By Alan Miller
August 13, 2011
CMS Announcer/PR
(Warrensburg, MO) The kids had a fun time racing down the front stretch on Saturday night for the annual Kids Night races at Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) on Army National Guard race night. The Missouri National Guard put on a remarkable display of with a climbing wall and a HUMVEE on display for everyone to explore. Fans were entertained by 76 drivers who competed in the track’s four racing divisions. This weekend Waterloo Storage Products victory lane celebrations included some old and a new driver taking home the Waterloo Storage Products Victory Lane feature trophies.
Modified drivers competed this weekend knowing several local drivers would be on the road with the USMTS series. Still facing some of the toughest drivers in the Midwest, 25 drivers registered to test their skills at the smooth high-banked clay oval. The opening heat race victory went to Jason Bodenhamer before Joe Walker grabbed the win in heat race two. Danny Charles was victorious in the final heat race.
The highest passing points determined the front row, as Joe Walker and Luke Feeback led the field to the flying green flag at the start of the 25-lap feature. With the first of many re-starts to come, Feeback dove into the low groove at the beginning with Walker and Tim Karrick in three-wide race action for the top spots. Feeback stuck to the low-side as Karrick moved past Walker and continued to challenge for the lead. As the race unfolded the yellows continued to fly with 8 cars at one point setting in turn two when drivers attempted to avoid a tangled mess on lap ten. As a result, five cars including Walker, Nic Pence, Jake Richards, Darren Shaw and others headed to the pits or infield with flat tires and other mechanical woes. After yet another re-start, Karrick finally made a move around Feeback on lap 15, but yet another yellow comes out and Karrick had to move back into the second spot after Feeback led the previously scored lap. Finally, on lap 23 Karrick grabbed the lead once again for good. The excitement was not over with Jason Bodenhamer using the high groove to make it interesting at the end and throughout the feature. Karrick hung on for the remainder of the race and marched off with his third feature win of the year as Bodenhamer came away with a solid second after a late move around Luke Feeback with a strong third-place run. Terry Schultz climbed from fourteenth into fourth for the hard-charger award and Josh Poe finished in fifth.
In the ULMA late model division, Steve Clancy was aiming for his seventh win at CMS with a talented field of drivers on hand including Rylan Long making the trek from Lockwood, Missouri. A total of 15 cars drove hard throughout the heat races and the in the main event to settle the score. In the first heat, Jason Bodenhamer crossed the line for the win. The checkers in heat race number two went to Bob Test.
The feature grid was ready to go with drivers set to battle for their 20-lap main event with Bodenhamer and Test leading into turn one at the start of the race. Bodenhamer quickly plants his machine on the low groove with Test and Clancy running close in second and third. A mid-race caution was the only blemish for this division tonight with outstanding moves all over the track. Test attempted some high to mid track groves in an attempt to move up, but Bodenhamer coasted out front. The biggest battles included Long, Clancy, Jon Binning and Kevin Coyne for the remaining top six positions. With his fourth win of the year, Bodenhamer cruised into the Waterloo Victory Lane finish with Test having an tremendous run in second. Long appeared to finish third, but was disqualified in the tech area after the race. Clancy moved up into the third spot with Coyne fourth and Binning rounding out the top five.
The Street Stocks have shown a steady car count in a class where other tracks have had a difficult time attracting a complete field of cars. On Saturday night drivers competed in 2 heat races with 18 cars on hand to determine the starting lineup for the feature. In the two qualifying heats, heat number one winner was Nate Barnes over Michael Mullins; Bryce McMillin held off Larry Ferris for the win in heat two.
The front row was set with McMillin and Barnes starting up front for the 15-lap street stock main event. McMillin immediately drove hard keeping in the low grove of the track past Barnes with Michael Mullins in hot pursuit close behind. Just a few caution periods flew to interrupt the race with McMillin attempting to hold off Mullins and points leader, Brian Ziegler for a good portion of the race. Ziegler used the high-grove and McMillin protected the low-side without missing a beat to stay up front. Late in the race Mullins slipped back to third, but continued to hold off Barnes. As the checkered flag flew, Bryce McMillin from Warrensburg drove his machine to the win for his first-ever CMS feature victory. Coming away with second was Brian Ziegler ahead of Mullins in third, Barns in fourth and Chad Eickleberry who started in 12th and finished in fifth, to complete a good night of racing after some mechanical gremlins earlier this season.
The CMS b-modified division had a full field of young drivers and a few seasoned veterans that keep the fans guessing who will come away with the feature win. This season, the man to beat is Jacob Ebert, who had racked up nine feature wins at CMS so far. Another stout field of 18 cars competed in the night’s events which included three heat races that were won by a new CMS driver, Jeremiah Wilson in heat one; Ethan Isaacs topped heat event number two; and the third heat went to Jacob Ebert.
The b-mod main event lined up with Ebert and Isaacs on the pole positions for the start of the 15-lap feature race. Ebert shot out to the lead and began a close battle with Brad Smith and Isaacs at the front of the field. Trent Deadmon and Ethan Mullins tangled causing a hard hit for both on the front wall that caused a delay until fuel from the Mullins car could be cleared. Smith then gained the advantage after the re-start from a middle to upper lane move past Ebert who stayed on the low side. Isaacs also used some low-side action to move into the second spot. There was excellent racing action up at the front of the field throughout the event, but Brad Smith had enough speed tonight and claimed his second CMS feature win. Ethan Isaacs held on for second with Ebert third, Lucas Isaacs, fourth and Troy Carlyle completed the top five with a levelheaded run into fifth.
Next weekend is Midwest Coating and Boy Scout Night at the races in Warrensburg. There are discounted admission tickets available for scouts and parents. Please contact Susan Walls at 816 229-1338 for ticket information.
Weekly, the pit gates swing open at 4:30 with grandstands opening at 5. Hot laps begin at 7, racing begins shortly after. For more information call the track report line at 660-747-2166 or visit us on the web at www.centralmissourispeedway.net for updated results, standings and photos from track photographer, John Lee, highfly-nphotos.com.
Join us on Monday evenings at 5:30 for the KOKO track report program at 1450 on the AM dial.
Business partners at Central Missouri Speedway for the 2011 season include, Cliff Harris Warrensburg Ford and Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Waterloo Storage Products, KOKO AM 1450 Radio, 98.5 FM The Bar, Comfort Inn Warrensburg Station, KMMO Radio, LJS Graphics, Army National Guard, RSC Equipment Rental, Heartland Waste, Bad Boy Mowers, and Midwest Coating.