After a weekend washout in April, the Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA) and Callaway Raceway outside Fulton, Missouri were able to come together on a reschedule date Friday, June 7. While nearby Lake Ozark Speedway was not able to match up on the reboot, Springfield Raceway jumped on board to give the series the much sought after two days of racing. This would be the first visit by the southwest Missouri based series to the Callaway quarter mile speed plant, and there would be a $5,000 check awaiting the winner. The MLRA season has been plagued with a total of nine rain outs thus far, several of which were on our pre season schedule, so we were anxious for our first two hour plus, two lane visit to Callaway since 2022. On this night, three of the Weekly Friday night Callaway Poweri sanctioned classes, Pure Stocks, Super Stocks, and B Mods would fill out the card. Multi time champion Chad Simpson would come into the night as the MLRA points leader.
A nice field of thirty two Super Late Models paced the seventy nine cars through the pit gate. Things got off to a bit of a late start, with hot laps broken down into extra small groups. By the time the MLRA group rolled out for time trials, the stands had filled out nicely on what began as a very warm evening. Overall fast time for the two groups went to Ainsworth, Iowa hot shoe Derrick Stewart with a time of 14.522 seconds around the big quarter mile. Only long time competitor Rick Kimberling was unable to make the call after appearing to lose an engine during warm ups.
Four Late Model heats were captured by Stewart, fellow Iowan Chris Simpson, Jacksonville, Florida driver Earl Pearson Jr. racing for Iowas' Jason Rauen, and Arkansas veteran Kyle Beard. The original pair of B mains was wisely combined into one twelve lapper, won by Broseley, Mo. racer Mason Oberkramer. Two provisional starters would fill out the twenty four car starting field.
Two heats each for the Super Stocks and Pure Stocks set their feature lineups, while the twenty one B Mods contested three heats and then a five car consy which transferred the top two for an eighteen car main.
Following a late intermission, the Late Model thirty lap headliner was moved up to first in the feature order. By now the track was lightning fast with a bit of "character" at both ends, just enough to keep drivers up on the wheel. Incredibly, the race went green to checkers caution free, and was for sure an "edge of your seat." classic. Chris Simpson and Stewart paced the field from row one, with Pearson Jr. charging around Stewart as lap one was scored. Sixth starting Dillon McCowan slipped around Stewart for third on lap three. By lap nine the front runners had caught the tail of the pack, and Pearson used the heavy traffic to drive the low line around Simpson for the lead, even as Chris made contact with a lapped car in turn one. Quickly the top three put distance on the pack, and ABOUT lap fourteen ( no scoreboard!), McCowan also used the non stop traffic to clear Simpson for second. Now it was a battle between the wily veteran Pearson and McCowan, with Earl extending his lead slightly in clean air and Dillon swiftly closing the gap in traffic. Pearson stayed true to the very bottom of the track and around lap twenty seven McCowan found enough momentum on the high side to make the pass for the lead. Still the race was far from over, and the duo took the white flag nearly side by side. But McCowan had the fast line down the backstretch, and he held on to pick up the thrilling victory over Pearson. Chris Simpson came home third, while Stewart was fourth after a race long battle with Gordy Gundaker completing the top five. Younger brother Trevor Gundaker paced the second five, ahead of Louisiana youngster Clayton Stuckey, points leader Chad Simpson, Beard, and Centralia, Mo. driver Dustin Hodges.
With the clock approaching 10:30 and a line of showers headed our way, we headed for the parking lot. A check of results showed Darin Porter ( Pure Stocks), Ted Welschmeyer (Super Stocks), and Brandon Lennox (B Mods) also collecting feature wins.
It was likely the most highly contested and most entertaining Late Model feature we have seen so far in 2024, as despite some shortcomings, Callaway is for sure a racy track. This little bullring is well hidden from civilization on the gravel back roads, special thanks to Trace Westling for easy to follow directions.
This morning we are watching the weather, with a return visit to Lee County Speedway in mind, where there is free admission tonight June 8 for the six division program. Then tomorrow, we will switch gears and head to St. Louis for Cardinals baseball.
Thanks for reading and keep Racin' Down the Road!
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