Race fans were treated to a new group of competitors Sunday night at the Double-X Speedway via the Battle of the Badges race that consisted of drivers from law enforcement agencies all across the state.
Also on the card were the Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Winged Sprints.
Leading off the feature events was the Street Stock division. At the drop of the green, front row starters Cliff Champney, Holts Summit, and John Clancy, California, got tangled in turn one bringing out the yellow. Both drivers were able to restart at the rear of the field.
Andrew Roark, Henley, led Lap 1, however, he too brought out a caution flag that put Tipton's Harlan Dowell at the point. Dowell was challenged by young Cole Henson, Russellville, with Henson leading Lap 5, however, Dowell reclaimed the lead on Lap 6 as a caution for lapped car Jake Dent, California, brought the field to Dowell's rear bumper.
Dowell's time at the front was short-lived as Eldon's Steve Beach, who started in the sixth position, moved into the top spot on Lap 7. Dowell gave chase until tire issues forced him to the pit side. Beach led the remainder of the event with Clancy finishing second, and Henson third. Roark came in fourth, and Dylan Bias, Centertown, finished fifth. Heat races were claimed by Champney and Clancy.
A special Dash for Cash in memory of Terry Turpin featured the top two finishers in each heat race inverted by their finishing position. Claiming the $150 cash was last-starting Clancy.
The Hobby Stock feature event was next on the racing agenda at the Double-X, with heat race winners Gage Wineland, Syracuse, and Kevin Prall, Sedalia, leading the field to green. It was a familiar sight as Wineland moved into the lead followed by Fulton's Cole Canada and Sedalia's Will Register.
Eddie Lavery III, Tipton, made his presence known by moving to the fourth position by Lap 2. This would be the running order until a caution by Sedalia's Katie Goodson on Lap 7 bunched the field behind the leaders. Canada stopped on the track during the yellow, relegating him to the tail of the field on the re-start. Wineland went on to claim the victory. Rounding out the top five were Lavery, Register, Sedalia's Mike Schrader, and Windsor's Chuck Coffey, respectively.
The third feature on the track was the "Battle of the Badges" law enforcement race. With lights flashing and the crowd cheering on their favorites, Travis Yeager, Versailles Police Dept., and Mike Dierkes, St. Louis County Police Dept., paced the field. Dierkes moved into the lead for the first seven laps, with Aaron Bolinger, Cole County Sheriff's Dept., moving to the point four circuits before surrendering the lead to Jason Worthley, Missouri Highway Patrol, who held off his challengers to claim the victory.
Following Worthley across the stripe were Fred Stotler, St. Charles County Sheriff's Dept., Bolinger, Kyle McIntyre, Holts Summit Police Dept., and Dan Schroeder, St. Louis County Police Dept., respectively. Law enforcement agencies from all across the state were represented in this event, and a loyal legion of fans cheered them on. Heat races were claimed by Yeager and Dierkes.
The Winged Sprints feature event went smooth as the 25-lap event was completed without a caution flag. Sedalia's Jonathan Cornell out-paced fellow front row starter Kyle Bellm, Nixa, on Lap 1, and that was all Cornell would need to claim yet another feature event at Double-X. Bellm kept Cornell in his sights the entire race, but ultimately finished second. Warrensburg's Taylor Walton, who started 10th, placed third, followed by California's Evan Martin and Tyler Blank, who rounded out the top five, respectively. Three qualifying heat races set the feature line-up, and were claimed by Bellm, Cornell and Brad Ryun, Higginsville.
The 25th season of racing will draw to a close Sunday, Aug. 3, at the Double-X Speedway, with the Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Winged Sprints and 600cc Winged Micro Sprints on hand. 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.
Following the races, awards will be presented and the top point earners in each division will be recognized. The Powder Puff and Mechanics races will follow the awards presentation.
For more information, call 573-796-4694, or go to www.xxspeedway.com. Follow action at the Double-X Speedway on Facebook.