Three more get their first NASCAR Wins of 2016

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Two-time Lebanon I-44 Speedway O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model Champion Mike Slone took the lead from Brennon Willard on the 3rd lap and drove to his first win of the season on Coca-Cola Night at the races in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action Saturday night earning $1,000 for his victory as the Speedway started the month of money with increased purses.

The 30 lap feature had a rough start as Kansas City veteran Ronnie Hartford rode the front stretch wall and almost went air born on the start after contact while taking the original green. Hartford was able to walk away unhurt but suffered major damage to his car. On the next start, Brennon Willard jumped to the opening lead as Slone, Mandy Chick and current point leader Brian Brown followed. As the feature went caution free, Slone put his car on cruise control and had opened over a full straight away advantage leaving Willard and Chick to battle it out for the runner-up spot. After a race long battle, Chick secured the runner-up spot with Willard, Brown and Terry Limberopoulos completing the top 5.

“When Kevin announced $1,000 to win the weekly shows, we started reworking Paul Jepsen’s car as it was the 2014 Sportsman championship car and the car he drove to a feature win last year in Pro Late Models. We think we might be able to get it even better before the “Salute to 75″ race in two weeks which pays $2,000 to win.” Qualifying heat wins went to Limberopoulos and Hartford.

NASCAR Ground Pounding Modified action saw Ricky Icenhower take the lead from Chris Johnson on lap two and then fend off a late rally from younger brother Rodrick to grab his fourth feature win of the season. Icenhower made a three wide move on the start to take the lead, but a spin by Rodrick forced a restart. Chris Johnson then took the opening lead with Ricky and Terry Taylor in hot pursuit. On lap two, Ricky moved around Johnson to take the lead as Taylor and point leader Tim Swearengin along with Rodrick Icenhower followed. Out in front, Ricky opened up the advantage as Rodrick began a charge forward moving into third spot by lap five. The only caution waved on lap 9 as Taylor spun off turn two bunching the field. On the restart, Rodrick closed quickly, but older brother Ricky pulled away during the green run. Behind the Icenhower battle, Chris Johnson was fending back Swearengin’s moves as Roper Classic winner Brian Lewis was coming to challenge as well. As Ricky Icenhower took the win, Rodrick, Johnson, Swearengin and Lewis followed. Swearengin and Ricky Icenhower collected heat race wins.

Hoosier Tire Street Stock action saw Aaron Wilke survive a two hour traffic delay to the Speedway and hold back several challenges to lead all twenty laps in taking his first win of the season. Wilke had to fend off early contender Steve Shaw for the opening six laps before Michael Juergensen mounted a charge. Lap twelve would be a wild one as point leader Justin Allen spun low in turn four while in a three car battle for position, then Juergensen and Jordan Nisbett made contact with Nick Cherry suffering minor damage and sending all to the back. On the restart, Shaw moved even with Wilke, but Wilke held strong capturing the win with Shaw, Juergensen, Nisbett and Allen recovering to complete the top 5. Heat race wins went to Nisbett and Juergensen.

Coca-Cola Charger action saw Ben White charge from his 9th starting spot and take the lead from James Ellis on the seventeenth lap and then hold back point leader Ronnie Taylor on the final lap to take his third win of the season. The 20 lap feature had a rough start as tight action saw Justin Gantt involved in contact and sent spinning while making contact with point’s runner-up Jerry Ellis ending both the driver’s night. On the restart, James Ellis jumped to the lead with Nick Schmidt, Billy Taylor and the close pack following. Ellis held a five car advantage as Taylor had charged into second place with White and Ronnie Taylor charging forward. The race slowed on lap fifteen for a caution. On the restart, Ellis pulled White by two car lengths until White went to the extreme top of the track and quickly closed ground while R. Taylor was keeping pace. White made the winning pass out of turn four as Ellis and Taylor ran door to door. On the final lap, Taylor shot around Ellis and quickly closed on White, but ran out of time as White took the win with Ronnie Taylor, early leader James Ellis, Billy Taylor and Nik Taylor following. Heat wins were gathered by R. Taylor, Gantt and Jerry Ellis.

A new winner was crowned in the Sportsman division as 77 year old Phil Harris grabbed the opening lead and never looked back in securing his first ever win as point leader Jimmy Fohn and James Fohn followed. Jimmy Fohn took the heat race win.

Action continues Saturday Sept. 3rd with Labor Day Fan Appreciation Night with a special admission price of $20 per car load for both the Grandstands and Tier Parking as the Pro Late Models battle for $1,000 to win along with a full program of NASCAR Modified, Coca-Cola Charger, Hoosier Street Stock and Sportsman action. The Speedway will also offer special discounts in the concessions and on the Fan Deck. Gates will open at 5pm with NASCAR Short Track Racing action to start at 7:30.

I-44 Speedway PR

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