Elston Tops USRA Late Model Field at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway
by Brian Neal

MEMPHIS, MO (April 28) - The Casey's General Stores USRA Weekly Racing Series Late Models made there debut at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, with Tommy Elston topping the field to claim the $3,000 top prize. Also picking up wins on the night were Tony Fraise (USRA Modifieds), Matt Greiner (USRA Stock Cars), Tony Dunker (USRA B-Modifieds), Jason McDaniel (USRA Hobby Stocks), Rodger Dresden (Outlaw Hobby Stocks) and Dale Porter (Hornets).

The 12 lap USRA Stock Car feature was the first to take to the speedway, with Matt Greiner and Troy Alexander leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Greiner would take advantage of his front row start, with Alexander close behind in second. Greiner continued to hold down the top spot, as Alexander worked to hold off Colt Mather, who started fifth. Mather would get by Alexander on lap 10 for second and then worked on Greiner for the lead with two laps left. Greiner would hold off Mather on the last lap by a half a car length to pick up his frist win of the season at Memphis. Alexander held on for third, Mark Holt was fourth, with Chris Leathers coming home in fifth. Greiner also claimed the heat race win.

Up next was the 15 lap USRA B-Modified feature, with Jack Evans Jr. and Ron York drawing the front row. Evans Jr. jumped out into the lead on the drop of the green with York and Tony Dunker battling for second. Evans Jr. would hold the top spot until lap 3, when Dunker slipped under him for the lead. Dunker then went on to lead the final 12 laps to claim his first win of 2007 at the speedway. Wyatt Lantz, who started eighth, got by Evans Jr. on the last lap to come home in second, Joe Hooper would finish in fourth, with York hold on for fifth. Heat race winners were Dunker and Lantz.

Beau Taylor and Tim Pettibone led the field to the drop of the green flag in the Outlaw Hobby Stock feature, with Pettibone edging out Taylor at the line to lead lap 1. Pettibone continued to hold the top spot, as Rodger Dresden, who started sixth, Jeff Soper, who started eighth, and Taylor waged a three car battle for second. Dresden would slip under Pettibone on lap 8 to grab the lead and then held off a last lap challenge fron Soper to pick up his first win of the season. Taylor held on for third, Brandon Symmonds was fourth, with Rob Wilsey coming from twelveth to round out the top 5. Symmonds and Soper each claimed a heat race win.

The 10 lap Hornet feature was next, with Kevin Garrett and J.D. Murphy drawing the front row. Murphy would take advantage of his front row starting spot to move out front on lap 1. Murphy then held the lead until lap 3, when Luke Davidson slipped by for the top spot. Davidson then tried to hold off Dale Porter, who started seventh, but couldn't hold him off as Porter got by on lap 7 to take over the lead. Porter would hold off Davidson over the final 3 laps to claim his first win of the season at Memphis. Porter made a clean sweep of the night by claiming the heat race win.

Up next was the 15 lap USRA Hobby Stocks feature, with Jason McDaniel and Jim Walker on the front row for the event. McDaniel grabbed the lead on the drop of the green flag, with Walker close behind in second. McDaniel would go on to lead all 15 laps in a caution free feature to pick up his first win of the season at the speedway. Bill Gibson came from seventh to finish in second, Jimmy Hayes was third, Bob Lynch was fourth, with Tim Kraber coming home in fifth. Heat race winners were Jim Sulser and McDaniel.

Scott Dickey and Tony Fraise drew the front row for the 20 lap USRA Modified feature, with Fraise jumping out front on the drop of the green flag. Fraise continued to hold the top spot, as Michael Long, who started ninth, was working his way towards the front. Disaster almost struck Fraise on lap 13, as a lapped car to into the right rear of Fraise's car. The lapped car got sideways in front of Long, who had no where to go, hitting the lapped car broadside and ending his hopes of a win. Fraise recovered with no damage to lead the final seven laps to pick up his first win. Martin Bennett was second, Ryan Meyer was third, Jody Wood was fourth, with Jeff Gerhardt charging from sixteenth to round out the top five. Bennett and Bob Dale each picked up a heat race win.

The final feature of the night was the 30 lap USRA Late Model feature, with $3,000 top prize waiting the winner. Tommy Elston and Gary Wilson drew the front row for the event, with Elston grabbing the lead on the drop of the green flag. Elston continued to hold the top spot, as Wilson and Chad Simpson battled side-by-side for the second spot. Elston would go on to lead all 30 laps to pick up the win. Wilson held off Simpson at the line to finish in second, Chris Smyser came home in fourth, with Mark Burgtorf rounding out the top five. Heat race wins went to Rickey Frankel and Elston.

The battle for the Casey's General Stores USRA Weekly Racing Series track and national points continues next week at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway. Action in the USRA Modifieds, USRA Stock Cars, USRA B-Modifieds, USRA Hobby Stocks, Outlaw Hobby Stocks and Hornets will get underway with hot laps at 6 pm, with racing to follow.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
Casey's General Stores USRA Weekly Racing Series
Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, MO
Saturday, April 28, 2007

USRA Late Models

Heat 1: 1. 33-Rickey Frankel, Quincy, IL; 2. 55-Gary Wilson, Frankford, MO; 3. 1ST-Justin Reed, Quincy, IL; 4. 46-Thad Trump, Kahoka, MO; 5. 14-Chris Fontana, Pella, IA; 6. 79-Robby Warner, Quincy, IL; 7. 18-Troy McKee, Massena, IA; 8. 77-Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls, IA
Heat 2: 1. 45-Tommy Elston, Keokuk, IA; 2. 7-Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, IL; 3. 25-Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon, IA; 4. 22-Jeff Guengerich, Washington, IA; 5. 25s-Chris Smyser, Lancaster, MO; 6. 6-Jay Chenoweth, Wapello, IA; 7. 8M-Todd McKee, Massena, IA; 8. 21-Lynn Monroe, Memphis, MO
Feature: 1. 45-Elston; 2. 55-Wilson; 3. 25-Simpson; 4. 25s-Smyser; 5. 7-Burgtorf; 6. 22-Guengerich; 7. 77-Aikey; 8. 1ST-Reed; 9. 46-Trump; 10. 6-Chenoweth; 11. 8M-Todd McKee; 12. 79-Warner; 13. 14-Fontana; 14. 18-Troy McKee; 15. 33-Frankel; 16. 21-Monroe

USRA Modifieds

Heat 1: 1. 99-Martin Bennett, Ankeny, IA; 2. 82M-Ryan Meyer, Liberty, IL; 3. z4-Jody Wood, Donnellson, IA; 4. 18-Michael Long, Quincy, IL; 5. 29-Dennis Elliott, Mt. Ayr, IA; 6. 29x-Matt Greiner, Washington, IA; 7. 5-Tim Sands, Conesville, IA; 8. 9-Charles Baker, Labelle, MO; 9. 92-Mark Antal, Lancaster, MO
Heat 2: 1. 12-Bob Dale, Gorin, MO; 2. 45-Tony Fraise, Donnellson, IA; 3. 40-Scott Dickey, Packwood, IA; 4. 90-Lonnie Heap, Media, IL; 5. 38JB-Michael Joe Bliven, Quincy, IL; 6. 105-Kevin Peters, Monmouth, IL; 7. 21-Jeff Gerhardt, Niota, IL; 8. 5s-David Snyder, Greentop, MO
Feature: 1. 45-Fraise; 2. 99-Bennett; 3. 82M-Meyer; 4. z4-Wood; 5. 21-Gerhardt; 6. 29-Elliott; 7. 12-Dale; 8. 105-Peters; 9. 38JB-Bliven; 10. 29x-Greiner; 11. 9-Baker; 12. 40-Dickey; 13. 18-Long; 14. 92-Antal; 15. 90-Heap; 16. 5-Sands; 17. 5s-Snyder

USRA Stock Cars

Heat: 1. 29-Matt Greiner, Washington, IA; 2. 7A-Troy Alexander, Memphis, MO; 3. 11-Mark Holt, Memphis, MO; 4. 79J-Brian Jackson, Moravia, IA; 5. 8-Colt Mather, Webster, IA; 6. 12M-Chris Leather, Macon, MO
Feature: 1. 29-Greiner; 2. 8-Mather; 3. 7A-Alexander; 4. 11-Holt; 5. 12M-Leathers, 6. 79J-Jackson

USRA B-Modifieds

Heat 1: 1. 4-Tony Dunker, Quincy, IL; 2. 1-Joe Hooper, Mendon, IL; 3. 6Y-Ron York, Edina, MO; 4. 3-Bob Woodrow, Perry, MO; 5. 44-Josh Larson, Keokuk, IA; 6. 44H-Gordon Hudson, Arbela, MO
Heat 2: 1. 22-Wyatt Lantz, Bowen, IL; 2. 00-Jack Evans Jr., Keokuk, IA; 3. 19-Jason Riegel, Memphis, MO; 4. 71-Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 5. 12-Adam Birck, Canton, MO; 6. 32-Ronnie Pumphrey, Altoona, IA
Feature: 1. 4-Dunker; 2. 22-Lantz; 3. 00-Evans Jr.; 4. 1-Hooper; 5. 6Y-York; 6. 71-Waterman; 7. 44-Larson; 8. 3-Woodrow; 9. 12-Birck; 10. 19-Riegel; 11. 44H-Hudson; 12. Pumphrey

USRA Hobby Stocks

Heat 1: 1. 11s-Jim Sulser, Centerville, IA; 2. 9-Jimmy Hayes, Moravia, IA; 3. 80-Jim Walker, Mystic, IA; 4. 2M-Mark Moore, Ottumwa, IA; 5. 4J-Bob Lynch, Ottumwa, IA; 6. 34F-Robby Sands, Centerville, IA; 7. 3z-Jason VanZomeren, Oskaloosa, IA
Heat 2: 1. 85-Jason McDaniel, Eldon, IA; 2. 38-Bill Gibson, Knoxville, IA; 3. 16-Mike Shelton, Ottumwa, IA; 4. 27k-Tim Kraber, Ottumwa, IA; 5. 3s-Steve Allen, Oskaloosa, IA; 6. 27F-Rick Sands, Milan, MO; 7. 2k-Derek Kirkland, Centerville, IA
Feature: 1. 85-McDaniel; 2. 38-Gibson; 3. 9-Hayes; 4. 4J-Lynch; 5. 27k-Kraber; 6. 80-Walker; 7. 11s-Sulser; 8. 16-Shelton; 9. 34F-Robby Sands; 10. 3z-VanZomeren; 11. 27F-Rick Sands; 12. 3s-Allen; 13. 2M-Moore; 14. 2k-Kirkland

Outlaw Hobby Stocks

Heat 1: 1. 8-Brandon Symmonds, Keokuk, IA; 2. 1-Rodger Dresden, Keokuk, IA; 3. 89-Brian Howerton, Hurdland, MO; 4. 4L-Jim Lynch, Donnellson, IA; 5. 20-Keith Reed, Fowler, IL; 6. 73-Randy Reed, Quincy, IL; 7. 11w-Keith Vanvelzer
Heat 2: 1. 43s-Jeff Soper, Kahoka, MO; 2. 2T-Beau Taylor, Canton, MO; 3. 47-Tim Pettibone, Moravia, IA; 4. 23-Larry Hooper, Wyaconds, MO; 5. 06-Jerry Jansen, Plainville, IL; 6. 03-Rob Wilsey, Keokuk, IA; 7. 59-Jakoby Hooper, Kahoka, MO
Feature: 1. 1-Dresden; 2. 43s-Soper; 3. 2T-Taylor; 4. 8-Symmonds; 5. 03-Wilsey; 6. 4L-Lynch; 7. 47-Pettibone; 8. 89-Howerton; 9. 20-K. Reed; 10. 06-Jansen; 11. 23-L. Hooper; 12. 59-J. Hooper; 13. 73-R. Reed; 14. 11w-Vanvelzer

Hornets

Heat: 1. 31-Dale Porter, Polaski, IA; 2. 77Q-J.D. Murphy, Cinnati, IA; 3. 6-Luke Davidson, Argyle, IA; 4. 26-Jim Garrett, Ottumwa, IA; 5. 21Y-Bill Young, Ottumwa, IA; 6. 12-Matt Moore, Ottumwa, IA; 7. 29-Kevin Garrett, Bloomfield, IA
Feature: 1. 31-Porter; 2. 6-Davidson; 3. 77Q-Murphy; 4. 21Y-Young; 5. 26-J. Garrett; 6. 12-Moore; 7. 29-K. Garrett