Area race fans have one more opportunity to experience "Sunday Night Thunder" at the Double-X Speedway before the 2013 season comes to a close. The final races, the annual championship, will be held Saturday, Aug. 10.
Last Sunday, Aug. 4, was "Sonic Night 2013" at the Double-X, where overcast skies made for a tacky, fast track that drivers took advantage of in each class.
The Winged Sprints saw an exciting feature event that consisted of 25 laps around the venerable track. After a missed opportunity on the first attempt at starting the feature, outside front row starter Smithton's Josh Fisher suffered mechanical problems that allowed Adam Jones, Wright City, to move to the outside of row one beside pole-sitter Bryan Grimes, Slater. Jones eventually took the lead going into turn one and never looked back. If he had, he would've seen Lone Jack's Cody Baker charging into second place and attempting a pass that failed, to ultimately leave Jones to claim victory.
Behind Baker was Corey Nelson, Eugene, in third place. California's Tyler Blank finished fourth, and Grimes placed fifth.
(Curtis Boyer, New Haven, was unable to start the feature event after he made contact with another car in his heat race and tumbled down the back stretch.)
Qualifying heats were claimed by Grimes and Fisher.
Three of the fastest cars in the Hobby Stock Division started at the head of the field in the feature event. Centertown's Seth Jacobs and Sedalia's Will Register led the field to the green with third-starting Gage Wineland, Syracuse, hot on their rear bumpers. The trio opened up daylight between them and the rest of the field. (As long-time announcer Dave Van Patten used to say, "There's not enough mustard to cover these hot dogs!"
Jacobs led the opening lap, then Register moved to the point on lap two with Wineland in the second position. Wineland took over the lead on lap six and held on to claim victory. Register finished in second place, with Jacobs in third.
Windsor's Chuck Coffey claimed fourth place, and California's AJ Wirts finished fifth.
Heat races were claimed by Jacobs and Register.
The 600cc Micro Sprints were led to the green by heat race winners Scott Hathmann and Dean Hathmann, Columbia. At the outset, Dean Hathmann showed his muscle as he immediately opened up a straightaway lead over the field and never looked back, to ultimately claim victory. Sixth starting Jordan Howell had a strong second place finish, while Scott Hathmann placed third. Marshall's Brian Lunsford claimed fourth place, and Mexico's Cole Campbell claimed fifth.
In the Street Stock feature event, Tuscumbia's Dale Berry took the lead on the opening lap and held off the field to take the win. California's John Clancy, Jr. finished in second place, and Russellville's Derek Henson claimed third. Eldon's Keeth Strange finished fourth, and California's James Keeran claimed fifth.
Berry won the sole heat race in the Street Stock division.
Saturday night, Aug. 10, will complete the 2013 season at the Double-X Speedway with the annual championship races. Follow the Double-X on Facebook, or at go to www.xxspeedway.com. For more information, call 573-796-4694.