LEBANON, Mo. - Despite threating skies, 109 race teams checked into the pits Friday night at the Midway Speedway.

In USRA Modified action, 2006 champion Tony Jackson Jr. and Danny Atkinson brought the field down to the green with Jackson grabbing the early lead, but Rex Merritt took over the lead as the pack headed into turn 1.

Merrittt stayed glued to the bottom as Jackson went to the top groove as the duo ran side by side, with Merritt holding control as former champion and current points leader Jamie Ragland started his march to the front.

Merritt and Jackson gave each other plenty of racing room as Ragland gathered it up quickly and the lead trio brought the crowd to their feet as last week's winner, Eric Hudson, was marching forward from his 11th starting spot.

Heading for the white flag, Jackson made the wide sweeping pass while leader Merritt stayed glued to the bottom. The lead duo came dead even out of turn 4 while Jackson carried the speed out of the corner to nip Merritt at the line by a front bumper with Ragland, Hudson and early contender Steve Muilenburg following.

Action continues next Friday night with regular points racing in the USRA Modifieds, Factory Stocks, B-Mods, Bombers, Super Stocks and 305 Winged Sprints with racing at 8 p.m. sharp.

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

OFFICIAL RESULTS
USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series
Midway Speedway, Lebanon, Mo.
Friday, May 30, 2008

USRA MODIFIEDS

A Feature -  1. Tony Jackson Jr., Lebanon; 2. Rex Merritt, Billings; 3. Jamie Ragland, Lebanon; 4. Eric Hudson, Rolla; 5. Steve Muilenburg, Sparta; 6. Jimmy Willis, Macks Creek; 7. Justin Neuman, Crocker; 8. Ryan Stacye, Springfield; 9. Danny Atkinson, Lebanon; 10. Brian Brown, Lebanon; 11. Sam Petty, Niangua; 12. Tim Ballinger, Fair Grove; DNS - Jamie Petty, Niangua.

1st Heat -  1. Hudson; 2. Willis; 3. Merritt; 4. Jackson; 5. Neuman; 6. S. Petty; 7. J. Petty.

2nd Heat -  1. Ragland; 2. Muilenburg; 3. Atkinson; 4. Stacye; 5. Brown; 6. Ballinger.