Home Away From Home at I-44 Speedway

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The old saying there is no place like home held true for 2013 NASCAR Whelen All American Series Missouri State Champion and Lebanon I-44 Speedway Pro Late Model Champion Cole Williams of Sellersburg, Indiana as he used a lap 19 caution to close-up the ground on leader Brian Brown and then took the top spot on lap 22 to capture The O’Reilly Auto Parts Late Model feature Saturday Night at The “High-Banks” of The Lebanon I-44 Speedway in a tune-up race before next weekend’s Mercy Masters Of The Pros 144.

 

The start of the tightly packed field saw Brown grab the opening lead from pole sitter Josh Woody as veterans Terry Limberopoulos and Steve Holt followed close behind. With Brown setting a quick pace, Williams had charged into the top 5 by lap 5 after starting 13th in the line-up with his 2nd place qualifying efforts in time trials. Limberopoulos was staying close to the leader Brown as Holt was putting on pressure for 2nd place. On lap 10, Williams in his new Port City Chassis had caught Brennon Willard and moved into 4th spot as Brown was running consistent quick laps up front. By lap 17, Williams moved around Holt to secure the 3rd spot as the lead duo of Brown and Limberopoulos started to pull away. The 1st caution waved on lap 19 as Limberopoulos spun in turn 2 as the clutch went away on the veteran driver ending his strong run for the night. With Brown leading, Williams, Holt, Willard and 2014 Missouri State NASCAR Rookie of the Year Kyle Donahue were running in the top 5. On the restart, Brown pulled some distance on the “Hurrying Hoosier” Williams as Holt and Willard ran side by side. Caution waved again on lap 21 as Jimmy Vanzandt was involved in contact in a three wide pack of cars for 6th spot and front end damage ended his night. On the restart, Brown again pulled Williams by 2 cars, but Williams went from top side to the bottom and reeled in the leader. On circuit 22, Williams took the lead and never looked back in becoming the 5th different Pro Late Model winner in 5 features this season as the battle behind the winner was action-packed with fast qualifier Jake Griffin who started 16th made a last lap move to secure 3rd spot and was gaining on runner-up Brown when the checkered flew. Holt and 2014 NASCAR Whelen All American Series Missouri State Champion and Lebanon I-44 Speedway Pro Late Model Champion Kaleb Allison completed the top 5.

 

A very happy Williams was all smiles in the winner’s circle.” This is our 1st win of 2015 as rain has hampered everyone’s schedule. This is the 1st race on this Port City car and what a tune-up before the $8,000 Mercy event next weekend here at I-44. Without a doubt the competition level has really picked-up here weekly. The caution really did help us as Brian was very strong tonight. We were pitted close by and his team was really working hard to get headed in the right direction and it showed. We started back deep, and on the start something happened mid-pack and the car really reacted great as we quickly took advantage and moved way down low. That opening move really payed-off for us tonight.”

 

 When asked about next week’s event, Williams smiled and said,” This is becoming the race that all Pro Late Model drivers are talking about. Last year was very tough and things didn’t go our way as the flat tire right after the break took us out of the lead. The entire team has been focused on this event. We won the Nashville Pro Late Model points title last season, but we really want this Mercy Green Jacket. The quality of entries is at an all-time high.”

 

Qualifying heats went to Jake Griffin and Williams as Griffin was fastest qualifier with a lap of 14.480 with Williams 2nd at 14.489.

 

The Budweiser Modified feature saw 2013 NASCAR Rookie Of The Year Richard Lewis in the right place at the right time as a lap 21 caution involving leaders Tim Swearengin and Ricky Icenhower put Lewis in the lead and then he held off a fast moving Rodrick Icenhower and Swearengin to capture his 1st ever feature win. The feature saw 4 different leaders as Rookie Todd Lauvray grab the opening spot. On lap 2, 2014 NASCAR Champion Stephen Counterman took control and had a strong car all evening. Swearengin had moved into 2nd place. Counterman was long gone until a lap 19 caution waved as the leader was involved in an incident going into turn 3 ending his night. This placed point leader Swearengin in front with Ricky Icenhower on his bumper followed by Lewis and Rodrick Icenhower. On the restart, the lead duo pulled away and then the following lap, contact sent both spinning around bringing out the caution. Swearengin rejoined the pack at the rear as Icenhower went to the pits. Lewis held Rodrick Icenhower at bay as Swearengin was flying through the field on the restart. At the finish it was Lewis, Swearengin, Roderick Icenhower, Lauvray and Brian Lewis completing the top 5. Heat races went to Ricky Icenhower and Swearengin.

 

The Sportsman feature saw a repeat winner for the first time this season as veteran JC Newell senior took the opening lead and had to hold off repeated challenges from his grandson Little JC Newell to take his 2nd win of the season. Newell held off point leader Aaron Douglas for the first 11 laps before Little JC broke away from a tight battle with Randy Besser and then Douglas to move into 2nd place. For the next 9 laps the duo ran side by side with Grandpa showing Grandson that he still had a trick or two up his sleeve by capturing win number 2 with Little JC, Douglas, 2013 NASCAR Champion Randy Besser and Jimmy Fohn following. “Diana and I would have been married for 47 years on Monday; we lost her a little over a year ago. Tonight she was riding in that car and this is what you call fun when you can race with family and friends and this was fun.” Big JC, a veteran of 45 years of stock car racing also won the qualifying heat.

 

The Hoosier Street Stocks again provided plenty of action and excitement with point’s runner-up Jordan Nisbett being patient and taking advantage of the leaders exchanging some sheet metal to grab his 2nd win of the season. Lebanon’s Chris Johnson jumped to the opening lead with David Douglas and Zack Morgan following quickly. Caution waved on lap two as Morgan and Douglas got tangled-up in turn four sending both drivers up the track. With Johnson in charge, Joey Auxier charged to the 2nd place spot with Nick Cherry, point leader Les Mallard and Nisbett following. By lap 5 Nesbitt moved into 3rd place after a hard fought battle with Mallard as Auxier and Johnson were waging a war for the lead. Caution waved on lap eight as contact between the leaders sent both drivers to the pits while Nisbett took over the top spot. From there, Nisbett controlled the race behind him as Douglas and Morgan were coming-up through the pack. At the finish it would be Nisbett, Mallard, Douglas, Morgan and Shawn Schmidt in the station wagon in the top 5. Heat races wins went to Douglas, Morgan and Nisbett.

 

For 2013 Coca-Cola Charger Champion, Jimmy Poindexter a hard fought battle with leader Jason Walls found Poindexter grabbing his 2nd feature of the season after Walls was involved in a wreck while battling for position. Walls, the 2014 NASCAR Champion jumped to the opening lead over Japheth Nisbett. Walls was pulling away as Poindexter moved into 2nd place on lap 3 while point leader Ben White was battling traffic. Caution waved on lap 3 as Larry Hunter had an wheel hub break sending him spinning in turn 2. On the restart, Poindexter quickly gave chase as the duo of he and Walls went to battle. With some great door to door action Poindexter just nipped Walls for the lead on lap 7 as White was moving up the leader board. The following lap, Walls got sideways in turn 3 and Nisbett caught him in the side bringing out the red flag as crews checked on the drivers and cleaned up the wreck. Both Walls and Nisbett had to retire for the night. On the restart, Poindexter pulled away from White in taking the victory with Nik Taylor, Jesse Poindexter and Luke Oster following. Heat race wins went to Walls and Jimmy Poindexter.

 

Action continues Saturday July 4th with the running of the 3rd Annual Mercy Masters of the Pros 144 squaring off the JEGS/CRA All-Star Series against the NASCAR Whelen All American Series featuring a 144 lap Pro Late Model Feature paying $8,000 to win. At this time there are over 40 Entries from 13 states and Canada including 2-time Daytona 500 Champion Sterling Marlin. Grandstand and Wild Side gates will open at 2PM with qualifying to start at 3:30. There will also be a special autograph session at 4:15 and racing to begin at 5:30 with a fireworks show to cap off the evening. Budweiser NASCAR Modifieds and Hoosier Tire NASCAR Street Stocks will also be in action. For more information visit WWW.I44Speedway.net and check out the daily updates on the Facebook page.

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