Matt Johnson led the final six laps to outlast Jason Pursley and capture the Cedar Creek Beef Jerky USRA Modified feature Saturday night in the headliner of Lucas Oil Speedway's Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series program.

Johnson, of Archie, took home $1,000 with his first feature victory of the season in an eventful main event that saw the winner lose the lead late - but get it back thanks to a timely caution.

Other Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series feature winners in the action presented by KCTV-5 in Kansas City were Johnny Fennewald (O'Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars) and Ryan Gillmore (Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods).

Pursley paced the opening 19 laps of the USRA Modified feature before Johnson took his first lead of the race on lap 20. But as Johnson drifted high in turn two on lap 23, Pursley reclaimed the lead. However, a spinning car well behind the leaders brought out a caution before the lap was officially recorded and the running order for the restart reverted to the previous lap.

"Hats off to Jason. He's a hell of a racer," Johnson said in victory lane. "I was having some fun with him until I stepped on (myself) a few times, but I'll take it on a technicality. Luck fell our way for once."

Pursley set the pace from his outside front-row starting position with Johnson advancing from seventh into second by lap three. Those two hit lapped traffic by circuit 10 and Pursley was able to fend off the challenger and had a half-second lead when the first caution appeared on lap 13.

Two green-flag laps went into the books after the restart, before another caution waved on lap 15. Pursley continued to lead Johnson with Mike Hansen, who started 13th, working his way into third with sixth-starting Trevor Hughes in fourth.

Hansen had a terrific restart and moved alongside Pursley to challenge for the lead but the action was slowed again after just one lap as a spinning car brought out the race’s third yellow flag.

Johnson used a slider in turns three and four to pass Pursley for his first lead on lap 20. But Johnson got into the loose stuff in the cushion going into turn two on lap 23 with Pursley taking advantage. Seconds later, a caution flew allowing Johnson to go back to the front.

The three-lap shootout saw Johnson drive mistake-free as he pulled away and won by 1.25 seconds, or about eight car lengths over Pursley. Hansen was third, Dylan Hoover fourth and Robbie Reed finished fifth.

"The track was great for the feature," Johnson said. "We're just glad to be making some headway on this car and we're looking forward to the rest of the year."

Fennwald claims USRA Stock Car thriller: With the top four finishers separated by less the three-quarters of a second, Johnny Fennewald of Appleton City emerged as the Medieval USRA Stock Car winner.

Fennewald beat William Garner, who tried to make a winning pass on the inside out of turn four on the final lap, by a half-car-length to earn his first victory of the season.

"The bottom was really good it looked like for Garner and I (went low) once and about screwed up," Fennewald said. "I got back up there on top where I belonged."

Fennewald started fourth and needed only two laps to move into the lead, going around the pole-starting Doug Keller on the outside of turn four.

Riding the high groove, Fennewald continued to hold off Keller, until Garner claimed the runner-up spot on lap 10. Garner took up chase of the leader using the inside line and challenged Fennewald over the next several laps, unable to make the pass.

A lap-15 caution set up a single-file restart with Keller, Rob White and Kris Jackson following the top two. White forced his way into the fight for the win on lap 18, pulling to the inside of Garner. But it was Fennewald, holding of a turn-four bid from Garner on the final lap, getting the win by .254 of a second.

Waylon Dimmitt wound up third with White fourth, the foursome at the front separated by by .069 of a second. James McMillin was fifth.

Gillmore gets USRA B-Mod feature: Ryan Gillmore made it back-to-back feature wins in the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mod division, leading the final 19 laps and holding off Kyle Slader by .0844 seconds.

Gillmore wasted little time getting to the front from his second-row starting position, going into the lead on lap two. By the halfway mark of the 20-lapper, he held a 1.7-second margin over Slader with Brian Bolin in third.

As Gillmore hugged the love groove through the corners, Slader went to the high side to try and run him down and cut the gap to one-second with five laps remaining as both navigated lapped traffic.

Gillmore was up to the challenge, posting his second straight victory at Lucas Oil Speedway. Slader finished about five car lengths behind with Bolin in third, JC Newell fourth and Bobby Williams fifth.

"I kept watching the (video) board and I saw Slader early get behind me and I just knew any minute that he was going to creep in on me," Gillmore said.

After about 15 runner-up feature finishes at Lucas Oil Speedway, Gillmore had two weekly wins in 2022 plus a USRA B-Mod Nationals triumph. He now seems to have hit his stride at the track this spring.

"I have a love-hate relationship with this place," Gillmore said. "Some nights I go home and have no idea what to do and some nights I can't wait to come back. Tonight's one of those nights. I can't wait to come back."

Thursday Night Madness next: USRA Tuners return to the Lucas Oil Speedway on Thursday, May 4, running for $300 to win. Midwest Mods and Pure Stocks are also on the card. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. with grandstands opening at 5, hot laps at 6:30 and racing at 7:05.

For information about any event at Lucas Oil Speedway in 2023 contact admissions director Nichole McMillan at (417) 282-5984 or email her at nichole@lucasoilspeedway.com for more information.

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
Lucas Oil Speedway, Wheatland, Mo.
Saturday, April 29, 2023

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

USRA MODIFIEDS

Heat #1:
1. (1) 21M Ryan Middaugh, Fulton, Mo.
2. (6) G17 Grant Holman, Springdale, Ark.
3. (7) 1X Matt Johnson, Archie, Mo.
4. (2) 155 Terry Kirk, Urbana, Mo.
5. (11) 5 Robbie Reed, Mexico, Mo.
6. (8) 99 Dylan Hoover, Columbia, Mo.
7. (5) 21 Greg Scheffler, Pittsburg, Mo.
8. (4) 101 Tyson Dickson, Lubbock, Texas
9. (10) 3J Lewis Jackson, Edgerton, Kan.
10. (9) 127 Paden Phillips, Chanute, Kan.
11. (3) 17 Brent Holman, Rogers, Ark.

Heat #2:
1. (1) 38C Jason Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
2. (4) 356 Reggie Jackson, Lebanon, Mo.
3. (3) 712 Trevor Hughes, Salina, Okla.
4. (6) 85 Tyler Shaw, Mexico, Mo.
5. (8) 21W Tracy Wolf, Buffalo, Mo.
6. (7) 15W Wyatt Gaggero, Wichita, Kan.
7. (9) 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.
8. (5) 69 Cecil Dymond, Goddard, Kan.
9. (10) 10T Tyler Brown, Richland, Mo.
10. (2) 23T Michael Talley, Princeton, Texas
DNS – 98 Jeff Cutshaw, Bolivar, Mo.

Feature:
1. (7) 1X Matt Johnson, Archie, Mo.
2. (2) 38C Jason Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
3. (13) 12H Mike Hansen, Dickinson, N.D.
4. (11) 99 Dylan Hoover, Columbia, Mo.
5. (4) 5 Robbie Reed, Mexico, Mo.
6. (6) 712 Trevor Hughes, Salina, Okla.
7. (8) 21M Ryan Middaugh, Fulton, Mo.
8. (12) 15W Wyatt Gaggero, Wichita, Kan.
9. (18) 3J Lewis Jackson, Edgerton, Kan.
10. (10) 155 Terry Kirk, Urbana, Mo.
11. (5) 356 Reggie Jackson, Lebanon, Mo.
12. (17) 10T Tyler Brown, Richland, Mo.
13. (16) 69 Cecil Dymond, Goddard, Kan.
14. (14) 21 Greg Scheffler, Pittsburg, Mo.
15. (15) 101 Tyson Dickson, Lubbock, Texas
16. (1) 85 Tyler Shaw, Mexico, Mo.
17. (19) 23T Michael Talley, Princeton, Texas
18. (3) G17 Grant Holman, Springdale, Ark.
19. (9) 21W Tracy Wolf, Buffalo, Mo.
DNS – 127 Paden Phillips, Chanute, Kan.
DNS – 17 Brent Holman, Rogers, Ark.
DNS – 98 Jeff Cutshaw, Bolivar, Mo.

MEDIEVAL USRA STOCK CARS

Heat #1:
1. (2) 7 William Garner, Lebanon, Mo.
2. (1) 27 Jeff Tennant, Greenwood, Ark.
3. (6) 5 Robert White, Lebanon, Mo.
4. (5) 0F Mason Beck, Urbana, Mo.
5. (9) 11 Waylon Dimmitt, Camdenton, Mo.
6. (4) 8M James McMillin, Warrensburg, Mo.
7. (8) 3C Chad Staus, Otterville, Mo.
8. (3) 106 Kris Jackson, Lebanon, Mo.
9. (7) 83 James Ellis, Richland, Mo.

Heat #2:
1. (4) 21F Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo.
2. (2) 74 Rodney Schweizer, Kansas City, Kan.
3. (3) 111 Butch Bailey, Novelty, Mo.
4. (5) 97K Brian Johnson, Independence, Mo.
5. (9) 7K Doug Keller, Easton, Mo.
6. (8) 2 Colton Bourland, Appleton City, Mo.
7. (1) 3 Alex Krogmeier, Newton, Kan.
8. (7) 18 Tracy Cottrell, Buffalo, Mo.
9. (6) 24 Blayne McMillin, Warrensburg, Mo.

Feature:
1. (4) 21F Johnny Fennewald, Appleton City, Mo.
2. (3) 7 William Garner, Lebanon, Mo.
3. (6) 11 Waylon Dimmitt, Camdenton, Mo.
4. (2) 5 Robert White, Lebanon, Mo.
5. (12) 8M James McMillin, Warrensburg, Mo.
6. (9) 0F Mason Beck, Urbana, Mo.
7. (15) 106 Kris Jackson, Lebanon, Mo.
8. (1) 7K Doug Keller, Easton, Mo.
9. (7) 27 Jeff Tennant, Greenwood, Ark.
10. (13) 3C Chad Staus, Otterville, Mo.
11. (8) 111 Butch Bailey, Novelty, Mo.
12. (16) 18 Tracy Cottrell, Buffalo, Mo.
13. (14) 3 Alex Krogmeier, Newton, Kan.
14. (17) 83 James Ellis, Richland, Mo.
15. (5) 74 Rodney Schweizer, Kansas City, Kan.
16. (10) 97K Brian Johnson, Independence, Mo.
17. (11) 2 Colton Bourland, Appleton City, Mo.
DNS – 24 Blayne McMillin, Warrensburg, Mo.

USRA B-MODS

Heat #1:
1. (7) 66G Ryan Gillmore, Springfield, Mo.
2. (4) 788 Kevin Guinn, Fayetteville, Ark.
3. (3) 54 Tyler Kidwell, Chanute, Kan.
4. (2) 2 Quentin Taylor, Wheatland, Mo.
5. (6) 17 Henry Chambers, Baldwin City, Kan.
6. (9) 6 Lucas Isaacs, Bonner Springs, Kan.
7. (8) 21 Jacob Ellison, Chanute, Kan.
8. (5) 2G Eric Graves, Richland, Mo.
9. (1) 18X Chris Albright, Lebanon, Mo.

Heat #2:
1. (2) 22 Brian McGowen, Pittsburg, Kan.
2. (1) 510 Cody King, Fanshawe, Okla.
3. (6) 7 Daniel Cowett, Porum, Okla.
4. (9) 83 J.C. Newell, Buffalo, Mo.
5. (3) 15 Ryan Edde, Cross Timbers, Mo.
6. (7) 10P Dayton Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
7. (8) 98 Christopher Watts, Osceola, Mo.
8. (4) 0K Tracy Killian, Lee Summit, Mo.
9. (5) 66 Ethan Isaacs, Bonner Springs, Kan.

Heat #3:
1. (1) 69ER Tyler Cadwallader, Amazonia, Mo.
2. (5) 06 Kris Jackson, Lebanon, Mo.
3. (4) 53H Tye Hollingsworth, Springdale, Ark.
4. (7) J2 Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo.
5. (2) 19 Nathan Schwartze, Russellville, Mo.
6. (8) 96 Cody Brill, Harrisonville, Mo.
7. (3) 18P Shaine Paxston, Springfield, Mo.
8. (6) 44T Ty O'Neal, Muskogee, Okla.

Heat #4:
1. (2) X2 Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan.
2. (4) 19K Kyle Slader, Muskogee, Okla.
3. (1) 98K Kenton Allen, Chanute, Kan.
4. (5) 46 Brice Gotschall, Nevada, Mo.
5. (7) 18 J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo.
6. (8) D86 Donald McIntosh, Chanute, Kan.
7. (3) C35 Casey Willson, Farmington, Ark.
8. (6) 24 Jerry Ellis, Richland, Mo.

"B" Feature #1:
1. (1) 18 J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo.
2. (2) 6 Lucas Isaacs, Bonner Springs, Kan.
3. (5) 21 Jacob Ellison, Chanute, Kan.
4. (3) 15 Ryan Edde, Cross Timbers, Mo.
5. (4) D86 Donald McIntosh, Chanute, Kan.
6. (8) 24 Jerry Ellis, Richland, Mo.
7. (6) 18P Shaine Paxston, Springfield, Mo.
8. (7) 0K Tracy Killian, Lee Summit, Mo.
DNS – 66 Ethan Isaacs, Bonner Springs, Kan.

"B" Feature #2:
1. (3) 96 Cody Brill, Harrisonville, Mo.
2. (4) 10P Dayton Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
3. (1) 17 Henry Chambers, Baldwin City, Kan.
4. (8) 44T Ty O'Neal, Muskogee, Okla.
5. (2) 19 Nathan Schwartze, Russellville, Mo.
6. (6) C35 Casey Willson, Farmington, Ark.
7. (7) 18X Chris Albright, Lebanon, Mo.
8. (5) 98 Christopher Watts, Osceola, Mo.
DNS – 2G Eric Graves, Richland, Mo.

"A" Feature:
1. (3) 66G Ryan Gillmore, Springfield, Mo.
2. (7) 19K Kyle Slader, Muskogee, Okla.
3. (2) X2 Brian Bolin, Fort Scott, Kan.
4. (9) 83 J.C. Newell, Buffalo, Mo.
5. (12) J2 Bobby Williams, Hermitage, Mo.
6. (5) 06 Kris Jackson, Lebanon, Mo.
7. (13) 98K Kenton Allen, Chanute, Kan.
8. (4) 788 Kevin Guinn, Fayetteville, Ark.
9. (18) 96 Cody Brill, Harrisonville, Mo.
10. (11) 53H Tye Hollingsworth, Springdale, Ark.
11. (17) 18 J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo.
12. (20) 10P Dayton Pursley, Hermitage, Mo.
13. (23) 15 Ryan Edde, Cross Timbers, Mo.
14. (14) 54 Tyler Kidwell, Chanute, Kan.
15. (22) 17 Henry Chambers, Baldwin City, Kan.
16. (21) 21 Jacob Ellison, Chanute, Kan.
17. (19) 6 Lucas Isaacs, Bonner Springs, Kan.
18. (6) 69ER Tyler Cadwallader, Amazonia, Mo.
19. (15) 46 Brice Gotschall, Nevada, Mo.
20. (10) 510 Cody King, Fanshawe, Okla.
21. (1) 7 Daniel Cowett, Porum, Okla.
22. (16) 2 Quentin Taylor, Wheatland, Mo.
23. (24) 44T Ty O'Neal, Muskogee, Okla.
24. (8) 22 Brian McGowen, Pittsburg, Kan.

Year after year, the USRA continues to attract more racetracks and dirt track racers through fair, logical and cost-effective rules accompanied by an organization that puts the racers, racetracks and their fans first. In the 2022 Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series, more than 50 of America’s finest dirt ovals host over 1,000 nights of racing.

USRA competitors can register online at MyRacePass today. Alternatively, you can call (515) 832-6000 to register by phone, or submit a completed USRA License Application by email at office@usraracing.com or fax (515) 832-7958. You can download the application at usraracing.com/downloads.

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