CALIFORNIA, Mo. — Sunday night brought a different type of thunder to Double X Speedway as the track hosted the third annual Jason Russell Memorial Race which featured a $2,502 winner’s share in the late model division.
Heat race winners Todd McCoin and Mike Striegel lined up side by side on the front row for the main event. With the drop of the green flag McCoin was motor into the lead with second row starter Justin Wells following him past Striegel into second.
The field would settle in with McCoin setting the pace and Wells staying within striking distance. As the laps clicked by the lead duo would negotiate lapped traffic with McCoin maintaining the point and Wells making his presence known every lap or so.
As the white flag was waving Wells was able to exit turn four on the low side of the leaders McCoin and complete the pass as the duo raced through turns one and two. Exiting turn two Wells would clear McCoin and take the victory in the feature.
Following Wells and McCoin over the stripe were Mike Striegel in third, Justin Russell in fourth and Chris Hawkins would come home in fifth.
With 17 cars on hand for the super stock feature, Jeff Miller claimed the victory over Ted Welschmeyer.
The winged sprint cars were the final feature event on the card and Broc Elliott and Jack Wagner brought the field to the green flag.
Elliott would shoot to the lead with fourth starting Korey Bales moving past Wagner into second. Elliott was running consistent laps and holding the point. Bales was also turning very consistent laps and gaining on the leader.
As these two were waging battle there was a train with a head of steam rolling up from the ninth starting place. Tyler Blank moved into third with about ten laps to go and closed on the lead duo with about five to go.
After dispatching Bales, Blank pulled to the rear of Elliott’s No. 00 sprinter. Broc Elliott did what he could to protect the high line that he knew Blank can run so well. On lap 23 Elliott went into turn one with Blank in tow, as the leaders reached turn 2 Blank turned underneath Elliott and made the winning pass as they reached the back straightaway.
Following Blank in first, Elliott in second, Korey Bales would complete his strong run in third, Jack Wagner was fourth and Chris Morgan would come from tailback to fifth at the finish.