The 12th annual Clyde Wood Memorial Race saw first time winners in victory lane Sunday, July 20, at the Double-X Speedway, California. The annual race honoring the memory of long-time race track flagman Clyde Wood has been one that many drivers put on the calendar each year in hopes of joining the stellar list of winners.
The ASCS Warrior Region Sprints were the featured class once more this season at the Double-X, with a large portion of the starting field seeking that first memorial trophy. Front-row starters Zach Chappell, Talala, Okla., and Jefferson City's Josh Fisher brought the field to green and it was Fisher who put his car at the point after opening a small but comfortable lead in the early laps. He led the first 12 laps, while Jonathan Cornell, Sedalia, advanced to second by Lap 4 and began to set his sights on the leader's machine.Â
Jason Johnson, Rocky Mount, moved into third place on Lap 10 with Chappell and Nixa's Kyle Bellm trading fourth and fifth place lap after lap.
A spin by Casey Baker, Lone Jack, on the completion of Lap 12 resulted in damage to the front end of Fisher's machine, grounding him to a halt on the front straightaway, and ultimately taking him out of the race as he retired to the pit area. On the restart, it was Cornell in front with Johnson on his bumper. Bellm slipped past Johnson to take second on Lap 15, while California's Tyler Blank was moving up into the top 10 after starting in the 19th position.
With three laps remaining, Cornell continued to lead while Johnson moved around Bellm to take over second place. At the checkered flag it was Cornell, Johnson, Bellm, Chappell and Brandon Hahn, Tulsa, Okla., who finished in the top five, respectively.
Eugene's Corey Nelson finished sixth, while Lee's Summit's Ricky Stangl, who started 16th, claimed seventh. Blank claimed eighth place and California's Randy Martin, who started 18th, finished ninth. Lone Jack's Cody Baker, who has been on the sidelines due to injuries he sustained earlier this year, marked his return with a 10th place finish.
In victory lane Cornell said this is a race he will always circle on the racing calendar, and after claiming some second place runs in the past, he was happy to add his name to the list of winners. This feature win also marked Cornell's eighth consecutive win in sprint car action.
Qualifying heat races were won by Fisher, Hahn, Nelson and Chappell. The B Feature was won by Topeka's Chris Morgan. Also transferring from the B event were Martin, Blank and Jay Russell, Elwood, Kan.
Columbia's Garett Williamson claimed his first victory of the season Sunday night at the Double-X in the 600cc Micro Sprint division. Williamson wired the field in picking up the victory in the 20-lap main event and looked like a seasoned veteran as he outran a number of multiple feature event winners.
Following Williamson under the double checkered flags were Marshall's Chris Koch, Columbia's Dean Hathman, Jefferson Cityh's Ryan Marsch and Columbia's Scott Hathman, respectively. Miles Paulus, Marshall, Columbia's Jordan Howell, Marshall's Jamie Kelz, Jimmy Dowell, Wooldridge, and Pilot Grove's Travis Arnold completed the top 10, respectively.
Qualifying heat races were claimed by Williamson, Dean Hathman and Marsch. Cose racing throughout the field makes this class a fan-favorite at the Double-X.
The Street Stock division saw a very close feature event as well. Russellville's Derek Henson continued the family success in the Clyde Wood Memorial race as he picked up a victory in the feature event. His dad, Stan Henson Jr., was the winner of the first annual Clyde Wood memorial race. Eldon's Steve Beach finished in a close second place, and California's John Clancy came from 12th to finish third. Last week's feature winner Jason Russell, Henley, claimed fourth place, while Henley's Andrew Roark placed fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 were Tuscumbia's Dale Berry, Jefferson City's Curt Turpin, Centertown's Dylan Bias, Russellville's Cole Henson (Derek's brother), and California's Jake Dent. Russell and Berry were the heat race winners for the evening.
In the Hobby Stock division, a familiar face graced victory lane as Gage Wineland, Syracuse, picked up another feature win. Wineland held off the early challenges of Sedalia's Will Register and Tipton's Eddie Lavery III to claim the win. Lavery finished second, while Register claimed third. Sedalia's Kevin Prall finished fourth, and Chuck Coffey, Windsor, placed fifth.
California's Rudy Wirts finished sixth, while Tipton's Bryan Alumbaugh came in seventh, and Sedalia's Katie Goodson finished eighth.
Two more race nights are on tap for the 2014 season at the Double-X, which will complete the 25th year of Sunday Night Thunder.
Next on the racing agenda is "Battle of the Badges" Sunday, July 27. Gates will open at 5 p.m., with hot laps to begin at 7 p.m. Racing will get underway at 7:30 p.m.
The final races of the season will follow Sunday, Aug. 3, which will close the curtain for 2014.
For more information, call 573-796-4694, or go to www.xxspeedway.com. Follow action at the Double-X Speedway on Facebook.