NASCAR Missouri State and Lebanon I-44 Speedway 2014 track champion, Kaleb Allison returned to victory lane by passing leader Brennon Willard on the 36th lap of the 54 lap Roper Classic Saturday Night in the NASCAR Whelen All American Series O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model feature. The win was Allison’s first of this season. The youngest ever pro late model champion at I-44 recovered from early contact and charged back from the back to get the win.
Steve Holt jumped to the opening lead with Kansas City veteran Ronnie Hartford in close pursuit. The race up front saw Holt stretch the lead with point’s runner-up Kyle Donahue and brother Kevin applying pressure to Hartford. The first official caution waved on lap three as Allison and Chick made contact sending Chick Spinning and Allison going to the rear as well. On the restart, Kyle Donahue made the move around Hartford to grab second place with brother Kevin following. Current point leader Brian Brown followed quickly as well. The field slowed on circuit eight for a single car spin making the already tight pack even tighter. With Holt still setting the pace, lap twelve really shook the race line-up as Kyle Donahue made contact with Holt coming out of turn four sending the leader spinning with Kevin Donahue involved as well ending the night for Steve Holt and Kevin Donahue as Kyle Donahue was sent to the rear of the field. This placed Brian Brown in the top spot for the restart while looking for his third consecutive win. On the restart, Brown spun the tires thinking he had a flat tire as the caution waved quickly and Brown headed to the pits. Oil on the track was found as the field was halted placing Hartford in the lead while the entire track was cleaned. On the restart, Allison went to the top side of Hartford as Brennon Willard made it three wide in turn two taking the lead. The following lap caution waved as Willard had the lead with Payton Lucas, Joe Ross, and Steven Counterman following as Hartford pulled in the pits with problems. Willard pulled away on the restart as Ross moved into second spot two laps later while Kyle Donahue quietly moved into third. Willard had opened a twelve car length lead over Ross with Donahue applying pressure to Ross’s back bumper. On lap thirty, Donahue moved around Ross for the spot as Allison followed quickly while Brown was charging hard through the field. Caution waved on lap thirty two as Lucas slowed on the track and then headed to the pits and returned. On the restart Allison stayed glued to Willard’s back bumper before pulling to the outside and taking the lead. As Allison watched the show behind him, Donahue closed on Willard and took over second spot on lap thirty eight, but couldn’t catch the flying Allison. Kyle Donahue, Willard, Brown and Ross completed the top 5. Allison set fast time for the night with a lap of 14.636 and redraw the number eight spot starting outside row four.
Ground-Pounding Modified action saw a first time winner as Brian Lewis took advantage of a lap nine caution and made the winning pass on then leader Terry Taylor to take his first ever feature win. Taylor grabbed the opening lead with Lewis staying on his bumper as all eyes were on point leader Tim Swearengin, last week’s winner Ricky Icenhower and defending Roper winner David Bates. As Taylor and Lewis were setting a quick pace, Icenhower pulled in on lap six as he and Swearengin were door to door. Bates was moving quickly in the pack and grabbed third. On lap eight, Bates looped the car out of turn two bringing out the only caution of the race. After the restart, Lewis made a smooth move on Taylor to take control and began to stretch the lead while Icenhower quickly ducked to the pits with mechanical issues. Bates was rallying and battled with Swearengin until lap thirteen and moved into the third spot trying to run down Taylor. By lap fifteen, Bates moved into second spot and started to close-in on Lewis. Lewis picked-up the pace in the final two laps to secure the win with Bates, Taylor, Swearengin and Chris Johnson following. Heats went to Bates and Swearengin.
With extra money on the line from Huey Asphalt Sealing and A-1 Septic, the Hoosier Tire Street Stocks didn’t disappoint anyone as point leader Justin Allen took advantage of the leaders Aaron Wilke and Michael Juergensen getting together on lap twenty one and then had to hold back three-time Street Stock Champion Chris Nichols to capture his fourth win of the season. On the start, Wilke took the opening lead with Steve Shaw on the outside with Nick Cherry and Les Mallard close behind. Defending champion Jordan Nisbett joined the front pack by lap five as Allen and Nichols were both being very patient and letting the race come to them. With Wilke holding the top spot and Shaw close behind, Nichols had shot to the fourth spot by lap seven and was charging forward. Caution waved on lap nine as Shaw spun off turn four along with Nisbett. The contact involved Nichols in the incident as all three went to the rear. On the restart, Allen was right on Wilke’s bumper as Juergensen followed closely. On lap sixteen, Allen lost the spot to Juergensen as he got loose in turn two as Juergensen closed quickly on Wilke. A close battle between the duos got even closer as Wilke had problems on lap twenty one collecting Juergensen with him. During the caution Juergensen ducked to the pits and would return after repairs as Allen now took back the lead with Nisbett and Nichols following. Unfortunately Wilke’s night was over with front suspension damage. On the restart, Allen was able to pull a little distance as Nisbett and Nichols battled for three laps before Nichols moved into second place. Allen was maintaining the top spot, but with 3 laps remaining Nichols was closing the gap as Allen kept smooth. As the white waved, Nichols closed the gap, but time ran out with Allen, Nichols, Nisbett, Shaw and Juergensen following. Wilke and Nisbett grabbed the heat race wins.
Coca-Cola Charger point leader Ronnie Taylor charged from his seventh starting spot to overtake leader James Ellis on lap six and took home his fifth win of the season in the caution free twelve lap feature. Mark Glorfeld would lead the opening circuit as James Ellis took advantage on lap 2 while Taylor was coming quickly. By lap four, Taylor closed in on Ellis as Glorfeld was holding off Billy Taylor and Jerry Ellis for the spot. A slow leaking tire would end Glorfeld’s strong run as the race went green. After a spirited battle, Ronnie Taylor made the winning move as Billy Taylor was in front of last week’s winner Justin Gantt and Ellis. As Ronnie Taylor pulled away James Ellis was trying to hold back brother Jerry Ellis with Billy Taylor lurking. When the checkered flew, Ronnie Taylor took home the win with James Ellis, Jerry Ellis, Billy Taylor and Nick Schmidt completing the top 5. Heats went to James Ellis and B. Taylor.
Sportsman point leader Jimmy Fohn took the lead at the start and took the victory over Phil Harris and James Fohn. The heat win went to Harris in a thrilling last lap pass.
NASCAR Whelen All American Series action continues Saturday August 27th with Coca-Cola Night at the Races highlighted by special Coke promotions and a special 20 lap NASCAR Coca-Cola Charger feature along with action featuring the Pro Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman and Street Stocks. Fan Appreciation Nights continue as well with special concession prices. Adult admission in both the Grandstand and Wild Side is only $12 with Senior, Military and Junior discounts in both sections. Gates will open at 5pm with NASCAR Short Track Racing action to start at 7:30.
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