Jesse Hockett
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By: Ra'Vae Edwards
June 21, 2009 - California, MO
Despite the heat, fathers of all ages chose to spend their special day at the racetrack. The evening began with Cub Scout pack 120 leading the “Pledge of Allegiance”. Track official Barb Whittle sang the “National Anthem” and David Hoellering gave the invocation. Then - as Mother Nature turned up the heat –– so did the racers!
With four feature races, including the winged sprints, street stocks, hobby stocks and the Ozark Mountain Midgets, race fans were treated to a spectacular track show complete with crashes and black flags!
The first feature race of the night set the pace with 15 laps for the street stocks to get to the checkered flag, John Clancy Jr. immediately took the first place spot with Brad Friedmeyer hanging on to the second place spot. With only a few laps down, the first yellow flag dropped with a multi car pile up in turn four. Harlan ““Boy”” Dowell’’s car suffered enough damage from the accident that he had to be towed from the track. Unfortunately for Dowell and his fans, the car was unable to pull back on the track. The number 11 car of Jim Wheatley, also of Tipton, was also involved in the accident but was able to continue the race. An unfortunate mishap also forced Centertown's Ray Smith to the pits for the remainder of the night. When racing resumed, Clancy set the pace in first place followed by Curt Turpin and Tim Cressley battling for second place. Despite a concerted effort, Cressley and Turpin were unable to steal the lead and finished respectively. Wheatley and Friedmeyer rounded out the top five.
Street Stock heat winners were Friedmeyer in the first heat and Clancy in the second heat.
The top five point leaders in the Street Stocks Division are: Clancy 631; Dowell 599; Koetting 444; Turpin 440; Smith 436.
The Hobby Stocks feature ended with Sedalia’s Jeremy Gordon holding the trophy.
While Gordon and Luke Skidmore, Greenridge, battled for the win, last week’s feature winner, Miranda Arnold of Sedalia kept a tight trail on both competitors. In the end, Skidmore settled for second with Arnold in third and Mike Schrader, Sedalia, coming in fourth followed by Chasity Vaughan of Jefferson City in fifth.
The first place honors in the Hobby Stock heat races went to Skidmore in the first heat and Gordon in the second heat.
The top five point leaders in the Hobby Stocks Division are: Skidmore 651; Gordon 583; Arnold 511; Bridget Clifford 477; Cherry Wineland 422.
The 360 Winged Sprints provided their usual edge-of-your-seat action at Double-X.
The “A” main started with Jesse “the Rocket” Hockett charging to an early lead with California’s own Randy Martin claiming it on the second lap. With only eight laps down, an accident in turn two brought disaster to the number 46 car, driven by Michael White of LaMonte, and the 165 car, driven by Haley Arnold, Sedalia. Both vehicles suffered serious damage and were forced to exit the race. Hockett reclaimed the lead when Martin entered the pits leaving California's Tyler Blank to do battle with Hockett. Martin took a tail end position when he rejoined the action but skillfully worked his way through the line to finish in second place with Hockett taking the first place win for the night. Curtis Evans of Norborne finished third with Adam Jones of Wright City in fourth and Jeff Wingate of Centertown ending in fifth place.
The winged sprint heat races brought number one wins for Hockett in the first heat and Martin in the second heat.
The top five point leaders in the winged sprints division are: Evans 585; Tyler Blank 539; Hockett 445; R. Martin 417; Curtis Boyer 385.
Making their third of six appearances at Double-X for the 2009 race season were the Ozark Mountain Midgets.
The feature race winner for the Ozark Mountain Midgets went to Eric Todd of Falcon, Mo., followed by Gavin Galbaith of Washington, Mo. In second place; Beau Heavelow of Independence, Mo. in third place; Chad Frewaldt of Kansas City, KS in fourth place; and Todd Jackson of Independence, MO in fifth place.
Heat winners went to Kyle Neal of Ewing, Ill. in the first heat and Steven Weber of Wayne City, Ill. in the second heat.
Other winners of the night included race kids Tucker Friedmeyer, California; Preston Miller, Sedalia; Tucker Bottoms, Boonville.
Bill Larimore of California won the Father's Day drawing and Art Verdot of Centertown had the lucky program.
Attendance prize winners were: Todd Stegner, Pilot Grove; Betty Hatch, California; Yolanda Crump, Centralia; Connie Lovett, California; Kelendi Scayhts, Centertown.
Next week will be Putnam Chevrolet night at the races. Gates open at 5 p.m., hot laps start at 7 p.m. and racing will commence at 7:30 p.m.
For additional information about Double-X Speedway go to www.xxspeedway.com or contact Kyle Wirts at 573-796-4694 or 573-619-8344. To contact Public Relations Director Ra’Vae Edwards, call 573-796-4242 or email ravaeedwards@yahoo.com.