Leary Wins Soudrette Memorial

The Jason Soudrette Memorial race at Lawrenceburg Speedway was won by Greenfield, Indiana's CJ Leary.

CJ Leary in the winners circle after winning the Jason Soudrette Memorial feature race at Lawrenceburg Speedway on Saturday, August 4. Photo by Tim Thomas.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Greenfield, Indiana's CJ Leary, won the 5th running of the Jason Soudrette Memorial and won the event for the second time.  20 cars started the 25 lap feature race.  The race paid $2044 to win and the winner receives a bass guitar.  The race named after the late Jason Soudrette who besides racing, played bass in a band.  Joss Moffatt took the lead on the opening lap and brought CJ Leary along from his second row starting spot up to second.  Moffatt ran the low side, while Leary was running the top.  Leary got a run on the outside of Moffatt and took the lead on lap 5.  That spelled trouble for the rest of the field as Leary is tough to beat once he gets out front.  The battle for second was a great one, as Dickie Gaines driving 44 Soudrette Sprint,  the car formerly driven by Jason was making his way to the front.  Gaines was able to get around Moffatt and Nick Bilbee but by the time he got to second, he was almost a straightaway behind Leary.  With 2 laps to go, Gaines would get his chance when Tony McVey spun in turn 2 bringing out the caution.  On the restart, Gaines tried to make a charge on Leary, but Leary was too strong.  Leary led the final 20 laps.  Gaines finished second followed by Nick Bilbee, Jarrett Andretti who started 12th, And The Kelsey Chevrolet Sprint Car Point Leader, Garrett Abrams came home in 5th.  Heat race winners were Moffatt, Travis Hery, and Leary.  The Kelsey Chevrolet Sprint Cars return to the track on Saturday  August 18th for the Dick Gaines Memorial.

Schornick wins first of year in thriller

Jay Greene plowing up the infield during a modified heat race. Photo by Tim Thomas.

Kyle Schornick, has not had the season he is used to having in 2018.  About a month ago, they changed the setup on the car to what they were running in 2014, and it seemed to work.  He finished second in the Merrill Downey, the biggest modified race of the year.  He has run well since but had not yet picked up a win.  On this night, it didn't look like he was going to win either, but a late race caution changed everything.  David Adams led the opening lap, before Schornick took over the top spot.  Schornick wasn't safe for long as Matt Hamilton, the series most dominant driver, and current point leader got around Schornick to grab the lead.  Hamilton Started to pull away while Schornick fought to hold off Joey Kramer for second.  Hamilton looked like he was on his way to a series leading 5th win of the year, when a caution flag flew with just a few laps remaining.  On the restart, Hamilton didn't appear as fast and Schornick made a run on him.  The two raced side by side until Hamilton slid up and hit the outside wall in turn 4 coming to the white flag.   Schornick was able to race back to the line holding off Adam Stricker, Joey Kramer, Hamilton who fell back to 4th and Brad Wieck who finished 5th. Heat race winners were Adams, Wieck, and Kramer  The Budweiser UMP Modifieds return to the track on Saturday August 18th.

Moore wins fourth hornet feature

Defending track champ, Cordell Moore had to start 10th because he won the last feature.   This has rarely prevented him from challenging for the win.  This night was no different.  The 12 lap Hornet feature started with some exciting racing from the opening lap.  Bradley Eberhart led the first lap before the red flag came out for a crash.  Eberhart was found to have a hole in his fuel tank and had to retire from the race.  On the restart, Dallas Miller went on the outside to take the lead which he did in a stunning move where the cars were 4 wide.  Miller led until a flat tire ended his chance at his first victory.  Gary Whitt assumed the lead and held on to it for 2 laps before He saw Cordell Moore go around him for the lead.  Moore led the remaining 6 laps in picking up his 4th win of the year.  The defending track champ, is the current point leader and looking to become the first back to back Bessler's U Pull N Save Track Champion.  The rest of the top 5 was Gary Whitt, Brian Stamper, Michael Freimuth II, and Tyler McGhee.  Heat race winners were Moore, Josh Lambert, Travis Butte, and Eberhart.  Chris Wilder won the B Main.

House picks up first feature win

14-year-old Will Hayes loops one in the pure sock heat race. Photo by Tim Thomas.

Eric House Picked up his first Impact Sports Purestock win at Lawrenceburg this past Saturday night.  Most were surprised to realize it was his first win.  House has run well at Lawrenceburg, but always seems to get bit by bad luck and has never been able to win until now.  For the first 9 laps, House followed in the tire tracks of 2 time defending track champion, Don Grace.  grace began to feel the pressure from House and that most likely had something to do with Grace sliding high in turn 3 allowing House the opening he needed to assume the lead.  House led the final 6 laps holding off Danny Eichler, Mike Ackman finished 3rd, had to start from the tail after having to start from the tail due to winning the previous 2 features.  4th place went to Don Grace, and Greg Mathews rounded out the top 5.  heat race winners were Bobby Burleson and Eric House.  The Impact Sports Purestocks return to Lawrenceburg on Saturday August 18th.