Cornell, Heavelow and Houston win Friday races at Double-X

California's Tyler Blank celebrates his first victory of the 2013 season in the Winged Sprint division at the Double-X Speedway Sunday night.
California's Tyler Blank celebrates his first victory of the 2013 season in the Winged Sprint division at the Double-X Speedway Sunday night.

The Friday night Open Wheel Extravaganza at the Double-X Speedway treated the capacity crowd to exciting all open wheel racing in three classes. Stealing the show, however, were the cars and stars of the ASCS Warrior Sprint Region, with a total of 27 drivers. Four heat races helped to set the stage for the A main event, which were won by California's Randy Martin, Edgerton's Mitchell Moore, Wright City's Adam Jones and Sedalia's Jonathan Cornell.

Jones and Cornell led the field to the green. Cornell quickly established himself at the head of the field with Jones, California's Evan Martin and Adelaide's Chad Ely in tow. California's Tyler Blank and Randy Martin were quickly moving up through to the front of the field and a Lap 4 restart saw Cornell again taking the point with Blank moving into the second spot on Lap 5 followed by Jones and Evan Martin. The running order remained the same until Lap 10 when Evan Martin and Randy Martin established themselves in the top four with Jones slipping to fifth. By Lap 16, the leader began encountering lapped traffic that allowed Blank to close ground on Cornell. The race remained under green for the duration with Cornell ultimately claiming victory. Evan Martin claimed second with a last lap pass of Blank, who settled for third. Nixa's Kyle Bellm finished fourth and Randy Martin fifth.

A "B" Feature in the ASCS Warrior division saw the top four finishers fill the remainder of the 20-car field. Matt Close, LaMonte, and JR Topper, St. Joseph, led the field to the green flag but after the 12-lap event, J. Kinder, Holt Summit, claimed the victory. Cody Baker, Lone Jack, finished second, follwed by Mike Trent, Rocheport, and California's Tyler Elliott.

The Mid America Lightning Sprints made their second appearance of the season at the Double-X Friday, July 5, with 12 cars making the call. Buckner's Phil Heavelow, a multi-time winner at the Speedwawy, found himself in victory lane once again, as he led the entire 20-lap event. Second place went to Beau Heavelow, Independence, after a good battle with Brent Burrows, Lewistown. Mike Trent, Rocheport, claimed third, with Burrows in fourth place and Zach Morehead, Grain Valley, in fifth.

Heat races were claimed by Phil Heavelow and Beau Haevelow.

The 600cc Micro Sprints ran their event without wings for the first time at XX, with some close racing in the field. Eighteen drivers started the main event which was shortened from the original 20 laps due to time constraints. Leading the charge under the green flag were Sedalia's Kyle Houston and Mexico's Cole Campbell by virtue of winning the first two qualifying heats. Before one lap was in the books the red flag was thrown for a skirmish in turn one involving three cars. On the restart, Nick Schafer, Marshall, claimed the lead. A lap three restart saw Houston move to the point and open up a comfortable lead over the field. Surviving four more restarts, Houston was not fazed as he went on to claim victory. Rounding out the top five were Columbia's Blake Bennington, Versailles' Ayrton Gennetten, Columbia's Dean Hathmann, and Ashland's Austin Crane. Hathmann claimed the third qualifying heat.