1. 54C Claudie Cook Portageville
2. 68 Greg Sparks Malden
3. 54A Tony Anglin Hoxie, AR
4. 007 Doug Moore Dexter
5. 94 Scott Tracer Rector, AR
6. 11 Sr. Chuck Tilley Essex
7. 30/30 Tim Winchester Gideon
8. KZ8 Lee Redden Steele
9. 25 Darrell Kelly Birch Tree
10. J19 Jason Palmer Bernie
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Greg Sparks 205
2. Claudie Cook 190
3. Doug Moore 185
4. Scott Tracer 135 (tie)
4. Chuck Tilley 135 (tie)
**************************************************
Justin McBroom led from start to finish to pick up his third E-Mod feature win of the year. McBroom pulled away from the field and was never challenged for the lead. Tim Prine took second, followed by Jamie Daughhotee for third.
E-MODS
8 Entries - 7 Start Feature
1. 19 Justin McBroom Delaplaine, AR
2. 3T Tim Prine Jonesboro, AR
3. 31 Jamie Daughhotee Paragould, AR
4. 47 Jim Eubanks
Dexter
5. 80M Jeff McGhee Van
Buren
6. 67 Jeff Jarrell Dexter
7. 34 Todd Gibbs Bloomfield
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Tim Prine 215
2. Justin McBroom 185
3. Jeff McGhee 138
4. Jamie Daughhotee 115
5. Roy Ward 76
********************************************
Chris and Gene Kelley won their sixth Cruiser feature in a row but they were challenged this week. Danny Rice and Cecil Malone grabbed the lead from the pole and held it until lap three, when they were joined by the Kelley's and the team of Doublin and Doublin. The lead trio came out of turn two three wide and raced down the back straight. When the dust cleared, the Kelley's were in their familiar lead position. On lap nine, they were joined by Keith Beeson and Paul Ruff in the 47 car for a duel to the finish. Although the Kelley's never gave up the lead, they did not pull away from their challengers either. Doublin and Doublin took third. Malone & Rice won the heat race.
CRUISERS
7 Entries - 7 Start Feature
1. 38K Kelley & Kelley Portageville
2. 47 Beeson & Ruff Benton
3. 90W Doublin & Doublin Wappapello
4. 57 Malone & Rice Malden
5. 84 Null & Null Puxico
6. 88J Wayne & Harbrueger Kennett
7. 911 Champlin & Champlin Gibson
Point Standings
After 5 Events
1. Kelley & Kelley / Moore 249
2. Doublin & Doublin 193
3. Champlin & Champlin 168
4. Wayne & Harbrueger 167
5. Malone & Rice 165
