(LEBANON, Missouri . . . by Sarah Woodhurst) Fifty-one fine-looking cars checked into the first race night of the season at the high-banked, 3/8 mile paved oval of Lebanon I-44 Speedway on Saturday evening, April 28. Tyler Scott of Nixa took home the first Budweiser Modified checkers of the season, while Dustin Reeves won the Hoosier Tire Road Warrior feature and Aaron Douglas was declared the winner in the Hardee’s Sportsman event. The 4-cylinder, subcompact Chargers were only able to complete two laps before steady rainfall took over forcing the final two races of the night, Coca-Cola Chargers and O’Reilly Auto Parts Late Models, to be rained out.

The 2011 Budweiser Modified points champion, Scott, proved that he is still the man to beat as the ‘Nixa Nightmare’ won the Modified feature event by a sizable distance. Heat 1 winner, Roderick Icenhower, followed Scott across the finish line in second. Strafford’s Payton Lucas, qualifying heat 2 winner, drove his #26 machine to third place after a close contest between himself, Rocky Rash, Stephen Counterman and Joe Ross. Rash, who started in the back row, finished fourth in his #1 Modified, followed by the #25 of Counterman in fifth.

Ten cars checked into the 20-lap Hardee’s Sportsman feature event. After starting in the second row, Rick Sharp quickly made his way to the lead and maintained his position for the duration of the race. Douglas and Robert Reeves were door-to-door fighting for the second position before contact between the two brought out the first feature caution of the night. When racing resumed, the #1 Chevy of Toby Hardin advanced his way to runner-up spot as he put pressure on the #10 Chevrolet Camaro of Sharp. A couple more yellow flags were thrown to force the race to end with a two-lap green-white-checkered finish. Despite pressure from behind, Sharp was able to cross the finish line first ahead of Hardin in second, Douglas in third, Reeves in fourth and the #15 of JC Newell in fifth. Post-race inspections discovered rules infractions on both Sharp and Hardin’s cars, and Douglas was declared the new winner. Newell and Reeves both won the qualifying heat races.

After a successful 2011 season, Dustin Reeves put his flashy #6 Hoosier Tire Road Warrior back in victory lane after taking the early lead and never giving it up. The #35 of Gary Ball and #21 of Les Mallard put on a show for the large and enthusiastic I-44 Speedway crowd, as both cars fought hard for the second spot. On lap 6, Mallard earned the position and held onto it until the finish. Michael Jurgenson, driving a white #00 car, finished the race in third, followed by Ball in fourth and Mike Scott in fifth. Mallard took the qualifying heat race win.

Ten aggressive Coca-Cola Chargers took to the track for their 15-lap feature, right before the rain started to fall. Only two laps were completed in the main event, but the Chargers were three-wide in their normal fashion for both of those laps. The race was unable to be completed and will be rescheduled for next Saturday’s ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ show. The #42 car of Jordan Nisbitt and the #44 of Paul Jepsen took home the qualifying heat race checkers.

Sixteen ASA O’Reilly Auto Parts Late Models checked into opening night festivities, but this feature event was also washed out. Mike Slone of Rolla, Ken Dickinson of Camdenton and ‘Jammin Jimmy’ Vanzandt of Springfield won the heat races. The Late Model division looks to be full of many talented drivers who are more competitive than ever.

Even though the rain ruined the final feature races, it didn’t ruin the fun that was had by fans and drivers after the races. A large crowd gathered in the pits for a special “Party in the Pits” presented by Budweiser. Country music star, Candy Coburn, rocked the house for nearly two hours with a high-energy live concert.

Next Saturday night’s ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ show at Lebanon I-44 Speedway will feature all five ASA-sanctioned stock car racing classes, including double features for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Late Model and Coca-Cola Charger divisions. Complete information about I-44 Speedway’s 2012 racing schedule, racecar construction specifications and general rules may be found on the track’s official website, www.i44speedway.net.
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THE RESULTS
O’REILLY AUTO PARTS LATE MODELS
HEAT 1
1) 77 Mike Slone
2) 10 Dale Roper
3) 27 Joe Ross
4) 20 Austin Fullerton
5) O7 Terry Limberopoulos
6) 6 DQ Matt Wallace

HEAT 2
1) 21 Ken Dickinson
2) 35 Steve Holt
3) 7 Jeremy Manes
4) 9 Tucker Cory
5) 3 Brennon Willard

HEAT 3
1) 67 Jim VanZandt
2) 2 Grant Sharp
3) O2 Brian Brown
4) 98 Terry Smith
5) 18 DNS Jim Reeves

FEATURE
Rain-out

BUDWEISER MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1
1) 29 Roderick Icenhower
2) 57 Tyler Scott
3) 25 Stephen Counterman
4) OO Chris Johnson
5) 91 DNF David Bates

HEAT 2
1) 26 Payton Lucas
2) 64 Joe Ross
3) 44 Kevin Blackburn
4) 17 DNS Brandon Johnson

FEATURE
1) 57 Tyler Scott Nixa
2) 29 Roderick Icenhower
3) 26 Payton Lucas Strafford
4) 1 Rocky Rash
5) 25 Stephen Counterman Fair Grove
6) 64 Joe Ross
7) OO Chris Johnson
8) 44 Kevin Blackburn Lebanon
9) 17 Brandon Johnson
10) 91 David Bates Fair Grove

HARDEE’S SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1
1) 15 JC Newell
2) 7 Aaron Douglas
3) 25 Darin Owens
4) 84 JC Newell Sr.
5) 24 DNS Mike Counterman

HEAT 2
1) 6 Robert Reeves
2) 10 Rick Sharp
3) 36 Jon Higdon
4) 63 Chuck Higdon
5) 1 DQ Toby HardIn

FEATURE
1) 7 Aaron Douglas Lebanon
2) 6 Robert Reeves Lebanon
3) 15 JC Newell Stoutland
4) 84 JC Newell Sr. Stoutland
5) 25 Darin Owens
6) 36 Jon Higdon
7) 63 Chuck Higdon Strafford
8) 24 DNS Mike Counterman
9) 10 DQ Rick Sharp Fair Grove
10) 1 DQ Toby HardIn Marshfield

HOOSIER TIRE ROAD WARRIORS
HEAT 1
1) 21 Les Mallard
2) 35 Gary Ball
3) OO Michael Jurgenson
4) 33 DNS Mike Scott
5) 6 DQ Dustin Reeves

FEATURE
1) 6 Dustin Reeves Camdenton
2) 21 Les Mallard
3) 35 Gary Ball Lebanon
4) 33 Mike Scott Rogersville
5) OO Michael Jurgenson

COCA-COLA CHARGERS
HEAT 1
1) 42 Jordan Nisbitt
2) 34 Caston Jones
3) 6 Richard Lewis
4) 7 DQ Jesse Poindexter
5) 74 DQ Larry Hunter

HEAT 2
1) 44 Paul Jepsen
2) 14 Ben Kramer
3) 27 Nick Cherry
4) 1 Amanda Page
5) 89 Chris Blackburn

FEATURE
Rain-out