Stovall Holds Back Anderson In Taking Casey’s Summer Meltdown In MLRA/MARS Action At Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, MO (July 28, 2012) – Jesse Stovall started on the pole and led all thirty five laps to capture the inaugural Casey’s General Store Summer Meltdown, Saturday at Springfield Raceway, in Springfield, MO. He was challenged early by Tony Jackson Jr. and late by John Anderson. The win is Stovall’s first ever in a Dirt Late Model at Springfield Raceway. “It’s awesome,” said Stovall of his weekend sweep. “To have a weekend like this is just unbelievable. It’s a heck of an opportunity for me and we’ve worked our tails off.”

On a lap twenty five restart, Anderson went from fourth to second, where he finished. Matt Johnson had a good car and scored a third place finish. It was one of Johnson’s best ever runs with the Lucas Oil MLRA. Will Vaught and Tony Jackson Jr. were also among the top five.

While Stovall opened a big lead early, Lebanon’s Tony Jackson Jr. began to reel in the leader as 2 wide action was ahead of the leaders. Stovall began to have troubles getting through the pack as Jackson showed him the nose of his car as action got tight. On lap 14, former Turkey Classic winner Justin Wells pulled high in turn 4 with a flat tire bringing out the caution. On the restart, Stovall began to pull away again as current MLRA point leader John Anderson began his charge to the front. With Stovall setting a very fast pace on the “Quick-Quarter” Anderson made his way around Jackson to take second place and began to run down the leader. Again as the leaders began to encounter lapped traffic, Stovall seemed to hesitate as Anderson was there with the leader. This battle continued until Stovall shot between cars out of turn 2 as Anderson seemed to have a little problem getting through.Justin Wells showed just how racy the Springfield High-banked “Quick-Quarter” oval was as he charged back from the lap 14 flat to finish a strong 6th place and was gaining on the leaders every lap.It was another star-studded field of 36 Late Models at Jerry Hoffman and Doug Bland’s oval before a capacity crowd for the evening. Speedway officials pushed back the start time 15 minute later due to the very Hi Temps and a Major traffic jam on Interstate 44 just about 10 miles from the track causing several fans and teams to arrive just a little later than normal and it paid off with great racing action.Over 130 race teams were in attendance for the action.

Stovall, the current MARS point leader has been the third different winner in the 3 MARS/MLRA events at Springfield this season as the September Larry Phillips Memorial awaits the Late Models in the final co-sanctioned event at Springfield this season.

In support action, current USRA Modified National point leader and defending National Champion Johnny Bone, Jr. made a surprise visit to Springfield and walked away with the Budweiser USRA Modified feature win. Mickey Burrell, Mitch Keeter, and current track point leader Jackie Dalton were in the tight battle for the second place spot as Bone began to pull away. On lap 8 the raced slowed as Dalton went around in turn 2. This bunched the field up as Burrell picked the top groove on the restart. Bone again began to pull away as Mitch Keeter moved into the second place position as Brian Green followed. Bone took the victory in his TRE/Bone Trucking/Homegrown Engines adding another win to his USRA total as Keeter brought home the Mid-America Rebuilders/Yeoman Engines/TRE in the runner-up spot ending his 2 race win streak. Green rode a solid third place in his Doug’s Pro Lube/Green Motorsports machine while Chanute, Kansas front runner Johnny Allen came from 13th starting spot to secure fourth spot in his McCarthy Auto Group/Hughes/Allen Automotive with Veteran Rex Merritt in the Yeoman Engines/Brillstein Shocks/Lucas Oil completing the top 5. 16 of the 19 starters completed the lead lap with 23 entries overall tonight.

Reliable Chevrolet/GM Performance Parts B Modified rookie Ryan Hendrix of Joplin took the opening lead and survived a wild feature event in taking his first feature win of the season. Hendrix had to withstand the early charges of former Springfield track champion Wayne Graybeal and then had to hold off defending champion Bobby Maggard Jr and current point leader Trevor Drake in a green, white, checkered finish. Following the top three to the stripe was Wayne Graybeal and Michael Maggard. 15 of the 20 starters complete the lead lap.

Wheeler Metals Legends action saw Park Jones take the lead from Mike Hailmann on lap 5 and hold on to grab his first win of the season. Rod Baird took the opening lead until Hailmann took over on lap . As normal the Legends were going three wide with several drivers moving back and forth. Jones who lost the feature last week on the final lap had to survive not only Hailmann but also front runner Wayne Johnston during the long green flag runs. Johnston and Caleb McDugle’s strong runs went south as on the final lap contact between those two drivers sent both back in the final rundown. Following Jones to the checkered flag was Hailmann, Rod Baird, point leader Justin Comer and Billy Cottrill.

Casey’s General stores Midwest Modz feature action saw Rusty Forrestt take the lead from Steve Moore with only 2 laps remaining and surviving a last lap charge from point leader Trevor Drake to record his second straight feature win. Moore jumped to the early lead with Gary Krebs following close behind. Caution on lap 4 slowed the pack as Bobby Gough, Craig Keener, and Austin Johnson got together. Forrest used this to his advantage and tok second place. Moore set a solid pace until he went high in turn 3 allowing Forrestt to go down low to take the win. a late caution set-up the Green, White,Checkered finish as Forrestt withstood Drake’s last lap efforts. Following the lead dup was another solid run by Ty Jackson, Taylor Moore and Todd McGregor.

Pepsi Pure Stock action saw Philip Schloesser take the lead from Danny Vasquez on lap 2 and pull away for the win. Tight action early kept things interesting as rookie Tyler Thulin drove a solid race to secure the runner-up spot as Tanner Sitton, Vasquez and Mac Asbell completed the top 5.

Williams Preservation and Lawn Care Street Stock point leader Jim Reid took the opening lead from Kim Kaasa and returned to the winners circle tonight. Kassa applied pressure during the early stages until spinning around in turn 3. From there,Reid had Shawn Schmidt close the gap,But Reid pulled away in the final lap.Schmidt, Bryan Tillman, Tanner Sitton and Rex Freize completed the top 5 runners.

Young Lions Legends ran their National Missouri Qualifying feature tonight before the capacity crowd and kept them on the edge of their seats. Ty McWhirter took the opening lead as current track point leader Wesley Smith kept going down low as Kylan Garner and Grasy Cox was trying for three in a row. Smith made the bottom groove stick in turn 2 on the 4th lap and then had to withstand Garner in the closing 3 laps to capture the victory. While Garner was putting on pressure, McWhirter kept trying to get back the second place spot as Cox headed to the pits on lap 7 with problems. A New entry in this Under 16 age class tonight as Go-Kart front runner and lady driver Lexy VanZandt made her stock car debut tonight with a 4th place finish.

Springfield Raceway will not be racing Saturday August 4 as the Ozark Empire Fair is in town. Action will continue Saturday August 11th with a full Transport Graphics Championship Chase.

Results-Casey’s Summer Meltdown

Race Results

MLRA/MARS Late Model  A Feature (35 Laps): 1. Jesse Stovall (Galena, MO), 2. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 3. Matt Johnson (Archie, MO), 4. Will Vaught (Crane, MO), 5. Tony Jackson, Jr (Lebanon, MO), 6. Justin Wells (Aurora, MO), 7. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 8. Mark Dotson (Cameron, MO), 9. Ken Essary (Cape Fair, MO), 10. Shane Essary (Aurora, MO), 11. Scott Fry (Exerter, MO), 12. Brandon McCormick (Lebanon, MO), 13. Justin Asplin (Birch Tree, MO), 14. Larry Jones (El Dorado Springs, MO), 15. Brandon Morton (Broken Arrow, OK), 16. Leroy Johnson (Battlefield, MO), 17. Chris Morelock (Springfield, MO), 18. Bryon Allison (Marshall, MO), 19. Mason Oberkramer (Brosley, MO), 20. Dustin Mooneyham (Verona, MO), 21. JD Hubert (Cross Timbers, MO), 22. Dustin Walker (Peculiar, MO)

Sunoco Racing Fuels B Feature 1 (10 Laps): 1. Kevin Sather (Des Moines, IA), 2. Bryon Allison (Marshall, MO), 3. Shawn Knuckles (Poplar Bluff, MO), 4. JD Hubert (Cross Timbers, MO), 5. Leroy Johnson (Battlefield, MO), 6. Gary Stolba (Willow Springs, MO), 7. Jarrod Hilton (Galena, MO), 8. Steve Johnson (Joplin, MO), 9. Chris Hawkins (Neosho, MO), 10. Mason Oberkramer (Brosley, MO), 11. Leslie Essary (Crane, MO)

Hoosier Racing Tires B Feature 2 (10 Laps): 1. Scott Fry (Exeter, MO), 2. Chris Morelock (Springfield, MO), 3. Brandon Morton (Broken Arrow, OK), 4. Dustin Walker (Peculiar, MO), 5. Chuck Comer (Joplin, MO), 6. Matt Brookshire (Newburg, MO), 7. Don Cloyd (Fair Grove, MO), 8. Patrick Johnson (Ash Grove, MO), 9. Pat Cox (Grove, OK), 10. Phil Edmonson (Marionville, MO), 11. Jason Pursley (Hermitage, MO)

Lucas Oil Products Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. Mark Dotson (Cameron, MO), 2. Larry Jones (El Dorado Springs, MO), 3. Dustin Mooneyham (Verona, MO), 4. Shawn Knuckles (Poplar Bluff, MO), 5. Jarrod Hilton (Galena, MO), 6. Chris Hawkins (Neosho, MO), 7. JD Hubert (Cross Timbers, MO), 8. Pat Cox (Grove, OK)

Wehrs Machine & Racing Products Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. Jesse Stovall (Galena, MO), 2. Ken Essary (Cape Fair, MO), 3. Brandon McCormick (Lebanon, MO), 4. Chris Morelock (Springfield, MO), 5. Patrick Johnson (Ash Grove, Mo), 6. Chuck Comer (Joplin, MO), 7. Dustin Walker (Peculiar, MO)

Peterson Fluid Systems Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 2. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 3. Shane Essary (Aurora, MO), 4. Bryon Allison (Marshall, MO), 5. Phil Edmonson (Marionville, MO), 6. Gary Stolba (Willow Springs, MO), 7. Mason Oberkramer (Brosley, MO)

Impact Signs, Awnings & Wraps Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. Matt Johnson (Archie, MO), 2. Justin Wells (Aurora, MO), 3. Justin Asplin (Birch Tree, MO), 4. Don Cloyd (Fair Grove, MO), 5. Jason Pursley (Hermitage, MO), 6. Brandon Morton (Broken Arrow, OK), 7. Leslie Essary (Crane, MO)

Schoenfeld Headers Heat 5 (10 Laps): 1. Will Vaught (Crane, MO), 2. Tony Jackson, Jr (Lebanon, MO), 3. Scott Fry (Exeter, MO), 4. Kevin Sather (Des Moines, IA), 5. Leroy Johnson (Battlefield, MO), 6. Matt Brookshire (Newburg, MO), 7. Steve Johnson (Joplin, MO)

USRA Modifieds

A Ft-1) Johnny Bone Jr.-Pea Ridge, Arkansas 2) Mitch Keeter-Webb City 3) Brian Green-Pierce City 4) Jonny Allen-Chanute, Kansas 5) Rex Merritt-Billings 6) Brent Holman-Rogers, Arkansas 7) Mickey Burrell-Fair Grove 8) Jerry Lankton-Lampe 9) Chase Jones-El Dorado Springs 10) Rob Muilenburg-Sparta 11) Jason Pursley-Wheatland 12) John Yeoman-Joplin 13) Bobby Pearish-Oronogo 14) Robbie Bryant-Willard 15) Nick Whitehead-Nixa 16) Daniel Franklin-Eureaka Springs, Arkansas 17) Fred Slagle-Pierce City 18) Jody Tillman-West Branson 19) Jackie Dalton-Carthage DNS-Josh Woody-Laquey, Terry Beckham Jr., David Hendrix-Laquey,

USRA B Modifieds

A ft-1) Ryan Hendrix-Joplin 2) Bobby Maggard Jr.-Republic 3) Scott Drake-Webb City 4) Wayne Graybeal-Springfield 5) Michael Maggard-Republic 6) Kaleb Copher-Webb City 7) Greg Piotrowski-Galena, Kansas 8) Kaleb Stolba-Willow Springs 9) Dakota Maggard-Republic 10) Jon Yeoman Jr. 11) Blake Ellis-Sarcoxie 12) Jared Thulin-Miami, Oklahoma 13) Jeff Scroggins-Brookline 14) Thomas Hylton-Avilla 15) John Hurn-Neosho 16) Stacy Hall-Bolivar 17) Gary Rodocker-Willard 18) Rick Cash-Joplin 19) Jeremy Thulin-Miami, Oklahoma 20) Don Luna-St James DNS-Andy Beauchamp-Springfield

Legends

A Ft-1) Park Jones-Joplin 2) Mike Hailmann-Reed Springs 3) Rod Baird-Olsfield 4) Justin Comer-Joplin 5)Billy Cottrill-Joplin 6) Bill Cottrill-Joplin 7) Calvin Garner-Sarcoxie 8) Tyler Horton-Joplin 9) Doug Wilson-Joplin 10) Nichole Cottrill-Joplin 11) Caleb McDugle-Quapaw, Oklahoma 12) Wayne Johnston-Rolla 13) Matt Gruenberg-Joplin 14) Darrell McWhirter-Bentonville, Arkansas 15) Paul Horton-Joplin

Midwest Modz

A Ft-1) Rusty Forrestt-Ozark 2) Trevor Drake-Webb City 3) Ty Jackson-Springfield 4) Taylor Moore-Bois D’Arc 5) Todd McGregor-Clever 6) Steve Moore-Springfield 7) Gary Krebs-Clever 8) Austin Johnson-Joplin 9) Bobby Gough-Joplin 10)Mike Cooper-Highlandville 11) Craig Keeter-Webb City 12) Ken Walker-Springfield 13) Nathan Gold-Willard 14) Terry Williams-Springfield

Pure Stocks

A Ft-1) Philip Schloesser-Everton 2) Tyler Thulin-Miami, Oklahoma 3) Tanner Sitton-Bolivar 4) Danny Vasquez-West Branson 5) Mac Asbell-Springfield 6) Jack Hamer-Ava 7) Brett Testerman-Miami, Oklahoma 8) Elizabeth Jolley-Billings DQ-Austin Gregory-Tires

Street Stocks

A Ft-1) Jim Reid-Springfield 2)  Shawn Schmidt-Springfield 3) Bryan Tillman-Branson 4) Rex Sawyer-Ava  5) Aaron Porter-Springfield 6) Rex Freize-Springfield 7) Kim Kaasa-Springfield 8) Larry Whitworth Jr-Branson 9) Joseph Hollingshed-Bolivar 10) Wayne Bysor-Bolivar

Young Lions

A Ft-1) Wesley Smith-Nixa 2) Kylan Garner-Sarcoxie 3) Ty McWhirter-Bentonville, Arkansas 4) Lexy VanZandt-Springfield 5) Graysn Cox-Joplin

Category: Missouri, News, Springfield Raceway