Green, Comer take USRA features on Watson Metals Masters Night at Springfield Raceway

Two first-time Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series winners topped the race card Saturday night at the Springfield Raceway as Watson Metal Masters Night presented the race program. Brian Green topped the USRA Modified feature and Joplin's Justin Comer fended off a strong field of Out-Pace USRA B-Mods.

In USRA Modified action, Scotty Allen brought the pack to the green flag with Green on his outside. Allen, making his first start this season, took the opening spot with Green riding the top groove. Allen slowed as the flywheel hub broke, ending his hopes for a win. Green, who had won the qualifying heat but was second to Allen in passing points, was looking strong up front.

James Thompson, a winner this season in his Hayden Machinery No. 11T, found the low groove to his liking as he began to reel in Green while the fight for the third spot had Jim Body, points leader Jody Tillman, Andrew Smith and Mickey Burrell in a dog fight for the spot.

Up front, Thompson closed the ground on Green at the halfway point. Two laps later, Green moved up just a bit in the top lane and found a sweet spot which allowed him to pull away to record his first win of the season with Thompson, eighth-starting Body, Smith and Burrell completing the top five.

This was the last track points race for the USRA Modifieds with Tillman taking home the season title with Thompson a solid second in the standings.

In Out-Pace USRA B-Mod action, points runner-up Comer took advantage of his pole position and then had to fend off Sam Petty and Rex Merritt to grab his first feature win at Springfield and second USRA win of the season.

Comer and Aaron Scroggins brought the 20-car field to the green with Comer taking the point early with Scroggins riding the top line and three-wide action behind. A lap-2 caution waved as Kelly Hicks, Tyler Knudtson and Andy Beauchamp slowed the pace with all three drivers able to compete.

On the restart, Comer held the middle groove strong as Petty and Merritt were coming quickly while three-wide action kept everyone watching all over the track. With a long green flag run, "B" feature transfer Lexy Van Zandt was coming forward to getting within the top five, however got too tight in turn 4 and spun to the infield and ending her strong charge.

Comer was getting to the tail end of the pack by lap 15 of the 20-lap feature with some very quick cars in front. This allowed Petty and Merritt to close ground on the leader to within three car lengths. With the leaders heading for the checkered, Beauchamp went around in turn 4 right in front of the top three as they darted quickly with Comer grabbing the win followed by Petty, Merritt, "B" feature winner Derek Watson and Scroggins completing the top five with 16 of the 20 starters completing the lead lap with only one caution.

Heat race wins went to Scroggins, Sawyer Crigler, Knudtson and Comer.

Action continues next Saturday, Aug. 25, with the season championships for the Out-Pace USRA B-Mods. Late Models, Pure Stocks, Midwest Modz and Legends complete the action-packed race program with racing at 7:30 p.m.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
Springfield Raceway, Springfield, Mo.
Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018

Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number and driver.

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature:
1. (2) 40G Brian Green
2. (3) 11T James Thompson
3. (8) 71 Jim Body
4. (4) 49S Andrew Smith
5. (6) 73 Mickey Burrell
6. (5) 85 Jody Tillman
7. (1) 12 Scotty Allen
8. (7) 35 Jerry Lankton

OUT-PACE USRA B-MODS

"A" Feature:
1. (1) 112 Justin Comer
2. (5) 9 Sam Petty
3. (7) 25M Rex Merritt
4. (15) 5W Derek Watson
5. (2) 1/4 Aaron Scroggins
6. (6) 11 Sawyer Crigler
7. (19) 32M Michael Foster
8. (16) 34M Kaden Miller
9. (10) 44 Gene Siso
10. (12) 10 Russell Niehoff
11. (9) 55B Bill Schahuber
12. (14) 82 Jace Parmley
13. (8) 13C Scott Crigler
14. (17) 71III Jim Body III
15. (3) 32 Kelly Hicks
16. (4) 8K Tyler Knudtson
17. (20) 414 Ryan Thomas
18. (13) 2G Jake Asbell
19. (11) 50B Andy Beauchamp
20. (18) 25 Lexy Van Zandt
DNS – 17R Rod Inman
DNS – 5M Jeff Hooper
DNS – 21 Jackie Dalton
DNS – 34 Jacob Long
DNS – 02 Kyle Long
DNS – 9D Dwight Niehoff
DNS – D7 Shawn Duncan