By Frank Biondo

Overland Park,KS (August 16, 2009) Austin Alumbaugh made a triumphant return to MSCA action Friday night at Valley Speedway. The Higginsville, MO driver Started the 25 lap feature from the pole and never looked back. As Alumbaugh set the blistering pace, the race for second was heavily contested with current MSCA point leader Brandon gray of Lee’s Summit and Edgerton, KS driver Mitchell Moore.

Moore kept the pressure on Gray the entire distance. Lone Jack’s Cody Baker, Higginsville’s Brad Ryun, Grain Valley’s J.D. Black and Harrisonville’s Ken Potter all engaged in a pack trading positions as the laps wound down to the checker flag. Alumbaugh went on uncontested and is the tenth driver this season to post an MSCA victory this season. Gray was a distant second while Moore was just a heartbeat away from Gray to finish third. Black and Ryun, always entertaining the fans with their driving skills rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth respectively.

The MSCA sprint cars and the entire Open Wheel Program have the night off this Friday August 21st. Returning August 28th for the Friday night Open Wheel program along with the Racing Experience Midwest Outlaw Lightning Sprints, 600CC Micro Sprint and Show Me Vintage Racing Vintage Cars for the Friday night open wheel series. The pit gates open for competitors at 5:00PM. Spectator gates open at 6:00PM. There is a drivers meeting in the pit area (Restricted access, by pit pass only) at 7:00PM. Hot laps which allow drivers to warm the engines and test their cars for the evening’s events start at 7:30 with racing to follow. Adult admission is $10.00, Children 6-12 $5.00, Children 5 and under is admitted free.

Box Score:

Valley Speedway 8/14/09

14 Cars

First Heat 8 Laps
F S Car Driver – Hometown
1 2 38 Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO -
2 1 82 Austin Alumbaugh Higginsville, MO -
3 4 7jr J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO -
4 3 55 Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO -
5 5 O3 Gavin Galbraith Washington, MO -
6 6 9 Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO -
7 7 3b Robert Black Blue Springs, MO

Second Heat 8 Laps
F S Car Driver – Hometown
1 2 1 Mitchell Moore Edgerton, KS -
2 4 32 Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO -
3 6 1x Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO
4 1 88 Chad Tye Independence, MO -
5 5 3j Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS -
6 3 19 Chris Walker Oak Grove, MO
7 7 12 John Helm Kansas City, MO -

A Feature 25 Laps Points
F S Car Driver – Hometown
1 1 82 Austin Alumbaugh Higginsville, MO - 110
2 2 32 Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO - 107
3 3 1 Mitchell Moore Edgerton, KS - 104
4 6 7jr J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO - 101
5 5 1x Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO 98
6 7 55 Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO - 95
7 4 38 Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO - 92
8 9 O3 Gavin Galbraith Washington, MO - 89
9 13 12 John Helm Kansas City, MO - 86
10 11 9 Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO - 83
11 8 88 Chad Tye Independence, MO - 80
12 10 3j Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS - 77
13 12 3b Robert Black Blue Springs, MO 74
14 14 19 Chris Walker Oak Grove, MO 10 DNS

As of August 15, 2009

Pos Car Driver – Hometown Points A Features / Wins

1) 32 - Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO - 1572 - 15 - 4
2) 7jr – J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO - 1455 - 15 - 1
3) 55 - Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO - 1415- 14 – 3
4) 9 – Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO - 1235 - 14 - 0
5) 38 - Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO - 1064 - 13 - 0
6) 88 - Chad Tye Independence, MO - 927 – 11 - 0
7) 37 - Brian Beebe Oak Grove, MO - 846 - 9 - 0
8 ) 51 - Mitchell Moore Edgerton, KS - 782 - 9 - 1
9) 29 - Zach Clark Olathe, KS - 616- 8 - 0
10) 82 - Austin Alumbaugh Higginsville, MO - 609 - 6 - 1
11) 1x - Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO 607 - 6 - 1
12) 3j - Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS - 600 - 7 - 0
13) 12a- Andy Helm Excelsior Springs, MO - 594 – 6 - 1
14) 12 - John Helm Kansas City, MO - 552 - 6 - 0
15) 19 - Rob Hockett Lone Jack, MO - 544 - 6 - 0
16) 1 - Jack Potter Pleasant Hill, MO - 475 - 5 - 1
17) 4 - Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO 443 - 5 - 0
18) 5r - Ryan Olah Independence - 434 - 5 - 0
19) 44 - Phil Heavelow Buckner, MO - 430 - 5 - 0
20) 03 - Gavin Galbraith Washington, MO 374 - 4 - 1
21) 71 - Michael Brown Kingsville, MO - 371 - 4 - 0
22) 12s- Simon Helm Independence, MO - 252 - 3 - 0
23) 88j- J Kinder Holt’s Summit, MO - 214 - 2 - 0
24) 19 - Chris Walker Oak Grove, MO 200 - 2 - 1
25) 1 - Joe Boyles Greenwood, MO - 190 - 2 - 0
26) 3b Robert Black Blue Springs, MO 157- 2 - 0
27) 10 - Randy Roberts Concordia, MO - 142 - 2 - 0
28) 93 - Taylor Walton Warrensburg, MO - 95 – 1 - 0
29) 13L- Dave Long Blue Springs, MO 92 - 1 - 0
30) 98 - Tyler Utz Sedalia, MO - 89 - 1 - 0
31) 3 - Kevin Roth Lone Jack, MO 77 – 1 - 0
32) 165- Haley Arnold Sedalia, MO - 59 - 1 - 0
33) 46 - Dusty Murray Kansas City, MO 10 - 0 - 0

By Frank Biondo

Grain Valley, MO (August 8, 2009) The heat of August was back at Valley Speedway Friday night as well as a familiar face in victory lane. Lee’s Summit’s Brandon Gray managed to hold off the constant threat of Higginsville’s Brad Ryun. Gray started the 25 lap MSCA sprint car feature on the outside front row and overtook pole sitter Grain Valley’s Chad Shields at the start of the second lap.

As Gray and Ryun were engaged in an epic dog fight for the point, Harrisonville’s Kenny Potter maneuvered his machine from his sixth place starting spot to begin reeling in Ryun. The racing albeit fast, had some ruts in turn one. As the drivers were making their way through turn one, these ruts were bouncing the cars like giant rubber balls.

The first 19 laps of the feature went by at a lightning pace without a caution. A yellow flag was displayed at lap 20 for debris on the front straight. On the restart, Shields going into turn one hooked the rut and went airborne and cleared the outside of turn two coming to a rest upright, very hard. Shields was taken to a nearby hospital after the event. The extent of his injuries are not yet confirmed as of this writing.

Gray went on word to victory, his fourth of the 2009 season. Ryun held onto the second place finish while keeping the ever fast, J.D. Black of Grain Valley from advancing any higher than third. Lone Jack’s Casey Baker turned in a fourth place finish. And “Hurricane Andrew” Andy Helm, of Excelsior Springs, subbing for his brother Simon this week rounded out the top five.

The MSCA sprint cars will be back at the Valley Speedway along with the Ozark Mountain Midget Series, 600CC micro sprint cars for the Friday night open wheel series on August 14. The pit gates open for competitors at 5:00PM. Spectator gates open at 6:00PM. There is a drivers meeting in the pit area (Restricted access, by pit pass only) at 7:00PM. Hot laps which allow drivers to warm the engines and test their cars for the evening’s events start at 7:30 with racing to follow. Adult admission is $10.00, Children 6-12 $5.00, Children 5 and under is admitted free.

Box Score:
Valley Speedway 8/7/09

First Heat 8 Laps
F S Car Driver – Hometown

1 1 32 Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO -
2 3 1x Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO
3 2 55 Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO -
4 4 03 Gavin Galbraith Washington, MO
5 6 3b Robert Black Blue Springs, MO
6 5 88 Chad Tye Independence, MO -

Second Heat 8 Laps
F S Car Driver – Hometown

1 2 4 Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO
2 1 9 Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO -
3 5 12a Andy Helm Excelsior Springs, MO -
4 3 7jr J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO -
5 4 38 Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO -

A Feature 25 Laps Points
F S Car Driver – Hometown

1 2 32 Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO - 110
2 3 1x Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO 107
3 8 7jr J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO - 104
4 4 9 Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO - 101
5 5 12a Andy Helm Excelsior Springs, MO - 98
6 6 55 Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO - 95
7 1 4 Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO 92
8 7 03 Gavin Galbraith Washington, MO - 89
9 10 88 Chad Tye Independence, MO - 86
10 9 3b Robert Black Blue Springs, MO 83
11 11 38 Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO - 80

Pos Car Driver – Hometown Points A Features / Wins

1) 32 - Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO - 1465 - 14 - 4
2) 7jr – J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO - 1354 - 14 - 1
3) 55 - Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO - 1320- 13 – 3
4) 9 – Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO - 1152 - 13 - 0
5) 38 - Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO - 972 - 12 - 0
6) 88 - Chad Tye Independence, MO - 847 – 10 - 0
7) 37 - Brian Beebe Oak Grove, MO - 846 - 9 - 0
8 ) 51 - Mitchell Moore Edgerton, KS - 678 - 8 - 1
9) 29 - Zach Clark Olathe, KS - 616- 8 - 0
10) 12a- Andy Helm Excelsior Springs, MO - 594 – 6 - 1
11) 19 - Rob Hockett Lone Jack, MO - 544 - 6 - 0
12) 3j - Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS - 523 - 6 - 0
13) 1x - Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO 509 - 5 - 1
14) 82 - Austin Alumbaugh Higginsville, MO - 499 - 5 - 0
15) 1 - Jack Potter Pleasant Hill, MO - 475 - 5 - 1
16) 12 - John Helm Kansas City, MO - 466 - 5 - 0
17) 4 - Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO 443 - 5 - 0
18) 5r - Ryan Olah Independence - 434 - 5 - 0
19) 44 - Phil Heavelow Buckner, MO - 430 - 5 - 0
20) 71 - Michael Brown Kingsville, MO - 371 - 4 - 0
21) 03 - Gavin Galbraith Washington, MO 285 - 3 - 1
22) 12s- Simon Helm Independence, MO - 252 - 3 - 0
23) 88j- J Kinder Holt’s Summit, MO - 214 - 2 - 0
24) 19 - Chris Walker Oak Grove, MO 190 - 2 - 1
25) 1 - Joe Boyles Greenwood, MO - 190 - 2 - 0
26) 10 - Randy Roberts Concordia, MO - 142 - 2 - 0
27) 93 - Taylor Walton Warrensburg, MO - 95 – 1 - 0
28) 13L- Dave Long Blue Springs, MO 92 - 1 - 0
29) 98 - Tyler Utz Sedalia, MO - 89 - 1 - 0
30) 3b Robert Black Blue Springs, MO 83 - 1 - 0
31) 3 - Kevin Roth Lone Jack, MO 77 – 1 - 0
32) 165- Haley Arnold Sedalia, MO - 59 - 1 - 0
33) 46 - Dusty Murray Kansas City, MO 10 - 0 - 0

By Frank Biondo

Grain Valley, MO (July 31, 2009) A mild fall like evening set the stage for the Friday night open wheel series at Valley Speedway. The winged 305 sprint cars of the MSCA returned after a week off and welcomed a new driver to victory lane. Gavin Galbraith making his second appearance at Valley Speedway, made the 200 mile trek from Washington, MO to become the ninth driver to notch an MSCA victory this season.

MSCA points leader and first heat winner Brandon Gray of Lee’s Summit and second heat race winner Higginsville’s Brad Ryun tied for the for high points in the heat races. With Gray having the tie breaker he drew a four row inversion. This gave the pole position to Galbraith who took full advantage of the top starting spot. With Galbraith at point, previous winners Pleasant Hill’s Jack Potter and Oak Grove’s Chris Walker challenging in the early laps of the 20 lap event.

Walker left the battle early having overheating issues. Potter continued to chase Galbraith for the lead. Kansas City driver John Helm now running in the third spot and looking to advance on position on Potter. Heat race winners Gray and Ryun were not to be left out of the mix. Both drivers starting on the fourth row made their way towards the front. Helm got the advancement on Potter as Potter drew a yellow on lap 17 as he slide in to infield thus bunching up the field.

As the lights on the track went green the fans were ready for a shootout. Gray got by Helm to take over second and began to work on Galbraith. Time was not on Gray’s side this night. Galbraith taking the win with Gray finishing second. His twelfth top 5 finish of the season. Helm in the third spot, his best finish of the season. Ryun, who earlier in the night set a new 1 lap track record (12.299 seconds 77 mph average), took the fourth spot. After a ninth place start, Grain Valley’s “Big Daddy” J.D. Back rounded out the top five.

The MSCA sprint cars will be back at the Valley Speedway Friday August 7th along with the Racing Experience Midwest Outlaw Lightning Sprints, 600CC Micro Sprint and Show Me Vintage Racing Vintage Cars for the Friday night open wheel series. The pit gates open for competitors at 5:00PM. Spectator gates open at 6:00PM. There is a drivers meeting in the pit area (Restricted access, by pit pass only) at 7:00PM. Hot laps which allow drivers to warm the engines and test their cars for the evening’s events start at 7:30 with racing to follow. Adult admission is $10.00, Children 6-12 $5.00, Children 5 and under is admitted free.I

First Heat 8 Laps

F S Car# Driver – Hometown
1 - 2 - 32 - Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO -
2 - 1 - 4 - Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO
3 - 4 - 12 - John Helm Kansas City, MO -
4 - 3 - 19 - Chris Walker Oak Grove, MO
5 - 6 - 7jr - J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO -
6 - 5 - 55 - Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO –

Second Heat 8 Laps

F S Car # Driver – Hometown
1 - 2 - 1x - Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO
2 - 1 - 9 - Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO -
3 - 5 - 1 - Jack Potter Pleasant Hill, MO -
4 - 3 - 03 - Gavin Galbraith Washington, MO -
5 - 4 - 88 - Chad Tye Independence, MO -

A Feature 20 Laps
F S Car # Driver – Hometown – Points
1 - 1 - 03 - Gavin Galbraith Washington, MO - 110
2 - 8 - 32 - Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO - 107
3 - 4 - 12 - John Helm Kansas City, MO - 104
4 - 7 - 1x - Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO 101
5 - 9 - 7jr - J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO - 98
6 - 6 - 4 - Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO 95
7 - 3 - 1 - Jack Potter Pleasant Hill, MO - 92
8 - 11 - 55 - Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO - 89
9 - 5 - 9 - Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO - 86
10 - 10 - 88 - Chad Tye Independence, MO - 83
11 - 2 - 19 - Chris Walker Oak Grove, MO - 80

1) 32 - Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO - 1355 - 13 - 3
2) 7jr – J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO - 1250 - 13 - 1
3) 55 - Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO - 1225- 12 – 3
4) 9 – Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO - 1051 - 12 - 0
5) 38 - Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO - 892 - 11 - 0
6) 37 - Brian Beebe Oak Grove, MO - 846 - 9 - 0
7) 88 - Chad Tye Independence, MO - 761 – 9 - 0
8 ) 51 - Mitchell Moore Edgerton, KS - 678 - 8 - 1
9) 29 - Zach Clark Olathe, KS - 616- 8 - 0
10) 19 - Rob Hockett Lone Jack, MO - 544 - 6 - 0
11) 3j - Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS - 513 - 6 - 0
12) 82 - Austin Alumbaugh Higginsville, MO - 499 - 5 - 0
13) 12a- Andy Helm Excelsior Springs, MO - 496- 5 - 1
14) 1 - Jack Potter Pleasant Hill, MO - 475 - 5 - 1
15) 12 - John Helm Kansas City, MO - 466 - 5 - 0
16) 44 - Phil Heavelow Buckner, MO - 430 - 5 - 0
17) 5r - Ryan Olah Independence - 434 - 5 - 0
18) 1x Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO 402 - 4 - 1
19) 71 - Michael Brown Kingsville, MO - 371 - 4 - 0
20) 4 - Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO 351 - 4 - 0
21) 12s- Simon Helm Independence, MO - 252 - 3 - 0
22) 88j- J Kinder Holt’s Summit, MO - 214 - 2 - 0
23) 03 - Gavin Galbraith Washington, MO 196 - 2 - 1
24) 19 - Chris Walker Oak Grove, MO 190 - 2 - 1
25) 1 - Joe Boyles Greenwood, MO - 190 - 2 - 0
26) 10 - Randy Roberts Concordia, MO - 142 - 2 - 0
27) 93 - Taylor Walton Warrensburg, MO - 95 – 1 - 0
28) 13L- Dave Long Blue Springs, MO 92 - 1 - 0
29) 98 - Tyler Utz Sedalia, MO - 89 - 1 - 0
30) 3 - Kevin Roth Lone Jack, MO 77 – 1 - 0
31) 165- Haley Arnold Sedalia, MO - 59 - 1 - 0
32) 46 - Dusty Murray Kansas City, MO 10 - 0 - 0

By Frank Biondo

Grain Valley, MO (July 11, 2009) Lee’s Summit’s Brandon Gray drove his MSCA sprint car as if here were on a mission. His mission was to concur all of his competition and further his lead the 2009 points championship. In his heat race, Gray advanced from his sixth place starting spot to challenge Harrisonville’s Kenny Potter for the win. Gray came up one spot short the heat race which made the young man even more determined for the feature.

With a heads up start Potter had the inside front row while Gary sat on the outside. The level of anticipation for the start was high. With these two drivers on the front row and a clear track ahead of them, it was going to be a drag race to the first corner. Potter was looking to add a fourth win for the season. Gray was looking to join Potter as the only two drivers to have more than one win this season. As most drag racing events are contested on a quarter mile strip of asphalt, this one was on a quarter mile dirt oval. The elapsed time was about 12.65 seconds. Gray pulled away from Potter exiting turn four of the first lap and stayed out front for the entire 25 lap distance.

Gray stayed to the high side of the race track and distanced himself from the field. Potter however had his hands full running in second. Pleasant Hill’s Jack Potter, Lone Jack’s Cody Baker and Grain Valley’s own J.D. Black all ran in a pack like hungry wolves and Kenny Potter in his green and yellow # 55 was their prey.
Jack Potter finally overtook his Cousin Kenny for the second place spot on lap eight. Baker moved his way into third place on lap 18 only to drop out of the event two laps later. Black, (who and his wife Maria are still awaiting a visit from the stork) kept the pressure on Kenny Potter as he tried to advance.

As Valley Speedway flagman Rodney Hawkins, waived the pair of checker flags highly from the flag stand Gray, crossed the finish line with a straight away advantage over “Jackpot” Jack Potter. With his first win at Valley Speedway, and second of the season, Gray became the MSCA second driver to make an encore visit victory lane. Jack Potter, Kenny Potter, Black and Excelsior Springs driver “Hurricane Andrew” Andy Helm moved up from his eighth place starting spot to a fifth place finish. All of the top five drivers have won at least one MSCA feature at Valley Speedway this season.

The sprint cars of the MSCA will be back in action at Valley Speedway along with the Racing Experience Midwest Outlaw Lightning Sprints, 600CC Micro Sprint and Midwest Mod-Lites for the Friday night open wheel series on July 10th. The pit gates open for competitors at 5:00PM. Spectator gates open at 6:00PM. There is a drivers meeting in the pit area (Restricted access, by pit pass only) at 7:00PM. Hot laps which allow drivers to warm the engines and test their cars for the evening’s events start at 7:30 with racing to follow. Adult admission is $10.00, Children 6-12 $5.00, Children 5 and under is admitted free.

Be sure to mark your calendar for July 24th as Valley Speedway will host the “Topless Night in the Valley”. No not what you might think. Everyone will be required to shirts as always. It is the race cars that will be topless. The non MSCA point event will feature open sprint cars with only three rules. 1) It has to be a sprint car. 2) NO WINGS. 3) The right rear tire must durometer 40 and will be checked after the event. Left rear and fronts are open at this time. In addition to the non winged sprint cars, Ozark Mountain Midget Series, 600CC Micro Sprint and Midwest Mod-Lites will also compete in non winged configurations.

Box Score:

1st Heat Race 8Laps (finish, start, car #, driver, hometown)

1. (1) 38 Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO
2. (3) 1 Jack Potter Pleasant Hill, MO
3. (6) 7jr J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO
4. (7) 51 Mitchell Moore Edgerton, KS
5. (8) 4 Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO
6. (5) 37 Brian Beebe Oak Grove, MO
7. (4) 3j Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS
8. (2) 19 Rob Hockett Lone Jack, MO

2nd Heat Race 8Laps (finish, start, car #, driver, hometown)

1. (3) 55 Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO
2. (6) 32 Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO
3. (1) 98 Tyler Utz Sedalia, MO
4. (2) 12a Andy Helm Excelsior Springs, MO
5. (5) 88 Chad Tye Independence, MO
6. (7) 9 Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO
7. (4) 29 Zach Clark Olathe, KS

“A” Feature 25 Laps (finish, start, car #, driver, points earned)

1. (2) 32 Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO – 110
2. (4) 1 Jack Potter Pleasant Hill, MO – 107
3. (1) 55 Kenny Potter Harrisonville, MO – 104
4. (5) 7jr J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO – 101
5. (8) 12a Andy Helm Excelsior Springs, MO – 98
6. (11) 37 Brian Beebe Oak Grove, MO – 95
7. (10) 9 Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO – 92
8. (7) 98 Tyler Utz Sedalia, MO – 89
9. (12) 3j Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS – 86
10. (3) 38 Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO – 83
11. (9) 88 Chad Tye Independence, MO – 80
12. (6) 51 Mitchell Moore Edgerton, KS – 77
13. (13) 4 Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO – 74
14. (14) 29 Zach Clark Olathe, KS DNS – 10
15. (15) 19 Rob Hockett Lone Jack, MO DNS – 10

Pos Car Driver – Hometown Points A Features / Wins

1) 32 - Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO - 1138 - 11 - 2
2) 7jr – J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO - 1045 - 11 - 1
3) 55 - Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO - 1038 - 10 – 3
4) 9 – Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO - 891 - 10 - 0
5) 38 - Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO - 821 - 10 - 0
6) 37 - Brian Beebe Oak Grove, MO - 745 - 8 - 0
7) 51 - Mitchell Moore Edgerton, KS - 678 - 8 - 1
8 ) 88 - Chad Tye Independence, MO - 583 – 7 - 0
9) 29 - Zach Clark Olathe, KS - 527 - 7 - 0
10) 82 - Austin Alumbaugh Higginsville, MO - 499 - 5 - 0
11) 19 - Rob Hockett Lone Jack, MO - 464 - 5 - 0
12) 5r - Ryan Olah Independence - 434 - 5 - 0
13) 44 - Phil Heavelow Buckner, MO - 430 - 5 - 0
14) 3j - Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS - 421 - 5 - 0
15) 12a- Andy Helm Excelsior Springs, MO - 392 – 4 - 1
16) 71 - Michael Brown Kingsville, MO - 371 - 4 - 0
17) 12 - John Helm Kansas City, MO - 362 - 4 - 0
18) 1 - Jack Potter Pleasant Hill, MO - 306 - 3 - 1
19) 1x Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO 301 - 3 - 1
20) 12s- Simon Helm Independence, MO - 252 - 3 - 0
21) 88j - J Kinder Holt’s Summit, MO - 214 - 2 - 0
22) 1 - Joe Boyles Greenwood, MO - 190 - 2 - 0
23) 4 - Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO 173 - 2 - 0
24) 10 - Randy Roberts Concordia, MO - 142 - 2 - 0
25) 19 - Chris Walker Oak Grove, MO 110 - 1 - 1
26) 93 - Taylor Walton Warrensburg, MO - 95 – 1 - 0
27) 13L- Dave Long Blue Springs, MO 92 - 1 - 0
28) 98 - Tyler Utz Sedalia, MO - 89 - 1 - 1
29) 3 - Kevin Roth Lone Jack, MO 77 – 1 - 0
30) 165- Haley Arnold Sedalia, MO - 59 - 1 - 0
31) 46 - Dusty Murray Kansas City, MO 10 - 0 - 0

By Frank Biondo

Grain Valley, MO (July 3rd 2009) The 4th of July Holiday weekend is officially underway. Harrisonville’s Ken Potter, the only MSCA driver to visit victory lane twice this season, returned for a third visit. Potter driving his green and yellow # 55 took full advantage of his outside front row start for the 25 lap distance. Lee’s Summit’s Brandon Gray, the current MSCA point leader started on the pole and lead most of the first lap. Potter overhauled Gray upon the exit of turn four.

As Potter was leading the race with Gray a couple car lengths behind the red flag was displayed for Lone Jack’s Kevin Roth. Roth slide over the rim in turn two and barrel rolled three times before landing on his wheels and making it back onto the racing surface. Potter was struck by Roth as he was coming to a stop on the track for the red flag. Roth tapped Potter in the right side nerf bar. Both drivers were alright. Potter continued and Roth watched the remainder of the event from the infield.

Once the clean up was complete, the fire belching 305 sprint cars roared back life. Potter resumed the race from the point and Gray was again looking for a way to make a move on Potter for the lead. Grain Valley’s own J.D. Black, the proud papa to be (his wife Maria went into labor just before the start of the feature) moved up from his fifth place spot to challenge Zach Clark of Olathe, KS for the third place spot. After several laps of exchanging positions Black made the pass for third place stick on lap 17. A caution flag flew on 18 for Independence, MO driver Chad Tye, whose car was engulfed in a mixture of steam and smoke. Although Tye was uninjured, he wasn’t able to continue.

When the racing resumed, Cody Baker of Lone Jack, moved up into the fourth spot and stated to go to work on reeling in Black as the white flag was displayed. The last lap would see Potter taking his third feature of the season with Gray close behind in second. Black turned in a third place finish. Baker, with his best MSCA finish of the season in fourth. And John Helm, Kansas City, MO making his first top five finish of the season.

The MSCA sprint cars will be back at the Valley Speedway along with the Ozark Mountain Midget Series, 600CC Micro Sprint and Show Me Vintage Racing Vintage Cars for the Friday night open wheel series on July 10th. The pit gates open for competitors at 5:00PM. Spectator gates open at 6:00PM. There is a drivers meeting in the pit area (Restricted access, by pit pass only) at 7:00PM. Hot laps which allow drivers to warm the engines and test their cars for the evening’s events start at 7:30 with racing to follow. Adult admission is $10.00, Children 6-12 $5.00, Children 5 and under is admitted free.

Box Score:

MSCA Sprint Cars Valley Speedway, Grain Valley, MO Friday July 3, 2009

1st Heat Race 10 Laps (finish, start, car #, driver, hometown)

1. (2) 32 Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO

2. (1) 29 Zach Clark Olathe, KS

3. (3) 7jr J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO

4. (5) 38 Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO

5. (6) 37 Brian Beebe Oak Grove, MO

6. (4) 9 Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO

2nd Heat Race 10 Laps (finish, start, car #, driver, hometown)

1. (1) 88 Chad Tye Independence, MO

2. (5) 55 Kenny Potter Harrisonville, MO

3. (4) 12 John Helm Kansas City, MO

4. (3) 3 Kevin Roth Lone Jack, MO

5. (6) 4 Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO

6. (2) 3j Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS

“A” Feature 25 Laps (finish, start, car #, driver, points earned)

1. (2) 55 Kenny Potter Harrisonville,

2. (1) 32 Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO

3. (5) 7jr J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO

4. (7) 38 Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO

5. (6) 12 John Helm Kansas City, MO

6. (4) 29 Zach Clark Olathe, KS

7. (10) 9 Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO

8. (12) 4 Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO

9. (9) 37 Brian Beebe Oak Grove, MO

10. (4) 88 Chad Tye Independence, MO

11. (11) 3j Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS

12. (8) 3 Kevin Roth Lone Jack, MO

Pos Car # Driver – Hometown Points A Features / Wins

1) 32 - Brandon Gray Lee’s Summit, MO - 1028 - 10 - 1
2) 7jr – J.D. Black Grain Valley, MO - 944 - 10 - 1
3) 55 - Ken Potter Harrisonville, MO - 934 - 9 - 3
4) 9 – Casey Baker Lone Jack, MO - 799 - 9 - 0
5) 38 - Cody Baker Lone Jack, MO - 738 - 9 - 0
6) 37 - Brian Beebe Oak Grove, MO - 650- 7 – 0
7) 51 - Mitchell Moore Edgerton, KS - 601 - 7 - 1
8 ) 29 - Zach Clark Olathe, KS - 517 - 7 - 0
9) 82 - Austin Alumbaugh Higginsville, MO - 499 - 5 - 0
10) 88 - Chad Tye Independence, MO - 495 – 6 - 0
11) 19 - Rob Hockett Lone Jack, MO - 454 - 5 - 0
12) 5r - Ryan Olah Independence - 434 - 5 - 0
13) 44 - Phil Heavelow Buckner, MO - 430 - 5 - 0
14) 71 - Michael Brown Kingsville, MO - 371 - 4 - 0
15) 12 - John Helm Kansas City, MO - 362 - 4 - 0
16) 3j - Joshua Jacobs Kansas City, KS - 335 - 4 - 0
17) 1x Brad Ryun Higginsville, MO 301 - 3 - 1
18) 12a- Andy Helm Excelsior Springs, MO - 294 - 3 - 1
19) 12s - Simon Helm Independence, MO - 252 - 3 - 0
20) 88j - J Kinder Holt’s Summit, MO - 214 - 2 - 0
21) 1 - Jack Potter Pleasant Hill, MO - 199 - 2 - 1
22) 1 - Joe Boyles Greenwood, MO - 190 - 2 - 0
23) 10 - Randy Roberts Concordia, MO - 142 - 2 - 0
24) 19 - Chris Walker Oak Grove, MO 110 - 1 - 1
25) 93 - Taylor Walton Warrensburg, MO - 95 – 1 - 0
26) 13L- Dave Long Blue Springs, MO 92- 1 - 0
27) 4 - Chad Shields Grain Valley, MO 99 - 1 - 0
28) 3 - Kevin Roth Lone Jack, MO 77 – 1 - 0
29) 165- Haley Arnold Sedalia, MO - 59 - 1 - 0
30) 46 - Dusty Murray Kansas City, MO 10 - 0 - 0