Derek Brown won the Medieval USRA Stock Car main event.

On opening night at Lucas Oil Speedway, J.C. Newell (USRA B-Mods), Dillon McCowan (USRA Modifieds) and Derek Brown (Medieval USRA Stock Cars) topped the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series Spring Opener presented by Benne Media.

A total of 83 cars checked into the pits as the 2021 season got underway for the first of 14 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series points programs.

Newell grabs USRA B-Mod win: J.C. Newell inherited the lead when perennial championship contenders Kris Jackson and J.C. Morton tangled on lap 14 and went on to win the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mod feature.

Newell, of Buffalo, led the final six laps and beat Cody Nivens by a car length. Nic Hanes was third and Terry Schultz fourth.

"What a way to kick off the season," Newell said. "We kind of got that one handed us to us tonight, but everyone got to see a really good show the first 14 or 15 laps and we were able to seal the deal."

Newell started fourth and was running third, behind Morton and Jackson when the race's complexion suddenly changed.

Jackson jumped to the lead from his outside front row starting position to grab the early lead. The race ground to a halt on lap two, however, with a seven-car pileup in turn three that blocked the track and resulted in a red flag.

After the restart, Morton moved past Nivens and Newell and into second. Jackson led by about two car lengths when a lap-seven caution slowed the action.

Morton made the pass for the lead coming out of turn four to complete lap 14. But in turn one, Jackson got into Morton and sent the new leader skidding. Race officials penalized Jackson and sent him tailback on the restart.

Morton had to pit and returned, but also had to start at the rear just in front of Jackson.

Newell inherited the lead and he did not surrender it from there. Two-time track champion Morton wound up 14th and five-time champ Jackson 15th.

J.C. Newell won the USRA B-Mod main event.

McCowan earns USRA Modified triumph: Young Dillon McCowan outdueled veteran Jason Pursley to capture the Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modified feature.

The 17-year-old McCowan, from Buffalo, led 17 of the 20 laps. But he had to recapture command after Pursley, using the inside line, passed him coming to the start-finish line to complete lap 15.

McCowan came right back to regain the top spot with an outside pass the next time around as the top two weaved through slower traffic, distancing themselves from the rest of the contenders.

McCowan, from Urbana, wound up 1.8 seconds in front of Pursley.

"It got close there for a little while, but I saw that lapped traffic coming and I figured I could get him pinched if he didn't get a slide job done on me," McCowan said. "This is one of our first nights in our A Mod and it's rolling pretty good."

McCowan won a couple of times at Lucas Oil Speedway in his USRA B-Mod last season, but this was his first win in the USRA Modified.

"It was super fun," McCowan said. "I love racing this A-Mod. It's faster. More speed and more power."

Kevin Blackburn, who led the first two laps, finished third with Paden Phillips in fourth.

Dillon McCowan won the USRA Modified main event.

Brown takes USRA Stock Cars debut: It was a case of new class but same winner. Derek Brown of Stoutland, last year's Lucas Oil Speedway Street Stock champion, captured the O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars debut.

Brown held off Rob White by a car length in a closely contested feature that saw Brown's familiar colors of white, red and yellow in victory lane.

"I'm really starting to like this car," Brown said. "This is my fourth race (in 2021) and second win. It's pretty salty."

Brown and David Hendrix, past track champions in the Street Stock division, both charged from the back half of the field and into contention by the midpoint of the feature - Hendrix 12th to second and Brown seventh to third - right behind Jaylen Wettengel.

Brown, who won six times en route to the Street Stocks track title in 2020, passed Wettengel down the backstretch on lap 15 to take a lead he would not relinquish. Brown prevailed by .387 of a second over White Jr.., of Lebanon, with Hendrix third and Wettengel fourth.

"It felt like we had a heck of a race there," Brown said. "We were definitely all in a hornet's nest there for a little bit."

Gary Donaldson was running second behind Wettengel when he spun on lap three, bringing out the caution. Donaldson won one of the two events in 2020 in which the USRA Stock Cars appeared at Lucas Oil Speedway as a guest class.

MLRA Spring Nationals next: The first special event of the season finds the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models in the two-day, 8th annual MLRA Spring Nationals presented by RacingJunk.com next Friday and Saturday. Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modifieds and O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars also will be in action both nights.

Gates open at 4 p.m. both days with hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

For ticket information for any event during the 2021 Lucas Oil Speedway season, contact Admissions Director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or via email at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com. Fans also can use the online ticketing system.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo.
Saturday, April 3, 2021

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

USRA MODIFIEDS

Heat #1:
1. (6) 8 Dillon McCowan, Urbana, Mo.
2. (1) 38C Jason Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
3. (2) 24D Donnie Fellers, Wheatland, Mo.
4. (4) 5 Robert Reed, Mexico, Mo.
5. (5) 9 Evan Hubert, Pittsburg, Mo.
6. (7) 89 Tyler Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
7. (10) 292 Kyle Thompson, Joplin, Mo.
8. (8) 23 Lucas Dobbs, El Dorado Springs, Mo.
9. (9) 227 Chase Domer, Nevada, Mo.
10. (3) 11C Andy Chrisenberry, Holden, Mo.
DNS – 03 Chase Jones, El Dorado Springs, Mo.

Heat #2:
1. (2) 3B Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan.
2. (6) 16S Kevin Blackburn, Fulton, Mo.
3. (1) 155 Terry Kirk, Urbana, Mo.
4. (9) 21TW Tracy Wolf, Buffalo, Mo.
5. (3) 9D8 Paden Phillips, Chanute, Kan.
6. (4) 21 Ryan Middaugh, Fulton, Mo.
7. (8) 7 Daniel Franklin, Berryville, Ark.
8. (5) 98 Robert Heydenreich, Bolivar, Mo.
9. (10) 92 Tyler Grooms, Trenton, Mo.
10. (7) 88 Jimmy Dowell, Boonville, Mo.

Feature:
1. (1) 8 Dillon McCowan, Urbana, Mo.
2. (5) 38C Jason Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
3. (2) 16S Kevin Blackburn, Fulton, Mo.
4. (9) 9D8 Paden Phillips, Chanute, Kan.
5. (8) 5 Robert Reed, Mexico, Mo.
6. (18) 227 Chase Domer, Nevada, Mo.
7. (15) 98 Robert Heydenreich, Bolivar, Mo.
8. (3) 3B Nic Bidinger, Perry, Kan.
9. (13) 21 Ryan Middaugh, Fulton, Mo.
10. (17) 92 Tyler Grooms, Trenton, Mo.
11. (11) 89 Tyler Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
12. (10) 9 Evan Hubert, Pittsburg, Mo.
13. (14) 7 Daniel Franklin, Berryville, Ark.
14. (19) 88 Jimmy Dowell, Boonville, Mo.
15. (7) 24D Donnie Fellers, Wheatland, Mo.
16. (16) 23 Lucas Dobbs, El Dorado Springs, Mo.
17. (12) 292 Kyle Thompson, Joplin, Mo.
18. (4) 21TW Tracy Wolf, Buffalo, Mo.
19. (20) 11C Andy Chrisenberry, Holden, Mo.
20. (6) 155 Terry Kirk, Urbana, Mo.
DNS – 03 Chase Jones, El Dorado Springs, Mo.

MEDIEVAL USRA STOCK CARS

Heat #1:
1. (5) 541 Rob White Jr.., Lebanon, Mo.
2. (7) 91J Jaylen Wettengel, Topeka, Kan.
3. (4) 21P Darren Phillips, Wheatland, Mo.
4. (2) 12 Christopher Sawyer, Buffalo, Mo.
5. (6) 2A Ace O'Neill, Lake Ozark, Mo.
6. (1) 23 Scott Simmons, Pittsburg, Mo.
7. (3) 24W Craig Wright, Arma, Kan.

Heat #2:
1. (1) 31 Ed Griggs, Pleasant Hill, Mo.
2. (2) 7 Doug Keller, Easton, Mo.
3. (3) 28D Gary Donaldson, Rayville, Mo.
4. (6) 11 Derek Brown, Stoutland, Mo.
5. (4) 33T Tommy Ground, Liberty, Mo.
6. (5) 54 David Hendrix, Waynesville, Mo.
7. (7) 73 Jeremy Pitts, Warsaw, Mo.

Feature:
1. (7) 11 Derek Brown, Stoutland, Mo.
2. (1) 541 Rob White Jr.., Lebanon, Mo.
3. (12) 54 David Hendrix, Waynesville, Mo.
4. (2) 91J Jaylen Wettengel, Topeka, Kan.
5. (10) 33T Tommy Ground, Liberty, Mo.
6. (6) 28D Gary Donaldson, Rayville, Mo.
7. (4) 7 Doug Keller, Easton, Mo.
8. (3) 31 Ed Griggs, Pleasant Hill, Mo.
9. (8) 12 Christopher Sawyer, Buffalo, Mo.
10. (9) 2A Ace O'Neill, Lake Ozark, Mo.
11. (11) 23 Scott Simmons, Pittsburg, Mo.
12. (13) 73 Jeremy Pitts, Warsaw, Mo.
13. (5) 21P Darren Phillips, Wheatland, Mo.
DNS – 24W Craig Wright, Arma, Kan.

USRA B-MODS

Heat #1:
1. (6) 60 Cody Nivens, Springfield, Mo.
2. (4) 414 Ryan Thomas, Fair Grove, Mo.
3. (8) 42J Donnie Jackson, Lebanon, Mo.
4. (7) 54W Shawn Whitman, Fair Grove, Mo.
5. (2) 55 Jimmy Borgmann, Boonville, Mo.
6. (9) 25 Kenny McDonald Jr.., Adrian, Mo.
7. (3) 4 Andrew Sheetz, Tina, Mo.
8. (5) 96 Cody Brill, Harrisonville, Mo.
9. (1) 10T Samuel McDaniel, Stoutland, Mo.
10. (10) 12G Austin Greer, Richland, Mo.

Heat #2:
1. (2) 18 J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo.
2. (4) 90 Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo.
3. (7) 4B Brayton Skaggs, Fort Scott, Kan.
4. (3) 14T Quentin Taylor, Wheatland, Mo.
5. (5) 99H Kameron Hanes, Trenton, Mo.
6. (6) 14 Aaron Johns, Preston, Mo.
7. (9) 19R Cole Stillwell, Ulman, Mo.
8. (1) 11S Scotty Bough, Nevada, Mo.
9. (8) 11W Waylon Dimmitt, Camdenton, Mo.

Heat #3:
1. (5) 65 Kris Jackson, Lebanon, Mo.
2. (1) 54 Jett Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
3. (6) 99T Eric Turner, Hermitage, Mo.
4. (4) 28A Andy Bryant, Fort Scott, Kan.
5. (7) 24 Jerry Ellis, Richland, Mo.
6. (9) 34 Donnie Aust, Mount Vernon, Mo.
7. (8) 6 Jay Flinn, Lebanon, Mo.
8. (3) 08 Chad Neill, Dunnegan, Mo.
9. (2) 25G James Gish, El Dorado, Mo.

Heat #4:
1. (2) 83 J.C. Newell, Buffalo, Mo.
2. (3) 42 Jerry Morgan, Fort Scott, Kan.
3. (8) 9H Nic Hanes, Trenton, Mo.
4. (9) 2X Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan.
5. (5) 22C Cole Campbell, Mexico, Mo.
6. (6) 10P Dayton Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
7. (4) 28 Wesley Briggs, Lebanon, Mo.
8. (7) 21F Hannah Frazee, Wheatland, Mo.
9. (1) 98 James Gates, Wheatland, Mo.

"B" Feature:
1. (7) 10P Dayton Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
2. (1) 24 Jerry Ellis, Richland, Mo.
3. (5) 22C Cole Campbell, Mexico, Mo.
4. (8) 34 Donnie Aust, Mount Vernon, Mo.
5. (13) 11S Scotty Bough, Nevada, Mo.
6. (15) 96 Cody Brill, Harrisonville, Mo.
7. (11) 28 Wesley Briggs, Lebanon, Mo.
8. (20) 11W Waylon Dimmitt, Camdenton, Mo.
9. (16) 10T Samuel McDaniel, Stoutland, Mo.
10. (19) 12G Austin Greer, Richland, Mo.
11. (9) 6 Jay Flinn, Lebanon, Mo.
12. (10) 4 Andrew Sheetz, Tina, Mo.
13. (3) 55 Jimmy Borgmann, Boonville, Mo.
14. (17) 98 James Gates, Wheatland, Mo.
15. (6) 14 Aaron Johns, Preston, Mo.
16. (12) 19R Cole Stillwell, Ulman, Mo.
17. (18) 25G James Gish, El Dorado, Mo.
18. (14) 08 Chad Neill, Dunnegan, Mo.
19. (4) 99H Kameron Hanes, Trenton, Mo.
DQ – (2) 25 Kenny McDonald Jr.., Adrian, Mo.
DNS – 21F Hannah Frazee, Wheatland, Mo.

"A" Feature:
1. (4) 83 J.C. Newell, Buffalo, Mo.
2. (1) 60 Cody Nivens, Springfield, Mo.
3. (6) 9H Nic Hanes, Trenton, Mo.
4. (8) 90 Terry Schultz, Sedalia, Mo.
5. (16) 2X Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan.
6. (17) 10P Dayton Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
7. (10) 42 Jerry Morgan, Fort Scott, Kan.
8. (5) 42J Donnie Jackson, Lebanon, Mo.
9. (12) 54 Jett Sorensen, Rochester, Minn.
10. (19) 22C Cole Campbell, Mexico, Mo.
11. (15) 28A Andy Bryant, Fort Scott, Kan.
12. (14) 14T Quentin Taylor, Wheatland, Mo.
13. (13) 54W Shawn Whitman, Fair Grove, Mo.
14. (3) 18 J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo.
15. (2) 65 Kris Jackson, Lebanon, Mo.
16. (9) 4B Brayton Skaggs, Fort Scott, Kan.
17. (7) 414 Ryan Thomas, Fair Grove, Mo.
18. (18) 24 Jerry Ellis, Richland, Mo.
19. (23) 28 Wesley Briggs, Lebanon, Mo.
20. (22) 96 Cody Brill, Harrisonville, Mo.
21. (11) 99T Eric Turner, Hermitage, Mo.
22. (20) 34 Donnie Aust, Mount Vernon, Mo.
23. (24) 11W Waylon Dimmitt, Camdenton, Mo.
24. (21) 11S Scotty Bough, Nevada, Mo.