For the first time since a rained out event in 2018, the high powered Late Models invaded Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. Joe Kosiskis' Super Late Model Racing - SLMR - series opened their east division season on the wide, super fast four tenths mile speed plant. Stock Cars, B Mods, and 4 Cylinder Compacts filled out the card on a cool Friday evening. $3,000 to win plus championship points would be plenty of incentive for the traveling Late Model stars. Race director Mike VanGenderen and his team had the surface in tip top condition.
Twenty five Late Models topped the sixty eight car field in the four division program. SLMR uses a bit of a convoluted qualifying system involving time trials, inverts and passing points to set their feature field, and for this season they decided to time within specific heat race groups according to the draw at check in. California transplant Dylan Thornton topped the time trial portion overall with a lap of 17.628 seconds, leading group one. Clear as mud, right?
A top six invert for the three eight lap heat races saw rookie Dallon Murty and western Iowa hot shoe Shane Demay capture wins from the front row, while third generation Nebraska racer Andrew Kosiski came from row two for the third heat victory. Fellow Nebraska driver Jason Hobscheidt claimed the ten lap B main. Adding three provisional starters found only two drivers on the outside looking in for the thirty lap money race, although Derrick Stewart was a no show as the green flag waved.
The series has a bonus program which offers the pole sitter the opportunity to start the feature in position six, and collect the cash if he is victorious. Carried over from 2024, the bonus was worth an extra $500 this night, and last seasons' SLMR west division champion Jesse Sobbing took the challenge. Ultimately he fell short of the win, and that bonus will be worth $700 as the series moves to Norfolk, Nebraska tonight for the western division opener.
Chad Simpson and C.J. Horn led the field to green, with Andrew Kosiski powering to second behind Simpson as lap one was scored. Thornton had lined up in row three, but he climbed to the runner up spot on the third time around, and he began to methodically run down Simpson as the duo separated from the pack. Chad would catch the back of the field by lap nine, and as slower traffic came into play, Thornton used a power move off the high side of turn two and a low line dive in turn three to take over the lead on lap twelve. As the leaders continued to encounter heavy traffic in the caution free race, Simpson would often close in on the leader only to have Dylan weave his way through the slower cars to build a cushion. With just five circuits remaining Simpson made a last solid move to close in on Thornton, but once again the #38T was able to clear a lapped car and drive off to victory. Simpson settled for the runner up position, while Murty would no doubt have liked to see a late caution after charging from a row five start to third at the checkers. Sobbing held off Jake Neal to complete the top five. Kosiski faded to sixth over twelfth starting "Chargin'" Charlie McKenna, sixteen year old Missouri driver Kayden Clatt, Modified star and Late Model rookie Tim Ward and Webster City, Iowas' Jason Hahne. Tri State standout Austen Becerra, in I believe his first SLMR start, was the hard charger, coming from nineteenth to eleventh. The thirty non stop laps was a testament to the superb track, which received a bit of manicuring during intermission.
Compacts had run the first feature of the evening just ahead of the Late Model B main. For whatever reason, only five of the 4 Cylinder warriors showed up on this night. The twelve lap main contest saw Brandon Reu grab the lead on lap one and hold off Barry Taft the rest of the way in the non stop event. Jordon Ohaver would come home in third.
All but three of the solid twenty four car B Mod group lined up for eighteen laps of action. Quincy, Il. ace Logan Cumby jumped from the pole start ahead of his row one mate, Brandon Dale. Those two quickly pulled away ahead of a caution with five laps down for a spin by fourth running Kyler Girard. Brayton Carter had redrawn the number twelve pill, but as racing resumed he would take over that fourth position, locked in a four car battle for third. The next yellow flag came with seven in the books, and back under green, Dale would charge to the lead while Carter powered to second. Cumby was still strong in the top five when he suddenly ducked to the infield just past the halfway mark. Just as the leaders caught slower traffic on lap thirteen the caution flag would wave for the third time one lap later. As racing resumed, Cody Agee moved to third and fourth running Charlie Rindom drove too high in turn one, smacking the guard rail and bringing a final caution. Agee briefly took second, but it was Carter with the momentum and with only two circuits remaining he dove under Dale to grab the top spot, then drove away for the win. Brandon Dale, from just down the road in Arbela brought his #12D home in second followed by Agee, Dawson David, and Chris Spalding. Although "Speedy Bray" gained eleven positions in taking home first, it was Tonganoxie, Kansas visitor Brayden Bennett claiming hard charger, as he moved up fourteen slots to finish sixth.
Fourteen Stock Cars produced a dramatic finale to the program. Only Jason See failed to make the twenty lap feature call. Jay Schmidt and Derrick Agee filled out row one, with Agee gaining the early advantage. Only one lap was scored before the first caution, and back to racing it was two and three wide action behind the leader, which allowed Derrick to open a sizable gap on the field. Damon Murty would clear the traffic to grab second on lap four, and two laps later top contender Maguire DeJong would bring out the yellow, ending his top five run. As racing resumed, Murty and Michael Jaennette waged a battle for the runner up spot while Agee again drove off from the field. Often times we see the Stock Cars prefer the inside groove, but on this fast two groove surface, most of the leaders were operating high on the cushion. In addition to his B Mod, Brayton Carter was behind the wheel of the Vandenberg #7V Stock Car, and after starting fourth and battling early, he jumped to third on lap thirteen running the low line. As the leaders prepared to take the white flag, Jaennette slipped off the top of the treacherous cushion between turns three and four, triggering a final caution and setting up a green, white, checkers finish. Although he saw his big lead disappear, Agee appeared to remain in control. However on the final lap he got too high coming off turn two, lost momentum, and Carter was ready to pounce. Although he led only half a lap, it was Brayton doubling up as he grabbed the Stock Car honors, as well as the B Mod crown. Agee was likely a bit disappointed in second. Murty hung around in third, trailed by Dennis Elliot and Schmidt. Garrett Porter improved the most positions, starting in thirteenth and crossing the line in sixth.
Anticipation was high for Late Model fans wanting to witness the high horsepower machines on the Scotland County speed plant, and I doubt anyone left disappointed. And certainly the B Mods and Stock Cars only added to a solid night of racing, which wrapped up before 10:00P.M.! Now in just under two months, the winged Sprint Invaders will test out the wide, fast track in what promises to be another "edge of your seat" event! Thanks to MVG and everyone at the track for their hospitality and for a great night of racing!
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