Joplin’s Johnson earns wire-to-wire Late Model victory

Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Mulienburg mauls the competition: (Above) Sparta native Rob Muilenburg, proudly displays his newest hardware while in victory lane Saturday night at Nevada Speedway. Muilenburg has now collected a track-leading nine feature victories on the season. Submitted photo
Submitted photo

A grand total of 83 cars signed in for an action-packed night of racing at Nevada Speedway Saturday evening. Patience paid off for Steve Johnson, who, armed with pole position, flew the checkers for the first time this season — as the Joplin driver led all 15 laps of the Late Model division feature.

Also in Late Model action, John Coats started on the outside pole en route to a strong runner-up finish. Prescott, Kansas native Jerry Brown advanced three spots from his original starting position, placing sixth. Webb City’s Mark Daye was also on the move, ascending four spots to place fourth, while El Do’s Larry Jones rounded out the top five finish.

Mini Stocks

Steve Bunton dusted the Mini Stock division competition. Opening the feature with outside pole position, Bunton flexed his muscle as he led wire-to-wire on the way to his sixth speedway victory of the 2017 campaign.

Grandview’s James Witt advanced up one spot to finish runner-up. Sheldon’s Mike Baxter was able to keep Witt in his sights, finishing a close third. Meanwhile, Joplin’s Ken Leverich moved up three spots to place fourth, while Garrett Lievens of Osceola topped off the Mini Stock top five finishers.

Pure Stocks

After being absent for the past few races, Halfway’s Tyler Schoen returned to the local dirt oval with a bang, flying the checkers in the Pure Stock division. After battling it out with Schoen, Robert Hangem settled for the second place finish.

Weekly competitor and Nevada native Jaren Powrie, was able to hold off Liberal’s Broc Rose for the third place finish. Rose, who started back in the 11th position, muscled through the pack en route to fourth place. Finishing in fifth was Osceola’s James Leiber.

Street Stocks

Parking in victory lane for consecutive weeks, Nevada’s Shawn Hendren captured his fourth Street Stock division victory of the season (after beginning the feature in the third position).

Pole-sitter Mike Bitner of Frontenac, Kansas netted second place, while Nevada’s Karl Lehmann slid back a spot to finish third. Jeremy Willard, who started in dead last, weaved through the field to grab fourth, while Butler’s Dale Douty laid claim to fifth.

Midwest Mods

In the Midwest Mod division, Rob Muilenburg seized his ninth victory of the season, as the Sparta native parlayed outside pole position into the 15-lap feature win.

Lamar’s Devin Crockett advanced up three spots from his original starting position of fifth to nab the runner-up spot, while Jared McIntire finish in third. Last week’s winner, Cayden Campbell, of Nevada, started back in the 10th position en route to a fourth place finish, while El Do’s Kelby Keith fell back two spots, slotting into fifth place.

B-Mods

Fort Scott, Kansas native Rusty Skaggs cashed in his outside pole position chips to collect his second B-Mod division feature victory of the season. Skaggs held off a strong challenge from fellow Fort Scotian, Jerry Morgan, who zoomed into the runner-up spot.

Butler’s Jeff Douty was able to hold on to the third place spot, while Neosho’s Levi Phillips trailed in fourth (after starting in seventh). Meanwhile, Justin Amick maneuvered through the field, gaining a half-dozen positions to steal the top five finish.

A-Mods

Winning the memorable Monty Grice Memorial race back in July, Nevada’s Jon Sheets notched another A-Mod division victory, after fending off weekly competitor Chase Sigg.

Sigg, of Iola, Kansas, cruised into the runner-up spot, while Carthage driver Jackie Dalton sped into third, advancing four spots from his original starting position. Dalton’s third place finish was made possible with a late pass on El Do’s Daniel Wosoba, who placed fourth; while Pleasanton’s Jessy Willard took home fifth.

— Up next —

Another side-by-side, action packed night of racing at the local dirt oval is on tap for Saturday, with festivities slated to kick off at 7 p.m. sharp.

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