From Rhiannon Kendrick
Even with temperatures soaring near the century mark for the afternoon, race fans made their way through the gates for yet another night of “Sunday Night Thunder” at Double-X Speedway. It was a special show for all fathers on this Father’s Day evening, as the B Modifieds came to town to add an exciting change of pace. Along with the B Modifieds, fans were also treated to a large range of cars in the remaining classes, including Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and 360 Winged Sprints.
The Street Stock feature race produced yet another grueling duel between John Clancy, Jr. of California and “The Tipton Tornado” Tim Cressley. It didn’t take long for Clancy to advance on Ray Smith of Centertown, and soon the battle ensued. After a caution in the second lap, it was Clancy who came out on top for the restart, and quickly he gained a momentous lead. A caution in the tenth lap due to a collision by Ted Welschmeyer of Tebbetts and Henley’s Andrew Roark gave Smith another opportunity to come out ahead. After the restart, Smith made his move over Cressley in the back stretch, gunning next for Clancy’s position. A hard fought race, however, was not enough, and Clancy yet again took home the trophy for the Street Stock division. Cressley and Smith were each heat winners. Point leaders are Clancy 475, Gary Foxworthy 387, Cressley 379, Nick Turner 286, Smith 267.
Twelve cars banged and bashed through the Hobby Stock feature race, Luke Skidmore of Green Ridge holding the pole position. Mike Barten of Eldon quickly overtook Jefferson City’s Chase Fischer, giving them the second and third spots, respectively. However, Fischer pitted to tend to his car leaving third place to Gage Nicholson of Syracuse. With four laps down, California’s A.J. Wirts was turned around in the wall on turn four, and Barten exited the race. After the restart, Gary Newport of Harrisonville was next in line challenge Skidmore for the lead but soon surrendered to Nicholson and settled for third. Skidmore took home the trophy as well as a heat race victory. Newport’s third place disqualification shifted the remaining field up one position. Nicholson also won his heat race leaving a mere eight points between the first and second place points race. Points are as follows: Skidmore 459, Nicholson 451, Fischer 375, Cherry Wineland 367, A.J. Wirts 287.
The Father’s Day spectacular included a Double-X debut for the B Modifieds, boasting seventeen cars for the twenty laps feature. Despite numerous cautions, the race indeed gave fathers and other race fans an amusing race. It was John Brooks of Warrensburg in pole position for the green flag and setting the pace into each turn. With seven laps down, Jake Sewell of Wellsville spun around in turn two, having skidded around the curve at a high angle. After he exited the race, a restart soon gave Jefferson City’s Bob Test the leading position and a chance to take the checkered flag. After a series of cautions, including Sedalia’s Ernie Walker crashing into the font wall in the twelfth lap, it was Josh Woody of Waynesville, Oak Grove’s Jacob Ebert, and Adam Hall of Columbia making a move for Test on each turn, respectively. It was John Brooks who excited race fans, having exited the race to tend to his car and reentering in the back. With just the checkered flag to fight for, it was Brooks had come from the back to a second place finish, barely nosing ahead of Josh Woody as the checkered flew. Cheering fans saw Test claim the trophy from his eight place starting position. Heat race winners were John Brooks, Lu Pruitt of Hawk Point, and Josh Woody
In preparation for next week’s “Super Sprint Sunday” it looked as if fans may get to see a local winner in the 360 winged sprint main event. To start the action, the top two spots were held by Tyler Blank and Evan Martin, both of California. Two local boys in the lead, however, did not seem to be enough, as Randy Martin came from an eighth place start to overtake five cars in eight laps, putting him in the third place spot. With nine laps down, Joplin’s Tony Crank turned around in turns one and two, creating a restart that gave Martin an opportunity to challenge and ultimately beat out his son Evan for a spot behind Blank, the leader. It was right before a caution in the twentieth lap that Martin whizzed ahead of Blank on the front stretch. After several cautions and a red flag, the remaining five laps were a rush to see which California driver would come out on top, as Blank kept on Martin’s tail. However, it was ultimately Randy Martin with his new Ford motor who took home the trophy for Father’s Day. Blank, Evan Martin and Adam Jones of Wright City each won their heat races. Point leaders are: Blank 401, Jones 387, Crank 349, Dakota Carroll 307, Evan Martin 304.
Next Sunday night will feature “Super Sprint Sunday” matching the Winged Outlaw Warrior purse for the 360 winged sprint division. The “Topless Midgets”, Street Stocks and Hobby Stocks will also be competing. Gates open at 5:00, hot laps at 7:00 and racing at 7:30. The parking lot area will be open early in the day for those who choose to tailgate. Special admission rates will apply for “Super Sprint Sunday”.