7/29/2015
Cornell Triumphant at Clyde Wood Memorial
(Photo by Jerry Jenkins)
CALIFORNIA, Mo. – Central Missouri’s most dominant open-wheel racer did it again on Sunday night. Jonathan Cornell won his seventh main event of the season in just his 18th start. Not only was the race a Double-X Speedway point race, but the prestigious Clyde Wood Memorial race sanctioned by ASCS Warrior Region. Cornell extended his lead in the Warrior standings, and gained ground on the Double-X points leader as well.
The weekend started with troubles in Iowa, as Cornell was set to take on the world-famous Knoxville Raceway on Saturday. A crash in his heat race sidelined him for the night, and forced Team Twenty Eight to head home and hurriedly prepare another machine for the race at Double-X in memory of the speedway’s longtime flagman. When Sunday night rolled around, 34 sprint cars pulled into the pit area, the highest total of 2015 at the quarter-mile oval. Cornell passed two opponents in his heat race to finish third from fifth, getting into the top-eight redraw.
Drawing a “5” put the Sedalia, Mo. native inside row three in the starting lineup, preparing for 25 green-flag laps. Cornell made quick work of two drivers on lap one to move into third, but growing rival Jack Dover made the move back by him on lap two. A caution emerged before another lap was completed, and on the restart, Dover and Cornell powered into the second and third position, respectively. Soon, leader Josh Baughman jumped the turn four cushion and Dover took control of the top spot. Just one lap later, Baughman, of Odessa, Tex., came to a stop after contact with the back stretch wall just past turn two. On the ensuing restart, Cornell attempted to pass Dover, but saw him pull away. A red flag for Smithton, Mo. driver Josh Fisher’s machine flipping came with seven to go. Cornell wouldn’t let Dover get away this time, and used the bottom side of the speedway to clear Dover on lap 20. Both cars made contact with the turn two wall on the following circuit, but Dover took on too much damage to continue. Cornell’s five laps after the restart were smooth and steady, and a late challenge from point leader Ricky Stangl was fended off and Cornell scored the trophy.
Jonathan Cornell Racing would like to thank Kiowa Line Builders, Starline Brass, Gas Monkey Tequila, VKCC Motorsports, Yeager's Cycle, Mustang Sallyz Saloon, Champion Brands, Ostrich Racing Engines, Peak Sport and Spine, Kinsler Fuel Injection, Weld Racing, Hoosier Racing Tire, Maxim Chassis, Rod End Supply, Lucas Oil, KSE Racing Products, ButlerBuilt, Factory Kahne Midwest, Duinkerken Farms, Steve Watt Enterprises, R2C Performance Products, Simpson Race Products, Don's Truck Towing & Truck Wash, Brown & Miller Racing Solutions LLC, Outlaw Wings, Sparks Electric Co., SureCoat, Xtreme Fuel Stick, and Steve and Charlie Smith, as well as all of his fans for their continued support.
Cornell is next scheduled to compete on August 1 at Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Mo. and on August 2 at Double-X Speedway in California, Mo. in the No. 28 360ci winged sprint entry.
Quick Results
July 26 – California, MO – 360ci Winged Sprint – Heat: 3rd (5); Feature: 1st (5)
2015 Stats
18 races, 18 features, 7 wins, 11 top fives, 13 top tens, 3 DNFs
Social Media
Twitter: http://twitter.com/teamtwentyeight
Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions
