LEBANON, Mo. - More than 50 RACEcevier Legends Cars were on hand at Midway Speedway during the 11th Annual RACEceiver Legends Car Dirt Nationals Friday and Saturday.
Twenty-six Semi-Pros took the green flag in their 30-lap championship feature with local driver Tyler Scott pacing the field. Minnesota's Rob Caho and North Dakota's Nathan Speten challenged Scott during the opening laps of the race.
On lap four, Tanner Berryhill brought out the first caution when his car stalled in turn two. On the restart, Scott started to pull away with Caho, Speten and Joplin, Mo. driver Dave Comer following. Florida driver Kara Clarke was fifth. The next caution, on lap 17, waved for sixth-place Justin Comer who suffered mechanical problems. It was all Scott on the restart, but Speten began to pressure Caho for second. On lap 19, Speten slid by Caho and set his sights on Scott. Scott Houdeshell passed Speten for second on lap 22.
The caution came out on lap 23, but Scott was able to pull away for the next three laps until he tangled with lap traffic, sending him into the turn two wall and ending his night. On the restart, Speten shot past Houdeshell, and withstood a last lap attempt by Caho to record the victory. Caho was second with Brian Peterson, Clarke and Rob Watson rounding out the top five.
Wisconsin's Eric Barth has been one of the most dominant Masters Dirt drivers in the past three years, capturing the Masters National points championship in 2004 and 2005. So, it was no surprise that Barth found the fastest way around the three-eighths-mile dirt oval. Barth led all but one lap in the 30-lap Masters feature en route to the victory. Minnesota veteran Tim Brockhouse and former modified champ Will Cagle battled for second with Brockhouse coming home with the runner-up spot. Ivan Sailer and Keith Meyer followed. Probable Masters National points champion Randy Kissinger excited the crowd by rolling his car on lap four, and charging back through the field to finish seventh.
The lead was not the place to be in the 30-lap Pro feature. Steve Nederostek, 2006 National Semi-Pro points champion, grabbed the early lead with Spencer Wilson and Jordan Paschal chasing. On lap 10, Wilson and Paschal collided, sending both cars to the rear. Pat Pennington moved to second, and began to challenge Nederostek. On lap 12, Park Jones and Joel Wyttenbach made contact, sending both cars to the rear of the field.
Minnesota hotshoe and probable 2007 National Pro Dirt point champion, Cam Schafer, suffered two flat tires in the opening laps, but began charging through the field. On lap 17, Nederostek and Pennington made contact, and forced the drivers to the rear of the field. Bethany Wyttenbach assumed the lead, but it only lasted two laps as Paschal, having completed his charge from the back of the field, assumed the lead.
Paschal survived a couple late race challegends and caution flags to capture the victory with Joel Wyttenbach, Joey Johnson, Schafer and Nederostek following.
Eric Barth proved how potent he would be on Saturday when he captured Friday night's INEX Race of Champions featured 18 state champions. Barth made it a clean sweep of the weekend, winning every race he entered.
The Finish:
Semi-Pro Finish: Nathan Speten, Rob Caho, Brian Peterson, Kara Clarke, Rob Watson, Scott Wilkerson, Shawn Arndt, Brian Backes, Dave Comer, Thomas Hunter, Tony Jensen, Luke Polzin, Scott Houdeschell, Ryan Crabtree, Tyler Horton, Michael Mueller, Tyler Scott, Troy Speten, Cody Townsend, Kaleb Copher, Beau Crawford, Jerry Meyer, Brian Weitzel, Kevin Schutz, Justin Comer, Tanner Berryhill.
Masters Finish: Eric Barth, Tim Brockhouse, Will Cagle, Ivan Sailer, Keith Meyer, Tony Brochouse, Randy Kissinger, Warren Ropp, Gary Hockman, John Kerchner, David Townsend, Randy Reasor, Gary Davenport, Ron Hoffman, Tony Hatfield.
Pro Finish: Jordan Paschall, Joel Wyttenbach, Joey Johnson, Cam Schafer, Steve Nederostek, Pat Pennington, Spencer Wilson, Bethany Wyttenbach, Park Jones, Paul Horton, Ricky Harring, Tony Steffen.