After 3-rounds of qualifying and eliminations and weather that started out as a perfect August weekend, unexpected rain fell Saturday afternoon as the 13th Annual Dirt Works Show-Me Championship concluded at West Plains Motor Speedway. The rain didn't hamper the track conditions rather it provided a super fast track for the third and final round of qualifying.
Just prior to the Championship modified feature race dense fog began to roll into the track area, but fortunately lifted long enough to run the a full 40-laps - not hampered by visiability problems.
Sixty-eight modified teams from eight states converged at West Plains, MO, to compete in the 3-days of events where the eventual winner, Walt Butler of Des Arc, AR, took the $6,500 winner's purse and event trophies for himself and car owner, Shawn Gibson of Broken Bow, OK.
Round 1, on Thursday, provided the first eight who transferred to the Saturday main event and they were: Peyton Taylor and Kevin Salter, both of Batesville, AR, Wayne Brooks of Bald Knob, AR, Brandon Smith of Batesville, AR, Mike Bowers of North Little Rock, AR, Randy Zimmerman of Ft. Scott, KS, Chris Piper of West Plains, and Brandon Poppenheimer of Memphis, TN.
Round 2, on Friday, added the next eight which included Walt Butler of Des Arc, AR, Robert Powers of Campbell, MO, Jason Hughes of West Plains, Jerry Hoffman of Oronogo, MO, Robby Arnold of Paragould, AR, Josh Hughes of West Plains, Shawn Walsh of Ash Flat, AR, and Brandon Ball of Koshkonong, MO.
Round 3, and the final opportunity to qualify completed the 24-car field with the following drivers, Jerry Buck of Paragould, AR, Patrick Linn of Little Rock, AR, Jared Landers of Benton, AR, Jeremy Payne of Cave City, AR, Odie Green of Fouke, AR, Chad Smith of Springdale, AR, Gary Clark of Walker, MO, and Rex Merritt of Billings, MO.
A track provisional for the 25th starting spot was reserved for the highest points driver in the weekly racing program at WPMS. Billy Romans of West Plains, and a past winner of this event, was given that 25th position.
As the support class feature concluded Saturday night, the fog began to roll into the area so driver introductions were skipped and the feature event also rolled onto the track. The full 40-lap event was concluded without any problem related to the fog, but the super fast track conditions did provide several yellow flag incidents including one where it took five restarts to get the program underway again.
It was obvious that Walt Butler had the field covered as he quickly took the lead starting outside front row and maintaining his lead throughout. The remainder of the field shuffled back and forth for position. Lots of 3 and 4-wide racing added to the excitement along with 5-wide coming out of turn 4 more than once.
Second place went to Jared Landers who came from a nineth place start to fourth by lap 20, taking second by lap 21 and volleying back and forth with Peyton Taylor till lap 38 when he secured his finish, with Taylor finishing in third followed by Kevin Salter, Jerry Hoffman, Wayne Brooks, Brandon Smith, Jason Hughes, Shawn Walsh, and Jerry Buck who rounded out the top ten.
The balance of the field included Mike Bowers, Patrick Linn, Brandon Ball, Robby Arnold, Rex Merritt, Chris Piper, Odie Green, Gary Clark, Brandon Poppenheimer, Chad Smith, Jeremy Payne, Josh Hughes, Billy Romans and Randy Zimmerman. An on track incident resulted in disqualification of Robert Powers.
Support class feature winners this weekend included: Stan Ellison of West Plains in Super Stock, Bobby Bryant of West Plains in Hobby Stock, Bobby Skinner of Moody, MO, in Cruiser, Jerry Doane of West Plains in FWD, and Anthony Carnal of Cabool, MO, in Youth Hobby.
Next week Ozark Mountain Outfitters of Houston, MO, will sponsor a full weekly points program and all classes will be running. Gates will open at 5 pm, hotlaps are set for 6:30 pm with racing at 7 pm. Adult admission will be $7, senior citizens $4 and kids 7-11 $2. For additional information visit the website at www.westplains-speedway.com or call the business office at (870) 994-7447, Monday through Friday.
Just prior to the Championship modified feature race dense fog began to roll into the track area, but fortunately lifted long enough to run the a full 40-laps - not hampered by visiability problems.
Sixty-eight modified teams from eight states converged at West Plains, MO, to compete in the 3-days of events where the eventual winner, Walt Butler of Des Arc, AR, took the $6,500 winner's purse and event trophies for himself and car owner, Shawn Gibson of Broken Bow, OK.
Round 1, on Thursday, provided the first eight who transferred to the Saturday main event and they were: Peyton Taylor and Kevin Salter, both of Batesville, AR, Wayne Brooks of Bald Knob, AR, Brandon Smith of Batesville, AR, Mike Bowers of North Little Rock, AR, Randy Zimmerman of Ft. Scott, KS, Chris Piper of West Plains, and Brandon Poppenheimer of Memphis, TN.
Round 2, on Friday, added the next eight which included Walt Butler of Des Arc, AR, Robert Powers of Campbell, MO, Jason Hughes of West Plains, Jerry Hoffman of Oronogo, MO, Robby Arnold of Paragould, AR, Josh Hughes of West Plains, Shawn Walsh of Ash Flat, AR, and Brandon Ball of Koshkonong, MO.
Round 3, and the final opportunity to qualify completed the 24-car field with the following drivers, Jerry Buck of Paragould, AR, Patrick Linn of Little Rock, AR, Jared Landers of Benton, AR, Jeremy Payne of Cave City, AR, Odie Green of Fouke, AR, Chad Smith of Springdale, AR, Gary Clark of Walker, MO, and Rex Merritt of Billings, MO.
A track provisional for the 25th starting spot was reserved for the highest points driver in the weekly racing program at WPMS. Billy Romans of West Plains, and a past winner of this event, was given that 25th position.
As the support class feature concluded Saturday night, the fog began to roll into the area so driver introductions were skipped and the feature event also rolled onto the track. The full 40-lap event was concluded without any problem related to the fog, but the super fast track conditions did provide several yellow flag incidents including one where it took five restarts to get the program underway again.
It was obvious that Walt Butler had the field covered as he quickly took the lead starting outside front row and maintaining his lead throughout. The remainder of the field shuffled back and forth for position. Lots of 3 and 4-wide racing added to the excitement along with 5-wide coming out of turn 4 more than once.
Second place went to Jared Landers who came from a nineth place start to fourth by lap 20, taking second by lap 21 and volleying back and forth with Peyton Taylor till lap 38 when he secured his finish, with Taylor finishing in third followed by Kevin Salter, Jerry Hoffman, Wayne Brooks, Brandon Smith, Jason Hughes, Shawn Walsh, and Jerry Buck who rounded out the top ten.
The balance of the field included Mike Bowers, Patrick Linn, Brandon Ball, Robby Arnold, Rex Merritt, Chris Piper, Odie Green, Gary Clark, Brandon Poppenheimer, Chad Smith, Jeremy Payne, Josh Hughes, Billy Romans and Randy Zimmerman. An on track incident resulted in disqualification of Robert Powers.
Support class feature winners this weekend included: Stan Ellison of West Plains in Super Stock, Bobby Bryant of West Plains in Hobby Stock, Bobby Skinner of Moody, MO, in Cruiser, Jerry Doane of West Plains in FWD, and Anthony Carnal of Cabool, MO, in Youth Hobby.
Next week Ozark Mountain Outfitters of Houston, MO, will sponsor a full weekly points program and all classes will be running. Gates will open at 5 pm, hotlaps are set for 6:30 pm with racing at 7 pm. Adult admission will be $7, senior citizens $4 and kids 7-11 $2. For additional information visit the website at www.westplains-speedway.com or call the business office at (870) 994-7447, Monday through Friday.
