Farmington, MO (June 4) – Two repeat winners in the top divisions and two new winners Saturday Night at St Francois County Raceway. This was the first “official” $5.00 Grandstand Night and the fans were not disappointed. Tommy Worley, Jr in the 410 Sprints and Billy Smith in the A Modified Division were repeat winners, Dusty Homan picked up his second win of the season in the Pure Street Division and Michael Savage his first in the B-Modified Division.
The Sprinters got off to a rocky start in their feature. Front row starters A J Bruns, Lincoln, IL and Tommy Worley, Jr got together in the first turn. Bruns almost did a lid runner, but managed to keep all tires down. Worley escaped and continued on. This setup a complete restart with Bruns starting on the tail. This moved current point leader and defending Champion Jimmy Hurley to the pole position. After on unsuccessful restart, the cars were lined up single file. Hurley led the group to the flag and set a blistering pace on the very hot evening. The caution waved on Lap 17 for the spinning car of A J Bruns in turn one. His car stalled and his night completed. Before the caution came out there was heavy traffic all over the racetrack. All driver did an outstanding job of holding their respective lines. The leaders worked the magic of picking through this and the battle raged on. On the Lap 19 restart, leader Hurley and some lapped cars between him and second place Tommy Worley, Jr. Worley would make quick work of this traffic and set sail for Hurley. The two leaders were close when they came to the white flag. Worley placed his car at the bottom groove and powered his mount to the lead in turn two. Hurley chose the high line and could not find the grip to regain the lead and settled for thew runner-up slot. Joey Montgomery, Jimmy Bridgeman and Tim Montgomery raced their way into the top five.
Billy Smith brought out the broom on Saturday as he won his heat, the dash, and the A Main for a sweep and the HAT Trick. Smith, Brian Worley, Tommy Worley, Sr, Brent Thompson and Matt Eaton got a great jump at the start. This lasted only two laps as Matt Dotson spun his machine around for the first caution. Those five again paced the field until Lap 11. Brian Worley’s machine had mechanical issues and he would be finished for the remainder of the event. Smith took off on the restart and had lots of company. Brent Thompson and Matt Eaton had a chance to overtake the leader, but Smith was to strong. Eaton won the battle for second over Thompson. Wall of Famer Tommy Worley, Sr finishes in the fourth position followed by Matt Dotson in fifth. Smith as mentiond earlier grabbed the HAT Trick.
The B-Modified Division saw the return of Michael Savage to the winners circle. Starting inside of the second row behind Kenny Harris. Savage held his ground for third with Harris and Kyle Stolzer coming across the finish line on Lap 1. Laps 2 and 3 found the caution flag in the air. John Hahler spun his car on the front straight and Jeff Frohwitter slammed on his brakes, but still made heavy contact with Hahler. Both cars were done for the event. Lap 3, C J Wright and Randy Forster got hooked together and the caution flew. They were seperated and continued on. Laps 4 through the balance of the event were all ran under the green. Harris and Savage changed the lead back and forth for several laps until Savage gained a little ground and went on to the win. Harris finished second. John Bohn had his best showing the of the young season with a third place effort. Eddie Gross makes it into the top five with a fourth place run and Pole sitter and current point leader Kyle Stolzer rounding out the top five.
Pure Street Division found Dusty Homan in the circle for the second time this season. He and Paul Belken were the best on this night. Homan’s car pulled off the corners well and this allowed him to keep distance between himself and Belken. With the many years of experience going for him, Belken could not match the cornering and pull off those corners to get out front and claims second place honors. To say the action was hot would be an understatement. Not only were the temperatures high. Eric Sarakas had lots of heat in his machine. On Lap 2, he brought the car to the infield where his car broke out into an inferno. Flames came from underneath, out the wheel wells and around the hood. Sarakas quickly got out of the car. He moved away from the car under his own power. The car was a mess. We spoke to him after the event and told the crowd he would be back next week. Two caution periods would appear for the remainder of the event for minor incidents. Last weeks winner Robbie Williams brings home another top five as he finished third. Point leader Jimmy Farris comes in in the fourth position and Kenny Kennedy makes it to fifth.
Racing will continue next Saturday as the A-Modified Division will be running for a top prize of $1000 to win. Also in competition will be our regular 410 Winged Sprints, B-Modifieds and Pure Street. June 18 will feature the Midwest Open Wheel Association Sprints. Grandstand admission is $10 for adults. Children under 12, with a paid adult is free. Pit Passes are $25. Gates open at 4:00. Hot Laps at 6:00 with racing to follow.
SUMMARY
Sprint Division
Heat #1: 1. Tim Montgomery 2. A J Bruns 3. Rod Crabdree 4. Kory Bales
Heat #2: 1. Tommy Worley, Jr 2. Jimmy Bridgeman 3. Joey Montgomery 4. Ryan Kempin
Heat #3: 1. Jimmy Hurley 2. Jason Evans 3. Wade Seiler 4. Brian Keen
Dash: 1. A J Bruns 2. Tommy Worley, Jr 3. Jimmy Hurley 4. Tim Montgomery
A-Main: 1. Tommy Worley, Jr 2. Jimmy Hurley 3. Joey Montgomery 4. ,Jimmy Bridgeman 5. Tim Montgomery 6. Kasey Burch 7. Rod Crabdree 8. Jason Evans 9. Joey Boyd 10. Brad Greer
A-Modified Division
Heat #1: 1. Brent Thompson 2. Jeff Asher 3. Kent Nations 4. Jeremy Greenwalt
Heat #2: 1. Tommy Worley, Sr 2. Matt Eaton 3. Bill Nickelson 4. Preston Odom
Heat #3: 1. Billy Smith 2. Brian Worley 3. Dave Chilton 4. Danny Resinger
Dash: 1. Billy Smith 2. Brian Worley 3. Tommy Worley, Sr 4. Matt Eaton
A-Main: 1. Billy Smith 2. Matt Eaton 3. Brent Thompson 4. Tommy Worley, Sr 5. Matt Dotson 6. Dave Chilton 7. Jeff Asher 8. “Rooster” Griffin 9. Mike Abney 10. Danny Resinger
HAT Trick: Billy Smith
B-Modified Division
Heat #1: 1. Kyle Stolzer 2. John Bohn 3. Jim Hartzell 3. Daniel Wood
Heat #2: 1. Kenny Harris 2. Eddie Gross 3. C J Wright 4. Jack Halbert
Heat #3: 1. Michael Savage 2. Patrick DeNoyer 3. Harold Carter 4. Jeff Frohwitter
A-Main: 1. Michael Savage 2. Kenny Harris 3. John Bohn 4. Eddie Gross 5. Kyle Stolzer 6. Jim Hartzell 7. Tim Nash 8. Greg Price 9. Randy Forster 10. Daniel Wood
Pure Street Division
Heat #1: 1. Dusty Homan 2. Paul Belken 3. Marvin Keenan, Jr 4. Mike Williams, Jr
Heat #2: 1. Robbie Williams 2. Kenny Kennedy 3. Garrett Mathes 4. Eric Sarakas
A-Main: 1. Dusty Homan 2. Paul Belken 3. Robbie Williams 4. Jimmy Farris 5. Kenny Kennedy 6. Travis Goodman 7. Jason Neel 8. Marvin Keenan, Jr 9. Dean Resinger 10. Garrett Mathes