Great Racing Action on a Hot Sunday Evening at I-35 Speedway
WINSTON, MO (July 6, 2014) – McCarthy Auto Group and Casey’s General Store Night at the Races started out with a bang as the Show-Me Vintage Racers tried to tame the three-eighths mile speedway. Jumping out to an early lead Brian Strong #7 would give it all the car had but could not hold off the hard charging Bobby Ruff #4. Ruff would claim the victory leaving Strong in second when the checkers were shown. After an impressive heat race victory John Steenstry #22 would race his way to finish third with Damon Clevenger #6 and Jim Clevenger #66 battling for fourth and fifth. The younger Damon Clevenger would claim fourth while Jim Clevenger would settle for fifth.
On a McCarthy Auto Group Night at the Races we would witness a McCarthy Auto Group sponsored Grand National claim the top spot. Sixteen year old Sensation Austin Johnson #98 would battle his way past younger brother Houston Johnson #97 and Travis Walker #71 on his way to victory lane. Travis Walker would lead early and often only to see Johnson slip by in the latter stages of the race and end the night in second place. Pole Sitter and heat race winner Houston Johnson would be a one-time leader only to fade late to place third. Marty Powell #9p would race his way to another consistent fourth place finish, as Buz Kaster #54 would round out the top five.
E-Mods were low in number yet high in quality as point leader and heat race winner Kit Bailey #77 would pass LeRoy Cameron #6a in the early stages and pick up victory number one of their young 2014 racing season. Cameron would be forced to settle for second with Austin Bouzek #75 third.
In an epic race with only one caution the USRA B-Mods would see the familiar face of Chad Clancy #21c in the winner’s circle. Clancy would charge through the pack from a fourth row inside starting spot passing second place finisher Randy Ainsworth #57, as they were side by side for the lead many laps. Jim Cameron #96c would hold off a very fast Dakota Foster #5 as they would race side by side for third and fourth, Cameron would claim third with Foster fourth. Ronnie Miller #76 was the big gainer of the night with yet another solid top five finish. Heat race winners were Mitch Booher #22b, Josh Barnes #52j and Randy Ainsworth #57. Compliments go to all drivers in this class for a fine night of great racing action.
USRA Stock Cars came out in big numbers as all were chasing the $550 payday. The big guns were loaded as the feature got under way with the #01i of Mike Harward jumping to an early lead and never looking back on his way to victory. Jake Cameron #86c would challenge Harward nearly every lap however could not find a way around the fast race car and would be forced to settle for second place. Corey Strothman #c4 and Gary Harward #23 would battle for the third and fourth spot, swapping positions nearly every lap. When the checkers were shown Strothman was third while Harward was fourth. After mechanical issues in the heat race Jeff Dixon #88, in a barrowed race car, would start shotgun on the field and battle his way to a great fifth place finish. Heat race winners included Corey Strothman #c4, Mike Harward #01i, and Billie Hoover #21h.
After driver introductions on the front stretch race fans counted down and gave the command to fire the engines for the USRA Modified feature. Derrick Hicks #78 would take the early lead and continue to set the pace for over half the race until a very fast Mark Schafman #34 would eventually pass Hicks for the lead. Schafman would use the inside line to his advantage and hold off a late race charge from Zach Sanders #69 making it a drag race to the checkers. Schafman would pick up his first ever victory at I-35 Speedway edging the second place finisher of Sanders at the line. Early race leader Hicks would fade slightly to place an impressive third, as Ryan Cook #27 would come from the back of the pack to place fourth. Outside pole sitter Shane Bailey #5d would recover from an early race mishap and race his way to a solid top five finish. Heat race winners were John Hanson #2h and Bud Wilson #75.
Just as the night began with a bang the night would end with a bang as well with a great Fireworks Spectacular. I-35 Speedway would like to thank each and every one of our fans, drivers, and workers for making this race one of the best of the season. See everyone next Saturday Night for Tompkins Industry Night at the Races and the return of Midwest Lightning Sprints. Hope to see everyone back at the track next week for more “Dirt Trackin at its Best”.
See You There!
Show-Me Vintage Racers
- 4 Bobby Ruff
- 7 Brian Strong
- 22 John Steenstry (Heat Race Winner)
- 6 Damon Clevenger
- 66 Jim Clevenger
- 24 Mike McDowell
- 30a Randy Athon
- 69 Matt Marrant
Grand National
- 98 Austin Johnson
- 71 Travis Walker
- 97 Houston Johnson (Heat Race Winner)
- 9p Marty Powell
- 54 Buz Kaster
E-Mod
- 77 Kit Bailey (Heat Race Winner)
- 6a LeRoy Cameron
- 75 Austin Bouzek
USRA B-Mod
- 21c Chad Clancy
- 57 Randy Ainsworth (Heat Race Winner)
- 96c Jim Cameron
- 5 Dakota Foster
- 76 Ronnie Miller
- 18k Danan Knott
- 15b Wes Bestgen
- 17x Clint Baker
- 22b Mitch Booher (Heat Race Winner)
- 52j Josh Barnes (Heat Race Winner)
- 95 Mike Nelson
- 54 Lynn Starry
- 32p Jeremy Pittsenbarger
- 52r Richard Biggs
- 11d Caleb Dennis
- 12 Jeff Stotts
- 319 Daniel Harris
- 31 David Coates
- 9h Nic Hanes
- 52m Dustin Miller
USRA Stock Cars
- 01i Mike Harward (Heat Race Winner)
- 86c Jake Cameron
- C4 Corey Strothman (Heat Race Winner)
- 23 Gary Harward
- 88 Jeff Dixon
- 21h Billie Hoover (Heat Race Winner)
- 77t Trent Jeanes
- 77 Dean Wray
- 23g Greg Gilbert
- 75 Tracy Summers
- 12c John Crews
- 00 Nick Whalen
- 7t Tyler Clark
- 18t Josh Adair
- 63 Dan Stimson
- 83 Gary Ainsworth
- 65x Thomas Roberts
- 44f Bruce Fair
- 4v Tyler Veach
- 7k Randy Smith Sr
- 4 Darrell Whit
USRA Modified
- 34 Mark Schafman
- 69 Zach Sanders
- 78 Derrick Hicks
- 27 Ryan Cook
- 5d Shane Bailey
- 2h John Hanson (Heat Race Winner)
- 4d Shawn Lee
- 75 Bud Wilson (Heat Race Winner)
- 29s Jeff Smith
Category: I-35 Raceway, Missouri
