Ragland nips Hudson to score season-opening win at Midway Speedway

  • March 28, 2008
Jamie Ragland celebrates in victory lane. (Ron Mitchell Photo)

Jamie Ragland celebrates in victory lane. (Ron Mitchell Photo)


LEBANON, Mo. - Despite cold temperatures the fans were treated to plenty of hot racing action with 75 cars checked into the pits as the Lebanon Midway Speedway opened its 2008 season and last-lap drama highlighting the racing action.

The USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series USRA Modified feature saw two friends and rivals dice it out for another exciting finish as 2005 Modified track champion Jamie Ragland and 2007 Modified track champ Eric Hudson treated the crowd to side-by-side racing.

The start of the feature saw 2007 Valley Speedway champion Jake Richards jump to the early lead with Hudson closely following. Hudson took control at the line after lap 1 with Ragland and Richards battling behind with Bobbye Williams moving quickly.

As Hudson tried to pull away, Ragland broke away from the battle with Richards and pulled on Hudson's back bumper. The dynamic duo ran side by side with Hudson using the top groove and Ragland moving on the bottom while Williams, Jason Meadors, Richards and Jimmy Willis were fighting for third place.

Moving on lap 18, Hudson and Ragland were going through traffic and Hudson moved to the bottom with Ragland grabbing the top groove.

Coming out of turn 2 on the last lap, Ragland made a bold move and slipped around on the outside to nip Hudson for the win.

Williams, Meadors and Richards rounded out the top-5.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series
Midway Speedway, Lebanon, Mo.
Friday, March 28, 2008

USRA Modifieds

Feature: 1. Jamie Ragland, Lebanon; 2. Eric Hudson, Rolla; 3. Bobbye Williams, Shawnee, Kan.; 4. Jason Meadors, Fordland; 5. Jake Richards, Kansas City, Kan.; 6. Jimmy Willis, Macks Creek; 7. James Hartman, Eldridge; 8. Steve Muilenburg, Sparta; 9. Danny Atkinson, Lebanon; 10.Sam Petty, Niangua; 11.Ted Ballinger, Halfway.

1st Heat: 1. Ragland; 2. Richards; 3. Williams; 4. Hartman; 5. Petty; 6. Ballinger.

2nd Heat: 1. Meadors; 2. Hudson; 3. Willis; 4. Muilenburg; 5. Atkinson.