Photo: PictureMeRacing
 

Winston, Mo (9-22-12)-Most of the features were won by the driver who led the most laps. But the race results aren't final just because the checkered flag waved.

The IMCA Stock Car class Butch Bass took the lead from lap one. Brad Whitney and Kevin Anderson looked to be the only two drivers who might have something for Bass. But Anderson spun early so that left it up to Whitney. Bass would get pressure from Whitney almost every lap but kept hitting his spots to keep the lead. When the feature was over Bass had accepted the trophy and drove back to his pit without going to tech. Rules state you must go directly to tech, so he was DQed in only his second appearance at I-35 Speedway. That gave Whitney the win. Anderson would put on a clinic on how to rebound from an early spin. He found the high side when the green flag came back out and proceeded marching past cars every lap. At the checkered flag Anderson had climbed back to what ended up being second place. Gene Stigall was in solid striking range the entire feature but couldn't find a spot to pass and ended up third. Shawn Lee had a great run by staying out of trouble and being fast finishing in fourth. John Crews has stayed strong since his win a few weeks ago and finished fifth. Lee also started shotgun on the field and won the hard charger by gaining 11 spots.

The Grand National class was up next. Travis Walker took the early lead. But after a few laps it looked like his car just wouldn't grab the track. Chad Clancy found the cushion up high and drove into the lead. Clancy could pull ahead a car length on Walker every lap to go on and win his second feature in the Grand National class this year. Walker was second. 14 year old Austin Johnson was third. Donnie Brown made a rare appearance to finish fourth with Randy Grimmett, driving for the first time in several years, finishing fifth. Clancy was the hard charger.

The Midwest Lightning Sprints made their final appearance for the 2012 season at I-35 Speedway. That gave Phil Heavelow bragging rights. Heavelow led every lap and won the feature. Bobby Layne finished second with Mark Billings third. Those three were spread out pretty good from each other. Mark K Billings held off Tony Layne for fourth.

The IMCA SportMod class had the only repeat winner from last week. Wes Bestgen jumped out to the lead from the start. Tony Manley battled with Jeremy Pittsenbarger right behind Bestgen. But bad luck bit them all. Manley would spin. Pittsenbarger would have contact with another car and break the front end and Bestgen's bad luck continued. Doug Keller has found the right setup for I-35 Speedway. Keller took the lead around midway in the feature. He never looked back and picked up his second straight feature win. Randy Ainsworth was very patient and took his time moving into second where he finished. Dustin Miller started on the front row but quickly drifted back to around eighth. But when everybody got settled in Miller started shaking off the slow start and passing cars to finish third. Clint Baker and Truman Asher were not very far apart the entire feature and finished fourth and fifth. Caleb Dennis started 19th and finished 8th to win the hard
charger award.

Jamie Songer had a great run last week in his first appearance at I-35 Speedway. He pressured Lee Farmer every lap. This week Songer reversed the roles. Songer got the lead immediately and held off all challenges. Most of the race the challenges came from Eric Stanton. It took Stanton about four laps get cleared in second. With just a couple laps left Stanton took the lead but Songer didn't let him go. On the next lap Songer grabbed the lead back and went on to win with Stanton right on his bumper. Andy Coffman and Curt Reed took third and fourth. Andrew Hustead spent several laps battling to the outside of Stanton and even taking second midway thru the feature but drifted back the last couple laps to finish fifth. Stanton took the hard charger award gaining six spots.

In the IMCA Modified feature it was all Jim Hopkins. Hopkins took the lead from the pole and never even got any challenges as he pulled away more every lap. Hopkins got his first win in a couple years. Steven Glenn battled the entire feature to be in second or to hang onto second. Darren Shaw, in the Yancy Shepard car, found his way thru the pack to third with Cory Wray and Johnny McGinnis in fourth and fifth. Wray was the hard charger.

This Saturday is Championship night. The fast guys will start up front and try to prove why they belong up front. Don't forget about the Show-Me Spectacular coming up on October 6th. For rules and registration visit I-35speedway.net.

Dirt Trackin' at its best at I-35 Speedway.

Chet Querry PR