Two time I-44 O’Reilly Auto Parts Pro Late Model Champion Mike Slone took advantage of brief contact between leader Matt Wallace and Kaleb Allison and shot from third to take the lead on lap 46 and captured the Salute to 75 presented by Sportsland Pickup Accessories as the Speedway honored the only Five time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion Larry Phillips. The win was Slone’s third consecutive NASCAR Pro Late Model feature win in the Month of Money specials. This victory was worth $2,000 for the win.
Brennon Willard grabbed the opening lead at the start with Joe Ross and Matt Wallace following. Wallace quickly moved around Ross on lap two as fast qualifier Kaleb Allison who started eighth quickly shot into the top five. Willard, the 2014 Salute to 75 winner saw his lead shrinking as Wallace, Ross and Allison were closing the gap. Wallace took the top spot on the twelfth lap as Allison had moved around Ross and closed on Willard. The first caution waved one lap later as Payton Lucas slowed on the track with mechanical issues. On the restart, Allison and Willard ran door to door as Wallace opened-up the lead while Terry Limberopoulos and Slone battled to the top five. On lap seventeen, Allison moved into second place as Slone grabbed another spot from Limberopoulos. Allison slowly closed in on Wallace as caution waved on lap twenty eight. On the restart, the top three of Wallace, Allison and Slone broke away leaving point leader Brian Brown and Limberopoulos dicing for fourth as early leader Willard began to fade with brake issues. During this long green run, the lead trio stayed nose to tail. On lap forty two, Allison made a move to overtake Wallace but Wallace held strong. Heading on the backstretch, Allison attempted again to take the lead as the duo barely touched allowing Slone to shoot from third to the lead. During the next long green flag run, Allison started chipping away on Slone’s lead until the final yellow waved on lap sixty seven as Steve Holt and Terry Smith both spun. Slone got a good restart as Allison held back just a bit and then tried to rally back but Slone crossed with a 2 second win followed by Allison, Wallace, Brown and Limberopoulos in the top five with ten cars on the lead lap after 75 circuits. Allison was quickest in qualifying with a lap of 14.714 while Slone was 2nd quick with a lap of 14.806 as less than half a second separated the top 10.
The NASCAR Ground Pounding Modified feature saw Slone take the top spot on lap two from leader Chris Johnson and then hold back a late race surge from David Bates to take his first win of the season in the modified’s and pull off a double for the evening.
The start saw Johnson quickly take the opening lead as Slone and Bates followed. Ricky Icenhower had to react quickly on the start as his car got sideways. Slone moved around Johnson as Bates was quick to follow. As the race continued, Slone had built almost a full straight away lead, but with two laps remaining mechanical issues began to surface and Bates was quick to close ground. On the final lap, Slone had to depend on track position to hold back Bates in taking the win with Bates, Icenhower, Terry Taylor and Johnson following. Icenhower and Taylor took home the heat wins.
Hoosier Tire Street Stock action saw current point leader Justin Allen run down race leader Michael Juergensen on the final turn, final lap to grab his fifth win of the season. The feature only had one caution at the start involving defending champion Jordan Nisbett and featured three different leaders in the 20 lap feature. Steve Shaw jumped to the opening lead as Les Mallard and Juergensen followed. Juergensen took the 2nd place spot on lap two as Allen was following in the fourth position. Shaw and Juergensen kept the action hot up front as Juergensen took the lead at the midway point while Allen moved to third followed by Nisbett. With five laps remaining Juergensen was holding a ten car advantage as Allen got underneath Shaw and began to cut into the leaders advantage. As the white was displayed, Allen smoothly moved in the middle of the track and went door to door with the leader. In a near photo finish, Allen nipped Juergensen by a bumper in taking the win with Juergensen, early leader Shaw, Nisbett and Mallard completing the top five. Heat wins went to Shaw and Juergensen.
NASCAR Coca-Cola Charger excitement in the 20 lap affair saw current point leader Ronnie Taylor make use of a lap six caution to close the early gap from his fourteenth starting spot and then move around leader Trent Harrison on lap fifteen to take his seventh feature win of the season. Harrison grabbed the opening lead while Ben White, Nick Schmidt and Nik Taylor followed with two wide action all the way through the pack. Justin Gantt surged into third spot on the third lap after some three wide racing as Harrison maintained the lead. The pace slowed on lap six as Schmidt and point runner-up Jerry Ellis made contact with both drivers ending their night in turn one. On the restart, Gantt made a bid for the top spot, but got the car sideways slowing his move as Ben White, Ronnie Taylor, James Ellis and Gantt were all bunched up at the front of the pack. Gantt brought out the final caution with a flat tire before he headed to the pits and returned at the rear of the field. On the restart, Taylor charged quickly putting pressure on Harrison while White had James Ellis and Jesse Poindexter tight on his tail. As the lead duo headed to the line, Harrison bobbled just a bit as Taylor moved to the high side to take the lead and the win. White was able to also make a move to secure second with Harrison, and James Ellis following. Harrison, Gantt and James Ellis took the heat race wins.
NASCAR Sportsman action continued strong for Phil Harris as he and Jimmy Fohn again ran door to door with Harris claiming his third straight feature win as Fohn got high on the final lap in turn one after taking the lead. Miles DeSelms finished behind the lead duo. Fohn won the heat race.
I-44 Speedway PR
