81 Speedway
June 17, 2012
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Matt Johnson Masters Late Model Special at 81 Speedway

by David Smith Jr
PARK CITY, Kansas (June 17) - Matt Johnson made the long tow from Archie, Missouri pay off as he took the $1000 victory in the super late model portion of the “Hoosier Daddy” Bill Hall Memorial Father’s Day racing spectacular Sunday night at 81 Speedway in Park City, Kansas in a non-sanctioned event.

Johnson started on the pole for the fifteen lap event and got the jump on outside front row starter Delbert Smith as the green flag fell. Fourth starting Chase Junghans took over the runner up position from Smith before the caution fell one lap later for Jill Roberg‘s spin in turn two. The attempted restart was aborted when Gary Gorby spun in turn two after running sixth.

The feature went non-stop from there as did Johnson as he found the middle of the tracks three-eighths mile oval to his liking, keeping a five to eight car length distance between himself and Junghans throughout.

At the races midway point it was still Johnson and Junghans, followed by Chris Kratzer, Darrick Klima and Smith.

Junghans, the modified pilot making only his third start in a full-fledge late model, closed to within three car lengths of the leader the final five laps but Johnson would hold on to claim the victory.

Kratzer finished third with Klima coming home fourth. Gorby, who earlier spun out on lap three and restarted at the tail of the field, worked the top groove to move through the field and round out the top five.

The ten lap heat races for the sixteen car field were won by Johnson and Kratzer.

Don’t forget that the late model division has returned to weekly racing action every Friday night at 81 Speedway for the 2012 race season. For more information on the late model division, call the track office (316) 755-1781.

A Feature: 1) 5j Matt Johnson 2) 2 Chase Junghans 3) 55 Chris Kratzer 4) 92x Darrick Klima 5) 7c Gary Gorby 6) 92 Delbert Smith 7) 59 Brad Fortney 8) 45t Tyler Bradshaw 9) 1jr Justin Kinderknecht 10) 9 Joe Gorby 11) 16 Rick Leatherman 12) 96 Shawn Buckley 13) 22 Damian Patrick 14) t1t Earl Kinderknecht 15) Jill Roberg 16) Wylan Petrie