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Tony Jackson Jr. Puts On a Dominating Performance at I-44
Speedway
by Sarah Woodhurst
LEBANON, MO (July 9, 2011) - The hot weather couldn’t keep drivers and fans
of I-44 Speedway away on Saturday, July 9. Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon put
on a great show for fans in the grandstands and on the Budweiser Wild Side
in the ASA Late Model division, winning both his heat and feature events in
his first appearance of the season. Sam Shaw of Rogersville also won his
first feature event in his first start this season. Tyler Scott of Nixa made
it four in a row in the Modified division and Ashley Deschenes of Lees
Summit claimed the victory in an exciting race of the returning Outlaw Mini
Stock class. Fair Grove’s Rick Sharp won the Sportsman feature event, while
Belle’s Caston Jones finished first in the Charger main event.
Before the feature races took to the track, kids from the grandstand were
divided into four age groups to participate in the annual ‘Kids Penny
Scramble’. During intermission, 50,000 pennies were scattered over the paved
infield portion of the racetrack and kids filled cups and even backpacks
full of as many pennies as they could carry. This set the mood for the rest
of the ‘Kickin’ Asphalt’ racing show as kids beamed with happiness after
either cashing in or taking home their pennies.
Sixteen ASA Late Models started the feature event, but Tony Jackson Jr.
proved that he had the car to beat after taking the lead on lap five and
maintaining it for the remaining 25 laps. The 2010 Late Model Fall Shootout
winner, Justin Jennings of LaGrange, made his first appearance of the season
one to remember by working his way from the back of the pack to take home
second place. Meanwhile, Dale Roper Jr., Jim Reaves, Chrissy Wallace, and
Joe Ross gave everything they had for an advance in position as they formed
a tight pack gunning for the third place spot. Coming across the finish
line, Roper Jr. won the battle for third, with Reaves in fourth, and
Wallace, who has won the two previous Late Model events, finished fifth. “We
made a lot of laps around here,” Jackson Jr. said in Monster Energy victory
lane. “It’s a good place to race.” Jackson Jr., who is a familiar face to
many at I-44 Speedway went on to thank his crew and supporters after his
first appearance at the track this season.
Tyler Scott won his fourth consecutive ASA Modified feature Saturday night,
which is also his sixth feature win of the season. Jason Otto of Richland
took advantage of his pole starting position as he led the first half of the
race. The #29 machine of Rodrick Icenhower and the #5 car belonging to Mike
Coryell swapped spots numerous times after a first lap caution involving a
spin out that Terry Taylor was caught up in, having to retire to the pits
with damage. On lap 10, Scott, who started last in the field due to a
feature win the week before, made an impressive crossover move to gain the
third place position. By lap 11, he had advanced to second place after a
tough battle with Coryell, but he didn’t stop there. On lap 14, Scott took
the lead from Otto and didn’t look back. Otto held on to the second position
after feeling pressure from Coryell who finished third. Icenhower took home
the fourth spot and Riley Sharp of Fair Grove rounded out the top five.
The Outlaw Mini Stocks made their return Saturday night in a race that was
decided on the last lap. Tyler Berry of Springhill, Kansas took the lead
early in the race, but the husband and wife team of Michael and Ashley
Deschenes were right on his heels after a hard charge to the front. Previous
feature winner, Joe Bunkers of Harrisonville, joined the front-running
four-car pack soon after. Ashley Deschenes, Michael Deschenes, and Bunkers
battled hard for position in a race that seemed to build with excitement.
With cars going three-wide on the last lap, Ashley Deschenes gained momentum
and made a turn four pass over Kevin Hunt of Springhill, Kansas, for the
win, with Michael Deschenes taking home the third place finish, Bunkers
claiming the fourth place position and Berry finishing fifth.
The 4-cylinder Charger class lived up to its name during an action-packed
race of ten hard-charging drivers. Drivers were four-wide on the start
before Caston Jones of Belle took over a big lead. Ben Kramer of Richland
and Shawn Jones of Belle battled for the second place position, while the
#74 car of Larry Hunter who made his return to I-44 Speedway after missing a
few weeks worked his way forward. Caston Jones took the checkered flag on
lap twelve followed by Shawn Jones in second, Hunter in third, Kramer in
fourth, and Reggie Jackson in fifth.
The four-car field of Road Warriors proved they know how to put on a show in
a 10-lap feature event that was only slowed for one caution. Sam Shaw of
Rogersville joined I-44 Speedway for the first time this season and
commanded the race. The real battle was for the second position, which
featured Mike Scott and Steve Shaw, both of Rogersville. These three
Rogersville drivers completed the top three, while Dustin Reeves, of
Camdenton, finished fourth. Four cars started the Sportsman feature race,
with only three crossing the finish line. Rick Sharp of Fair Grove earned
his fifth feature win of the season after taking the lead from JC Newell of
Stoutland halfway through the race. Aaron Douglas of Lebanon finished third
and Toby Harden finished fourth.
The Pro National 'Baby Grand' Series cars will join the show next Saturday
night, July 16, at I-44 Speedway. A full program will be on tap with the
five ASA stock car classes also racing. Gates will open at 5:00 pm, with
racing beginning at 7:30 Additional information about upcoming events,
racecar construction rules and championship points is available online at
www.i44speedway.net.
RACE RESULTS FOR JULY 9, 2011
LATE MODELS
HEAT 1
1) 21 Ken Dickinson
2) 16 Robert Baltzell
3) 93 Chrissy Wallace
4) O2 Brian Brown
5) 67 Jimmy Vanzandt
6) 45 Chris Beaver
HEAT 2
1) 2 Grant Sharp
2) 56x Justin Jennings
3) 18 Jim Reaves
4) 20 Austin Fullerton
5) 69 Caleb Hall
HEAT 3
1) 56 Tony Jackson
2) 11x Phil Harris
3) 10 Dale Roper
4) 27 Joe Ross
5) 7 Jeremy Manes
FEATURE
1) 56 Tony Jackson Lebanon
2) 56x Justin Jennings LaGrange
3) 10 Dale Roper Jr Fair Grove
4) 18 Jim Reeves Strafford
5) 93 Chrissy Wallace Concord, NC
6) 27 Joe Ross Independence
7) O2 Brian Brown Springfield
8) 45 Chris Beaver Joplin
9) 69 Caleb Hall Lees Summit
10) 7 Jeremy Manes Nixa
11) 20 Austin Fullerton Claremore, OK
12) 67 Jimmy Vanzandt Springfield
13) 21 Ken Dickinson Camdenton
14) 11 Phil Harris Camdenton
15) 16 Robert Baltzell Nixa
16) 2 Grant Sharp Conway
MODIFIEDS
HEAT 1
1) 57 Tyler Scott
2) 66 Terry Taylor
3) 7 Rick Icenhower
4) 29 Rod Icenhower
5) 8 Jason Otto
HEAT 2
1) 5 Mike Coryell
2) 26 Payton Lucas
3) 33 Riley Sharp
4) 25 Stephen Counterman
5) 44 Kevin Blackburn
FEATURE
1) 57 Tyler Scott Nixa
2) 8 Jason Otto Richland
3) 5 Mike Coryell Lebanon
4) 29 Rod Icenhower Fair Grove
5) 33 Riley Sharp Fair Grove
6) 26 Payton Lucas Fair Grove
7) 7 Rick Icenhower Fair Grove
8) 25 Stephen Counterman Fair Grove
9) 44 Kevin Blackburn Lebanon
10) 66 Terry Taylor Fair Grove
SPORTSMAN
HEAT 1
1) 10 Rick Sharp
2) 7 Aaron Douglas
3) 83 JC Newell
4) 1 Toby Harden
5) 77-DNS Kevin Crider
FEATURE
1) 10 Rick Sharp Fair Grove
2) 83 JC Newell Stoutland
3) 7 Aaron Douglas Lebanon
4) 1 Toby Harden Ozark
5) 77-DNS Kevin Crider Rolla
ROAD WARRIOR
HEAT 1
1) 98 Sam Shaw
2) 34 Mike Scott
3) 6 Dustin Reeves
4) 90 Steve Shaw
5) 35-DNS Gary Ball
FEATURE
1) 98 Sam Shaw Rogersville
2) 34 Mike Scott Rogersville
3) 90 Steve Shaw Rogersville
4) 6 Dustin Reeves Camdenton
5) 35-DNS Gary Ball Lebanon
CHARGERS
HEAT 1
1) 7 Shawn Jones
2) 42 Reggie Jackson
3) 14 Ben Kramer
4) 27 Nick Cherry
5) 0 Austin Hunter
HEAT 2
1) 21 Josh Ratliff
2) 10 Gary Davenport
3) 74 Larry Hunter
4) 1P Amanda Page
5) 34 Caston Jones
FEATURE
1) 34 Caston Jones Belle
2) 7 Shawn Jones Belle
3) 74 Larry Hunter Laquey
4) 14 Ben Kramer Richland
5) 42 Reggie Jackson
6) 10 Gary Davenport Marshfield
7) 27 Nick Cherry Springfield
8) 21 Josh Ratliff Rolla
9) 1 Amanda Page
10) 0 Austin Hunter
OUTLAW MINI STOCKS
HEAT 1
1) 86 Michael Deschenes
2) 26 Kevin Hunt
3) 12 Ashley Deschenes
4) 4 Joe Bunker
5) 27 Tyler Berry
6) 80 JW Blankenship
FEATURE
1) 12 Ashley Deschenes Lees Summit
2) 26 Kevin Hunt Springhill, KS
3) 86 Michael Deschenes Lees Summit
4) 4 Joe Bunker Harrisonville
5) 27 Tyler Berry Springhill, KS
6) 80 JW Blankenship Warrensburg
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