Double-X Speedway celebrated the 7th annual "Race for Riley" Riley Hudson Memorial Race on Sunday.
The annual race honors Riley Hudson, a special race fan. Many young race fans look forward to the evening for a chance to win a bicycle or other prize. Tara and Jim and their families work very hard to make this a special evening each year. Many friends and sponsors help make this event special and enjoy doing so. This year was a bit somber as Kyle Wirts' mother passed away the previous Friday after a lengthy illness.
In the opening heat race in the street stock class, it was John Clancy who picked up the victory. Brandon Dunham was in second place, Brandon Hays was in third, Steve Beach was in fourth, and Preston McDowell was in fifth place. Heat two saw John Brooks and Joe Miller race door to door and bumper to bumper for the entire eight laps. At the checkered, it was Brooks by two car lengths over Miller, Justin McDowell was in third place, and Clayton Campbell finished in fourth place.
Kevin Prall picked up the hobby stock heat race victory with John Canada in second, Mike Schrader in third, Bobby Chilton in fourth and Karen Johnson in fifth place. Chuck Coffey finished in sixth place, Josh Clark finished in seventh place, and Jeremiah Wallingford finished in eighth place.
In the winged sprint car division, Ben Brown was the early leader until Cody Baker made a pass in turn four to take over the lead on lap two. From that point on, it was all Baker. Brown was in second, Tyler Blank was in third, Taylor Walton was in fourth, Tyler Utz was in fifth, and Broc Elliott was in sixth place. Scott Comstock was unable to make the green flag with mechanical difficulties.
The "Fast Four" Dash for Cash, which was sponsored by All Pro Sealing of California, saw John Clancy win by a nose over John Brooks after five laps of door to door racing. Joe Miller was in third place and Brandon Dunham finished in fourth.
After intermission, which saw over 50 young race fans take home a new bicycle, it was feature time. In the street stock event, it was a repeat of earlier races on the card with John Clancy and John Brooks putting on another show. Clancy would lead lap one with Brooks taking the point on lap two. Brooks would run the middle groove with Clancy on the bottom, side by side they would run. As the white flag waved, a caution came out for the stalled car of Steve Beach in turn four, setting up a green, white, checker dash to the finish. With Clancy trying all lines on the track he could, it was not to be as Brooks would hold off the challenges to pick up the win. Clancy would finish in second, with Brandon Dunham in the catbird seat finishing in third. Justin McDowell finished in fourth place in his first visit to Double-X ,and Preston McDowell was in fifth. Brandon Hays was in sixth place, Steve Beach finished in seventh place, and Joe Miller finished in eighth place. Clayton Campbell was unable to start the feature. In addition to the winner's purse, Brooks also took home a tool box sponsored by fellow racer Mike Schrader.
The hobby stock feature saw a three-wide dash into turn three with Mike Schrader, Kevin Prall and John Canada all making a bid for the top spot. Out of turn four, it was Schrader taking the lead. Prall would settle into second with a misfire, which would retire him to the pit area one lap later. Schrader would settle into a comfortable lead, with Canada second, Johnson in third and Chilton in fourth. That would be the order at the checkered. Completing the field was Prall in fifth place, Josh Clark in sixth place, both Chuck Coffey and Jeremiah Wallingford were unable to start.
The finale of the evening was the winged sprint car main event. All eyes were on pole sitter Cody Baker. But after an opening lap caution, it was Ben Brown who would take control for the opening five circuits. Baker would line up a turn four pass to lead lap six. Coming up to the leader's rear bumper was Tyler Blank who would assume the lead on lap 15 when Baker slowed with a fuel problem. For the next 10 laps, it was all Tyler Blank as he opened up a 10-car length lead over the field. Following Blank under the checkered was Walton in second place, Tyler Utz in third place and Ben Brown in fourth. Baker was credited with fifth place, Elliott was sixth place, and Scott Comstock was seventh place.
Only three more nights of Sunday Night Thunder are scheduled for 2019 at Double-X Speedway.