SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Round 4 of the Transport Graphics Championship Chase was held Saturday night at the racy "Quick-Quarter" of the Springfield Raceway as several drivers claimed their second victories of the season with 99 cars in the pits.

In the Budweiser USRA Modified feature, it was Brian Green grabbing the opening lead with his new CT525 crate motor powering him as Bobby Pearish followed closely while five-time track champion Jackie Dalton was in tow. On lap 2, Pearish rode to the extreme top of the racing surface and shot around Green to take the lead and never looked back in taking his second win of the season.

With Pearish in strong form tonight, the battle was for second place as Dalton moved around Green on lap 3 to secure the second place spot as Green, Billy Dalton, Mitch Keeter, Jerry Lankton and Robbie Bryant were battling in the pack. The feature went caution free as several top points contenders went out with problems. Third-place points driver Rob Muilenburg retired early and points leader John Yeoman pulled in, placing both drivers outside the top 10 and shuffling the standings.

Following Pearish and his Pearish Construction/Yeoman Engines/Hoffman to the line was Jackie Dalton in the Carthage Lock & Key/Garrison Performance/Hoffman, Green with a solid run in the Doug's Pro Lube/GM CT525 Crate/Hoffman, last year's Rookie of the Year Billy Dalton in the Del Rio/Garrison/Hoffman and a solid run for Jerry Lankton in the Lankton's Welding/Yeoman Engines/Hoffman car as 18 cars checked in with 16 taking the green flag. Opening night winner Erik Maggard had motor problems in his heat and did not start the feature.

The Reliable Chevrolet USRA BMods came to display what Springfield fans know from them every week. Close action, side-by-side racing and the last five laps of battling for the win. Tonight 17 of the 19 starters took the green with Don Luna taking the opening lead as a tight pack was behind him.

With three-wide racing on hand, Luna was looking strong early. During the long green flag run, last season's points runner-up J.C. Morton, making his first Springfield start, was picking them off on the extreme top groove after starting 12th and took charge. Morton was leaving the field behind as only one caution flew in the feature as night 2 winner Brandon Maggard had solidly worked into second place.

As the laps clicked off, Morton had a brush with the turn 4 wall on lap 18 as Maggard was gaining quickly while points leader Scott Drake was in pursuit of Maggard. As Morton took the white flag, Maggard gained a lot of ground and began to change his running groove. Morton was fighting the car up high, but Maggard made a bold move to the bottom of turn 2 and pulled even with Morton. Going out of turn 2, Maggard took the lead as Drake also made the most of this and followed around Morton as later reports said the power steering belt came off from his contact with the wall.

Maggard, in the Tindle Core Company/GM 602 Crate/Hoffman took his second win of the season with Drake's Springfield All Metal/GM 602 Crate/Hoffman claimed second followed by Morton in the Gilmore Photos/GM 602 Crate/BillsBuilt, early leader Don Luna in his Trout Jig/GM 602 Crate/Hoffman and young hard charger Logan Martin in the Adams Construction/GM 602 Crate/GRT completing the top 5 as 13 of the 17 starters completed the lead lap.

Action continues next Saturday night as the USRA Modifieds compete in an $800-to-win, $100-to-start special event which is a track points race.The USRA Modifieds will open draw and use passing points to set up a top-8 redraw for starting spots. A $25 car entry fee is set and pit passes will be the normal $25.

The Springfield Raceway will be holding the inaugural Salute to Military event as all active and retired military along with one guest will be admitted free with action including the USRA Modifieds, USRA B-Mods, Midwest Modz, Pure Stocks, Legends, Young Lions and Street Stocks in round 5 of the Transport Graphics Championship Chase.

Grandstand gates open at 5:00 with hot laps at 6:00 and racing at 7:00. The pit gates open at 4:00 with driver cut-off set for 6:15 and the drivers meeting at 5:40.

Adult admission is $12 with kids ages 6-12 only $5 and children under 6 free. Pit passes are only $25.

For more information visit the website at www.springfieldraceway.com or contact promoter Jerry Hoffman at 417-673-7426.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Springfield Raceway, Springfield, Mo.
Saturday, May 19, 2012

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature: 1. Bobby Pearish, Oronogo; 2. Jackie Dalton, Carthage; 3. Brian Green, Pierce City; 4. Billy Dalton, Exter; 5. Jerry Lankton, Lampe; 6. Mitch Keeter, Webb City; 7. Robbie Bryant, Willard; 8. Logan Martin, West Plains; 9. Kanyan Methvin, Yellville, Ark.; 10. Ray Flippin, Yellville, Ark.; 11. Tammy Mitchell, Pea Ridge, Ark.; 12. Fred Slagle, Pierce City; 13. John Yeoman III, Granby; 14. John Briggs, Yellville, Ark.; 15. Scott Symmonds, Bolivar; 16. Rob Muilenburg, Sparta; DNS - Jason Summers, Joplin; DNS - Erik Maggard, Brighton.

Heat #1: 1. Bryant; 2. Yeoman; 3. Green; 4. Martin; 5. Mitchell; 6. Maggard.

Heat #2: 1. J. Dalton; 2. Keeter; 3. B. Dalton; 4. Methvin; 5. Briggs; 6. Symmonds.

Heat #3: 1. Lankton; 2. Pearish; 3. Muilenburg; 4. Flippin; 5. Slagle; 6. Summers.

USRA B-MODS

Feature: 1. Brandon Maggard, Springfield; 2. Scott Drake, Webb City; 3. J.C. Morton, Springfield; 4. Don Luna, St. James; 5. Logan Martin, West Plains; 6. Kaleb Copher, Webb City; 7. Mike Hailman, Reed Springs; 8. Jon Yeoman Jr., Granby; 9. Andy Beauchamp, Springfield; 10. Bobby Maggard Jr., Republic; 11. Ryan Stacye, Fair Grove; 12. Jared Thulin, Miami, Okla.; 13. Jeremy Thulin, Miami, Okla.; 14. Rick Cash, Joplin; 15. Steve Bias, Everton; 16. Derek Watson, Willard; 17. Aaron Speck, Republic; DNS - Mike Mansker, Springfield; DNS - Thomas Hylton, Joplin.

Heat #1: 1. Beauchamp; 2. Drake; 3. Martin; 4. Luna; 5. Stacye; 6. Watson; 7. Hylton.

Heat #2: 1. Hailman; 2. Morton; 3. Thulin; 4. Mansker; 5. Speck; 6. Bobby Maggard Jr.

Heat #3: 1. Brandon Maggard; 2. Yeoman; 3. Copher; 4. Cash; 5. Thulin; 6. Bias.