Central Missouri Speedway (CMS)
Public Relations
September 6, 2015
(Warrensburg, MO) It hardly seems possible but the final night of the 2015 CMS race season took place Sunday evening under clear skies and warm temps as fans and drivers filed into the speedway to officially close out the Labor Day weekend. All total, 74 drivers competed throughout the night in the USRA Modified, USRA B-Mod, Allstar Midget Series, and Lightning Sprint divisions. The night was highlighted by the second and final $1,500-to-win event of the weekend for USRA Modifieds.
Some new faces appeared in CMS victory lane after the night’s events with Wesley Smith of Nixa, Missouri taking home the Allstar Midget Series victory while Mark Billings of Columbia, Missouri captured the win in the Lightning Sprints. Jacob Ebert ended his spectacular season after wrapping up the B-Mod championship the night before by dominating for his tenth feature win of the season. Matt Dotson topped off a stellar weekend after finishing second in Saturday’s USRA Modified improving one spot to seal the deal in the Sunday night feature event to bring the night to a close.
First to hit the track for a pair of heat races were the Lightning Sprint drivers, Beau Heavelow claimed heat one with Tony Layne, M.K. Billings, and Phil Heavelow in tow. For heat two, Mark Billings of Columbia led wire-to-wire for the win but it was a close one as Zach Morehead and Paden Moreland chased him the entire distance, Bird Schofield was fourth.
For the USRA B-Mods, Brett Wood of Warrensburg rolled to the victory in heat one with Cole Campbell of Mexico, Missouri second, followed by Cody Frazon and Kameron Grindstaff. CMS regular and point’s runner-up driver this year Troy Carlyle won heat two over Chad Staus of Otterville, Missouri, Eddie Bray, Jr., and former B-Mod track champion Scotty Martin. The final heat went to Jacob Ebert ahead of Chris Cain of Columbia, Missouri, Alan Ferguson, and Jason Reeves.
The first preliminary heat race for the Allstar Midget Series went to Michael Sosebee over Wesley Smith, Joe Boyles, and Bill Allen while the second heat race was claimed by Kory Schudy of Republic, Missouri ahead of Mitchell Davis, Pat Schudy, and Luke McGee.
Three USRA Modified heats were held to determine the main event starting grid for the drivers on hand with Tim Karrick claiming heat one ahead of Kevin Blackburn, Jim Moody, and Gunner Martin. CMS regular Lewis Jackson came out on top of heat two with Eric Turner second, Terry Schultz and Jake Brewer followed. The final heat race of the night went to Brian Johnson over Jon Sheets Darron Fuqua, and Jeremy Chambers to setup the lineup for the featured event.
For the Lightning Sprint 15-lap main event, Mark Billings quickly shot out in front of fellow front-row starter Beau Heavelow of Sibley, Missouri to set the pace. Heavelow never let Billings too far from site and stayed right with Billings in the first half of the race. Zach Morehead of nearby Blue Springs, Missouri and Tony Layne ran inside the top four behind Billings and Heavelow most of the way.
Lightning Sprints were turning laps in the 13 second bracket as Billings paced the field with Heavelow still ever-present behind him. With just a handful of laps remaining, Paden Moreland spun off of turn two to draw a caution flag but was able to rejoin the field for the remainder of events. At the same time, M.K. Billings’ night came to an early end after hard contact with the turn one uke tire, fortunately Billings gave the thumbs up he was okay.
Previous CMS winner Bobby Layne advanced from tenth at the start to the fourth position one spot behind nephew Tony Layne. Also advancing forward inside the top ten was Alyssa Lasater who made her way to seventh by race end after starting thirteenth.
In the end, Billings ran strong the entire race distance and claimed the victory presented by Jayhawk Millwright. Beau Heavelow had a solid run to second to settle for second place with Tony Layne, Bobby Layne and Zach Morehead rounding out the top five. Sixth place on back was Paden Moreland, Lasater, Jason Snyder, M.K. Billings, and Phil Heavelow.
Cole Campbell and Jacob Ebert led Brett Wood and Troy Carlyle to the initial green flag in the USRA B-Mod 20-lap main event with Ebert quickly showing the way ahead of Carlyle. Like the previous night several early race cautions, mostly for one and two-car spins in the turn three slowed the field for the first five laps.
Ebert held the top spot through each of the restarts with Carlyle, Campbell, and Wood just behind. Meanwhile, sixteenth-starting Luke Nieman began marching through the field with solid restarts to gain positions each time the race slowed. Chad Staus was an early front-runner until he also spun into turn three before recovering for an eventual thirteenth-place finish, even with a left front flat.
The first half of the race continued to be plagued by slowdowns but with each successive restart Ebert never lost the top spot despite the hungry pack behind him attempting to figure out a way to come to the front. Nieman continued his charge through the field and was inside the top ten in no time. On lap 8, Campbell’s solid top-five run came to an end as his car slowed end his solid run for the night.
For the second half of the race drivers found a rhythm and the race ran caution free for the final ten laps of the 20-lap event. Ebert distanced himself from the field and mastered the traffic with Nieman first going around Cody Frazon, then Brett Wood, and eventually Carlyle to advance all the way to second by race end to finish behind Ebert, who claimed his tenth win of the season.
Behind the two leaders, Carlyle finished third with Wood fourth and Frazon securing another top-five run. Rounding out the top 10 were steady Eddie Bray, Jr., Scotty Martin, Chris Cain, Alan Ferguson, and Chris Brockway, who advanced seven positions in his run to tenth position.
Young and up and coming drivers Wesley Smith and Kory Schudy led Michael Sosebee and Mitchell Davis, of Auburn, Illinois to the initial green flag in the Allstar Midget Series 15-lap featured event with Smith pacing the field ahead of Schudy.
Cory Schudy was like a bloodhound on the trail after Smith for the entire race distance with Davis, Michael Sosebee, and Pat Schudy mixing it up near the front. Meanwhile, Jason Walls of St. James, Missouri found the right line for himself and rocketed to near the top five advancing from thirteenth on the grid.
Mike Epperson took a series of barrel rolls down the front stretch in front of a stunned crowd. It was reported Epperson rolled just past the flag stand and nearly into the turn one entrance at least six times ending up upside down with a small fire also erupting. He was able to unstrap belts as responding officials and safety personnel arrived to assist with at the accident scene. Epperson climbed out of his machine and with a sigh of relief acknowledged that he was okay to the delight of all in attendance. Epperson was reported to be understandably a little sore after the incident after being checked out after the incident.
When racing resumed, Smith and Cory Schudy had a classic duel to the finish and despite Schudy apparently grabbing the lead before the race was slowed, Smith was able to move back out front for a late-race restart. For the final few laps Schudy searched high and low in search of a win. Smith ultimately grabbed the Allstar Midget Series win over Cory Schudy, who ultimately had his hands full with Pat Schudy for the final two turns.
Pat Schudy finished third behind Smith and Cory Schudy with Mitchell Davis fourth. Jason Walls ended up in fifth in his drive up the finishing order. Bill Hughes was sixth with Merril Lamb advancing from twelfth to seventh in the finish followed by Bill Allen, Sosebee, and Barry Lamb of Kansas.
With just one race remaining, the crowd anticipated the start of the 35-lap USRA Modified feature event with Kansas-based drivers Tim Karrick and Lewis Jackson leading a pair of Missouri-based drivers Brian Johnson and Terry Schultz to the initial drop of the green flag.
Karrick and Jackson waged a close battle at the front of the field with Schultz, Johnson, and Darron Fuqua inside the top five. On lap two, CMS regular Danny Scrogham’s night came to an early end while Iowa-based driver Dennis Elliott’s night ended early by lap four with previous night winner and front-runner Jim Moody’s night ending on the infield with motor problems by lap five. Steve Twenter and Richard Layne also exited the race early; the rest of the 19 cars went on to finish the blistering-paced event.
The lone yellow flag of the 35-lap race appeared at lap six for a two car spin with Tyler Shaw and Chase Domer of Nevada, Missouri. When the race resumed Schultz put heavy pressure on Karrick at the front of the field as the pair of CMS veterans ran side-by-side for several laps until Schultz eventually grabbed the lead.
As he did the night before, Matt Dotson came from deep in the field to begin picking off competitors one-by-one on his driver from thirteenth on the grid, by lap eight, Dotson had made his presence known well inside the top ten.
At the halfway point Schultz was busy maneuvering his way through the field and lapped traffic as Dotson climbed his way inside the top three. Karrick and Fuqua then waged a fierce battle for third for several laps on the multi-grooved track. Eric Turner was a consistent runner inside the top five using the shelf to hold down his presence inside the top five throughout the event.
Two-thirds of the way through the event Dotson had reeled in Schultz using the low line while Schultz flirted with the cushion and turn-four wall to try and get the best run off the corners he could. Despite his best efforts Dotson closed in and made the pass for the lead. Schultz stayed close for a few laps through traffic but just behind him Fuqua had made his way to third and he then set his sights on second in another outstanding side-by-side battle between the two drivers for the runner-up spot.
Turner and Karrick were the next two drivers to wage a furious battle for position number four in the lineup with Turner’s car strong off of turn four against the wall in a line similar to what Schultz had used earlier in the event. Jon Sheets and Kevin Blackburn ran solidly inside the top ten and seemed to be glued together for the entire race distance. Meanwhile, Shad Badder mastered the track to advance from eighteenth on the grid to find a place in the top ten.
Badder selflessly donated his time and expenses over the two-day holiday to provide rides in his two-seater Modified to paying fans, contributions from Badder’s efforts were part of the nearly $1,000 raised for the Homes for Our Troops organization throughout the weekend.
For the final few laps with too many close battles to keep track of, Dotson settled in and found his way to his second CMS win of the year and captured the $1,500-to-win event in his charge from row seven to first. Throughout the weekend Dotson passed a total of 24 cars in the twin events to claim finishes of second and first over the Labor Day events.
Darron Fuqua found the track to his liking and moved from fifth to second at the finish with Schultz rounding out the top three. Eric Turner and Tim Karrick ran right to the checkers in their fierce battle to fourth with Turner claiming the spot ahead of Karrick in fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Sheets, Blackburn, Badder, Lewis Jackson, and Gunner Martin. Shaw recovered to finish an impressive eleventh spot with Brian Johnson completing the top twelve.
In the battle for the Modified track championship, Schultz kept the lead to claim his third-straight championship in the division at CMS. Tim Karrick finished second, 38 points behind Schultz. Gunner Martin ran a solid year to come home third followed by Lewis Jackson and Nick Pence of Raymore, Missouri with his best CMS year ever in fifth.
The 2015 season will officially come to a close during the season-ending banquet on March 12, 2015 at the Marriott in Blue Springs, Missouri. Stay tuned to www.centralmissourispeedway.net for announcements regarding ticket sales and pricing in the coming week.
The 2016 CMS race season will begin with an off-season planning meeting in January with racing beginning again in early spring. Tentatively a practice night will be held the second weekend in April with opening night on the third Saturday of the month. Keep up with CMS on Twitter @CMSgoing_green. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Missouri-Speedway.
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 Finishes from 9/6/15
LIGHTNING SPRINTS
1st- 60E-Mark Billings, Columbia
2nd- 4-Beau Heavelow, Sibley
3rd- 71-Tony Layne, Kansas City
4th- 01-Bobby Layne, Kansas City
5th- z8-Zach Morehead, Grain Valley
6th- 19-Paden Moreland, Bethany
7th- 5-Alyssa Lasater, Olathe, KS
8th- 4s-Jason Snider, Independence
9th- 51-Mark K. Billings, Kansas City
10th- 44-Phill Heavelow, Buckner
11th- 8-Bird Schofield, Chilhowee
12th- 7-Mike Trent, Rocheport
DNS- 49-Barry Lamb, Moran, KS
USRA B-MODS
1st- 94-Jacob Ebert, Oak Grove
2nd- 181-Luke Nieman, Nortonville
3rd- 44-Troy Carlyle, Kearney
4th- 77b-Brett Wood, Warrensburg
5th- 73-Cody Frazon, LaMonte
6th- 19k-Eddie Bray, Archie
7th- 17m-Scotty Martin, Independence
8th- 31-Chris Cain, Columbia
9th- 20f-Alan Ferguson, Adrian
10th- 03-Chris Brockway, Warrensburg
11th- 40-Benny Burnett, Vandalia
12th- 14-Kameron Grindstaff, Independence
13th- c3-Chad Staus, Otterville
14th- 7L-Karla Lampe, Fair Grove
15th- 50jr-Leroy Morrison, Raymore
16th- 12-Olen Stephens, Warrensburg
17th- 22c-Cole Campbell, Mexico
18th- 44d-Dean Truelove, Blue Springs
19th- 47w-Terry Wilburn, Holden
20th- 14m-Kyle Mendenhall, Liberty
21st- 28s-Bill Small, Holden
22nd- 5r-Jason Reeves, Lawson
ALLSTAR MIDGET SERIES
1st- 44-Wesley Smith, Nixa
2nd- 7w-Kory Schudy, Springfield
3rd- 7s-Pat Schudy, Springfield
4th- 56-Mitchell Davis, Auburn, IL
5th- 10-Jason Walls, St. James
6th- 3-Bill Hughes, Raytown
7th- 7-Merril Lamb, Merriam, KS
8th- 17-Bill Allen, Independence
9th- 50-Michael Sosebee, Lenexa, KS
10th- 77-Barry Lamb, Moran, KS
11th- 98-Joe Boyles, Greenwood
12th- 13-Luke McGee, El Dorado Springs
13th- 08-Mike Epperson, Independence
DNS- 71-Tony Layne, Kansas City
USRA MODIFIEDS
1st- 88d-Matt Dotson, Hallsville
2nd- 87-Darron Fuqua, Mayetta, KS
3rd- 90-Terry Schultz, Sedalia
4th- 16-Eric Turner, Hermitage
5th- 1k-Tim Karrick, Basehor, KS
6th- 8s-Jon Sheets, Nevada
7th- 26k-Kevin Blackburn, Fulton
8th- 73b-Shad Badder, Oak Grove
9th- 3j-Lewis Jackson, Wellsville, KS
10th- 75-Gunner Martin, Blue Springs
11th- 85s-Tyler Shaw, Mexico
12th- 97k-Brian Johnson, Independence
13th- 32p-Nick Pence, Raymore
14th- 03-Jason Bodenhamer, Centerview
15th- 96-Jeremy Chambers, Parsons KS
16th- 66T-Tyler Schmidt, Easton, KS
17th- 22b-Jake Brewer, Fulton
18th- 227-Chase Domer, Nevada
19th- 27t-Rob Test, Jefferson City
20th- 23-Steve Twenter, Sedalia
21st- 0-Richard Layne, Kansas City
22nd- 00-Jim Moody, Odessa
23rd- 29-Dennis Elliott, Mt. Ayr, IA
24th- 92-Danny Scrogham, Peculiar