By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Springfield Raceway officials hope to resume stock car racing tonight with a regular show.
Said co-owner Jerry Hoffman on Friday: “It’s our weekly show ... without rain and lots of sunshine before nighttime.”
Then, of course, Hoffman, of Oronogo, laughed to keep from crying.
The life of a promoter/track owner isn’t easy nowadays in these parts. The inclement weather, cost of fuel and economy have combined to produce massive headaches.
Hoffman, Hoffman Race Cars, believes last Saturday night’s rainout was the seventh of the season for the quarter-mile dirt track.
The John Kuntz Memorial — a late model DLRA/MARS event — again was postponed and Hoffman said the new date is at 7 p.m. on Aug. 28 (a Thursday).
Today’s regular 7 p.m. program offers late model, modified, sport mod, factory stock, bomber and hornet classes.
Admission prices are $10 and $5 (ages 6-12). A pit pass is $25.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Promoter Randy Mooneyham has put the open late models — the one-time featured class — on hold until the Larry Phillips Memorial scheduled Aug. 29-30.
Mooneyham said it’s too expensive to pay both late model and modified purses lucrative enough to make it worthwhile to the drivers.
“Sometimes you have to make the shoe fit,” Mooneyham said of the scheduling in an interview with Lyndal Scranton of the Springfield News-Leader. “I’m the only one that’s run open late models and (A) modifieds the same night on a weekly show. Those are two big purses and the way the economy has been it’s tough.”
Tonight’s I-44 fare has modified, factory stock, B-modified, bomber, rookie and Legends Cars.
Grandstand admission is $5 this week for 13-and-older and free to those younger.
West Plains Motor Speedway
The 16th annual Show-Me Modified Championships — a three-day event — will wind up tonight with gates opening at 6 and racing at 8.
First place in the main event is worth $5,000 with the runner-up receiving $2,000.
Brandon Smith, Batesville, Ark., claimed last year’s 40-lap A feature.
Tonight’s admission prices are $12 and $3 (ages 7-11). A pit pass is $30.
More modified
The O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series will hit the Nevada Speedway, Lebanon Midway Speedway, Springfield Raceway and the Monett Speedway on Thursday through Sunday nights next week.
The series will be in Kansas on Monday through Wednesday at Humboldt, 81 Speedway (Valley Center) and Heartland Park Topeka.
The Nevada visit is presented by Buzzard Racing Engines.
Points leader in the Mo-Kan Region through July 31 is Kelly Shryock of Fertile, Iowa. He has 774 points and has earned $11,200 in eight races.
Second through sixth in points are Jason Hughes 693, Jon Tesch 683, John Allen 652, Justin Boney 603 and Johnny Bone Jr. 585.
Sports
Racing resumes at area speedways
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