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Sam Stoecklin
SEDALIA, Mo. (August 17) - It was a long night at the Missouri State Fair Speedway thanks to a couple red-flag incidents on the speedway and Mother Nature, as she tried to spoil the Tuesday night action at the Historic Half Mile during the 2010 Missouri State Fair sponsored by Triple A Services. Two rain delays lengthened the evening but the speedway staff, along with the help of several drivers was able to bring the track back to life each time due to their dedicated efforts so the hearty crowd in the Pepsi grandstands could witness a full night of racing action.
The ULMA late model championship standings heading into the night's topless special event saw Jason Bodenhamer, Bob Test, Jon Binning, and Vance Wilson all looking to improve one of their season's fifteen starts. In early heat race action the eighteen cars on hand tried to make their way to the front of the feature lineup. Wilson claimed the opening heat over Bodenhamer, who advanced six spots to second. Walt Imhoff, Dustin Vance, and Brett Wood completed the top five. For the second heat, young driver Gordy Gundaker, son of legendary Missouri racer Kevin Gundaker, came away with the victory over Test, Kevin Coyne, Shawn Rayfield, and Dustin Walker.
After the near flawless late model heat races the drivers were hoping for the same for their main event with Bodenhamer and Vance starting from the front after earning the most passing points in their respective heats. From the start, Wilson quickly grabbed the lead but Bodenhamer stuck right with him until a lap three caution slowed the field. Once racing resumed, Bodenhamer used the high side in turn two to power his way to the front leaving Wilson in second by lap five. The race ran smoothly for several more laps as Bodenhamer and Wilson waged the battle for the win until a lap fourteen caution again slowed the field. Unfortunately right at the same time, Bodenhamer's car, which had been smoking for several laps, was forced to leave the speedway with motor problems ending his night. At the same time, Test also experienced motor woes and also exited the race after running third the entire race. With the top two in ULMA points out of the event, Steve Clancy, Kevin Coyne, and Gundaker found themselves right in the thick of things for the win. The green flag waved again but another caution flew for Brett Wood and Bob King in turn four and again for Walt Imhoff before the race made it to lap seventeen. The final event of the night had a rough ending with late-race cautions flying over the field. It didn't matter for Wilson though as he took home the win and the $1,000 payday. Clancy and Gundaker took their battle for second right down to the wire with Clancy narrowly claiming the spot in a photo finish for second with Gundaker third. Coyne had a strong run to fourth with Jon Binning fifth and Trace Westling rounding out the top six.
For the Mid America Modified Series (MAMS), twenty-eight cars were on hand with some of the stiffest competition seen all year playing out in the three heat races to set the stage for the 20-lap main event. NASCAR star and TV personality Kenny Wallace was on hand in his modified to run in the topless race night and he went away with the victory in heat race number one over Jim Moody who advanced seven spots to take second with Steve Payne Nick Bidinger and Steve Potter close behind. Dustin Boney grabbed heat two over Austin Siebert, Terry Schultz, Jason Thompson, and Justin Boney. The final heat win was claimed by Aaron Poe ahead of Brian Bolin, Dean Wille, Matt Dotson, and Mickey Burrell.
For the twenty-lap feature event Moody and D. Boney led the field to the green with Boney quickly grabbing the lead as he's done so many times this year at several different speedways. The lead duo was quickly joined at the front by Wallace who made his way to second early on in the event relegating Moody to third. Through lap eight the race was extremely competitive until Dean Wille had a scary moment in corner two as his car flipped and ended up on its roof bringing out the red flag. Shad Badder was also involved in the incident, in which both drivers walked away unhurt from their badly damaged cars. Once the field took the green the man on the move was sixteenth starting Chad Lyle who rocketed his way into the top four with Jason Thompson also advancing several positions towards the front in the first eight laps. Wallace maintained second position with Siebert third through the mid stage of the race. Around the halfway point of the race Lyle took second away from Wallace and set his sights on Boney out front. Moody suffered mechanical issues and was unable to finish the event after running in the top three. When it all was said and done, Dustin Boney was able to hold off the hard-charging car of Chad Lyle's for the win, Lyle crossed the line second with Thompson advancing to third, Wallace fourth, Siebert fifth, and Johnny Fennewald making his way all the way to sixth at race end.
There is still one more night of exciting action scheduled during the 2010 Missouri State Fair, which will take place Sunday evening, August 22. Advanced race night tickets are now on sale by calling 800.796.6776 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com for the event. Same night race tickets may also be purchased at the Pepsi Grandstand ticket booth on the night of the races. The MLRA and NCRA super late models come rolling into town along with the Winged Outlaw Warriors 360 Sprint Cars this Sunday! Admission gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 5:30 and racing at 6. General admission for Sunday is $18, Senior Citizens (65+) and Military w/I.D. $15, Kids 6 - 12: $8, Kids 5 and under are free. Note: mention of driver's name in any car class does not guarantee driver appearance. For more information, event details, admission prices and past results visit the speedway's official website at www.missouristatefairspeedway.com.
During MLRA's last appearance at the track on June 25, a stellar feature event unfolded on the big half-mile track between eventual winner Terry Phillips and runner-up finisher Eric Turner in what many remember as being one of the best late model races in recent memory. Additional competitors to watch for according to MLRA's website at www.mlraracing.com include Dave Eckrich, Brad Looney, Al Purkey, Joe Kosiski, Chris Spieker, Bill Koons, Chad Simpson, Evan Hubert, and Jeremy Payne. If present, the aforementioned drivers will have to battle previous Subway Late Model feature winners at the speedway from this year including Alan Vaughn, David Turner, and Matt Johnson. Joining the MLRA super late models in the co-sanctioned event will be the NCRA super late models. According to NCRA's website at www.ncraracing.org, drivers currently residing at the top of the point standings or who have competed this year include point leader Kelly Boen, Cory Zeitner, Kyle Berck, Gary Christian, Mike Wiarda, Delbert Smith, and Denny Eckrich.
ULMA Feature Results
1) B1 Vance Wilson, 2) 12c Steve Clancy, 3) 11 Gordy Gundaker, 4) 22 Kevin Coyne, 5) 65 Jon Binning, 6) 7w Trace Westling, 7) 2 Dustin Vance, 8) 98 James Stafford, 9) 3a John Farmer, 10) 4w Dustin Walker, 11) 16 David Gemes, 12) 69 Walt Imhoff, 13) 88b Jason Bodenhamer, 14) 7 Brett Wood, 15) 45 Bob King, 16) 1 Bob Test, 17) Shawn Rayfield, DQ 50 Matt Menzie (light at the scales)
MAMS Modified Feature Results
1) 22 Dustin Boney, 2) 96 Chad Lyle, 3) 20 Jason Thompson, 4) 36 Kenny Wallace, 5) 16 Austin Siebert, 6) 21 Johnny Fennewald, 7) 90 Terry Schultz, 8) x2 Brian Bolin, 9) 55 Steve Payne, 10) 813 Justin Boney, 11) 34a Jason Bodenhamer, 12) 73 Mickey Burrell, 13) 13 Aaron Poe, 14) 26k Gary Blackburn, 15) 11p Curt Potter, 16) 3b Nic Bidinger, 17) 88d Matt Dotson, 18) 39 Luke Driskell, 19) 1p Steve Potter, 20) 99 Richard Kimberling, 21) 97 John Rathgeber, 22) 8 Mack hoover, 23) 8x John O'Neil, 24) 68 Dean Wille, 25) 73b Shad Badder, 26) 00 Jim Moody, 27) 42 Daulten Greven, 28) L75 Eddie Whitney
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