LOCUST GROVE, Ark. (Aug. 15) — Batesville Motor Speedway regular Stacy Taylor of Jacksonville, Ark., and Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, will make up the front row of Saturday’s 22nd annual Comp Camp Topless 100. 

Taylor and Birkhofer were the fastest qualifiers in their respective time trial groups. Picking up heat race wins, the pair joined Friday’s other heat race winners in a redraw to lineup the first three rows of Saturday’s main event. Taylor, Friday’s overall fast qualifier, drew the pole for the 100-lap, $40,000-to-win show.

Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., inherited the lead of his heat race when polesitter Scott Bloomquist slowed on the track with mechanical issues and retired to the pits. O’Neal will start third in Saturday’s feature lineup, with hometown driver Billy Moyer, winner of the sixth heat, starting from the fourth-place spot.

Wendell Wallace, also of Batesville, led every lap of the fifth heat and will start fifth in Saturday’s 100-lapper. Jonathan Davenport was the winner of Friday’s third heat and drew the sixth starting position for the feature.

The top-three cars from each heat race transferred to Saturday’s main event. Saturday’s program will include consolation races to set the lineup for the remainder of the field.

Preliminary results:

Sixth heat

Outside polesitter Chris Brown jumped to an early lead, but fell to Moyer on lap four. Moyer led the remaining distance, with Brown finishing runner-up. Seventh-starting Jared Landers improved four spots to finish third. Justin Asplin finished fourth, with Will Vaught rounding out the top-five. Anthony Burroughs spun in turn four on lap three to draw a caution. A yellow flew on the first lap for Tyler Erb when he hit the turn-one wall; David Payne retired early. Chris Wall drawing a caution on the ensuing restart when he slowed in turn four.

Finish: Billy Moyer, Chris Brown, Jared Landers, Justin Asplin, Will Vaught, Anthony Burroughs, Tommy Surrett, Chris Wall, Tyler Erb, David Payne.

Fifth heat

Polesitter Wendell Wallace led all 20 laps, pulling away from runner-up finisher Steve Francis. Former Topless 100 winner Terry Phillips took the third-place spot, with Earl Pearson Jr. holding on to fourth-place. Troy Berdan charged from the 10th starting position to finish fifth.

Finish: Wendell Wallace, Steve Francis, Terry Phillips, Earl Pearson Jr., Troy Berdan, Mark Dotson, Tony Jackson Jr., Austin Rettig, Timothy Culp.

Fourth heat

Starting from the pole, Brian Birkhofer charged to the lead, building as much as a straightway's distance between himself and the field before a lap-11 caution for Jason Hughes. Billy Moyer Jr. and Bub McCool had a close battle for the the second-place spot, with Moyer finishing ahead of McCool at the checkers. Kody Mea spun coming out of turn two for cauiton on the 13th lap. Seventh-starting Jeff Taylor advanced three spots to finish fourth. Eighth-starting Jon Mitchell finished fifth.

Finish: Brian Birkhofer, Billy Moyer Jr., Bub McCool, Jeff Taylor, Robert Baker, Jon Mitchell, Jason Hughes, Jason Bodenhamer, Kody Mea, Chad Dupont, Lynn Beach.

Third heat

Polesitter Jonathan Davenport took the lead at the drop of the green and led all 20 laps. Third-starting Dale McDowell finished second, but never seriously challenged Davenport. Shannon Babb finished third, with the top-three cars pulling away from the rest of the field. Jack Sullivan took the fourth-place spot, with Doug Drown finishing fifth.

Finish: Jonathan Davenport, Dale McDowell, Shannon Babb, Jack Sullivan, Doug Drown, Kyle Beard, Brandon Smith, Jason Hughes, Gavin Landers, Chandler Petty.

Second heat

Polesitter Scott Bloomquist jumped to an early lead, but slowed on the fronstretch on lap seven with a broken right-front shock. He exited the racetrack. Second-running Don O'Neal inherited the point and led the remaing distance. Outside polesitter Mike Marlar finished second, with fourth-starting Jimmy Mars advancing one spot to finish third. Seventh-starting Eddie Carrier Jr. finished fourth, with Dennis Erb Jr. rounding out the top-five.

Finish: Don O'Neal, Mike Marlar, Jimmy Mars, Eddie Carrier Jr., Dennis Erb Jr., Ryan Gustin, Jesse Stovall, Jake Davis, Shannon Scott, Scott Bloomquist.

First heat

Fast qualifier Stacy Taylor held off runner-up finisher Jimmy Owens to win the first heat. John Blankenship made an early challenge, but slipped to finish third. Outside polesitter Jeremy Payne retired early. Jason Papich slowed on the frontstretch for a lap-six caution, retiring to the pits. A yellow flew on lap five for Rick Hearnsberger and Joey Smith when they spun in turn four; they tangled again on lap seven for another caution. Smith, Moore and Dwight Falcon tangled coming out of turn two on the first lap for a complete restart. Moore and Smith rejoined the field; Falcon retired.

Finish: Stacy Taylor, Jimmy Owens, John Blankenship, Robbie Stuart, Clay Fisher, Rick Hearnsberger, Joey Smith, Jeremy Payne, Jason Papich, Ray Moore, Dwight Falcon.

Heat race lineups 

The Lucas Oil tour makes its lone 2014 visit to Batesville Motor Speedway for the annual Comp Cams Topless 100. The unique event requires the cars race roofless, allowing spectators a better view of the drivers in the cockpit.

After sanctioning the only other open-engine Late Model event at the 3/8-mile high-banked oval earlier this season, the Comp Cams Super Dirt Series is co-sanctioning the Topless 100 for the first time.

Friday’s preliminary action will include time trials and heat races that will set a portion of the field for Saturday’s 100-lapper. With 63 cars on hand, qualifying will be split into two groups, with six  20-lap heat races to follow. 

The top three cars from each heat race will transfer to Saturday’s main event. Consolation races will be contested Saturday to set the remainder of feature lineup.

Pre-race notes

Fifty-eight cars were on hand for Thursday’s practice. … Saturday’s 100-lap main event boasts a total purse of $130,000. … Besides Late Models, Friday’s program includes a full modified show. … Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., was the winner of last year’s Topless 100. He won a United States Modified Touring Series event held at Batesville two weeks ago. ... Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series points leader Jimmy Owens of Newport, Tenn.,  is among former Topless 100 winners. He enters the event 100 points ahead of Don O’Neal in the championship standings. … Hometown driver Wendall Wallace won the Comp Cams event held at Batesville back in April. ... Kyle Beard of Truman, Ark., top’s that tour’s points standings. … Chandler Petty of Cabot, Ark., leads the track’s Crate Late Model standings. He’s won four NeSmith Weekly Racing Series events at Batesville this season and will enter this weekend’s open-engine event.

Qualifying results

Group A
Stacy Taylor (27T), Jacksonville, Ark., 13.554
Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 13.597
Jonathan Davenport (6), Blairsville, Ga., 13.606
Jeremy Payne (186) Springfield, Ill., 13.704
Mike Marlar (157), Winfield, Tenn., 13.750
Shannon Babb (18), Moweaqua, Ill., 13.775
Jimmy Owens (20), Newport, Tenn., 13.794
Don O’Neal (5), Martinsville, Ind., 13.860
Dale McDowell (17m) Chickamauga, Ga., 13.891
John Blankenship (23), Williamson, W.Va., 13.921
Jimmy Mars (28m), Menomonie, Wis., 13.968
Jack Sullivan (18x), Greenbrier, Ark., 14.040
Clay Fisher (99), De Witt, Ark., 14.105
Dennis Erb Jr. (28e), Carpentersville, Ill., 14.112
Doug Drown (20), Wooster, Ohio., 14.165
Ray Moore (93m), Haughton, La., 14.203
Jesse Stovall (00s), Galena, Mo., 14.204
Kyle Beard (86), Trumann, Ark., 14.307
Dwight Falcon (F4), Walker, La., 14.345
Eddie Carrier Jr. (28), Salt Rock W.Va., 14.345
Gavin Landers (77), Batesville, Ark., 14.348
Jason Papich (91p) Nimpomo, Calfi., 14.434
Jake Davis (7D), Hackett, Ark., 14.441
Brandon Smith (115), Floral, Ark., 14.460
Robbie Stuart (6r), DeRidder, La., 14.502
Ryan Gustin (19R), Marshalltown, Iowa., 14.520
Chandler Petty (47), Cabot, Ark., 14.682
Joey Smith (13), Ponoma, Mo., 14.710
Shannon Scott (4F), Henryetta, Okla., 14.789
Rick Hearnsberger (XXX), Arkadephia, Ark., 14.945
Kennith Crowe (77c), Port Allen, La., scratched
Group B
Brian Birkhofer (15B), Muscatine, Iowa., 13.867
Wendall Wallace (6m), Batesville, Ark., 14.025
Billy Moyer (21) Batesville, Ark., 14.049
Jason Hughes (17H), West Plains, Mo.,14.058
Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo., 14.069
Chris Brown (21b), Spring, Texas., 14.153
Billy Moyer Jr. (21jr), Batesville, Ark., 14.257
Steve Francis (15) Ashland, Ky., 14.282
Justin Asplin (77A) Birch Tree, Mo., 14.292
Bub McCool (57J), Vicksburg, Miss., 14.346
Earl Pearson Jr. (44), Jacksonville, Fla., 14.354
Will Vaught (1V), Crane, Mo., 14.365
Jason Bodenhamer (2b), Centerview, Mo., 14.370
Tommy Weder (02), Woodward, Okla., 14.379
Robert Baker (17mb), Bryant, Ark., 14.382
Tyler Erb (91), Magnolia, Texas., 14.382
Tony Jackson Jr. (56), Lebanon, Mo., 14.415
Anthony Burroughs (1), Muscle Shoals, Ala., 14.446
Jeff Taylor (5T), Cave City Ark., 14.512
Timothy Culp (C8), West Plains, La., 14.542
Jared Landers (777), Batesville, Ark., 14.550
Jon Mitchell (5m), Texarkana, Texas., 14.579
Mark Dotson (85d), Cameron, Mo., 14.717
Tommy Surrett (27s), North Little Rock, Ark., 14.723
Austin Rettig (94), Sikeston, Mo., 14.855
Chad Dupont (F5), Bossier City La., 14.873
Chris Wall (71w), Springfield, La., 15.054
Kody Mea (5x), Southhaven, Miss., 15.413
Troy Berdan (02T), Minden, La., 15.452
David Payne (7), Cabot, Ark. , 15.755
Lynn Beach (6b), Hensley, Ark., 15.776