Lebanon, Mo. / Some information contributed by Ronnie Williams
For Immediate Release 6/11/2015 –
The NASCAR Budweiser Modifieds will highlight round number 5 of the NASCAR Chase for The Championship with a huge 50 lap feature Saturday night at the “High-Banks” of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway. A full racing program of O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Models, Hoosier Racing Tire Street Stocks, Coca-Cola Chargers and the Sportsman are also on the card as Missouri Eagle presents Budweiser Night at the Races.
Fair Grove’s Ricky Icenhower will be looking to continue his hot streak which started at mid-season last year. Ricky has won 3 of the 4 features this season so far on the 3/8th’s mile Asphalt Oval. A late caution allowed Icenhower to move into the lead on the restart in claiming the win last week.
Current Budweiser Modified point leader and former Pro Late Model Track Champion Tim Swearengin of Springfield and defending champion Stephen Counterman of Fair Grove are coming off good runs last week and the longer distance will allow them to test the strategy involved in the feature event. Point’s runner-up Richard Lewis along with Brian Lewis, Rookie Todd Lauvray, Joe Bunkers, Kevin Blackburn, one of the winningest modified drivers in area asphalt racing history David Bates, Phil Harris, Chris Johnson, David Strode, Rodrick Icenhower, Ron Hartford, Adam Carmichael, Mark Riddle and others will be looking for a season best finish in the 50 lap event.
O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model point leader JC Newell of Stoutland maintains a small 29 point track lead over defending Champion Kaleb Allison of Mexico. Allison, is sorting out a new car after the 2014 Championship winning car was wrecked at the end of the season at Nashville, while Newell is running with a new car and different motor program this season. 1999 Champion Ken Dickinson of Camdenton is setting a solid 3rd in the standings and is looking stronger each week with his new ride as the Donahue Brothers Kevin and Kyle are hot on his bumper along with a consistent Jimmy Vanzandt waiting in the shadows. With Kyle Donahue’s win last week, 4 different winners in 4 features have this as perhaps the tightest Pro Late Model field in many seasons. 2014 Sportsman Champion Paul Jepson of Rolla is coming off a runner-up spot from last week and is quickly becoming a factor in the already talented field. Allison moved into 2nd in the NASCAR Missouri State standings after last weekend behind Newell while the Donahue brothers stay glued together in 3rd and 4th.
A new point leader sets the pace in the NASCAR Hoosier Racing Tire Street Stocks as Les Mallard’s 2nd win of the season moved him to the top by 32 markers over Jordan Nisbett. An ever growing class this season, the competition level is at an all-time high with strong car counts and 3 different winners out of 4 features. The battle for 3rd place between Lauren Buhr and Zach Morgan is tight and the rest of the field has really brought the class some great finishes.
Rolla’s Ben White maintains a slim 4 point margin over 2013 NASCAR Coca-Cola Charger Champion Jimmy Poindexter with his 2nd win of the season while Bolivar’s Nik Taylor is coming off a heat race win and a 3rd place feature finish for the rookie driver. Rolla’s Japheth Nisbett is close behind in 4th. Three different winners in 4 events so far this season, the field is well known for 3 and 4 wide racing action for the Speedway’s entry level class.
The NASCAR Sportsman class has provided 4 different winners in 4 races and has a tight point battle as Lebanon’s Aaron Douglas has only a 19 point margin over Veteran James “Grandpa” Newell. Eldridge’s Jimmy Fohn is only 6 behind JC and 25 from the top spot. The close competition and excitement in this division is quickly becoming a fan favorite with the different style of bodies.
Grandstand and Fan Deck gates as well as Wild Side parking will open at 4pm and the racing action will start at 6:30pm. Grandstand Adult admission is only $12, Seniors and Military are only $8.00 while Juniors ages 11-15 are $5 and kids 10 and under are FREE. Take advantage of the Family pack which includes 2 Adults and 2 Juniors for only $30.
Wild Side prices are $15 for Adults with discounts for Seniors and Military while Juniors are $8 and kids under are 10 FREE. You may also grab the 6 pack special as 6 Adults in the same vehicle are just $75 on the Wild Side.
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.
Current Lebanon I-44 Speedway NASCAR Track Point Standings
O’Reilly Auto Parts NASCAR Pro Late Models
1 15 JC Newell 439
2 47 Kaleb Allison 410
3 21 Ken Dickinson 393
4 2 Kyle Donahue 365
5 7 Kevin Donahue 364
6 67 Jimmy Vanzant 361
7 3 Brennon Willard 338
8 44 Paul Jepsen 332
9 35 Steve Holt 314
10 26 Payton Lucas 309
11 O7 Terry Limberopoulos 298
12 O2 Brian Brown 290
13 5 Josh Woody 269
14 O8 Jake Griffin 203
15 97 Ron Hartford 141
16 51 Mike Sloan 110
17 27 Joe Ross 52
18 O8 Richard Lewis 49
19 20 Cole Rouse 15
20 42 Mark Rouse 5
Budweiser NASCAR Modifieds
1 14 Tim Swearengin 461
2 6 Richard Lewis 394
3 7 Ricky Icenhower 381
4 10 Joe Bunkers 370
5 25 Stephen Counterman 351
6 9 Brian Lewis 343
7 15 Todd Lauvray 340
8 44 Kevin Blackburn 321
9 91 David Bates 236
10 1 Phil Harris 214
11 OO Chris Johnson 188
12 64 David Strode 119
13 21 Adam Carmichael 88
14 29 Rodrick Icenhower 84
15 97 Ron Hartford 84
16 0 Chris Kerperien 10
NASCAR Sportsman
1 7 Aaron Douglas 469
2 84 James C Newell 450
3 48 Jimmy Fohn 444
4 76 Jake Piel 307
5 15 JC Newell 100
6 79 AJ Bowman
Hoosier Racing Tire NASCAR Sportsman
1 21 Les Mallard 465
2 33 Jordan Nisbett 433
3 22 Lauren Buhr 372
4 14 Zach Morgan 364
5 8 Aaron Wilke 316
6 5 Rick Sharp 274
7 30 David Jennings 239
8 27 Nick Cherry 238
9 77 David Douglas 235
10 0 Tony Johnson 224
11 OO Chris Johnson 212
12 99 Shawn Schmidt 119
13 5 Riley Sharp 98
14 7 Joey Auxier 87
Coca-Cola NASCAR Chargers
1 44 Ben White 483
2 5 Jimmy Poindexter 479
3 21 Nik Taylor 426
4 22 Japheth Nisbett 415
5 55 Jesse Poindexter 357
6 10 Jason Walls 353
7 25 Luke Oster 343
8 19 Cory Nutt 242
9 43 Charles Appleby 190
10 95 Ethan Mathis 170
11 37 Jary Hudson 16
12 74 Larry Hunter 0