By Ronnie Williams
Lebanon,Mo.-Defending I-44 LateModel Champion Brad Looney returned home from the Mars Series and picked-up his second LateModel feature win this season Sat.Night over a hard charging Dustin Mooneyham at the line over a star-studded field at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway.
As the LateModels roared out on the track for the 25 lap feature,Lebanon's Danny Atkinson held the pole position with Will Vaught to his outside as they led the 21 car field to the green flag.The red appeared just as fast as the middle of the field had something happen and a wreck eliminated Larry Jones, Steve Oerly,Brian Allison, and Reggie Jackson with sheet metal damage going to Burl Woods,and Danny Monroe's cars. As the field came down for the restart,Atkinson shot to the lead and started to check-out from the field as it was 2-3 wide racing for position.With Atkinson looking strong,MARS Series regulars Leslie Essary,and defending I-44 Champion Brad Looney began there assult to the front.With Atkinson setting a fast pace,Essary and Looney who had started 9th and 10th were battling with current point leader Darrell Mooneyham for position as Lebanon's Brandon McCormick began his charge to the front.On lap 6,Looney made a bold move in the 3 wide battle to claim second and began his charge on leader Atkinson with Essary right on his heels.On lap 8 Looney took to the outside and claimed the top position as Essary was mounting his harge to second with McCormick using the high-side on his move forward.Looney was starting to check-out from the field as Essary,McCormick,Atkinson and Mooneyham were battling for position along with Vaught.With Looney setting a fast pace,Dustin Mooneyham began his forward movement using the high-banks and had cracked the top 8 on lap 15 after starting 16th on the grid.The yellow waved on lap 18 for debris on the track bunching everyone up.On the restart,Looney pulled some distance between himself and Essary as McCormick was now battling for second place and Dustin Mooneyham pulled into 4th place.The final yellow waved on lap 22 for Tony Jackson Jr. as his charge for a top 10 run would end as the car stalled on the frontstretch.On the restart,Looney pulled open a 5 car length advantage as Essary and McCormick moved down low battling for second as Dustin Mooneyham stayed up high and clicked into third spot.As the white waved,Will Vaught moved himself into position for a top 5 run battling Mooneyham.On the final lap,Looney took a 7 car length led over Essary,but it was Dustin Mooneyham making alot of noise as he moved past McCormick to take third,then stayed on the high-side to nip Essary at the line for second place.Following Mooneyham and Essary was McCormick,Vaught,and point lead Darrell Mooneyham in the close finish for the top 6.
In Modified feature action,Lebanon's Jamie Ragland jumped to the early command looking for his first victory of the season.With Ragland setting a quick pace,defending champion Erik Maggard along with former area champion Rex Meritt were coming from the 5th row quickly.With Ragland still looking strong,Keith Branson glued himself to ragland as current point leader Eric Hudson was working into the top 5.On lap 8,the yellow waved with Ragland,Branson,Maggard,Hudson,and Merritt all bunched up,but bad luck to Hudson as his car didn't want to go into gear and he pulled to the back of the pack.On the restart,Maggard began his charge on the outside of Ragland,while Merritt was working the low groove.As the racve took a green flag run,Merritt kept his car glued to the bottom and began his charge arond first Maggard and then on lap 11,he shot to the front as Maggard followed him on the highside while point leader Hudson was coming fast from the back into the top 10.A lap 16 yellow involving Eddie Horn and Chris Johnson set-up for a great finish as Merritt continued his low moves with Maggard trying several different lines around with Ragland looking for some running room.As the checkered waved,Merrittt claimed his second win this season followed closely by Maggard,early leader Ragland,Keith Branson,and Steve Martin following.
Larry Prewitt continued his winning ways in the SuperStock feature as he pulled to the high-side on lap 12 over early leader Josh Woody to claim his 7th victory of the season.Prewitt after a very hard battle with defending champion Mike Joplin had to use every bit of the track in claiming his victory.Following Prewitt to the line was Woody,JoplinDave Bozich,and Jamie Petty in the top 5.Early contenders Matt Pilant and Jeff Bristol would experience problems early taking them out of contention along with Tim Petty.
The FactoryStocks would be a game off musical chairs as positions were changing the scoreboard was fast as they went up.As the green dropped,Jordan Holloway and Matt Miller were side-by-side battling for the top spot as defending champion Quintin Day was bringing the station-wagon to life and moving quickly.As Holloway was trying to become the 7th different winner in FactoryStock feature wins,Steve Schultz was moving the 5* car forward also and point leader Micheal Maggard was coming from his 12th starting spot along with Hobie Johnson.A lap 6 red flag for Larry Franklin's car started the musical chairs as Day pulled into the pits with problems,top 5 runner Ward Frederick Jr.had a smoking car taking him out of action,and Hobie Johnson pulled in done for the night.On the restart,Holloway had Matt Miller and now Maggard applying pressure.On lap 7,Miller racing Maggard for position looped it in turn 4 putting him at the end of the pack.As the field went back to green,leader Holloway and Maggard went 3 laps doorhandle to door handle as Steve Schultz was trying to make-up a lost lap from pulling in the pits,and Miller was coming fast through the pack.
Quintin Day has rejoined earlier and was coming fast until he pulled in again eliminating a top 5 run.On lap 12,Maggard grabbed the smallest of leads over Holloway as Holloway then looped it in turn 4.At the checkered,it was Maggard claiming his second straight win followed by Miller,Jason Reckker,Jim Cox with his best finish of the season and Tim Ellis with a strong run.
In the Bomber feature,Lebanon's Donnie Jackson continued new winners as he took control early in the race and held off repeated challanges from last weeks winner Brandon Knudtson in claiming his first win of the season in a wild finish for the class.Following Jackson and Knudtson to the stripe were Dusty Rhoads,Lonnie Henderson,and Derrick Peterson as 11 of the 18 scheduled starters finished on the lead lap.
Don Lacey jumped out early and never looked back in claiming the Pro-4 Feature over Lonnie Muhlbauer,Don johnson,John Ryan,and Bill Lackey.
Despite rain in the area,over 95 race tams checked into the pits and kept things moving right along.
It was also announced that next week,the LateModels will be racing for an extra 1,000 to win and an extra 500 for seconf place while a lucky fan that evening will be recieving $500 from a business that wanted to remain nameless.The LateModel will be competing for 2000 to win next weekend as the MidWest Limited Winged SprintCars will be on the card also along with LateModels,Modifieds,superStocks,FactoryStocks,and Bombers.
Results
LateModels
1st Ht-Brandon McCormick-Lebanon 2)Leslie Essary-Crane 3)Bryan Allison-Marshall
2nd Ht-Steve Oerly-Jamestown 2)Tony Jackson Jr-Lebanon 3)Danny Atkinson-Lebanon
3rd Ht-Brad Looney-republic 2)Darrel Mooneyham-Aurora 3)Will Vaught-Crane
A Ft-1)Looney 2)Dustin Mooneyham 3)Essary 4)McCormick 5)Vaught 6)Darrell Mooneyham 7)Brandon Maggard 8)Atkinson 9)Brian Schutt-Lebanon 10)Jason Meadors-Fordland
Modifieds
1st Ht-Erik Maggard-Pleasant Hope 2)Jamie Ragland-Lebanon 3)Justin Neuman-Waynesville
2nd Ht-Eric Hudson-Rolla 2)Steve Martin-Willard 3)Rex Merritt-Clever
A Ft-1)Merritt 2)Maggard 3)Ragland 4)Keith Branson Springfield 5)Martin 6)Neuman 7)Hudson 8)James Hartman-Camdenton 9)James Hartzell-Owensville 10)Jim Bell
FactoryStocks
1st Ht-Sonny Nicewanner-Rolla 2)Micheal Maggard-Springfield 3)Matt Miller-Camdenton
2nd Ht-Jordan Holloway-Monett 2)Steve Schultz-Lebanon 3)Quintin Day-Lebanon
A Ft-1)Maggard 2)Miller 3)Jason Reckker-Camdenton 4)Jim Cox-Laquey 5)Tim Ellis-Crocker 6)Bill Scharr-St Robert 7)Robert Ryden-Camdenton 8)Schultz 9)Holloway 10)Day
SuperStocks
1st Ht-Matt Pilant-Lebanon 2)Mike Joplin-Springfield 3)Josh Woody-Waynesville
2nd Ht-Larry Prewitt-Jerome 2)Dave Bozich-Laurie 3)Sam Petty-Niangua
A Ft-1)Prewitt 2)Woody 3)Joplin 4)Bozich 5)Jamie Petty-Niangua 6)S.Petty 7)Jeff Bristol-Ava 8)Pilant 9)Kenny Carroll-Camdenton
Bombers
1st Ht-Lonnie Henderson-Lebanon 2)KC Prettyman-Waynesville 3)Bud Pursley-Lebanon
2nd Ht-Donnie Jackson-Lebanon 2)Justin Foust-St James 3)Brandon Knudtson-Lebanon
A Ft-1)Jackson 2)Knudtson 3)Dusty Rhoads-Lebanon 4)Henderson 5)Derrick Peterson-Lebanon 6)Foust 7)Pursley 8)Corey Simpson-Waynesville 9)Adam Weber-Cuba 10)Richard Talley-Lebanon
Pro 4"s
Ht-Lonnie Muhlbauer 2)Don Lacey 3)Don Johnson
A Ft-1)Lacey 2)Muhlbauer 3)Johnson 4)John Ryan 5)Bill Lackey 6)Mike Thompson 7)Jeff White 8)Holly Brown
Lebanon,Mo.-Defending I-44 LateModel Champion Brad Looney returned home from the Mars Series and picked-up his second LateModel feature win this season Sat.Night over a hard charging Dustin Mooneyham at the line over a star-studded field at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway.
As the LateModels roared out on the track for the 25 lap feature,Lebanon's Danny Atkinson held the pole position with Will Vaught to his outside as they led the 21 car field to the green flag.The red appeared just as fast as the middle of the field had something happen and a wreck eliminated Larry Jones, Steve Oerly,Brian Allison, and Reggie Jackson with sheet metal damage going to Burl Woods,and Danny Monroe's cars. As the field came down for the restart,Atkinson shot to the lead and started to check-out from the field as it was 2-3 wide racing for position.With Atkinson looking strong,MARS Series regulars Leslie Essary,and defending I-44 Champion Brad Looney began there assult to the front.With Atkinson setting a fast pace,Essary and Looney who had started 9th and 10th were battling with current point leader Darrell Mooneyham for position as Lebanon's Brandon McCormick began his charge to the front.On lap 6,Looney made a bold move in the 3 wide battle to claim second and began his charge on leader Atkinson with Essary right on his heels.On lap 8 Looney took to the outside and claimed the top position as Essary was mounting his harge to second with McCormick using the high-side on his move forward.Looney was starting to check-out from the field as Essary,McCormick,Atkinson and Mooneyham were battling for position along with Vaught.With Looney setting a fast pace,Dustin Mooneyham began his forward movement using the high-banks and had cracked the top 8 on lap 15 after starting 16th on the grid.The yellow waved on lap 18 for debris on the track bunching everyone up.On the restart,Looney pulled some distance between himself and Essary as McCormick was now battling for second place and Dustin Mooneyham pulled into 4th place.The final yellow waved on lap 22 for Tony Jackson Jr. as his charge for a top 10 run would end as the car stalled on the frontstretch.On the restart,Looney pulled open a 5 car length advantage as Essary and McCormick moved down low battling for second as Dustin Mooneyham stayed up high and clicked into third spot.As the white waved,Will Vaught moved himself into position for a top 5 run battling Mooneyham.On the final lap,Looney took a 7 car length led over Essary,but it was Dustin Mooneyham making alot of noise as he moved past McCormick to take third,then stayed on the high-side to nip Essary at the line for second place.Following Mooneyham and Essary was McCormick,Vaught,and point lead Darrell Mooneyham in the close finish for the top 6.
In Modified feature action,Lebanon's Jamie Ragland jumped to the early command looking for his first victory of the season.With Ragland setting a quick pace,defending champion Erik Maggard along with former area champion Rex Meritt were coming from the 5th row quickly.With Ragland still looking strong,Keith Branson glued himself to ragland as current point leader Eric Hudson was working into the top 5.On lap 8,the yellow waved with Ragland,Branson,Maggard,Hudson,and Merritt all bunched up,but bad luck to Hudson as his car didn't want to go into gear and he pulled to the back of the pack.On the restart,Maggard began his charge on the outside of Ragland,while Merritt was working the low groove.As the racve took a green flag run,Merritt kept his car glued to the bottom and began his charge arond first Maggard and then on lap 11,he shot to the front as Maggard followed him on the highside while point leader Hudson was coming fast from the back into the top 10.A lap 16 yellow involving Eddie Horn and Chris Johnson set-up for a great finish as Merritt continued his low moves with Maggard trying several different lines around with Ragland looking for some running room.As the checkered waved,Merrittt claimed his second win this season followed closely by Maggard,early leader Ragland,Keith Branson,and Steve Martin following.
Larry Prewitt continued his winning ways in the SuperStock feature as he pulled to the high-side on lap 12 over early leader Josh Woody to claim his 7th victory of the season.Prewitt after a very hard battle with defending champion Mike Joplin had to use every bit of the track in claiming his victory.Following Prewitt to the line was Woody,JoplinDave Bozich,and Jamie Petty in the top 5.Early contenders Matt Pilant and Jeff Bristol would experience problems early taking them out of contention along with Tim Petty.
The FactoryStocks would be a game off musical chairs as positions were changing the scoreboard was fast as they went up.As the green dropped,Jordan Holloway and Matt Miller were side-by-side battling for the top spot as defending champion Quintin Day was bringing the station-wagon to life and moving quickly.As Holloway was trying to become the 7th different winner in FactoryStock feature wins,Steve Schultz was moving the 5* car forward also and point leader Micheal Maggard was coming from his 12th starting spot along with Hobie Johnson.A lap 6 red flag for Larry Franklin's car started the musical chairs as Day pulled into the pits with problems,top 5 runner Ward Frederick Jr.had a smoking car taking him out of action,and Hobie Johnson pulled in done for the night.On the restart,Holloway had Matt Miller and now Maggard applying pressure.On lap 7,Miller racing Maggard for position looped it in turn 4 putting him at the end of the pack.As the field went back to green,leader Holloway and Maggard went 3 laps doorhandle to door handle as Steve Schultz was trying to make-up a lost lap from pulling in the pits,and Miller was coming fast through the pack.
Quintin Day has rejoined earlier and was coming fast until he pulled in again eliminating a top 5 run.On lap 12,Maggard grabbed the smallest of leads over Holloway as Holloway then looped it in turn 4.At the checkered,it was Maggard claiming his second straight win followed by Miller,Jason Reckker,Jim Cox with his best finish of the season and Tim Ellis with a strong run.
In the Bomber feature,Lebanon's Donnie Jackson continued new winners as he took control early in the race and held off repeated challanges from last weeks winner Brandon Knudtson in claiming his first win of the season in a wild finish for the class.Following Jackson and Knudtson to the stripe were Dusty Rhoads,Lonnie Henderson,and Derrick Peterson as 11 of the 18 scheduled starters finished on the lead lap.
Don Lacey jumped out early and never looked back in claiming the Pro-4 Feature over Lonnie Muhlbauer,Don johnson,John Ryan,and Bill Lackey.
Despite rain in the area,over 95 race tams checked into the pits and kept things moving right along.
It was also announced that next week,the LateModels will be racing for an extra 1,000 to win and an extra 500 for seconf place while a lucky fan that evening will be recieving $500 from a business that wanted to remain nameless.The LateModel will be competing for 2000 to win next weekend as the MidWest Limited Winged SprintCars will be on the card also along with LateModels,Modifieds,superStocks,FactoryStocks,and Bombers.
Results
LateModels
1st Ht-Brandon McCormick-Lebanon 2)Leslie Essary-Crane 3)Bryan Allison-Marshall
2nd Ht-Steve Oerly-Jamestown 2)Tony Jackson Jr-Lebanon 3)Danny Atkinson-Lebanon
3rd Ht-Brad Looney-republic 2)Darrel Mooneyham-Aurora 3)Will Vaught-Crane
A Ft-1)Looney 2)Dustin Mooneyham 3)Essary 4)McCormick 5)Vaught 6)Darrell Mooneyham 7)Brandon Maggard 8)Atkinson 9)Brian Schutt-Lebanon 10)Jason Meadors-Fordland
Modifieds
1st Ht-Erik Maggard-Pleasant Hope 2)Jamie Ragland-Lebanon 3)Justin Neuman-Waynesville
2nd Ht-Eric Hudson-Rolla 2)Steve Martin-Willard 3)Rex Merritt-Clever
A Ft-1)Merritt 2)Maggard 3)Ragland 4)Keith Branson Springfield 5)Martin 6)Neuman 7)Hudson 8)James Hartman-Camdenton 9)James Hartzell-Owensville 10)Jim Bell
FactoryStocks
1st Ht-Sonny Nicewanner-Rolla 2)Micheal Maggard-Springfield 3)Matt Miller-Camdenton
2nd Ht-Jordan Holloway-Monett 2)Steve Schultz-Lebanon 3)Quintin Day-Lebanon
A Ft-1)Maggard 2)Miller 3)Jason Reckker-Camdenton 4)Jim Cox-Laquey 5)Tim Ellis-Crocker 6)Bill Scharr-St Robert 7)Robert Ryden-Camdenton 8)Schultz 9)Holloway 10)Day
SuperStocks
1st Ht-Matt Pilant-Lebanon 2)Mike Joplin-Springfield 3)Josh Woody-Waynesville
2nd Ht-Larry Prewitt-Jerome 2)Dave Bozich-Laurie 3)Sam Petty-Niangua
A Ft-1)Prewitt 2)Woody 3)Joplin 4)Bozich 5)Jamie Petty-Niangua 6)S.Petty 7)Jeff Bristol-Ava 8)Pilant 9)Kenny Carroll-Camdenton
Bombers
1st Ht-Lonnie Henderson-Lebanon 2)KC Prettyman-Waynesville 3)Bud Pursley-Lebanon
2nd Ht-Donnie Jackson-Lebanon 2)Justin Foust-St James 3)Brandon Knudtson-Lebanon
A Ft-1)Jackson 2)Knudtson 3)Dusty Rhoads-Lebanon 4)Henderson 5)Derrick Peterson-Lebanon 6)Foust 7)Pursley 8)Corey Simpson-Waynesville 9)Adam Weber-Cuba 10)Richard Talley-Lebanon
Pro 4"s
Ht-Lonnie Muhlbauer 2)Don Lacey 3)Don Johnson
A Ft-1)Lacey 2)Muhlbauer 3)Johnson 4)John Ryan 5)Bill Lackey 6)Mike Thompson 7)Jeff White 8)Holly Brown
