June 15, 2002; Lebanon, MO. - The Midway Speedway presented Purcell Tire and Rubber Company Autograph Sessions this Sat night and the crowd was rewarded with some of the closest racing action this season with the full moon arising over the 3/8ths asphalt oval.
Tim Swearengin came roaring from the back of the pack to grab the lead from Jerry Kelley on lap 21 to gather his 5th Late Model victory of the season. Kelley who started on the front row jumped out to an early lead as Point Leader Swearengin and last weeks winner Tony Jackson Jr were trying to come up the field. With Kelley checking out,Archie Griffin assumed the runner-up spot in the early laps as Dusty Cromer and steve Holt went for a 3 wide move on the backstretch.This move caused Cromer and Holt both fiberglass damage and Cromer would later retire. All eyes were on the T-n-T duo of Tim and Tony as Kelley stretched his lead to almost a full straightaway.As the laps wore down Swearengin ran Kelley down as lap 21 clicked over and the feature went green-white checkered as Jackson finally overtook Kelley with 2 to go for the runner-up spot."After the mishap in the heat race-we put on a new tire and checked the suspension and did some tweaking on it,so we didn't know where it would be and with us starting in the back with Kenny and Tony Jr,I knew it wasn't going to be easy tonight.It was good to see Jerry Kelley run good,but I really didn't know if I could catch him without a yellow,but the longer we ran the better the car got!!!" In the Mighty Modifieds Brian Schutt jumped from his front row starting spot,with KC area driver Rick Carver making his first start at Lebanon in tow and point leader Dale Roper riding in third.The fastest two cars coming through the pack were Ron Myers and Marty Castens Jr,Myers who was coming from row 5 and Castens,from his 3rd row starting spot were on the move.As Schutt kept his Green Machine in the top spot,Roper finally moved around to the runner-up spot and Castens in tow. Moving through lapped traffic on lap 18,Castens tries a bold move to the inside of Roper and then Schutt as the duo made contact sending the leader spinning in turn 4.With Roper taking over control he held off repeated challanges by Jim Hayes for his 4th win of the season."I didn't have anything for Schutter tonight he had perhaps the fastest car tonight and when Castens went inside me,my spotter told me car low so I moved up the track and then found myself leading the race. This class has grown so much and this is perhaps the most fun I have had in several seasons" The Sportsman class is starting to build in car count and Rolla's Gary Klossner took over the top spot from Ken Dickinson subbing for Paul Moore on lap 8 and held off a late challange from Sam Payne to gather his 2nd win of the season."We are teaking on this Ford and are starting to get there,Point Leader Scotty Atkinson has been fast,but we think we are ready to tackle him."Atkinson came from the rear of the field to take home 3rd late from Dickinson. The SuperStock feature saw Aaron Harden jump from his front row starting spot to gather his third win of the season as Dale "The Racing Ranger" Scherer drove his best race ever to finish up in second and point leader Steve Maddux charging to third."I was worried with Dale starting up front tonight with us as he has been running alot better lately and we had problems in the heat race,but I have been following the Farmer(Point leader Maddux) for the last 4 weeks and finishing in the runner-up spot and I learned a couple of things to help get us here tonight"Aaron Douglas who won the qualifier drove hard to finish in 4th in a great battle for second through fourth."I'm glad that the race went without a yellow because Steve and Dale are both tough on the restarts"exclaimed an excited Harden from theO'Reilly's Autoparts Winner Circle. Point leader Jason otto watched the game of musical chairs as he gathered his 4th
victory in the Bomb Squad Class. The yellow would wave 2 laps as Hamner took a ride through the infield with a little help.On the restart-Otto would take control and Hamner putting on the pressure with LaChance charging from the rear of the pack.For the final 5 laps-Hamner tries Otto several times low and then high,but Otto held on followed by Hamner,LaChance,Goring,and Missy Shaw completing the top 5. This coming Sat Night will be a 50 lap Late Model Specail and Fireworks Celebration
along with the BabyGrand Missouri Asphalt National as over 25 Entries from the United
States will be on hand. |
