Veteran Sam Petty of Niangua, Mo., is enjoying prehaps his best season ever in the Out Pace USRA B Mod division. He has captured two feature wins at the Lebanon Midway Speedway, competes nightly against current Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points leader Kris Jackson and is currently ranked secenth in the national standings.

With only two track points races scheduled at The Midway for Friday night action, Petty holds an 82-point margin over Tyler Knudtson and an 86-point margin over Jackson.

He knows the title is in sight, but also understands all it takes is two bad nights and a large car count could take the title away from him.

"Kris is always the car to beat when he checks in at any track," Petty said. "We did sneak out a win over him on the July 3 special fireworks night. We got a good starting spot, the race pretty much went caution-free and Kris did have an issue they got fixed just in time for the feature. Racing with him has made my game better. You learn following him. The track has been in great shape this season. Friday nights are tough for several people to race, but we have had over 50 different drivers compete. That makes it fun."

Petty has captured a USRA track title before at the now-defunct Dallas County Speedway in Urbana, Mo., but feels this track championship would be sweet. The level of drivers and teams has really stepped up, especially when you run weekly against the national points leader. The racing has been intense this season with a tough field of cars and drivers.

Jackson has missed two events in the Spring/Summer Series, but the overall picture would still be tight.

Knudtson's team suffered a tragic loss this past week as a member lost her life in a car crash. Cassie Reed was always in the pits of the Knudtson team. Drivers will be passing the helmets and some special raffle items will be going on to help raise money to assist in the funeral costs.

Out-Pace USRA B-Mod action plus a full racing program including Street Stocks, Midwest Modifieds, Pure Stocks, Hornets and Bombers will be in action this Friday, July 27, with hot laps starting at 7 p.m. and racing at 8.

For more information visit the track's Facebook page or website at www.MidwaySpeedway.net.

Out Pace USRA B Mod points standings (as of July 25, 2018):

1. 9 Sam Petty 1372
2. 8K Tyler Knudston 1290
3. 65 Kris Jackson 1286
4. 16M Brian Myers 1169
5. 7R Rich Reynolds 1086
6. 68W Ricky Watkins 907
7. 8 Dillon McCowan 899
8. 42J Donnie Jackson 777
9. 32 Kelly Hicks 715
10. T10 Tyler Brown 500
11. 101 Matt Rose 345
12. 83D Dayton Newell 334
13. 18 J.C. Morton 281
14. 7X Ryan Lewis 278
15. 10P Dayton Pursley 261
16. 1 Tony Fincher 208
17.  317 Eric Turner 186
18. 51 Bill Schaar 181
19. 85 Mike Hailmann 173
20. 25 Rex Merritt 168
21. F1 Mitchell Franklin 155
22. 32F Mike Foster 148
22. 55 Billy Pearce 148
24. 51W Brian Webster 142
25. 89D Daniel Deason 140
26. 17B Kyle Shrum 138
27. 42M Tony Moore 130
28. 32 Bobby Ewing 100
29. 30 Rex Harris 87
30. C3 Chad Staus 84
30. 46 Brantlee Gotschall 84
32. 39 Steve Muilenburg 81
32. 51 Michael Stake 81
34. 17 Mike Streigel 78
34. 1/4 Aaron Scroggins 78
34. 91 Eddie Schwope 78
37. 57J John Fellers 76
38. 15 Brad Mckinnion 76
39. 83N J.C. Newell 74
39. 34 Wes Long 74
39. 2G Jake Asbell 74
42. 17T Ted Ballinger 68
43. 69er Tyler Cadwalder 66
44. 3A Aaron Speck 62
45. 15 Ryan Edde 60
45. 68 Donny Betts 60
47. 50B Andy Beauchamp 45
47. 42C Casey Thomas 45
47. 414 Ryan Thomas 45
47. 28 Brandon Lyons 45