5th Annual KingOf Compacts A Success At MRP

The annual www.thedrc.net night at the races was one of the most anticipated nights on the racing schedule for 2014 and it didn’t disappoint those in attendance. With 38 front wheel drive compacts in attendance and the use of passing points in the heat races there was lots of action to take in. In heat race #1 it was Crittenden,Ky’s Jerry “Rooster” Gibson Jr jumping to the lead early and cruising to the victory while Jeffersonville,Ohio’s Brad Miller would charge forward from his 7th starting spot to claim the win in heat #2. Heat #3 would see Burlington,Ky’s Ryan Eversole take the win while Bloomington,Indiana’s Greg Garrison would take the checkers in heat #4. In the Alsip Masonry Dash for the top six in heat race points it was the “Rooster” taking the win and the $200. B-mains were won by Kevin Penick and Rex Smith Jr. while Drew Thiel won the Diamond Cut Lawn Care “Best of the Rest” race for non qualifiers. In the feature event not only was $1,000 on the line for the winner but lead lap money for ever lap as well as the prestige and honor of being known as a “King”. At the drop of the green flag it was the “Rooster” jumping out front with TJ Dalton in pursuit. The Dillard Media Caution flag would wave on lap #3 as TJ Dalton would get into turn 2 wall and slow. On the restart it was still Gibson Jr out front with Eversole and Garrison in tow. Lap 8 would see a brief red flag as Dustin Pucket Jr. would roll over on the front stretch and would attempt to drive away. Following the red flag it was much of the same as the Endurance Motorsports G1 machine would be on cruise control and set sail for the checkered flag only to be derailed by a last lap caution as Clyde Pack lost a wheel in turn #4 and would come to a stop in a dangerous spot. On the restart Jerry Gibson Jr would go on to claim the title of “King Rooster” and become the fifth different winner in the prestigious event. Eversole would claim second with Garrison, Billy Gibson, and Richard Dalton completing the top five spots.

In the Mt Orab Ford Late Model feature it was a hammer down race track and with 16 cars it was an exciting race with Roger Ruark and Chad Stapleton on the front row and the two drivers would trade the lead 3 times in the first two laps. The caution would wave on lap #6 and on the restart it was Ruark breaking and turning the lead over to Stapleton. Virginia’s Walker Arthur would pressure Stapleton but after a few laps “Captain Chaos” would cruise to his second feature win of the season in his Barry Wright Racecar with sponsorship from Rightway Construction, K&L Machine, 31 Auto Group, Brian Bowman Dodge. Arthur would come home second with John Whitney Jr.,Kellen Kenneda, and Joel Ortberg completing top five spots.

In the UMP Modifieds there were 24 cars on hand and a stout field of drivers trying to claim the Varistee Screenprinting feature event. Heat races were won by Matt Westfall of Pleasant Hill, Ohio, Dan Ebert of Lake Shore,Minnesota and Jimmy Lennex Jr of Maysville,Ky. In the B-main event it was Patrick Alcorn claiming the win. In the feature event it was Westfall out front with Ebert in close pursuit. A great battle for third spot between Adam Stricker and Dave McWilliams would last the whole race as well. In the end Ebert would break with a couple of laps remaining as Westfall would claim his first win at MRP in his Best Performance Motorsports, Bulk Material Lift.com, State Farm Insurance sponsored machine. Stricker would claim second spot with McWilliams, KC Burdette (14 starting spot), and Davey Warnock completing the top five spots.

The Diamond Cut Lawn Care Sport Mod Division would once again see Mitchell Fields Jr claiming his fourth win in only four visits on the season. Fields would pass Eric Berry on lap 3 and never be challenged the rest of the way in claiming the victory. Derek Richmond would come home third with Bert Crawford and Andy Trout completing the top five.

In the Tarvin Auto Service Chevette division is was former track champion Miles Tarvin returning to the track for only the second time on the season and he would pass point leader Rusty Yarger on lap 6 to claim his second win on the season. Sean Jones would come home third with Kyle Tarvin and Mike Clark finishing in the top five positions.