SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - While the weather has been cool this racing season, Brandon Maggard has been hot as the Springfield driver showed everyone the fast way around the quick Springfield Raceway quarter-mile Saturday night in grabbing his second consecutive USRA Modified feature win in a nail-biter.

Over 80 race teams checked into the pits.

The 20-lap USRA Modified feature saw 17 strong drivers take the green as Arkansas driver Todd Knight grabbed the opening lead with veteran Ron McClellan following closely.

On lap 2, McClellan shot to the lead as Jody Tillman and Erik Maggard were coming forward. Tillman, who used the top groove of the track, took the lead on lap 4 as Jim Body was working forward.

The first caution waved on lap 5 as Knight and Maggard made contact ending both their strong runs.

On the restart, Tillman found Jesse Stovall making his way forward to challange as Brandon Maggard was moving up from the 10th starting spot.

The lead trio thrilled the crowd as they provided excellent side-by-side action while points runner-up Mitch Keeter powered to the fourth spot and was closing.

On lap 16, Brandon Maggard, running the bottom of the track, made a smooth move to the inside of leader Tillman to grab the lead as Stovall was moving both high and low contending for the lead.

On lap 18, Tillman and Stovall made contact as Stovall went sideways in turn 3, bringing out only the second yellow.

On the restart, Maggard pulled away with Mitch Keeter slipping under Tillman to take home the runner-up spot as Tillman, Bobby Pearish and points leader Jackie Dalton completed the top-5 with 14 of the 17 starters finishing on the lead lap.

With Keeter's runner-up spot, he moved to within one point of Dalton with season championships next Saturday night, Sept. 5.

Champions will be crowned next Saturday in the USRA Modifieds, SportMods, Bombers and Legends Cars, with an apperance by the Pro-4 Late Models. Racing will start at 7:30 with hot laps at 6:45.

More information is on the website at www.springfieldraceway.com or by contacting Jerry Hoffman at 417-673-7426.

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OFFICIAL RESULTS
American Racer USRA Weekly Racing Series
Springfield Raceway, Springfield, Mo.
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009

USRA MODIFIEDS

Feature: 1. Brandon Maggard, Springfield; 2. Mitch Keeter, Webb City; 3. Jody Tillman, Branson West; 4. Bobby Pearish, Oronogo; 5. Jackie Dalton, Carthage; 6. Jim Body, Diamond; 7. Ron McClellan, Jasper; 8. Brian Green, Pierce City; 9. Joe Duvall, Chelsea, Okla.; 10. Greg Skaggs, Bixby, Okla.; 11. Jesse Stovall, Galena; 12. Darrell McWhirter, Bentonville, Ark.; 13. Eric Clay, Clever; 14. Sam Petty, Niangua; 15. Tammy Mitchell, Pea Ridge, Ark.; 16. Erik Maggard, Springfield; 17. Todd Knight, Harrison, Ark.