Martin, Royalty, Wood, Griggs & Norris Capture Race Night Victories at CMS

Cool weather greeted fans and drivers at Central Missouri Speedway (CMS) on Cliff Harris Warrensburg Ford Race night during week four of the 2016 race season. On-track action kept things busy for fans with 96 cars competing in five divisions.

Gunner Martin from Independence claimed the USRA Modified feature for his second victory the season. In the wild B-Mod feature, Patrick Royalty from Kansas City, Kansas seized his first-ever win against another large field of drivers for his first win. Brett Wood of Warrensburg grabbed his second feature victory in the Street Stocks, and Larry Norris from Lone Jack celebrated his first feature victory of the season in the Pure Stocks. The traveling Midwest Mod-Lites visited CMS with long-time CMS participant Ed Griggs of Pleasant Hill driving to victory lane for his feature win.

The Pure Stocks opened the heat race action with 11 drivers checked in for competition. Roger Detherage grabbed the first heat win in front of Jason Ballard and Larry Norris. In heat two, Jeremiah Wilson crossed the finish line for the checkers with Gary Akers and Herb Dannar following.

For the Pure Stock main event, Jeremiah Wilson led early in the race and appeared to be in control until an incident ended his night after a hard hit with the front wall after contact with last week’s feature winner, Gary Akers, whom officials disqualified for rough driving. Former CMS regular Jeremy Lile then made his charge to the front, but his engine expired late in the race to end his night. Roger Detherage had to go to the tail of the field after an earlier incident but fought back later in the race to challenge Larry Norris up front. Norris stayed steady to the end and claimed his first feature win while holding off Detherage late in the race. Herb Dannar inherited the second spot at the checkers followed by Jason Ballard, Amanda Akers, and Detherage, who spun on the last lap attempting to make a long shot low side pass for the lead. The victory was the first for Norris.

B-Mod drivers had another chance to hone their driving skills against a large field of 30 drivers registered in the pits. During the five qualifying heat races, Kit Bailey won the opening heat ahead of Brett Wood and Dean Wille. Chad Staus was just ahead of Cody Frazon and Jimmy Cummins for the second heat race win. In heat three, Patrick Royalty claimed the win ahead of Jeremy Johnson and Dean Truelove. Curtis Berry came back from an earlier incident and crossed the finish line during the fourth just ahead of Cole Campbell and Rick Anderson. For the fifth and final heat, Cody Brill grabbed the win with Brad Moore and Bubba Small following. In the last-chance B-Main, Jake Richards claimed the win with Troy Carlyle close behind.

The B-Mod main event was a memorable race, but not for the sake of long green flag racing as several incidents forced an early end to the caution-filled event. Cool temperatures likely contributed to the misconceptions of several drivers as moisture rose back up through the ultra-smooth track creating a tricky and slick racing surface that threw many drivers for a loop, literally. Patrick Royalty took charge early in the race and stayed smooth despite some impatient moments from several drivers behind the leaders. Brett Wood and Curtis Berry battled for the win early on as Troy Carlyle charged to the top five from the B-main. However, despite the numerous restarts, Royalty never lost his rhythm and outdistanced his closest pursuers for his first-ever career win in his first-ever CMS race appearance. Carlyle moved to second late in the vent ahead of Wood, who was followed by Chad Staus and Kit Bailey, also making his first B-Mod appearance at CMS, rounding out the top five.

The Midwest Mod Lites were entertaining for the fans and it was great to see their return to CMS on the lightning fast clay oval as Donnie Dannar and Ed Griggs charged to the checkers for their respective heat wins. In the feature event, drivers drove hard to stay with Ed Griggs, a former CMS modified driver, as he charged into the lead. Griggs never relinquished the top spot from the start as Dannar, another former CMS modified driver, had a good battle with Dillon Rafferty and Chad Shartzer inside the top five. Griggs ultimately prevailed and happily received the feature trophy in victory lane stating, “I’ve been wanting this one for a long time!” Dillon Raffurty reeled in Griggs by race end but came up just short at the line for a strong runner-up finish. Dannar came away third in the race with Michael Raffurty fourth, and Shartzer, who made the trek from Abilene, Kansas, rounding out the top five.

In the Street Stock division, drivers once again set their sights on the winner’s circle as they competed in a pair of preliminary heat races. Jay Prevete took the top spot in heat one ahead of Brian Eckhoff and Chad Eickleberry while Brett Wood drove to the win in heat two in front of Brian Ziegler and Clayton Campbell.

As the green flag flew for the start of the main event, Prevete and Wood dashed into first turn on the initial lap with Prevete leading the way over Wood. However, it didn’t take too long for Wood to set the mark as he rocketed his way around Prevete to grab the lead. Prevete then had his hands full with Brian Ziegler and Clayton Campbell inside the top five as Devin Irvin joined in on the excitement late in the race as he was able to maneuver past Brian Eckhoff late in the race. Wood eventually hung on for his second win this season with Prevete second, Ziegler third, followed by Campbell and Irvin inside the top five.

This week during the USRA “Mighty” Modified heat races, fans were entertained to some of the best racing action this season as drivers attempted to maximize their starting feature positions. Kevin Blackburn edged Brian Johnson and David Wood in heat one. Gunner Martin crossed the finish line ahead Terry Schultz and Nathan Vaughn in heat two. The third heat saw Chad Lyle taking the checkers ahead of Tyler Shaw and Matt Johnson. In the fourth and final heat, Steve Twenter won ahead of Danny Scrogham and Tyler Schmidt.

The USRA Modified contingent at CMS is among the best in the country and always produce some of the best racing of the night at CMS and last night was no different. For the start of the 25-lap main event, Gunner Martin assumed command at the front of the field as fellow front row starter Kevin Blackburn ran close behind in second. Blackburn hounded Martin for nearly the entire race distance and was joined by last year’s track champion Terry Schultz in the closing laps with Matt Johnson and Chad Lyle putting on a display of clean driving and smart decision making as they mastered the race surface inside the top five.

Despite several attempts on the high and low side, Martin turned back Blackburn’s repeated challenges until late in the race when Schultz took advantage of the high side and made his way into the runner-up spot. Blackburn then had his hands full with a classic battle to the finish as Martin drove to his second Modified victory this season with Schultz claiming second one spot in front of Blackburn, who posted his third-straight top three finish. Matt Johnson made a late-race pace on last week’s feature winner Chad Lyle for the fourth position as Lyle brought his car home in fifth.

Next week at CMS marks L.J.S. Graphics and Pepsi race night featuring weekly racing in all divisions. Pit gates will open at 4:30, grandstands at 5, driver pill draw cutoff is 6:15, pit meeting 6:30, hot laps at 7, and racing at 7:30. USRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, B-Mods, and Pure Stocks will all be in competition throughout the night.

Just one more regular race week is scheduled before the first Summer Holiday and Special Events Racing at CMS for the 2016 season. CMS added detailed event information to the track’s website at www.centralmissourispeedway.net. Once on the site, look for the “Memorial Day Weekend Info” tab, which includes information on purses throughout the weekend, admission prices, start times, and much more!

USRA Modified drivers should take note of the special bonuses offered by promoters Earl and Susan Walls for the big three summer holiday special events. For any driver who wins the Memorial Day $3,000-to-win race and then also wins the Tom Wilson Memorial over Independence Day weekend, and then goes on to win the $3,000-to-win race later in the year over Labor Day weekend, they will earn a $5,000 bonus for the clean sweep! If you add the base purse “to win” money for the three events together it totals $11,000, now add on another $7,500 in bonus money and that totals a whopping possible $18,500 going to a driver who sweeps all three events. However, there’s still a $2,500 bonus for any driver that doubles up and wins any two of the three big-money events this summer.

Keep up with CMS on Twitter @CMSgoing_green. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Missouri-Speedway. Join our email group by emailing info@centralmissourispeedway.net. Keep up with CMS news and information by pointing your browser to www.centralmissourispeedway.net.

CMS is located 3.5-miles north of Warrensburg, MO from the junction of Highways 50 and 13 in Warrensburg just north of the new Hwy 13 by-pass round-a-bout, or from the Higginsville exit off I-70, head south on Highway 13 for twelve and half miles. Keep up with CMS on Twitter @CMSgoing_green. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Missouri-Speedway. Join our email group by emailing info@centralmissourispeedway.net. Keep up with CMS news and information by pointing your browser to www.centralmissourispeedway.net. Mention of driver names throughout this press release does not guarantee race appearances.

CMS wishes to thank its 2016 primary sponsors for their support this season! Cliff Harris Warrensburg Ford, Budweiser, KMZU 100.7 FM, Sunoco Race Fuels, KMMO FM 102.9, Midwest Coatings, Better Country KIX 105.7, KSDL, and KSIS FM, Comfort Inn Warrensburg Station, KRLI FM 103.9 & KAOL 101.3 FM The Grenade, Pepsi, 610 Sports Radio Kansas City, Heartland Waste, and 'Today's New Hit Country' 95.3 FM KDKD.

This list of 2016 outstanding business partners includes: Victory Trophies & Plaques, Joslins Jewelry, Batliner Recycling, DQ Grill & Chill of Warrensburg, Blue Springs Chiropractic, Economy Lumber, Kleinschmidt's Western Store, OK Tire Stores, Eickleberry Concrete & Construction, LJS Graphics, Finish Line Performance, Wolf Tire Service, JA Performance and Outdoor Services, RockAuto.com, and Seeburg Mufflers.

5-14-16 Main Event Results

PURE STOCKS - PURE STOCK FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 5 53K Larry Norris Lone Jack, Mo
2 4 74 Herb Dannar Holden , Mo
3 9 13 Amanda Akers Independence , Mo
4 8 25XX Nick Pickard Leeton , Mo
5 2 25X Rodger Detherage Windsor , Mo
6 7 3W Jeremy Lile Higginsville , Mo
7 1 58 Jeremiah Wilson Concordia , Mo
8 11 12 Scott Martin Warrensburg , Mo
9 10 3B Darrin Christy Kansas City, Ks DNS
10 3 31 Gary Akers Independence , Mo DQ
11 6 007 Jason Ballard Yates Center, Ks DQ

B MODS - B MOD FEATURE

Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 3 49 Patrick Royalty Kansas City, Ks
2 26 44 Troy Carlyle Kearney , Mo
3 6 77 Brett Wood Warrensburg , Mo
4 2 C3 Chad Staus Otterville , Mo
5 1 77K Kristepher Bailey Liberty , Mo
6 28 19 Jimmy Cummins Highland , Il
7 25 17J Jake Richards Kansas City, Ks
8 8 02 Jeremy Johnson Oak Grove, Mo
9 5 96 Cody Brill Harrisonville , Mo
10 10 72 Bradley Moore Urich , Mo
11 13 2 Rick Anderson Marshall , Mo
12 29 47W Terry Wilburn Holden , Mo
13 4 23B Curtis Berry Raymore , Mo
14 7 73 Cody Frazon LaMonte , Mo
15 11 68M Dean Wille Warrensburg , Mo
16 9 22C Cole Campbell Mexico , Mo
17 14 28S Bill Small Holden , Mo
18 16 1B Kaleb Bray Archie , Mo
19 20 27S Chris Spies Raymore , Mo
20 30 33 Nicholas Carpenter Leavenworth , Ks
21 27 81 Jacob Blair Kansas City, Mo
22 21 10W Doug Wetzel Leeton , Mo
23 12 44D Dean Truelove Blue Springs, Mo
24 18 9 Don Marrs Shawnee , Ks

STREET STOCKS - STREET STOCK FEATURE

Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 2 7 Brett Wood Warrensburg , Mo 100.00
2 1 25XXX Jay Prevete Windsor , Mo 95.00
3 3 65Z Brian Ziegler Bates City, Mo 91.00
4 10 30C Clayton Campbell Otterville , Mo 87.00
5 9 67 Devin Irvin Cleveland , Mo 84.00
6 5 25 Brian Eckhoff Higginsville , Mo 81.00
7 6 12Z Zack Smith Centertown , Mo 78.00
8 7 8V Cody Vail Louisburg , Ks 76.00
9 12 3X Bobby Wood Rayville , Mo 74.00
10 4 09 Chad Eickleberry Warrensburg , Mo 72.00
11 8 33 Joshua Guy Knob Noster, Mo 70.00
12 13 13 Rob Hardwick Sedalia , Mo 68.00
13 14 60 Darace Meads Clinton , Mo 66.00
14 11 7X0 Ryan Roberts Warrensburg , Mo 64.00 DNF

USRA MODIFIEDS - USRA MODIFIED FEATURE

Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 2 75 Gunner Martin Independence , Mo
2 3 90 Terry Schultz Sedalia , Mo
3 1 26K Kevin Blackburn Fulton , Mo
4 9 1X Matt Johnson Archie , Mo
5 6 33 Chad Lyle Oak Grove, Mo
6 7 85S Tyler Shaw Mexico , Mo
7 13 68 Dean Wille Warrensburg , Mo
8 5 97K Brian Johnson Independence , Mo
9 16 3BB Nic Bidinger Perry , Ks
10 19 42 Sam Florence Kansas City, Mo
11 11 66T Tyler Schmidt Easton , Ks
12 17 82 David Wood Richmond , Mo
13 12 3J Lewis Jackson Wellsville , Ks
14 24 3 Lawrence Harvey Kansas City, Ks
15 15 32P Nick Pence Raymore , Mo
16 4 23 Steve Twenter Sedalia , Mo
17 21 2D Dean Bachner Olathe , Ks
18 18 3B Richard Brainard Sedalia , Mo
19 22 22 Matt Plumb Peculiar , Mo
20 8 92 Danny Scrogham Peculiar , Mo DNF
21 10 12V Nathan Vaughn Sedalia , Mo DNF
22 20 00M Jim Moody Odessa , Mo DNF
23 14 73B Shad Badder Bates City, Mo DNF
24 26 X25 Travis Ruff Belton , Mo DNF
25 25 19K Eddie Bray Jr. Archie , Mo DNS
26 23 03 Jason Bodenhamer Centerview , Mo DQ

MIDWEST MOD LITES - MIDWEST MOD LITE FEATURE

Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 1 47 Ed Griggs Pleasant Hill, Mo
2 4 46 Dillon Raffurty Independence , Mo
3 3 171 Donnie Dannar Oak Grove, Mo
4 5 7 Michael Raffurty Independence , Mo
5 2 56S Chad Shartzer Abilene , Ks
6 6 36 Travis Alexander Tonganoxie , Ks
7 9 73 Tony Kerr Kansas City, Mo
8 13 64 David Raffurty Kansas City, Mo
9 8 3 Nathan Wolfe -
10 15 111 Charlie Laisure Harrisonville , Mo
11 12 4R Robert Baslee Kansas City, Mo
12 10 2J John Sharp Vassar , Ks
13 11 12V Kellie Vail Louisburg , Ks
14 14 36C Cherrie Welch Tonganoxie , Ks
15 7 4T Tim Sterner Adrian , Mo