YELLVILLE, Ark. -- The chase for the 2013 points championships got underway Friday evening at North Central Arkansas Speedway with unseasonably cool temperatures, but the on-track action set the stage for an intense race season.

The USRA B-Mods got the evening's feature racing underway with Steve Muilenburg again holding the pole position. Muilenburg wasted no time pulling away from outside pole-sitting Charlie Gentile, but a heated battle for position was taking place behind the top two cars with four drivers fighting for position between Terry Phillips, Jason Brigman, Tony Myers and defending class champion Toby Thompson.

Brigman made a couple of good runs on the bottom of the track, twice pulling even with Phillips, but mechanical problems forced Brigman off the track on lap five. Thompson fought with Myers for several laps before making the pass and gaining the fourth spot, and then took over the third spot when Phillips slowed and exited the track on lap nine. The only caution period of the race came out for debris on lap eighteen, bunching the field and setting up a three-car shootout over the last two laps between Gentile, Thompson and Myers.

Muilenburg pulled away again after the restart and Gentile was able to hold off Thompson to take second with Thompson claiming third.

Muilenburg continued his streak of pole positions, holding down the front row of the USRA Modified feature with Mike Smith. Muilenburg quickly opened up a three-car gap on the chase for the second spot between Smith, Rob Muilenburg and Jason Snodgrass. Debris on the track brought on the yellow lights on lap 3, and the race only ran three more laps after the restart before caution again came to the track as Kandy Methvin had his motor expire, bringing him to a stop just past the exit of turn 2.

As the race resumed, Steve Muilenburg again powered away from the pack as he drove to the feature win, and with Jason Snodgrass pressuring Rob Muilenburg soon developed an advantage over the fight for third that allowed him to claim second. Snodgrass was able to pull even with Rob Muilenburg on several occasions on the inside of the track but was never able to make the pass, allowing Rob Muilenburg to take home third in his opening race in his attempt to claim his 13th consecutive track championship.

North Central Arkansas Speedway has more racing action on tap for the Friday night, April 26, and is located between Yellville and Flippin on Hwy. 62-412. The gates open at 6 p.m. with the racing starting at 8 p.m. Adult admission is just $10 for those over age 17. Seniors admission and those with a military ID card is $8. Admission for children ages 7-16 years is $5 with those under 7 getting in for free. A family plan for two adults any children under 16 is only $20, and a pit pass is available for $25.

For all the latest speedway information please call 870-449-5277 or just go to the North Central Arkansas Speedway website at www.dsmotorsports-llc.com.

=====================

OFFICIAL RESULTS
USRA Weekly Racing Series
North Central Arkansas Speedway, Yellville, Ark.
Friday, April 19, 2013

USRA B-MODS
1. 33 Steve Muilenburg
2. 33g Charlie Gentile
3. 24t Toby Thompson
4. 0 Tony Myers
5. 11 Dustin Shaw
6. 24f Cain Foster
7. 39 Earl Muilenburg
8. 41t Terry Phillips
9. 24 Jason Brigman

USRA MODIFIEDS
1. 33 Steve Muilenburg
2. 37 Mike Smith
3. 59 Rob Muilenburg
4. 71 Jason Snodgrass
5. 18 Kyle Cotter
6. 41 Kandy Methvin
7. 5 John Briggs