Central Missouri Speedway (CMS)
Public Relations
August 1, 2015
(Warrensburg, MO) Central Missouri Speedway hosted Kids Night and Salute to Military Night at the track Saturday and even though late-afternoon thunderstorms forced officials to delay the normal start time, 60 drivers checked in to compete in USRA Modified, Street Stock, B-Mod, and Pure Stock action.
Once the track crew worked the racing surface back into shape those in attendance witnessed lightning-fast action throughout the night capped off by a spectacular finish to the evening with three new feature race winners on the year.
Darrin ‘the Bear’ Christy crossed the finish line first in the Pure Stock division for his fifth career track win after several runner-up finishes this year. Cody Brill, another driver who has ran strong this year but always seemed to fall just short for one reason or another, ruled supreme in the B-mods. The lone repeat winner of the night was Warrensburg driver Brett Wood, who appears to be on his way to a second-consecutive year of double-digit wins in the Street Stocks after capturing his eighth feature win of the year and twentieth career track win. Fans once again witnessed a fantastic race to the finish for the night cap as Brian Johnson claimed his thirty-first career CMS victory but first-ever feature race win in the USRA Modified division. (Note: career win totals includes racing from 1994 to present).
Pure Stocks to the track at 8:15, just 45 minutes passed the normal start time of 7:30. Just six cars made their way to the field for a single heat race. Christy powered his way to a sixth heat race win with Rob Gard turning in his best performance of the season with a strong run to second on rung ahead of division point leader Jeremiah Wilson in third.
Christy and Gard took the green flag to start the Pure Stock main event with Christy quickly darting to the lead and opening up a huge lead over Wilson and Gard. After a tangle in the race for second between Wilson and Gard on lap five drew a caution flag, the field realigned to finish the final five laps of the event.
Jason Cochran made things interesting as he stayed right with Christy for the lead at the front of the field but Christy turned back all challenges and went on to claim the win. Despite catching the turn-four wall on the white-flag lap, Cochran went on to finish second with Wilson rebounding to third after the earlier spin. Leroy Morrison, Jr., Don Johnson, and Gard rounded out the field.
B-Mod racing was next on the card with three heat races. Cody Brill took command of heat one from the onset to pick up his second heat win ahead of Jacob Ebert and Troy Carlyle. Dean Wille grabbed his fifth heat-race win over Curtis Berry and Chris Cain in heat two while Chad Staus rolled to his second heat win of the season in the final heat ahead of Johnny McGinnis and Cody Frazon.
Brill and Staus earned the front row starting positions to start the 15-lap main event. Brill quickly asserted himself as the man to beat by grabbing the lead early on ahead of Carlyle and Ebert who both slipped by Staus by lap one. Several early race cautions slowed the field within the first five laps as drivers tried to get into a steady race rhythm.
Through each of the caution period Brill maintained his lead despite heavy pressure from Ebert and Carlyle until the two tangled while racing for second position with Carlyle unable to continue bringing his night to an end. Ebert continued the race after restarting from the tail of the field but later experienced mechanical woes of his own and was among early retirees from the race. After a lap-ten caution flew Brill remained the leader with Wille, Brett Wood, Staus, and Cain inside the top five.
For the final five circuits Brill again proved too strong on this night and thwarted all challengers at the front of the field. Wille and Staus had some close moments for the runner-up spot with Wille eventually emerging in second place despite an earlier black-flag warning from officials. Staus had a back-and-forth night and rebounded for a solid run to third at the finish ahead of tenth-starting Wood, who finished fourth. Chris Cain, Don Marrs, Olen Stephens, Ernie Walker, Johnny McGinnis, and Bill Small rounded out the top ten.
In victory lane, Brill thanked his many sponsors and family for helping with his race program. The young driver had earlier recorded several strong runs this season but it all came together for him on this night. “It always seems like there’s a lot of cautions when I’m in the lead, I’m just glad we were able to get the win,” said Brill.
To start the night, a dozen Street Stock competitors competed in a pair of heat races. Brett Wood secured his ninth heat win in the opening prelim ahead of Clayton Campbell and Jeremiah Wilson. Gary Akers claimed his first victory in heat-race two over Brian Inlow and Joshua Guy.
Wood and Akers led the field to Hershel Thompson’s green flag to start the main event off with Campbell and Inlow in row two. Like he’s done many times before this season, Wood quickly shot to the front with Campbell in second. Akers and Inlow ran close in the opening laps before Akers distanced himself to stay comfortably in third behind Wood and Campbell.
By lap five, the lead trio was comfortably in front of the intense battle for the fourth spot among Inlow, Guy, and Wilson. Akers’ strong run in third came to an end on lap 7 as heavy smoke billowed from his car as he left the speedway. Kevin Perkins also retired around this time after a run to the top five.
For the final circuits Wood kept Campbell at bay with his solid maneuvering through the corners as Campbell just could not pull close enough to make a run to the lead. In the end, Wood grabbed the victory with Campbell again in second spot. Brian Ziegler made his way over from Valley Speedway to CMS to tag onto the end of the field for the main event and advanced from 13th on the field to finish third. Troy Turley advanced from ninth to fourth at the finish with Bobby Ruff, Guy, Inlow, and Larry Norris rounding out the top eight.
USRA Modifieds headlined the night with three heat races to determine the lineup of the 25-lap main event. Gunner Martin raced to his fifth heat-race victory of the year in the opening event with Terry Schultz and Aaron Marrant second and third. Brian Johnson secured his first heat win of the year ahead of Richard Layne and Mike Eisenhut in heat two while Matt Johnson nailed down the win in heat three in front of Jared Rogers and Dean Wille.
Brian Johnson and Martin, both in search of their first main-event wins of the year led the field of 20 USRA Modifieds to the initial green flag with Johnson grabbing the early race lead in front of Matt Johnson and Martin. By lap four, Martin’s bad luck in the main events this season continued as he exited the track with heavy smoke training from his #75 car.
Schultz moved into the second spot in the ensuing laps and began to put heavy pressure on Brian Johnsonfor the lead as Matt Johnson, Marrant, and Wille all occupied spots within the top five. On lap seven, Marrant’s solid run inside the top five came to a halt as his car came to a halt in between turns one and two. Marrant was able to continue as the field once again returned to green-flag racing.
Not long after the restart, Schultz found his way to the front but a single-car spin by Wille in turn one drew a second caution and forced the field to be realigned based on the last completed lap and Brian Johnson went back to the lead. For the restart Brian Johnson again was under heavy pressure from Schultz and Matt Johnson, who ran several laps together in a bid for second.
Meanwhile, nineteenth-starting Jason Bodenhamer climbed his way to the top five by lap 15 with Tim Karrick also advancing towards the top five from thirteenth on the grid. As the laps wound down Brian Johnson maintained his lead over Schultz and Matt Johnson until one final caution with four laps remaining came out for a single car spin by Layne.
On the restart, Johnson had a somewhat scary moment as his car skated up the embankment losing grip and nearly costing him the lead. Matt Johnson was able to use the high side to get an advantage over Brian Johnson but as the pair approached turn three Brian Johnson was able to sneak back underneath to maintain the lead.
In a tight battle to the finish Brian Johnson came out on top with Matt Johnson able to maintain second ahead of track point’s leader Schultz who came away third. Karrick made a few late-race passes to come away fourth as Marrant rebounded from his earlier turn one mishap to round out the top five. Finishing out the top ten were Bodenhamer, Dalton Kirk, Danny Scrogham, Jared Rogers, and David Wood.
All kids 12 and under received several complimentary items from area businesses, fans, drivers, and track staff during their annual Kids Night festivities, which included foot races on the tracks, raffles for bicycle giveaways, free Dilly Bars courtesy of Dairy Queen, goodie bags full of various store coupons, toys, and school supplies and a free drink and hot dog courtesy of CMS Owners/Promoters Earl and Susan Walls.
This year’s Kids Night contributors included Amanda and Gary Akers Racing, Danny Scrogham Racing, John and Debbie Miller, Quality Home Improvements by Hershel Thompson, Jayhawk Millwright/Phil Heavelow, Dairy Queen of Warrensburg, McDonald’s of Warrensburg, Casey’s of Warrensburg, Dawn Standridge, Taelor and Chad Eickleberry, Brett Wood Racing, Josh Guy Racing, Zack Smith Racing, Rob Gard Racing, Wal-Mart of Warrensburg, Bobby Raybourn and Levic Plastics, Victory Trophies by Dione, Tim Karrick Racing, Alan Miller, Earl and Susan Walls and Track Staff, Monica Brockway, the National Guard, Dean Wille racing, Dean Truelove Racing, and Carlyle Plumbing. Thank you everyone!
Next week on August 8th weekly racing continues at the speedway with KMMO Radio and Scout Night at the races featuring action in the USRA Modified, Street Stock, B-Mod, and Pure Stock divisions. Just six nights of competition remain on the 2015 CMS racing schedule.
Check out CMS online at www.centralmissourispeedway.net for all the latest schedule updates, news, and information! On race day, call the Track Report Line for general information at (660) 747-2166. Follow us on Twitter @CMSgoing_green. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Missouri-Speedway. CMS may also be found on Instagram.
Pit Gates open at 4:30, Admission Gates open at 5, driver’s pill draw cutoff is at 6:15 (no passing points awarded to driver if late draw), Drivers Meeting at 6:30, Hot Laps at 7, and Racing at 7:30! General Admission Adults $12, Military/Students w/ID $10, Seniors 65 and over $10, Kids 6 to 12 years $5, all children 5 and under free! Permanently confined to wheelchair, free! All weekly racing pit passes are $30. On race day call the track report line at 660-747-2166.
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 the Interstate 70 Higginsville/Warrensburg Hwy 13 exit, the track is located 12.5 miles south on Hwy 13.
CMS thanks its primary sponsors for their support this season! Cliff Harris Warrensburg Ford, Budweiser, KMZU 100.7 FM, Sunoco Race Fuels, Pepsi, KMMO FM 102.9, Midwest Coatings, Better Country KIX 105.7 FM, Comfort Inn Warrensburg Station, 610 Sports Radio Kansas City, KRLI FM 103.9 & KAOL 101.3 FM The Grenade, Heartland Waste, and ‘Today’s New Hit Country’ 95.3 FM KDKD.
This year’s list of outstanding business partners includes: Victory Trophies & Plaques, Roundabout Café, Batliner Recycling, RockAuto.com, DQ Grill & Chill of Warrensburg, Blue Springs Chiropractic, Economy Lumber, Brooks Automotive LLC, Kleinschmidt’s Western Store, OK Tire Stores, Eickleberry Concrete & Construction, Finish Line Performance, Wolf Tire Service, Rod End Supply, JA Performance and Outdoor Services, Seeburg Mufflers, RockAuto.com, and RacinDirt.com.
Main Event Results from 8/1/15
PURE STOCKS
1st- 3b-Darrin Christy, Kansas City, KS
2nd- 3c-Jason Cochran, Kansas City, KS
3rd- 58-Jeremiah Wilson, Concordia
4th- 50jr-Leroy Morrison, Raymore
5th- 3-Don Johnson, Overland Park, KS
6th- 51-Rob Gard, Warrensburg
B-MODS
1st- 96-Cody Brill, Harrisonville
2nd- 68m-Dean Wille, Warrensburg
3rd- c3-Chad Staus, Otterville
4th- 77b-Brett Wood, Warrensburg
5th- 31-Chris Cain, Columbia
6th- 9-Don Marrs, Shawnee, KS
7th- 12-Olen Stephens, Warrensburg
8th- 77-Ernie Walker, Sedalia
9th- 10-Johnny McGinnis, Hardin
10th- 28s-Bill Small, Holden
11th- 72-Brad Moore, Urich
12th- 20-Michael Bixby, Harrisonville
13th- 23t-Tim Smith, Concordia
14th- 44d-Dean Truelove, Blue Springs
15th- 94-Jacob Ebert, Oak Grove
16th- 73-Cody Frazon, LaMonte
17th- 14m-Kyle Mendenhall, Liberty
18th- 44-Troy Carlyle, Kearney
19th- 23b-Curtis Berry, Raymore
20th- 03-Chris Brockway, Warrensburg
21st- 47w-Terry Wilburn, Holden
22nd- 33j-Jason Billups, Holt
STREET STOCKS
1st- 7-Brett Wood, Warrensburg
2nd- 30c-Clayton Campbell, Otterville
3rd- 65-Brian Ziegler, Bates City
4th- 2-Troy Turley, Knob Noster
5th- 12x-Bobby Ruff, Belton
6th- 33-Josh Guy, Knob Noster
7th- 43-Brian Inlow, Concordia
8th- 53k-Larry Norris, Holden
9th- 4-Gary Akers, Independence
10th- 1-Kevin Perkins, Sedalia
11th- 58-Jeremiah Wilson, Concordia
DQ- 72p-Darren Phillips, Clinton
DQ- 2b-Brian Cox, Concordia
USRA MODIFIEDS
1st- 97k-Brian Johnson, Independence
2nd- 1x- Matt Johnson, Archie
3rd- 90-Terry Schultz, Sedalia
4th- 1k-Tim Karrick, Basehor, KS
5th- 70-Aaron Marrant, Richmond
6th- 03-Jason Bodenhamer, Centerview
7th- 30-Dalton Kirk, Edgerton, KS
8th- 92-Danny Scrogham, Peculiar
9th- 44-Jared Rogers, Tecumseh, KS
10th- 82-David Wood, Richmond
11th- 32p-Nick Pence, Raymore
12th- 2-Mike Eisenhut, Topeka, KS
13th- 3j-Lewis Jackson, Wellsville, KS
14th- 0-Richard Layne, Kansas City
15th- 66m-Max Grogan, Basehor, KS
16th- 00p-Justin Plumb, Peculiar
17th- 22p-Matt Plumb, Peculiar
18th- 68-Dean Wille, Warrensburg
19th- 22h-Clay Hale, Cameron
20th- 75-Gunner Martin, Blue Springs