WARRENSBURG, Mo.—In recent memory at Central Missouri Speedway, Jim Moody drove his familiar #00 USRA Modified to several victories including weekly racing and special events. However, until Saturday night he had never captured the Independence Day weekend big money race. Saturday night that all changed when Moody forever etched his name into the winner’s column as he pocketed $5,000 in the 10th Annual Tom Wilson Memorial BBQ Bowl for the biggest win of his career.

One night after determining the inside row starting positions for the finale of the BBQ Bowl weekend, 12 additional drivers joined pole-sitter Gunner Martin on the starting grid along with fellow inside row starters Moody, Terry Schultz, Eric Turner, Jon Sheets, Dalton Kirk, Aaron Marrant, Chad Lyle, Jason Bodenhamer, Lewis Jackson, Jason Pursley and Luke Driskell.

Drivers making their way onto the starting grid through night two preliminary action for the outside row starting positions included Justin Johnson, Robbie Reed, Matt Dotson, Rodney Sanders, Robbie Test, Jessy Willard, John Allen, Mark Schafman, Tim Karrick, Tyler Schmidt, Jon Binning and Richard Layne.

After fans yelled and cheered for their favorite competitors during on-track and out-of-car driver introductions, 24 of the best USRA Modified wheel-men in the Midwest lined up for the 50-lap featured event of the weekend.

At the onset of the race, pole-sitter Gunner Martin led the initial laps until Jim Moody found a way around Martin to grab the lead. Martin stayed close to Moody after losing the lead but was not able to mount a challenge to retake the lead.

Drivers raced hard all through the field as they battled closely for every valuable position. Robbie Reed, Terry Schultz and Matt Dotson along with outside pole-sitter Justin Johnson all held positions in the top five during the race’s initial stages. The track surface led to some intense action keeping the drivers on their marks as they battled two and sometimes three-wide for the animated crowd.

Meanwhile, Rodney Sanders, Robbie Test, Dalton Kirk, Jon Sheets, and Eric Turner kept busy as they raced to maintain a spot inside the top ten. Some drivers retired early including Jon Binning, who was making his first-ever start in a Modified. Unfortunately Turner’s strong weekend performances also came to an early close; other drivers exiting the race early included Schafman, Willard, Sheets, Lyle, Karrick, and Driskell.

By race end, several drivers advanced through the field to gain positions including Richard Lane from 24th to 14th, Lewis Jackson from 19th to 13th, Jason Pursley from 21st to 12th, Tyler Schmidt from 20th to 11th, and Jason Bodenhamer with a 17th to 7th-place run.

At the front of the pack, Sanders continued his bid for the lead in a fierce battle with Moody and Schultz. On lap 29, the lane-swapping Sanders made his way to the point as he passed Moody for the lead. As Sanders smoothly maneuvered his way through some of the lapped traffic, Moody and Schultz were left to do battle for the second position.

Fans were kept on the edge of their seats for 39 consecutive laps of phenomenal green-flag racing until the first caution flag flew in the race for Johnson after he spun in between turns three and four. When the field realigned for the restart, Sanders led Moody, Schultz, Dotson, Reed and Kirk in what everyone hoped would be another clear run to the finish after the drivers had a chance to catch their breath for few brief moments until the race resumed.

The next two laps were clean and green but as Moody and Schultz pressured Sanders both high and low for the lead, the race took a dramatic turn coming off the turn four area when Schultz and Sanders collided exiting the tricky corner after an unsuccessful bid for the lead by Schultz. Although it looked like the pass for the lead was going to be successful , the outcome proved different as Sanders and Schultz both stopped on the track after the collision, both later rejoining the field for the final restart.

Both cars suffered some cosmetic damage along with tire issues for Schultz but nonetheless they each tagged onto the back of the lead-lap cars when racing resumed after making repairs in the hot pit lane. For the restart, Moody led John Allen and Robbie Reed at the front of the field.

Unfortunately, other front-runners were not so lucky after being collected in the lap-41 caution period involving Schultz and Sanders. Notably, Matt Dotson, who heart-breakingly pulled his car to the infield unable to continue. Upon being interviewed shortly after he pulled to the infield, he said he thought he had a great shot at taking home the win. Last year Dotson finished second in this event.

When the field returned to green-flag action Moody did his best to distance himself from the battle for second between Allen and Reed. Before the yellow-flag incident with Sanders and Schultz, Allen had been putting on a driving clinic advancing from 14th on the starting grid to second.

For the final nine laps, Moody did everything he could to hit his marks and keep calm inside the driver’s compartment to complete the race. Behind him it was anything but calm as Reed and Allen became the race to watch as they raced hard and clean for the runner-up position. Ultimately, Moody clicked off the final few laps and drove into victory lane in a big way with a career-best $5,000 triumph.

Reed recorded his best-ever CMS finish with a valiant run to second while Allen capped off another solid performance to finish third. Mr. Consistency, Dalton Kirk, advanced from 11th to fourth in the final outcome, one rung ahead of Sanders who dug deep to return to the top five after the earlier mishap. Schultz also tried to make his way back to the front behind Sanders but later suffered a second flat tire and retired for the night, officially scored 15th in the final posted results.

Justin Johnson rebounded nicely with a respectable run to sixth, Jason Bodenhamer finished seventh just in front of one the hardest working drivers of the night, Aaron Marrant, who moved from 13th to 8th in the final rundown. Pole-sitter Gunner Martin came away with ninth while Robbie test rounded out the top ten.

A total of 28 USRA B-Mods checked in for competition in four preliminary heat races to sort out their main event lineup. Nic Bennett, Shadren Turner, Derek Watson, and Chris Cain claimed the heat-race wins. Warsaw, Missouri’s Jim Cihy claimed the B-main victory. Bennett was looking to keep his weekend momentum going after claiming his first-ever CMS just 24 hours ago, a win that Bennett said came using a “Jacob Ebert” setup. While Bennett ran strong in the main event, he ultimately settled for fifth in the final rundown on Saturday.

Near the front of the field, Watson and Cain ran close together in what appeared to be second and third-place finishes. However, at press time both drivers were unfortunately disqualified for tech-area violations. Shadren Turner and Ethan Isaacs had a fantastic battle for what ultimately turned out to be the run for second in the race. ’s final rundown and with just a handful of laps remaining, Kansas, driver Ethan Isaacs edged out Turner for the runner-up finish.

It’s been quite a challenge for B-mod competitors to figure out a way to beat Oak Grove’s Jacob Ebert this season and like the night before when his setup helped Bennett find victory lane, Ebert himself came away with his fifth victory of the year at the end of the night. Final results from the race revealed that Isaacs and Turner finished second and third with Troy Carlyle fourth, Bennett fifth, and Jason Billups in sixth.

Next Saturday, July 11, is Pepsi Night featuring the return of weekly championship points racing in all divisions, which includes USRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, B-Mods and Pure Stocks. Check out CMS online at www.centralmissourispeedway.net for all the latest schedule, news, and information! 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. General admission adults $12, military/students w/id $10, seniors 65 and over $10, kids 6 to 12 years $5, all children 5 and under free. Permanently confined to wheelchair, free. All weekly racing pit passes are $30. 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, Mo., from the junction of Highways 50 and 13. From 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.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
USRA Weekly Racing Series
10th Annual Tom Wilson Memorial BBQ Bowl
Central Missouri Speedway, Warrensburg, Mo.
Saturday, July 4, 2015

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature (50 laps):
1. (3) 00 Jim Moody, Odessa
2. (4) 5 Robbie Reed, Mexico
3. (14) 98 John Allen, Chanute, Kan.
4. (11) 30 Dalton Kirk, Edgerton, Kan.
5. (8) 20 Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas
6. (1) 7j Justin Johnson, Gardner, Kan.
7. (17) 03 Jason Bodenhamer, Centerview
8. (13) 70 Aaron Marrant, Richmond
9. (1) 75 Gunner Martin, Blue Springs
10. (10) 27t Rob Test, Jefferson City
11. (20) 66t Tyler Schmidt, Easton, Kan.
12. (21) 38c Jason Pursley, Hermitage
13. (19) 3j Lewis Jackson, Wellsville, Kan.
14. (24) 0 Richard Layne, Kansas City
15. (5) 90 Terry Schultz, Sedalia
16. (6) 88d Matt Dotson, Hallsville
17. (23) 39 Luke Driskell, Stilwell, Kan.
18. (18) 1k Tim Karrick, Basehor, Kan.
19. (15) 96 Chad Lyle, Oak Grove
20. (9) 8s Jon Sheets, Nevada
21. (12) 40 Jessy Willard, Mound City, Kan.
22. (16) 34 Mark Schafman, Edwardsville, Kan.
23. (7) 16 Eric Turner, Hermitage
24. (22) 72 Jon Binning, Warrensburg