Chad Simpson notched his eighth win of the year in the Corn Belt Clash Late Model Series when the tour made a stop at CJ Speedway on Thursday night. Simpson, who drew the number "2" pill, started outside of the front row and coasted to the win during the Louisa County Fair.
Simpson quickly pulled away when the green flag flew, but the field remained tight during two stoppages during the first four laps. With Simpson out front, Jason Rauen was working the high side and into second place just prior to the second yellow. Brian Harris, who started ninth, picked up ground early and settled into the top five prior to the lap four yellow.
On the ensuing restart, Simpson shot back out front and built up a substantial lead while Harris powered through the field and into second place by the sixth of 30 laps. Over half of a straightaway behind the leader, Harris went to work at chopping into Simpson's big lead.
Harris closed the gap and dialed in on Simpson's rear bumper a dozen laps into the event, however he made contact with the front stretch wall as the leaders completed the 14th lap, forcing Harris to slow in turn two and bringing out the yellow. Harris retired to the pit area with damage on his #21H.
On the restart, Rauen, who was now in second, spun as the leaders took the green flag, forcing him to the rear for the next restart. When racing resumed, Simpson paced the field once more as Justin Kay, who was now in second, extended his advantage over third-running Jason Utter and attempted to stay within striking distance of Simpson.
Although Kay stayed within a few car-lengths over the final half of the event, Simpson took the checkers first for his eighth series win of the year. Kay, who seemed as excited as Simpson during post-race ceremonies, came home second ahead of hometown boy Jason Utter.
Corn Belt Clash Late Models
1. 25 Chad Simpson
2. 15K Justin Kay
3. 31 Jason Utter
4. 32 Chris Simpson
5. 58 Dave Eckrich
6. 77 Kurt Kile
7. 88 Kevin Kile
8. 3 Kevin Sather
9. 50 Denny Eckrich
10. 6 Jay Chenoweth
11. 5M Jake Meier
12. 33 Nick Marolf
13. 98 Jason Rauen
14. 21H Brian Harris
15. 56 Andy Eckrich
16. 1 Mick Wiele
17. 28X Justin Mitchell
18. 74 Ron Boyse
A trio of weekly divisions were also on-hand for the fair special. Mod Lites, Stock Cars and 4 Cylinders rounded out the racing program and extra incentives were offered to drivers in those divisions. If drivers in any of those divisions were able to pick up wins on both Thursday and Friday, during regular weekly racing, they would walk away with an extra $200.
In the 4 Cylinder feature, Bill Whalen took charge at the drop of the green and paced the first three laps before Nathan Chandler challenged for the lead. As those two tussled, 75-year-old Wayne Nobel made it a three-car battle out front as the veteran powered to the front just two laps later. He held on to score the popular win ahead of Whalen. Brad Chandler made his way past Nathan Chandler late to take third.
4 Cylinder
1. 95X Wayne Nobel
2. 00W Bill Whalen
3. 2 Brad Chandler
4. 22N Nathan Chandler
5. 40K Ricky Kay
6. 77 John Whalen
7. 65B Cory Sheetz
8. 77X Travis Yakle
9. 23J Jason Kraft
10. 22 Shaun Tipps
In the Stock Cars, Jim Redmann held the point early, however Nathan Wood powered into the lead just prior to a lap three yellow. Wood then survived a handful of cautions, and the pesky challenges of Redmann, to take the victory in the 15-lapper.
Stock Car
1. 52 Nathan Wood
2. 14R Jim Redmann
3. R34 David Hemsted
4. 57D Blaine Dopler
5. 21M Kirk Kinsley
6. 4 Darrin Ealy
7. 2S Travis Finke
8. 8 Brian Holmes
9. 5 Jeremey Tompkins
10. 34 John Hemsted
From his row three start, Paul Halett quickly made his way to the front of the Mod Lite main event to drive away to a dominant victory in that 12-lapper. After starting in the sixth row, Mike Morrill made a strong run through traffic to come home second ahead of Joel Huggins.
Mod Lite
1. 26 Paul Hallett
2. 6 Mike Morrill
3. X50 Joel Huggins
4. 95 Mike Kennedy
5. 42X Kurt Kile
6. 0B Colby Oberembt
7. 64 Randy Bryan
8. 8M Dusty Masolini
9. 00B Michael Dominguez
10. 91 Robert Guss
Thanks to Don and Sharon Wood and Brian and Amanda Tipps for being such great hosts and for bringing Late Models back to CJ for a one-time visit this season. The four of them work their tails off to put on a show each and every week yet still manage to be some of the nicest people in racing! Thanks also to track announcer Gene Arnold for giving me some time behind the mic to call the Late Model action.
After a night off tonight, it's back to Independence tomorrow night as we work toward the final month of the season there. If you're a friend of Independence Motor Speedway on facebook, after three months of heat and last chance qualifying, today started the first of four feature events in the Fantasy Race Night of Champions. There are some loaded feature events coming up over the next few weeks so be sure to add us on facebook and play along throughout the month of August! See you at the races!
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