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SEDALIA, MO (April 16, 2010) - The roar of engines returned in a big way to the ‘Historic Half Mile’ that is Missouri State Fair Speedway for the season curtain raiser. After the final checkered flag fell on the evening, three drivers added their names to the lore of the legendary speedway. Ken Schrader, a native of Festus, Missouri fought off a stout field of Mid America Modified Series drivers to claim victory in the night’s W-K Chevrolet modified premiere event. Jeremy Payne of Springfield, Missouri raced his way to the checkers in the Subway late models, and sprint car stand-out Randy Martin of California, Missouri thrilled the hearty crowd with a popular win in the 360 sprint cars presented by Rick Ball Ford. After battling uncertain weather conditions most of the day, promoters Jason Bodenhamer and Reid Millard and the rest of the speedway staff were able to pull things together and bring weekly racing back to Sedalia for the first of 18 scheduled 2010 events. Over 500 people made their way to the speedway courtesy of the track’s marketing and Budweiser V.I.P. Tent coach busses to join the fans in the Pepsi Grandstands. There were 14 sprint cars, 21 late models, and 34 modified drivers who took to the speedway competing in fifteen races, including ten heat races, two b-mains, and three feature events. The faithful crowd was just as enthusiastic when the last checkered flag fell as they were when the evening’s program got underway. The newly formed MAMS modifieds were in full force for their first of three appearances at the venue this year. It took five heat races and two b-mains to sort out the starting lineup for the main event as heat race victories went to Brian Bolin, John Fennewald, Dustin Boney, Jesse Stovall, and David Crane. The b-mains were claimed by Jason Russell and Jason Thompson. A redraw to line up the field was conducted during intermission and it was none other than Jeremy Payne who grabbed pole position for the 25-lap feature race. However, Payne’s time pacing the front of the field did not last long as Schrader quickly found the fast groove around the speedway. It was not easy for Schrader however, as he was challenged for the lead on several occasions by Dustin Boney with Mark Dotson eventually getting into the fray late in the race. Boney had turns one and two figured out on the low side with Schrader up high using the cushion for momentum down the 90-foot wide back stretch. Lap-after-lap Boney hounded the former NASCAR driver for the lead, while at the same time facing a serious challenge for the runner-up spot as Dotson made it a three-car battle. However, Schrader was not to be denied a taste of the Specialty Sports Wear Winner’s Circle as he distanced himself from Boney at the conclusion of the event. Boney came home second ahead of Dotson and Payne. Chad Lyle overcame a series of pit stops during caution periods and fought his way from tail back to finish an impressive fifth at the conclusion of the race. Stovall, Bolin, Curt Rackers, Crane, and Fennewald completed the top ten. In victory lane, Schrader thanked Bodenhamer and Millard for reopening the speedway and the fans for coming out to support the track and stated he would like to come back to compete again. Three heat races decided the starting lineup along with an inversion of six cars for the main event for the late models. Terry Phillips of Springfield, Missouri looked like he was shot from a cannon to claim the first heat race from his third-row starting position. Heat race two went to Coffeyville, Kansas driver Al Purkey with Bryan Collins of Elsberry, Missouri bringing home the win in heat number three. Bryon Allison grabbed the pole position by virtue of the invert and led the field into corner number one with Payne to his outside. From the start, the late model feature proved to be an edge-of-your-seat event that was slowed by three separate red-flag incidents. The first red flag waved for Allison, who nearly ended up on his lid alongside the outer guard rail of turn one, ultimately unable to continue the race. Once the field took the initial green flag on the re-start, Payne led the way and looked strong throughout the race. During a series of caution flags, Payne held back strong challenges from Collins, Larry Clawson, and Purkey. On lap six, a four-car pileup took place at the entrance of turn one as Bob Cummings’ car flew over the inside guard rail but stayed on all four wheels once it came to rest. The crash also involved Joe Bartlett, Zac Simmons, and Larry D. Clawson. Payne, Collins, and Purkey continued their battle for the lead until late in the time-shortened event. The last of the red flag incidents was another scary incident at the entrance of turn one involving Purkey who reportedly suffered a mechanical failure at full speed down the front straightaway on lap fourteen as his car suddenly veered left into the inner guard rail. The car went over the rail and caused extensive damage to the inner chain link fence, eventually coming to rest between the two fences. Fortunately Purkey walked away from the damaged machine and was out of the car immediately checking things over. All drivers were uninjured in the separate incidents. In the end, Payne had the field covered and claimed his first-ever victory at the half mile. Collins had an outstanding run in second position one spot ahead of Terry Phillips, who charged his way back to the front after an early race incident left him with front-end damage. Larry Clawson, David Turner, former track champion Dave Meyer, Bill Koons, former champions Chris Smyser, Brett Wood, and Bob Test completed the top ten. The 360 sprint car fans were loud and proud as their favorite drivers made a welcome return to the track for two heat races and a blistering main event, which was cut short due to the speedway time limit. Grain Valley, Missouri racer Brian Brown blanketed the field in the first heat race with a convincing win over Jonathan Cornell and Randy Martin. Jesse ‘the Rocket’ Hockett grabbed an early season victory by crossing the Miller Lite Start/Finish line in first over Terry Hinck and Rusty Potter in the second heat race. After the pre-determined inversion, it was Randy Martin and Brian Brown who paced the field from the onset with Martin grabbing the early lead. In what eventually was a fifteen lap furious duel to the end, Martin stretched his lead out to a comfortable margin by lap eight with Brown in tow doing all he could to match Martin’s pace. Meanwhile, Cornell and Hockett had a classic battle going on for several laps for the third position. Once the leaders hit lapped traffic, it became and all new race as Martin and Brown used their keen driving experience to make their way around the race surface while trying not to scrub off speed as they approached the slower cars. Brown pulled within striking distance on a few occasions; however, it was Martin’s night as he went on to claim the win ahead of Brown in second and Cornell and Hockett in third and fourth at the finish. Rusty Potter, Terry Hinck, Mike Trent, Austin Alumbaugh, Jon Corbin, and Cody Forshee rounded out the top ten. Weekly racing presented by Aflac returns to the historic half mile next Friday evening with gates opening at 5 p.m. and races getting underway at 7:30. Normal admission prices are in affect for next weekend’s program. Be sure to visit our official website at www.missouristatefairspeedway.com for news and information, and registered drivers. You can join the speedway e-mail group by sending a request to PRatSFS@live.com or become a fan of the speedway on FaceBook by sending a friend request to Missouri State Fair Speedway. Full results from opening night will be posted on the Website. We look forward to seeing all the fans and drivers again next Friday night for racing with the Modifieds, Late Models, and Spring Cars. Official MSFS Corporate Partners: Aflac, Ditzfield Transfer, W-K Chevrolet, Rick Ball Ford, Subway, Don’s Towing, Greg Smith Ford, Show Me Asphalt, Kiowa Line Builders, Diamond Pet Foods, Mid MO Auto Sales, i-land Internet Service, Pepsi, Midland Sports Cards, Budweiser, Specialty Sports Wear, Advanced Image Systems, Miller Lite, Missouri Army National Guard, Michael Ross Foundation, Hoosier Tires, Sunoco, KRCG TV 13, Millard Family Chapels, All-Star Bail Bonds, and Bodee’s Race Bodies.
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