Stovall defends title in Liberty 50 at Adams County
Photo – Lloyd Collins
Story By: Billy Rock
Corning, Iowa (June 25, 2016) – On Saturday night the Adams County Speedway played host to the annual $5,000 to win Ray Houck Memorial, “Liberty 50”. For the second time in as many nights and 3 rd time on the season, it was Jesse Stovall parking his Malvern Bank sponsored entry in the Andy’s Frozen Custard Victory Lane.
Stovall, the races defending winner rolled off from the outside front row and quickly worked his way around pole sitter J. C. Wyman off the exit of turn two to set the early pace. Three cautions over the first 13 laps would keep the field tight as the likes of Wyman, Jason Papich, and Terry Phillips would battle for the second position.
A long green flag run would ensue putting Stovall deep into lapped traffic where he was able to continue to build on his race lead. With 13 laps remaining Phillips cleared Papich for the 2 nd spot off turn four only to find himself making contact with the lapped car of Matt Buller. Phillips would continue on but Buller would come to rest on the front stretch putting the field under caution.
The final caution of the event would wave with only 6 laps remaining, giving Phillips one last shot at Stovall. Phillips would drive deep to the top of turn one, but as he had done all night, Stovall was able to launch off the bottom of turn two and cruise to his 3rd Lucas Oil MLRA win of the season.
The exit of turn two proved to be the money corner for Stovall who said of his unique line, “That’s a little trick I figured out last year and I don’t know if any of the other guys could see me do it. I tried not to do it for a couple laps just to try and mess with them. It’s all just a part of the game we all play”.
Stovall who completed a sweep of the weekends racing action wrapped up by saying, “To have a weekend like this is paying off for all of the work and years I have been driving up and down the road doing this.”
Terry Phillips would come home in the runner up spot, his third consecutive podium finish. Phillips jokingly said of his good friend and travel partner Stovall, “I’m about sick of him (Stovall) to tell you the truth. If he wasn’t here I would be a hero. He is hard to beat but were working at it and getting closer to where we need to be.”
After a great dual with Phillips, Nipomo California’s Jason Papich would come home with a season best 3 rd place finish on the MLRA tour. When asked about numerous re-starts besides Phillips he said, “I couldn’t figure out to restart high or low, I tried both and just picked the wrong spot on one of them and Phillips got around me. After that it just became harder to pass.”
Completing the top five was Dave Eckrich and DirtonDirt.com Pole winner J. C. Wyman, whom had his best finish of the season at his former home track. Earlier in the night heat race wins went to Stovall and Eckrich, while Payton Looney claimed the Casey’s General Store Hard Charger Award as a result of his 9 position improvement in the final run down.
Tour action now heads south for the 3 rd Annual “Freedom Classic,” at the Salina Highbanks Speedway in Salina, OK. Friday July, 1 will feature a $3,000 to win main event leading up to Saturdays $5,000 to win weekend finale.
Lucas Cattle Company A Feature (50 Laps): 1. Jesse Stovall 2. Terry Phillips 3. Jason Papich 4. Dave Eckrich 5. J.C. Wyman 6. Kyle Berck 7. Payton Looney 8. Brantlee Gotschall 9. Scott Lewis 10. Paul Glendenning 11. Justin Asplin 12. Bryon Allison 13. Sterling Perkins 14. Jeff Roth 15. Randy Roth 16. Austin Siebert 17. Matt Buller 18. Jason Rauen 19. Tad Pospisil 20. John Hampel 21. Tony Jackson, Jr.
Bilstein Shocks Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. Jesse Stovall 2. J. C. Wyman 3. Brantlee Gotschall 4. Terry Phillips 5. Justin Asplin 6. Scott Lewis 7. Matt Buller 8. Dean Moore 9. Paul Glendenning 10. Randy Roth 11. Tony Jackson, Jr.
Casey’s General Stores Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. Dave Eckrich 2. Kyle Berck 3. Jason Papich 4. Austin Siebert 5. Tad Pospisil 6. Sterling Perkins 7. Bryon Allison 8. Payton Looney 9. John Hampel 10. Jeff Roth 11. Jason Rauen
Adams County Speedway Contingencies 6/25/16
Hooker Harness “11th Place” – Justin Asplin
Andy’s Frozen Custard Victory Lane – Jesse Stovall
Fasttrack Photos – Jesse Stovall
Crew Chief of the Race – Tommy Rogers
Casey’s General Stores “Hard Charger of the Race” – Payton Looney
Sunoco “Rookie of the Race” – Tad Pospisil
Real Racing Wheels – Tad Pospisil
Wehrs Machine – Kyle Berck
DirtonDirt.com “Pole Award”- J. C. Wyman
Malvern Bank & Trust “Most Laps Led” – Jesse Stovall
AR Bodies – Austin Siebert
KRC – Jason Papich
RacingJunk.com “Hard Luck Award” – Tony Jackson Jr.
Landrum Springs “Top Performer” – J. C. Wyman
Performance Bodies “Performer of the Race” – Jesse Stovall
For all of the latest news and information fans are encouraged to visit the series website at www.MLRARacing.com.
