ESSARY WINS "NAIL BITER" AT NEVADA!
by Gary Woodall

NEVADA, Mo. (June 3, 2006) - The $1000 to win Late Model race at the Nevada Speedway in Nevada, MO brought out 28 cars to battle it out for the big $1000 to win prize. Rick Lebow in the Brown Concrete Construction #33 held off a strong charge from Mike Hailmann in his bright red #85 to win the Schoenfeld Headers first heat of 4 at the track.

The Midwest Sheet Metal second heat was just a preview of what would take place in the 'A' Main as Leslie Essary won, with Ken Essary finishing second and Jack Simmons in the J2 third. Roger Wilson in his #77 GRT raced side by side with the 99.7 of Chris Hawkins to claim the victory in the Martin Oil Company third heat race with Robert Coffman in his #3 car finishing third.

The fourth and final heat race, presented by BsB Manufacturing, saw Ken Hartwigsen in the Bueller Realty #27 hold off challenges from Jarrod Hilton in the Hudson Tire #11 and Jordan Holloway in the Max Knight owned #14 car to take the win. Scott Fry wound up second, will Hilton finishing third.

In the Driveline Shop 'B' Main, 12 drivers had their "last chance" to qualify for the 'A' Main and "Rookie of the Year" candidate Jeremy Manes in his #7 Spring Valley Barber Stylists machine held off modified veteran Ron Hoffman in the #96 to win his first ever Late Model race. Jeremy Kelley and Nevada regular Michael Wilson in the #19 made up the four who transferred to the 'A'.

Leslie Essary, in the Barrister Title #5 held off the challenge of his dad, Ken Essary in the #55 to claim his first Show-Me Racin Series victory of the season. When the green flag waved to start the race, Ken Hartwigsen grabbed the early lead, with Scott Fry in the #F7, Roger Wilson in the Freedom Bank #77, Hawkins in #99.7 3 wide behind him. Further back in the pack, Jack Simmons, Mark Bourey in the R&M Industries #30 and the #5M of Tyler Milner were racing for 12th, 13th and 14th positions.

The racing was 2 and 3 wide throughout the field and when Jarrod Hilton in the #11, Mike Hailmann and Chad Smith's Freedom Fire Pro #13 went into turn one it was literally scary. As they raced side by side through turns one, two and down the back straightaway into turn three, something had to give but neither of the three drivers backed out of the throttle. Hilton finally took command of that "dogfight" for the 5th place spot going back into turn one.

The first 12 laps were marred with 2 caution flags and 2 red flags. The second red came out when Chad Pyle in the #6 Wheaton Grain machine crossed up on the front stretch nearly blocking the track. Seven Late Models tried to avoid Chad's car and in doing so, they all piled up right under the flag stand.

Rick Lebow, number two man in the Series point standings had significant damage on the #33, but managed to finish out the race in the 11th position from his rear of the field restart position. Milner, Fry, and Simmons all recovered to finish 8th, 13th and 17th respectively.

As the Essarys put on a 2 man show for 18 laps to the checkered flag, with Ken all over the rear bumper on Leslie's #5 car, Leslie was able to hold on and take home the $1000 prize for winning the 30 lap 'A' Main feature event. The standing room only crowd at the Nevada track saw one of the most exciting Late Model races they'll see all season and many told me they couldn't wait till the Show-Me Racin Series returned to the Speedway on August 5th.

Contingency Awards

Martin Oil Company: 15 gallons of Trak Tek fuel to the winner Leslie Essary
10 gallons of Trak Tek fuel to Ken Patterson
1 case of Kendall Racing Oil to Chad Smith

Babe's Drive-In: "Hot Dog" Trophy to Jeremy Kelley
$25 gift certificate to Jeremy Kelley

GRT Race Cars: $50 gift certificate to winner Leslie Essary
$25 gift certificate to Jarrod Hilton
$25 gift certificate to Tyler Milner

Peterson Fluid Systems: $50 gift certificate to Ken Essary

Kluhsman Racing Components: New Throttle Linkage to the winner who has not
previously won the award Leslie Essary
$30 gift certificate to Leslie Essary

Pushrod Factory Racing Engines: $30 off a set of pushrods to Mike Madison

Raceway Ministries Inspirational Book to Kevin Henson

Driveline Shop, Dura Lite Racing Wheels, Hoosier Racing Tires, Custom Cams, Foot Done It Graphics, Baillie Deisel, Bilstein Shocks, Performance Bodies, and Brodix Cylinder Heads are also advertisers and sponsors of the Show-Me Racin Series.

For information on how you can become a member of the fastest growing touring Late Model Series in the central Midwest, click on the Series website www.Show-MeRacinSeries.com, or call Ken Essary at 417-229-0539 or Gary Woodall at 417-838-5500.

Results:

Nevada Speedway – June 3, 2006
A Feature
1. Leslie Essary
2. Ken Essary
3. Chris Hawkins
4. Roger Wilson
5. Jarrod Hilton
6. Robert Coffeman
7. Kevin Henson
8. Jack Simmons
9. Jeremy Kelley
10. Kenny Hartwigsen
11. Rick Lebow
12. Mike Madison
13. Tyler Miler
14. Chad Smith
15. Mike Hailmann
16. Ron Hoffman
17. Scott Fry
18. Michael Wilson
19. Jeremy Manes
20. Ken Patterson
21. Mark Bourey
22. Chad Pyle


Heat 1
1. Rick Lebow
2. Mike Hailmann
3. Chad Smith
4. Tyler Milner
5. Michael Wilson
6. Jerry Morgan
7. Conner Ward
8.
Heat 2
1. Leslie Essary
2. Ken Essary
3. Jack Simmons
4. Kevin Henson
5. Ron Hoffman
6. Blane Reed
7. Ron Johnson

Heat 3
1. Roger Wilson
2. Chris Hawkins
3. Robert Coffman
4. Mark Bourey
5. Jeremy Manes
6. Ken Patterson
7. Jeff Shere

Heat 4
1. Kenny Hartwigsen
2. Scott Fry
3. Jarrod Hilton
4. Mike Madison
5. Jordan Holloway
6. Jeremy Kelley
7. Chad Pyle

B Feature
1. Jeremy Manes
2. Ron Hoffman
3. Jeremy Kelley
4. Michael Wilson
5. Jerry Morgan
6. Chad Pyle
7. Jordan Holloway
8. Jeff Shere
9. Ken Patterson
10. Ron Johnson
11. Blane Reed
12. Conner Ward