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Sam Stoecklin
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (August 7) - Warrensburg's own Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) played host to another thrilling and up-close night of dirt racing action Saturday evening at the Fastest High-Banked Clay Oval in the Midwest. In a near perfect weather night when clear skies and warm summer weather dominated the skies, SrA William Scott from Whiteman AFB kicked off the night in fine style with the National Anthem. Fans in the stands witnessed the exciting action provided by the 78 drivers who showed up to compete in the track's four racing divisions, which include the 'mighty' modifieds, ULMA late models, street stocks, and b-modifieds. The large field of drivers on hand raced in a total of 17 events that had the fans in the stands cheering on their favorite drivers until the final checkered flag of the night flew just over three hours later.
Over in the ULMA late model ranks, Jason Bodenhamer had risen to the pinnacle of the overall ULMA standings with six feature wins heading into the night. For Saturday night's racing, drivers set their sights on 'Bodee' to come away with the win as 13 cars took to the track for heat races and the main event. In the opening heat race, Steve Clancy, Dave Meyer, and Jon Binning were the first three to cross the line as heat race number two went to Jason Bodenhamer over Brett Wood and Lane Ehlert.
The main event starting grid was now determined with drivers strapped in for their 20-lap main event with Bodenhamer and Clancy leading the way from the onset. Bodenhamer quickly shot to the lead with Clancy and Dave Meyer running close for second. Yellow flags slowed the field on laps four, five, and eight with the top three running unchanged through each incident. The race went green until lap fourteen when hard contact between Clancy and Test slowed the race once again with Clancy unable to continue the race. Just as the race appeared to be clear to the checkers, Meyer spun in turn one with Binning unfortunately being collected in the incident. Binning's night came to an end on the hook after his car was unable to continue due to the incident along with Meyer who was also unable to finish. With just three laps to go, Bodenhamer again kept the field behind him with new second place runner Lane Ehlert now in second with Brett Wood recovering to third after earlier getting into one of the corner uke tires. With his seventh win of the year, Bodee cruised to the win at the conclusion of the event with Lane Ehlert having a fantastic run to second in his CRATE late model #42 after traveling all the way from Forristel, Missouri. Bob Test bided his time, thought about the bigger picture, and definitely saved valuable points and recovered for an outstanding run to third with a damaged machine. Brian Pipes had his best run of the year and came away fourth ahead of Dustin Walker and Brett Wood rounding out the top six.
Heat Race # 1
1st- 12c- Steve Clancy, Odessa
2nd- 9- Dave Meyer, Concordia
3rd- 65- Jon Binning, Warrensburg
Heat Race # 2
1st- 88- Jason Bodenhamer, Centerview
2nd- 7- Brett Wood, Warrensburg
3rd- 42- Lane Ehlert, Foristell
Feature
1- 88- Jason Bodenhamer, Centerview
2- 42- Lane Ehlert, Foristell
3- 1- Bob Test, Jefferson City
4- 28- Brian Pipes, Lone Jack
5- 4w- Dustin Walker, Peculiar
6- 7- Brett Wood, Warrensburg
7- 54- Jimmy Jobe, Odessa
8- 9- Dave Meyer, Concordia
9- 65- Jon Binning, Warrensburg
10- 12c- Steve Clancy, Odessa
11- 00- Zach Green, Higginsville
12- 68- John Pipes, Oak Grove
DNS- 45- Bob King, Independence
Modified drivers brave enough to compete with the best in the business at CMS know that when they suit up at this track they will face the toughest field of fellow modified racers in the entire Midwest. The weekly $1,000-to-win cash payout to the winner consistently draws a superior field of cars and this night was no exception as it took 4 heat races and a b-main event to determine the 24-car starting lineup. The preliminary heat race victories went to Rick Beebe ahead of Aaron Marrant and James McMillin; for heat race two, Dustin Boney continued his winning ways with a win over Terry Schultz and Jason Bodenhamer and for heat race three, Jason Thompson was first with Austin Siebert second and David Barker third. The final heat race winner was Jamie Ragland ahead of Steve Twenter and Dean Wille. A modified b-main sorted out the final few starting positions for the main event and it was Robbie Test leading the way over Randy Ainsworth and Jim Reid.
The stage was set for the 20-lap feature event and front row starters Thompson and Boney, the only two drivers to visit victory lane in the modifieds this year, led the field to the drop of the green flag. With a $100 bounty on Boney if someone else could come away with the win, Thompson tried to go for the lead on the start but Boney powered his way into the lead with Thompson second and Rick Beebe third. Behind the leading trio it was Jamie Ragland, Marrant, and Dean Wille holding strong inside the top six. A caution flag period fell on the field on lap five for debris and again on lap eight also for debris. At the halfway point, a scary incident with Jim Reid in the #91 machine took place as his car flipped several times off of the turn three and four area; thankfully, Jim Reid was okay after the incident as his car came to rest on its roof. With ten laps down and ten to go, Boney again took the green flag on the restart but another caution flew when Bodehamer experienced problems as David Barker was unable to avoid his slowed car, both drivers were unable to continue after the contact. Once the field went to green condition, the race was smooth sailing to the end with Boney taking his eighth feature race win of the year as Jason Thompson was able to come away with a strong second place finish to pad his point lead. Jamie Ragland came away with a third-place run all the way from Lebanon, Missouri with defending champion Aaron Marrant fourth, Beebe fifth, and Luke Feeback who started thirteenth, rounding out the top six.
Last week the Street Stocks had a rough and tumble week with sheet metal and a multitude of flags flying over the field. On this night, a surprise visitor in the street stock division made his appearance as the drivers competed in 3 heat races among the 17 drivers on hand with passing points determining the 15-lap feature lineup. For the three qualifying heats, Michael Mullins held off Brian Johnson for the win in heat one with Brian Ziegler third; heat race number two winner was Dustin Boney over Marc Carter, and Bryant Moyer; the final heat race win went to Clayton Campbell ahead of T.J. Faulkenberry, and Chad Eickleberry.
The front row was occupied by Dustin Boney and Clayton Campbell for the street stock main event, which was delayed at the start by a fuel leak that had to be burned off before the race could get underway. Once the track was deemed safe, it was Boney immediately taking command over Campbell and Johnson in hot pursuit. Two caution periods flew on the field throughout the race with Eickleberry, Johnson, Carter, and Bobby Ruff swapping positions throughout the duration of the race. John Brooks, owner of the 49sr car has four wins in the street stock he owns, Dean Wille has also visited victory lane in the same car at CMS and on this night, it was Dustin Boney who drove the car to the win in the Brooks Auto LLC machine. The finish was a wild one as cars were backwards and into the wall as the checkered flag flew. Coming away with second was Campbell ahead of Carter, Eickleberry, Mullins and Johnson in the top six.
The CMS b-modified field is full of young drivers and a couple of 'grey beard' veterans that keep the fans guessing who will come away with the victory. Lately, the man to beat is one of the veterans, Brad Smith, who had racked up six feature wins at CMS so far in 2010. Another full field of 20 cars competed in the night's action which included heat races that were won by Chris Brockway over Jacob Ebert, and Nic Bennett in heat one; Brad Smith, Lucas Isaacs, and A.J. Tice finished one-two-three in heat two; and the final heat went to Chris Whalen over Mark Evinger, and Ethan Isaacs.
The b-mod main event lined up with Smith and Brockway on pole position as the green flag flew to kickoff the start of the 15-lap feature race. Smith quickly shot out to the lead as he's done many times this season and began pulling away from Jacob Ebert who took second from Brockway after the initial green flag flew. Several cars were forced to leave the track early in the main event with various mechanical issues due to multi-car incidents on the speedway. Once the race resumed after an early race caution, Smith continued dominating with Ebert second until a red flag flew for an incident on the track with Gary Fain, Brian McGill, and John Thomason, all drivers were okay in the multi-car incident at the start of lap six with Thomason and McGill out for the night. As the green flew once again another quick yellow flew on the field in another attempt to get the race finished. Six laps were down at this point with Smith still in command as Brockway and Ebert battled for second. One more yellow fell on the field but it wasn't enough to keep Smith from picking up his seventh win of the year in dominating fashion. Chris Brockway held on for second with Mark Evinger, Jacob Ebert, Ethan Isaacs and Nic Bennett rounding out the top six.
The annual kid's night at the races events for Warrensburg's own Central Missouri Speedway will take place next Saturday, on August 14 featuring goodie bags for all kids up to 12 years old and foot races in boys and girls divisions on the speedway front stretch! If you would like to donate items for kid's night such as small school supplies, candy, small toys, racing-related items or giveaways for the kids, please drop them off at the pit entrance at the track prior to the races. On kid's night, all children twelve years and under will receive a free hot dog and drink courtesy of track promoters Earl and Susan Walls. The kids may also participate in foot races in five different age groups for boys and girls on the speedway during the intermission-time break. Every child 12 and under attending the kid's night races will go home with a goodie bag stuffed full of various school supplies, race-related items, candy, and small toys, all donated by various drivers and fans.
Remaining CMS Schedule
Aug 14 KDKD FM 95.3 Radio and MO Army National Guard Kid's Night
Aug 21 Midwest Coating and L.J.S. Graphics Night at the Races, All Divisions,
$5 Admission for Boy Scouts!
Aug 28 Fan Appreciation Night, Weekly Racing, All Divisions
*Annual Labor Day Weekend Special*
Sept 3 (Friday) - $1,500-to-win B-Modifieds plus Night 1 Modified Qualifying
Sept 4 (Saturday) - $3,000-to-Win Modifieds plus ULMA Late Models and Street Stocks
Sept 10 (Friday) ASCS/WoW Sprint Cars with 600cc Micro Midget, Jesse Hockett Tribute
Sept 11 Waterloo Storage Products Race Night, Season Championships in All Divisions
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