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Ronnie Williams
LEBANON, Mo. (August 30) - Springfield veteran Terry Phillips was a driver on a mission Sat night at the Lebanon I-44 Speedway as he became the first Back-to-Back winner in the race named for his famous late Father as he started on the outside pole and lead all 40 laps in collecting $7500 in grabbing his second straight victory in the event.
With a capacity crowd on hand, the track was in excellent shape for the feature event as the DLRA/MARS Challenge races continued.
After a special salute by both the drivers and the crowd, everyone was ready for the feature as Phillips got the jump on teammate and pole setter Jeremy Payne going into turn 1 as 3 wide racing was the call all night long. The first of only 3 cautions waved on lap 3 as Tony Jackson Jr got airborne in turn 3 bunching the field up on the double file restart. On the restart, 2 time I-44 champion Brad Looney shot around Payne but Phillips was a man on a mission tonight as he pulled away to the full straight away advantage as Wendell Wallace was slowly making some moves through the field and Bill Frye and Jack Sullivan wagged a classic battle. Up front Phillips was long gone as Brad Looney, Payne and Wallace were setting a quick pace for the runner-up spot. The race stayed green as Phillips was slicing the field putting several top drivers a lap down. The Caution flew on lap 35 as runner-up Brad Looney had a tire go down ending his strong run up front. On the restart, Wallace and Payne battled with Wallace moving into the runner-up spot as Jesse Stovall was coming on strong after changing a right rear tire on lap 35. The lap 35 caution also gave Mars Champion Bill Frye the lucky dog award and put him back on the lead lap. On the restart, Phillips again powered ahead as Will Vaught and Jack Sullivan got together with Sullivan's night ending bringing out the final caution on lap 37 and setting-up a dramatic finish. On the restart, Phillips found Wallace staying close behind as Stovall who had moved into 3rd place was rim riding the top groove. Phillips again got the great restart and never looked back as Stovall and Wallace battled for the runner-up spot as early contender Payne was a solid 4th. Up front, Phillips never looked back in taking home the honors with Stovall edging out Wallace for second place followed by Wallace, Payne and Bill Frye in the top five. As they took the checkered Phillips showing some emotion tonight was all smiles accepting the winning trophy. "Dad won a lot of races here and this really means a lot to me because of the race in his name. Tonight he was riding with me as this GRT by Phillips car was perfect. Randy did a great job on getting the track ready tonight. You could go anywhere and run on it. The last restart with Wallace and Stovall I had to really get a good jump because you never count those two out.
DLRA/MARS Late Model Feature
1) Terry Phillips-Springfield
2) Jesse Stovall-West Branson
3) Wendell Wallace-Batesville, Ark
4) Jeremy Payne-Springfield
5) Bill Frye-GreenBrier, Ark
6) Will Vaught-Crane
7) Steve Rushin-Popular Bluff
8) Chris Jones-Popular Bluff
9) Tony Jackson Jr-Lebanon
10) Brandon McCormick-Lebanon
11) Ricky Frankel-Quincy, Ill
12) Justin Wells-Aurora
13) Dustin Mooneyham-Aurora
14) Reid Millard-Jefferson City
15) Ron McQuerry-St.Marys
16) LeRoy Johnson-Brookline
17) Jack Sullivan-Greenbrier, Ark
18) Brad Looney-Republic
19) Patrick Johnson-Ash Grove
20) Wesley Briggs-Philipsburg
21) Brent Kreke-O'Fallon, Ill
22) Rodney Standeferd-O'Fallon, Ill
23) Chris Smyser-Lancaster
In Support Action,Former I-44 Modified Champion Justin Neuman took advantage of leader Scotty Allen's problems and held off several repeated charges from Jason Meadors in grabbing a very action packed A-Mod feature.The feature started with Allen jumping into the lead with pole setter Jason Meadors right behind him as Brandon Maggard,Steve Picou,Neuman were battling hard.Neuman choosing the lower groove kept closing in on the lead Allen.Allen was in charge until around lap 10 when Neuman shot to the inside groove with Allen hanging it on the outside lane.The Race devoloped several battles as Scotty Drake,Terry Beckham II along with Kris Jackson and Erik Maggard were coming forward.After Allen's problems,Neuman had the low groove dialed in to grab the victory with Meadors coming strong followed by Picou,Brandon Maggard and Erik Maggard.
The Factorystock feature saw pole setter Ben Solberg grab the opening lead and withstood repeated challanges early from Derek Brown in taking home his first win of the season at I-44 as Brown hung on for the runner-up spot with a fast moving Doug Crider,Mark Bourey and Lonnie Henderson completing the top 5.
The B-Mod feature was a wild feature as pole setter Josh Woody looped it on the opening lap as he attempted to get the jump on outside starter Colt Cheevers.On the second attempt,Brian Monnahan brought the field to the green and also looped it in turn 2.The third time became the charm as Cheevers powered ahead and never looked back in taking the victory as Mickey Burrell made a strong move late in the race to grab second place followed by Billy Street,JC Morton andJosh johnston rounding out the top 5.
The Bomber feature saw Rob White get the early jump and withstand a late race surge from Shawn Strong and Heath Loney in taking home the feature win his first this season at I-44 while Dennis Jones charged from dep in the field to grab 4th followed by 19th place starter Landon Johnson.
The Rookie class saw a great battle early between Micheal Warnow and Dave Meldrum bumper to bumper until Meldrum spun in turn 1 as Warnow making his first apperance at the track grabbed the win with Les Hayes coming home second with Meldrum,Tom Powers and Jason Brumley completing the top5.
Up next the I-44 Speedway will be running the Bomber 500 with $500 going to the winner along with racing in the Rookie/PureStock Class and B-Mods.
Results
A-Mods
1)Justin Neuman-Crocker 2)Jason Meadors-Fordland 3)Steve Picou-St Louis 4)Brandon Maggard-Willard 5)Erik Magard-Springfield 6)Kris Jackson-Lebanon 7)Jimmy Willis-Macks Creek 8)Ted VanZandt-Billings 9)Corey Simpson-Waynesville 10)Mookie Cunningham-St James 11)Sam Petty-Niangua 12)Bobby Williams-Shawnee,Kansas 13)Tim Ballinger-Fair Grove 14)Jack Jones-Lebanon 15)Scotty Drake-Webb City 16)Eric Hudson-Rolla 17)Scotty Allen-Urbana 18)Terry Beckham II-Webb City 19)Rusty Dukes-Fair Grove DNS-Eric Turner-Hermitage
FactoryStocks
1)Ben Solberg-Springfield 2)Derek Brown-Stoutland 3)Doug Crider-Marshfield 4)Mark Bourey-Monett 5)Lonnie Henderson-Lebanon 6)Tim Riffle-Phillipsburg 7)Dusty Rhoads-Lebanon 8)George Myer-Joplin 9)Kevin Crider-Marshfield 10)Brian Webster-Richland 11)Junior Owens DNS-Kevin Brown-Crane
Bombers
1)Rob White-Lebanon 2)Shawn Strong-Republic 3)Heath Loney-Springfield 4)Dennis Jones-Springfield 5)Landon Johnson-Lynchburg 6)Rich Reynolds-Springfield 7)Rodney Yost-Squires 8)Patrick West-Ozark 9)Jack Hamer-Ava 10)Kevin Morrison-Lynchburg 11)Rich Allen-Richland 12)Josh Lewis-Stoutland 13)Russel Ireland-Camdenton 14)Brian Warner-Phillipsburg 15)Mike Willoughby-Springfield 16)Keith Cheever-Lebanon 17)Joe Francis-Lebanon 18)Tim Jones-Marshfield 19)Ted Ballinger-Halfway DNS-Adam Lowrance,Willard Taylor
B-Mods
1)Colt Cheevers-Macks Creek 2)Mickey Burrell-Fair Grove 3)Billy Street-Joplin 4)JC Morton-Springfield 5)Josh Johnston-Nixa 6)Ted Ballinger-Halfway 7)Chris Snyder-Nixa 8)Greg Strong-Nixa 9)Trent Harrison-Crocker 10)Tyler Brown-Stoutland 11)Rick Brown-Stoutland 12)Jeremiah Mooney-Lebanon 13)Brandon Pister-Rogersville 14)Brian Monnahan-Lebanon 15)Tom Gerleve-Bois D'Arc 16)Josh Woody-Buckhorn DQ-Sean Williams-Willard
Rookies
1)Micheal Warnow-Mt Vernon 2)Les Hayes-Camdenton 3)Dave Meldrum-Edwards 4)Tom Powers-Camdenton 5)Jason Brumley-Camdenton 6)Josh Hollingsworth-Stoutland DNS-Shorty Doublin-Lebanon
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