Asphalt Racing Comes Roaring Back to I-44 Speedway

jdearing

Administrator
Staff member
Lebanon, MO; Asphalt racing came roaring back in to Lebanon on Saturday night as the Lebanon I-44 Speedway hosted its “Grand Re-Opening Celebration” to kick off the 2010 Monster Energy Chase for the Cup. The drivers did not disappoint as they gave a packed house of fans a great night of racing action around the high banks of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway.

The Street Stocks where the first class of cars to take on the asphalt high banks after a pre race concert and an opening ceremony kicked off the night. Dale Roper, Jr. won the heat, and then added another trophy to the Roper Family’s rich tradition, taking home the first feature of the night over Mike Coryell, Chuck Becker, and 15 year old rookie Devin Archer.

The Modifieds took to the speedway for their 20 lap feature with former Pure Stock Track Champoion Jason Otto and Rolla’s Mike Sloan taking the early lead. Lebanon’s Tony Jackson, Jr., pulling double duty, came charging hard though the field going three wide out of turn 4 and setting his sights on the leaders. Sloan would see his strong run come to an end after hard contact with the concrete wall on the front straightaway bought out the caution. Jackson took the lead after the caution with Otto in tow while Terry Taylor, Brian Brown, and Jim Reeves put on a great battle for third. Taylor finally broke free of Brown and Reeves and set his sights on the leaders Jackson and Otto, but would quickly run out of time. Jackson took home the victory over Otto, Taylor, Reaves, and Brown.

The OSMRA Mini Stocks made their first every appearance at the speedway a memorable one for everyone with a husband and wife photo finish in their 15 lap feature. Kevin Hunt from Spring Hill, Kansas took charge in the early going with Ashley Deschenes, making the high line work to her advantage, quickly charging through the field. Hunt’s night would end early after a blown right front tire sent him on a wild ride on the Budweiser Wildside in turns one and two. Ashley would take over the lead, while her husband Michael patiently worked his way into second place by the halfway point. Michael then set his sights on his wife, the leader, and caught her with just a few laps to go. Ashley and Michael put on a great battle for several laps, taking the white flag side by side. Michael made one final run off the bottom of turn four, but it was not enough as Ashley held him off by a nose, much to the delight of all the female fans in attendance. Ashley and Michael took home the top two spots with David Russell, David Berry, and JW Blakenship rounding out the top five.

Scott Atkinson was one of the first people get a Late Model ready for the new pavement, and it showed as he dominated opening night. Atkinson won the first heat race going away and then drew the Pole Position for the Carget Motors Dash for Cash. The dash featured the top 6 qualifying cars out of the 2 heat races in a 5 lap winner take all sprint for 200 dollars. Atkinson took advantage of his good starting position and never looked back, leading every lap to take home the cash over Tony Jackson Jr., Kyle Steffens, Dave Wilson, and Kenny Dickinson.

The crowd chose a full invert of the Late Model field, putting Atkinson and the other heat race winner, Kyle Steffens back to sixth row for the start of the feature. Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Tanner Berryhill and Lee Summit’s Caleb Hall lead the field to the green for the 30 lap feature, as Atkinson and Lebanon’s Tony Jackson, Jr. started to make their charge to the front, with Atkinson on the top and Jackson on the bottom. Jackson’s run to the front suffered a major setback after contact with Kevin Crider in turns three and four would bring out the caution flag and send both drivers to the back of the pack. Atkinson took advantage of the cone restart and grabbed the lead just before a third of the race was completed with Kyle Steffens in tow. Jackson didn’t give up after having to go to the back again and began mounting a hard charge towards the front, moving up to the third position by lap 20. Atkinson would check out from the field and complete his dominating sweep of opening night. Steffens would hold on to second followed by Jackson, Berryhill, and Dave Wilson rounding out the top five.

The Monster Energy Chase for the Cup will continue this Saturday night for the Latemodels, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Chargers, along with the Baby Grand Stock Cars making their first appearance of the season. Gates will open at 5:00, with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:30. Grandstand admission is only $10 for adults, $6 for juniors (ages 11-15) and free for kids 10 and under, while admission is $12 for adults, $7 for juniors, and kids 10 and under free on the Budweiser Wild Side. For more information please visit the track’s website www.i44speedway.net or call the speedway at (417) 532-2060.

Lebanon I-44 Speedway

Race Results for May 22, 2010

Late Models

Heats
1. 22 Scott Atkinson Conway 1. 6 Kyle Steffens St. Charles
2. 56 Tony Jackson, Jr. Lebanon 2. 24 Dave Wilson Greenwood
3. 21 Ken Dickinson Lebanon 3. 67 Jim Vanzandt Springfield
4. 77 Kevin Crider Rolla 4. 66 Brian Woods Leawood, KS
5. 69 Caleb Hall Lee Summit 5. 4 Randy Besser Bolivar

Feature
1. 22 Scott Atkinson Conway
2. 6 Kyle Steffens St. Charles
3. 56 Tony Jackson, Jr. Lebanon
4. 17 Tanner Berryhill Tulsa, OK
5. 24 Dave Wilson Greenwood
6. 21 Ken Dickinson Lebanon
7. 77 Kevin Crider Rolla
8. 5 Cameron Hagin Broken Arrow, OK
9. 66 Brian Woods Leawood, KS
10. 4 Randy Besser Bolivar
11. 69 Caleb Hall Lee Summit
12. 67 Jim Vanzandt Springfield

Modified

Heat
1. 56 Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon
2. 99 Mike Sloan Rolla
3. 66 Terry Taylor Fair Grove
4. 18 Jim Reaves Springfield
5. 2 Brian Brown Lebanon

Feature
1. 56 Tony Jackson, Jr. Lebanon
2. 8 Jason Otto Richland
3. 66 Terry Taylor Fair Grove
4. 18 Jim Reaves Springfield
5. 2 Brian Brown Lebanon
6. 99 Mike Sloan Rolla
Lebanon I-44 Speedway

Race Results for May 22, 2010


Street Stock

Heat
1. 10 Dale Roper Jr Fair Grove
2. 5 Mike Coryell Lebanon
3. 55 Chuck Becker Bolivar

Feature
1. 10 Dale Roper Jr. Fair Grove
2. 5 Mike Coryell Lebanon
3. 55 Chuck Becker Bolivar
4. 25 Devin Archer Bolivar



OMSRA

Heats
1. 86 Michael Deschenes Lee Summit 1. 7 Mark LaFoe Grain Valley
2. 12 Ashley Deschenes Lee Summit 2. 36 Mike VanNoy Kansas City
3. 82 David Russell Norbone 3. 4 Joe Bunkers Harrisonville
4. 27 Terry Berry Spring Hills, KS
5. 71 JW Blankenship Warrensburg

Feature

1. 12 Ashley Deschenes Lee Summit
2. 86 Michael Deschenes Lee Summit
3. 82 David Russell Norbone
4. 7 Mark LaFoe Grain Valley
5. 36 Mike VanNoy Kansas City
6. 71 JW Blankenship Warrensburg
7. 4 Joe Bunkers Harrisonville
8. 27 Tyler Berry Spring Hills, KS
9. 26 Kevin Hunt Spring Hills, KS



Lebanon I-44 Speedway

Race Results for May 22, 2010


Pure Street

1. 90 Steve Shaw Rogersville


Chargers

Heats
1. 17 Josh Arl Lebanon 1. 10 Gary Davenport Marshfield
Feature

1. 17 Josh Arl Lebanon
2. 10 Gary Davenport Marshfield
 
Back
Top