MRP Season Opener Featured American Modified Series

The best open wheel modified series in the Midwest was the feature event in the season opening event at Moler Raceway Park. While mother nature threatened all week she would not ruin the opening event of the season. In qualifications it was Devin Gilpin of Columbus, Indiana taking the fast qualifier award in his Dasco Race Supply, Blondies Pizzaria, Bane Logging racecar with a lap of 13.73. In heat race action it was Maysville,Ky’s Jimmy Lennox taking heat race #1 while Forest, Illinois driver Jeff Curl would win heat race #2. Gilpin would win heat #3 while Hanover, Indiana driver Joey Kramer was victorious in heat #4. In the feature event it was Lennox and Gilpin on front row and “kid Dasco” would jump to the top spot in turn #1. Kramer would make quick work of Lennox to take over second spot and immediately put pressure on Gilpin. A lap 8 restart would see Kramer take the top spot from Gilpin only to see the caution come out and revert back to last completed lap putting Gilpin back out front. Lap #13 would see the demise of Kramer as he had mechanical problems that would bring out another caution. On the restart it was Brandon Green in second position but to no avail as the two time defending UMP national Champion Gilpin would go on to claim another win at MRP. Green would come home second with Curl, Travis Dickson, and Adam Stricker rounding out top five spots.

The Mt Orab Ford Late Model division would see 15 cars on hand and it was Edinburgh, Indiana’s Chad Stapleton and Evans, WV driver Chris Garnes taking heat race wins and setting the starting lineup for the feature. In the 25 lap A-main it was a struggle to get the race started as initially 3rd place starter Mike Unger spun going into turn #1 causing a restart and then on the ensuing restart Joe Brewer and Joe Ramey made contact and got stuck together at the start finish line bringing another restart attempt. The third restart would be no better as Ethan Burgess would end up backwards in turn #1 causing the field the restart in single file order for start attempt #4. Once the green flag flew they quickly went 3 wide through turn two with Stapleton, Garnes, and Bill Sheets top to bottom of race track. Sheets and Garnes would make contact causing both to turn sideways but the race action stayed green. On lap two Sheets would abruptly turn right and hit the turn 4 wall bringing out yet another caution. On the restart it was still Stapleton out front with Garnes in tight pursuit but the driver on the mover was young Ethan Burgess who had restarted the race from last position and was charging through the field. Lap #10 would see Garnes finally take over the top spot from Stapleton with Burgess on the bumper of both drivers. Garnes in his TriCounty Builders,Weekley Electric, Poskes Performance Swartz machine would take home his first ever win at MRP. Burgess would come home in second spot followed by Stapleton, Mike Meyers, and Billy Gullion.

In the Chevette division it was once again Rusty Yarger in his Wilson Body Shop, Weaver’s Garage sponsored machine taking both the heat race and the feature win in his #22 machine. Jeff Watson (back behind the wheel after a 1 ½ year layoff came home second after a great battle with Josh Francis. Kyle Tarvin finished in 4th spot with Mike Clark coming home in fifth.

In the Diamond Cut Lawn Care Sport Modifieds there were two new machines in attendance for the new class and it was Flemingsburg, Ky’s Brad McGlone taking the win over Maysville, Ky’s Chris Shelton.

In the Crazy Compact division there was a nice field of cars on hand and it was Franklin, Indiana youngster Keegan Cox taking his first heat win in race #1 while Independence, Ky’s Stephanie Butler was victorious in heat #2. In the feature event it was Cox out front early but it was TJ Dalton taking over the top spot on lap #2 with brother Justin Dalton in pursuit with Butler in 3rd spot. Eighth place starter Jerry Gibson III was on the move and has worked his way to second by lap #7. On a restart on lap #8 Gibson would take over the top spot and go on to take yet another win at MRP in his Endurance Motorports, Brewer’s Auto Body,A1 Auto Body, Bill’s Auto Service sponsored machine. Bainbridge, Ohio’s Rex Smith Jr would get past TJ Dalton for second position on the final lap while Tony Reed and Justin Dalton would round out the top five spots.