By Jordan Kuehne

(LEBANON, Mo.) – On a night at Lebanon I-44 Speedway that centered around the tightening points battle between 17-year-olds Cole Williams and Matt Wallace, it was veteran Jim Reaves that stole the show in the Compliance Fire & Safety Night at the Races showcase feature for the headlining O’Reilly Auto Parts NASCAR Pro Late Models, fending off a pair of hard chargers in Grant Sharp and Lil’ J.C. Newell and surviving a loose race car to venture into victory lane for the first time this season. Williams finished fifth and expanded his points lead over Wallace.

In other action, Tyler Scott charged through the field and scored a second consecutive win in the Budweiser NASCAR Modifieds while Austin Johnson collected his first career points victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Sportsman. Geoff Ledford continued his late season charge in the Hoosier Tire NASCAR Road Warriors and Larry Hunter notched another triumph in the Coca-Cola NASCAR Chargers.

Jim Reaves rocketed to the early edge in the 30-lap O’Reilly Auto Parts NASCAR Pro Late Models’ headliner. Behind the leader, Grant Sharp surged through the 13-car field and into second, fending off a fast Lil’ J.C. Newell in third as Reaves pulled away to a comfortable straightaway margin.

Newell peeked to the inside of Sharp for second as points leader Cole Williams maneuvered from his 12th place starting spot and into the top-five as the race zoomed past the halfway mark. A caution with 14 circuits remaining erased Reaves’ straightaway advantage after young Austin Fullerton’s motor expired in turn three. On the all-important restart, Reaves managed to pull away from the pack as Newell tried to navigate around Sharp for second.

As the laps wound down, Sharp closed up on Reaves and made a late race charge,
peeking to the inside on the exit of every turn as he desperately searched for some extra speed to slingshot by the leader. As Reaves wiggled in the middle of turn three, Sharp had to step on the brakes as the field bunched up behind them. Reaves stuck to the high line and tried to make it work as Sharp felt the heat from Newell, all the while trying for the win. Ultimately, Reaves held on for a hard-fought, tightly contested wire-to-wire triumph, his first of the season.

“That was a nailbiter,” a euphoric Reaves said in the winner’s circle. “I’m definitely biting my nails and it’s over. I think a lot of guys really wanted that one, but I wanted it just a little bit more at the end of the day. It feels so great to get a win tonight.”

Newell edged out Sharp at the checkers for the runner-up position while Cole Williams came home in fifth to maintain an advantage in the standings over Matt Wallace.

Terry Taylor set a torrid pace as the 25-lap Budweiser Modifieds feature got underway. Behind the leader, the 11-car field sorted things out and points leader Scotty Allen tried everything he could to take third away from Payton Lucas. He got it as Tyler Scott followed him up to fourth. A lap later, it was Scott up to third while Richard Lewis erased his deficit and closed up on Taylor’s back bumper for the top spot, trying the low line as Scott closed up behind. A caution at the halfway mark bunched the field back up after Lewis went for a spin on the frontstretch.

On the restart, Scott muscled his way past Taylor and a hole opened up for Allen to move up to second with ten circuits to go. Once Scott got into clean air, it was lights out for the field as the two-time defending division champion continued his late season charge with his second straight win. Allen held serve with a second place effort while Lucas finished third.

Austin Johnson drove to the early lead in the 12-lap Monster Energy Sportsman main event as elder J.C. Newell broke through the pack into second. As Newell drove away from the field, Johnson continued to stretch his lead to over a straightaway as he ran away from the pack. No one could catch the young gun as the Oklahoma hotshoe went wire-to-wire for his first points win of the season. Newell finished second while points leader Randy Besser notched a podium finish in third.

The 12-lap Hoosier Tires Road Warriors feature got off to a wild start when early leader Nick Cherry got turned around on the start and cut down a tire, sending him to the pits as the field reverted to a complete restart. Michael Juergenson jumped into the top spot on the ensuing green flag as Geoff Ledford broke through the pack and into second. Ledford made a power move to navigate around Juergenson for the top spot as points leader Justin Blake took the bridesmaid’s position, but couldn’t close on Ledford who continued his late season charge with a comfortable trip to the winner’s circle, his third triumph of the season. Carl Harlow managed an exciting runner-up effort as Blake spun across the finish line in third.

The 12-lap Coca-Cola Chargers main event got off to a crazy beginning when Larry Hunter hustled through the pack and into the top spot, using every lane that Missouri’s only asphalt oval had to offer en route to the lead. Jason Walls gave chase in the second position as Jordan Nisbett dirt tracked it up high and tried to snag the bridesmaid’s position. When Nisbett couldn’t make it stick, points leader Jimmy Poindexter was able to get around him for third. Nobody was able to get around Hunter up front though, as Poindexter was only able to manage second as Hunter grabbed his second win of the year. Walls fended off a hard-charging Lauren Buhr to score a podium position in third.

Racing returns to Lebanon I-44 Speedway next Saturday for Coca-Cola night with kids ride in race cars FREE, August 31, as the season winds down and only three weeks remain in the Monster Energy Chase for the Cup. The O’Reilly Auto Parts NASCAR Pro Late Models and their intense points battle headlines the action with all five NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions in action once again, including the Budweiser Modifieds, Monster Energy Sportsman, Hoosier Tire Road Warriors, and Coca-Cola Chargers. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the first green flag waves at 7 p.m. sharp on an exciting night of racing action with special Coca-Cola ticket promotions at all area Coke retailers.

For more information on Lebanon I-44 Speedway, including a full 2013 schedule and more, visit the track website at www.i44speedway.net or visit the track’s Facebook and Twitter pages online.

Lebanon I-44 Speedway – August 24, 2013
Race Results
O’Reilly Auto Parts NASCAR Pro Late Models
Heat 1 Heat 2

1) Car # 18 Jim Reaves 1) Car # 20 Austin Fullerton
2) Car # 42 Cole Rouse 2) Car # 67 Jimmy Vanzandt
3) Car # 2 Grant Sharp 3) Car # 27 Joe Ross
4) Car # 35 Steve Holt 4) Car # 46 Cole Williams
5) Car # 07 Terry Limberopoulos 5) Car # 6 Matt Wallace
6) Car # 47 Kaleb Allison 6) Car # 3 Brennon Willard
7) Car # 15 JC Newell

Feature

1) Car # 18 Jim Reaves Springfield, MO
2) Car # 15 JC Newell Stoutland, MO
3) Car # 2 Grant Sharp Lebanon, MO
4) Car # 67 Jimmy Vanzandt Springfield, MO
5) Car # 46 Cole Williams Sellersburg, IN
6) Car # 27 Joe Ross Kansas City, MO
7) Car # 6 Matt Wallace Concord, NC
8) Car # 3 Brennon Willard Sleeper, MO
9) Car # 35 Steve Holt Strafford, MO
10) Car # 47 Kaleb Allison Mexico, MO
11) Car # 07 Terry Limberopoulos Cuba, MO
12) Car # 42 Cole Rouse Fort Smith, AR
13) Car # 20 Austin Fullerton Chelsea, OK

Budweiser NASCAR Modified

Heat 1 Heat 2

1) Car # 66 Terry Taylor 1) Car # 57 Tyler Scott 2) Car # 64 David Strode 2) Car # 12 Scotty Allen
3) Car # 00 Chris Johnson 3) Car # 26 Payton Lucas
4) Car # 27 Nick Cherry 4) Car # 11X Robert Baltzell
5) Car # 10 Joe Bunkers 5) Car # 6 Richard Lewis
DNS Car # 91 David Bates

Feature

1) Car # 57 Tyler Scott Nixa, MO
2) Car # 12 Scotty Allen Urbana, MO
3) Car # 26 Payton Lucas Fair Grove, MO
4) Car # 66 Terry Taylor Fair Grove, MO
5) Car # 11X Robert Baltzell Ozark, MO
6) Car # 64 David Strode Independence, MO
7) Car # 6 Richard Lewis Willard, MO
8) Car # 00 Chris Johnson Lebanon, MO
9) Car # 10 Joe Bunkers Harrisonville, MO
10) Car # 27 Kevin Hunt Spring Hill, KS
11) Car # 91 David Bates Fair Grove, MO

Monster Energy NASCAR Sportsman

Heat
1) Car # 7 Aaron Douglas
2) Car # 84 JC Newell
3) Car # 21 Randy Besser
4) Car # 48 Jimmy Fohn
5) Car # 22 Austin Johnson
6) Car # 81 Jacob Blair

Feature

1) Car # 22 Austin Johnson Inola, OK
2) Car # 84 JC Newell (Gentle Giant) Decauterville, MO
3) Car # 21 Randy Besser Branson, MO
4) Car # 7 Aaron Douglas Lebanon, MO
5) Car # 48 Jimmy Fohn Eldridge, MO
6) Car # 81 Jacob Blair Kansas City, MO

Hoosier Tire NASCAR Road Warriors

Heat 1 Heat 2
1) Car # 27 Nick Cherry 1) Car # 90 Steve Shaw
2) Car # 34 Caston Jones 2) Car # 15 Justin Blake
3) Car # 38 Michael Funcannon 3) Car # 7 Carl Harlow
4) Car # 00 Michael Juergensen 4) Car # 45 Geoffrey Ledford
DNS Car # Riley Sharp 5) Car # 3 Dusty Ball
6) Car # 0 Chris Kerperien

Feature

1) Car # 45 Geoffrey Ledford Neosho, MO
2) Car # 7 Carl Harlow Exeter, MO
3) Car # 15 Justin Blake Lebanon, M
4) Car # 90 Steve Shaw Rogersville, MO
5) Car # OO Michael Juergensen Lebanon, MO
6) Car # 34 Caston Jones Belle, MO
7) Car # 3 Dusty Ball Lebanon, MO
8) Car # 27 Nick Cherry Springfield, MO
9) Car # 0 Chris Kerperien Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
10) Car # 38 Michael Funcannon Cassville, MO

Coca-Cola NASCAR Chargers

Heat
1) Car # 95 Jordan Nisbett
2) Car # 74 Larry Hunter
3) Car # 5 Jimmy Poindexter
4) Car # 10 Jason Walls
5) Car # 11 Lauren Buhr
6) Car # 7 Amanda Anderson
7) Car # 89 Patrick McKnight
8) Car # 37 Jary Hudson
9) Car # 40 Mark Glorfeld

Feature

1) Car # 74 Larry Hunter Laquey, MO
2) Car # 5 Jimmy Poindexter Jr Willard, MO
3) Car # 10 Jason Walls St. James, MO
4) Car # 11 Lauren Buhr Neosho, MO
5) Car # 89 Patrick McKnight Rolla, MO
6) Car # 7 Amanda Anderson Lebanon, MO
7) Car # 37 Jary Hudson Edgar Springs, MO
8) Car # 40 Mark Glorfeld Springfield, MO
9) Car # 95 Jordan Nisbett Lebanon, MO

Admission prices for the Monster Energy grandstands & Budweiser Fan Deck will remain just $10 for Adults, ages 16 and older, in the grandstands while Adult admission on the ‘Budweiser Wild Side’ will remain just $15. Discounted admission will be offered in both locations for Military members with an ID present, as well as Seniors (ages 65 and older) and Juniors (ages 11-15), and Children (ages 10 and younger) will be admitted for free. A grandstand Family Pass for two Adults and two Juniors plus any number of Children is available for $25, while six Adults entering in the same vehicle on tiered parking will be admitted to the ‘Budweiser Wild Side’ for $75.

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 approximately one mile east on Route 66 to the track’s main entrance. Additional information about the track’s 2013 ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ racing schedule may be found on the facility’s official website, www.i44speedway.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Lebanon-I-44-Speedway, and on Twitter (@i44Speedway).
Lebanon I-44 Speedway offers an alcohol-free Monster Energy Grandstand, featuring aluminum seating with seat-backs, along with Budweiser “Wild Side” tier parking for cars, pickup trucks and RV’s where patrons may park, tailgate and view the races. A great view is also available on the grandstand side in the Budweiser “Fan Deck” area for those that would enjoy an adult beverage.
About Lebanon I-44 Speedway

Lebanon I-44 Speedway is Missouri’s only weekly Asphalt Racing Oval settled nearly 300 miles from any other and is Missouri’s only NASCAR sanctioned facility. Located in Lebanon, Missouri, along Interstate 44 adds easy access from any direction. Just about 45 minutes to the East of Springfield, Missouri on I-44 and just 2 hours East of St. Louis on I-44 as well as just 30 minutes south of Lake of the Ozarks.

Lebanon I-44 Speedway has a history of producing great racecar drivers, and some of the biggest stars in American motorsports honed their skills on our tracks high banked 3/8-mile asphalt oval. Legends such as the great Larry Phillips, the only 5-time national champion in NASCAR’s weekly racing series, along with NASCAR stars like Mike Wallace, Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and the late Tony Roper have either won races or even track championships over the years.

Lebanon I-44 Speedway has perhaps the smoothest racing surface of any weekly racing facility in the nation along with new aluminum backed Monster Energy grandstand seating, Budweiser “Wild Side” tier parking that you can pull up in your car or tailgate in your pickup and enjoy all of the racing from a great view, the new Central Bank VIP Suites in the middle of the front stretch and entering turn one is the newest addition, the Budweiser Fan Deck.

Lebanon I-44 Speedway runs many special events throughout the race season as well as an exciting NASCAR weekly show that consists of Pro Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Road Warriors and the Chargers with special appearances by the United States Super Truck Series, Pro National Baby Grand Cars, NASCAR racing special events and various Concerts.

For all of the latest information always visit
www.i44speedway.net

2013 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Official Partners:
NASCAR – National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing
Big Surf Water Park – Preferred Amusement Park
Budweiser – Official Beer
Caddy Shack Golf Cars – Official Golf Cars
Central Bank – Preferred Banking Partner
Compliance Fire & Safety – Preferred Fire & Safety Provider
Green Earth technologies – Preferred “Totally Green” Clean Tech Company
Hampton Inn / Lebanon – Preferred Hotel
Holiday Inn Express / Lebanon – Preferred Hotel
Hoosier Tire – Official Race Tire
K&N Engineering – Preferred Performance Filter
Mercy – Official Health Care Provider
Missouri Eagle – Official Beer, Energy Drink & Tea Supplier
Monster Energy – Official Energy Drink
O’Reilly Auto Parts – Preferred Auto Parts Store
Ozarks Coca-Cola Dr. Pepper – Official Supplier: Soft Drinks, Water, Sports Drinks
Peace Tea – Official Tea
Racing Electronics – Official Communications Supplier
Safety-Kleen – Preferred Environmental Services Company
Springfield Yamaha – Official UTV & ATV Supplier
Sunoco – Official Racing Fuel
Super 8 / Lebanon – Preferred Hotel

2013 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Supporting Partners:
Advanced Electric & Communications, Auto Body Supply, Auto Meter, Commerce Bank, Cometic Gaskets, Contingency Connection, Dickies Barbecue, Emerson Climate Technologies, Energy Companies, ESPN Radio, E-Z Disposal, Graven Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Headley’s Value Tire Center, Helton’s Home Furnishings, Heritage Bank, Home Depot, Independent Stave Inc., JEGS, KZNN Superstation, Lebanon Ready Mix, Liberty Tire, Lindsay Auto Group, McGunegill Engine Performance, Missouri Tool & Automation, Owens Sandblasting, Ozarks Harley Davidson, Regional Radio – KJEL, Reliable Toyota, Rock Auto, Royal Purple, Shadel’s Colonial Chapel, Sherwin Williams, Show Me Guns, Sprint, Starnes Auto, Totally You, Toyota Motorsports, Unilever, United Insurors, US Foods, Waffle House, Whelen Engineering, Willard Asphalt, Z102.3 Radio, 107.9 The Coyote