Kloos, Blackhurst, Bayston Top Jacksonville

Friday night I made my first visit of 2017 to the Jacksonville,Il Speedway . Five classes of cars made up the 100 plus entries for the first of two nights of October racing. We arrived as hot laps were starting at 6:30, and the show moved quickly into race mode. A total of 15 heat races and three B-mains set the fields for feature action, with the Lucas Oil Power I midgets up first for 30 laps on the fairgrounds 1/4 mile. Spencer Bayston sat on the front row and led the opening circuit, with Jake Newman in second. The red flag waved on lap five when Austin Odell flipped his #97x in turn one, just one of many cars to get upside down during the night. Bayston continued to lead, but the yellow came out one lap later, and back under green, Zeb Wise moved to second. On lap ten, as the leader approached slower traffic, the caution flew again, and as the cars circled the oval, Wise headed to the work area with a flat tire. This moved Newman to second, but Tyler Courtney took the spot away on the restart. Tenth starting Logan Seavey was now in fourth, with the final caution coming one lap later. With things finally settled down, Bayston and Courtney put separation on the field, entering lapped traffic just past the halfway mark. With Bayston running the cushion, Courtney made a move on the inside on lap 22 and again one lap later. But a slower car broke his momentum, and Boyston then moved down the track a bit. Courtney drove a bit too hard into turn one on the final lap and had to check up, with Bayston leading flag to flag for the win. Courtney held on for second, followed by Seavey, Tucker Klassmeyer, and Tyler Thomas. The MOWA 410 sprint cars were up next for 25 laps. The 29 car field had been pared down to 20 starters, with Mike Terry Jr and Katlynn Leer on row one. Leer brought out an early red with a flip in turn one. She was able to restart on the tail of the complete restart, but soon retired to the pits. Another pair of yellows marred the opening laps, as Jason Keith set the pace. Sixth starting Jake Blackhurst moved to second on lap five, with fellow row three starter Brad Loyet taking third. Keith had a comfortable lead as he hit slower traffic on lap eight. With Blackhurst and Loyet closing, it qickly became a three car battle, and Loyet grabbed second on lap twelve. Keith suddenly slowed on lap 14, ending his run, turning the top spot over to Loyet. Paul Nienhiser had now advanced to sixth after starting in row nine. The driver of the #9 suffered a flat tire in his heat, then advanced from row five to second in the caution free B-main. Loyet opened a big lead, and was in lapped traffic by lap 20. But with four laps to go, Logan Faucon stopped on the high side of the track, and Loyet looped his ride trying to miss the disabled car, suffering enough damage to end his run. Blackhurst was now out front for the single file restart, with Josh Schneiderman in second. With two laps remaining, Joe B Miller moved to the runner up spot, but settled for second behind the victorious Blackhurst. Schneiderman held third ahead of Terry and Nienhiser. The Big Ten super late model championship was up next, with a rather disappointing eleven cars signed in for the $1200 top prize. Michael Kloos and Matt Bailey lined up on row one for 20 laps. The feature was based on passing points as they had attempted to time trial, but the transponder system was not working properly. As the green flag waved, Kloos jumped to the lead, with Bailey and Rusty Griffaw joining him in a three car breakaway. The caution came out on lap eight as Griffaw came to a stop in turn one with rearend suspension damage. The final caution came as racing resumed for a stalled Cody Maguire. Once racing resumed, Kloos opened a comfortable lead, while Bailey stretched his advantage over the third place battle between Jason Suhre and Greg Kimmons. Kloos cruised to the win ahead of Bailey, Kimmons, Suhre, and Vance Wilson. Jeff Ray ran sixth, besting Maguire, Andrew Barnes, and Rudy Zaragoza. Rick Standridge was honored during intermission for 50 years of racing, but he dropped out of the late model feature and was credited with tenth. Two features remained for the UMP street stocks and the Power I micro midgets, but it was nearing 11:00, so we headed for the car, pleased with a solid night of racing in the books. Thanks to Ken Dobson and the Jacksonville staff for their hospitality and the chance at one more late season race. The sprints and midgets along with UMP modifieds will be in action today, Saturday, starting at about 4:00. Next up for me, weather permitting, will be Sunday night at Quincy Raceways, with six classes of racing, including the UMP Pro late models. Hot laps at 6:00. Hope to see you there!