4/30/2018
Salina Highbanks Speedway
Schmidt, Jolly, Metcalf, Campbell quick in the slick; Pearce wins first Custom Coatings Trophy Car event
photo credit: No Limit Photography by B. Dilbeck
With the onset of dry, slick conditions early in the night the name of the game in the second NASCAR Whelen All-American Series points race of the season would be finesse. Just over ninety drivers checked in to compete on the April 28th race night with five drivers emerging victorious including two first time winners.
The first half of the S&J Plumbing Pure Stock A-Main saw Jordon Shive at the helm just before Nathan Campbell completed a halfway point pass to assume the lead. After going caution free for nine laps the first yellow waved after contact between Shive and Jack Kirby. The incident resulted in a black flag for Shive with Kirby able to continue from the tail of the field. The remainder of the A-Main was dotted with a handful of cautions before Campbell claimed his first win of the season. Josh Shive rallied from the eighth starting spot to finish second ahead of Steve Freeman in third. Tray Roberts led an impressive charge from 15th to fourth while outside pole-sitter Susan Stand held on for fifth.
In the Super Stock A-Main it took a mere four laps for eighth starting Jeff Metcalf to take the lead. From that point forward the Siloam Springs racer never looked back on his way to his first win of the season. Boone Johnson, who got engaged to his long-time girlfriend and now fellow racer Tori Brixey during the intermission break, took second. Jason Wayne, Toby Lindell, and Charlie Tuggle made up the rest of the top five.
In an adjustment in the typical running order the NASCAR Feature division Modifieds ran their A-Main third in the evening’s program. From the initial drop of the green flag to the wave of the checkered the man to beat was Kyle Schmidt. Schmidt rolled from the pole in the A-Main and never faltered, wiring the field for all 20 circuits for his first ever win on the Highbanks. Jared Russell who started inside row two finished up second, Mitch Keeter took third, Tyler Wolff ended up forth, and outside pole-sitter Justin Rexwinkle maintained a top five finish.
As is customary the AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories B-Mod division put on a fantastic show in their 20-lap A-Main. The first six circuits were owned by Kenton Allen, who quickly took command of the field from the second row inside starting spot. However, on a lap seven restart the Chanute, Kansas young gun fell into the clutches of Brian Williams. The pilot of the Walton Motorsports entry became the second but not final leader of the race, as a familiar face would challenge for the top spot just past the halfway point. What seemed to be a narrow, non-passable racing surface became just the opposite as Cody Jolly was able to maneuver his Larry Shaw race car by Williams on lap eleven to take the lead and eventual win. Williams finished in second and Allen landed on the final step of the podium. Justin Shoemaker raced from 12th to forth and Clint Johnson rounded out the top five. Tulsa racer Brent Bates narrowly missed the top five but as a nice consolation won the AmeriFlex “Lucky Draw” valued at $100 in addition to his regular payout.
The Custom Coatings Trophy Cars made their debut on the Highbanks and the exciting new division saw seven drivers take the green flag in a 10-lap feature at the end of the night. The opening lap saw a violent rollover when McKenzie Jones turned over in turn four in a single-car incident that drew the red flag. Once the field fired back up, Bobby Edwards led until Chris Pearce snagged the lead on the final lap to take the win. Edwards finished second, Gene Pearce third, Karla Leland fourth, and Tim Walsh fifth.
For complete results from the April 28th show visit:
http://www.salinahighbanksspeedway.com/profile/schedule/results.aspx?r=236040&rt=sch
Racing resumes on Saturday, May 5th with the “Twister Showdown” featuring the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars. The lone support class on May 5th will be the S&J Plumbing Pure Stocks.
Submitted By: Elizabeth Davis
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