Peters Wins First of the Season in NCRA Sprints
By Randy Fisher
NCRA Media Relations

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (Aug. 24) – Veteran Mike Peters led most of the 25 laps at Lincoln County Raceway Friday to win his first race of the season in the O’Reilly NCRA Sprint Car Series, presented by ICM/Ethanol.

Peters started the feature on the pole with Bob Schaeffer to his outside. Schaeffer stayed on top and took the lead in the first turn with Peters in second. Toby Chapman and Jon Freeman started third and fourth, and fell in line in that order. Brian Brown rounded out the top five.

Schaeffer held the lead until a slight bobble through Turns 3 and 4 on the ninth lap allowed Peters to slip underneath and move in front at the flag stand.

On a lap 14 restart, Schaeffer looked to the inside of Peters but bobbled again, this time coming off Turn 2 onto the back straight. Schaeffer got out of the gas and lost three spots, pulling back into line fourth behind Chapman and Freeman. That allowed Peters to move away from the others.

Another caution bunched the field for lap 17 but Peters got the jump on Chapman and again pulled away. Chapman closed late in the race but wasn’t able to get close enough to try for a pass as Peters collected his 13th career NCRA 360 sprint car victory.

Chapman held on for second while Freeman finished third, Brown fourth and Mike Chadd fifth.

Two-time defending series champion Garry Lee Maier had won the series two previous visits to North Platte. This night he really never got going as the point leader started and finished seventh. With his win, Peters was able to close on Maier some in the standings.

The point battle behind Maier and Peters tightened up. Entering the night, Don Droud Jr. was third, J.D. Johnson and Stu Snyder fifth, all separated by 50 points. On the evening, Droud was eighth, Snyder ninth and Johnson 10th in the feature.

Freeman was sixth in points, 105 behind Snyder, and finished third in the feature.

Heat #1:

1. (51) Mike Peters, Wichita, Kan.; 2. (4) Mike Chadd, Lincoln, Neb.; 3. (11x) Garry Lee Maier, Cimarron, Kan.; 4. (2d) Stu Snyder, Waverly, Neb.; 5. (16) Scott Cochran, Arvada, Colo., 6. (1x) Don Droud Jr., Lincoln, Neb.; 7. (43) A.J. Selenke, Wichita, Kan.; 8. (14) Jeff Hefner, Denver; 9. (8) Brett Ream, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Heat #2:

1. (93x) Bob Schaeffer, Glenwood Springs, Colo.; 2. (11) Chad Corken, Denver; 3. (81) Jon Freeman, Salina, Kan.; 4. (18) Jeremy Herbst, North Platte, Neb.; 5. (74) Zach Merritt, Denver; 6. (32) Jamie Turnpin, Bassett, Neb.; 7. (98) J.D. Johnson, Goddard, Kan.; 8. (6) Mark Walinder, Wheat Ridge, Colo.

Heat #3:

1. (84) Toby Chapman, Lincoln, Neb.; 2. (24A) Brian Brown, Grain Valley, Mo.; 3. (9m) Ricky Montgomery, Denver; 4. (45x) C.J. Johnson, Quinter, Kan.; 5. (71) Keith Rauch, Thornton, Colo.; 6. (44k) David Kubart, North Platte, Neb.; DNS: (77) Mark Sweet, Rock Springs, Wyo.; (31x) Josh Flood, Denver.

B feature:

1. (1x) Don Droud Jr., 2. (16) Scott Cochran, 3. (71) Keith Rauch, 4. (98) J.D. Johnson, 5. (43) A.J. Selenke, 6. (74) Zach Merritt, 7. (14) Jeff Heffner, 8. (32) Jamie Turpin, 9. (31x) Josh Flood, 10. (6) Mark Walinder, 11. (44k) David Kubart, 12. (8) Brett Ream, DNS: (77) Mark Sweet.

A feature:

1. (51) Mike Peters, 2. (84) Toby Chapman, 3. (81) Jon Freeman, 4. (24A) Brian Brown, 5. (4) Mike Chadd, 6. (45x) C.J. Johnson, 7. (11x) Garry Lee Maier, 8. (1x) Don Droud Jr., 9. (2d) Stu Snyder, 10. (98) J.D. Johnson, 11. (71) Keith Rauch, 12. (18) Jeremy Herbst, 13. (43) A.J. Selenke, 14. (14) Jeff Heffner, 15. (32) Jamie Turpin, 16. (16) Scott Cochran, 17. (9m) Ricky Montgomery, 18. (93x) Bob Schaeffer, 10. (74) Zach Merrit, 20. (11) Chad Corkin.