June 15, 2002; Lebanon, MO.
- What goes screech, boom and bang in the dark? A night of racing action at the
Midway Speedway! It seems that the mid season jitters have gotten the drivers a little
racer, as several cars have been damaged over the past two weeks. But when the checkered
flag fell in the six divisions that ran Saturday night at Midway Speedway, Tony
On Raceway Ministries night, it was a 30 lap feature for the Pure Street Division. This is 10 more laps than they normally run, and the length of the race would show. In the early beginnings, point leader Jason Otto would take charge. But Matt Hamner and Jerry Walraven were in hot pursuit. Hamner took the high groove and then the low groove trying to gain that one valuable spot, but Otto would hold off the charge until the white flag lap. Otto was getting loose as the race continued, and Hamner in comments during his interviewed watched and waited for the right time. With a little slip up from Otto in turn three, Hamner dived low and took the position. With only one lap to go, Hamner put his foot through the floorboard and took home the win. Kevin LaChance, who was in a mid pack battled came home second and Jerry Walraven finished third. Richland's Jimmy Miller came home with a fourth place and Ron Stokes finished fifth. Several cars were damaged on a lap 8 wreck that happened in turn four involving Super Street drivers, John Carrigan and Andrew Stake. Also involved was Dale Scherer, who lost a radiator and managed to come back for a few more laps later in the race. When the three in-a-row winner, Steve Maddux came to the microphone during the interview, he said that he did not see what happened, but was sure sadden at the lose of the competitors. Maddux who had to start from the rear of the field had managed to make his way into the top spot before the caution came out. And when the race resumed, so did Maddux. With a car that has shown a lot of power and a driver that is talented, Maddux only extended his point lead by another two points over second place finished and second in the points Aaron Harden. Making another good showing in the Super Street Stocks, jared Brown held on to third while Steve Shaw finished fourth. David Douglas took his #77 machine to a fifth place finish. It went green, white and checkered for the rookie Tony Jackson Jr. Starting from the inside pole position, Jackson jumped to an early lead over Jerry Kelly and Archie Griffin. But coming hard and strong from the rear of the field, after last weeks victory, Tim Swearengin was coming fast. Swearengin had to manage his way through the field and he picked them off one by one. But with only three laps left in the 30 lap feature, Jackson had a four second advantage over Swearengin. When the race was over and the donuts made on the back stretch, Jackson made his way to the O'Reilly's winner Circle. Jackson, commented that he had some early problems in the heat race, and with help from Ken Dickinson's shop, and Tim Swearengin's group, he was able to come out and compete in the Late Model Division. With the win, it moves Jackson all alone in third place and Swerengin extends his
points lead over fifth place finisher on the night Steve Holt by 14 points. Third place
went to Jerry Kelly, who is fourth in points and Archie Griffin finished fourth on Added money was on the line for seven of the finishers in the Modified Division from Lone Oak Printing. It was a lottery drawing for the top five drivers and the last to finishers. David Bates jokingly made comments all night in the pits about going ahead and getting an envelope early. As it turned out, David Bates jumped out to the lead at the drop of the green flag and watched the battles begin in his rear view mirror. With the win, D. Bates picked 6 points on points leader Dale Roper, who finished fourth. Jay Bates managed another good finish as he came home second and stayed in the points chase. Terry Holtkamp, who has one feature win already this season, came home third and showing a lot of power over the past few weeks, Brian Schutt was fifth. It was nose rubbing, bumper tapping action in the Late Model Sportsman as point leader Scott Atkinson and Rolla's Gary Klossner battled hard and heavy for the trophy. When the checkered flag fell it was Atkinson scoring another victory and extending his points lead over Sam Payne, who had mechanical trouble and finished fifth on the night. Klossner made a second place showing, while Chris Nichols, who led early in the race, came home third. Fourth place went to Toby Harden. Making a long haul from Arkansas, Ronald Rouse had to manage his way though a tough field of drivers to take home his first victory of the season in the Baby Grand Stock Car Association 20 lap feature. The first half of the race, it was Randy Davenport leading the field around, but Rouse managed to come up on the 11th lap and take the lead. Davenport finished second, while Michael Gahagen came home third. Heat Results: Late Model : Late Model Stock:
Modified: Super Street: Pure Street: |
