Springfield Raceway
Stovall wins Springfield's MARS-MLRA event
Jesse Stovall enjoys victory lane at Springfield. (Ron Mitchell)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (July 28) — Polesitter Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo., led the entire distance of Saturday’s inaugural Casey's General Store Summer Meltdown at Springfield Raceway, earning $3,000 in an event co-sanctioned by the MARS DIRTcar Series and the Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association. | Slideshow
Stovall, who also won Friday’s MLRA event at Humboldt (Kan.) Speedway, was challenged early on in Saturday’s 35-lap feature by Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, Mo., and late by John Anderson of Omaha, Neb. But the MARS points leader held off both challengers to score his first-ever Late Model victory at Springfield.
"It's awesome," said Stovall of his prosperous weekend. "To have a weekend like this is just unbelievable. It's a heck of an opportunity for me and we've worked our tails off."
Anderson, the MLRA points leader, used a lap-25 restart to climb from fourth to second and held the spot at the finish ahead of Matt Johnson of Archie, Mo., and Will Vaught of Crane, Mo. Jackson faded to fifth at the finish.
The race was slowed by only two cautions. Justin Wells had a flat tire on lap 14, and Chris Morelock was sideways in turn two on lap 25.
Notes: Stovall’s Victory Circle Chassis has a Scott Bailey Racing Engine and sponsorship from B2R Racing, Hatcher Auto Body and M&M Painting and Construction. … Stovall was coming off a pair of weekly victories the previous weekend at the reopened Mid-America Speedway in South Coffeyville, Okla., and Monett (Mo.) Speedway. … The MARS tour returns to action Aug. 3-4 with a doubleheader weekend at Eagle (Neb.) Raceway and 81 Speedway in Park City, Kan. … The MLRA Series has an Aug. 10-11 doubleheader at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool Junction, Neb., up next on its schedule.
Casey's General Store Summer Meltdown: (1) Jesse Stovall, (2) John Anderson, (3) Matt Johnson, (4) Will Vaught, (5) Tony Jackson Jr., (6) Justin Wells, (7) Eric Turner, (8) Mark Dotson, (9) Ken Essary, (10) Shane Essary, (11) Scott Fry, (12) Brandon McCormick, (13) Justin Asplin, (14) Larry Jones, (15) Brandon Morton, (16) Leroy Johnson, (17) Chris Morelock, (18) Bryon Allison, (19) Mason Oberkramer, (20) Dustin Mooneyham, (21) J.D. Hubert, (22) Dustin Waler. Heat race winners (among 36 cars): Dotson, Stovall, Anderson, Johnson, Vaught. Consolation winners: Fry, Sather.
