Long, Oliver Jr., Gillenwater, and Reu Top Thursday Night Special in Memphis

 

by Brian Neal

Memphis, MO (Thursday, June 1, 2017) – A rare Thursday night racing event was held at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri, as the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models made a return trip to the track for the first time since 2006. The Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods, and Sport Compacts joined the Late Models on this night. This show was made possible with the help of Memphis Bottling, J&J Ag, Brian’s Foundation Repair, and Crop Production Services.

 

The first feature to take to the track was the 16 lap Stock Cars, with Cayden Carter and John Oliver Jr. drawing the front row. Carter took advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over John Oliver Jr. and David Brandies. While Carter paced the field out front, the battle was for second between Oliver Jr., Brandies, Jim Redmann, Derrick Agee, and Nathan Wood. But Carter’s run up front came to an end on lap 5, when he pulled off after loosing oil pressure. This would hand the lead over to Oliver Jr. Three laps later, lap 8, the action was slowed for the first and only time, when Derek Kirkland spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. moved back out front, with Redmann, Wood, and Brandies continuing their battle for second. With Redmann and Wood working the bottom of the track, Brandies decided to go to the top. The moved paid off for Brandies, who was able to take over the second spot on lap 10. But Redmann would come back on the bottom to grab second back on lap 12. All this time Oliver Jr. continued to lead, and would hold on to pick up the win and the $1,000 top prize to go with it. Redmann was 2nd, Wood was 3rd, Brandies was 4th, with Agee coming home in 5th.

 

Up next was the 15 lap SportMod feature, with Austin Howes and Brandon Lennox leading the field to green. Howes used his starting spot to jumped out front on lap 1 over Lennox and Carter VanDenBerg, who started 6th. On lap 2 Ethan Braaksma, who was running 5th, spun in turn 4 to bring out the first caution of the race. On the restart Howes moved back out front, with Lennox and VanDenBerg close behind. VanDenBerg would use the middle of the track to slip past Lennox for second on lap 4, only to have Lennox come back on the bottom on lap 5 to get the spot back. Then disaster would strike Howes and Lennox on lap 8, when Lennox got into Howes in turn 2. As a result Howes would spin to bring out the yellow, with both drivers being sent to the rear for the restart. Jim Gillenwater, who started 9th, used the bottom to grab the lead away from VanDenBerg, with Jason McDaniel close behind in third. VanDenBerg then tried to work under Gillenwater over the next 4 laps, as McDaniel went to the top of the track to join the battle. On lap 13 McDaniel was able to clear VanDenBerg for second, but ran out of laps to challenge Gillenwater, who went on to claim the win and the $1,000 check to go with it. McDaniel was 2nd, VanDenBerg was 3rd, Brett Lowry was 4th, with Braaksma recovered from his spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish in 5th.

 

John Emerson, who was driving Shawn Ritter’s #7sr, and Michael Long drew the front row for the 18 lap Modified feature. But just as the green flag waved the caution light came on, as David Brown spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Long moved out front to lead lap 1 over Emerson and Steve Stewart. The action up front was slowed for the second time, as Austin Howes, who was driving a second car out of the Jardin Fuller stable and was running 5th, slowed in turn 2 on lap 2 with a right rear flat to bring out the yellow. Long once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Emerson and Stewart close behind. While Long set a fast pace out front, Cayden Carter, who started 8th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 5 Carter slipped into second, and then went to work on cutting into Long’s lead. Just when it looked like there was no catching Long, Kiel Morton stopped in turn 3 on lap 10 to bring out the caution and bring the field back to Long’s back bumper. On the restart Long moved back out front, with Carter and Emerson close behind. Carter would following in Long’s tire tracks over the final laps, but wasn’t able to mount a challenge on Long. As Long held on to pick up the win and the $1,000 top prize to go with it. Carter was 2nd, Jeff Waterman came from 6th to finish in 3rd, Emerson was 4th, with Bruce Hanford finishing in 5th after starting in 10th.

 

The final feature to take to the track was the 12 lap Sport Compacts, with Kimberly Abbott and Jake Benischek leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Abbott took advantage of her starting spot to jump out front on lap 1 over Reu and Daniel Fellows. The lead for Abbott only lasted for 1 lap, as Reu slipped under her to take over the top spot on lap 2. While Reu was out front the battle for second went three wide, with Benischek, Abbott and Fellows battling. Benischek would take sole possession of second on lap 4 and then went to work on Reu for the lead. Despite a few challenges from Benischek over the final laps, Reu was able to hold on to claim the win and the $300 check. Benischek was 2nd, Abbott was 3rd, Fellows was 4th, with Ron Kibbe rounding out the top 5.

 

The next event to be held at the Scotland County Speedway will be Friday, July 14th, during the fair. Look for more information on this event, by liking them on Facebook.

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO

Thurs, June 1, 2017 – Memphis Bottling, J&J Ag, Brian’s Foundation Repair and Crop Production Services Night

 

Modifieds

 

A-Feature: 1. Michael Long, Fowler, IL 2. Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, IA; 3. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 4. John Emerson, Waterloo, IA; 5.  Bruce Hanford, Davenport, IA; 6. Jerad Fuller, Memphis, MO; 7. Kyle Brown, Madrid, IA; 8. Jardin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 9. Steve Stewart, Burlington, IA; 10. Dakota Simmons, Douds, IA; 11. Dugan Thye, Burlington, IA; 12. David Brown, Kellogg, IA; 13. Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington, IA; 14. Cory Sauerman, Grimes, IA; 15. Garett Wilson; 16. Kiel Morton, Kirksville, MO; 17. Kelly Buckallew, Memphis, MO; 18. Austin Howes, Memphis, MO; 19. Craig Spegal, New London, MO (DNS)

 

 

Stock Cars

 

A-Feature: 1. John Oliver Jr.,Danville, IA; 2. Jim Redmann, Lockridge, IA; 3. Nathan Wood, Sigourney, IA; 4. David Brandies, Wilton, IA; 5. Derrick Agee, Huntsville, MO; 6. Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA;  7. Derek Kirkland, Centerville, IA; 8. Dean Kratzer, Ft. Madison, IA; 9. Brad Egbert, Bloomfield, IA; 10. Kevin Koontz, Memphis, MO; 11. Riley Newton, Bloomfield, IA; 12. Beau Taylor, Canton, MO; 13. Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa, IA; 14. Chase Exlline, Centerville, IA

 

 

SportMods

 

A-Feature: 1. Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk, IA; 2. Jason McDaniel, Eldon, IA; 3. Carter VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa, IA; 4. Brett Lowry, Montezuma, IA; 5. Ethan Braaksma, Newton, IA; 6. Austen Becerra, Bowen, IL; 7. Brandon Lennox, New London, MO; 8. Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 9. LeRoy Groenendyk, Oskaloosa, IA; 10. Jim Walker, Mystic, IA; 11. Tom Lathrop, Ottumwa, IA; 12. Austin Howes, Memphis, MO; 13. Kevin Skaggs, Kirksville, MO; 14. Cody Agee, Huntsville, MO

 

 

Sport Compacts

 

A-Feature: 1.  Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 2. Jake Benischek, Durant, IA; 3. Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 4. Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 5. Ron Kibbe, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 6. Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 7. Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 8. Mike Hornung Jr., Keokuk, IA; 9. Renny McCarty, Farmington, IA; 10. Alyssia Steele, Keokuk, IA

Category: Missouri