GAS CITY, Ind. – Thomas Meseraull earned his seventh non-winged sprint car feature victory of the season Friday night at Gas City I-69 Speedway, tying a record last accomplished by Jon Stanbrough a dozen years ago.
Andy Bishop posted his seventh win at the quarter-mile clay oval this year too. His came in the street stock feature, which carried an increased purse and a $1,200 top prize.
Chett Gehrke solidified his role as the man to beat in USAC SpeeD2 midget action at Gas City, as he remained undefeated in that series’ third appearance at Gas City so far this year.
In other action, Dylan Woodling posted his second UMP modified feature victory of the season at Gas City.
The bonus on the Headley family remains unclaimed in the hornet division, as James Headley Jr. collected his fourth feature win of the season over his father, James Headley, who has five feature triumphs at the track so far this year.
Meseraull started fourth in the 25-lap sprint feature in Tom Eades’ DRC sponsored by Physical Medicine Consultants and powered by a Stensland-prepped Chevy engine. Polesitter Dustin Smith led the first three laps before Meseraull got by him on the high side in turn two. Smith battled back in the low groove to lead lap five and six, but Meseraull powered around him on lap seven and led the rest of the way.
Meseraull was able to extend his lead, but it evaporated three times due to cautions. The first was with 12 laps down when Tyler Kendall spun in turn three; the second was with 15 laps down when Tony Main spun in turn two and Aaron Davis had a flat tire. The final yellow flew for debris with 17 laps down, but Meseraull fought off all challengers and weaved through lapped traffic to post the victory.
Smith, a two-time BOSS series champion, finished second, while Cole Ketcham placed third. Carson Short was fourth and Jarett Andretti came home fifth, right in front of Travis Hery, who was regrouping after a nasty flip here on Aug. 2.
The second half of the top 10 got scrambled on lap 24 after multiple cars made contact on the backstretch. The scuffle didn’t bring out a yellow but Matt Westfall got the worst of it, as he was running seventh but ended up in the infield as the checkered fell.
Gehrke started on the pole for the 20-lap midget feature, out-dragged Midwest Thunder point leader Aaron Leffel into turn one on the first lap, and led every lap in the No. 93C. That feature was halted with one lap down when Adam Schmenk flipped in turn two, but luckily he wasn’t hurt. The rest of the feature went non-stop, and Gehrke’s biggest challenge was getting through lapped traffic. Leffel finished second followed by Alex Watson. Stratton Briggs finished fourth and Thomas Briggs came from 11th in the 23-car field to finish fifth.
Woodling led all 20 laps of the UMP modified feature from the pole. He had a half straightaway lead over defending track champion Dillon Nusbaum when three cars crashed in turn two with eight laps down to bring out a yellow. Another yellow for Bill Griffith’s spin in turn two with 19 laps down gave his rivals one last chance, but Woodling was not to be denied. Four-time winner Derek Losh, who started seventh, passed Nusbaum with a move to the outside as they were going through turn four working lap 11 to nab the runner-up honors. Nusbaum held on for third. Tony Anderson placed fourth and Todd Sherman finished fifth.
Headley Jr. started fourth in the 15-lap hornet feature but vaulted into the lead at the start of that race. His dad started sixth but was second by lap four, and they finished in that order. There was a good fight for third. Jacob Beard eventually got that spot followed by polesitter Alyssa Clark and Randy Brommer.
Ron Flaugh and Beau Cooley led the 15-lap street stock feature before Bishop took command working lap five by slipping under Cooley in turn four after running side by side with him for awhile. Bishop went on to earn the big check with the Thompson Trucking No. 14. Cooley took second place and Flaugh finished third. Mike Fincher was fourth and Owen Wells rounded out the top five.