By I-35 Track Announcer
Mark Merrell
(Winston, Missouri)
A beautiful summer evening set the backdrop for another exciting night of racing At I-35 Speedway. The track not only hosted the 2nd annual Asphalt Drivers Reunion, bicycle races for the kids, as well as an action packed night of racing.
Prior to the running of the night’s heat races, the Out Pace USRA B-Mods began the night with a make up feature, after the rain out the week before. Doug Keller started from the pole next to the, ‘Wild-Child,’ Nic Hanes. As the green flag flew, Keller ran to the front. Behind him, Hanes, Jeff Elder, Randy Ainsworth, Chase Galvan, and Jeff Elder were hot in pursuit. Hanes and Ainsworth went after each other for second, dancing just behind the rear bumper of Keller, looking for the lead as well. Soon, Chase Galvan was in mix with Hanes, Ainsworth, and Keller, running just inches apart from each other. Keller fought hard to stay out front, and did so, racing to McCarthy Auto Group Winner’s Circle.
In the E-Mods, ‘Maddog’ Matt Dorssom has been the car to beat, especially if he starts the feature near the front of the pack. Dorssom, who actually prefers drag racing, has certainly tasted success this year At I-35 Speedway, racing to McCarthy Auto Group Winner’s Circle 9 times thus far. The night would certainly play well for Dorssom once again. Starting from inside row one, Dorssom was challenged by Shaunie Lanning during the early stages of the feature. Lanning has constantly finished in the top five week after week. However, Dorssom ran to the lead early, and never looked back, capturing his 10th feature win of the year.
The Show Me Vintage Racers always provide an interesting race. Damon Clevenger, with a feature win to his credit earlier this year at I-35 Speedway, started inside row three. Pole sitter Steve Rock had a solid start, as John Steenstry did as well. Clevenger, meanwhile, was threading his way through the pack, racing toward the front. Clevenger managed to get by Steenstry, but not without a fight. Clevenger eventually raced by Steenstry, earning Clevenger a 2nd trip thus far to McCarthy Auto Group Winner’s Circle.
In the The MIdwest Limited Late Models, the word has been Tommy Cordray. With 10 feature wins, Corday is the car every driver is looking for. That may soon be changing just a bit, as the division has been growing in numbers each week. Among those drivers is Bobby Penney. Featured on I-35 Speedway McCarthy Auto Group SpeedZone Show (Live Monday Nights @ 7pm), Penney brings a ton of experience, along with a competitive edge, tempered with patience, a difficult combination to achieve. Adding to the equation, Penney’s race team, and their experience, equals a winning combination. Matthew Lance started inside row one next to Cordray. Penney was inside row two next a another driver with 2nd generation experience and skill, Gregg Truelove. Both Truelove and Penney have a feature win each to their credit. As the green flag came out, Lance faced the heat of the pack behind him. Going into turn one, Penney went inside Lance, and Cordray raced to the high side cushion, resulting in a three-wide battle for the lead. Going into the backstretch, Penney and Cordray cleared Lance, and were side-side for the lead going into turn three. Lap after lap, Cordray and Penney raced next to each other. As the race progressed, Penney carried the momentum and lead by a narrow margin. Penney seemed to have the advantage, while Cordray continued to answer back. Penney, however, kept Cordray at bey, earning his 2nd feature win. Cordray finished second, but unfortunately, he was disqualified following a post race inspection, as was Mike Taylor, Jr, and John Willard III. Truelove ended up 2nd, with Chad Fuller 3rd, Matthew Lance 4th, and Allen Anders 5th.
Another driver that always seems to find McCarthy Auto Group Winner’s Circle is Ron ‘Monkey Man’ Hill. Starting from inside row one for the Pure Stock feature, everyone’s eyes were on Hill. Racing into turn one, Hill slowed dramatically, coming to a stop at the top of turn two, bringing out the caution flag. After a trip to the hot lane, Hill rejoined the field from the back. Brandon Dixon, who started outside Hill in row one, grasped his opportunity, racing to the front on the restart. Although he was challenged early, Dixon raced seemingly into another zip code, scoring his first feature victory of the year at I-35 Speedway. Just behind Dixon, was last week’s feature winner, Blaine Younts, with Rylee Fuller 3rd, Brad Sheetz 4th, And Bobby Ohrenburg 5th. Hill was caught up in a tangle before the race ended, again restarting from the back of the field. Hill managed a 7th place finish behind DJ Barnes.
The Sport Compacts put on an amazing show as well. Gregg Marrant started the feature inside row one, and raced to the lead. Not far behind were John Willard and David Miller III. Willard and Miller raced by Marrant to the front, setting up a duel between the pair for the win. In the closing stage of the race, Miller slipped by Willard in turn three. Willard made contact with Miller. Desperately, Miller fought for control and kept from spinning, but Willard raced by him for the apparent victory. Race officials penalized Willard for the errant contact, awarding Miller the win, his 5th feature victory of the year At I-35 Speedway. Willard finished 2nd, Marrant 3rd, Joesph Mick 4th, and Frank Reed 5th.
The Out Pace USRA Modifies have been a popular group. An ever expanding field of very skilled drivers consistently brings the fans to their feet. Case Galvan was super fast earlier in the night during the make-up feature (due to the ran out last Saturday night). Galvan started from the pole, but would soon find a hungry pack nipping at his bumper.
Tyler Cadwallader started outside of Galvan, but was beset by a mechanical issue racing down the backstretch during a caution flag restart, coming to a sudden stop. Unable after a few attempts to get a push-start, Cadwallader’s night came to a disappointing conclusion. As Galvan raced up front in the lead, everyone behind him were fighting tooth-and-nail for position. Tim Eaton, Shadren Turner, Jeff Elder, Randy Ainsworth, and Tim Galvan were in a high speed traffic jam for position. As the checkered flag flew, and the dust settled, Chase Galvan earned his 5th win of the year, with Turner 2nd, Eaton 3rd, Elder 4th, and Tim Galvan 5th. I-35 Speedway wishes to congratulate Tim and his girlfriend Hannah, as they were blessed earlier in the week, celebrating the birth of their new baby, Tanner.
When you talk American Racer Tires USRA Stock Cars at I-35 Speedway, Jeff Dixon’s name is certain to come up. Dixon, last year’s I-35 Speedway’s USRA Stock Car Champion is always a formidable force to overcome each week. Austin Bouzek started inside row one next to Greg Keuhn, with Dixon and Steve Herrick In row two.
Racing into turn one, Dixon went low, and Keuhn to the high side, with Bouzek in the middle, creating a three-wide battle for the lead racing out of turn two. Keuhn and Dixon raced by Bouzek, running side-by-side heading into turn three. Sam Scott raced up behind Bouzek heading into turn one. Scott, carrying a lot of momentum, made contact with Bouzek, sending him spinning around as the field scrambled around him to avoid contact, bringing out the caution flag. On the restart, Dixon went to the high side cushion, as Keuhn went low, and the pair were once again side-by-side for the front spot. By the next lap, Dixon took command of the top spot, with Keuhn 2nd, Bouzek 3rd, and Steve Herrick 4th. Herrick battled by Bouzek into third. A caution flag for a spin involving Thomas Ground in turn two set up the restart. Dixon was the lone occupant of row one. Keuhn chose the high side of row two, putting Herrick to his inside for the restart. Herrick, Keuhn, And Bouzek began a three way epic battle for second just behind Dixon.
Herrick made his way inside of Keuhn, and the pair were next to each other, racing for several laps, before Herrick made the pass for 2nd. Gene Stigall spun in turn two, as the caution flag flew. Herrick was just behind Dixon for the single file restart. Just passing the halfway point in the race, Dixon ran the high side cushion, while Herrick ran low, as the battle for the lead heated up. Herrick found the speed he was looking for, and was even with Dixon, who continued to run the top side. With two laps to go, Herrick was pulling just ahead of Dixon down the front stretch, but Dixon answered back with the lead by a narrow margin racing out of turn 2. Coming to the white flag, Herrick tried a slide job, and racing out of turn four, shut the door on Dixon. Herrick had the lead on the backstretch, but Dixon pulled even with him heading into turn 3. Racing out of the final turn, Herrick ran past Dixon, shutting the door once again, running to McCarthy Auto Group Winner’s Circle, earning his first feature victory of the year at I-35 Speedway In dramatic fashion.
The USRA A-Mods lined up for the final race of the evening. Last year’s track champion, Dennis Elliott was positioned inside row one, with Lee Hibner to his outside. As the race unfolded, it quickly became apparent that this would be another thrilling race, this time between Elliott and Hibner. Elliott went to the low side, with Hibner on the high side cushion. With the fans on their feet, neither driver seemed to have a clear advantage. Hibner would lead a lap or two by a narrow margin on the high side, and then Elliott would race to the inside, with a half of a car length lead. With just three laps remaining, the pair raced side-by-side into turn three, with Hibner on the high side, and Elliott down low. Suddenly, Hibner seemed to disappear on the other side of the banking, as he hooked his right rear tire on the berm, sending him off the track. To everyone’s amazement, Hibner kept his foot on the throttle, spraying a huge fantail of dirt behind him, as he raced back over the berm in turn four, and back on the track. Elliott screamed down the front stretch to the lead, with Hibner 2nd. Hibner tried valiantly to race up to Elliott to once again challenge for the lead, but time and laps were the avenger for Hibner, as Elliott raced to McCarthy Auto Group Winners Circle, capturing his 5th victory of the year At I-35 Speedway.
Next Saturday, I-35 Speedway will host, McCarthy Auto Group Kids Night At The Races. School Age Kids Will Receive A Backpack Filled With School Supples (First Come, First Severed. Limited Supply). The Night Will Feature The Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series Out Pace Products B-Mods, American Racer Tires Stock Cars, A-Mods, As Well As E-Mods, Pure Stocks, MIdwest Limited Late Models, Sport Compacts, With A Special Visit From The POWRi Midwest Lightning Sprint Cars, And The Show Me Vintage Racers.
I-35 Speedway Is Your Home For Dirt Track Racing At It’s Best!