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Alan Miller
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (July 31) - The hot and more often than we would like rainy weather this season has influenced promoters, fans and drivers alike and this weekend at Central Missouri Speedway a new story line played out as the "Chase for the Championships" continued on the smooth high-banked clay oval surface in Warrensburg. The somewhat cooler temperatures and a light north wind made it more bearable for the 88 'Mighty" Modifieds, ULMA Late Models, Street Stocks and B-Modifieds drivers when they returned to display their exceptional driving skills on KMMO 1300 Race Night at CMS on Saturday night.
The Waterloo Storage Products Victory Lane had some return visitors taking home their feature trophies after some exciting action on the track. In the B-Modified division, Brad Smith from Belton claims his sixth CMS feature win this season. In the Street Stock class, John Brooks out of Warrensburg wins again with victory number four. In the ULMA division, Centerview driver, Jason Bodenhamer continues on a roll with his sixth victory moving up and making a convincing move up the ladder for the overall ULMA point's championship. The modified division had another repeat feature winner in victory lane with Dustin Boney from Kansas City taking home his seventh CMS feature win this year.
The ULMA Late Model drivers are working hard to challenge Jason Bodenhamer who leads the track points and is in hot pursuit of the overall ULMA point's championship. 17 Late Model drivers were signed into the pits for their weekly challenge. In the first heat race, Bob King out of Independence takes the win with his fourth win and Shawn Rayfield from O'Fallon cleaning the table and winning the second heat of the night for his third victory. In the final heat race, Jason Bodenhamer takes the checkered flag with heat win number two.
Using passing points the feature line-up was set with Ratfield grabbing the lead on the initial stage of the race. After last weeks race without a single caution, this week it was more of a challenge with several cautions. Early on it seemed Rayfield and Bodenhamer were the dominate cars, but Rayfield led through lap five when Walt Imholf left the track and John Pipes spins in turn two. On lap eight, Clancy leads the lap and Rayfield battles back into the lead on the next circuit. They trade back and forth for several laps with Rayfield attempting to keep the low side covered. Finally on lap 13, Bodenhamer takes the lead after a re-start with a high-side move around Rayfield and maintains the lead as the laps count down.
At the finish it was Bodenhamer snaring his sixth feature triumph at CMS. Coming home In the second spot was Steve Clancy with a strong run, Rayfield with his best finish this year in third, Binning up to fourth and Bob Test completing the top-five.
Another stout field of 28 Modified drivers attempted to make the feature field, which is a tough accomplishment with some of the best drivers in the Midwest competing each week at CMS. The four heat race winners included; Aaron Marrant from Orrick in heat one for his third win at CMS with Luke Feeback out of Harrisonville for his first win in the second heat. In heat three, Rick Beebe from Shawnee, KS takes the checkers for his fourth win. In the fourth and final heat race of the night, Dustin Boney from Kansas City claims the victory for his seventh of the season.
As the green flag flew for the feature, Marrant and Boney led the 26 car feature field into the first lap with Marrant grabbing the early race lead. Luke Feeback re-started his car in the staging area when a caution came out on the initial start of the race when he was able to start the race as the 26th driver. Meanwhile, Boney challenges for second then takes a low move on lap four for the lead with Marrant close behind and Thompson in third. On lap ten, Tyler Schmidt goes high in turn two and departs the high-banked track bringing out the caution flag. Boney with Marrant in hot pursuit pressures him with Thompson maintaining his third spot. Then on lap fifteen, Ed Griggs and James Reid get together on the front side bringing out the final caution flag when Reid breaks a gear in his machine.
Then with the double checkers in the air, Boney once again drives back into victory lane for his seventh feature victory celebration. Marrant takes second with his best finish this season, Thompson third to maintain the points lead, Rick Beebe for a sturdy run into fourth and Jason Bodenhamer pulling double duty in the Modified and Late Model, finishing in fifth. The modified hard charger award is presented to Luke Feeback from his 26th starting position finishing in tenth from deep in the field.
The B-Modified drivers had a total of 24 registered for the events with three heat races to set the starting lineup for the feature later in the evening. All divisions at CMS use the passing points system to determine a driver's starting spot in the features. The three heat winners in the B-Modified class included; Jeremy Lile from Higginsville, who won his third in the first heat with Troy Carlyle out of Liberty taking heat two with his fifth triumph this year. In heat race three, Brad Smith grabs the victory with his sixth win. A B-main event before intermission set the remainder of the field with A. J. Tice from Kansas City taking her first feature win. Also transferring into the feature was Gary Fain, Curtis Shaner and Jeff McNew.
The challenge for B-Modified drivers was to improve their race programs enough to beat then five-time feature winner, Brad Smith. Early in the feature, Lile takes the lead with hard chargers, Smith and Nic Bennett chasing Lile for the top spot. Chris Brockway has a tough break with a flat tire with Tice and Fain departing the track for the night on lap one. Lile and Smith battled for the early lead when Smith takes the top position passing him down low on lap six. A late race caution with a spin from Bronson Combs in turn two caused some concern for the veteran driver, Smith.
But, as the checkered flag flew a repeat winner emerges when Brad Smith claims the victory winning his sixth of the season for a total of 14 feature wins for the season. Lile has a strong run into second, Bennett third followed by Dalton Kirk and Jacob Ebert rounding out the top-five.
Street Stock drivers have a challenge this year and lately have responded to the call with 19 cars registered for racing. The points chase has been tight between Chad Eickleberry and Brian Johnson with Saturday night being a continuation of the close racing. In the first heat race, Bobby Ruff from Independence takes his first CMS heat victory this year with Chad Eickleberry from Warrensburg taking heat number two for his fifth win. In the final heat race with a side-by-side close finish, John Brooks from Warrensburg edges out Brian Johnson from Independence.
With the field set for the feature, Brooks takes the early lead with Ruff and Eickleberry in hot pursuit. After spins from Adam Parris and Joey Hotmer, Brooks, the many-time track champion maintains the early lead as Ruff and Eickleberry tangle for the second and third spot. After several re-starts and several good moves, Bryce McMillin moves into the third spot passing Eickleberry on the low side before McMillin almost loses his composure the front side. Then Eickleberry and Johnson take advantage along with hard charging Marc Carter from his 13th starting position into the top four with McMillin in fifth. Bobby Ruff from Independence takes the "Tough Luck" award of the night after a tire from the track hit by Eickleberry squirts up in front of him ending his night. Then Michael Mullins has a tough break when his car goes over onto its side off of turn two after McMillin's battery expires with his car done for the night. After a black flag incident with Eickleberry and Johnson on the front side, Eickleberry leaves the track for the night and loads up on the trailer.
As the laps counted down Brooks maintains his convincing lead and takes the drive into Waterloo Victory Lane with his third CMS feature win and his 264th career victory. Not far behind was Clayton Campbell with his first CMS appearance this year crossing the line in second with Carter, Brian Ziegler and Johnson finishing in the top-five.
Next weekend is Heartland Waste and Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety Race Night in Warrensburg. For additional information about Central Missouri Speedway call the Track Report line at (660) 747-2166 or visit the track's official Web site at www.centralmissourispeedway.net. Results, standings, the schedule of events with the latest updated track information, and John Lee, High Flyn-Photos are all available on the track Web site. You can also join us on Facebook or Twitter for weekly CMS updates, coupons and track news.
Business partners at Central Missouri Speedway include, Waterloo Storage Products, KOKO AM 1450 Radio , Comfort Inn - Warrensburg Station, KMMO Radio, LJS Graphics, the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, 98.5 FM The Bar, RSC Equipment Rental, Heartland Waste, KDKD FM 95.3, Bad Boy Mowers and Midwest Coating.
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