West Plains report

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Email address: DirtNews@aol.com Web site: http://members.aol.com/dirtnews/digest =================================== CONTENTS: May 23 results (published May 24) SHOW-ME 100: Rick Aukland on pole for Show-Me 100 HEAT RACES: Capsules of six 20-lap preliminaries FEATURE LINEUP: Starting order for Saturday's race QUALIFYING: Complete driver-by-driver time trial results =================================== UNSANCTIONED Fifth annual Show-Me 100

WEST PLAINS, Mo. (Friday) After qualifying 61st fastest out of 107 cars, fortunes didn't look good for Rick Aukland at the fifth annual Show-Me 100 at West Plains Motor Speedway.

But the Fargo, N.D., driver turned his luck around with a rousing preliminary race, rallying from his fifth-row starting spot to win the sixth heat and land the pole position for Saturday's $31,000-to-win feature at the 3/8-mile oval in southcentral Missouri.

"We were really hanging our heads after the time trial laps," Aukland said. "I think we guessed on tires a little wrong, and then we made a mistake with the car (setup), we didn't catch it until afterwards .... No excuses. We just weren't really that good in time trials, but we were pretty good in the heat."

Joining Aukland with heat-race wins were fast qualifier Wendell Wallace, C.J. Rayburn, John Gill, Scott Bloomquist and Billy Moyer. Aukland starts on the pole because the heat winners were inverted based on their qualifying times. Bloomquist, the 1995 race winner, starts next to Aukland, while three-time race winner Moyer and Gill form the second row. Rayburn and Wallace make up Saturday's third row in the huge-purse race that pays $3,100 to the last-place finisher.

Veterans Freddy Smith and Bob Pierce were among the 18 drivers who secured feature starting spots by finishing in the top three in their heat races, but several lesser known drivers -- including Kentucky's James Huff, Indiana's Shawn Toczek, Illinois' Dennis Erb Jr. -- made the Show-Me 100 field for the first time.

Most notable among drivers failing to reach the feature was three-time STARS champion Donnie Moran, who was involved in two heat-race accidents and loaded his No. 99 early, presumably to head north for Saturday's STARS race at Muskingum County Speedway, a Zanesville, Ohio, track promoted by Moran's father. ------------------------------------------------------------- HEAT RACE CAPSULES (20 laps; top three advance to feature with winners starting in rows 1-3, inverted according to time trial; second-place finishers fill out rows 4-6; third-place finishers fill out rows 7-9).

FIRST HEAT

The only heat winner to win from the pole, Wendell Wallace blasted away from the field to reinforce his fast qualifying time. Leslie Essary finished comfortably in second, but Greg Williams had to survive a wild battle between a pair of No. 17s to pick up the third and final feature transfer spot. Dale McDowell challenged Williams throughout the race, but never more than on the 11th lap as the pair banged down the frontstretch with McDowell trying to grab the inside line. Williams shut the door. "I wasn't going to give in for a $3,000-to-start race," Williams said. "You just go for it all in that kind of racing." Robbie Starnes ran among the leaders early but appeared to have a problem with the right rear of his car and faded to eighth.

FINISHING ORDER: Wendell Wallace, Leslie Essary, Greg Williams, Dale McDowell, David Gibson, Tony Izzo Jr., Ray Cook, Robbie Starnes, Bill Frye, Brian Birkhofer, Dusty Johnston, Kenny Shelton Jr., Mike Koch, Shorty Acker, Stan Amacher, Troy Withers, Dave Ware, Wade Knowles. ----------------------------- SECOND HEAT

C.J. Rayburn was strong early in building a solid lead, questionable in the middle of the race when he appeared to slow, but good enough at the end to hold off Dennis Erb Jr. James Huff ran consistently to finish third as the top three cars finished comfortably ahead of the field. Steve Russell had a transfer spot locked up, but spun into the infield coming out of Turn 2 on the 12th lap when he clipped Rayburn's car while trying to take the lead. Donnie Moran couldn't catch a break. He was bashed from behind by Alan Vaughn on an aborted start, and was sent to the tail after going to the pits for repairs. While trying to fight his way toward the front on the restart, Moran bumped Gregg Herron on the frontstretch and ended up sliding gently into the wall. He then retired.

FINISHING ORDER: C.J. Rayburn, Dennis Erb Jr., James Huff, Rex Richey, Jeff Floyd, Howard Willis, Mark Noble, Jason Snodgrass, Brandon Ball, Brett Davis, Steve Russell, Brian Holloway, Gregg Herron, John Kocsis, Donnie Moore, Donnie Moran, Alan Vaughn, Glenn Morris. ----------------------------- THIRD HEAT

John Gill, caught by stopwatches as recording the fastest race laps of the night, smoothly rolled to a heat-race victory over Marshall Green. Mike Jewell, coming from the fifth row and riding the high side, had his hands full in holding off Clint Smith and Johnny Stokes for third place. The race was marred by the worst accident of the night when Johnny Virden's car did a single, super-quick barrel roll in Turn 2 in an early-race wreck that involved several other cars. Virden's No. 1V was mashed badly.

FINISHING ORDER: John Gill, Marshall Green, Mike Jewell, Clint Smith, Johnny Stokes, Randle Chupp, Terry Phillips, Gary Webb, Randy Sellars, Chad Lyle, Randy Floyd, Johnny Johnson, Randy Cummings, Billy Romans, Brian Rickman, Shane Harris, Steve Morgan, Johnny Virden. ----------------------------- FOURTH HEAT

Scott Bloomquist advanced from the third row to win the heat with the most exciting racing among the leaders. Polesitter Shawn Toczek led the first 12 laps, but Bloomquist and second-place finisher Ronnie Johnson got past when Toczek was pinched off by slower traffic. Johnson hounded Bloomquist the last several laps but couldn't get past his former teammate. Terry Muskrat finished an admirable fourth, while Skip Arp started in the sixth row but steadily advanced to finish fifth. Tony Cardin, driving Donnie Barnhart's backup car, started on the front row but faded quickly.

FINISHING ORDER: Scott Bloomquist, Ronnie Johnson, Shawn Toczek, Terry Muskrat, Skip Arp, Rex McCroskey, Tony Cardin, Al Purkey, Ronnie Poche, John Logue, David Turner, Danny Griffith, Randy McGraw, Trey Moore, Waylon Bullock, Trey Beene, Steve Walters (Denny Dennison scratched). ----------------------------- FIFTH HEAT

Billy Moyer was never threatened and won by the biggest margin of any heat winner. Mark Miner held off a late-race charge from Freddy Smith to finish second, while Mark Barber was right on Smith's tail as they took the checkered flag. Smith tried an outside move on the final lap, but a slower car cost Smith momentum and Miner was able to hold on. A first-lap collision that began when Dan Sturgeon got underneath Barber caused a bumpfest that ended with a caution which sent Don O'Neal to the tail. O'Neal rallied to finish sixth, behind Jim Curry.

FINISHING ORDER: Billy Moyer, Mark Miner, Freddy Smith, Mark Barber, Jim Curry, Don O'Neal, Kevin Claycomb, Dan Sturgeon, Eddie Rickman, Don Marsh, Willy Kraft, Carmon Vincent, Dan Leatherman, Keith Flurry, Rick Michael, Travis Mears, Gar Dickson, Jason Bodenhammer. ----------------------------- SIXTH HEAT

Using the low groove, 10th-starting Rick Aukland repeatedly rocketed down the frontstretch to pick off competitors. He was in fifth by the third lap, fourth by the fourth lap, third by the fifth lap and took the lead from polesitter Bob Pierce on the 12th circuit. "There was some moisture we found down there real low, and most of the cars were kinda in the middle, so it left a spot open there for us," said Aukland. Donnie Barnhart finished third while 12th-starting Kevin Weaver ran out of laps and finished fourth after gaining ground on Barnhart toward the end of the race. An early accident in Turn 2 eliminated Jack Simmons and Gar Dickson.

FINISHING ORDER: Rick Aukland, Bob Pierce, Donnie Barnhart, Kevin Weaver, Ken Essary, Stacy Taylor, Michael Coleman, Stan Lewis, Dale Harris, Blake Lane, Mike Bowers, Stewart Pringle, Rick Rickman, Dennis Erb Sr., Chad Clark, Aubrey Swan Jr., Jack Simmons. ------------------------------------------------------------- SATURDAY'S FEATURE LINEUP

FIRST ROW: Rick Aukland (12), Scott Bloomquist (0) SECOND ROW: Billy Moyer (21), John Gill (75) THIRD ROW: C.J. Rayburn (1cj), Wendell Wallace (6m) FOURTH ROW: Dennis Erb Jr. (28), Marshall Green (89) FIFTH ROW: Mark Miner (7), Bob Pierce (32) SIXTH ROW: Ronnie Johnson (5), Leslie Essary (5) SEVENTH ROW: Shawn Toczek (55), Greg Williams (17) EIGHTH ROW: Donnie Barnhart (11), James Huff (5) NINTH ROW: Freddy Smith (00), Mike Jewell (9) 10TH ROW: First and second consolation winners 11TH ROW: Third and fourth consolation winners 12TH ROW: Fifth and sixth consolation winners ------------------------------------------------------------- QUALIFYING (Unofficial; better of two laps)

1. Wendell Wallace (6m), Batesville, Ark., 15.151 2. Dennis Erb Jr., (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.288 3. Shawn Toczek (55), Griffith, Ind., 15.442 4. Marshall Green (89), Dalton, Ga., 15.445 5. Mark Miner (7), Stockbridge, Ga., 15.455 6. Bob Pierce (32), Danville, Ill., 15.458 7. Greg Williams (17), Haubstadt, Ind., 15.533 8. C.J. Rayburn (1cj), Whiteland, Ind., 15.535 9. John Gill (75), Mitchell, Ind., 15.540 10. Tony Cardin (11), Greenbrier, Ark., 15.545 11. Billy Moyer (21), Batesville, Ark., 15.590 12. Donnie Barnhart (11), North Little Rock, Ark., 15.613 13. Dale McDowell (17m), Rossville, Ga., 15.633 14. Donnie Moran (99), Dresden, Ohio, 15.636 15. Gary Webb (56), Blue Grass, Iowa, 15.660 16. Terry Muskrat (83), Stillwell, Okla., 15.689 17. Mark Barber (00), North Vernon, Ind., 15.707 18. Stacy Taylor (27), Jacksonville, Ark., 15.75 19. Dale Harris (92), Decatur, Ark., 15.772 20. Robbie Starnes (77), Houston, Texas, 15.773 21. James Huff (5), Milton, Ky., 15.775 22. Clint Smith (1), Griffin, Ga., 15.779 23. Ronnie Johnson (5), Chattanooga, Tenn., 15.790 24. Dan Sturgeon (26), Bedford, Ind., 15.793 25. Michael Coleman (5a), Tyler, Texas, 15.800 26. Leslie Essary (5), Crane, Mo., 15.810 27. John Kocsis (00), Los Angeles, Calif., 15.820 28. Randle Chupp (114), Knoxville, Tenn., 15.822 29. David Turner (15), Creighton, Mo., 15.840 30, Don O'Neal (71), Martinsville, Ind., 15.840 31. Chad Clark (00), Marshall, Mo., 15.851 32. Ray Cook (53), Murphy, N.C., 15.872 33. Steve Russell (G1), Pontotoc, Miss., 15.890 34. Johnny Virden (1v), Russellville, Ark., 15.903 35. Scott Bloomquist (0), Mooresburg, Tenn., 15.903 36. Freddy Smith (00), Knoxville, Tenn., 15.923 37. Stan Lewis (B6), Jonesboro, Ark., 15.923 38. Wade Knowles (66), Tyrone, Ga., 15.925 39. Brandon Ball (32), West Plains, Mo., 15.941 40. Johnny Stokes (1), Columbus, Miss., 15.953 41. Rex McCroskey (4), Springfield, Mo., 15.954 42. Jim Curry (7), Norman, Ind., 15.955 43. Dennis Erb Sr. (28), Carpentersville, Ill., 15.964 44. Brian Birkhofer (15), Muscatine, Iowa, 15.987 45. Rex Richey (87), Ringgold, Ga., 15.992 46. Johnny Johnson (99), West Burlington, Iowa, 16.000 47. Ronnie Poche (5x), Natchitoches, La., 16.037 48. Carmon Vincent (9), Moody, Mo., 16.042 49. Ken Essary (55), Galena, Mo., 16.043 50. Kenny Shelton Jr. (19), Joplin, Mo., 16.050 51. Jason Snodgrass (71), Mountain Home, Ark., 16.083 52. Randy Sellars (3), Mayfield, Ky., 16.100 53. Randy McGraw (25), Marshall, Mo., 16.100 54. Kevin Claycomb (28), Vincennes, Ind., 16.115 55. Mike Bowers (60), North Little Rock, Ark., 16.120 56. David Gibson, Ash Flat, Ark., 16.151 57. Alan Vaughn (22), Belton, Mo. 16.160 58. Mike Jewell (9), Scottsburg, Ind.,16.160 59. Danny Griffith (35), Alexander, Ark., 16.193 60. Gar Dickson (60), Flintstone, Ga., 16.212 61. Rick Aukland (12), Fargo, N.D., 16.258 62. Tony Izzo Jr. (16), Bridgeview, Ill., 16.273 63. Steve C. Morgan, Orangeville, Ill., 16.273 64. Brett Davis (1), Bloomfield, Ind., 16.290 65. Terry Phillips (75), Springfield, Mo., 16.290 66. Skip Arp (31), Georgetown, Tenn., 16.291 67. Eddie Rickman (68), Columbus, Miss., 16.318 68. Mark Noble (21), Blooming Prairie, Minn., 16.334 69. Jack Simmons (J2), Erie, Kan., 16.337 70. Dusty Johnson (16), Flippin, Ark., 16.343 71. Al Purkey (33), Coffeyville, Kan., 16.350 72. Travis Mears (26), Newport, Ark., 16.356 73.. Kevin Weaver (B12), Gibson City, Ill., 16.380 74. Mike Koch (65), Mountain Home, Ark., 16.390 75. Howard Willis (c5a), Pasadena, Texas, 16.390 76. Chad Lyle (1), Kansas City, Mo., 16.415 77. Waylon Bullock (17), Truman, Ark., 16.418 78. Willy Kraft (83), Lakefield, Minn., 16.462 79. Blake Lane (19), Bono, Ark., 16.464 80. Dave Ware (55), Springfield, Mo., 16.465 81. Jeff Floyd (F1), Walnut Ridge, Ark., 16.466 82. Billy Romans (18), West Plains, Mo., 16.483 83. Trey Beene (115), Bossier City, La., 16.497 84. Don Marsh (2), West Plains, Mo., 16.498 85. Rick Rickman (86), Columbus, Miss., 16.513 86. Bill Frye (66), Greenbrier, Ark., 16.525 87. Donnie Moore (D4), Selmer, Tenn., 16.555 88. Randy Cummings (ss1), Stewart, Miss., 16.584 89. John Logue (69), Boone, Iowa, 16.642 90. Keith Flurry (4U), Tupelo, Miss., 16.682 91. Stewart Pringle (99), Willow Springs, Mo., 16.695 92. Stan Amacher (21), Tullahoma, Tenn., 16.702 93. Gregg Herron (30), Little Rock, Ark., 16.715 94. Randy Floyd (69), Walnut Ridge, Ark., 16.725 95. Trey Moore (T4), Selmer, Tenn., 16.755 96. Dan Leatherman (64), Muskogee, Okla., 16.755 97. Shorty Acker (Y8), Windsor, Mo., 16.787 98. Glenn Morris (99), Grain Valley, Mo., 16.834 99. Brian Rickman (90), Columbus, Miss., 16.927 100. Steve Walters (3H), Lowry City, Mo., 16.945 101. Jason Bodenhammer (2), Centerview, Mo., 17.050 102. Aubrey Swan (77), Dewey, Okla., 17.060 103. Troy Withers (85), Little Rock, Ark., 17.125 104. Brian Holloway (33), Sheridan, Ark., 17.190 105. Shane Harris (0), Sheridan, Ark., 17.204 106. Denny Dennison (67), West Plains, Mo., 17.493 107. Rick Michael (95), Iola, Kan., 17.752 ------------------------------------------------------------- CREDIT: Todd Turner <DirtNews@aol.com>. -------------------------------------------------------------