By Dusty Luthy
LEBANON - Lebanon I-44 Speedway held a season points race Saturday night. Will Vaught, of Crane, took home a third victory in the Late Model feature, keeping his first place points position.
Vaught started the 25-lap feature in the pole position, followed by Leslie Essary who achieved the second place finish in the feature. Vaught led every lap in the feature.
"I got out front and stayed there," said Vaught. "I had some trouble with the lap car. Unlike two weeks ago, we got through them. Leslie, I've looked up to him since I was little, and to beat him is a pretty good accomplishment."
What seems to be a recurring theme in Vaught's talks, he thanked his grandpa for all of his support in his racing career.
Jason Meadors, who started the race third, took a quick jump to second by the second lap but took a bad turn on turn two, collecting the cars of Darrell Mooneyham, Brandon McCormick and Chad Clark in a minor pile-up. Clark and Meadors were able to continue the race but Mooneyham and McCormick headed back to the pits.
After the caution, it was Vaught, Dave Ware and Essary in the top spots. Ware and Essary battled for second most of the evening.
The 14th lap marked lap traffic for the leader as Vaught managed to maneuver around Bob Cummings. Essary and Ware also came into traffic and as Essary nudged Cummings into the infield, Ware took back the second position.
After a caution on the 17th lap, Essary took the second place position from Ware and held it as he put final pressure on Vaught.
The Modified class saw a new feature winner. Brandon Maggard, of Springfield, took home the $600 purse as he and his brother, Erik, gave an exciting show.
Steve Picou, Erik Maggard, Eric Hudson and Brandon Maggard started the 20-lap feature respectively.
The Maggard brothers made their presence quickly felt as Erik Maggard took the lead from Picou. Picou then fell to third as Brandon Maggard took second.
On the fourth lap, Picou took the inside lane on the track to take second, but Brandon Maggard regained it.
Hudson also was making a run for third as the Maggards dominated the front spots. On the seventh lap, Hudson took the third position and took the high side next to second-position Erik Maggard. Hudson grabbed second briefly on the eighth lap, only to fight back and forth for it with Erik Maggard.
Kel Kennell hit a concrete block outside of turn three, causing a lengthy caution on lap 10 as wreckers worked to free his car. Positions at that time were Brandon Maggard, Hudson, Picou, Erk Maggard and Jeff Cutshaw.
Picou managed to steal second on lap 11, putting pressure on leader Brandon Maggard in a side by side run. After a caution on lap 17, Hudson took the high side of the track to come down for second and kept his spot until the end. Brandon Maggard held off Hudson to win.
Brandon Maggard said after he passed brother Erik, things went smoothly for him.
"When I went to pass my little brother, my car just stuck up there," he said. "It just worked good. We tried something a little different."
Maggard was reluctant to give away the strategic secret, but said a change in tire stagger may have helped with the victory.
Jordan Holloway, of Monett, took home the Factory Stock victory, dedicating that win and his win the previous night at the Bolivar Speedway to his mother for Mother's Day.
After what could be called a "race of attrition," the Bomber feature saw a field of 20 cars dwindle down to seven. With one lap to go, leader James Flood took a bad spin, leaving the victory open for Lonnie Henderson of Lebanon.
The Super Stock division and the 305 Winged Sprint division each saw a small field of cars. The Todd family of the Lebanon area took the top three spots in the Sprint division. Eric Todd received first, followed by brother, Clint Todd, and father, Joe Todd. Josh Woody of Waynesville took home the victory in the Super Stock feature.
Next Saturday at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway will be the United States Modified Touring Series. The winner's purse will be increased to $2,000. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. Late Models, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks, and Bombers will also be racing.
RESULTS
Late Models
Heat 1
1. 5 Leslie Essary
2. 00 Chad Clark
3. 20 Darrell Mooneyham
4. 51 Donnie Gemes
5. 31 Bob Hiller
6. 33L Jim Liles
Heat 2
1. 1v Will Vaught
2. 42 Brandon McCormick
3. 15 Brian Scutt
4. 2m Dustin Mooneyham
5. 99 Larry Jones
6. 2p R.D. Peterson
Heat 3
1. 71 Jason Meadors
2. 55 Dave Ware
3. 1 Christian Rayburn
4. 28 Leroy Johnson
5. 8k T.J. Kuykendall
6. 6 Bob Cummings
Feature
1. 1v Will Vaught
2. 5 Leslie Essary
3. 55 Dave Ware
4. 8 T.J. Kuykendall
5. 71 Jason Meadors
6. 99 Larry Jones
7. 15 Brian Schutt
8. 28 Leroy Johnson
9. 00 Chad Clark
10. 31 Bob Hiller
11. 2m Dustin Mooneyham
12. 1r Christian Rayburn
13. 2p R.D. Peterson
14. 51 Donnie Gemes
15. 6 Bob Cummings
16. 20 Darrell Mooneyham
17. 42 Brandon McCormick
DNS: Jim Liles
Modifieds
Heat 1
1. 00z Steve Picou
2. 66 Darryl Turner
3. 5 Scott Crystal
4. 88 Kel Kennell
5. t10 Rick Brown
6. 7x Melvin Smith
Heat 2
1. 31m Erik Maggard
2. 31 Brandon Maggard
3. 14 Justin Newman
4. 25m Rex Merritt
5. 21m Steve Martin
6. 15r Jamie Ragland
Heat 3
1. 2h Eric Hudson
2. 98 Jeff Cutshaw
3. m41 Steve Maisel
4. j1 James Imler
5. 10x Bob Hopkins
6. 2j Michael Jones
Feature
1. 31 Brandon Maggard
2. 2h Eric Hudson
3. 00z Steve Picou
4. 98 Jeff Cutshaw
5. 31m Erik Maggard
6. 14 Justin Newman
7. 66 Darryl Turner
8. m41 Steve Maisel
9. 25 Rex Merritt
10. 7x Melvin Smith
11. 21m Steve Martin
12. 5 Scott Crystal
13. 2j Michael Jones
14. j1 James Imler
15. 88 Kel Kennell
DNS: Rick Brown, Bob Hopkins, Jamie Ragland
Factory Stock
Heat 1
1. 28 Bobby Williams
2. 54h David Hendrix
3. 5 Lake Mooneyham
4. 160 Michael Maggard
5. 5* Steve Schultz
6. 89 Joe Sandford
Heat 2
1. 21 Jordan Holloway
2. 17m Matt Miller
3. 20 Brian Stewart
4. 8 Jason Reckker
5. 95 Ed Schutt
6. 1b Tim Brown
Heat 3
1. 94 Kenny Carroll
2. 88 Sonny Nicewaner
3. 45 Robbie Bryant
4. 41r Robert Rydeen
5. 25 Chad Smith
6. 42 Cookie Blevins
7. 83 Tim Riffle
Feature
1. 21 Jordan Holloway
2. 160 Michael Maggard
3. 1b Tim Brown
4. 54h David Hendrix
5. 28 Bobby Williams
6. 5 Lake Mooneyham
7. 94 Kenny Carroll
8. 17m Matt Miller
9. 83 Tim Riffle
10. 8 Jason Reckker
11. 5* Steve Schultz
12. 42 Cookie Blevins
13. 95 Ed Schutt
14. 25 Chad Smith
15. 41r Robert Rydeen
16. 20 Brian Stewart
17. 88 Sonny Nicewaner
18. 89 Joe Sandford
19. 45 Robbie Bryant
Bombers
Heat 1
1. 23 Jason Huey
2. 1j Landon Johnson
3. 1 Justin Foust
4. 36 Robert White
5. 5 Mike Williams
6. 14 Bud Pursley
7. 51 Jason Medlen
Heat 2
1. 42 James Flood
2. 76 Lonnie Henderson
3. 12kk Cindy Collier
4. 71d Terry Dunkin
5. 6w Carl Weaver
DQ: 15 Larry Franklin
Heat 3
1. 4 Dusty Rhoades
2. 87 Justin Stoufer
3. 7 Mike Teeters
4. 53 Greg Walker
5. 6 J.C. Morton
6. 63 Pat Lubbock
7. 28h Chris Hartley
Feature
1. 76 Lonnie Henderson
2. 1 Justin Foust
3. 87 Justin Stoufer
4. 5 Mike Williams
5. 42 James Flood
6. 7 Mike Teeters
7. 4 Dusty Rhoades
8. 14 Bud Pursley
9. 53 Greg Walker
10. 23 Jason Huey
11. 15 Larry Franklin
12. 6 J.C. Morton
13. 6w Carl Weaver
14. 1j Landon Johnson
15. 71d Terry Dunkin
16. 51 Jason Medlen
17. 12kk Cindy Collier
DNS: Robert White, Pat Lubbock, Chris Hartley
305 Winged Sprints
Heat 1
1. 10 Clint Todd
2. 1 Joe Todd
3. 95 Mike Larson
4. 9 Erik Enneking
5. 21 Eric Todd
6. 7 Scott Widdlestaat
7. 8 Keith Breedlove
Feature
1. 21 Eric Todd
2. 10 Clint Todd
3. 1 Joe Todd
4. 95 Mike Larson
5. 7 Scott Widdlestaat
6. 9 Erik Enneking
DNS: Keith Breedlove
Super Stock
Heat 1
1. 21 Josh Woody
2. 32 Steve Morton
3. 000 Dustin Moore
4. 22 Larry Pruitt
5. 17 Teddy Ballinger
6. 4c Chuck Avis
7. 17t Ted Ballinger
8. 51 Bill Schaar
Feature
1. 21 Josh Woody
2. 32 Steve Morton
3. 22 Larry Pruitt
4. 000 Dustin Moore
5. 4c Chuck Avis
6. 17t Ted Ballinger
7. 51 Bill Schaar
8. 17 Teddy Ballinger
LEBANON - Lebanon I-44 Speedway held a season points race Saturday night. Will Vaught, of Crane, took home a third victory in the Late Model feature, keeping his first place points position.
Vaught started the 25-lap feature in the pole position, followed by Leslie Essary who achieved the second place finish in the feature. Vaught led every lap in the feature.
"I got out front and stayed there," said Vaught. "I had some trouble with the lap car. Unlike two weeks ago, we got through them. Leslie, I've looked up to him since I was little, and to beat him is a pretty good accomplishment."
What seems to be a recurring theme in Vaught's talks, he thanked his grandpa for all of his support in his racing career.
Jason Meadors, who started the race third, took a quick jump to second by the second lap but took a bad turn on turn two, collecting the cars of Darrell Mooneyham, Brandon McCormick and Chad Clark in a minor pile-up. Clark and Meadors were able to continue the race but Mooneyham and McCormick headed back to the pits.
After the caution, it was Vaught, Dave Ware and Essary in the top spots. Ware and Essary battled for second most of the evening.
The 14th lap marked lap traffic for the leader as Vaught managed to maneuver around Bob Cummings. Essary and Ware also came into traffic and as Essary nudged Cummings into the infield, Ware took back the second position.
After a caution on the 17th lap, Essary took the second place position from Ware and held it as he put final pressure on Vaught.
The Modified class saw a new feature winner. Brandon Maggard, of Springfield, took home the $600 purse as he and his brother, Erik, gave an exciting show.
Steve Picou, Erik Maggard, Eric Hudson and Brandon Maggard started the 20-lap feature respectively.
The Maggard brothers made their presence quickly felt as Erik Maggard took the lead from Picou. Picou then fell to third as Brandon Maggard took second.
On the fourth lap, Picou took the inside lane on the track to take second, but Brandon Maggard regained it.
Hudson also was making a run for third as the Maggards dominated the front spots. On the seventh lap, Hudson took the third position and took the high side next to second-position Erik Maggard. Hudson grabbed second briefly on the eighth lap, only to fight back and forth for it with Erik Maggard.
Kel Kennell hit a concrete block outside of turn three, causing a lengthy caution on lap 10 as wreckers worked to free his car. Positions at that time were Brandon Maggard, Hudson, Picou, Erk Maggard and Jeff Cutshaw.
Picou managed to steal second on lap 11, putting pressure on leader Brandon Maggard in a side by side run. After a caution on lap 17, Hudson took the high side of the track to come down for second and kept his spot until the end. Brandon Maggard held off Hudson to win.
Brandon Maggard said after he passed brother Erik, things went smoothly for him.
"When I went to pass my little brother, my car just stuck up there," he said. "It just worked good. We tried something a little different."
Maggard was reluctant to give away the strategic secret, but said a change in tire stagger may have helped with the victory.
Jordan Holloway, of Monett, took home the Factory Stock victory, dedicating that win and his win the previous night at the Bolivar Speedway to his mother for Mother's Day.
After what could be called a "race of attrition," the Bomber feature saw a field of 20 cars dwindle down to seven. With one lap to go, leader James Flood took a bad spin, leaving the victory open for Lonnie Henderson of Lebanon.
The Super Stock division and the 305 Winged Sprint division each saw a small field of cars. The Todd family of the Lebanon area took the top three spots in the Sprint division. Eric Todd received first, followed by brother, Clint Todd, and father, Joe Todd. Josh Woody of Waynesville took home the victory in the Super Stock feature.
Next Saturday at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway will be the United States Modified Touring Series. The winner's purse will be increased to $2,000. Gates open at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m. Late Models, Super Stocks, Factory Stocks, and Bombers will also be racing.
RESULTS
Late Models
Heat 1
1. 5 Leslie Essary
2. 00 Chad Clark
3. 20 Darrell Mooneyham
4. 51 Donnie Gemes
5. 31 Bob Hiller
6. 33L Jim Liles
Heat 2
1. 1v Will Vaught
2. 42 Brandon McCormick
3. 15 Brian Scutt
4. 2m Dustin Mooneyham
5. 99 Larry Jones
6. 2p R.D. Peterson
Heat 3
1. 71 Jason Meadors
2. 55 Dave Ware
3. 1 Christian Rayburn
4. 28 Leroy Johnson
5. 8k T.J. Kuykendall
6. 6 Bob Cummings
Feature
1. 1v Will Vaught
2. 5 Leslie Essary
3. 55 Dave Ware
4. 8 T.J. Kuykendall
5. 71 Jason Meadors
6. 99 Larry Jones
7. 15 Brian Schutt
8. 28 Leroy Johnson
9. 00 Chad Clark
10. 31 Bob Hiller
11. 2m Dustin Mooneyham
12. 1r Christian Rayburn
13. 2p R.D. Peterson
14. 51 Donnie Gemes
15. 6 Bob Cummings
16. 20 Darrell Mooneyham
17. 42 Brandon McCormick
DNS: Jim Liles
Modifieds
Heat 1
1. 00z Steve Picou
2. 66 Darryl Turner
3. 5 Scott Crystal
4. 88 Kel Kennell
5. t10 Rick Brown
6. 7x Melvin Smith
Heat 2
1. 31m Erik Maggard
2. 31 Brandon Maggard
3. 14 Justin Newman
4. 25m Rex Merritt
5. 21m Steve Martin
6. 15r Jamie Ragland
Heat 3
1. 2h Eric Hudson
2. 98 Jeff Cutshaw
3. m41 Steve Maisel
4. j1 James Imler
5. 10x Bob Hopkins
6. 2j Michael Jones
Feature
1. 31 Brandon Maggard
2. 2h Eric Hudson
3. 00z Steve Picou
4. 98 Jeff Cutshaw
5. 31m Erik Maggard
6. 14 Justin Newman
7. 66 Darryl Turner
8. m41 Steve Maisel
9. 25 Rex Merritt
10. 7x Melvin Smith
11. 21m Steve Martin
12. 5 Scott Crystal
13. 2j Michael Jones
14. j1 James Imler
15. 88 Kel Kennell
DNS: Rick Brown, Bob Hopkins, Jamie Ragland
Factory Stock
Heat 1
1. 28 Bobby Williams
2. 54h David Hendrix
3. 5 Lake Mooneyham
4. 160 Michael Maggard
5. 5* Steve Schultz
6. 89 Joe Sandford
Heat 2
1. 21 Jordan Holloway
2. 17m Matt Miller
3. 20 Brian Stewart
4. 8 Jason Reckker
5. 95 Ed Schutt
6. 1b Tim Brown
Heat 3
1. 94 Kenny Carroll
2. 88 Sonny Nicewaner
3. 45 Robbie Bryant
4. 41r Robert Rydeen
5. 25 Chad Smith
6. 42 Cookie Blevins
7. 83 Tim Riffle
Feature
1. 21 Jordan Holloway
2. 160 Michael Maggard
3. 1b Tim Brown
4. 54h David Hendrix
5. 28 Bobby Williams
6. 5 Lake Mooneyham
7. 94 Kenny Carroll
8. 17m Matt Miller
9. 83 Tim Riffle
10. 8 Jason Reckker
11. 5* Steve Schultz
12. 42 Cookie Blevins
13. 95 Ed Schutt
14. 25 Chad Smith
15. 41r Robert Rydeen
16. 20 Brian Stewart
17. 88 Sonny Nicewaner
18. 89 Joe Sandford
19. 45 Robbie Bryant
Bombers
Heat 1
1. 23 Jason Huey
2. 1j Landon Johnson
3. 1 Justin Foust
4. 36 Robert White
5. 5 Mike Williams
6. 14 Bud Pursley
7. 51 Jason Medlen
Heat 2
1. 42 James Flood
2. 76 Lonnie Henderson
3. 12kk Cindy Collier
4. 71d Terry Dunkin
5. 6w Carl Weaver
DQ: 15 Larry Franklin
Heat 3
1. 4 Dusty Rhoades
2. 87 Justin Stoufer
3. 7 Mike Teeters
4. 53 Greg Walker
5. 6 J.C. Morton
6. 63 Pat Lubbock
7. 28h Chris Hartley
Feature
1. 76 Lonnie Henderson
2. 1 Justin Foust
3. 87 Justin Stoufer
4. 5 Mike Williams
5. 42 James Flood
6. 7 Mike Teeters
7. 4 Dusty Rhoades
8. 14 Bud Pursley
9. 53 Greg Walker
10. 23 Jason Huey
11. 15 Larry Franklin
12. 6 J.C. Morton
13. 6w Carl Weaver
14. 1j Landon Johnson
15. 71d Terry Dunkin
16. 51 Jason Medlen
17. 12kk Cindy Collier
DNS: Robert White, Pat Lubbock, Chris Hartley
305 Winged Sprints
Heat 1
1. 10 Clint Todd
2. 1 Joe Todd
3. 95 Mike Larson
4. 9 Erik Enneking
5. 21 Eric Todd
6. 7 Scott Widdlestaat
7. 8 Keith Breedlove
Feature
1. 21 Eric Todd
2. 10 Clint Todd
3. 1 Joe Todd
4. 95 Mike Larson
5. 7 Scott Widdlestaat
6. 9 Erik Enneking
DNS: Keith Breedlove
Super Stock
Heat 1
1. 21 Josh Woody
2. 32 Steve Morton
3. 000 Dustin Moore
4. 22 Larry Pruitt
5. 17 Teddy Ballinger
6. 4c Chuck Avis
7. 17t Ted Ballinger
8. 51 Bill Schaar
Feature
1. 21 Josh Woody
2. 32 Steve Morton
3. 22 Larry Pruitt
4. 000 Dustin Moore
5. 4c Chuck Avis
6. 17t Ted Ballinger
7. 51 Bill Schaar
8. 17 Teddy Ballinger
