I-35 Speedway would have our Veterans stand and be recognized not knowing what Donnie Brown Racing and I-35 Speedway had in mind for them on this night. Together Donnie and I-35 would give free admission tickets for the racing on 6/17/2017 to all Veterans in attendance as they were recognized. Special thanks to Donnie Brown, driver of #26 Grand National and I-35 Speedway for making this happen!
Starting the night of great racing action were the always entertaining E-Modifieds. Heat race winner Randy Smith Jr #75X would use a front row starting spot to take the lead and never relinquish picking up the win. Smith would be challenged late by a charging Ben Stockton #33s who found his way through the field placing second. Other heat race winner Chris Mercer #13 would be the big mover of the race placing third and picking up the Hard Charger money donated by Josh Barnes Enterprises. Fourth would see a great run by Jeffrey Sears #13J with Gary Ainsworth rounding out the night’s top five.
Show-Me Vintage Racers would be in attendance and see great racing action from start to finish with heat race winners Darren Shaw #30 and Leroy Holler #29 battling it out. Shaw would take the early lead and set a blistering pace appearing to be the car to beat until the last lap as Holler would look to the inside. As they came to the checkers, the two would bump and bang with Holler winning by mere inches on this night of competition. Shaw would place second with Jim Clevenger #76 third. Fourth place would belong to Steve Hughs #01 with BB Tex placing a solid fifth on the night.
Pure Stock would roar to the track with different drivers taking their turn in the lead only to slip and tag to the back. As the laps would start to fade, heat race winner Colten Ishmael #17i would have the lead until other heat winner Cletus Murray #21M would run the low line to perfection taking the front. Murray would not be denied and celebrate the win in McCarthy Auto Group Winners Circle with Ishmael a very close second. Beau Wells #555 would hit his stride late and place third with 02X Jim Masoner Jr fourth and Tim Hoselton #22H fifth on this night of competition.
Grand National would see action packed racing as Travis Walker #71 would set the pace to beat early pulling out front. Walker would steadily pull away from the field and on to victory picking up win number one of the 2017 racing season. Billie Hoover #97 would be in the hunt for the lead the entire feature placing second with Marty Powell #9P third. Fourth place would go to heat race winner Chad Fuller #0R with Ronnie Miller #98 recovering from an early race mishap to place fifth.
Midwest Lightning Sprints would be low in number and high in quality as we would witness a first time winner in victory lane. Ryan Secrest #94 would take the lead and never look back picking up his first win ever and celebrate in McCarthy Auto Group Winners Circle. Heat race winner Jason Billups #2 would challenge the entire race but have to settle for second as this night belonged to Secrest. Third would go to Hall of Famer Bobby Layne #01 with Kyle Lewis #2K fourth and Anthony Logston #2L fifth.
USRA B-Modifieds would not disappoint the large crowd in attendance as they raced to the checkers. Heat race winner Chris Wright #66X and Shadren Turner #17T would battle out front early with Turner taking the top spot until heat race winner Steven Clancy #12C would take the front and set the pace. As the laps would wind down Doug Keller #7 would emerge from the pack as a challenger and move past Clancy on the high side only to see the caution fly and reset the field moving Clancy bank to the point setting up a green white checker finish. On the ensuing restart Clancy would not be denied and lead the remaining laps picking up the feature win. Keller would finish second moving Turner to place third. Fourth would belong to another heat race winner Ed Noll #15 with Danan Knott #18K a very close fifth.
As the great racing action would continue, USRA Stock Cars would not see the caution inn there feature event. Heat race winner Dean Wray #77 would use the high line to take the lead and never relinquish on his way to McCarthy Auto Group Winners Circle. Mich Ross #34X would edge other heat race winner Jay Barnes #19 at the line to take second moving Barnes to third. Big mover of the race was Jon Boller Jr #20X as he would run down the leaders but run out of laps placing fourth with Keith Simmons #5K rounding out the nights top five.
ULMA Late Models would make their first visit to I-35 Speedway this 2017 racing season and see a first time winner. Dylan Hoover #6 would win both heat race and feature on this night of competition picking up his first ever feature win. Larry Ferris #51 would end the night second with Cody Holtkamp #23 a very close third. Tommy Cordray #5 would finish the feature fourth holding Aaron Marrant #1X to place fifth. Other heat race winner was #173 of Shad Badder.
USRA Modified would put on a great race in their 20 lap feature event. As the race would turn green on the field, heat race winner Cory Wray #69N would take the lead only to see Dennis Elliott #29 and other heat race winner Zach Sanders #69 right on his bumper. Elliott would thread the needle taking the lead holding the rest of the field at bay. Sanders would charge to the front challenging Elliott only to slip and fade through the field late with Elliott marching on to claim his second win of 2017. Cory Wray would stay at the front finishing second with Chad Clancy #21C having an impressive run placing third. Fourth would see Shane Lawson #17$ with fifth belonging to Bud Wilson #96J. Other heat race winner was Darren Shaw #11.
Heartland Missions and Motorsports Kids Power Wheels would see action during our short Intermission with Frankie Baker picking up the 6 volt win and Creed “the Racin Mason” Wilson winning the 12 volt division.
I-35 Speedway would like to thank all drivers and fans for another great night of racing action. See everyone next Saturday Night as the Poweri Sprint Cars roar into town!