Winston, Mo (9-8-12) Open night allowed new drivers to run under their weekly track rules.  And four new faces visited Victory Lane after fighting off some hard charging regulars.
 
The IMCA Stock Car class still put on one of the best  races you will see around just as they do every week. Kevin Anderson, Jon Boller Jr and Jamie Shirm would have a fierce battle for the lead.
Anderson kept it throughout the entire race as Boller drifted back just a couple car lengths. Shirm tried the high side coming to the white flag but would push up the track giving the lead back to Anderson. But on the final time around turns 3 and 4 Shirm would find just the right line and swing pass Anderson for the win in his first ever appearance at I-35 Speedway. Anderson and Boller would finish second and third. Jeremiah Asher a VERY rare appearance in the stock class and finished fourth in front of Shawn Lee in fifth. Schirm gained two spots for the hard charger award.

The Grand National feature belonged to Travis Walker but about halfway thru Walker lost the right rear wheel and tire. That gave the lead and eventual win to Bud Wilson. Austin Johnson would try to keep pace but finished in second. Buz Kaster made a one race return to the Grand National class to finish third. Bobby Penney was fourth with Walker fifth. Kaster was the hard charger gaining two positions.

The Midwest Lightning Sprints have waited out the last two weeks of rainouts to race at I-35 Speedway again. The field quickly got sorted out and after pressure for half the race Bobby Layne held on for the
checkered flag. Phil Heavelow tried to find his way to the lead early but had to settle for second. Mark Billings, Ken Brown and Tony Layne rounded out the top five.
 
Maybe a preview of what's to come on October 6th saw Aaron Marrant and Nick Newton battle for the win in the SportMod/B Mod class. Marrant led every lap to pick up the win but Newton stayed within striking range the entire race. Clint Baker looked to have a better handling car than he has all year but just couldn't power down the straightaways like Marrant and Newton. Wes Bestgen is getting closer to the front every week and finished fourth with Anthony Asher looking much better finishing fifth. The hard charger award went to Ben Stockton who had problems in his heat but gained seven spots in the feature.
 
The Hobby Stock class was guaranteed to have a first time winner no matter what happened because none of the drivers signed in had ever won a Hobby Stock feature.  Eddie Ingram took the lead quick and proceeded to stretch that lead out over Shane Florence.  Florence would actually drift back to fourth midway thru the race but slowly started finding speed as he moved back up to third.  With just a few laps to go Ingram had a mechanical problem that left him sitting dead in turn one.  That gave the lead to Dave Truskett.  It looked like Truskett would hold onto the win but coming to the white flag, Florence snuck around the outside and took the win in a car that made it’s first ever appearance at I-35 Speedway.  Truskett held on for second. Thomas Odom made his first appearance of the year and finished third. Ingram and Desmond Theel finished fourth and fifth.  Truskett was the hard
charger.

A-Mod Heats courtesy of RacinDirt.com

The Modified class always brings out some very fast cars when the rules are opened up.  It was no different this time. Dennis Elliot had command of the feature the entire race. Aaron Marrant tried to stay on his back bumper but seemed to lose about a car length every lap. Steven Glenn looked like he might be able to run them down early but as the race went on he developed a push.  Which was the problem for Jim Cameron as he had a push right in the center of the corner most of the feature.  Elliott, Marrant, Glenn and Cameron would finish first thru fourth in that order.  The first time appearance for Buddy Benedict placed him fifth. Tyler Grooms moved the Jeff Stotts owned SportMod car up to the Modified class and picked up the hard charger award by gaining seven spots in the feature.

The Show-Me Vintage Racers will make their final appearance of the year this coming Saturday night.   Points championships are still up for grabs in every class with only three points nights left in 2012.  The Show-Me Spectacular season finale for the SportMods, Stocks, and Hobby Stock classes is scheduled for Saturday, October 6th, rules, registration, and pay is posted.  Visit our website at
www.I-35Speedway.net.

Chet Querry, PR