LEBANON, Missouri (by Jordan Kuehne) Bookend O’Reilly Auto Parts ASA Late Model features capped off an exciting Cinco de Mayo Saturday at Lebanon I-44 Speedway, and veterans Mike Slone and Ken Dickinson navigated through a tricky field en route to Monster Energy Victory Lane on Willard Asphalt Night at the Races.
Caston Jones found his way to the winner’s circle twice in the Coca-Cola Chargers, prevailing in a fierce battle in the second main event. Toby Harden collected the hardware in the Hardee’s Sportsman while David Bates returned to action after last weekend’s misfortunes and dominated the Budweiser Modifieds headliner. Dustin Reeves rolled through a tight Hoosier Tires Road Warriors feature field and grabbed the win as to make it two-for-two to start the year.
A week after losing their main event to Mother Nature, the O’Reilly Auto Parts ASA Late Models were eager to take the green flag in their opening 30-lap feature event of the 2012 season. A lap two caution involving Jeremy Manes put a halt on the proceedings and leader Terry Limberopoulos extended the yellow with a spin on the restart. In the ensuing mayhem, Dale Roper Jr. and Jim Reaves made heavy contact and both drivers limped to the pits for repairs.
When racing began in earnest, Terry Smith surged to the top spot as rookie Brennan Willard settled into second on Willard Asphalt Night at the Races. Willard washed up the track on lap five enabling Joe Ross and Brian Brown to move past him into the bridesmaid’s position and third respectively. Ross wasted no time pressuring Smith for the lead as the Kansas City-area drivers dueled for the lead.
Grant Sharp entered the fray, blowing past Ross and Brown using the high line and challenging Smith on the outside for the top spot. With 16 laps remaining, Sharp looked like he had the lead in hand before he lost control on the exit of turn four and spun to the bottom of the 3/8-mile speed plant, making contact with Ross and sending both drivers around. Sharp’s event came to an early close while Ross was relegated to the back of the 16-car field.
When racing resumed, Brian Brown navigated past Smith on the low side of the progressively-banked and swiftly worked his way to a 12-car length advantage while 2010 track champion Mike Slone stole second from Jimmy Van Zandt as Smith faded to fifth. Brown’s large lead was quickly evaporating before another caution came with seven laps remaining for a spin on the backstretch.
With the field bunched back up, Brown utilized a strong restart to stave off his challengers but that advantage was short-lived as Slone snuck past Brown on the inside with five laps remaining and cruised the rest of the way en route to the checkers.
“Yeah, the car’s pretty good but it could be better,” said Slone, the 2010 champion who snagged the first ASA Late Models trophy of the season. “It’s pretty tough getting around this place. I tried to be as patient as I can be and it’s really hard to drive a car to its potential when you have to drive all over the place to avoid people.”
Brown settled for second as Van Zandt came home third. Longtime veteran Ken Dickinson survived the carnage and finished fourth while Terry Smith rounded out the top five in fifth.
Brian Brown burst to the early advantage in the second 30-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts ASA Late Models main event of the evening. Joe Ross had his evening come to a close on the third lap when his right front tire blew in the middle of turns three and four, sending the Kansas City hotshoe careening hard into the outside retaining wall as ‘Calamity Corner’ collected its first victim of the season.
On the restart, Brian Brown rolled to a comfortable advantage as Steve Holt settled into second. Veteran Ken Dickinson took third from Jim Reaves and set his sights on Holt and the bridesmaid’s position. Holt posed little trouble to the veteran as Dickinson blew past him into second with 19 laps remaining.
As Brown navigated through lapped traffic, Dickinson slashed the deficit between himself and the leader to just a few car lengths. As the race flew past the halfway mark, Dickinson snuck by Brown on the inside and inherited the top spot with 12 laps to go. Dickinson eased through lapped traffic and pulled away from Brown as the laps wound down.
Despite Brown’s best efforts, he had nothing for Ken ‘Spuds’ Dickinson as the 35-year veteran made his way back to victory lane for the first time this season after back-to-back runner-up finishes in the point standings the past two years at I-44 Speedway.
“This car was great in the second race,” said Dickinson in the winner’s circle. “The car got terribly tight in the first race. I feel like we’re a contender for the championship this year.”
Brown managed his second runner-up finish of the evening while Steve Holt collected a third place result. Jim Reaves headed home with a fourth place effort while Terry Smith finished off the top five in fifth.
The Budweiser Modifieds had a wild start to their 25-lap main event as a pack of cars got together coming to the green flag and spun in turn one, sending Brandon Johnson for a ride through the grass and into the turn two embankment.
When the feature finally got underway, heat-race victor David Bates jumped out to a comfortable margin over “The Kid”, Payton Lucas. Lucas came under fire from Tyler Scott, surrendering second to “The Nixa Nightmare” with eight laps in the books.
While Bates drove off into the night sky on a festive Cinco de Mayo and ticked off the final laps, Scott held onto second and extended his points lead after an opening night victory last weekend.
“We needed this win after last weekend,” Bates said, referencing his difficulties with a faulty tire that cost him in last weekend’s feature event. “There are so many great drivers in this Modifieds division that we’ve got a long ways to go if we want to get back to the top this year.”
Lucas landed a third place finish as Joe Ross and Rocky Rash rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth respectively.
Rick Sharp rushed to the early edge in the 20-lap Hardee’s Sportsman headliner. Sharp, last year’s Sportsman champion, immediately came under fire from the younger J.C. Newell. Newell nudged Sharp aside and took the lead on lap three as heat race victor Toby Harden worked his way up to second.
Harden peeked to the low side of Newell in turn three and had the lead on the exit of turn four with 14 laps remaining. While the new leader tried to break away from Newell, Lebanon native Aaron Douglas emerged in third as Sharp fought an ill-handling race car and dropped to sixth.
As the race flew past the halfway mark, Harden continued to pace Newell by a single car length as Douglas began to ease closer to the fray. A caution flew with seven laps left for a turn four spin by Jon Higdon and the 11-car field was once again bunched up.
Harden had no trouble on the restart, however, slipping away to a two car length edge as Lil’ J.C. Newell gave chase in the second position. The top two cars broke away from the rest of the field and Newell eyed a route around Harden coming to the white flag. The 16-year-old driver’s efforts weren’t enough though as Harden fended him off to complete the evening sweep.
“I wasn’t really worried about that restart,” said Harden in victory lane. “I just wanted a clean start to get away from J.C. at the end there.”
Robert Reeves took a podium finish in third while Aaron Douglas hung on for fourth. The elder J.C. Newell completed the top five in fifth.
Gary Ball burst to the early edge in the 15-lap Hoosier Tire Road Warriors feature as Dustin Reeves worked his way up from his starting spot in the back of the pack to second. Reeves stuck his nose in between Ball and Steve Shaw to make it three-wide for the lead. Ball dropped back to third as Shaw and Reeves continued to battle for the top spot with seven laps remaining.
Reeves finally completed the move with five laps left as Shaw looked high and low for a way around the 2011 Road Warriors rookie of the year. Shaw’s efforts went unrewarded as Reeves managed to fend off the veteran and notch his second feature win in as many weeks.
“We’re hoping to make a run for the championship this year,” Reeves said after adding the feature trophy to his heat race victory and completing an evening sweep. “That was a lot of fun. I’ve never made it three-wide before and I wanted to put on a show for the fans. It was a great feeling driving my car in there like that.”
Shaw settled for second while Les Mallard notched a third place effort. Gary Ball held on for a fourth place finish while Mike Funcannon survived a loose hot rod to score a fifth place result.
Caston Jones jumped to the early advantage in the first of two 15-lap Coca-Cola Chargers feature events. Jones paced the field around with ease over the opening ten circuits before Larry Hunter hustled to second and attempted to slice into the deficit. Hunter managed to erase much of Jones’ margin but it wasn’t enough as Caston Jones went wire-to-wire to claim the first Chargers feature event of the 2012 campaign.
“I have to thank my parents and grandparents,” said Jones. “Hopefully we can have a good year. This was a good way to start it out. I’m really happy with the paint scheme and the car this year.”
Hunter held on for second while Jesse Poindexter pushed his way to a third place finish. Paul Jepsen and Richard Lewis rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Larry Hunter hustled to the early edge in the second 15-lap Coca-Cola Chargers main event of the evening. Caston Jones, winner of the first feature earlier in the night, started in the back of the 13-car field and worked his way up to third by lap five. While Hunter was preoccupied with Jesse Poindexter’s second place machine looming large in his rearview mirror, Jones continued to cut into their lead, slicing it to 12 car lengths with seven car lengths remaining. In a flash, Hunter’s lead dissipated into the sultry night sky as the caution flew for debris on the front stretch.
When racing resumed with seven laps to go, Hunter hurried to a five car length edge while Jones jumped past Poindexter for second. Any attempt at a pass for the lead by Jones was halted by another yellow with five laps remaining for an incident in turn four. On the restart, Jones pressured Hunter but couldn’t complete the maneuver. Behind the leaders, Poindexter quickly closed and it was a three-car battle for the win coming to the checkered flag.
Hunter careened to the outside in turn four of the final lap and collected Jones. Poindexter, seeing his opportunity, darted to the low side but couldn’t complete the move, hooking Hunter into the infield as Jones slipped into victory lane for the second time in three hours.
“I don’t even know what happened at the end there,” a shaky Jones said in victory lane after completing the sweep. “That was a crazy end to the race.”
Poindexter exchanged words with Hunter in the infield after his runner-up effort while Nick Cherry benefitted from the last-lap mayhem and moved up to third. Billy Taylor finished fourth while Jordan Nisbit notched a fifth-place finish to complete the top five.
Racing returns to Lebanon I-44 Speedway next weekend as another ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ show awaits fans in addition to an on-track autograph session before the action begins! The first green flag waves at 7:30 p.m. with hot laps getting underway at 5 p.m. during ‘CaddyShack Golf Cars Night at the Races’.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway is located four miles east of the Lebanon city limit on Historic Route 66. Patrons using Interstate 44 may take Exit 135, and then drive one mile east on Route 66 to the track’s main entrance. Additional information about the track’s 2012 ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ racing schedule may be found of the facility’s official website, www.i44speedway.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Lebanon-I-44-Speedway, and on Twitter (@i44Speedway).
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THE RESULTS . . . . SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 . . . . LEBANON I-44 SPEEDWAY
LATE MODELS
FEATURE # 1 1) 77 Mike Slone FEATURE # 2 1) 21 Ken Dickinson
2) O2 Brian Brown 2) O2 Brian Brown
3) 67 Jimmy Vanzandt 3) 35 Steve Holt
4) 21 Ken Dickinson 4) 18 Jim Reaves
5) 98 Terry Smith 5) 98 Terry Smith
6) 6 Matt Wallace 6) 77 Mike Slone
7) 35 Steve Holt 7) 67 Jimmy Vanzandt
8) 7 Jeremy Manes 8) 9 Tucker Cory
9) 3 Brennon Willard 9) 6 Matt Wallace
10) 27 Joe Ross 10) 20 Austin Fullerton
11) 20 Austin Fullerton 11) 66 Brian Woods
12) O7 Terry Limberopoulos 12) 7 Jeremy Manes
13) 2 Grant Sharp 13 3 Brennon Willard
14) 9 Tucker Cory 14) 07 Terry Limberopoulos
15) 10 Dale Roper Jr. 15) 10 Dale Roper Jr.
16) 18 Jim Reaves 16) 27 Joe Ross
DNS 2 Grant Sharp
MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1 1) 26 Payton Lucas HEAT 2 1) 91 David Bates
2) 57 Tyler Scott 2) 1 Rocky Rash
3) 25 Stephen Counterman 3) 64 Joe Ross
4) 10 Joe Bunkers 4) 17 Brandon Johnson
5) OO Chris Johnson DNS 7 Ricky Icenhower
FEATURE 1) 91 David Bates
2) 57 Tyler Scott
3) 26 Payton Lucas
4) 64 Joe Ross
5) 1 Rocky Rash
6) OO Chris Johnson
7) 17 Brandon Johnson
8) 10 Joe Bunkers
9) 25 Stephen Counterman
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1 1) 6 Robert Reeves HEAT 2 1) 1 Toby Harden
2) 36 Jon Higdon 2) 15 Lil JC Newell
3) 84 JC Newell 3) 10 Rick Sharp
4) 7 Aaron Douglas 4) 25 Darin Owens
DNS 83 Ben Newell 5) 63 Chuck Higdon
6) 65 Denny Schott
FEATURE 1) 1 Toby Harden
2) 15 Lil JC Newell
3) 6 Robert Reeves
4) 7 Aaron Douglas
5) 84 JC Newell
6) 10 Rick Sharp
7) 25 Darin Owens
8) 36 Jon Higdon
9) 63 Chuck Higdon
10) 65 Denny Schott
DNS 83 Ben Newell
ROAD WARRIOR
HEAT 1 1) 6 Dustin Reeves
2) 90 Steve Shaw
3) 21 Les Mallard
4) 8 Aaron Wilke
5) 38 Mike Funcannon
6) 35 Gary Ball
FEATURE 1) 6 Dustin Reeves
2) 90 Steve Shaw
3) 21 Les Mallard
4) 35 Gary Ball
5) 8 Aaron Wilke
6) 38 Mike Funcannon
DNS O7 Adam Lowrance
CHARGERS
FEATURE # 1 1) 34 Caston Jones FEATURE # 2 1) 34 Caston Jones
2) 74 Larry Hunter 2) 7 Jessie Poindexter
3) 7 Jessie Poindexter 3) 27 Nick Cherry
4) 44 Paul Jepsen 4) 30 Billy Taylor
5) 6 Richard Lewis 5) 42 Jordan Nisbett
6) 14 Ben Kramer 6) 5 Jimmy Poindexter
7) 42 Jordan Nisbett 7) 89 Chris Blackburn
8) 89 Chris Blackburn 8) 74 Larry Hunter
9) 27 Nick Cherry 9) 11 Lauren Buhr
10) 1 Amanda Page 10) 44 Paul Jepsen
11) 14 Ben Kramer
12) 33 Riley Sharp
13) 6 Richard Lewis
DNS 1 Amanda P