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Alan Miller
WARRENSBURG, Mo. (August 14) - The weather was somewhat more bearable on Saturday evening at Warrensburg's own Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) on KDKD Kids Night at the Races. The Missouri National Guard put on a fabulous show for the fans with an Apache Helicopter, HUMVEE and other vehicles on display for fans and kids to check out. Fans were entertained by the 77 drivers who competed in the track's four racing divisions, which include the 'mighty' modifieds, ULMA late models, street stocks, and b-modifieds. The sizeable field of drivers on hand raced in a total of 15 racing events that had the fans tracking their favorite drivers until the checkered flags of Hershel Thompson flew including some new and old faces in Waterloo Storage Products Victory lane.
In the ULMA late model division, Jason Bodenhamer was aiming for his eighth win this season at CMS. The other late model drivers were working hard to improve their race programs with Bodenhamer as the target. A total of 13 cars drove hard in heat races and during the main event to settle the score. In the first heat race, Lane Ehlert with his second heat win, along with Brian Pipes and Kevin Coyne were the first three to cross the finish line. Taking the checkers in heat race two was Brett Woods for his fourth triumph past Jason Bodenhamer and Jon Binning.
The feature event field was set with drivers more than ready for their 20-lap main event with Ehlert and Woods leading into turn one at the start of the race. Woods nearly spins out causing some problems for drivers behind him including Brian Pipes who had ended up with mechanical issues and had to leave the track. Ehlert quickly plants his machine at the front with Woods and Bodenhamer running close in second and third. A yellow flag slowed the field on laps four, on the re-start on four and on lap six with the top three running a close battle. The race turned into a survival race with several drivers including the seven-time winner, Bodenhamer leaving the track with mechanical problems. Jon Binning finally fights his way into the lead on lap 9 with a battle for second between Ehlert and Clancy. Then Binning maintains a comfortable lead for his second feature win of the year cruising to the win into a Waterloo Victory Lane finish. Ehlert has an incredible run in second. Clancy with an outstanding run into third. Woods had a strong finish came away in fourth ahead of Kevin Coyne with a damaged machine from an early race issue rounding out the top five.
Modified drivers competed this weekend knowing eight-time feature winner Dustin Boney would not be racing at CMS. Still facing some of the toughest drivers in the Midwest, 27 drivers registered to test their skills at the smooth high-banked clay oval. The opening heat race victories went to Rick Beebe in front of Jason Thompson and Richard Layne; in heat race two, David McVey takes the win for his first with a victory over Terry Schultz and James McMillin. Then in heat race three, Dean Wille was first with Jim Moody challenging for the lead in second and Randy Ainsworth third.
The highest passing points determined the front row starters with McVey and Schultz taking the front row. They led the field to the flying green flag at the start of the 20-lap feature with Earl Walls making the call to start 27 cars in the feature. McVey tried to dive into the low side on the start but Schultz takes the early lead with McVey second and Beebe in third. As they swapped the lead, Beebe drives hard into turn four on lap three and captures the top spot. Wille running in fifth slows in turn four with a rear suspension problem on lap seven for an early finish to his racing for the night. Behind the leader it was now Jim Moody, Schultz, McVey, and Richard Layne working hard inside the top five. A caution flag fell again on the field on lap 13 with Layne sliding hard into the infield with a flat tire. After several cautions for various mechanical problems, the veteran driver Beebe tried to keep Thompson and Moody behind him after several re-starts. On a lap 17 re-start, Moody, Thompson, McMillin, Steve Twenter, Tyler Schmidt and Mat Dotson drove into a major melee in turn one with all of the cars leaving the track with various degrees of damage to their machines. The race to the end was a test for Beebe with Bodenhamer closing in, but the 'rocket man' Beebe claims his first feature win of the year as Bodenhamer comes away with a solid second place finish. Schultz has a strong run into third-place run staying in the top five most of the night. Aaron Marrant works his way up from a 15th place start into fourth, and Randy Ainsworth for his best finish of the year takes fifth.
The Street Stocks have shown a steady improvement in the car count in a class where tracks have had a difficult time attracting a complete field of cars. On Saturday night, the drivers competed in 3 heat races with 18 drivers on hand using the passing points system to determine the feature lineup. In the three qualifying heats, heat race number one the winner was Michael Mullins over, Justin Seifert and Brian Ziegler; Herb Danner for his second win well ahead of Chad Eickleberry and Clayton Campbell for the win in heat two; the final heat race victory goes to Dean Wille in the John Brooks owned 49 Sr. machine, ahead of John Miller for a solid second place finish and Brian Johnson in third.
The front row was set with Mullins and Danner trying to lead the 15-lap street stock main event. They were unable to stay side by side for the start so they had to go to the tail of the field after two attempts at the start. Nate Barnes then winds up front and immediately drove hard to the low side of the track over Dean Wille and Brian Johnson in hot pursuit close behind. After several mid-race cautions for spins in turn two and four by Ziegler and Jay Barnes, another yellow caution flag is displayed for Bryce McMillin and Nate Barnes after a spin in turn two flew. Wille then takes the lead position on lap seven after a caution flag re-start. On lap 12, Johnson goes around in turn two for the third caution removing himself from the top three. In the end, it was the John Brooks, owned 49sr car with modified driver, Dean Wille winning feature number two of the year. Eickleberry attempts a late pass for the lead, but finishes second, Bryant Moyer takes third for his best finish this year, Justin Seifert third, Herb Danner from a last row start in 17th back into a top five finish.
The CMS b-modified field is full of young drivers and a few veterans that keep the fans in the seats to see who will come away with the Waterloo Storage Products Victory lane celebration. This season, the man to beat is Brad Smith, who had racked up seven feature wins at CMS in 2010. Another robust field of 19 cars competed in the evening's events which included three heat races that were won by Jacob Ebert for his fifth this season over Troy Carlyle, and Nic Bennett in heat one; Brad Smith for his eighth heat win, Ethan Isaacs, and Chris Brockway, topped heat event number-two; and the third heat went to Dalton Kirk with his second victory over Chris Whalen, and newcomer Ben Kates.
The b-mod main event lined up with Jacob Ebert and Brad Smith on pole position at the start of the 15-lap feature race. Smith shot out to the early lead and began pulling away from Ebert who stayed in second with Kirk third. An early yellow for Chris Brockway with mechanical problems made it an early night for the Warrensburg driver. Once the race resumed after the early race caution, Nic Bennett departed the track in turn 3 with several cars leaving the smooth tacky surface with flat tires throughout the early to mid race event. At lap ten, Smith was dominating the field as the laps started to count down with Kirk and Ebert attempting to close the gap. At the finish with the checkers flying, Smith from Belton picked up his eighth win of the year and CMS career win nineteen in dominating fashion. Kirk held on for second with Ebert , Troy Carlyle, and Ethan Isaacs completing the top five.
Next weekend Boys Scouts with proper ID will be able to purchase admission Tickets for just $5 and receive Missouri National Guard bags filled with school supplies and race related items on Midwest Coating Customer Appreciation and LJS Graphics Night at the Races.
At CMS, the action is exciting and close to the grandstands for excellent viewing. Drivers and fans love the quick running shows and fair rules for competition in all divisions with limited delays on the speedway. There are two sides of the speedway to choose from, both include full concessions and restrooms. The front side features the CMS Hammer Down Bar right off of Hwy 13. Our pit-side stands (non-alcoholic) are located next to the pit areas for our drivers and families. Weekly, the Pit gates swing open at 4:30 with grandstands opening at 5. Hot laps begin at 7, racing begins 7:30. For more information call the track report line at 660-747-2166 or visit us on the web at www.centralmissourispeedway.net for updated results, standings and photos from track photographer, John Lee, highfly-nphotos.com.
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