Picou captures I-44 USRA Modified main

  • July 26, 2008
  • by Ronnie Williams

LEBANON, Mo. - It was a night of first-time winners in the 2008 racing season at the I-44 Speedway Saturday night as the track crew fought quick-moving incoming storms to complete the racing card.

The USRA  Modified feature saw St. Louis driver Steve Picou bring the field down for the green flag with Scotty Allen on his outside.

Picou jumped to the early lead as Rex Merritt shot to the outside lane from row 2 to grab second place.

Picou and Merritt battled early until lap 4 when Picou began to open a little distance.

Back in the race for third place, last week's winner, Justin Neuman, Allen and a late-arriving Tony Jackson Jr., along with Jimmy Willis were battling for position.

On lap 8, Merritt began to reel Picou back in and cut the lead to four car-lengths.

On lap 11, the race's only caution waved for debris in turn 2. On the restart, Merritt tried the low side early but Picou shot back ahead as Allen, Neuman, Jackson and Willis were battling hard.

Merritt tried several times to make the pass, but it was Picou grabbing his first win of the season in his first start with Merritt, Neuman, Allen and Jackson completing the top-5.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
USRA Casey’s General Stores Weekly Racing Series
I-44 Speedway, Lebanon, Mo.
Saturday, July 26, 2008

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature: 1. Steve Picou, High Ridge; 2. Rex Merritt, Billings; 3. Justin Neuman, Crocker; 4. Scotty Allen, Urbana; 5. Tony Jackson Jr., Lebanon; 6. Jimmy Willis, Macks Creek; 7. Don Luna, St. James; 8. Mookie Cunningham, St. James; 9. Corey Simpson, Waynesville; 10. Tim Ballinger, Fair Grove; DNS - Jason Meadors, Fordland.