September 15, 2002; Lebanon, MO. - Dispite overcast and misty skies,the Midwat Speedway concluded the 2002 points races and crowned there champions with over 70 race teams in the pits.
In the Late Model Feature,Tim Swearengin jumped from his front row starting spot and lead all 30 laps of the feature event with the real battle behind him for 2nd place as first Steve Holt took control of that spot until later in the race when Rookie Standout Tony Jackson,Jr. finally got around him with 5 to go and set his sights on the newly crowned champ,but came up to little to late.Holt faded back to third with 99 champ Ken Dickinson charging from 8th to 4th in the long green run.Swearengin accept the victory and is getting prepared for next weekend's ShowMe Showdown.Claiming his third consecutive Late Model title. Inthe Mighty Modified division,point leader Dale Roper jumped out to the early lead with Jay Bates in hot pursuit and 2001 champ Jim Hayes in tow.Around Lap 10,the Oklahoma Kid,Marty Castens Jr. started to make his charge from the 5th starting spot,and he and Roper battled for 5 laps side-by-side,with Castens trying the inside lane and Roper staying high. On Lap 17, The Kid worked the high side on the veteran Roper to claim his second feature win of the season with Roper bringing his car home second along with claiming his 4th Lebanon Modified Title.Finshing behind the lead duo was Hayes in a very steady race,Terry Holtkamp came from 8th to finish 4th and early contender in 5th from the 18 car field. The Sportsman feature would see point leader Gary Klossner jump out to the early lead
with contender Scotty Atkinson in early tow.As the laps went on,Klossner would pull away
from the field as Atkinson,Robert Reeves,Brian Schutt,and Toby Harden followed.Klossner
claimed his first ever title in his 11 year racing career with a Ford powerplant under the
hood. The Bomber feature would see a new face in victory lane as Lebanon's Jr.Knutsman started deep in the field and took control from early pace setter Trent Harrison and Jeff Stewart to claim his first ever victory.Point Leader Jason Otto crashed his car hard in the heat race and Brother-in-Law Kevin LaChance loaned him his car to start the feature with to claim his first ever title. The early laps saw Ron Stokes take the early lead until Harrison grabbed control. A few laps later,Harrison smoked the right rear tire,and Jeff Stewart grabbed the lead.On lap 15 of the 20 lapper,Knutsman worked the low groove and came from 6th to the front in a short time.Matt Hamner came charging to claim the runner-up spot followed by Stewart,Harrison,and Stokes.The hardest hit of the night was when the Racing Realtor Mark Eagleburger had his throttle stick and slammed into the turn 4 wall.Mark escaped without injury. Carl Edwards capped off a busy weekend of racing by winning the Babygrand feature coming from the rear of the field and taking over from Chad Culp,and Chet McDowell. Edwards who raced in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck race Fri Night in Texas,then flew to North Carolina for a rain shorted BabyGrand National event where he finished second and then he and car owner Dwight Laxton drove all night to Lebanon to race in the Sunday Evening show. Lebanon's John Wagner Jr jumped from his front row spot to claim his second AMSOIL
Mini-stock victory fo the season. |
