AT&PR Racepark race report 2002-05-25

Auto Tire and Parts Racepark
Benton, Mo.
Saturday May 25, 2002

Worley Jr. and Powers visit victory lane.

Alex Shanks bid for his first KFVS 12 Winged Sprint car feature for his new car owner Jim Hall was spoiled by Bismark, Mo driver Tommy Worley Jr.

Shanks and Worley Jr. shared the front-row with Robbie Standridge and Travis Mize starting in the second row.

At the green-flag Shanks quickly jumped out to the lead with Worley Jr., Standridge and Joey Montgomery following him at the line.

Despite three cautions flag during the first 17 laps the front four cars stayed in the same position, battling out for each spot but being unable to overtake. The only driver who seemed to be making headway was the 12h car of Jerrod Hull. Hull had moved from his 11th starting position to fifth on the fifth lap.

On the 18th circuit Montgomery moved around Standridge for third.

After a caution flag on the 22nd lap the field was bunch up for the three-lap dash for the checkers.

Before the completion of the first green flag lap Worley Jr. had the lead and maintained it for the final three laps. Shanks held off the hard-charging Montgomery with Standridge and Hull completing the top-five.

It was a night to remember for Robert Powers and his crew. The Miller Lite Modified driver blew an engine in the heat race and the team replaced the broken powerplant before the feature. Starting 16th on the field the driver was able to come from the back to pickup his second career feature win at the track. The engine swap took less then 26 minutes to complete.

At the start of the Miller Lite Modified feature Chris Hall jumped out to the lead, Terry Johnson and Tommy Worley Sr. followed behind. Billy Smith moved around Worley Sr. on the second lap taking Jeff Parmer with him.

Hall led for the next eight laps before being passed by Smith who had just moved into second on the previous lap. Smith and Hall got together on the 12th circuit sending Smith sideways also collecting Johnson.

Hall took over the lead once again with Powers taking over second. Parmer, Danny Sissom and Kenny Kennedy held down the top-five.

The leader felt heavy pressure from Powers for the next eight laps with the final move for the lead coming on the last lap as Powers motored around Hall. Hall maintained second with Parmer earning third. Sissom and Kennedy maintained the fourth and fifth position as the checkered flag fell.

The Pure Street feature found a familiar face in victory lane as Cline Myers Jr. scored his fourth win on the year.

Surviving through 11 caution flags Myers Jr. was able to advance from his eighth starting position and move into the lead on lap four.

Polesitter Dereck Despain led the first lap before being passed by Pat Naeger, who then jumped out to a sizable advantage. Naeger led the next three laps before tangling with the second place car of Jeff Beeson on the backstretch.

Myers Jr. began to close on the leader after the incident; the Scott City driver would take over the lead on the third lap and maintain it for the final 12 laps.

Despain held off Rusty Golightly to finish second, Jason Mueller and Deakon Bragg finished fourth and fifth.

The team of Terry and Tracey Redden won the Motorsport Unlimited Cruiser feature. The Reddens took the lead on the fourth lap from Garrett Moll and Wesley Short. The Clarkton pair led the final eight laps with Curtis Hale and Doyle Nall chasing behind in second. Lori Sheffer and Lisa Scheffer finished fourth with Larry Helm and Gary Clifton picking up the top-five spot.

-at&pr-