LEBANON, MO (September 8, 2012) – Baker Edges Stephens at Midway
Baker Edges Stephens at Midway
LEBANON, MO (September 8, 2012) – With Wingless Auto Racing making its first ever appearance at Midway Speedway on Saturday, Cody Baker edged Josh Stephens for the win.
Peter Palazzolo and Chris Parkinson led the field to the green with Cody Baker making a big run on the bottom to take command early. Just behind Baker, Stephens was also showing his muscle as he moved from the third row up to second. With drivers slicing and dicing throughout the field, point leader Austin Alumbaugh was able to maneuver into third by lap three.
Stephens, who has consistently been one of WAR’s fastest cars throughout the season, was hoping to put a string of bad luck behind him as he set his sights on Baker for the top spot. Baker’s lead would dwindle by lap nine as Stephens moved to within a couple of car lengths. On lap ten, Stephens would zip by Baker down the front stretch to lead.
Over the next few laps, Stephens would extend his lead as Baker and Alumbaugh tried to stay within striking distance .
By lap fifteen with the top three firmly in place, a group of cars was having a great race for positions four through ten. Tyler Blank and Steven Cross were running fourth and fifth, but Parkinson, John Helm, Brad Ryun, Mitchell Moore, and Eric Todd were never far behind.
It appeared as if Stephens was well on his way to his second win of the season as he continued to lead, but by lap twenty five, Baker had moved up to within a couple of car lengths.
On lap twenty eight, Stephens and Baker would trade the lead three different times with Baker leading at the stripe. Baker also edged Stephens to lead lap twenty nine and on the final lap, Stephens made one final run at the Lone Jack pilot. With Stephens running high and Baker low, Baker slide in front of Stephens coming off of turn four with Stephens turning underneath and coming a couple of car lengths short at the checkered flag. The win was the first for Baker in WAR competition in his grandpa Ted Hall’s #38. Stephens was a very strong second in his Summers Farms Eagle. Alumbaugh ran a solid third in his Rick Smith owned MRP. Blank was fourth in the Blank’s Backhoe GF-1 with Cross rounding out the top five in the Zink Motor Company Eagle. Fast qualifier Mitchell Moore was sixth as he was followed by John Helm. Rounding out the top ten were Palazzolo, Ryun, and Parkinson.
Stephens and Blank won the qualifying heats over the eighteen car field.
Wingless Auto Racing will next be in action on Friday and Saturday September 28th and 29th as part of the Jesse Hockett/Daniel McMillin Memorial at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO.
WAR Sprints-Midway Speedway
9/8/12
18 cars
A Main-30 laps
1. 38 Cody Baker, Lone Jack, MO (3) 2. 09 Josh Stephens, Buckner, MO (5) 3. 26 Austin Alumbauh, Higginsville, MO (7) 4. 75 Tyler Blank, California, MO (4) 5. 19s Steven Cross, Clinton, MO (9) 6. 51 Mitchell Moore, Edgerton, KS (10) 7. 12 John Helm, Kearney, MO (11) 8. 70 Peter Palazzolo, Pacific, MO (1) 9. 1X Brad Ryun, Higginsville, MO (6) 10. 66 Chris Parkinson, Gladstone, MO (2) 11. 21 Eric Todd, Falcon, MO (15) 12. 81 Chad Shields, Grain Valley, MO (8) 13. 18X Nathan Ryun, Higginsville, MO (14) 14. 75JR Brock Elliott, California, MO (17) 15. 55 Greg Clemons, Belton, MO (16) 16. 77 Lanny Carpenter, Clarksburg, MO (13) 17. 21X Steve Stroud, St. Charles, MO (12) DNS: 8 Jeff Wingate, Centertown, MO
Category: Midway Speedway, Missouri, News
