WARRENSBURG, Mo.—Near perfect weather combined with a multi-lane racing surface and a talented group of drivers on hand made for a classic night of action for fans in the stands who witnessed the USRA Modifieds and more compete on KRLI and KAOL Radio Night at the Central Missouri Speedway.

The USRA Modifieds competed for track points and will also compete for track and national USRA Modified points next weekend when the track hosts its annual two-day special event over the Labor Day Weekend.

In the opening USRA Modified heat, Gunner Martin of Independence rolled to his sixth heat victory by crossing the finish line in front of Tim Karrick and Brian Johnson. Jim Moody of Odessa dominated heat 2 with his fifth win of the season ahead of Jason Bodenhamer and Lewis Jackson. The final preliminary heat of the night saw Kevin Blackburn of Fulton beating Ronnie Woods and Nick Pence to the finish.

Blackburn and Martin led the field of ‘Mighty’ Modifieds to the initial green flag for the final main event of the night with previous main event winners Moody and Karrick close behind them. After a pair of early race cautions slowed the field. Jackson and Danny Scrogham were early retirees from the event.

One of the early cautions involved Johnson, who received two flat tires during the second caution flag. Johnson reported to the infield hot pit area with several crew members from various teams lending a hand to change both left side flats. Johnson made it back out in time to rejoin the field at the back of the pack when racing resumed.

For the next 10 laps drivers were able to maneuver just about anywhere they wanted in search of advancing through the field. Karrick, of Basehor, Kan., ran strong to reel in Blackburn and began pressuring him for the lead along with Moody in the early laps. Jason Bodenhamer joined the drivers up front and also began to come forward.

With Blackburn fading just a bit, both Karrick and Moody made the pass to take over first and second. Bodenhamer also shot past Blackburn making for a tight battle near the top of the running order. Terry Beckham pulled off shortly after a quick yellow flag for Steve Twenter slowed the field for a lap-12 restart. Twenter was unable to restart when racing resumed.

Karrick held the lead with Moody and Bodenhamer just behind him for the second half of the race, which was just as exciting as the first half of the event. Moody searched for a way around Karrick over the next several laps as the leaders threaded their way through some of the lapped cars.

Tim Karrick (1k) battles with Jim Moody (00) at the Central Missouri Speedway.

The top 5 wasn’t the only place for close competition though as Martin and Blackburn raced hard to stay within reach of the leaders. Woods, Kyle Covert, Pence along with Tad Davis all had solid runs inside the top 10. Later in the race, Johnson was making his way back up through the field after his earlier visit to the hot pit area. Beckham and Luke Feeback were early retirees at this point in the event.

On lap 20, Moody really began to put the pressure on Karrick for the lead but coming off turns 2 and 4 Karrick carried his strong momentum out of the turns to maintain his lead despite Moody’s repeated attempts to take command.

In the end, Karrick triumphed for his third main event win of the year and first since late spring. Moody had to settle for second on this night with Bodenhamer coming away with another solid run inside the top three. Martin held on to fourth with hard-charging Johnson making his way back to the top 5 in the closing laps for fifth. Blackburn, Woods, Pence, Davis and Covert rounded out the top 10.

One final weekend at CMS remains on the schedule as the Labor Day Weekend is fast approaching for the 2015 season two-night finale on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6. Just as its done since 1998, CMS has an exciting weekend of action planned for the holiday weekend. Several different car classes will compete throughout the two-night event.

Among the events scheduled is a pair of $1,500-to-win USRA Modified main events both nights, paying $180 just to start. Both Saturday and Sunday will be track and national points nights for the USRA Modifieds. Also on the bill throughout the weekend, ULMA Late Models join in on the action for Saturday while USRA-sanctioned B-Mods, Allstar Midgets and $750-to-win Lightning Sprints close out the weekend on Sunday.

All Labor Day Weekend information is online at www.centralmissourispeedway.net. Look for the “Labor Day Weekend Race Info Headquarters” tab from the main page. There you will find a frequently asked questions document, an event flyer, admission, race program, and payout information along with much more general information about racing on both nights.

On race day, call the Track Report Line for general information at 660-747-2166. Follow us on Twitter @CMSgoing_green. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Missouri-Speedway. CMS may also be found on Instagram.

Pit gates open at 4:30, admission gates open at 5, driver's pill draw cutoff is at 6:15 (no passing points awarded to driver if late draw), drivers meeting at 6:30, hot laps at 7 and racing at 7:30. Special event pricing is in effect for Sept. 5-6 with general admission adults $15, military/students w/ID $12, seniors 65 and over $12, kids 6 to 12 years $5 and all children 5 and under free. Permanently confined to wheelchair are also free. All weekly racing pit passes are $35. On race day call the track report line at 660-747-2166.

CMS is located just past the round-a-bout on Hwy 13 three and a half miles north of Warrensburg, Missouri from the junction of Highways 50 and 13. From the Interstate 70 Higginsville/Warrensburg Hwy 13 exit, the track is located 12.5 miles south on Hwy 13.

CMS thanks its primary sponsors for their support this season! Cliff Harris Warrensburg Ford, Budweiser, KMZU 100.7 FM, Sunoco Race Fuels, Pepsi, KMMO FM 102.9, Midwest Coatings, Better Country KIX 105.7 FM, Comfort Inn Warrensburg Station, 610 Sports Radio Kansas City, KRLI FM 103.9 & KAOL 101.3 FM The Grenade, Heartland Waste, and 'Today's New Hit Country' 95.3 FM KDKD.

This year’s list of outstanding business partners includes: Victory Trophies & Plaques, Roundabout Café, Batliner Recycling, RockAuto.com, DQ Grill & Chill of Warrensburg, Blue Springs Chiropractic, Economy Lumber, Brooks Automotive LLC, Kleinschmidt's Western Store, OK Tire Stores, Eickleberry Concrete & Construction, Finish Line Performance, Wolf Tire Service, Rod End Supply, JA Performance and Outdoor Services, Seeburg Mufflers, RockAuto.com, and RacinDirt.com.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
USRA Weekly Racing Series
Central Missouri Speedway, Warrensburg, Mo.
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature:
1. 1k Tim Karrick, Basehor, Kan.
2. 00 Jim Moody, Odessa
3. 03 Jason Bodenhamer, Centerview
4. 75 Gunner Martin, Blue Springs
5. 97k Brian Johnson, Independence
6. 26k Kevin Blackburn, Fulton
7. 53 Ronnie Woods, Mexico
8. 32p Nick Pence, Raymore
9. 75b Tad Davis, Mount Hope, Kan.
10. 7d7 Kyle Covert, Topeka, Kan.
11. 14 Kyle Graves, Fulton
12. 00p Justin Plumb, Peculiar
13. 22x Luke Feeback, Harrisonville
14. 209 Josiah Stephens, Grain Valley
15. 118 Terry Beckham II, Webb City
16. 23 Steve Twenter, Sedalia
17. 3j Lewis Jackson, Wellsville, Kan.
18. 92 Danny Scrogham, Peculiar
DNS - 30 Dalton Kirk, Edgerton, Kan.