4/23/2019
Morton uses last-lap heroics to grab USRA B-Mod headliner; Marrant, Flood, Reed also prevail at Lucas Oil Speedway
WHEATLAND, Missouri - JC Morton used a dramatic last-lap pass Saturday night to make it two-for-two in feature victories this season in the Ozark Golf Cars USRA Modified division at Lucas Oil Speedway.
Morton slipped past Brian McGowen on the final circuit and held on to capture the
headliner of Saturday night's Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series by .459 seconds over McGowen.
Other feature winners in a program presented by OnMedia/DISH/DirecTV were Aaron Marrant (Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models), James Flood (O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks) and Robbie Reed (Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds).
Morton, of Springfield, wound up in victory lane after starting 16th. He took home $750 for the win, continue a great start to his 2019 season in defense of his track championship.
"That's a heck of a run there from 16th," an excited Morton said. "The track is pretty racy. I have to thank all my sponsors and thanks to all the fans who came out tonight. Without you, we couldn't do this on a weekly basis."
McGowen started fourth and took over the lead from pole-starting Dillon McCowan on lap six. Meanwhile, Kris Jackson advanced from seventh and into second by lap 10 with Morton moving into third by lap 16.
Morton slipped underneath Jackson on lap 20 as both gave chase to McGowen with five to go.
"With five laps to go I screwed up down here and lost like five car lengths," Morton said.
Just as it looked as if McGowen would be able to hang on, Morton worked the inside line after taking the white flag and made a low-side pass stick in turns one and two.
"When the white flag came out, at the flag stand I was going to go to the top," Morton said. "Then I said, 'no, it ain't there.' I went in there and hit the rut just right. Unbelievable. Thank the Lord."
Jackson finished third with Robert Heydenreich fourth and Andy Bryant, who started 21st, rallying for fifth.
Marrant dominates for Late Model win: Aaron Marrant started on the front row, got the jump on inside-starting Kaeden Cornell going into turn one and led all 20 laps to claim the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Model feature.
Larry Ferris finished second with Cornell third and Shane Essary fourth.
Marrant, of Richmond, Mo., started on the pole and the only obstacle to his march to victory came with two laps remaining, when Ashlee Lancaster's motor went up in smoke and brought out a caution. That wiped out Marrant's 1.5-second lead over Ferris.
But Marrant handled the restart in flawless fashion and cruised to a 2.037-second margin over Ferris to earn his first feature win of 2019.
"That was nerve-wracking," Marrant said of the caution. "I thought, 'you've got to be kidding me.' The car was awesome tonight. Everything worked out."
Flood captures Street Stocks feature: James Flood of Crane passed Cody Frazon with five laps remaining and went on to take the O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks main event.
Frazon, from Lamonte, started on the front row and paced the first 15 years though Flood and Toby Ott were pressuring him throughout. Flood made the decisive pass entering turn three on lap 15.
"Cody was real strong. I knew there was no way getting around him unless he pushed up enough and I could get under him," Flood said. "I finally got there, he gave me room and I got it done."
Flood finished 1.5 seconds clear of Ott, the week-one feature winner. Ott passed Frazon with two laps left to finish second with Frazon hanging on for third. Bob Barnett was fourth and Johnny Coats finished fifth.
Reed wires USRA Modified field: Robbie Reed started on the pole and went on to lead all 20 laps for the Pitts Homes USRA Modified feature.
"It was a good track tonight, a lot smoother than it was two weeks ago. I love coming down here," Reed said. "There's always a lot of good cars down here and good drivers."
Reed, of Mexico, Mo., finished 1.433 seconds ahead of runner-up Chase Domer with Paden Phillips taking third and Jason Pursley fourth.
The feature had five cautions and saw Darron Fuqua, the reigning USRA Modified National Champion, pulled into the infield with eight laps to go. Fuqua wound up 12th.
Next up: Round 3 of the Big Adventure Weekly Racing Series is next Saturday and it's $5 Night Presented by KY3. Tickets for all adults, seniors and youth are $5 with kids 5-and-under FREE as always. A full program with all four classes will be in action, with the O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks featured in a special 25-lap, $750-to-win main event. Gates will open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.
To inquire about tickets, VIP suites or camping, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at Nichole@LucasOilSpeedway.com.
Complete Lucas Oil Speedway event information, archived race recaps, previews and driver features, along with ticket information and 2019 schedule can be found by visiting LucasOilSpeedway.com.
Lucas Oil Speedway is located at Highways 83 and 54 in Wheatland, Missouri. A campground with shower and bathroom facilities is also available. With its entrance located just outside the pit gate this sprawling scenic camping facility will continue to enhance the racing experience at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks.
Click LucasOilSpeedway.com for more information and detailed directions to the speedway or call the Track Hotline at (417) 282-5984.
In addition, fans can get social with Lucas Oil Speedway by following @LucasSpeedway on Twitter, clicking "Like" at www.facebook.com/LucasOilSpeedway and on www.youtube.com/LucasOilSpeedway
About Lucas Oil Speedway
Lucas Oil Speedway is considered by fans, drivers and industry insiders to be one of the top five racing facilities in the nation. Located in Wheatland, Missouri, approximately an hour from Springfield, Missouri, and just an hour and a half from the Kansas City metro area, the "Diamond of Dirt Tracks" lives up to its title.
Twenty-One VIP Luxury Suites, HD Jumbo-Tron Screen, Stadium Style Musco Sports Lighting, a Bose Sound System, Go-Kart Slick Track, The Diamond Bar, Track Treasures Gift Shop, the best track food in the country and paved pits are a few of the spectacular amenities setting the Diamond of Dirt apart. This year marks the ninth season for the Liquid Quarter Mile Drag Racing Lake, "Lake Lucas." New for 2017 was all-purpose built Off Road facility featuring the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series as well as a host of other regional events.
Lucas Oil Speedway's dirt oval track plays host to some of the largest and most-popular events in the Midwest with national and regional touring series appearing frequently including: The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, POWRi Midget National Series, Lucas Oil Pro-Pulling League, United States Modified Touring Series, ASCS Sprint Cars and the Lucas Oil MLRA.
In addition to the special events, the Lucas Oil Speedway Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series features the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models, Pitts Homes USRA Modifieds, O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks and the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods.
Article Credit: Lyndal Scranton
