Monett Motor Speedway
Wells outruns Merritt for third straight victory
Justin Wells (98) goes past Jordan Holloway (21). (Ron Mitchell)
MONETT, Mo. (July 26) — Red-hot Justin Wells of Aurora, Mo., overtook Rex Merritt of Billings, Mo., midway through a Monett Speedway feature and ran virtually unchallenged the rest of the way for his third straight Show-Me Racin' Series victory.
Wells, who has a series-best five victories including four in his last five starts, denied Merritt his first series victory in getting his 22nd career series triumph. Leslie Essary of Crane, Mo., was third followed by his father Ken Essary of Cape Fair, Mo. Merritt's teammate Bill McMurtrie of Bartlesville, Okla., who led the first 10 laps, rounded out the top five. Polesitter Chris Deaton of Wann, Okla., finished seventh.
Notes: Wells drives a TNT Race Car with sponsorship from Top Notch Hardwood Flooring and Yeoman Race Engines. ... Wells also watched his 13-year-old son Cole win in the rookie division at Monett. ... Runner-up Rex Merritt was coming off a weekly victory the previous night at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Mo. ... Justin Asplin scratched from a consolation race because water was found in his fuel. ... After a weekend off, the Show-Me Racin' Series returns to action with an Aug. 8 event at Nevada (Mo.) Raceway.
Show-Me Series @ Monett: (1) Justin Wells, (2) Rex Merritt, (3) Leslie Essary, (4) Ken Essary, (5) Bill McMurtrie, (6) Jordan Holloway, (7) Chris Deaton, (8) Larry Campbell, (9) Rick Lebow, (10) Chris Morelock, (11) Kevin Henson, (12) Randy Galloway, (13) Jarrod Hilton, (14) Scott Fry, (15) Chris Lapp, (16) John Driskill, (17) Ron Johnson, (18) Mark Penticuff, (19) Kathy Tonoli, (20) Tim Adams, (21) Jim Fulp, (22) Sundance Keeper. Heat race winners (among 26 cars): Merritt, K. Essary, Henson, Fulp. Consolation winner: Hilton. Provisional starters: Fry, Penticuff.
