By John Rittenoure
Humboldt, KS. (July 18, 2014) – Opportunity presented itself and Kade Morton took advantage to win his first OCRS feature of the season Friday night at the Humboldt Speedway.
Morton became the eleventh different winner in 13 races this season, but it did not come easy. Johnny Kent was leading running the high line while Morton was giving chase down low in the early going. On lap eight Kent grazed the wall coming off turn two and Morton powered his Morton Excavating / STK Racing Engines / XXX Chassis sprinter into the lead.
“I was just sitting there waiting and finally saw an opening,” explained Morton. “He had a little problem up at the top and I just took it. I waited for the opportunity.”
Morton held his low line over the final 17 laps to secure the victory over Kent. Series points leader Danny Smith charged his way to finish third, Shayla Waddell came from 14th starting to fourth earning her the AmeriFlex Hose and Accessories Hard Charger award, and Michael Bookout rounded out the top five.
But no one could touch Morton in his run to victory.
“The bottom seemed for me to have more moisture,” Morton said. “I was not going to let go of it. I kept it on the edge all I could and tried to stretch it out.
“The car felt so good I felt confident in it. Thanks to my crew chief Scott Thomason. It was an amazing night.”
“The first part of the race we were going real well but in the tech area I noticed the right rear tire was going flat,” said Kent. “I have about a six inch gash in the sidewall. We only had two pounds of air.”
The loss of air pressure had an effect on the handling although from the grandstand it was not evident.
“I assume it happened when I got into (Kevin) Pickard on the original start and it had a slow leak,” said Kent of his cut tire. “I think toward the end of the feature it kept getting looser and looser and the tire was getting lower and rolling over the sidewall.”
Kent was confident in the high line he was running but could not help but second guess himself afterwards.
“I think it was (the place to run) the first half of the race,” said Kent. “I probably should have moved to the bottom a little sooner.
“We got into the wall a little bit trying to get squared up with the cushion.
“For the season we have had I am going to take it and run.”
OCRS Race Results
Friday, July 18, 2014
Humboldt Speedway
19 Cars
(Pos-Car-Driver-Start)
AmeriFlex Hose and Accessories Heat
1, 87F-Brian McClelland[1]. 2, 16-Nigel Calvert[2]. 3, 5$-Danny Smith[3]. 4, 8M-Kade Morton[4]. 5, 88S-Shayla Waddell[5]. 6, 5-Cameron Hagin[6]. 7, 94-Dan Schnackenberg[7].
Bob Hurley Auto Family Heat
1, 69-Glen Passmore[1]. 2, 7M-Chance Morton[2]. 3, 84-Alex DeCamp[3]. 4, 26-Jerry Fisher[4]. DNS: 31-Casey Wills, 22-David Stephenson.
Drive Shafts Inc. Heat
1, 55-Johnny Kent[1]. 2, 17E-Blake Edwards[2]. 3, 9-Derek Cottrell[3]. 4, P78-Perry Pickard[4]. 5, 007-Michael Bookout[5]. 6, 15D-Andrew Deal[6].
OCRS A Feature
1, 8M-Kade Morton[6]. 2, 55-Johnny Kent[3]. 3, 5$-Danny Smith[11]. 4, 88S-Shayla Waddell[13]. 5, 007-Michael Bookout[14]. 6, 16-Nigel Calvert[5]. 7, 5-Cameron Hagin[15]. 8, 26-Jerry Fisher[12]. 9, 9-Derek Cottrell[4]. 10, 94-Dan Schnackenberg[17]. 11, 17E-Blake Edwards[2]. 12, 7M-Chance Morton[8]. 13, 69-Glen Passmore[10]. 14, P78-Perry Pickard[1]. 15, 84-Alex DeCamp[7]. 16, 87F-Brian McClelland[9]. 17, 15D-Andrew Deal[16]. DNS: 31-Casey Wills, 22-David Stephenson.
AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories Hard Charger: Shayla Waddell.
D&E Supply Hard Luck Recipient: Brian McClelland.
Lap Leaders: Blake Edwards 1-4; Johnny Kent 5-7; Kade Morton 8-25.
Next up: Saturday July 19th – AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories Night at the Salina Highbanks Speedway