More New NASCAR Winners Saturday Night at I-44

Jake Griffin drove to I-44 from Quincy Ill to take the win in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Models Saturday night. Griffin grabbed his first NASCAR Whelen All-American Series win of the season at the “High-Banks” of the Lebanon I-44 Speedway Saturday Night in the caution free feature.

 

Griffin, a young man that has three NASCAR Camping World Truck series starts on his schedule later this summer and is the youngest driver in I-44 history to capture a Pro Late Model feature win started the 30 lap feature in the fourth starting spot as he smoothly cleared a tight three car battle with Donahue and current point leader Brian Brown in the early stages. Former NASCAR Missouri State Rookie of the Year Donahue took the opening lead with Brown, former NASCAR Missouri State Champion Kaleb Allison and Griffin all grouped together. On lap three Griffin moved around Allison on the top side and closed quickly on Donahue and Brown. Griffin continued to use that top groove as he wheeled around Brown on lap none and then proceeded to Chase down Donahue. Once in front, Griffin slowly pulled away in a strong performance as Donahue stayed a solid 2nd leaving Brown and Steve Holt to battle for the 3rd spot with a tight battle between Allison, Kevin Donahue and former 2-time track champion Mike Slone before Kevin Donahue claimed the position. Behind the speeding Griffin at the checkered were Kyle Donahue, Brown, Holt and Kevin Donahue.

 

“When you have a car this good, you just don’t want to have the feature end.” said a very excited Griffin.” Last week we knew we had a good car, and after making quick repairs to the car and coming from the rear to 3rd, we really felt this would be our night. The competition this season has been tough early as everyone has really stepped-up the program. We owe a big thank you to Don Atkinson Motorsports from this area for the chance this season to go for a NASCAR state and track title. Qualifying heats went to Griffin, Terry Limberopolous and Steve Holt as the Pro Late Model standings will be very tight before the 40 lap feature next week.

 

Defending Budweiser Modified Champion Tim Swearengin shot to the inside of early leader David Strode to record his 1st feature win of the season in a strong performance. Strode and Richard Lewis brought the field to the flag for the 25 lap event with Strode taking the opening lead. Swearengin who started 4^th on the grid applied pressure early and then shot to the low side coming out of turn 4. Veteran Terry Taylor came from the 6th starting spot and quickly followed Swearengin through to keep pace on lap 2. The real race was for the 3rd spot as Strode, Lewis and Chris Johnson kept the pressure on each other. While Swearengin opened the distance, Taylor really picked-up the pace in the last 5 laps to close the gap but Swearengin wasn’t to be denied in taking his first win in two seasons and became the third different in three features. Behind the lead duo was Strode, Lewis both making their 1st starts of the season and Johnson. Qualifying heats went to Johnson and Swearengin.

 

Hoosier Tire Street Stock action saw defending Champion Jordan Nisbett move to the high side and overtake leader David Douglas in taking his 2nd straight win of the season in the caution free feature. Douglas jumped to the opening lead over Zack Morgan as Nisbett, point leader Michael Juergensen, Justin Allen and Les Mallard all went door to door for spots. With Douglas setting a quick pace, Nisbett moved in to the 2nd place spot over Morgan on lap four and started to close the gap slowly. Juergensen started his move forward on lap four by moving into 3rd spot. After a tight battle, Nisbett made the winning pass in turn three as Juergensen was closing ground. Out in front, Nisbett pulled away as Juergensen took second from Douglas on lap 12 while Morgan was putting the pressure on Douglas. As the checkered flew it was Nisbett with Juergensen, Morgan, early leader Douglas and Justin Allen completing the tight top 5. .Allen and Nesbitt took the heat race wins

 

Coca-Cola Charger action saw opening night winner Ben White take the lead from Jesse Poindexter on lap 2 and then hold off a late race challenge from Jerry Ellis to take his 2nd win of the season. Poindexter shot from his front row pole sport to lead the very tight pack as point leader Ronnie Taylor was putting the pressure on White. With the lead duo tight together all of the action for third included Ellis, Poindexter, Japheth Nisbett and Billy Taylor. The only caution waved on lap 10 as rookie Breken Johnson made contact with the front stretch wall after contact Luke Oster while battling for position in the mid pack. The young lady was able to walk away but suffered severe damage to her car. During the red flag, point leader and 2nd place runner Ronnie Taylor suffered a wheel-bearing failure ending his night. On the restart, Richland’s Jerry Ellis kept close to the leader, but White claimed the win with Ellis, Poindexter, Nisbett and Billy Taylor completing he very tight top 5. The heat race winners included Billy Taylor, Nesbitt and White with tight racing all through the field.

 

Sportsman action saw Jimmy Fohn make a bold move at the start going 3 wide and then held off a late race surge from Ben Newell in taking his 2nd straight win of the season in the caution free feature. Fohn would see the lead get smaller around the middle stages as Newell, making his first start of the season started closing ground quickly. Behind the duo, the torrid battle for 3rd spot involved Phil Harris and Jake Piel. As Newell closed the gap, Fohn was able to pull away another car length in recording the win with Newell, Piel, Harris and James Fohn in the top 5 while Newell took home the heat race win.

 

Action continues Saturday night April 23rd with NASCAR Qualifying and a 40 lap feature in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Models plus action in the Budweiser Modifieds, Hoosier Tire Street Stocks, Coca-Cola Chargers, and Sportsman. Gates open at 5PM with racing to start at 6PM.  

 

Lebanon I-44 Speedway April 16, 2016 Results

 

O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Models

A Feature.-1) Jake Griffin-Quincy, Ill 2) Kyle Donahue-Wildwood 3) Brian Brown-Strafford 4) Steve Holt-Strafford 5) Kevin Donahue-Wildwood 6) Mike Slone-Rolla 7) Kaleb Allison-Mexico 8) Terry Limberopolous-Cuba 9) Jimmy Van Zandt-Springfield 10) Stephen Counterman-Fair Grove 11) Brennon Willard-Sleeper 12) Payton Lucas-Fair Grove 13) Mandy Chick-Tonganoxie, Kansas DNS-Joe Ross-Independence, Richard Lewis-Willard

 1st Heat-1) Limberopolous 2) Brown 3) Slone 4) Willard 5) Chick

 2nd Heat.-1) Holt 2) Allison 3) Counterman 4) Lucas 5) Van Zandt

 3rd Heat.-1) Griffin 2) Kyle Donahue 3) Kevin Donahue DNS-Ross, Lewis

 

 Budweiser Modifieds

 A Feature.-1) Tim Swearengin-Springfield 2) Terry Taylor-Fair Grove 3) David Strode-Independence 4) Richard Lewis-Willard 5) Chris Johnson-Lebanon 6) Jimmy Poindexter-Willard 7) Chris Kerperien-Lebanon 8) Phil Harris-Springfield 9) Matt Winfrey-St. Robert

 1st Heat 1) Johnson 2) Lewis 3) Kerperien 4) Poindexter 5) Winfrey

 2nd Heat 1) Swearengin 2) Strode 3) Taylor 4) Harris

 

 Hoosier Tire Street Stocks

 A Feature.-1) Jordan Nesbitt-Lebanon 2) Michael Juergensen-Lebanon 3) Zack Morgan-Springfield 4) David Douglas-Lebanon 5) Justin Allen-Urbana 6) Nick Cherry-Springfield 7) Les Mallard-Fair Grove 8) Tony Johnson-Lebanon 9) David Jennings-Springfield DNS-Aaron Wilke-Bridgeton

 1st Heat.-1) Allen 2) Morgan 3) Douglas 4) Cherry 5) Jennings

 2nd Heat.-1) Nesbitt 2) Juergensen 3) Mallard 4) Johnson 5) Wilke

 

 Coca-Cola Chargers

 A Feature.-1) Ben White-Rolla 2) Jerry Ellis-Richland 3) Jesse Poindexter-Willard 4) Japheth Nesbitt-Rolla 5) Billy Taylor-Bolivar 6) Nick Schmidt-Montreal 7) Justin Gantt-Highlandville 8) Mark Glorfeld-Springfield 9) Ty Allison-Mexico 10) Luke Oster-Linn Creek 11) Kent Cruzan-Springfield 12) Ronnie Taylor-Springfield 13) Breken Johnson-Lebanon DNS-Travis Watson-Lebanon

 1st Heat.-1) R. Taylor 2) Oster 3) Schmidt 4) Glorfeld 5) Johnson

 2nd Heat.-1) Nesbitt 2) Poindexter 3) B. Taylor 4) Cruzan DNS-Watson

 3rd Heat 1) White 2) Ellis 3) Allison 4) Gantt

 

 Sportsman

 A Feature.-1) Jimmy Fohn-Eldridge 2) Ben Newell-Stoutland 3) Jake Piel-Webster Grove 4) Phil Harris-Springfield 5) James Fohn-Eldridge 6) Keith Buckley-Farmington 7) AJ Bowman-Lebanon

 Heat-1) Newell 2) Harris 3) Jimmy Fohn 4) Piel 5) Bowman 60 James Fohn 7) Buckley

For more information visit the website at www.i44speedway.net and be sure to like us at Lebanon I-44 Speedway on Facebook for updated information on Missouri’s only NASCAR sanction facility and the only weekly asphalt track within 300 miles.