From Lonnie Wheatley
Lawton, OK — (June 4, 2011) — Two-time American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region champion Sean McClelland made the most of a substitute role by racing to his first series win of the year in Saturday night’s 25-lap main event at Lawton Speedway.
Filling in for local shoe Michael Brown, McClelland took the lead away from pole starter Donnie Ray Crawford en route to his 14th career ASCS Sooner Region triumph.
After taking the point from Crawford, 2009 series champion Joe Wood, Jr., joined in the lead mix. Wood, Jr., briefly took command during the ninth round, only to have McClelland surge back in front. Wood, Jr., spun from contention two laps later, rejoining the field at the tail.
McClelland went on to take the checkered flag in front of his brother Brian McClelland, with Robert Sellers claiming the show position. Wood, Jr., rebounded from his earlier miscue to salvage a fourth-place finish, with Claud Estes rounding out the top five.
Crawford crossed the stripe sixth, with Michelle Decker in seventh. Rick Wright, Jr., turned in the top passing effort by racing from 17th to eighth, with Andy Shouse and 19th-starter Cody Whitworth completing the top ten.
Decker, Sean McClelland and Wood, Jr., won Saturday night’s heat races.
After entering the night atop ASCS Sooner points, Matt Covington slipped to third behind Wood, Jr., and Decker after a cut tire forced him pitside in the early going, resulting in a 19th-place finish in the final rundown.
American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Results from Lawton Speedway
First Heat (8 Laps): 1. 7-Michelle Decker, 2. 55-Donnie Ray Crawford, 3. 74e-Claud Estes, 4. 010-Brian Roberts, 5. 31L-Lee Little, 6. 00-Kacee Frazier, 7. 35g-Barry Gifford.
Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. 15b-Sean McClelland, 2. 11-Matt Covington, 3. 7s-Robert Sellers, 4. 22-Koby Barksdale, 5. 27-Andy Shouse, 6. 35-Rick Wright, Jr. DNS: 22k-Kevin Barksdale.
Third Heat (8 Laps): 1. 03-Joe Wood, Jr., 2. 87m-Brian McClelland, 3. 87-Jeremy Allen, 4. 20s-Sheldon Barksdale, 5. 4s-Shane Sellers, 6. 12-Dale Wester, 7. 50-Cody Whitworth.
“A” Feature (25 Laps): 1. 15b-Sean McClelland, 2. 87m-Brian McClelland, 3. 7s-Robert Sellers, 4. 03-Joe Wood, Jr., 5. 74e-Claud Estes, 6. 55-Donnie Ray Crawford, 7. 7-Michelle Decker, 8. 35-Rick Wright, Jr., 9. 27-Andy Shouse, 10. 50-Cody Whitworth, 11. 12-Dale Wester, 12. 010-Brian Roberts, 13. 00-Kacee Frazier, 14. 31L-Lee Little, 15. 20s-Sheldon Barksdale, 16. 87-Jeremy Allen, 17. 35g-Barry Gifford, 18. 22-Koby Barksdale, 19. 11-Matt Covington, 20. 4s-Shane Sellers, 21. 22k-Kevin Barksdale.
American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Joe Wood, Jr. 643, 2. Michelle Decker 630, 3. Matt Covington 624, 4. Andy Shouse 598, 5. Koby Barksdale 541, 6. Lee Little 485, 7. Danny Wood 427, 8. Claud Estes 385, 9. Cameron Hagin 336, 10. Barry Gifford 332.