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SEDALIA, MO (May 22, 2010) - The sun finally broke through just in time for racing Friday night May 21 at Missouri State Fair Speedway and by the time the last checkered flag fell over the great night of racing, it was Billy Moyer of Batesville, Arkansas who came away with a big victory in the Lucas Oil MLRA super late models. The ‘Historic Half Mile’ roared back to life in a big way with 74 cars filling the pits, including 39 MLRA Late Models, 19 Rick Ball Ford 360 Sprint Cars, and 16 W-K Chevrolet modifieds. This was the first appearance of three scheduled this season for the MLRA Late Models at the speedway and judging from the car count and fans filling the Pepsi Grandstand; late model racing is still a favorite among race enthusiasts in the Midwest. Fans were definitely ready to put the wet weather behind them and showed great appreciation and enthusiasm for the drivers on hand throughout the night. Promoters Jason Bodenhamer and Reid Millard were faced with the daunting task of pitting most of the cars outside of the turn one and two area and things went off remarkably well despite the challenges. There were a total of fourteen races contested during the night’s program. It took four heat races in the MLRA late models to sort out the top 16 in passing points. Terry Phillips of Springfield, MO took the opening win with Chris Spieker, Jesse Stovall, and Andrew Kosiski following him to the Miller Lite start/finish line. In heat two, Matt Johnson of Archie, MO picked up the win over Jeremy Payne, Larry Clawson, and Eric Turner. Heat race number three saw David Turner take the win in a photo finish ahead of Chris Smyser, Brad Looney and Al Purkey. The fourth and final heat went to Billy Moyer by a narrow margin over Chad Simpson, Will Vaught, and Zach Goulden. The first of two b-main events for the late models went to Belton, MO driver Alan Vaughn over Bryant Goldsmith for the transfer positions with Chad Simpson and Jason Bodenhamer taking the remaining two transfer spots in the second b-main. Provisional starting positions went to Dave Meyer and Brett Wood as the track provisional starters while Bill Koons and Joe Kosiski received MLRA provisional starts. Iowa’s Chris Spieker and Terry Phillips led the field to the green flag for the 30-lap main event as the field blazed into turns one and two. The racing was furious early on as Phillips tried to distance himself from the other competitors. Moyer made his way into second not long after the initial green flag and began to track down Phillips, ultimately making the pass to the lead. Caution flew on lap 15 and again lap 17, with Matt Johnson bringing out the later caution. When the field went back to green-flag action, Moyer controlled the field but a hard-charging Will Vaught of Crane, MO made his way into second passing Chad Simpson and Phillips, who was relegated to fourth. Vaught hounded Moyer for the next few laps until caution flew again on lap 19 with the running order of Moyer, Vaught, Simpson, Phillips, Spieker, and Brad Looney up front. On lap 21, Looney spun in the turns three and four area bringing out another yellow flag. One more caution flew over the field on lap 23, again for Johnson, who stalled off of turn four. Once the field went back to racing it was all “Mr. Smooth” to the end as he maintained a blistering pace up front to bring home the win, his 35th career MLRA win. Vaught held strong to finish a solid second with Chad Simpson bringing home third. Terry Phillips crossed the line fourth with Spieker fifth, and Byrant Goldsmith with a strong run to round out the top six. Three Rick Ball Ford 360 Sprint Car heats determined the starting lineup for the main event among 19 competitors on hand with Jesse Hockett of Warsaw grabbing the opening heat over Kyle Hurst, Terry Hink and David Brown. Smithton driver Josh Fisher grabbed the win in the second qualifying heat over Jonathan Cornell, Kyle Belm, and Frank Brown. In the third and final heat race, veteran Mike Trent drove to the checkered flag ahead of Randy Martin, Jon Corbin and Rusty Potter. For the main event it was an incredibly fast-paced race with high speed action all over the track. Early on, it looked as though the race may go caution free as drivers were using different lines all over the track to make their moves. Mike Trent sat on the pole at the start with San Jose, California transplant, and now Warsaw resident, Kyle Hurst to his outside. Hurst sailed into turn one with the lead from the onset and appeared as though he would pull off the win. That is until the Rocket; Jesse Hockett, of Warsaw began to make his way to the front. With a power move off of turn two heading down the back shoot, Hockett grabbed the lead from Hurst on lap 13. Meanwhile Josh Fisher and Jonathan Cornell were both running strong inside the top five throughout the entire race. Randy Martin held firm inside the top five as well with Mike Trent and Terry Hinck close behind. Hockett quickly distanced himself from his closest competitors by flawlessly maneuvering lapped traffic. The only caution of the race flew late in the event just as the cars were getting ready to take the white flag for debris on the track. With a two-lap dash to the finish, Hockett put the finishing touches on his convincing win to visit the Specialty Sports Wear Winner’s Circle at MSFS for the first time this year. Teammate Hurst ran a great race to come home in second position with Fisher, Cornell, Martin, Trent, Hinck, and John Corbin following the leaders to the finish. There were 16 W-K Chevrolet Modifieds present for action competing in two qualifying heat races to set the field for the main event. Chad Lyle nabbed the opening heat over Dustin Boney, Mickey Burrell and Curt Potter. Heat two went to Jason Thompson ahead of Danny Crane, Dennis Walrath, and Jamie Ragland. As a result of the passing points system Thompson and Lyle paced the field once the race got underway. Early caution flags flew on lap three for Daulton Greven and Howard Hall on lap four. Greven was able to continue but Hall’s night came to an early end. The next series of laps were clicked off at a blistering pace with Lyle and Dustin Boney going head-to-head for the win. Lyle looked comfortable up front leading the way but Boney never let the leader too far out of his sight. Past champions Dave Meyer and Curt Potter saw their nights come to an end by lap ten as did Jim Moody. Aaron Poe was the last to fall out of the race on lap 13 as Lyle and Boney continued to duke it out for the win. For a while it looked as though Boney had the line figured out until lapped traffic took its toll on him as he was unable to make his way around the lapped cars as quick as Lyle. Lyle eventually went on to claim his second straight feature win at the speedway as Boney had to settle for second. Pole-sitter Thompson came away in third position as Austin Siebert had another strong MSFS run to finish fourth. Danny Crane brought his car home in fifth with 16th starting Terry Schultz in sixth. Jamie Ragland and Mickey Burrell rounded out the top eight finishers. Missouri State Fair Speedway will be taking next weekend off in observance of Memorial Day weekend but engines will come alive again on Friday, June 4 for “Kid’s Night” at the speedway with the 360 sprints, late models, and modifieds. Special rates for 2 adults and all the kids you can bring for just $20 in honor of kid’s night at the speedway will be in effect on June 4! Gates will open at 5 p.m., hot laps will start at 7:00, with racing beginning at 7:30. Normal general admission is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens 65 and up, military, and college students w/I.D. For detailed information bookmark the speedway’s official Web site at www.missouristatefairspeedway.com. You may 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. The countdown is on for “Kasey’s King of Sedalia” presented by Budweiser World of Outlaws Sprint Car event on Wednesday, June 16 and tickets are on sale now for the third round of the Showdown for the Bud Crown. Star NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne, who is co-promoting the event in association with the World Racing Group, will also compete. The majority of the main grandstand seats are designated as reserved. Advanced reserved seats are $29 for adults and $9 for children twelve years and under, children under six are admitted free. Adult seats increase to $35 day of show – regardless of section. To purchase tickets visit www.worldofoutlaws.com/tickets or call (704) 795-7223. Same-day tickets are available at the Missouri State Fair Speedway ticket office. For a limited time, advanced reserved tickets include access to an exclusive Question and Answer Session with Kasey Kahne. The special night of racing also features a spectacular one-of-a-kind concert-style fireworks and pyrotechnic display. Pit gates will open at 1 p.m., spectator gates will open at 5 p.m. Hot laps begin at 7 p.m. followed by World of outlaws Time Trials. All times are approximate and subject to change. Complete Race Results will be posted at www.speednetdirect.com.
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