SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - On only his third night out with a new car, former Springfield Raceway track champion Erik Maggard grabbed the lead on lap 7 and never looked back in grabbing his first USRA Modified feature win of the season Saturday night at the quick quarter-mile, despite an incident in his qualifying heat race.

The USRA Modified feature rolled out with Arkansas driver Todd Knight grabbing the early lead with Darrell McWhirter following closely along with Bobby Pearish and Brian Green.

Pearish moved into the runner-up spot on lap 2 and was running down Knight as Maggard was starting his charge from the sixth starting spot.

Pearish's strong run ended in turn 3 on the sixth lap as he spun. On the restart, Knight stayed to the middle lane while Maggard moved to the high groove and made the pass in turn 4 to take control as Green, Mitch Keeter, last week's winner Jody Tillman, Steve Muilenburg and Jim Body were battling for position.

On lap 13, points leader Jackie Dalton spun to the infield area and lost a couple of laps, taking him out of contention while Maggard was sailing on the top groove.

Opening up a big lead over the pack, Maggard took his first season win as the pack for second finally found Green grabbing the runner-up spot followed by Keeter, Tillman and Muilenburg completing the top-5.

"The new car has been fast since we brought it out three weeks ago," said Maggard. "We had a second- and a third-place finish while leading some laps and lost in the closing laps.

"Tonight, even after the deal in the heat race, it was perfect come feature time."

For more information visit the website at www.springfieldraceway.com or contact Jerry Hoffman at 417-673-7426.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Springfield Raceway, Springfield, Mo.
Saturday, June 13, 2009

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature: 1. Erik Maggard, Republic; 2. Brian Green, Pierce City; 3. Mitch Keeter, Joplin; 4. Jody Tillman, Branson West; 5. Steve Muilenburg, Sparta; 6. Bobby Pearish, Oronogo; 7. Todd Knight, Harrison, Ark.; 8. Rob Muilenburg, Sparta; 9. Larry Tindle, Springfield; 10. Darrell McWhirter, Bentonville, Ark.; 11. Sam Petty, Niangua; 12. Jackie Dalton, Carthage; 13. Wayne Graybeal, Springfield; 14. Jim Body, Diamond; 15. Shane Rees, Diamond.

Heat #1: 1. Pearish; 2. Dalton; 3. S. Muilenburg; 4. McWhirter; 5. Rees; 6. Maggard; 7. Graybeal; 8. Tindle.

Heat #2: 1. Tillman; 2. Keeter; 3. Green; 4. Body; 5. Knight; 6. R. Muilenburg; 7. Petty.