Jon Binning
Jason Thompson
Brad Smith
Chad Eickelberry
By Alan Miller
CMS Announcer/PR
September 12, 2009
(Warrensburg, MO) The final night of racing was another one to remember for four area drivers and the loyal race fans at Warrensburg’s own Central Missouri Speedway on Championship Race Night. Drivers were prepared to complete the 2009 race season on a cool fall evening. Earl and Susan Walls decided to re-open the popular Saturday night track for weekly racing in early spring and the CMS faithful were not disappointed with the exciting action throughout the year. On the final night of racing the tight action displayed on the clay oval by the talented local drivers was another one to enjoy.
Modified driver, Aaron Marrant from Orrick claimed his third CMS season championship in the toughest modified division around populated with many of the best drivers in the area. Marrant drove his car into victory lane on three occasions in 2009 including the recent Labor Day $3,000 to-win special event.
In the ULMA division, Jon Binning from Warrensburg earned his second Late Model crown in a row after a late start season for this class. He battled with Randy Ainsworth throughout the year, but persevered with several late season feature victories including five for the 2009 campaign. One of Binning’s most recent trips to victory lane marked the highest-ever ULMA purse with his $1,700 payout for the Labor Day weekend special.
The Street Stock class was tight to the very end with Brain Johnson of Independence finally grabbing his first CMS track championship. Despite the eight feature wins from Johnson, Michael Mullins made it an interesting challenge with 15 top-five finishes to finish in second. Johnson suffered through some mechanical problems during the final run to his championship crown which added drama to the final night of racing. After another blown engine last weekend he had to use a car on loan from fellow competitor, Herb Danner to finish the season.
The B-Modifieds were jam packed with teenage drivers and the track champion was one of those talented young drivers. Ethan Isaacs from Bonner Springs, Kansas ended up winning his first-ever B-modified track championship after the point’s leader, Jacob Ebert received a DQ following the feature event. Ethan won a feature early in the season along with Chris Brockway taking three features this year to finish in second and Ebert dropped back to third for the championship point’s finish.
The final Saturday evening of racing featured some additional highlights with Jason Thompson from Concordia in a thriller taking his fifth modified feature win in 2009. In the ULMA Late Model division, Jon Binning once again drives his machine into victory lane for his fifth feature trophy. Chad Eickelberry from Warrensburg also wins again for his fourth Street Stock feature victory this year. The B-Modified feature had Brad Smith from Belton winning again as he drove his car into victory lane for the eleventh time this year at CMS.
A total of 98 drivers registered in the pits including 24 b-modified machines registered for three heats of racing action. The heat race winners tonight included Brad Smith, Bronson Combs and Lucas Isaacs. The b-main settled the final five transfer spots before intermission with a new driver, Mark Spillman from Buckner claiming his first b-feature event with Mark Evinger, Curtis Shaner, Chris Whalen and Cody Brill taking the final transfer spots into the feature event.
Smith led the field around after several circuits with 19 other B-Modifieds in trail challenging for the final feature trophy. Bronson Combs ran a solid race in second with John Brooks attempting to move up on the high-side of the track. Lucas Isaacs, Ebert and Ethan Isaacs worked hard for the top-five positions throughout the race.
Finally, Smith takes the double checkers for his eleventh feature at CMS and his 29th feature win this year at several area tracks. Second place goes to Combs with Brooks third, Lucas Isaacs takes fourth and his brother, Ethan moves up into fifth after the post-race DQ to Ebert.
In the Street Stock division 16 drivers checked in for two heat races. Lucas Conley from Clearview, Kansas won heat number one for his first heat win this season. Herb Dannar and Carl Lewis finish second and third. John Clancy Jr. from California claims his first win in heat number two. Chad Eickelberry settles into second place and Brian Johnson in third to complete the heat races.
The Street Stocks drivers and fans were anxious to see if Johnson could hold onto his small points lead ahead of Michael Mullins. Early in the race Clancy works the low side of the track to take the lead with Eickelberry in second attempting to move around him. Meanwhile Johnson was worked his magic as he moved up into the top four with a borrowed car. On lap four, Clancy has a tire problem and is forced to leave the track with Eickelberry inheriting the lead. Herb Dannar runs another strong race in the second spot with Mullins attempting to move up into the top five.
In the end, Eickleberry crosses the finish line in first for his fourth feature win Dannar stays in the second position. Johnson, in Dannar’s back-up car, takes the third spot to claim the championship with Carl Lewis, fourth and Mullins finishing out the top-five.
The ULMA late model class showed their strongest field with a season-high 30 cars registered and contesting four heat races to settle the feature starting positions. Shawn Rayfield from O’ Fallon ran a strong race for his fourth heat victory in heat number one. Heat number two had Jon Binning from Warrensburg claiming his fifth heat win this year at CMS. Kevin Coyne from Kingsville drives his machine to his fourth win in heat three and in the fourth and final heat Robbie Test takes the checkers for his sixth heat victory.
In the B-main event, Layne Ehlert from Foristell passes the finish line in first along with Danny Monroe, Dustin Vance and A.L. Barbour transferring into the feature.
Binning led the 20 car field into turn one after the green flag flew for the final ULMA feature event. Rayfield and eventually Dwight Niehoff worked hard for the second spot with Steven Clancy and Jason Bodenhamer battling for fourth and fifth. Throughout the race Bodenhamer used the high-side to move up several positions after starting fifteenth before passing Clancy into the fourth spot. Niehoff also worked his way past Rayfield on a low-side pass to take second late in the race.
On the final lap Binning drives to the double checkers in first and wins his fifth ULMA feature of the year. Niehoff runs a solid race just behind him in second with Rayfield in third, Bodenhamer ended up in fourth in Derek Nevel’s car and Clancy with a solid run into a fifth place finish.
28 'mighty' modified drivers were checked into the pits for the final night of racing action on the high-banked track. Aaron Marrant takes the checkered flag in heat race number one. In heat number two, Don Crnkovich claims a win for his third of the year. Heat race three, James McMillin crossed the finish line in first taking his fifth heat victory. Dean Wille visits victory lane with his seventh heat win this year in the final heat race, number four.
In the modified B-feature event it was Richard Layne in first with Joey Lyle, Travis Johnson and Tyler Dowell transferring into the final four transfer spots for the feature event.
With the fans watching their favorites, the 24 drivers settled into the 20-lap feature as the green flag flew for the last feature of the season. Marrant jumped to the low side for the early lead with Wille and McMillin close in the trail. Eric Turner had some bad luck when David McVey spun in front of him in turn four. Both drivers had to go to the tail of the field for the re-start. Thompson then started using the high-side along with several other drivers including Terry Schultz to move up on the field.
Meanwhile, point’s leader, Aaron Marrant led 19 laps of the race, but on the last lap Jason Thompson uses a high-side turn move on Marrant. Marrant stayed down low for the close finish with Thompson just edging Marrant out for his victory lane celebration. Thompson claimed his fifth feature this year with Marrant securing the second spot with McMillin in third. Wille looked strong and stayed with the leaders finished in fourth. Crnkovich ran a solid race into fifth to complete the top five. Modified hard charger was Eric Turner after re-starting in 23th and moving up to finish in tenth.
The entire CMS family would like to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors, race fans and drivers for another successful race season in 2009. The racing schedule and plans for 2010 are already underway with a planned three-day 4th of July Modified, Late Model, and support class super special. The tentative schedule for the 2010 Race Season should soon be posted at the track's official Web site at www.centralmissourispeedway.net.
For more information on future sponsorship opportunities call the Track Report line at (660) 747-2166 or visit the Web site for all the results, final point standings, and 2010 schedule of events. John Lee, High Fly-N Photos are included with the latest updates available on the web site.
B-MODIFIEDS
Heat Race # 1
1st- 99- Brad Smith, Belton
2nd- 94- Jacob Ebert, Oak Grove
3rd- 27B- John Brooks, Warrensburg
Heat Race # 2
1st- 55- Bronson Combs, Odessa
2nd- 33- Bryan Montgomery, Oak Grove
3rd- 5L- Jeremy Lile, Higginsville
Heat Race # 3
1st- 6- Lucas Isaacs, Bonner Springs KS
2nd- 11s- Chris Stout, Oak Grove
3rd- 4- A.J. Tice, Kansas City KS
B" Feature
1- 32- Mark Spillman, Buckner
2- 15- Mark Evinger, Bates City
3- 67x- Curtis Shaner, Hardin
4- 00- Chris Whalen, Kansas City, KS
5- 96- Cody Brill, Harrisonville
6- 22- John Thomason, Holden
7- 7- Luke Smith, Orrick
8- 82- Christie Thomason, Sedalia
9- 36- Michael King, Orrick
B- Modified Feature
1- 99- Brad Smith, Belton
2- 55- Bronson Combs, Odessa
3- 27B- John Brooks, Warrensburg
4- 6- Lucas Isaacs, Bonner Springs KS
5- 66- Ethan Isaacs, Bonner Springs, KS
6- 03- Chris Brockway, Warrensburg
7- 5L- Jeremy Lile, Higginsville
8- 71- Ernie Walker, Sedalia
9- 15- Mark Evinger, Bates City
10- 32- Mark Spillman, Buckner
11- 00- Chris Whalen, Kansas City, KS
12- 96- Cody Brill, Harrisonville
13- 11s- Chris Stout, Oak Grove
14- 67x- Curtis Shaner, Hardin
15- 44- Troy Carlyle, Kearney
16- 4- A.J. Tice, Kansas City KS
17- 33- Bryan Montgomery, Oak Grove
18- 8h- Joe Harris, Montrose
19- 14w- Paul West, Shawnee KS
DQ- 94- Jacob Ebert, Oak Grove
STREET STOCKS
Heat Race # 1
1st- 68- Jake Conley, Clearview City KS
2nd- 74- Herb Dannar, Holden
3rd- 02- Carl Lewis, Sedalia
Heat Race # 2
1st- 8jr- John Clancy Jr., California
2nd- 09- Chad Eickleberry, Warrensburg
3rd- 174- Brian Johnson, Independence
Street Stock Feature
1- 09- Chad Eickleberry, Warrensburg
2- 74- Herb Dannar, Holden
3- 174- Brian Johnson, Independence
4- 02- Carl Lewis, Sedalia
5- 01- Michael Mullins, Kingsville
6- 427- Nic Bennett, Grain Valley
7- 68- Jake Conley, Clearview City KS
8- 26- Anthony Whitham, Kansas City
9- 2b- Brian Cox, Concordia
10- 41k- Vernon Kever, Kansas City
11- 94- John Ebert, Bates City
12- 55m- John Miller, Oak Grove
13- 15- T.J. Faulkenberry, Urich
14- 94ss- Stacy Scherer, Blue Springs
15- 8jr- John Clancy Jr., California
16- 18- Corban McRae, Higginsville
ULMA
Heat Race # 1
Heat Race # 1
1st- 18r- Shawn Rayfield, O'Fallon
2nd- 9d- Dwight Niehoff, Lockwood
3rd- 51m- Mike Ryun, Pleasant Valley
Heat Race # 2
1st- 65- Jon Binning, Warrensburg
2nd- 57A- Randy Ainsworth, Excelsior Springs
3rd- 16- Ashley Lancaster, Sturgeon
Heat Race # 3
1st- 22- Kevin Coyne, Kingsville
2nd- 27L- Danny Lorton, Moberly
3rd- 7- Brett Wood, Warrensburg
Heat Race # 4
1st- 1- Robbie Test, Jefferson City
2nd- 12c- Steve Clancy, Odessa
3rd- 5j- John Fellers, Flemington
B" Feature
1- 42- Lane Ehlert, Foristell
2- 22m- Danny Monroe, Jamestown
3- 2- Dustin Vance, Cleveland
4- 75- A.L. Barbour, California
5- 52- Joe Bartlett, Centerview
6- 10- Dave Mosby, Sedalia
7- 00- Zach Green, Higginsville
8- 4- Dustin Walker, Belton
9- 1m- Tom Makings Jr., Odessa
DNS- 27t- Bob Test, Jefferson City
ULMA Feature
1- 65- Jon Binning, Warrensburg
2- 9d- Dwight Niehoff, Lockwood
3- 18r- Shawn Rayfield, O'Fallon
4- 88- Jason Bodenhamer, Centerview
5- 12c- Steve Clancy, Odessa
6- 57A- Randy Ainsworth, Excelsior Springs
7- 1- Robbie Test, Jefferson City
8- 51m- Mike Ryun, Pleasant Valley
9- 45- Bob King, Independence
10- 88b- David Barker, Kingsville
11- 27L- Danny Lorton, Moberly
12- 7- Brett Wood, Warrensburg
13- 90- Joe Walkenhorst, Lee's Summit
14- 42- Lane Ehlert, Foristell
15- 5j- John Fellers, Flemington
16- 2- Dustin Vance, Cleveland
17- 75- A.L. Barbour, California
18- 68- John Pipes, Oak Grove
19- 28- Kevin Gilpin, Olathe, KS
20- 22- Kevin Coyne, Kingsville
21- 3p- Allen Perryman, Belton
22- 16- Ashley Lancaster, Sturgeon
23- 54x- Garry Billings, Prairie Village KS
24- 22m- Danny Monroe, Jamestown
MODIFIEDS
Heat Race # 1
1st- 70- Aaron Marrant, Orrick
2nd- 39- Luke Driskell, Stilwell, KS
3rd- 9i- Dave McVey, Greenwood
Heat Race # 2
1st- 5c- Don Crnkovich, Lenexa, KS
2nd- 171- Donnie Dannar, Odessa
3rd- 20- Jason Thompson, Concordia
Heat Race # 3
1st- 8m- James McMillin, Warrensburg
2nd- 90- Terry Schultz, Sedalia
3rd- 99t- Eric Turner, Hermitage
Heat Race # 4
1st- 68- Dean Wille, Warrensburg
2nd- 1k- Tim Karrick, Basehor KS
3rd- 8s- Jon Sheets, Nevada
B" Feature
1- 03- Richard Layne, Kansas City
2- 9L- Joey Lile, Higginsville
3- 25T- Travis Johnson, Independence
4- 35- Tylere Dowell, Boonville
5- 07- David Ralph, Raymore
6- 11- Steve Twenter, Sedalia
7- 22x- Luke Feeback, Harrisonville
Modified Feature
1- 20- Jason Thompson, Concordia
2- 70- Aaron Marrant, Orrick
3- 8m- James McMillin, Warrensburg
4- 68- Dean Wille, Warrensburg
5- 5c- Don Crnkovich, Lenexa, KS
6- 1k- Tim Karrick, Basehor KS
7- 90- Terry Schultz, Sedalia
8- 39- Luke Driskell, Stilwell, KS
9- 17- Lucas Conley, Spring Hill, KS
10- 99t- Eric Turner, Hermitage
11- 171- Donnie Dannar, Odessa
12- 9L- Joey Lile, Higginsville
13- 47- Ed Griggs, Pleasant Hill
14- 66- Darryl Turner, Columbia
15- 58- Terry Vantrump, Richmond
16- 03- Richard Layne, Kansas City
17- 25T- Travis Johnson, Independence
18- 9i- Dave McVey, Greenwood
19- 35- Tylere Dowell, Boonville
20- 8s- Jon Sheets, Nevada
21- k15- Jason Bodenhamer, Centerview
22- 91- James Reid, Clinton
23- 73b- Shad Badder, Oak Grove
DNS- 49- Terry Schnakenberg, Concordia
