Rain, wet grounds remove drama from raceway's final point standings

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September 2, 2012

Rain, wet grounds remove drama from raceway's final point standings

By Anvil Welch Globe Sports Writer The Joplin Globe Sun Sep 02, 2012, 10:32 PM CDT

Rain and wet grounds perhaps prevented a more dramatic finish to the points races in some classes at Springfield Raceway.

The last two points shows on the Transport Graphics Championship Chase, including Saturday night’s Season Championships, were canceled at the quarter-mile dirt track.

Oronogo’s Jerry Hoffman, who owns the track with Springfield’s Doug Bland, said Saturday night that the next event at the track will be the Larry Phillips Memorial presented by Joplin Home Pro and the Tullis family at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 15.

Rain date is Sept. 22.

MARS DIRTCar Series and Lucas Oil MLRA late models will clash for the fourth time this season, noted track race director/public relations Ronnie Williams.

Other classes: USRA modified, USRA B modified, Midwest Modz, Legends Cars, Legends Young Lions, pure stock and street stock.

The Larry Phillips Memorial attracted 138 race cars in 2011, Williams said.

John Anderson, Omaha, Neb., bested R.C. Whitwell, Tucson, Ariz., and Jesse Stovall, Galena, Mo., in winning the late model A feature last season. Anderson is the current MLRA points leader.

Previous main event winners in the MARS/MLRA meetings this season have been Brad Looney of Republic, Anderson and Stovall.

Track champions at Springfield Raceway this season: Jackie Dalton (USRA modified), Carthage; Scott Drake (USRA B modified), Webb City; Justin Comer (Legends Cars), Joplin; Trevor Drake (Midwest Modz), Webb City; Brett Testerman (pure stock), Miami; Jim Reid (street stock), Springfield, and Wesley Smith (Legends Young Lions), Nixa.

It was Dalton’s sixth championship at Springfield Raceway.

Williams said the track has added another program to this season. USRA modified, with national points at stake, will headline the show on Sept. 29. Also, B modified, Midwest Modz, Legends Cars, Legends Young Lions, street stock and pure stock. Special races (mechanics, powder puff) also will be held.

Notes: The United States Touring Series resumed its Casey’s Cup Series last week. Wednesday night’s A feature winner at Fairmont (Minn.) Raceway was Ryan Ruter of Kanawha (Iowa). Jason Hughes, Watts, Okla., was second and Springfield’s Jeremy Payne ninth. Jason Krohn, Slayton, Minn., prevailed on Thursday night at Jackson (Minn.) Speedway with Hughes 21st and Payne 22nd. On Friday night, at Chateau Raceway in Lansing (Minn.), Mike Sorensen, Rochester, Minn., placed first, Payne eighth and Hughes ninth. ... A different kind of racing — a visit by the Midwest Chuckwagon Racing Association — will wrap up the season at the Monett Speedway at 7 p.m. on Oct. 13. Gene Gann is president of the Billings (Mo.)-based organization.