Memorial Day Flags at I-44 Saturday Night
Mike Slone was your Feature Winner in his #51 Pro Late Model
Lebanon, Mo. / Some information contributed by Ronnie Williams
For Immediate Release 5/25/2015 –
Former two time O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model Champion Mike Slone of Rolla rolled out his updated 2010 Championship Car on Saturday night in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action. His lap 27 pass over leader Kevin Donahue captured the 30 lap Pro Late Model feature at the “High-Banks” of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway to become the 3rd different feature winner in 3 events.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model Feature provided plenty of action as drivers are preparing for the Mercy Masters of the Pro’s 144 coming up this Saturday night.
Brian Brown grabbed the opening lead from pole setter and 2014 NASCAR Missouri State Rookie Of The Year Kyle Donahue to set a very quick pace as the pack behind featured side by side racing all throughout. On lap 4, Kevin Donahue moved around his younger brother to take second place and began to close in on the leader Brown while the battle for position between Jimmy Vanzandt and fast qualifier Slone heated up as they both moved around Kyle Donahue. Up front, Brown was holding Donahue at bay for the top spot. This battle continued until lap 9 when Donahue made the pass for the lead in turn 2 while the Vanzandt, Slone battle was keeping the crowd’s attention. The 1st caution waved on lap 17 for a single car spin bunching the already tight field even closer. On the restart, Brown had a shock issue send the early leader spinning wildly down the backstretch as everyone got by with no damage. On the restart, Slone made the move around Vanzandt to grab second place and closed-in on leader Kevin Donahue while everyone else was fighting for position. With Kevin Donahue, a 2-time feature winner last season setting a quick pace, Slone slowly began to close the gap and by lap 21 closed to a single car length while point contenders Kaleb Allison, Ken Dickinson and point leader JC Newell were swapping spots with 2014 Sportsman Champion Paul Jepsen as they closed on Kyle Donahue for 4th place. On the 27th lap, Slone went to the low side on leader Kevin Donahue to take the lead and secure his 1st win since 2012 with Kevin Donahue, Vanzandt, defending track champion Kaleb Allison and Kyle Donahue following as 14 of the 15 starters finished on the lead lap.
“We are working on a new car for the Mercy Event next Saturday but just didn’t get done before tonight, so we decided on past champions night to knock off the rust and roll out a former winning car. The competition was tough tonight and I heard that the racing behind me was as tough as what I was battling with” said Slone. “Everyone is going to see a great event next week in the Mercy race and would like to keep the green jacket in Missouri.
In Budweiser Modified action, opening night winner Ricky Icenhower started 8th and became the 1st repeat winner in 2015 by taking the lead on lap 5 from Richard Lewis and then withstood several challenges from Tim Swearengin to take his 2nd victory of the season. Rookie Todd Lauvray jumped to the opening lead quickly only to see the lead close-up with a lap 2 caution. Richard Lewis then moved to the front spot for the next 3 laps until Icenhower made the move around as defending champion Stephen Counterman was coming from the back of the pack. During the middle stages of the race, Swearengin was keeping the pressure on Icenhower until lap 15 when he began to lose some ground. Counterman had to come from the back again on lap 14 after spinning to bring out a late caution. That caution tightened the field up but following Icenhower to the finish was Swearengin, Counterman with a last lap pass on Lewis and opening lap leader Lauvray in only his third modified event.
The Hoosier Tire Street Stocks gave the holiday weekend crowd the race of the night with a 15 lap caution free feature and 3 wide racing the entire race. St. Louis area driver Aaron Wilke took his Mopar to the opening lap lead from pole sitter Nick Cherry as opening night winner and point’s runner-up Jordan Nisbett was stayed on their bumpers. With the top duo door to door, Lebanon’s Chris Johnson and point leader Les Mallard were coming to the leaders along with Zack Morgan. On lap 6 Wilke found Nisbett on his inside with Mallard to the outside lane while Morgan was only 5 cars behind and coming fast. This 3 car battle for the lead stayed with 3 wide racing while Morgan had a fast moving David Douglas and Johnson contending for his fourth place spot. On the final lap, Nisbett tried to overtake leader Wilke coming off turn 2 but Wilke had the Mopar glued to the middle lane as Mallard made the move on the top side to take away 2nd place. For Wilke, it was his 1st official win at I-44 and he became the 3rd different winner in 3 races so far this season. Behind Wilke it was Mallard, Nisbett, Morgan and Douglas at the line.
In Sportsman action veteran JC Newell ended a long winless streak by grabbing the opening lap lead and then holding off point leader Aaron Douglas for the last 8 laps for a very popular win under a light sprinkle. Newell and Douglas showed the crowd clean racing side by side action as Jim Fohn was looking for a chance to overtake both but that never chance never happened. Newell became the 3rd different feature winner in 3 features for the tightly packed group. Douglas and Fohn followed the winner to the stripe.
2013 Coca-Cola Charger Champion Jimmy Poindexter finally broke through in the win column as the second row starter overtook Nik Taylor and then had to hold back current point leader Ben White the entire distance to become the 3rd different winner this season. White closed-up several times in the middle stages of the 12 lap feature, but Poindexter proved that tonight he had the car to beat.” I really wanted this win tonight as my wife just completed her College classes and I’m very proud of her” said the winner Poindexter. Following Poindexter to the finish were White, defending champion Jason Walls, Taylor and Japheth Nisbett.
Up next at the Speedway on Saturday May 30th will be the 3rd Annual Mercy Masters of the Pro’s 144 featuring a still growing list of 35 pre-entries of Pro Late Models competing for $8,000 to win. Entries from 13 different states and Canada including Former 2-time Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin of Tennessee., 2014 ARCA/Midwest Tour Champion Ty Majeski of Wisconsin, Southern Series Standout Bubba Pollard Of Georgia, 2013 NASCAR Whelen All American Series Missouri State Champion Cole Williams of Indiana, 2-time Lebanon I-44 Speedway points runner-up Matt Wallace of North Carolina, 2014 NASCAR Whelen All American Series Missouri State Champion Kaleb Allison, 2015 Lebanon I-44 Speedway point leader JC Newell, 2013 JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour Champion and current driver for Joe Gibbs racing Cody Coughlin of Ohio, 2013 Mercy Master of the Pro’s runner-up Chuck Barnes Jr. of Kentucky, 2 time Lebanon I-44 Speedway Champion Mike Slone and many others as the JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour takes on the NASCAR Whelen All American Series for bragging rights at I-44. Action will feature a 144 lap Pro Late Model feature along with a full points show for the Budweiser Modifieds and Hoosier Tire Street Stocks.
Gates will open at 3pm with Pro Late Model Qualifying at 3:30 immediately followed by racing.
NASCAR RACE RESULTS 05/23/2015
NASCAR COCA-COLA CHARGER HEAT 1
1 44 Ben White
2 5 Jimmy Poindexter Jr
3 55 Jesse Poindexter
4 19 Cory Nutt
NASCAR COCA-COLA CHARGER HEAT 2
1 10 Jason Walls
2 22 Japheth Nisbett
3 21 Nik Taylor
4 25 Luke Oster
5 95 Ethan Mathis
6 37 Jary Hudson
NASCAR COCA-COLA CHARGER FEATURE
1 5 Jimmy Poindexter Jr Willard, MO
2 44 Ben White Rolla, MO
3 10 Jason Walls St. James, MO
4 21 Nik Taylor Bolivar, MO
5 22 Japheth Nisbett Rolla, MO
6 55 Jesse Poindexter Willard, MO
7 95 Ethan Mathis Edgar Springs, MO
8 19 Cory Nutt Lebanon, MO
9 25 Luke Oster Linn Creek, MO
NASCAR HOOSIRE RACING TIRE STREET STOCK HEAT 1
1 33 Jordan Nisbett
2 77 David Douglas
3 8 Aaron Wilke
4 27 Nick Cherry
5 30 David Jennings
6 22 Lauren Buhr
7 14 Zach Morgan
NASCAR HOOSIRE RACING TIRE STREET STOCK HEAT 2
1 OO Chris Johnson
2 5 Rick Sharp
3 7 Joey Auxier
4 O Tony Johnson
5 21 Les Mallard
6 99 Shawn Schmidt
NASCAR HOOSIRE RACING TIRE STREET STOCK FEATURE
1 8 Aaron Wilke East Troy, WI
2 21 Les Mallard Fair Grove, MO
3 33 Jordan Nisbett Lebanon, MO
4 14 Zach Morgan Lebanon, MO
5 77 David Douglas Lebanon, MO
6 OO Chris Johnson Lebanon, MO
7 5 Rick Sharp Springfield, MO
8 7 Joey Auxier St. James, MO
9 22 Lauren Buhr Neosho, MO
10 30 David Jennings Springfield, MO
11 27 Nick Cherry Springfield, MO
12 0 Tony Johnson Lebanon, MO
NASCAR SPORTSMAN HEAT 1
1 7 Aaron Douglas
2 48 Jimmy Fohn
3 84 JC Newell (Gentle Giant)
NASCAR SPORTSMAN FEATURE
1 84 JC Newell (Gentle Giant) Decausterville, MO
2 7 Aaron Douglas Lebanon, MO
3 48 Jimmy Fohn Eldridge, MO
NASCAR BUDWEISER MODIFIED HEAT 1
1 25 Stephen Counterman
2 OO Chris Johnson
3 6 Richard Lewis
4 15 Todd Lauvray
5 44 Kevin Blackburn
6 1 Phil Harris
NASCAR BUDWEISER MODIFIED HEAT 2
1 7 Ricky Icenhower
2 14 Tim Swearengin
3 9 Brian Lewis
4 10 Joe Bunkers
5 21 Adam Carmichael
NASCAR BUDWEISER MODIFIED HEAT 2
1 7 Ricky Icenhower Fair Grove, MO
2 14 Tim Swearengin Springfield, MO
3 25 Stephen Counterman Fair Grove, MO
4 6 Richard Lewis Willard, MO
5 15 Todd Lauvray Ridgeway, CA
6 10 Joe Bunkers Harrisonville, MO
7 44 Kevin Blackburn Lebanon, MO
8 21 Adam Carmichael Kansas City, MO
9 1 Phil Harris Springfield, MO
10 9 Brian Lewis Willard, MO
11 OO Chris Johnson Lebanon, MO
NASCAR O’REILLY AUTO PARTS PRO LATE MODEL QUALIFYING TIMES
1 51 Mike Slone 14.637
2 15 JC Newell 14.771
3 3 Brennon Willard 14.778
4 7 Kevin Donahue 14.882
5 35 Steve Holt 14.884
6 47 Kaleb Allison 14.934
7 21 Ken Dickinson 14.976
8 67 Jimmy Vanzandt 15.021
9 2 Kyle Donahue 15.025
10 5 Josh Woody 15.043
11 O7 Terry Limberopoulos 15.079
12 O2 Brian Brown 15.169
13 26 Payton Lucas 15.183
14 44 Paul Jepsen 15.391
15 O8 Richard Lewis 15.449
NASCAR O’REILLY AUTO PARTS PRO LATE MODEL HEAT 1
1 35 Steve Holt
2 21 Ken Dickinson
3 3 Brennon Willard
4 51 Mike Slone
5 2 Kyle Donahue
6 26 Payton Lucas
7 O8 Richard Lewis
8 O7 Terry Limberopoulos
NASCAR O’REILLY AUTO PARTS PRO LATE MODEL HEAT 2
1 15 JC Newell
2 47 Kaleb Allison
3 67 Jimmy Vanzandt
4 7 Kevin Donahue
5 O2 Brian Brown
6 5 Josh Woody
7 44 Paul Jepsen
NASCAR O’REILLY AUTO PARTS PRO LATE MODEL FEATURE
1 51 Mike Slone Rolla, MO
2 7 Kevin Donahue Wildwood, MO
3 67 Jimmy Vanzandt Pleasant Hope, MO
4 47 Kaleb Allison Mexico, MO
5 2 Kyle Donahue Wildwood, MO
6 15 JC Newell Stoutland, MO
7 44 Paul Jepsen Rolla, MO
8 21 Ken Dickinson Camdenton, MO
9 O7 Terry Limberopoulos Long Beach, CA
10 26 Payton Lucas Fair Grove, MO
11 3 Brennon Willard Sleeper, MO
12 O2 Brian Brown Strafford, MO
13 5 Josh Woody Buckhorn, MO
14 35 Steve Holt Strafford, MO
15 O8 Richard Lewis Willard, MO
For more information visit the website at www.i44speedway.net and be sure to like us Lebanon I-44 Speedway on Facebook for updated information on Missouri’s only NASCAR sanction facility and the only weekly asphalt track within 300 miles.
More information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance is available at www.cra-racing.com.
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