SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Defending USRA RHS Modified track champion Mitch Keeter nosed ahead of race leader Jerry Lankton on lap 16 to secure his first feature win of the season after a side by side duel Saturday night at the Springfield Raceway.

Lankton grabbed the opening lead at the start as Keeter, who has had motor problems the last two events, followed closely as Kyle Slagle also kept close. Using the bottom groove, Lankton was looking to secure his first-ever victory as Keeter moved to the middle lane. Meanwhile, current points leader Jackie Dalton began his surge forward and by lap 4 was in the mix up front along with Steve Martin.

Caution waved on lap 9 as Billy Dalton's night ended with problems. On the restart, Lankton found Dalton challenging for the top spot while Keeter, Slagle and Jody Tillman battled. On lap 11, Dalton vaulted to the front but caution waved on lap 13 as Martin slowed with a flat tire. On the restart, Lankton got around Dalton to take back the lead as Keeter followed through.

Side by side they raced with Keeter getting the top spot on lap 16 and held off repeated challanges from Lankton for his first win of the season. Dalton, Slagle and Tillman completed the top 5.

"This is a new motor from Yeoman Engines and it really worked good tonight," said Keeter.

Lankton also had a new Yeoman powerplant in and the second-year Modified driver really picked up the pace.

"We picked it up Friday night and worked almost all evening Friday and Saturday getting things ready," Lankton said. "That was fun racing door to door with Mitch. Jerry (Hoffman) had reworked the track after the Sprint Car B Feature and it provided us a good surface.."

Action continues next Saturday night, July 9, with the Mid-Season Championships and action in the USRA RHS Modifieds plus five other classes with racing at 7 p.m.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Springfield Raceway, Springfield, Mo.
Saturday, July 2, 2011

USRA RHS MODIFIEDS

Feature: 1. Mitch Keeter, Webb City; 2. Jerry Lankton, Lampe; 3. Jackie Dalton, Carthage; 4. Kyle Slagle, Pierce City; 5. Jody Tillman, Branson; 6. Erik Maggard, Brighton; 7. Dwight Niehoff, Lockwood; 8. Eric Lampe, Springfield; 9. Darrell Jackson, Carthage; 10. Nick Whitehead, Nixa; 11. Steve Martin, Ozark; 12. James Esmond; 13. Billy Dalton, Exeter; 14. Tammy Mitchell, Pea Ridge, Ark.

1st Heat: 1. Slagle, 2. Maggard, 3. J. Dalton, 4. Lampe, 5. Martin, 6. Neihoff, 7. Whitehead.

2nd Heat: 1. Tillman, 2. Keeter, 3. Lankton, 4. Jackson, 5. Mitchell, 6. B. Dalton, 7. Esmond.