Good, Good Competition at May Valley Speedway

By Gloria Woller

August 29, 2003

August 16 Race Results

"It was hot….it was windy…and the moisture evaporated, but the race track stayed in pretty good shape," stated track promoter Don Woller. At 7 p.m., Grand Marshal Michael Spady started the show by saying, "Start your engines!"

The Super Stocks were ready and eager to get the green flag. Starting the evening’s program #86 Justen Beakley took the lead early winning the first Heat Race. Heat #2 was a neck and neck battle between #6 Joe Shoup and #68 Brad Hopkins swapping leads with Hopkins regaining the lead out of turn four as the crowd cheered.

Hobby Truck #43 Cameron Austin took the lead and held onto it all the way to the checkered as #7 Brad Westphal and #92 Keith Eldon Nidey had a close race for second. Westphal took second in Heat #1. In Heat #2 is was side by side, #90 "Papa" Nidey and #80 Reese Spady raced lap after lap with the win going to #90 Keith Nidey.

Next up were the Econos. #20 Brock Hall was the winner with #73 Justin Rainwater in second for Heat #1. In Heat #2, John Welch #2lead the pack several laps until #22 Doug Lapar from Springfield, driving his new Chevy race car, came creeping up and took over the lead. #2 John Welch pitted a few laps later in a cloud of smoke when his transmission called it quits.

By now the Mini Stocks were buzzing. #29 Shawn Lopez got the lead but not by much. #7 Steve Hernandez was right on his bumper. Halfway, Hernandez passed Lopez for the lead coming out of turn #2 to take the win. Lopez settled for second place. Next Heat, points leader #41 Marco Macias lead all the way for the win, however, the race was between #40 Park Hawkins and #3 Jared Hays for second place. At the finish, Hays was second.

Hobby Stocks were given the green flag and had the fans cheering as #20 Shawn Salisbury, #2 Phillip Munoz, #24 eth Salisbury, and #90 Jimmy Jenkins kept bunched all together in a great race. #2 Phillip Munoz was the winner and #24 Set Salisbury barely in second.

The second Hobby Stock Heat, #30 Al Rodi led and #64 driven by Ray Coberly brought the first yellow of the evening in a crash. #19 Keith Stegman was the winner with #27 Russ Anderson from Holly in second.

Since this was "Fun Night" at May Valley Speedway the next five races would replace the Cash Dash. The Australian Pursuit Race. Drivers drew a pill determining their line up. Single file. Once a car is totally passed it is out of the race. The purse was doubled and paid the first 3 places. Now….a fast, furious, frantic 6 or 7 lap race to witness first hand. The Super Stock winner was #86 Justen Beakley, #6 Joe Shoup in second, and #5 Andy Woller in third. Hobby Trucks winner was #92 Keith Eldon Nidey, #43 Cameron Austin in second, and #80 Reese Spady in 3^rd. As the fans were on their feet cheering, #20 Brock Hall was the winner in the Econo Class with #73 Justin Rainwater second and #77 Dan Dewey in third. The Mini Stocks really got after it. #3 Jared Hays was the winner, #41 Marco Macias placed second, and #1 Jeremiah Apple in third. The Hobby Stock Australian Pursuit had to be restarted three times. The second time #50 driven by Kirk Osban hit the wall in turn 3 demolishing the car. Kirk was shaken but was uninjured. The third start was a success. #97 Jimmy Jenkins was the winner, #20 Shawn Salisbury took second, and #2 Phillip Munoz finished third.

The Jr. Fan Club kids sent their shoes flying everywhere in the "Shoe Kick" event during intermission. In the 6-9 age group, Kyle Dupre was first with Brison Crow in second. In the 10-13 age group, first place went to Eric Herrington and second to Andy Egley. After the "Shoe Kick" event, the Jr. Fan Club kids got to play in the Lamar Police Car and receive many D.A.R.E. prizes during "D.A.R.E. Night" presented by Officer JoAnn Padia instructor for the Lamar Police Department D.A.R.E. program.

The Super Stock 25 lap feature race was awesome, bumper to bumper, 3-wide in a start to finish race. It was great, clean driving by everyone. What a race!! #2 Angel Munoz was first to the checkered, #68 Brad Hopkins from Eads came in second, #44 Max Butner in third, and #67 Jeff Woller from Springfield came in fourth.

The Hobby Truck feature race was hard on race trucks. #92 Keith Eldon Nidey’s truck proceeded o swap ends. After a restart after lap one, #53 Shawn Mason from Vilas spun in turn 2, #7 Brad Westphal of Springfield crashed hard into Mason putting both race trucks out for the night. Undefeated #43 Cameron Austin was the winner. One truck length behind for second place was #8 Dale Davis, #90 Keith Nidey took 3^rd ahead of #92 Keith Eldon Nidey in fourth.

More fun at May Valley Speedway was the "Leman’s Start" for the Econo Class’s Main Event. All cars were parked by the billboards and the drivers and co-drivers got out and were introduced in front of the stands. The fans counted down and the drivers ran across the track, dove into their race cars, buckled up and off racing they went. #73 Justin Rainwater was first out with #20 Brock Hall right on his heels. Following many spinout, #73 Justin Rainwater was the winner followed by #8 Eric Smith. #20 Brock Hall took third and #90 Mark Henz came in fourth.

Twelve Mini Stocks had a good race with lots of action. #3 Jared Hays was smiling big as he took the checkered for his win. #13 Nick Squire from Syracuse drove a good race for second place. #7 Steve Hernandez was 3^rd and barely ahead of #29 Shawn Lopez.

The last race for the evening was the Hobby Stock Main Event. After a yellow to catch a run-away tire flowing a few wrecks and several spins, #2 Phillip Munoz was the winner at 10:20pm. Keith Stegman #19 was right on his bumper for second, #20 Shawn Salisbury finished third ahead of \his brother #24 Seth Salisbury who came from dead last to finish fourth.

It was a great night of racing. May Valley Speedway will take two weeks off and will have the last points race season championship on September 6^th along with the BIG Jr. Fan Club drawing for lots of nice prizes.