Freedom Classic Opening Night to Stovall
SALINA, OK (July 3rd, 2015) – A late afternoon shower provided just enough natural moisture for a perfect Salina Highbanks Speedway surface on the opening night of the 2nd Annual Freedom Classic. Jesse Stovall cleared Tommy Weder Jr., just prior to a yellow flag, near the half way point of the race, and rolled into Andy’s Frozen Custard Victory Lane for his fourth Lucas Oil MLRA win of the season.
“This place is a go fast get on the top and get her done,” exclaimed an excited Stovall. “My old hot rod would go around the bottom there pretty good tonight too. I think that’s what kind of give me a little bit of an edge to be able to make a pass for the lead. Once we got in the lead we just kind of found a good line.”
Jason Utter rebounded after a tough last event at Adams County Speedway to score the runner up finish. He was also the Casey’s General Stores Hard Charger with an impressive 18 position advancement.
“Once we got it (the track) figured out we were rolling pretty good there in the feature,” commented Utter. “I want to say congrats to Jesse. I struggled earlier, and I went over there and got some advice from him. That just shows what kind of character he is.”
Justin Asplin ran in close quarters with Utter during the closing laps and nailed down third.
“We’ve got good good equipment,” stated Asplin. “We’ve got good cars. I had a crew guy, we parted ways, and I got more involved with my program the last two or three weeks. I think that has helped. I bought a new business the first of the year and just wasn’t there. Here lately I’ve had to get more hands on with it, and I think that’s one of the reasons why were turning stuff around.”
Tommy Weder led the field to the green and set the pace early. Once Stovall jumped out front he was never challenged again. Aside from Utter’s push forward there were also big gains made by both Ryan Gustin and RC Whitwell who completed the top five. Jake O’Neil was just outside of the top five, but made up huge ground too.
Several yellows slowed the race throughout, but none were for serious incidents. Saturday night wraps up the weekend at Salina Highbanks Speedway. The Lucas Oil MLRA will again headline with a $5,000 to win main event.
Salina Highbanks Speedway Contingency Awards 7/3/15
Andy’s Frozen Custard Victory Lane – Jesse Stovall
AR Bodies – Jake Davis
Casey’s General Stores Hard Charger – Jason Utter
DirtOnDirt.com Pole Winner – Tommy Weder Jr.
Hooker Harness 11th Place – Randy Timms
KRC Hard Luck – Chad Simpson
RacingJunk.com Hard Luck – Chad Simpson
Landrum Springs Race Winner – Jesse Stovall
Fast Track Photos – Jesse Stovall
Performance Bodies Performer of the Race – Jesse Stovall
RaceNote Crew Chief of the Race – Tony Rogers
Real Racing Wheels – Jake O’Neil
Sunoco Rookie of the Race – RC Whitwell
Wehrs Machine – Jason O’Brien
Lucas Cattle Company A Feature (30 Laps): 1. Jesse Stovall 2. Jason Utter 3. Justin Asplin 4. Ryan Gustin 5. RC Whitwell 6. Jake O’Neil 7. Terry Phillips 8. Jason Hughes 9. Tommy Weder Jr. 10. Jason O’Brien 11. Randy Timms 12. Jeff Roth 13. Jacob Magee 14. Randy Roth 15. JC Wyman 16. Tony Jackson Jr. 17. Brantlee Gotschall 18. Stacey Taylor 19. Jeremy Payne 20. Brandon Morton 21. Joe Gorby 22. Leroy Johnson 23. Chad Simpson
HotRodProcessing.com B Feature 1 (10 Laps): 1. Ryan Gustin 2. Leroy Johnson 3. Jake Davis 4. Dillon Rupe 5. Camden Perry 6. Brantlee Gotschall 7. Shannon Scott
Impact Signs, Awnings, Wraps B Feature 2 (10 Laps): 1. Randy Timms 2. Jason Utter 3. Jake O’Neil 4. Jack Sullivan 5. Tommy Fulton 6. Randy Roth 7. Brandon McCormick
Hoosier Racing Tires Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. Jason O’Brien 2. Terry Phillips 3. Jesse Stovall 4. Dillon Rupe 5. Shannon Scott 6. Jake Davis 7. Camden Perry
RacingJunk.com Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. Tommy Weder Jr. 2. JC Wyman 3. Justin Asplin 4. Jeremy Payne 5. Leroy Johnson 6. Tommy Fulton 7. Randy Roth 8. Jack Sullivan
G2 Gemini Custom Apparel Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. Jeff Roth 2. Jacob Magee 3. Stacey Taylor 4. Joe Gorby 5. Randy Timms 6. Brantlee Gotschall 7. Damian Potocka
Chix Gear Racewear Heat 4 (8 Laps): 1. Tony Jackson Jr. 2. Chad Simpson 3. Brandon Morton 4. RC Whitwell 5. Jason Utter 6. Jake O’Neil 7. Brandon McCormick
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