By Dean Reichel
The temperatures cooled slightly on Sunday but the action at Double-X Speedway was as hot as ever with three new faces visiting victory lane at the California, MO speedplant.
In the Xxtreme Glass Winged Sprint Cars, local driver Tyler Blank broke through to pick up his first victory of the 2012 season by besting multiple feature winner Jonathan Cornell of Sedalia in the 25 lap feature event. Lone Jack, MO shoe Cody Baker paced the field for the first five laps before Blank was able to take the lead on lap six. Blank fought off the challenges of Baker and was able to open a slight lead as the lap counter continued to spin. Baker would hold the second spot until a restart on lap 20 allowed Cornell to move into the position. As the checkered flag flew at the end of the feature it was Blank, Cornell, Baker, Bryan Grimes of Slater picked up fourth, and Warrensburg’s Taylor Walton came in fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Lanny Carpenter, Tyler Elliott, TJ Muths was eighth, Dwayne Benson ninth and David Brown in tenth. Heat race victories were picked up by Baker and Cornell. Only ten points separate the top two positions in the point chase with Blank having 918 and Cornell 908.
The only repeat winner of the night was Corey Nelson of Eugene MO in the 600cc Micro Sprints. Nelson used the high line to pass leader Dean Hathman on lap six and was able to open a comfortable lead and carry it for the remaining 14 laps. Dean Hathman of Columbia would finish second, Jefferson City’s Ryan Marsh was third, Scott Hathman of Columbia came home in fourth, Waverly’s Jeff Madison was fifth and Blake Bennington of Columbia rounded out the top six. Heat races were won by Marsh and Nelson. The 600’s will be back next week at Double-X for more racing action.
Tipton’s Harlan “Boy” Dowell made his first appearance at Double X in the Cooper Racing Street Stock division count as he took the lead from the pole position at the drop of the green and was never headed in the 15 lap feature event. John Clancy, Jr. of California recovered from a lap four spin to take second by inches over Tipton’s Kevin Caldwell who claimed third. Derek Henson of Russellville ran a close fourth, Jerry Unger of Jefferson City finished fifth and Tuscumbia’s Dale Berry rounded out the top six. Caldwell and Clancy picked up heat race victories in the class.
The third new face in Double-X victory lane Sunday evening was California’s AJ WIrts in the XX Hobby Stock class. Wirts held off the hard charging Sedalia, MO driver Will Register for the duration of the feature event. Register came in second, California’s Rudy Wirts finished third, John Shane of Florence was fourth and Eldon’s Laura Atkinson rounded out the top five.
It is just two short weeks until the 10th annual Clyde Wood Memorial Race at Double-X Speedway on July 22. The ASCS Sprint Cars will be in competition along with the 600cc Micro Sprints, Street Stocks and Hobby Stocks. The race is very much anticipated and should prove to be a fan favorite. Next week July 15th at intermission, there will be an auction for tickets to the Knoxville 360 Nationals. These passes include seats in the air conditioned National Sprint Car Hall of fame viewing booth for the event. Proceeds from this auction will go to support the Clyde Wood Memorial Race. For more information call (573) 796-4694, find us on Facebook or check out www.xxspeedway.com.