Lee Hibner captured the USRA Modified feature at the I-35 Speedway in Winston, Mo., on Saturday, April 20, 2019.

When describing I-35 Speedway, most people would say that it’s a high-banked 3/8-mile lighting-fast dirt track hosting exciting action every Saturday night with two- and three-wide racing.

During Rod End Supply Night on Saturday, drivers offered another element: running four- and even five-wide, putting the fans on their feet.

The Out-Pace USRA B-Mods put on an amazing display of racing talent. Danan Knott, last week’s feature winner, started on the pole, to the disdain of the other drivers. Knott was lighting fast out of the box on opening night, and looked to be in his way to his second win of the year.

Shadren Turner, who bested Knott for the opening night for the win, started just behind the No. 18k for the feature. Knott grabbed the lead quickly, with Chase Gavin just behind him in second. As the field fanned out, racing into turn 1 and out of turn 2, they ran four-wide, and nearly five-wide, to the amazement of the thrilled fans.

Galvin pursued Knott, until the pair raced into turn three, and a spinning 3D of Johnathan Barnett at the top of the banking. Knott just managed to inch by Barnett, but Galvin was not so fortunate, as Galvin and Barnett made contact, ending Galvin’s night. Turner moved up to second, with Ethan and Lucas Isaacs, Lonnie Hibner, and Daniel Harris racing up toward the front.

Another caution flag came out with two laps remaining. On the restart, Knott couldn’t get up to speed, drifting high out of turn four. Turner made his move to the lead, racing into victory lane, with Ethan Isaacs second, Knott third, Lucas Isaacs fourth, and Lonnie Hibner fifth.

Thomas Ground’s 2019 racing season at I-35 Speedway had been a heartbreaker. On opening night, Ground rolled his American Racer USRA Stock Car coming out of turn 2, ending upside down. During last week’s feature, Ground was threading his way through the pack, when a mechanical problem sent him out of turn four, and into the outside retaining wall, coasting to a stop near turn one.

Ground started on the pole, and was again, very fast at the drop of the green flag. Jaylen Wettengel challenged Ground for the lead several times, as did Jeff Dixon. Wettengel and Dixon raced side-by-side for several laps. Ground, proving that perseverance, and third time is the charm, held off Dixon and Wettengel for the feature win.

The USRA Modifieds rolled out for their feature. Last year’s track champion, Dennis Elliott, has so far be denied a trip to victory lane, as Nic Bidinger, and Darron Fuqua scored wins the first two weeks. Elliott was nearly the winner on the second night, when an errant pass sent him high up the track. Lee Hibner, who had stepped away from driving duties for the past twelve years, decided the time was right to come back, and he did just that.

Hibner started on the pole next to Ed Noll. Elliott began his quest for his first win of the year inside row three. Hibner ran quickly to the front of the field, as the USRA A-Mods were stacked up in a high speed traffic jam. Suddenly, Elliott squeezed his way past the other drivers, and into second, setting up a true battle between he and Hibner.

With Elliott running at the bottom, and Hibner up high on the cushion, the two raced side-by-side. In the final laps, Hibner pulled away for the win, with Elliott second, Austin Johnson third, Houston Johnson fourth, and Tyler Hibner In fifth.

Next Saturday, I-35 Speedway will host Missouri One Call Night featuring the Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series and a visit from the Show-Me Vintage Racers.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
I-35 Speedway, Winston, Mo.
Saturday, April 20, 2019

USRA MODIFIEDS

Heat #1:
1. 98 Austin Johnson, Kansas City, Mo.
2. 29 Dennis Elliott, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
3. 97 Houston Johnson, Kansas City, Mo.
4. 89 Tyler Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
5. 33C Cole Moore, Kansas City, Mo.
6. 4M Manlee Lamar, Polo, Mo.

Heat #2:
1. 78 Derrick Hicks, Ravenwood, Mo.
2. 15 Ed Noll, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
3. 99H Lee Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
4. 13 Chris Mercer, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
5. 2H John Hanson, Stewartsville, Mo.

Feature:
1. 99H Lee Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
2. 29 Dennis Elliott, Mt. Ayr, Iowa
3. 98 Austin Johnson, Kansas City, Mo.
4. 97 Houston Johnson, Kansas City, Mo.
5. 89 Tyler Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
6. 78 Derrick Hicks, Ravenwood, Mo.
7. 4M Manlee Lamar, Polo, Mo.
8. 13 Chris Mercer, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
9. 2H John Hanson, Stewartsville, Mo.
10. 33C Cole Moore, Kansas City, Mo.
11. 15 Ed Noll, Excelsior Springs, Mo.

AMERICAN RACER USRA STOCK CARS,

Heat:
1. 88 Jeff Dixon, Trenton, Mo.
2. 91J Jaylen Wettengel, Topeka, Kan.
3. 11W Gerald Wahwahsuck, Atchison, Kan.
4. 83A Aaron Sauter, St. Joseph, Mo.
5. 33T Thomas Ground, Kansas City, Mo.
6. 0032 Dennie Belknap
7. 42T Tim Shields, Kansas City, Mo.

Feature:
1. 33T Thomas Ground, Kansas City, Mo.
2. 88 Jeff Dixon, Trenton, Mo.
3. 91J Jaylen Wettengel, Topeka, Kan.
4. 11W Gerald Wahwahsuck, Atchison, Kan.
5. 42T Tim Shields, Kansas City, Mo.
6. 83A Aaron Sauter, St. Joseph, Mo.
7. 0032 Dennie Belknap

OUT-PACE USRA B-MODS

Heat #1:
1. 6 Lucas Isaacs, Bonner Springs, Kan.
2. 17T Shadren Turner, St. Joseph, Mo.
3. 1 Kyle Henning, Atchison, Kan.
4. 88L Lonnie Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
5. 2T Todd Luke, Maryville, Mo.
6. 07 Daniel Harris, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
7. 14H Blake Hayes, Albany, Mo.
8. 3D Jonathan Barnett, St. Joseph, Mo.

Heat #2:
1. 0 Chase Galvan, Kansas City, Kan.
2. 69 Tyler Cadwallader, Amazonia, Mo.
3. 18K Danan Knott, Coffey, Mo.
4. 17X Clint Baker, Meadville, Mo.
5. 66 Ethan Isaacs, Bonner Springs, Kan.
6. 15XL Jared Hillyard, Pleasant Valley, Mo.
7. 7D3 Ted Martin

Feature:
1. 17T Shadren Turner, St. Joseph, Mo.
2. 66 Ethan Isaacs, Bonner Springs, Kan.
3. 18K Danan Knott, Coffey, Mo.
4. 6 Lucas Isaacs, Bonner Springs, Kan.
5. 88L Lonnie Hibner, Chillicothe, Mo.
6. 07 Daniel Harris, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
7. 2T Todd Luke, Maryville, Mo.
8. 17X Clint Baker, Meadville, Mo.
9. 1 Kyle Henning, Atchison, Kan.
10. 15XL Jared Hillyard, Pleasant Valley, Mo.
11. 69 Tyler Cadwallader, Amazonia, Mo.
12. 0 Chase Galvan, Kansas City, Kan.
13. 3D Jonathan Barnett, St. Joseph, Mo.
14. 14H Blake Hayes, Albany, Mo.
15. 7D3 Ted Pantoja