Nate Barnes, Fuqua, Kyle & Higley All Victorious

KANSAS CITY, KS (July 7, 2012) – The temperature was in the triple digits all day long in the Kansas City area and it was no surprise that Lakeside Speedway had triple digits in race cars on Friday night for Capitol Federal Night at The Races!

The 12th race of the season marked the halfway point in the Budweiser Season Points Championship. All the championships are still up for grabs, but it is getting down to “go time!”

The Factory Stock division at Lakeside Speedway has seen the most parody in 2012. Heading into Friday night’s races there have been 9 different winners in 11 features. After the races fans can add a new name on the list, Nate Barnes (Kearney, Mo), as winner #10 out of 12 in the class.

It was wild beginning to the feature event. Several yellows came out before they could get a single lap in. A characteristic that doesn’t go with the Factory Stock division. The feature would gain some steam on a restart on lap 1. Jay Barnes (Kearney, Mo), brother of Nate, jumped out to the lead. The competition wasn’t far behind as Joe Smith Jr. (KCK), Nate Barnes, Brett Heeter (KCK) and others were running the leader down and applying pressure.

Nate Barnes made his way by Smith to take over the 2nd spot. Working the high side of the track the two Barnes boys would go side by side past the flag stand. If battling each other in a heat race a week ago were any indication of how hard these two were going to race each other, the fans were starting to get excited.

The race wasn’t as close as many hoped. After Nate took the lead from Jay, he put a big lead on the rest of the field. It was a big lead, until a late race yellow came out setting up the 3 lap shootout to the finish. Everything that Nate had worked for in the feature, would now come down to him hanging on for the win. On the restart he would have to fight off several drivers who had already won features in 2012. Could Nate Barnes pull it off?

As the green flag waved in the air, Barnes took out in front of the field one more time. On the last 3 laps he would build his lead back up again and take the checkered flag for his 1st win of the 2012 season.

Jay Barnes would hold on for 2nd, giving the Barnes Boys a 1,2 finish in the feature, 3rd was Caleb Mclellan (KC, MO), 4th went to Jason Ryun (KC, MO) and rounding out the top 5 was Darrin Christy (KCK), who drove from 23rd in the feature to finish 5th.

Next Friday night the USMTS Modifieds will be racing at Lakeside Speedway. A few new drivers showed up to get a test and tune session in before next week’s $5,000 to win show. At the end of the night it was a Lakeside regular standing in the Johnsonville Victory Lane, Darron Fuqua (Mayetta).

It wasn’t long ago that Fuqua raced to his 1st win at Lakeside Speedway. This season he has garnered some nice finishes, but he has also suffered some poor finishes. It’s hard to avoid mechanical problems, wrecks etc. If it weren’t for those troublesome nights, Fuqua might be a little closer to Tim Karrick (Basehor), the points leader in the division. The only thing that Fuqua can do now is go and run hard every week and hope for the best in his quest for a championship. He would probably tell you that it sure feels good to win.

Cody Agler (Emporia), the 3 time feature winner in 2012, blasted to the early lead in the feature. Agler and Nic Bidinger (Perry) hooked up and gave the fans a lot of excitement as the two went back and forth at the top spot. Each driver worked the other over, but they gave each other a lot of room on the speedway. Bidinger chose to use the low line and Agler worked the high line. The lead would go back and fourth between the two drivers.

A restart would bunch the field back up, but Agler and Bidinger would go back and battle at the front of the field. Fuqua and Karrick were also heading to the front after starting the feature in the 5th row. Fuqua would be the first to reach the top 2 cars. Late in the race the battle at the front now included all three drivers for the top spot. As Bidinger went low, Agler went high, that left the middle for Fuqua. Three wide the top 3 went by the flag stand. They would stay that way until the exit of turn two. Agler and Fuqua emerged from the cloud of smoke and by the time they hit the start finish line again, Fuqua was the new leader.

Once at the front of the field, Fuqua extended his lead over the competition. Just like the Factory Stock feature, a late race yellow would set up another dash to the finish. It wouldn’t have much effect on the outcome. Fuqua was on a mission tonight as he sprinted to his 2nd win of the season.

Bidinger finished in the runner-up spot, points leader, Karrick finished 3rd, Joe Walker (Harrisonville, Mo) finished 4th after staying in the top5 all night long and Richie Gustin (Gilman, Ia) drove to a 5th place finish.

If you are looking for a hot driver at Lakeside Speedway look no further than Mike Higley (Tecumseh). Last week he raced his way to 2 victories that became his 3rd and 4th wins on the season. Friday night with Gene Claxton (KCMO) and Jake Richards (KCK) on the front row and Higley in the 4th row, it wasn’t going to be an easy task to get win #3 in a row.

Claxton got off to a good start. Higley also got off to a good start, but a couple of good drivers stood in his way of Claxton and that top spot.

Mike Ryun (Pleasant Valley, MO) would be the first battle for Higley. It would take a couple of laps, Higley would win that battle and moved closer to the top spot. The next driver challenged by Higley was the former Grand National Champion, Chad Clancy (Smithville, Mo). This battle would take a little longer for Higley to win, but he would move into the 2nd spot and then diverted all of his focus to the leader, Claxton.

On a restart, Claxton and Higley would square off. Just like the features on the night, one driver chose the low line on the track, Claxton, and the other would take the high line, Higley. The high line allowed for more momentum on this night and Higley would drive by Claxton on the outside to take the lead. After taking the lead it would be win number 5 for Higley at Lakeside this season and more importantly his 3rd in a row.

Claxton finished in the 2nd spot, Terry Bruner (Shawnee) stormed from 22nd in the feature to finish 3rd, 4th went to Richards and Clancy would round out the top 5 in 5th.

The Grand National division is providing for some great racing at Lakeside Speedway. Competitors in this class seemed to be getting faster week after week. Friday night it was a repeat winner celebrating in victory lane, Ben Kyle (Gardner).

Kyle, who started the feature on the outside of row number 1, worked the middle and bottom half of the track to perfection. All night long Kyle looked to have the fastest car in the class. He would extend his lead lap after lap on the way to win #2 on the season.

Mike Busby (KCMO), who finished 2nd, stayed somewhat close to the leader, Kyle, but the two of them had a huge lead on the rest of the competition.

It was a solid run for the 3rd place car of Tim Shields (KCMO), Mike Taylor Jr. (KCMO) scored the 4th place finish and rounding out the top 5 in 5th was Kelby Ostrander (Oskaloosa).

The action heats up again next week in a non points night. The USMTS Modifieds, USRA Ironman B Mods will join the Lakeside Speedway Factory Stocks for night of racing with big money on the line.

Modifieds – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 9 87 Darron Fuqua Mayetta , Ks 50.00
2 7 15 Nic Bidinger Perry , Ks 48.00
3 10 1K Tim Karrick Basehor , Ks 46.00
4 8 13 Joe Walker Harrisonville , Mo 44.00
5 14 0X Richie Gustin Jr Gilman , Ia 42.00
6 12 16S Matt Johnson Kc , Mo 40.00
7 5 77 Cody Agler Emporia , Ks 38.00
8 15 34A Aaron Marrant Orrick , Mo 36.00
9 6 3 Larry “bubba” Harvey, Jr. Kansas City, Ks 34.00
10 18 90 Terry Schultz Sedalia , Mo 32.00
11 11 34 Mark Schafman Edwardsville , Ks 30.00
12 4 81 Tom Charles Bonner Springs, Ks 28.00
13 17 0 Joe Cobb Kansas City, Ks 26.00
14 19 30 Dalton Kirk , Ks 24.00
15 22 5R Dillon Rowland Kansas City, Ks 22.00
16 21 28L Nick Little Plattsburg , Mo 20.00
17 13 99 Tim North, Jr. Olathe , Ks 18.00
18 3 14B Darren Bennett Tonganoxie , Ks 16.00
19 23 96 Danny Barker – 14.00
20 20 28 Jerry Liston, Jr. Kansas City, Ks 12.00
21 1 81J Dan Charles Basehor , Ks 10.00
22 16 39 Luke Driskell Stilwell , Ks 8.00
23 2 4J Jake Richards Kansas Ctiy, Ks 6.00

Grand National – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 45 Ben Kyle Gardner , Ks 50.00
2 9 2MB Mike Busby Kansas City, Mo 48.00
3 3 42T Tim Shields Kansas City, Mo 46.00
4 11 11T Mike Taylor, Jr. Kansas City, Mo 44.00
5 4 3E Kelby Ostrander Oskaloosa , Ks 42.00
6 6 30 Darren Kling Basehor , Ks 40.00
7 10 28D Gary Donaldson Liberty , Mo 38.00
8 1 44 Sam Schuler, Jr. Kansas City, Ks 36.00
9 16 29 Dennis Melvin, Sr. Basehor , Ks 34.00
10 12 1 Christopher Smith Kansas City, Mo 32.00
11 23 46 David Holcomb Kansas City, Ks 30.00
12 14 26 Donnie Brown Lancaster , Ks 28.00
13 18 69T Brian Mills – 26.00
14 5 6 Marshall Jewett Gardner , Ks 24.00
15 8 07 Tony Brown Kansas City, Mo 22.00
16 20 711 Bill Ruisinger Bonner Springs, Ks 20.00
17 7 9 Don Marrs Shawnee , Ks 18.00
18 13 52 Jim Baker Kansas City, Ks 16.00
19 15 22 Chris Littrell Kansas City, Mo 14.00
20 17 23M Michael Morse, Jr. Kansas City, Ks 12.00
21 19 18 Frank Littrell Claycomo , Mo 10.00
22 21 60 James Glackin Kansas City, Ks 8.00
23 22 69 Steven Dibben Smithville , Mo 0.00 DNS

Factory Stock – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 7 29 Nate Barnes Kearney , Mo 50.00
2 2 19 Jay Barnes Kearney , Mo 48.00
3 8 68M Caleb Mcclellan Kansas City, Mo 46.00
4 11 27 Jason Ryun Kansas City, Mo 44.00
5 23 3B Darrin Christy Kansas City, Ks 42.00
6 14 12 Scotty Moore Kansas City, Ks 40.00
7 9 7 Marshall Jewett Gardner , Ks 38.00
8 22 0T Bobby Tavis Iii Leavenworth , Ks 36.00
9 19 33 Phil Snodgrass Kearney , Mo 34.00
10 4 56 Joe Smith, Jr Kansas City, Ks 32.00
11 3 17 Kevin W. Mcginnis Kansas City, Ks 30.00
12 21 26 Anthony Whitham Kansas City, Mo 28.00
13 1 46 Philip Holcomb Kansas City, Ks 26.00
14 13 49C Cory Mulich Kansas City, Ks 24.00
15 18 5A Kerry Ayres Kansas City, Mo 22.00
16 24 91 Dalton Vanbebber Kansas City, Ks 20.00
17 15 1 J.r. Billings Kansas City, Ks 18.00
18 10 05 Brett Heeter Kansas City, Ks 16.00
19 17 OG Tony Barnhart , Mo 14.00
20 20 3 Don Johnson Overland Park, Ks 12.00
21 16 6 Hank Thompson Kansas City, Ks 10.00
22 6 21V Vic Tranckino Basehor , Ks 8.00
23 5 ON1 Jason Park Kansas City, Ks 6.00
24 12 37 Justin Seifert Kansas City, Ks 4.00

B Mods – Feature
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 7 11 Mike Higley Tecumseh , Ks 50.00
2 1 42 Gene Claxton Kansas City, Mo 48.00
3 22 8 Terry Bruner Shawnee , Ks 46.00
4 2 4D Jake Richards Kansas City, Ks 44.00
5 3 21C Chad Clancy Smithville , Mo 42.00
6 4 51M Mike Ryun Pleasant Valley, Mo 40.00
7 10 181 Luke Nieman Nortonville , Ks 38.00
8 5 5 Rusty Trimble Kansas City, Ks 36.00
9 6 11C Chad Feather , Mo 34.00
10 8 74 Rodney Schweizer Kansas City, Ks 32.00
11 20 X33 Nick Newton Kansas City, Ks 30.00
12 21 14S Paul West Shawnee , Ks 28.00
13 9 06 Keith Cobb, Jr. Smithville , Mo 26.00
14 15 93 Shelby Caldenwood – 24.00
15 17 80 Tyee Parrott Kansas City, Mo 22.00
16 18 32J Stephen Willmon Saint Joseph, Mo 20.00
17 11 89 Justin Custer Liberty , Mo 18.00
18 19 222 Colten Stevens Basehor , Ks 16.00
19 14 21K Kevin Sloan Easton , Ks 14.00
20 16 1D Dj Demotte Basehor , Ks 12.00
21 13 18 Frank Littrell Claycomo , Mo 0.00 DNS
22 12 26 Steve Gearhart Buckner , Mo 0.00 DNS

Category: Kansas / Nebraska, Lakeside Speedway (Kansas), News