An ecstatic Jason Utter celebrates his win on three different tours at I-80 Speedway. (Lloyd Collins) Cornbelt Clash/NCRA/MLRA: Utter Makes Last Lap Move in Traffic to Steal Trifecta Win From Simpson Ashley Berry and David Smith, Jr. GREENWOOD, Neb. - July 1. Jason Utter of Columbus Junction, Ia. passed Chris Simpson at the checkers to win the Midwest Tri-Fecta at I-80 Speedway at Nebraska Raceway Park on Friday night. The event was sanctioned by the MLRA, the NCRA, and the Cornbelt Clash. In many forms of motorsports, lapped traffic often plays a pivotal role in the outcome of an event. Such was the case on Friday night as Utter took advantage of race long leader Simpson’s problems with slower traffic to take
For the second time in the last few weeks Iowan Chris Simpson saw victory snatched away in the closing laps. Simpson gave up the lead and the win to Jason Utter in heavy last lap traffic at I-80 Speedway. (Mike Ruefer) the lead coming down the front stretch to win his first career National Championship Racing Association (NCRA) late model feature. The victory was Utter's first career for both the Cornbelt Clash and the MLRA as well. Utter went from ninth to first in his heat race to pick up the pole for the feature event, but it was fifth starting Chris Simpson who would take the lead as the green flag fell. Simpson led nearly the entire 30-lap feature, however, heavy lapped traffic would prove to be his undoing the final ten laps as Utter began to slowly close in on the leader. As the white flag dropped, Utter powered his way closer to the front and, entering turns three and four around the top side of the track, got a run
Eleventh starting Kyle Berck stalks #2 John Anderson at I-80 Speedway before making the pass for fifth place. (Mike Ruefer) coming out of turn four and would edge Chris Simpson by just a nose in front of Simpson. Chad Simpson finished a solid third, while Travis Dickes came home fourth ahead of Kyle Berck, who brought his familiar #14 Strobel Construction sponsored Swartz chassis from his 11th starting position to a fifth place finish.
It was "Smokin' Joe" Kosiski during prelimiary action for the Greenwood event, but the popular Nebraska veteran managed to make the necessary adjustments and come up with a 16th place finish in the main event. (Mike Ruefer)
Jason Utter in the Winner''s Circle at I-80 Speedway. (Mike Ruefer)
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Big Gains for Hubbard, Pearson, Ogle - The A-Team Has Been Updated 05-15-12
Scott James battles #13 Barry Doss in heat race action at Florence (Ky.) Speedway, but in the $2,000-to-win feature, the only thing anyone saw was the tail end of James' #81 car. (Roy Walker)
After plenty of trash-talking via the electronic media between Jeff Matthews and Ivedent Lloyd last week, it was #21 Lloyd who got the final word as he reeled in #33 Matthews to win Friday's LM feature at Oclala, Fla.'s Bubba Raceway Park. (R.E. Wing)
Fans at Markleysburg, Pa.'s Roaring Knob Motorsports Comlex were treated to dual LM features Saturday - one a makeup from a May 5th rainout. (Above) Tim Senic challenges eventual regular feature winner Chuck Harper, while Jared Hawkins (below) claimed the makeup race. (Tommy Micheals)
Henley, Missouri's Jason Russell leads the way to Victory Lane in the ULMS Late Model feature at Lucas Oil Speedway Saturday. (Chris Bork)
Some fierce racing action at Lucas Oil speedway. (Chris Bork)
Dalton, Ga.'s Craig Reece returned to Dixie Speedway Saturday and led all the way to win the Crate LM victory. (Steve Hixson)
Ray Guss Jr. races last week's Quad City Speedway winner, Mike Murphy, Jr. This time, it was advantage Guss. (Chris Damitz)
With a strong motor back into his mount, Veteran Lamar Scoggins claimed last Friday's Crate LM victory at Boyd's Speedway. (Steve Hixson)
Veteran racer Lance Matthees navigates Spring Lake, Minnesota's Deer Creek Speedway before taking Saturday's WISSOTA Late Model checkers. (Jason Durst)
Racing hard at mid-pack, it's the dueling 55s of Cory Mahder (inside) and Greg Nippoldt at Deer Creek. (Jason Durst)
Ryan King (above and below) swept both the Ltd. Late Model and Crate Late Model features Saturday at 411 Motor Speedway in Seymour, Tenn. (Chad Wells)
Still riding his wave in Iowa, Mike Murphy, Jr. in early action before taking the main event win at Davenport last Friday. (Chris Damitz)
Jason Jameson ran a gauntlet to finally capture another win Friday night at Moler
Raceway Park (see main page). (Roy
Walker)
After holding back a charge from Alex Ferree, Chub Frank drove home with a Friday night win at Lernerville Speedway in Sarver, Pa. (John Stivason)
Bobby Pierce, Brett Sievert, and Mike Glynn race in a tight pack in Kankakee (Ill.) Speedway's "Crosstown Cup", but (below) it was ultimately Shawn Toczek (42) here racing the high side of Mike Provenzano, who sailed to the win. (Dan Simpson)
NALMS Suspends Remaining Season
In a statement released to the racing media Monday, Northern All All Stars Late Model Series (NALMS) owners Shawn Hall and Bob Mooney relased the following statement:
To all NALMS drivers and fans,
Northern Allstars Late Model Series regrets to inform all of our drivers and fans that as of today (May 14, 2012) we will suspend all series races for the remaining 2012 season. The primary reason for the decision to discontinue the series was mainly economics. Tracks, teams and fans are having a hard time these days with the cost of living in general. With the cost of fuel, parts, tires, tickets and lodging, many people just cannot afford to travel to our shows, so we feel it's best to stop for now and try to regroup for the 2013 season.
Our series needs to be able to have at least 18 to 20 shows to cover our cost of putting on these shows and our drivers point funds. With many tracks cutting back on their special events and other tracks just choosing not to have specials at all, it's has really cut our options for race tracks down to a very few unless you are willing to travel several hours away from the Central Illinois area, and that is not cost effective for the racing teams or fans.
In closing we would like to thank all of the drivers and fans whom have supported the series over the years and we hope to be able to come back with a bigger and better season for everyone in 2013.
A-Team Leaders from 1997-2011 (Click on link for complete rundown)
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