(LEBANON, Missouri, by Zack Morgan) Chrissy Wallace of Concord, North Carolina won her first Lebanon I-44 Speedway Late Model feature race as the track hosted a night of ASA stock car competition and saluted the U.S. Military on Memorial Day weekend, Saturday night, May 28. Teamed up with Lindsay Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep of St. Robert to provide free admission to all active duty and retired military personnel and their families, the I-44 Speedway staff paid a special tribute to the sacrifices and commitment of America’s men and women in uniform, past and present, in the patriotic Opening Ceremonies.
Qualifying races were the first on hand as Marshfield’s Gary Davenport returned to the speedway in style, taking the first Charger mini-stock heat race, while Shawn Jones of Bell grabbed the checkers in the second Charger heat. Richand’s Jason Otto took the first Mighty Modified heat, with Terry Taylor grabbing the second qualifying race. St. James native Tom Claus took the first of two Sportsman qualifying races, and Rick Sharp of Fair Grove found his familiar place of taking the checkers first as he won the second heat. ASA national championship points leader and Rolla native Mike Slone took the first Late Model heat race win, while Kansas City, Missouri resident Troy Backlund won the second qualifying race. Rogersville native Steve Shaw made his first appearance of the season at I-44 Speedway, and started it off right as he won his qualifying race in the Road Warrior class.
After the fans were treated to an on-track autograph session with the drivers, the Charger class mini-stocks took to I-44’s high banked asphalt oval for 15 laps of fast Feature event action. It was a “one horse” race all the way through, however, as Laquey’s Larry Hunter was quickest by “dirt tracking” through all four corners and came away with his first victory and trip to Monster Energy Victory Lane.
The Mighty Modified’s were next as Mike Coryell started on the pole and led the field to the green flag. Last week’s Modified winner Tyler Scott had to work his way from the rear of the field, and made quick work of the cars in front of him as he made his way into the top three behind TJR teammates Coryell and Otto. The top three went nose to tail as Scott was making his mark on the bottom, while Otto and Coryell were riding the middle groove. Scott finally made his move into the second spot past Otto, getting a great jump off turn four, and set his sights on Coryell. Driving the wheels off his potent Modified stock car, Scott finally got around Coryell for his second straight Monster Energy Victory Lane appearance of the season.
The Sportsman class stock cars were up next as Rick Sharp tried to remain perfect on the season. Rolla resident Kevin Crider made his return to the track as a driver, got some great restarts following caution laps, and rocketed to the lead on the topside to dominate the field. Sharp had a very fast car, but had to make his way through too much traffic and didn’t have enough time to make the “money pass” as Crider earned a trip to Monster Energy Victory Lane in his first race of the 2011 racing season.
The feature division Late Models were out next as championship points leader Mike Slone failed to make the call due to a broken bolt on a harmonic balancer, and the big field of Late Model stock cars ran several pre-race pace laps with all drivers holding an American flag outside their racecars to the vocal delight of the crowd. Lebanon’s Grant Sharp started on the pole, looking for his first winner’s trophy in a Late Model stock car, but there would be a new face in Monster Energy Victory Lane at the end of 30 fast laps. Starting deep in the field, Chrissy Wallace made her way to the front in a hurry, and by lap 10 she was side by side for the lead with Sharp. With Wallace down low and Sharp up high on I-44’s wide asphalt surface, it was only a matter of time before one racer got the edge and it was Wallace who eventually rocketed to the lead. The 23-year-old began pulling away from Scott, but with 10 laps remaining a late race caution flag bunched the field back up for one final re-start. Sharp had one shot to get by for the win, but could not take advantage as the daughter of NASCAR star Mike Wallace made her way into the history books to become the first female Late Model winner at I-44 Speedway.
The Road Warriors capped off the evening’s racing card, as a growing field of the “Bomber”-type stock cars would go at it for 10 hard-charging laps. Early contact between eventual winner Steve Shaw and Kristen Scott brought out the caution flag, and would force Scott to retire from the action. Re-starting at the rear of the field, Shaw rocketed around the top side as he coasted into Monster Energy Victory Lane for his first feature event win.
Next Saturday night at Lebanon I-44 Speedway will be “Joplin Relief Night at the Races”, with a portion of the proceeds from all tickets sold donated to the victims of Joplin’s devastating tornado. Another five division ASA stock car racing program is slated for the track’s 3/8-mile high-banked paved oval on Saturday, June 4, and the evening’s activities will also feature a special appearance by the custom cars, street rods and restored classics of the Cave State Cruisers Car Club. Gates are scheduled to open at 5:00 pm, with racing action beginning at 7:30. Additional information about the speedway’s 2011 schedule may be found online at www.i44speedway.net.