Once again it was a carnival atmosphere at Moberly, Missouri Motorsports Park for the 4th running of the "Weiner Nationals." MLRA Late Models would headline the racing with a $10,000 to win feature event. Sandwiched in amongst an Elvis impersonator, a $1,000 to win hot dog eating contest, entertainment by singer Ruby Leigh and more, the four regular classes from the tracks' unique Trophy Tuesday Poweri summer series would also be in action featuring qualified competitors from among the top dozen or so points earners. This is the 4th year of what is a one of a kind event in mid west short track racing at the facility now owned by part time racer Reid Millard. Moberly Motorsports Park operates as a non profit facility with each Weiner Nationals earmarking a specific charity. The 2024 version would raise money for the Cars4Heroes campaign with the presentation of a car made during the evening.
There was already a sizable crowd on hand when we arrived several minutes before the advertised hot lap time. However extra track prep pushed things back about 45 minutes with the extra watering proving beneficial as a stiff - and very cool - northerly breeze pushed dust into the packed grandstands throughout the evening. The Poweri classes were limited to hot lap/qualifying with fifteen lap features for all except Hornets who staged a ten lap event.
MLRA ran two lap time trials, with points leader Chad Simpson the overall fast timer with a lap of 16.686 seconds around the high banked four tenths mile oval. Four eight lap heat races were contested, with Billy Moyer Sr., Gordy Gundaker, Simpson and Aaron Marrant all winning from the front row. A B main was scheduled, but with three early scratches it was dropped, and twenty seven cars took the green flag for thirty laps and the $10,000 top prize. As a bit of house keeping, there were twenty one MLRA Late Models on hand, with nine of the eleven invited Poweri Late Model competitors "double dipping," to create a thirty car field for the headline division.
Nine of the eleven Poweri Late Models took the green flag as the first of the five features. The red flag would fly at the end of lap one as a three car pile up in turn four resulted in Ashley Lancaster doing a complete roll over. She was uninjured, but the accident ended her two class effort. Chad Walter had charged from outside row one to the early lead ahead of fast qualifier Matt Becker. Walter opened a big lead before a lap five caution reset the field. Chase Breid briefly grabbed the runner up spot on the restart, with Becker retaking the spot on lap seven. One more lap was scored before a final caution, then the final seven laps went caution free. Walter cruised to a convincing win followed by Becker, Breid, Trace Melloway and Curt Potter.
Thirteen B Mods came next. Cody Agee shot to the front from outside row one taking along pole sitter Dawson David in second. The front pair quickly put distance on the field before a caution at the mid point brought them back to the pack. Chris Spalding mounted a challenge as racing resumed, but the race belonged to Agee. David held off Spalding for second followed by Derrick Agee and Clayton Smith.
After some more extra curriculars eleven Hornets lined up for their main event. Kyle Burton sat outside row one and he paced the early laps chased by Jeremy Bell and Ryan Lewis. The only caution came with two laps scored, and back under green Burton and Bell raced in tight formation, Bell grabbed the lead as they crossed under the flag stand on lap eight, then held on to the checkers. But something apparently went awry in tech, as Bell is listed a a DQ in the final rundown. This put Burton on top, with Lewis, Chaz Bell, Emery Crow, and Tony Bell completing the first five.
Only eight A Mods were still running come feature time. Following a pair of false starts, the front row was moved back to row two and we went racing. Jon Melloway took the lead with the yellow flag waving with two laps down. On the restart fifth starting Ryan Middaugh powered to the lead, taking along Preston Dawson in second. Middaugh drove off into the Randolph County night, and with just a pair of laps to go, Chris Spalding charged to the runner up position. At the checkers it was Middaugh, Spalding, Richard Kimberling, a fading Dawson and Kelly Smith scoring top fives.
Driver introductions and a fireworks display with a couple of welcomed warming fireballs preceded the nights' finale. Moyer and Chad Simpson filled out row one, but after Chad fired off a bit early the start was called back and he was moved back to row two, putting Marrant alongside the ageless veteran Moyer. Moyer paced the field as the green flag flew, and early on brothers Chad and Chris Simpson swapped the runner up spot. With those three quickly gaining separation, slower traffic came into play by lap six, light at first, then 5 o'clock freeway heavy by lap eight. Eleven laps in Moyer was momentarily caught behind one of the slower cars and Chad sailed around for the lead. Moyer fought back to the lead one lap later when contact with a lapped car slowed Chad for a bit. The caution flag then waved, giving the leaders a clear track ahead. As the green flag waved on the Delaware Style restart, Chad attempted a slider in turn two, but Moyer crossed him back over. In turn four Simpson repeated the move, and this time was successful, retaking the lead. Slower traffic again came into play about lap twenty three but Simpson was patient and smooth, holding onto his lead. A final yellow flag came with four laps to go as Marrant was forced out of a top ten run with a flat tire. The field then went single file on the restart, but Dillon McCowan found extra speed and cleared Moyer for second. However this race belonged to Simpson, who crossed the line with a healthy advantage. It was McCowan, Moyer, Tony Jackson Jr. and Chris Simpson recording top fives. Trevor Gundaker outran brother Gordy for sixth, while Jeff Herzog gained eight positions to finish eighth. Mason Oberkramer was next, and Arkansas racer Jon Kirby started 26th and advanced sixteen positions to round out the top ten. Although My Race Pass results showed seventeenth on back as "did not start," that was incorrect, as twenty seven cars took the initial green. In a rather curious but mostly insignificant scoring decision, Richard Kimberling actually took the first green flag, pulled off as the start was called back, then was scored behind Kyle Graves, one of the three non starters. Just a little fodder for you stat geeks (like me)!
Even with a late start and all the hoopla, the final checkers came just after 10:30, a marked improvement over past Weiner National events. As a side note, apparently the Oscar Meyer "Weinermobile" was involved in an accident somewhere along the line, and was unable to make an appearance, likely a disappointment to the many youngsters in the big crowd.
With family activities planned we will likely not be at the track until next Sunday, but hopefully everyone will find a race to attend this week! Enjoy the holiday!
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