August 3, 2002; Lebanon, MO. - As one walked around the pit area of Midway Speedway, drivers and crews were already hot from the August heat, but when the sun went down it was the drivers turning up the heat on the high banked oval.
Extending their points with wins, Dale Roper took the Modified win as well as Steve Maddux in the Super Street Stock Division. In an exciting finish on the final turn of the final lap, Jason Otto was the trophy winner in the Pure Street division. Tony Jackson, Jr. went green, white checkered in the late Model Sportsman Division and adding his third victory on the season was Robert Reeves in the Late Model Sportsman class. Not to be outdone in a repeat win, Mark Eagleburger won the 2nd annual trailer race. First feature of the night was the ground pounding modifieds. In an early lead, Brain Schutt had made repairs from last week's motor problem, and he looked as if he had lost any power under the hood of his #51 machine. Leading 2/3rds of the lap, Schutt had to contend with several challenges from Terry Hotlkamp, Jim Hayes, Marty Castens, Jr., and Dale Roper. Schutt took on the challenge, but late in the race, as he had held off his fellow drivers, his car got loose and that opened the door for Dale Roper to make his move. Sliding low in turn two, Roper took the front spot and Castens, followed. This dropped Schutt to third, where he finished on the night. Castens tried to make it another victory on the season but Roper took the win and Castens had to settle for second. Terry Holtkamp, who has had a strong machine all season, finished fourth and Ron Myers drove his #84 machine to fifth. The Super Street Stock watched as Aaron Harden took command early and was worked hard by third place finisher Aaron Douglas. Watching the front battle, the night's feature winner, Steve Maddux made his way from the back of the field to take another victory. Harden, who has come along way this season, over last year, finished second. Driving his red,white, and blue machine to a fourth place finish, Dale Scherer stayed ahead of a challenging Jared Brown who finished fifth. After some extra activity on the track between Gary Klossner and Scott Atkinson, Robert Reeves, took a green, white checkered win in the Late Model Sportsman Division. Reeves was uncertain of the things going on behind him, but with a yellow that put both Klossner and Atkinson in the rear of the field, Reeves thought he could breath a little easier. But on the restart, Atkinson powered his way to a second place finish. But Klossner also brought his Mobile Ford to the front finishing third. Chris Nichols was able to hold on to fourth, being challenged by fifth place finisher, Clinton Dale. When the green flag fell in the thirty lap feature of the Late Model, Tony Jackson,
Jr., who had suffered motor problems the previous week, took his Laclede County Bank Chevy
to the front, and only looked in his mirror to see the second through fourth positions
being fought in an hard battle. Tim Swearengin who finished fourth on the night, came
quickly through the field, but once he got to the front, the passing became a little
tougher as he, Archie Griffin, Steve Holt, and Jerry The Midway Speedway has seen some great finishes all season, and on this night, the most spectacular finish was that in the Pure Street Division, where Jason Otto had to come from back in the pack and on the final lap, coming out of turn four, Otto passed the front runner of the complete race, except the final turn, John Roberts. Roberts had the machine to beat, and he had dialed in a perfect set-up on the hot August night. But with a little slip on that final turn, Roberts got a little high, had to slow just ever-s-slightly and Otto made the pass to take the win. Roberts finished second, with Kevin LaChance taking third. Ron Stokes took fourth place honors and Trent Harrison was fifth. The only two in the top five that have not yet had a feature win this season is Roberts and LaChance. It won't be long as the two, along with other talented drivers in the Pure Street will find themselves in the O'Reilly's Winners Circle. Mark your calendar for the First Annual Larry Phillips Showme Showdown. It will be held September 21, with Late Models running for $3000 to win in a 125 lap feature. Also on the card, the mighty modifieds will be running a 50 lap feature, with $1000 to win, $1250 if there are 26 cars or more and the bombers will be running a 30 lap feature. Regular admissions for all specials. For more information you can contact the Speedway office at 417-532-2060. Late Models |
