Peoria Speedway
Lance Jr. wins thriller at Peoria, wraps up title
By Jeff Adams
Peoria SpeedwayPEORIA, Ill. (Aug. 27) – In one of the most exciting races of the season at Peoria Speedway, Steve Lance Jr., Jason Jaggers and Billy Drake put on a groove-swapping, side-jobbing display in Saturday’s 30-lap season championship feature with Lance of Cuba, Ill., leading at the finish to score his eighth consecutive victory and lock up the Late Model championship at the quarter-mile racetrack.
"That was one helluva race from where I was sitting," Lance said of his hard-earned victory. "The fans had to love that one! It seemed like Jason and I swapped the lead about every corner. The track was perfect, you could run anywhere you wanted and we all did.”
Driving his brother Tim Lance’s Rayburn Race Car after breaking a rear end in his own car in his heat race, Lance charged from his 16th starting position and moved into the top five by lap six. Lance then set his sights on the front and moved by Drake of Bloomington, Ill., for second on lap 11. One lap later, Lance pulled a classis slidejob on Jaggers of Wyanet, Ill., in turns one and to take the lead, only to see Jaggers move back out front down the back straightaway before a lap-14 caution slowed the pace.
Jaggers, Lance and Drake set sail following the restart, using nearly the entire racing surface as they battled for the lead. Lance slid Jaggers again on lap 15, but Jaggers turned left and again pulled back ahead down the back stretch. Drake stayed close to the leaders, pulling even with Lance as all three drivers switched grooves nearly every corner
Jaggers and Lance swapped the lead multiple times between laps 20 and 22 until Lance finally made a slidejob stick on lap 23. Jaggers gave chase, but got pinned in slower traffic on lap 27 and then had to contend with Drake.
Lance pulled away for the victory in the closing laps, as Drake edged ahead of Jaggers for the runner-up finish. Hometown driver Charley Hess was third with Mike Mullvain of Bartonville, Ill., rounding out the top five.
John Gardner of Creve Couer, Ill., was scheduled to start the race from the pole, but chose to take the front-row challenge that paid an offered $40 for each car passed for either front-row starter that elected to start from the tail of the field. Gardner finished eighth.
Action resumes Thursday night at Peoria Speedway with the final race of the season for the Northern Allstars Late Model Series. The event pays $2,000 to the winner.
Peoria Speedway: (1) Steve Lance Jr., (2) Billy Drake, (3) Jason Jaggers, (4) Charley Hess, (5) Mike Mullvain, (6) Russ Adams, (7) Shane Allen, (8) John Gardner, (9) Gary Scharp Jr., (10) Gerry Reeder Jr., (11) Frank Shickel Sr., (12) Tim Faulkenberry, (13) Cameron Guidi, (14) Matt McAdams, (15) Bob Gardner.
