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Karrick, Bodenhamer, McMillin and Smith Take Command on Army
National Guard Night at Central Missouri Speedway
By Alan Miller - CMS Announcer/PR
WARRENSBURG, MO (August 13, 2011) - The kids had a fun time racing down the
front stretch on Saturday night for the annual Kids Night races at Central
Missouri Speedway (CMS) on Army National Guard race night. The Missouri
National Guard put on a remarkable display of with a climbing wall and a
HUMVEE on display for everyone to explore. Fans were entertained by 76
drivers who competed in the track’s four racing divisions. This weekend
Waterloo Storage Products victory lane celebrations included some old and a
new driver taking home the Waterloo Storage Products Victory Lane feature
trophies.
Modified drivers competed this weekend knowing several local drivers would
be on the road with the USMTS series. Still facing some of the toughest
drivers in the Midwest, 25 drivers registered to test their skills at the
smooth high-banked clay oval. The opening heat race victory went to Jason
Bodenhamer before Joe Walker grabbed the win in heat race two. Danny Charles
was victorious in the final heat race.
The highest passing points determined the front row, as Joe Walker and Luke
Feeback led the field to the flying green flag at the start of the 25-lap
feature. With the first of many re-starts to come, Feeback dove into the low
groove at the beginning with Walker and Tim Karrick in three-wide race
action for the top spots. Feeback stuck to the low-side as Karrick moved
past Walker and continued to challenge for the lead. As the race unfolded
the yellows continued to fly with 8 cars at one point setting in turn two
when drivers attempted to avoid a tangled mess on lap ten. As a result, five
cars including Walker, Nic Pence, Jake Richards, Darren Shaw and others
headed to the pits or infield with flat tires and other mechanical woes.
After yet another re-start, Karrick finally made a move around Feeback on
lap 15, but yet another yellow comes out and Karrick had to move back into
the second spot after Feeback led the previously scored lap. Finally, on lap
23 Karrick grabbed the lead once again for good. The excitement was not over
with Jason Bodenhamer using the high groove to make it interesting at the
end and throughout the feature. Karrick hung on for the remainder of the
race and marched off with his third feature win of the year as Bodenhamer
came away with a solid second after a late move around Luke Feeback with a
strong third-place run. Terry Schultz climbed from fourteenth into fourth
for the hard-charger award and Josh Poe finished in fifth.
In the ULMA late model division, Steve Clancy was aiming for his seventh win
at CMS with a talented field of drivers on hand including Rylan Long making
the trek from Lockwood, Missouri. A total of 15 cars drove hard throughout
the heat races and the in the main event to settle the score. In the first
heat, Jason Bodenhamer crossed the line for the win. The checkers in heat
race number two went to Bob Test.
The feature grid was ready to go with drivers set to battle for their 20-lap
main event with Bodenhamer and Test leading into turn one at the start of
the race. Bodenhamer quickly plants his machine on the low groove with Test
and Clancy running close in second and third. A mid-race caution was the
only blemish for this division tonight with outstanding moves all over the
track. Test attempted some high to mid track groves in an attempt to move
up, but Bodenhamer coasted out front. The biggest battles included Long,
Clancy, Jon Binning and Kevin Coyne for the remaining top six positions.
With his fourth win of the year, Bodenhamer cruised into the Waterloo
Victory Lane finish with Test having an tremendous run in second. Long
appeared to finish third, but was disqualified in the tech area after the
race. Clancy moved up into the third spot with Coyne fourth and Binning
rounding out the top five.
The Street Stocks have shown a steady car count in a class where other
tracks have had a difficult time attracting a complete field of cars. On
Saturday night drivers competed in 2 heat races with 18 cars on hand to
determine the starting lineup for the feature. In the two qualifying heats,
heat number one winner was Nate Barnes over Michael Mullins; Bryce McMillin
held off Larry Ferris for the win in heat two.
The front row was set with McMillin and Barnes starting up front for the
15-lap street stock main event. McMillin immediately drove hard keeping in
the low grove of the track past Barnes with Michael Mullins in hot pursuit
close behind. Just a few caution periods flew to interrupt the race with
McMillin attempting to hold off Mullins and points leader, Brian Ziegler for
a good portion of the race. Ziegler used the high-grove and McMillin
protected the low-side without missing a beat to stay up front. Late in the
race Mullins slipped back to third, but continued to hold off Barnes. As the
checkered flag flew, Bryce McMillin from Warrensburg drove his machine to
the win for his first-ever CMS feature victory. Coming away with second was
Brian Ziegler ahead of Mullins in third, Barns in fourth and Chad
Eickleberry who started in 12th and finished in fifth, to complete a good
night of racing after some mechanical gremlins earlier this season.
The CMS b-modified division had a full field of young drivers and a few
seasoned veterans that keep the fans guessing who will come away with the
feature win. This season, the man to beat is Jacob Ebert, who had racked up
nine feature wins at CMS so far. Another stout field of 18 cars competed in
the night’s events which included three heat races that were won by a new
CMS driver, Jeremiah Wilson in heat one; Ethan Isaacs topped heat event
number two; and the third heat went to Jacob Ebert.
The b-mod main event lined up with Ebert and Isaacs on the pole positions
for the start of the 15-lap feature race. Ebert shot out to the lead and
began a close battle with Brad Smith and Isaacs at the front of the field.
Trent Deadmon and Ethan Mullins tangled causing a hard hit for both on the
front wall that caused a delay until fuel from the Mullins car could be
cleared. Smith then gained the advantage after the re-start from a middle to
upper lane move past Ebert who stayed on the low side. Isaacs also used some
low-side action to move into the second spot. There was excellent racing
action up at the front of the field throughout the event, but Brad Smith had
enough speed tonight and claimed his second CMS feature win. Ethan Isaacs
held on for second with Ebert third, Lucas Isaacs, fourth and Troy Carlyle
completed the top five with a levelheaded run into fifth.
Next weekend is Midwest Coating and Boy Scout Night at the races in
Warrensburg. There are discounted admission tickets available for scouts and
parents. Please contact Susan Walls at 816 229-1338 for ticket information.
Weekly, the pit gates swing open at 4:30 with grandstands opening at 5. Hot
laps begin at 7, racing begins shortly after. For more information call the
track report line at 660-747-2166 or visit us on the web at
www.centralmissourispeedway.net for updated results, standings and
photos from track photographer, John Lee, highfly-nphotos.com.
Join us on Monday evenings at 5:30 for the KOKO track report program at 1450
on the AM dial.
Business partners at Central Missouri Speedway for the 2011 season include,
Cliff Harris Warrensburg Ford and Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Waterloo Storage
Products, KOKO AM 1450 Radio, 98.5 FM The Bar, Comfort Inn Warrensburg
Station, KMMO Radio, LJS Graphics, Army National Guard, RSC Equipment
Rental, Heartland Waste, Bad Boy Mowers, and Midwest Coating.
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