Schrader Welcomes In New Era of Weekly Racing at Sedalia

Weekly racing action returned to the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia Friday night with Ken Schrader, Jeremy Payne and Randy Martin taking opening night victories.

After running three shows in conjunction with the USMTS this would be the first stand-alone event for the new Mid-America Modified Series (MAMS) and the thirty-five car Modified field would serve as the headliners tonight. Jeremy Payne and Ken Schrader lined up on the front row for the twenty-five-lap main event with Schrader riding the cushion off of turn two on the opening lap to take the lead. Dustin Boney who started right behind Schrader moved past Payne in three and four to take up the chase of the leader before the caution waved on lap four. On the restart Boney nosed ahead of Schrader in turn two, but the former NASCAR Cup star came right back on the outside down the backstretch and regained the lead into turn three.

Another caution waved on lap ten and on this restart Mark Dotson moved by Boney to second and tried to keep pace with Schrader. Yet another caution flew on lap fifteen and with the double-file restart Boney was able to again move into the second spot. This time though he was unable to keep up with Schrader who pulled away over the final ten circuits to take the win. Boney and Dotson were second and third respectively, Payne finished fourth and Chad Lyle, who pitted twice under caution, rallied to take fifth. Sixth through tenth went to Jesse Stovall, Brian Bolin, Curt Rackers, Danny Crane and Johnny Fennewald.

Ken Schrader held off Dustin Boney for the MAMS feature victory - Barry Johnson photo

Twenty-one Late Models were up next for what I believe was to be a twenty-five lap event, but a pair of spectacular incidents on the frontstretch shortened the event to just fourteen laps. This one got off to a tough start when outside front row starter Jeremy Payne got on the gas well before pole-sitter Bryon Allison did. Flagman Herschel Thompson had already turned the yellow on for a false start when Allison spun in turn one and slapped the guardrail collecting Terry Phillips. The damage put Allison on the hook while Phillips was able to start once again in eighth. Bryan Collins assumed the pole position for the next try at a start, but this time Payne held back and again the start was called back. The third time was a charm as we stayed green and Payne charged to the front with Collins in tow. After a caution waved on lap five, all hell broke loose on the ensuing restart.

With the double-file realignment things stacked up mid-pack sending Larry D. Clawson spinning down the frontsretch just past the flagstand. Drivers scrambled trying to avoid slamming into Clawson, with Bob Cummings jumping the inside guardrail, before being retained by the chain link fence as pit spectators scrambled to get out of the way. Zach Simmons was also caught up in the mess and his night was done as well. During the long delay it was announced that the race would now be cut to a fifteen-lap distance. When the green reappeared it was Al Purkey who moved into second and he tried to keep the leader Payne within striking distance. With five to go it was obvious that Purkey was slowing down as he had picked up some mud in his right rear wheel causing quite a vibration. As Purkey took the white flag he suddenly veered to the left and he too launched over the inside guardrail before taking out about twenty yards of the chain link fence. Thank goodness that none of the pit area spectators were standing along that fence, perhaps due to the earlier incident! After using two wreckers to lift Purkey’s car back onto the frontstretch it was announced that this race had reached its time limit so the checkers waved and the field was sent to the infield. Payne would be the winner, Collins the runner-up and Phillips, despite the right side body damage that he incurred on the first start, would finish third. Larry Clawson would be credited with fourth, David Turner fifth and the rest of the top ten was Dave Meyer, Billy Koons, Chris Smyser, Brett Wood and Bob Test.

Jeremy Payne cruised to victory in the Late Model division - Barry Johnson photo

The Sprint Cars would close out the night, but the start of their feature was delayed briefly when pole starter Justyn Cox experienced problems even before the field tried to take the green. With Cox unable to go Terry Hinck would move up next to Randy Martin for the start, but when the green flag waved Martin was gone. Brian Brown was able to close within striking distance as Martin negotiated traffic, but was never able to mount a real challenge as Martin cruised to a non-stop fifteen-lap victory. Jonathan Cornell fought off Jesse Hockett to finish third while Rusty Potter was the only other driver to stay on the lead lap in fifth. Unofficially sixth through tenth were Hinck, Mike Trent, Austin Alumbaugh, Jon Corbin and Cody Forshee. Randy Martin went flag-to-flag for the checkers in the Sprint Car division - Barry Johnson photo

MSFS Notes……Along with the 35 Modifieds and 21 Late Models there were 14 Sprint Cars in attendance in front of a solid opening night crowd…..Terry Phillips had a tough night in turn one on the opening lap of his four events. In the incident in the Late Model main he was a victim, but in the Modified it was Phillips who would spin and collect others. In his heat Terry got sideways in turn one and collected Kevin Blackburn although both drivers were able to complete the race. And in the first B-Main again Phillips pitched his Mod sideways in turn one and this time several cars including John Allen, Matt Dotson and Jamie Ragland piled into his #75. Both Phillips and Ragland rode the hook into the pits while Allen and Dotson were able to restart from the rear…..With five laps remaining in that Modified B, John Allen’s left front tie rod broke and he was somehow able to muscle it the rest of the way to claim the sixth and final transfer position…..A-Mod rookie Mickey Burrell passed Dennis Walrath late for the final transfer out of the second B-Main…..Two time defending All Missouri Modified Points champion Tim Setzer was running fourth in the feature event before a plume of smoke emerged from his #51 with three laps to run…..The first heat race of the new era of weekly racing at Sedalia took the green at 8:30 and the final checkers waved at 11:55……Promoters Jason Bodenhammer and Reid Millard have done a nice job of selling sponsorships for just about everything involved with the events and the facility. It was the first time that I have ever heard of the bathrooms being sponsored with All Star Bail Bonds taking that title. Goody’s Steakburgers stays open late to feed hungry race fans and we are glad that they did as the food was excellent…..Weekly racing continues on Friday nights in Sedalia and the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars will be here on Wednesday June 16th…….Fellow PR.com blogger Barry Johnson was here as well and will likely have pictures from Sedalia on “Running the High Side” in the near future.