JACKSONVILLE, IL – If there is any driver who knows how to navigate around the
¼-mile oval at the Morgan County Fairgrounds, it’s Paul Nienhiser.
On the heels of three series victories in 2023, the Chapin, Illinois driver returned to
victory lane at his “home away from home”, besting the field of 25 competitors on Friday
night.
By virtue of his fourth place finish in his Heat Race earlier in the evening, Nienhiser was
able to find the number-three pill during the MOWA redraw to start from inside the
second row in the evening’s 25-Lap main event alongside Trevin Littleton.
MIssouri’s Gunner Ramey and local favorite Will Armitage led the field to the green flag.
Ramey pounced to the early lead and held serve over the field. Quickly behind,
Armitage, Nienhiser, and Littleton waged war in a three-car battle for third. Not far
behind were Jake Neuman, Chase Briscoe and Korey Weyantwho wanted to throw their
names into the mix.
Nienhiser pulled alongside Ramey on the tenth-lap and overtook the top spot. Armitage
had found momentum and moved past Ramey into the second position just as Kevin
Petty made contact with the turn four embankment, sending his #72 upside down just
ahead of the lead pack. Petty escaped unharmed.
Returning to green-flag action, Nienhiser jumped to a commanding lead as he piloted
his #9X machine through open air around the speedway. Behind him, the battle ensued
as Chase Briscoe set his sights on Jake Neuman and a top five position. A lap 12
caution for Jason Keith slowed the field once more as the right-front tire on Keith’s
machine came unattached and he sat in turn one unable to move.
At the halfway point, Nienhiser brought the field back to green flag conditions ahead of
Will Armitage, Gunner Ramey, Trevin Littleton and Jake Neuman. Perfecting his run on
the high line of the track, Nienhiser again showed that his #9X would be unstoppable,
only to see a third yellow flag over the field with Tyler Duff stopped atop the turn two
exit.
The field bunched up with 12 laps remaining for a third try of a restart. Gunner Ramey
then collided with Jake Neuman and collected Steven Russell and Jeremy Standridge in
a turn-three melee that ultimately ended Neuman’s evening with damage to his #3N.
NInehiser used a strong run to lead the remaining laps and score his 27th career
MOWA Sprint Car Series victory – and 10th at Jacksonville. Korey Weyant overtook Will
Armitage to grab a second place finish ahead of Will Armitage, Chase Briscoe and
Trevin Littleton.
The Morrow Brothers Ford MOWA Sprint Car Series will take a four-week break before
picking back up with a $3,000-to-win event June 28 at Jacksonville Speedway.
Feature finish (25 laps): 1. Paul Nienhiser [3], 2. Korey Weyant [5], 3. Will Armitage [2],
4. Chase Briscoe [7], 5. Trevin Littleton [4], 6. Ryan Bunton [9], 7. Gage Montgomery
[13]. 8. Logan Faucon [20], 9. Bryce Norris [19], 10. Shelby Bosie [17], 11. John Barnard
[12], 12. Jeremy Standridge [15], 13. Paul Solomon [10], 14. Shane O’Banion [16], 15.
Gunner Ramey [1], 16. Jake Neuman [6], 17. Tyler Duff [8], 18. Steven Russell, [18], 19.
Jason Keith [24], 20. Kevin Petty [11], 21. Kyle Danback [25], 22. Joey Moughan [14],
23. Chase Richards [23], 24. Jeff Masson [21], DNS – Jeff Beasley