August 31
Lucas Oil Speedway,
Wheatland, MO
Sanction: Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association (Ron Jenkins Memorial) - $12,000
Information provided by: Series and track reports (last updated September 1, 7:59 am)
Jackson wins second Jenkins Memorial, $12,000
Ron Jenkins Memorial
- Tony Jackson Jr.
- Dillon McCowan
- Gordy Gundaker
- Chad Simpson
- Jon Kirby
- Mason Oberkramer
- Brennon Willard
- Rickey Frankel
- Jeff Herzog
- Kylan Garner
- Steve Stultz
- Dustin Walker
- Dusty Leonard
- Trevor Gundaker
- Scott Crigler
- Payton Looney
- Dustin Hodges
- Ryan Johnson
- Billy Moyer
- Cole Wells
- Aaron Marrant
- Thomas Langley
- Steve Johnson
- Chris Simpson
Tony Jackson Jr. celebrates after his third-to-first move.
What won the race: Sneaking around leader Dillon McCowan, fourth-starting Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, Mo., led the final three laps to win Saturday's $12,000 10th annual Ron Jenkins Memorial at Lucas Oil Speedway. Jackson nabbed his first Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association victory of the season and the 16th of his career. It's his second career Jenkins Memorial triumph (2022).
Quotable: “It took an awful lot of hard work, we were absolutely terrible when we unloaded yesterday ... we qualified dead last,” Jackson said. “I wore Vinny (Guliani’s) phone out man, he’s the man. I seen Dillon (McCowan’s) stick guy telling him to get down to block Gordy (Gundaker) and that was all I needed.”
Key notes: Jackson secured his first MLRA win since 2022's Labor Day doubleheader at Wheatland and Moberly (Mo.) Motorsports Park, where he earned $7,000 in his first Jenkins Memorial victory before adding Moberly's $10,000 Wiener Nationals on Sept. 4. ... It's Jackson's second overall victory of the season — Aug. 9 on the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series at Outlaw Motor Speedway in Oktaha, Okla. ... Second-starting Dillon McCowan led 35 laps (3-37) before being overtaken by Jackson and taking the checkers 1.043 seconds back. McCowan was challenged by Gordy Gundaker and protected the bottom line, allowing Jackson to sneak by both of them in the closing laps. ... The seventh-starting Gundaker, of St. Charles, Mo., settled for third. ... Chad Simpson led the opening two laps from the pole before finishing fourth. ... Brennon Willard overcame a lap-21 restart spin and finished seventh. ... Scott Crigler slowed from sixth with a flat left-rear to draw the race's third and final caution on lap 33; he did not continue. ... The second stoppage came on a lap-21 restart when Cole Wells appeared to get hooked while racing three-wide with Jon Kirby and Billy Moyer. Wells spun at turn-three entrance, collecting Willard and Dustin Walker, who both continued. Moyer completed two more laps before pulling off. ... Payton Looney worked his way as high as fifth before slapping the turn-four wall and slowing on lap 29; he slipped to ninth before pulling off a few laps later. ... Chris Simpson, winner of Friday's $7,000 opener and slated to start third, appeared to lose an engine during pace laps; he was pushed to the hot pit, then back to his trailer before the green flag dropped. ... The event honored Ron Jenkins, the original builder of Wheatland Raceway, and lasted 23 minutes, with 13 starters completing 40 laps. ... Former Late Model ace Jesse Stovall won the modified feature.
On the move: Mason Oberkramer of Broseley, Mo., started 18th and finished sixth.
Winner's sponsors: Jackson’s Longhorn Chassis by VG Performance is powered by a Scott Bailey Racing Engine and carries sponsorship from Rob and Liz Schlup, Superior Power Custom Homes, Merrill Bonding, Elite Trailers, Willard Quarries, Daly Construction, Chris Norris of Norris Logging, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Five Star Bodies, DirtCarLift.com, Sunoco Race Fuels, Bilstein Shocks, Deatherage Racing Optics and Sweet Victory Apparel.
Points chase: After Wheatland: 1. Chad Simpson (1,615); T2. Tony Jackson Jr. (1,505); T2. Chris Simpson (1,505); T2. Gordy Gundaker (1,505); 5. Dillon McCowan (1,435).
Current weather: Overcast, 75°F
Car count: 29
Fast qualifier: Dillon McCowan
Time: 16.242 seconds
Polesitter: Chad Simpson
Heat race winners: Chad Simpson, Chris Simpson, Dillon McCowan, Tony Jackson Jr.
Consolation race winners: Scott Crigler
Provisional starters: Thomas Langley, Steve Johnson
Next series race: September 1, Moberly Motorsports Park (Moberly, MO) $10,000
Editor's note: Results and race details are unofficial.