(Warrensburg, MO) Anxious race fans and drivers were greeted to fantastic track conditions at Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) Saturday night for night one of the annual Memorial Day weekend special events. However, despite running a swift-moving program, wet weather forced cancellation of events after preliminary heat races and only one main event was completed.
Night one of the weekend was to feature $1,500 to-win USRA Modified and Lightning Sprint special events and B-Mod and Street Stock competition. Even still, the races that were completed produced some thrilling action among competing drivers.
Owner Earl Walls stated, “If we rain out on Sunday, May 24, racing events will be made up on an undetermined future date, but we WILL NOT race on Monday. The Street Stock, Lightning Sprint, and USRA Modified feature events would be ran on another night if a rainout does occur on Sunday.
The B-Modified feature was the only feature to be completed. Chad Staus from Otterville, Missouri claimed the victory just ahead of three-time feature winner and point’s leader, Jacob Ebert. Unfortunately rain made another unwelcomed appearance at CMS as the Street Stocks rolled onto the track for their feature, causing the rest of the program to be canceled. Per CMS’s long-standing rainout policy, the evening is considered a complete program and no refunds will be given.
B-Mod drivers had another strong competitive field of 22 drivers registered for the first night of weekend racing. During the three exciting qualifying heat races, Cody Brill won the first heat race ahead of Cody Frazon and Chris Wright. Jacob Ebert grabbed his fourth heat win followed by Chris Brockway for his best finish of the year with Dallas White third in heat two. Troy Carlyle crossed the finish line first with Chad Staus second and Bill Small third in the final preliminary event.
The B-mod feature had three phases with Cody Brill taking the early lead; however, Ebert and Staus stalked him with two-wide action as they kept close through several early cautions. Staus then appeared to be the driver to beat in phase two after overtaking Brill in the battle for lead. Brill later left the track after some right front damage in an incident on the front side of the track.
In the final phase, Ebert passed Staus after the white flag flew appearing to be set up for his fourth feature win, but a late caution in turn two caused a restart of the race, in which Staus went on to win. Ebert had to settle for second, Spencer Stephens had a good run into third, Jason Billups was fourth after starting deep in the field while Johnny McGinnis advanced from sixteenth to fifth at the finish.
USRA modified heat races had the fans cheering for their favorite drivers attempting to qualify for a good starting spot for the special feature with their heat race finish positions. On Saturday evening, Josh Everhart edged out Tim Karrick on the middle side after Karrick stayed low leading the early part of the heat race. Gunnar Martin moved ahead a spot late at the end to take third. Richard Layne looked strong as he bested Dean Wille and Lewis Jackson. Heat three had Terry Schultz fresh off a win at Callaway Speedway on Friday night with the win ahead of Jim Moody and the young gun, Dalton Kirk in a thrilling race for the victory.
The Lightning Sprints drivers competed for their $1,500 to-win CMS special event during their first year of CMS weekly racing after being added to the regular program this season. The two heat race winners last night were Bobby Layne with a daring dive into turn one to take heat one as Mark K. Billings and Zack Morehead followed in behind the leader with finishes of second and third. Heat two had Tony Layne dominating ahead of Mark Billings and Gabe Maycock.
In the Street Stocks division 19 drivers had their eyes set on Warrensburg driver Brett Wood who started this season with two feature wins. The three heat race winners included Dean Wille pulling double duty in his USRA modified and street stock as the winner in heat one ahead of Clayton Campbell and Tim Cressley. Then Brett Wood easily claimed the second heat race with Ron Linvengood and Brian Inlow behind. In the third and final heat race, John Prevete grabbed the win ahead of tough veteran drivers, Troy Turley and Kevin Perkins.
For Sunday, May 24th, the race program consists of USRA Modifieds, USRA B-Mods, Pure Stocks, ULMA Late Models, and the Allstar Midget Series. Sunday’s ULMA appearance is the second of the season for ULMA while this weekend’s Allstar Midget Series is their first appearance of the year at the track. Grandstand admission prices for each race night over the weekend: $15 for Adults, $12 for Military w/I.D. and Senior Citizens 65 years or older, $5 for kids aged six to twelve years, while children five and under are free. All pit passes for the weekend are $35 per night.
If the races are rained out/canceled on Sunday, May 24th then the special events will be made up on an undetermined future date. Stay tuned to www.centralmissourispeedway.net for further announcements or find and follow us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/pages/Central-Missouri-Speedway. On race day, CMS may be reached via the Track Report Line at 660-747-2166 for the latest updates.
Results: B-Mod A-Main Feature
1st- c3-Chad Staus, Otterville
2nd- 94-Jacob Ebert, Oak Grove
3rd- 09jr-Spencer Stephens, Buckner
4th- 33j-Jason Billups, Holt
5th- 10-Johnny McGinnis, Hardin
6th- 11d-Caleb Dennis, Meadville
7th- 77b-Brett Wood, Warrensburg
8th- 3B-Richard Brainard, Sedalia
9th- 12-Olen Stephens, Warrensburg
10th- 14-Kameron Grindstaff, Independence
11th- 72-Brad Moore, Urich
12th- 44-Troy Carlyle, Kearney
13th- 96-Cody Brill, Harrisonville
14th- 53-Dallas White, Centerview
15th- 73-Cody Frazon, LaMonte
16th- 03-Chris Brockway, Warrensburg
17th- 23t-Tim Smith, Concordia
18th- 21p-Darren Phillips, Clinton
19th- 20x-Chris Wright, Chillicothe
20th- 44d-Dean Truelove, Blue Springs
DNS- 28s-Bill Small, Holden
DNS- 9-Don Marrs, Shawnee, KS
CMS is located just past the round-a-bout on Hwy 13 three and a half miles north of Warrensburg, Missouri from the junction of Highways 50 and 13. From Interstate 70 Higginsville/Warrensburg Hwy 13 exit, the track is located 12.5 miles south on Hwy 13. On race day call 660-747-2166 for race status.