Simpson Rolls On at Memphis

Chris Simpson picked up another MLRA win Thursday night as the touring series made a stop at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis,Mo. It was the first of a three night swing through the area for the high powered late models. 21 cars headlined a field of about 77 cars in five divisions for the week night special. The MLRA has abandoned passing points for group time trials, and Minnesota driver Brent Larson set overall quick time with a lap of 17.033 seconds around the fast 3/8 mile oval. With the heats starting straight up - fastest on the pole - Jesse Stovall came from row two to claim the first eight lapper ahead of fellow row two starter JC Wyman, Larson, and Raymond Merrill. There was a scary moment when veteran Sonny Findling rolled to a stop on the front stretch with fire coming from under the hood of his machine. It was quickly extinguished, and Sonny was able to make repairs by feature time, as was Matt Furman, who dropped a drive shaft in the same heat. Tony Jackson Jr. came from the outside pole to win heat two ahead of polesitter Jordon Yaggy, Texan Rodney Sanders and Spencer Diercks. The third nheat went to polesitter Chris Simpson over Terry Phillips, Randy Timms, and Dave Eckrich. The first feature of the night saw 14 stock cars running for a $1,000 top prize. Cayden Carter wwas the early leader, but it was John Oliver,Jr cashing the big check. Sport mods were up next for 15 laps. Austin Howes led the first half of the race before contact from second running Brandon Lennox in turn two sent Howes for a spin, resulting in both drivers going to the tail for the restart. Carter Vandenberg inherited the lead on the restart, but veteran Jim Gillenwater used the low line to take the top spot and the win. Jason McDaniel used a higher line to claim the runnerup slot. The late model 25 lap headliner was up next. Following on track driver introductions, the drivers came through the stands to collect donations for two local firefighters who suffered a tragic accident earlier in the week. When the green flag dropped, Simpson shot from the outside pole to the lead, with Jackson coming from row two to take second ahead of outside row one starter Stovall. The two series regulars then staged a good battle for the position, with Stovall retaking the spot on lap four. The only caution of the event came with 20 laps scored, when Todd Frank went over the top of turn three. On the single file restart, Phillips used the high line on the track to power from sixth to fourth as the leaders ran the lower groove. Simpson had maintained a comfortable lead as he negotiated slower traffic, and with a clear track ahead on the restart, he cruised to the win to go along with a victory last month when the MLRA visited the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. In the interim, he had destroyed a car at I-80 Speedway in Nebraska, so it has been an up and down month for the Oxford, Iowa driver. Stovall, Jackson Jr, Phillips, and Sanders completed the top five. Yaggy came home sixth ahead of Wyman, Larson, Diercks, and Merrill. Due to a personal matter, I had to leave the track with a pair of features still to run. I am told that Michael Long, who took just over a lap to come from the third row to first in his heat, captured the $1,000 prize for the modifieds, and Brandon Reu topped the sport compacts. The racing weekend led by the MLRA continues today, Friday, with another visit to the Lee County Speedway, racing along with the five weekly classes, UMP Pro late models and IMCA modifieds, stock cars, sport mods, and sport compacts.Show Me 100 winner Bobby Pierce is scheduled to make his first ever appearance at LCS. The mini tour then moves to the Randolph County Raceway in Moberly,Mo. on Saturday. Then Sunday night we will be back at Quincy Raceways for UMP Pro lates, mods, sport mods,sport compacts and the first 2017 visit of the 305 sprint cars. The weather is great, so get out and enjoy some racing, wherever you decide to go!