9/4/2019
Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Big 10 Late Model Summer Shootout Brought Fans to Their Feet Last Saturday Night
Last Saturday the racers of Lebanon I-44 Speedway put on yet another spectacular night of racing. The Big 10 Late Model division was put in the spotlight Saturday night with the Big 10 Late Model Summer Shootout. The Big 10 Late Models closed out the night with a 30-lap special that produced the “race of the year” at Lebanon I-44 Speedway. All other weekly racing divisions were on hand as well with great finishes and races throughout the night.
Hornets
First up were the Hornets who competed on the new Roval road course. In the six-lap heat race, Mason Mundy took the early lead, until car troubles forced him to the pits. Jeff Albright Jr. then grabbed the lead and held of charges from Dustin Atkinson and little brother Chris Albright for the heat race win. In the 12-lap feature, Nick Bradshaw started on the pole with Mason Mundy to his outside. Chris Albright jumped from third to first by the end of the first lap with Mundy now in second. Mundy and Jeffery Albright battled hard for the number two spot while Chris Albright did his best to get away. At the end of the 12 laps, it was all Chris Albright. Chris has now won both features on the new Roval and has proven that he can turn left, as well as right, better than the competition. Mason Mundy came home in second after engine troubles have plagued his season so far. Heat race winner, Jeffery Albright, came home in the third spot. Chris Albright now has a slim 9-point lead over his older brother Jeffery in the Championship standings.
Pro Late Models
Next up were the Pro Late Models. In the heat race, Steve Holt and Terry Limberopolous made up the front row. Limberopolous got the jump and took the lead early and never looked back as he went on to claim the heat win while Ryu Taggart passed Steve Holt on the last lap to finish second. In the feature, Brennon Willard started on the pole with Terry Limberopolous to his outside. Just like the heat race, Limberopolous got another good jump on the outside and grabbed the early lead. Steve Holt moved into the number two spot with Ryu Taggart hot on his heels. Steve Holt took the lead with three laps to go after an oil pump belt broke on the leader of Terry Limberopolous forcing him to pull off. Holt led the remaining three laps, but Ryu Taggart was right there coming up just short of grabbing his first career Pro Late Model win. Steve Holt has now won two features in a row and is looking to carry the momentum throughout the rest of the season. Ryu Taggart came home second and Brennon Willard third. With Limberopolous’s DNF, Brennon Willard was able to close the points gap to just five points with two races remaining.
Street Stocks
Next up was the Street Stock class. In the first heat, Crystal Blake brought the field to the green with Charles Appleby to her outside. Alex Shaw was able to jump from third to first on the first lap to grab the early lead, until Trever Icenhower made the pass and went on to win the heat race. In heat number two, Matt Pilant started on the pole and dominated the heat race while Tony Johnson and Breken Johnson battled for second. Pilant picked up the win with Tony Johnson second. In the feature, Steve Shaw started on the pole with Breken Johnson on his outside. Tony Johnson makes the move from fourth to first on the first lap and went on to lead the first three laps. Matt Pilant caught the No. 00 Johnson, but Johnson didn’t go down without a fight. The two drivers swapped the lead a few times until Pilant was finally able to get away. Trevor Icenhower, who started tailback since he won the last feature, was slicing his way through the field on a mission to catch the point leader of Matt Pilant. On lap 12, Icenhower was able to pass Tony Johnson for second, but only three laps remained for him to catch the leader. Matt Pilant went on to grab the win, with Icenhower second, and Tony Johnson third. Pilant now holds a small four-point lead in the Championship over Icenhower. This battle is going to come down to the wire!
Modifieds
Next, the ground-pounding Modifieds took to the track. In the first heat, Brian Brown and Ricky Icenhower started on the front row. Brown grabbed the early lead and never looked back as he went on to pick up the win. In heat number two, Michael Juergenson started on the pole with Jeffery Albright to his outside. On lap one, the caution was displayed for the No. 9 of Brian Lewis who suffered a hard impact with the outside wall in turn number four which ultimately ended his night, in that car. On the restart, Juergenson got the jump and did his best to pull away as he grabbed the second heat win with Albright second and Riley Sharp third. The feature lineup was now set with Chris Nichols on the pole and Riley Sharp to his outside. Nichols dropped the hammer and grabbed the early lead. Ricky Icenhower tucked into second with Brian Brown in the third spot. Icenhower and Brown both were able to get around the No. 14 of Nichols. Icenhower continued to lay down solid laps showing why he is the defending Champion. Icenhower went on to grab the win with Brian Brown coming home in second and Chris Nichols in third after battling mechanical issues several times the last few seasons. Richard Lewis continues to lead the Championship with two races remaining this season.
Big 10 Late Model Summer Shootout
Last, but not least, the Big 10 Late Model Summer Shootout. In the first heat race, Devon Russel, making his first Big 10 Late Model start at Lebanon I-44 Speedway started on the pole with Dylan Bates to his outside. Bates got a good jump on the outside and was able to grab the lead early on. Justin Blake was able to move into the second spot. Bates went on to grab the heat race win with Justin Blake second and Jimmy Fohn was able to get around Devon Russell with a few laps to go for the third spot. In the second heat race, JC Newell started on the pole with Chris Albright on his outside. JC Newell jumped into the early lead and never looked back. Nick Cherry followed Newell passed Albright to move into the second spot. Newell went on to grab the heat win with Cherry second and Albright third. It was now time for the 30-lap feature event. Devon Russell was starting on the pole once again with Chris Albright to his outside. Russell was able grab the lead with Justin Blake and Dylan Bates moving into second and third. Russell held off Justin Blake who was trying to make the pass on the bottom for several laps, while Bates applied pressure to both of them trying to find a way through. Blake was finally able to get around Russell and Bates followed him through. Blake and Bates were now first and second with Devon Russell in the third spot. Bates was doing all he could to reel in the No. 15 of Justin Blake as the two of them sliced through lapped traffic. Behind them, Jimmy Fohn, who started tailback after winning the last feature was moving into the third spot on lap 15. With about five laps remaining, Bates was able to reel in Blake and was looking to make the pass. With a good run down the backstretch, Bates looked to the inside of Blake and grabbed the lead. Blake then moved back to the inside of Bates and the two battled it out for the remaining laps swapping the lead. Coming out of turn four, on the last lap, Bates was on the outside and Blake was on the inside. It was a drag race to the finish and Bates was able to grab the win over Blake by just half of a bumper to pick up his second win of the season in one of the closest finishes we have seen in years. Justin Blake came home in second and Jimmy Fohn rounded out the top three. Jimmy Fohn still holds the Championship lead over Blake, but only by one point with two races remaining! This is going to be an exciting battle to watch!
The next race at Lebanon I-44 Speedway will be held on Saturday, September 14th. The Modified division will be showcased that night with the Missouri Modified Showdown. Be on the lookout for more details on our website at i44speedway.net! Don’t forget to check us out on Facebook as well to keep up with daily track updates!
Submitted By: Lebanon Speedway
