By Bryan Hulbert (Osborn, MO) -- Holding off an onslaught of challenges through traffic, Matt Covington rolled into SawBlade.com Victory Lane at U.S. 36 Raceway with the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network.
PHOTO CREDIT: John Lee of High-Fly'n Photos -- http://www.highfly-nphotos.com
“It got pretty hairy in traffic. Even showing the right rear to a few guys, they weren’t going to give an inch, so I felt like I had to earn everything. A few times, Garet could have easily forced me off the top of the backstretch, but he left me room, and I appreciate that. A few guys wouldn’t do that, but that’s what a clean racer does. He did me right and raced me,” stated Covington when asked about the close battle with the No. 24 through traffic.
The win is Covington’s first at U.S. 36 Raceway and 12th overall in National Tour competition while moving him to within 18 points of the championship point’s lead.
Rolling to the green from the pole position, Covington would fall to second on the start as Garet Williamson took command from the right of the front row. Setting a torrid pace into traffic on Lap 5, the slower cars allowed Covington to close and finally overtake the Mid-Mo Equipment No. 24 on Lap 8.
Getting some breathing room over the No. 24, the gap was short-lived as traffic brought Williamson, Hickle, and eventually Hahn into the mix.
Three wide for the runner-up spot on Lap 17, Williamson held the runner-up spot. Taking a shot at the lead, Covington used slower cars as picks, with Hickle and Hahn both looking for a path to the lead. Working Lap 19, the leaders raced into the third and fourth turns only to be greeted by a pair of flipped cars. Scrambling to avoid, Hickle was not able to avoid and ended up going for a ride. Following a trip to the work area, the No. 63 was able to continue.
Back to green, the A-Rock Material No. 95 rolled into traffic just as red lights came on again for Jason Martin, who had been running fourth.
Setting up a green, white, checkered finish, Covington dashed to a 0.940-second advantage at the checkered flag. Posting his best career finish in National Tour competition, Garet Williamson held on for second over Blake Hahn, who climbed through the field from the 12th starting spot. Posting her first career top-five finish, Canada’s Alex Hill made up three positions to finish fourth, with Oklahoma’s Brandon Anderson in fifth.
Up eight spots, Nebraska’s Joey Danley crossed sixth with Miles Paulus seventh. Able to rebound, J.J. Hickle raced back to eighth, with Trevor Grossenbacher and Jay Russell completing the top ten.
The field of 24 teams was split into a trio of SCE Gaskets Heat Races, with wins going to Jay Russell, Garet Williamson, and Jason Martin. Everyone qualified for the A-Feature.
The next event for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network kicks off the Lucas Oil ASCS Sizzlin’ Summer Sprint Week powered by Smiley’s Racing Products at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis, Ark. on Thursday, July 22.
The 2021 season is the 30th year of competition for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network.
For the first time, the series can be seen live on two platforms, with Racinboys.com and FloRacing.com featuring National Tour events in tandem. Both are subscription-based sites. FloRacing.com is $20 per month, billed annually at $150 per year. Racinboys.com is $29.99 per month.
For other news, notes, and information on the American Sprint Car Series, from the National Tour to any of the Regional Tours that make up ASCS Nation in 2021, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com, follow on Facebook, on Instagram, and Twitter (@LucasOilASCS).
Race Results:
Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour
ASCS Warrior Region
U.S. 36 Raceway (Osborn, Mo.)
Friday, July 16, 2021
Car Count: 24
SCE Gaskets Heat Races (Everyone advances to the A-Feature)
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 76-Jay Russell[1]; 2. 95T-Trevor Grossenbacher[4]; 3. 77X-Alex Hill[5]; 4. 21-Gunner Ramey[6]; 5. 14-Joey Danley[7]; 6. (DNF) 11-Austin O'Neal[2]; 7. (DNF) 28-Scott Bogucki[3]; 8. (DNS) 19-Colby Thornhill
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 24-Garet Williamson[4]; 2. 55B-Brandon Anderson[2]; 3. 95-Matt Covington[6]; 4. 47X-Dylan Westbrook[5]; 5. 91-Adam Gullion[1]; 6. 2-Chase Porter[8]; 7. 11C-Colton Fisher[3]; 8. 22S-Slater Helt[7]
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 82-Jason Martin[2]; 2. 17B-Ryan Bickett[1]; 3. 63-JJ Hickle[5]; 4. 98P-Miles Paulus[4]; 5. 52-Blake Hahn[6]; 6. 92J-JR Topper[3]; 7. 88-Travis Reber[7]; 8. 3Z-Zach Davis[8]
Sawblade.com A-Feature
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. 95-Matt Covington[1]; 2. 24-Garet Williamson[2]; 3. 52-Blake Hahn[12]; 4. 77X-Alex Hill[7]; 5. 55B-Brandon Anderson[6]; 6. 14-Joey Danley[14]; 7. 98P-Miles Paulus[11]; 8. 63-JJ Hickle[5]; 9. 95T-Trevor Grossenbacher[3]; 10. 76-Jay Russell[8]; 11. 17B-Ryan Bickett[9]; 12. 22S-Slater Helt[23]; 13. 2-Chase Porter[15]; 14. 11C-Colton Fisher[21]; 15. 92J-JR Topper[17]; 16. 82-Jason Martin[4]; 17. (DNF) 47X-Dylan Westbrook[13]; 18. (DNF) 11-Austin O'Neal[18]; 19. (DNF) 21-Gunner Ramey[10]; 20. (DNF) 88-Travis Reber[19]; 21. (DNF) 91-Adam Gullion[16]; 22. (DNF) 3Z-Zach Davis[22]; 23. (DNS) 28-Scott Bogucki; 24. (DNS) 19-Colby Thornhill
Lap Leader(s):Garet Williamson 1-7; Matt Covington 8-25
Hard Charger: Slater Helt +11
High Point Driver: Garet Williamson
Provisional(s): N/A
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By Rick Staley (Osborn, MO) -- IMCA Stock Cars as always would put on an epic performance as we have come to expect. Action would be three and four wide even five wide at times with all vying for that coveted win. In a caution free feature, heat race winner Shadren Turner from St Joe, MO would battle an amazingly fast Carson Masoner #20X as they would battle side by side for the front. Turner, using only three wheels the entire race would charge past Masoner and lead flag to flag claiming his first IMCA Stock Car Victory. Heat winner Masoner Would have to settle for second as #17X Turner would not be denied. Third, fourth and fifth would not be decided until the closing laps as #34X of Mich Ross would charge from the back of the pack along with Conner Masoner #47X to do battle with week one feature winner Brian Labonte #99. As the laps wound down, Ross would muscle his way to 3rd, followed closely by Masoner in fourth and the always fast Labonte in fifth.
Pure Stock Feature Winner #24 Jimmie Workman from Concordia, MO!!!
Pure Stock would see a first time winner on the high banks of US 36 Raceway in 2021. Gracie Couch #53 and George Bruning would use front row starting spots to set a blistering pace for the other drivers to match in the early laps, Gracie would get out front and say, boys, catch me if you can and lead several laps until Colton Couch #13X would wrestle the lead away. As the two Couch’s would battle up front Darrion McLaughlin #38D and Jimmie Workman would work their way to the front dealing with traffic all the time. Workman #24 would use the high line to perfection passing three front runners at once to take the lead moving Colton and Gracie Couch to battle for second place. We would see no caution in the feature as Gracie Couch would challenge Workman numerous times and hold off the fast Colton couch creating action like none other. Workman would not miss a beat and run a perfect line claiming the checkers on this night of racing action to celebrate in Lake Road Warehouse Victory Lane, Gracie Couch would place a close second, Colton Couch third, Tyler Starmer fourth and George Bruning #B5 rounding out the night’s top five.
US 36 Raceway would like to congratulate the Pure Stocks and IMCA Stock Cars as both classes would go caution free on the night. Special Thanks to Bill’s Camper Sales in St Joe, MO for their sponsorship of the night’s racing action. A special thanks to you the fans coming out and making it a great night of racing and family fun!!!!
IMCA STOCK CAR
A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 17X-Shadren Turner[3]; 2. 20X-Carson Masoner[2]; 3. 34X-Mich Ross[10]; 4. 47X-Connor Masoner[6]; 5. 99-Brian Labonte[7]; 6. 91-Brad labonte[8]; 7. 29X-Nate Barnes[12]; 8. 2X-Ricky Bobby[1]; 9. 292-Blake Peeler[11]; 10. 21A-Aaron Sauter[9]; 11. 26-Anthony Whitham[5]; 12. 29D-Greg Deters[14]; 13. 82-Peter Stodgel[13]; 14. 12X-Matthew Lance[4]
Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 17X-Shadren Turner[2]; 2. 2X-Ricky Bobby[1]; 3. 99-Brian Labonte[4]; 4. 26-Anthony Whitham[3]; 5. 21A-Aaron Sauter[5]; 6. 292-Blake Peeler[6]; 7. 82-Peter Stodgel[7]
Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 20X-Carson Masoner[1]; 2. 12X-Matthew Lance[2]; 3. 91-Brad labonte[4]; 4. 34X-Mich Ross[6]; 5. 47X-Connor Masoner[3]; 6. 29X-Nate Barnes[5]; 7. 29D-Greg Deters[7]
PURE STOCK
A Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. 24-Jimmie Workman[8]; 2. 53-Gracie Couch[4]; 3. 13X-Colton Couch[6]; 4. 11S-Tyler Starmer[7]; 5. B5-George Bruning[1]; 6. 27H-Brandon Hoover[9]; 7. 32R-Evan Rhea[3]; 8. 38D-Darrion Mclaughlin[10]; 9. 23E-Eric Eaton II[5]; 10. M4-Mike Miller[12]; 11. 26-LeeAnn Millard[2]; 12. 72-Danny O'Doniel[11]; 13. 21-Joey Chadwick[14]; 14. 017-WADE JOHNSON[13]
Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 11S-Tyler Starmer[5]; 2. 53-Gracie Couch[3]; 3. 13X-Colton Couch[4]; 4. 27H-Brandon Hoover[6]; 5. 26-LeeAnn Millard[2]; 6. 72-Danny O'Doniel[7]; 7. 017-WADE JOHNSON[1]
Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 24-Jimmie Workman[5]; 2. 38D-Darrion Mclaughlin[6]; 3. 32R-Evan Rhea[2]; 4. B5-George Bruning[1]; 5. 23E-Eric Eaton II[3]; 6. M4-Mike Miller[4]; 7. 21-Joey Chadwick[7]