Grain Valley Race results and recap from Bob Douglas

**Admin** Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:47 pm

THE RACING EXPERIENCE

MIDWEST OUTLAW LIGHTNING SPRINTS
Race Results

Fri. April 24, 2009

Valley Speedway
Grain Valley, MO

This was the first race of the season for us at Valley and also the first nite of OpenWheel Friday Nites. We shared the facility with the MSCA Sprint Cars and the Vintage Stock Cars.

A pill draw would determine the lineups of the heat races for tonite. For the next night of racing and the rest of the season, the drivers point average will determine their starting position in the heat races.

Heat 1

1^st 92 Jim Devore Harrisonville, MO

2^nd 1 Kendall Rupard Grandview, MO

3^rd 40 Dave Parker Warsaw, MO

4^th 7s Scott Allen KC, KS

5^th 83g Matt Gilbert Merriam, KS

6^th 68 Bob Franklin Baldwin City, KS

7^th 1x Jesse Hockett Warsaw, MO

Jim Devore and Kendall Rupard would bring the field down for the 1^st green of the season. Jim took the early lead with Kendall driving Kent Keck’s new car right on his bumper. The rest of the field was tightly packed trying to sort out the track. Dave Parker in his new car and Scott Allen would have a side by side for the third position. Jesse Hockett, Bob Franklin and Matt Gilbert were all pressuring Dave and Scott. As the dicing continued, Hockett would work his way up to 3^rd with the rest of the field swapping places. Jim would continue to lead with Kendall chasing. Hockett broke a steering arm sending him off the track. When the race resumed, Jim would again jump to the lead. Bob would drop out with a broken oil cooler. Jim would stay in front for his first win of the season. Kendall would run 2^nd with Dave in 3^rd.

Heat 2

1^st 01 Bobby Layne KC, MO

2^nd 93 Mark Billings Columbia, MO

3^rd 4 Beau Heavelow Independence, MO

4^th 58 Frank Ikerd Joplin, MO

5^th 45 Kevin Rupard Grandview, MO

6^th z8 Zach Moorehead Grain Valley, MO

7^th 25 Donnie Graves Kearney, MO

8^th 22 Jewell Craven Polo, MO

Kevin Rupard and Beau Heavelow would bring the field down for the 2^nd heat. Beau would take the early lead, with Kevin and Bobby Layne in his new car right on his tail shell. Mark Billings and Frank Ikerd would start their march to the front. The rest of the field would be bunched up, all trying to sort out the track. Beau would have steering gear problems on the 3^rd lap, allowing Bobby and Kendall to get around him. Mark and Frank would be on the charge. Bobby would stay in front with Mark getting by Beau for 2^nd. Frank, Kevin and now Zack Morehead would be battling for 4^th. Bobby would uphold the challenge from the field and win his 1^st heat race with the MOLS. Mark would get 2^nd with Beau 3^rd.

Feature

1^st 92 Jim Devore (9)

2^nd 58 Frank Ikerd (4)

3^rd 1x Jesse Hockett (11)

4^th 4 Beau Heavelow (6)

5^th 93 Mark Billings ( Cool

6^th 01 Bobby Layne (10)

7^th 45 Kevin Rupard (2)

8^th 25 Donnie Graves (14)

9^th 22 Jewell Craven (13)

10^th 83g Matt Gilbert (1)

11^th z8 Zach Moorehead (12)

12^th 7s Scott Allen (3)

13^th 1 Kendall Rupard (7)

14^th 40 Dave Parker (5)

As the 1^st heat race winner, Jim would have the honors of rolling the die. He rolled a 5, so now the first 5 rows are inverted. Matt and Kevin would bring the field down for the green.

Dave would slow to a stop with problems. The race was restarted, with Kevin jumping to an early lead and Scott and Matt both on his heels. The position racing in the pack was fierce. Matt and Frank would get by Kevin. Kendall would catch an infield tire bending up his left front and sending him to the infield. Jim would work his way to 2^nd with Matt flying on the high side of the track in 1st. Zack would have engine problems and as he tried to exit the track in turn 1, Matt would be caught between him and the outside wall. Matt would take a series of end over end rolls off the track in turn one. He was not injured, but this would end his bid for his first feature win. When the race restarted, it was clear that Jim was the guy to beat. Frank would try hard getting buy him, but Jim would hold off his challenges. Jesse had figured out the track and now he was flying on the high side in 3^rd. Beau and Mark would be having their battle for the 4^th spot. The first feature of the year would end with Jim Devore taking the honors, Frank 2^nd, Jesse 3^rd, Beau 4^th and Mark 5^th. Bobby Layne would work his way up to 6th

The racing in The Racing Experience Midwest Outlaw Lightning Sprints is fiercely competitive. This year there is 10 of these drivers that can win on any night. With low cost maintenance and motorcycle power, this is still the most economical way to go fast in a race car. These cars a 1 ½ seconds a lap faster than an A Mod or a Late Model.

We gave away 1 - 10 Lap Racing Experience YOU RACE promotional giveaway. Kim Whitworth of Raytown, MO was the happy winner.

Our next race is Friday May 5th at Valley Speedway. Come out and watch the Racing Experience MOLS cars sling the dirt. The RACING EXPERIENCE MOLS will once again be giving away a 10 Lap Racing Experience YOU RACE package at every one of our races. Remember “If you’re not PASSING…You’re not RACING!”

Bob Douglas