Dalton takes USRA Modified money in action-packed feature at Springfield


SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Current Budweiser USRA Modified points leader Jackie Dalton grabbed the lead from Steve Muilenburg on lap 10 and took his second USRA Modified feature win of the season at the "Quick-Quarter" of the Springfield Raceway Saturday night in the start of the second half of the Transport Graphics Championship Chase.

Erik Maggard and Muilenburg brought the field to the opening green with Maggard taking the early control as the racy track provided plenty of action all night long. This battle stayed close as three-time winner Mitch Keeter came into play along with Dalton and Robbie Bryant. On lap 6, Maggard went up the track just a bit as Keeter went hard to the inside lane as Muilenburg went upstairs.

Muilenburg took over the lead on lap 7 while Maggard and Keeter went wheel to wheel as the duo made contact on the frontstretch. Maggard would spin in turn 1 as caution waved slowing the field and Keeter sent to the pits with severe sheet metal damage. Muilenburg would find Dalton and 3rd place in the track points John Yeoman on his bumper on the restart. Dalton then shot to the low side as the leaders went side by side. Dalton took over the top spot but the race was far from over as Yeoman,Muilenburg, Bobby Pearish and Robbie Bryant, Jerry Lankton and Diarin Hendrix were side by side.

Caution waved on lap 12 bunching the field even more. On the restart things got really jumbled as Dalton and Muilenburg on the restart seemed to work bumpers and then unhook, but it caused some top runners problems as the start was waved off. Bryant's night ended and Lankton went to the pits to repair sheet metal damage. The speedway forced a single- file restart and action resumed as Dalton, Muilenburg and Yeoman went battling. A late caution bunched everyone up again on lap 17 as Tammy Mitchell spun in turn 4.

On the restart, Muilenburg made a small bobble allowing Yeoman and Hendrix to charge around with Pearish waiting in the shadows while Keeter was on a mission along with Jody Tillman and Mickey Burrell. Dalton in his Carthage Lock & Key/Garrison Performance would grab the $800 to win event while Yeoman aboard the 25th Anniversary Engines/Hoffman nipped Hendrix's Babe's Drive-In/TRE at the line for the runner-up spot with Hendrix, Pearish in the Pearish Construction/Yeoman's Engines and Muilenburg with the Muilenburg/Mike's Motor Machine/TRE in the top 5.

Fifteen of the 19 starters completed on the lead lap of the 25-lap feature.

Reliable Chevrolet USRA B-Mod action saw current track and National point leader Scott Drake take the opening lead from Jon Yeoman Jr. leaving the field to compete for the runner-up money. While Drake was setting a quick pace on the extreme top groove, an outstanding battle for second would involve Yeoman Jr., Mike Hailmann, Stacy Hall and Kaleb Copher while Michael Maggard with his new 602 GM Performance crate motor was coming quickly.

A rash of cautions around the lap 7 mark took it's toll on drivers as Hailmann was out of the action followed by Copher. This bunched the field up as Jared Thulin and Ryan Hendrix would be coming to the front pack quickly. While Drake was setting sail upstairs, Maggard and Yeoman Jr. keep the race very interesting in the swapping of second place as Thulin joined the fun. Drake crossed with the win followed by a close call at the second place spot with Maggard making his best finish of the season for second followed by Yeoman Jr. Thulin and a fast moving Gary Rodocker who recovered from going off turn 3 earlier. Great runs early by Hall and Hendrix went away in the last couple of laps.

Next Saturday night the 2nd annual Rob Burgess Memorial presented by Garfield's Restaurant and Pub in both Joplin and the Branson Landing featuring the Midwest Moods in a special $500 to win and $110 to start event. This Midwest Modz feature is only offered to regular Midwest Modz area drivers. Action will also feature the USRA Modifieds, USRA B Modifieds, Legends, Young Lion Legends, Pure Stocks and Street Stocks with racing at 7PM sharp in the Transport Graphics Championship Chase.

For more information visit www.springfieldraceway.com or contact Jerry Hoffman at 417-673-7426 and be sure to like the FaceBook page.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Springfield Raceway, Sprignfield, Mo.
Saturday, June 23, 2012

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature: 1. Jackie Dalton, Carthage; 2. John Yeoman, Joplin; 3. Dairan Hendrix, Joplin; 4. Bobby Pearish, Oronogo; 5. Steve Muilenburg, Sparta; 6. Mitch Keeter, Webb City; 7. Jody Tillman, West Branson; 8. Mickey Burrell, Fair Grove; 9. Issac Dotson, Cameron; 10. Corey Weir, Nixa; 11. Rob Muilenburg, Sparta; 12. Rusty Weir, Nixa; 13. Billy Dalton, Exeter; 14. Tammy Mitchell, Pea Ridge, Ark.; 15. Fred Slagle, Pierce City; 16. Jerry Lankton, Lampe; 17. Erik Maggard, Brighton; 18. Robbie Bryant, Willard; 19. Colson Kirk, Urbana.

Heat #1: 1. S. Muilenburg; 2. J. Dalton; 3. Lankton; 4. Pearish; 5. Burrell; 6. Kirk; 7. R Weir.

Heat #2: 1. Maggard; 2. Keeter; 3. Yeoman; 4. C. Weir; 5. Mitchell; 6. Slagle.

Heat #3: 1. Bryant; 2. Hendrix; 3. R. Muilenburg; 4. Dotson; 5. B. Dalton; 6. Tillman.

USRA B-MODS

Feature: 1. Scott Drake, Webb City; 2. Michael Maggard, Springfield; 3. Jon Yeoman Jr., Granby; 4. Jared Thulin, Miami, Okla.; 5. Gary Rodocker, Willard; 6. Charlie Gentile, Sparta; 7. Dylan Timmerman, Nevada; 8. Thomas Hylton, Avilla; 9. Stacy Hall, Bolivar; 10. Ryan Hendrix, Joplin; 11. John Hurn, Joplin; 12. Kaleb Copher, Webb City; 13. Mike Hailmann, Reed Springs; 14. Wayne Graybeal, Springfield; 15. Zack Zeugin, Fair Play; 16. Mike Mansker, Republic; 17. Jeremy Thulin, Miami, Okla.; 18. Aaron Speck, Republic; DNS - Blake Ellis, Sarcoxie.

Heat #1: 1. Hall; 2. Timmerman; 3. Thulin; 4. Zeugin; DNS - Graybeal, Speck.

Heat #2: 1. Yeoman; 2. Copher; 3. J. Thulin; 4. Ellis; 5. Hylton; 6. Rodocker.

Heat #3: 1. Drake; 2. Gentile; 3. Hailmann; 4. M. Maggard; 5. Hurn; 6. Mansker; 7. Hendrix.