Sunday night racing at the Double-X Speedway, California, has provided excitement for racing fans for over 20 years, and Sunday, June 30, was no exception as fans were treated to exciting feature events in all four divisions.
Headlining the night were the visiting cars and drivers of the United Late Model Racing Association (ULMA). The heat races proved just how quick these cars move around the 1â„4 mile track. In the first heat, Todd McCoin, Barnett, claimed the victory, while the second heat was won by top ULMA rookie contender Bobby Penney, Lawson. This set the stage for an exciting and eventful 20-lap feature event.
The ULMA main was led to the green flag by McCoin and Penney. McCoin opened a comfortable lead over the field with Penney and Vance Wilson, Quincy, Ill., in tow. Wilson moved past Penney on Lap 6, but it wasn't until Lap 16 when McCoin began to encounter lapped traffic that Wilson was able to close the gap and take the lead from McCoin, and ultimately the win.
McCoin claimed his best ULMA feature finish of 2013 in second place. Penney ran a strong and consistent third, while Brandon Imhoff, Lake Ozark, claimed fourth place and Henley's Justin Russell finished fifth.
Kevin Coyne, Kingsville, placed sixth. Returning to racing after a few years of absence, James Rutledge, High Point, overcame an opening lap tangle to finish seventh. Jefferson City's Chris Cox was eighth, while Belton's Greg Clemons came in ninth and Grandview's Matt Sosebee finished 10th.
In the 360 Winged Sprint division, experienced driver Randy Martin, California, and veteran driver and car owner David Brown, Marshall, joined forces to claim victory as Martin took the feature win in Brown's car.
Martin started on the front row next to pole sitter Tyler Blank, California. At the drop of the green, Blank charged to the front and held a comfortable lead for the first 15 laps. A yellow flag, displayed for the disabled machine of Taylor Walton, Warrensburg, however, resulted in a restart that had Martin on Blank's rear bumper. As the field charged into turn one on the restart, Blank was on the high line and Martin dove to the bottom and executed a classic slide job to take the lead as the duo went through turn two. Martin held the lead to the finish as Blank was unable to complete the pass as the two raced under the checkered flag. Rounding out the top five were Sedalia's Jonathan Cornell, Rocky Mount's Jason Johnson, and Chad Ely, New South Wales, Australia.
Bryan Grimes, Slater, finished sixth; Cody Baker, Lone Jack, seventh; California's Tyler Elliott, eighth; Warrensburg's Taylor Walton, ninth; and California's AJ Wirts, 10th.
Blank and Martin won the heat races.
Close racing wasn't limited to the two feature divisions, as the Hobby Stock feature event saw an exciting battle for the top spot as well. Sedalia's Mike Schrader led the first five laps before he was passed by California's AJ Wirts on lap six. Wirts would lead for three laps before defending track champion Will Register, Sedalia, would make a pass into the top spot on lap nine and would hold the lead to the finish.
Wirts finished second, with Schrader in third place. Chuck Coffey finished fourth and Sedalia's
Kevin Prall placed fifth.
Rounding out the top 10 were Bunceton's Larry Dickson in sixth place; Jeremiah Wallingford, Jamestown, seventh; Philip Dietz, Lake Ozark, eighth; California's Rudy Wirts, ninth; and California's Gage Wineland, 10th.
Heat races were won by Wineland and AJ Wirts.
The Street Stock feature event saw heat race winners Andrew Roark, Henley, and Harlan Dowell, Jr., Tipton, leading the field, but it was Dowell who ultimately took the lead and held on for the duration of the 15-lap event to claim victory.
Roark looked comfortable in second place, but ultimately had to settle for third as he was edged out at the checkered flag by California's John Clancy Jr.
Johnny Wyman, Fulton, finished fourth, while Warrensburg's Jay Lyle came in fifth. Point leader
Derek Henson, Russellville, finished in sixth place; Dale Berry, Tuscumbia, seventh; Jerry Unger, Jefferson City, eighth; Curt Turpin, ninth; and James Keeran, 10th.
The Double-X Speedway will come alive Friday night, July 5, for a special open wheel event with the ASCS Warrior Region making another guest appearance at the track. Joining the ASCS Sprints will be the Mid America Lightning Sprints and the 600cc Micro Sprints running without their customary wings.
The following Sunday, July 7, the 360 Winged Sprints will be running for increased purse monies, along with the Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks and winged 600cc Micro Sprints.
Race fans are encouraged to mark July 14 on their calendars as the racing docket at the Double-X Speedway will include the first "Race for Riley", a memorial race for Riley Hudson. The night will also include the three weekly classes and the return of the ULMA.
Stay up to date with racing at the Double-X on Facebook or at www.xxspeedway.com. For more information, call 573-796-4694.