| Campbell Wins Incredible Pizza Trick or Treat Race |
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Arkansas hotshoe Larry Campbell took advantage of his front row starting spot and held off a late race rally from Brandon Hunter to capture the 1st annual Incredible Pizza Trick or Treat for Breast Cancer feature at the Springfield Raceway Sat evening. On a near perfect racing surface as the Race Bros Farm & Home Supply Show-Me Racin Series did battle with the ULMA LateModel Series. Greenfield's Rylan Long earned the pole through the tough qualifying heat races with Campbell to his outside. Campbell went to the top groove quickly as Long followed. The Race was restarted as Series champion and B feature winner Justin Wells spun in turn 3 restarting the feature. Again Campbell grabbed the lead as Long followed closely behind. The pace was quick on the Springfield Quick-Quarter mile as side-by-side action including Leslie Essary, Chris Hawkins, Rex Merritt and Brandon Hunter. Only 1 other caution flew during the 30-lap feature just as Campbell had opened up about a straight away lead as it bunched the field-up. On the restart, Long who was running second picked the high groove as Leslie Essary pulled along side as the green flew. Essary shot to the inside of Long to get second only to have Long rally back for the spot. Rookie Brandon Hunter had really come to life for position and began his march forward. As Campbell pulled away, he caught traffic with 5 laps to go and Hunter began to pick off spots. Campbell was patient through the traffic and captured the win as Hunter who had closed-up quickly settled for Second followed by Long, Essary and Rex Merritt in the top 5.16 of the 20 starters finished on the lead lap. In other action, Springfield's Erik Maggard battled back and forth with Rustin Miller before taking the lead for good on lap 10 in the A-Mod feature. Miller would lead the opening laps as he and Maggard went back and forth.The 20 lap feature was only slowed once by a lap 2 caution as Mickey Burrell and Jeff Cutshaw got together in turn 1. By lap 15,Maggard had clear sailing leaving a great battle for second place. Bobby Pearish and Miller exchanged the spot several times as Turkey Classic champion Jody Tillman was in the hunt also. Pearish secured the runner-up spot as Miller of Houston, Mo, Tillman and 2011 USRA track champion Jackie Dalton completed the top 5 as 16 of the 20 staters completed the lead lap pack. Jerry Lankton grabbed the B-Mod feature event in an outstanding duel with track champion Bobby Maggard Jr during the 20 lap feature. Pole setter JC Morton would lead the opening 7 laps as Andy Beauchamp followed closely. On lap 8,Morton made a small bobble in turn 1 as Beaucamp took control with Lankton and Maggard Jr following. The quick pace slowed on lap 11 as a 3 car incident in turn 3 involving Don Luna, Tim Ballinger and Kaleb Copher. On the restart, Beauchamp didn't come up to speed as Lankton and Maggard Jr went around the leader as Midway champion Michael stake was coming quickly. The lead was been swapped between Lankton and Maggard bringing the crowd to their feet as Lankton in only his second race in this ex Eric Tinderholt car was finding the 2011 track champion right on his bumper and doors. This exciting battle went to the very end as Lankton was able to hold off Maggard to grab the win with Maggard Jr., Stake, Jon Yeoman Jr and a fast moving Don Luna in the top 5. The Legend feature week in and week out provide exciting action and tonight was no different. Mike Hailman grabbed the opening lead from his pole spot with Wayne Johnston following. On lap 2, Johnston grabbed the lead with Hailman, 2010 champion Justin Comer, Dave Comer and Jay Reynolds in an action packed top 5. On lap 8, Hailman went back in the lead as J Comer followed suite. This lead duo started pulling away as J Comer was reeling in Hailman on the low groove. On lap 17,Comer made the pass down low as Hailman still rode top side. On the 19th lap, the leaders began to get into lapped traffic and things got very tight. Heading for the checkered flag out of turn 4, J comer came quickly upon traffic and made hard contact as Hailman went around and took the win with Johnston, 2011 champion Dave Comer, Justin Comer and a fast moving Jay Reynolds in the top 5. A heart-breaking incident for Justin Comer as the crowd showed their appreciation by his race with a nice ovation. Midwest Modz action saw Rusty Forrest keep his hot streak rolling late in this season by grabbing the lead on lap 8 from Charlie Gentile to grab the win. Another action packed feature for this second year class as 22 cars checked into the pits. Taylor Moore took the opening lead as Gentile applied pressure. On lap 3,Gentile took over as Moore, Forrest, Sam Petty and Midway champion JC Newell battled. This battle last until the halfway point when Forrest made the pass on the top groove and grabbed the win. Gentile, Moore, Petty and Newell completed the top 5 in a race that featured only 1 caution with 17 of the 21 starters on the lead lap. Bryan Tillman overcame a race long 4 car battle to capture the Pure Stock feature win. Issac Keepper took the lead on lap 8 only to see Tillman grab it back 3 laps later. Octoberfast winner Clayton Powell and track champion Jack Hamer were also in the mix of this outstanding event as side-by-side action featured. Powell would cross the line in the runner-up spot with Keepper, Hamer and Midway champion Matt Young following. The Bombers made another visit to the Quick-Quarter and again provided excellent racing action as Mark Simon took advantage of a lap 7 caution and moved around leader Chuck Becker and then held off a late challange from Bill Schoen to record the win and veteran Bob Maggard Sr, Rex Freize and Tyrel Jones completed the top 5. Becker took the opening lead and looked like he would grab his first ever Springfield win. Simon struggled in his heat race and started the feature in 7th starting spot. Tyrel Jones chances for a win went bad on lap 9 as he rode off turn 1 while running up in the top 4 cars early. Over 150 race teams checked into the pits for the 1st ever event and were greeted with an action packed track for all the feature events as the Speedway helped to raise money for the Awareness to Breast Cancer and provided a safe Trick or Treat area with over 20 plus Businesses and drivers handing out candy along with prizes. Up next for the Springfield Raceway will be the O'Reilly Auto Parts 4th Annual Turkey Classic presented by Bad Boy Mowers on Sat November 26th featuring Late Models, A-Mods, B-Mods and Legends as currently start time is set for 3:00pm. Last season this popular event drew over 190 race teams from over a 11 states. |













