Lucas Oil Speedway
Chad Simpson claims MLRA win in Wheatland
By Trenton Berry
racindirt.com
Chad Simpson (25) battles his way to victory at Wheatland. (cbracephotos.com)
WHEATLAND, Mo. (April 13) — Chad Simpson was fast from the outset of Saturday's Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association main event at Lucas Oil Speedway, but it wasn't until lap 35 that he took the lead from Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo. Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, cruised from there, earning $3,000 for the fifth MLRA victory of his career.
"It was a pretty wild one tonight," said Simpson, who backed up his finishes of third and second in the previous week’s MLRA season-opening doubleheader at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb. "We're never going to catch a break on these draws at the beginning of the night. We got to start deep in a heat race just like we were last week. We got up to fourth, and I just knew that wasn't going to be good enough to get us in the top couple of rows. Starting tenth is pretty tough anywhere you go, especially with the caliber of cars that are here. I just got up on the wheel." | Video | Slideshow
Will Vaught of Crane, Mo., led the opening 11 laps of the 40-lap race before Stovall was able to work to the front in lapped traffic. Stovall held the point until being overtaken by Simpson and ended up 14th after slowing late in the race with a flat left-rear tire.
The race's final caution waved with just three laps to go. On the restart it was smooth sailing for Simpson as Vaught and 17th-starting Eric Turner of Hermitage, Mo., dueled for second. Vaught held the position at the checkers while Turner settled for third.
Tony Jackson Jr. of Lebanon, Mo., advanced from his 20th starting spot to finish fourth with Brad Looney of Republic, Mo., rounded out the top five finishers.
Notes: Simpson’s MasterSbilt Race Car is powered by a Jay Dickens Racing Engine and with sponsorship from Liebe Trucking, GATR Truck Center, Farm Bureau Financial Services and Graves Oil. ... Simpson won on the MLRA tour for the first time since July 2, 2011. He earned his second series victory at Lucas Oil Speedway. ... Jackson, who debuted a new Rocket Chassis at the event, earned the race’s Casey's General Stores Hard Charger award with his run from 20th to fourth. ... The MLRA series returns to action April 26-27 with an Oklahoma doubleheader at Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee and Tri State Speedway in Pocola.
MLRA @ Lucas Oil Speedway: (1) Chad Simpson, (2) Will Vaught, (3) Eric Turner, (4) Tony Jackson Jr., (5) Brad Looney, (6) David Turner, (7) Brandon McCormick, (8) Dave Eckrich, (9) Bryon Allison, (10) Chase Junghans, (11) Travis Dickes, (12) Mark Dotson, (13) Jason Russell, (14) Jesse Stovall, (15) John Anderson, (16) Shawn Knuckles, (17) Justin Asplin, (18) Jason O’Brien, (19) Matt Johnson, (20) Terry Phillips, (21) Matt Brookshire, (22) Kevin Sather, (23) Justin Wells, (24) Tommy Weder Jr. Heat winners (among 33 cars): Stovall, Junghans, Looney, Vaught. Consolation winner: Turner.
Correction: Fixes Simpson's engine builder.
