MLRA Late Models
Junction Motor Speedway
August 8, 2014
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Ryan Gustin Dominates Night One 'King of the Hill' Action at JMS



MLRA/Sam Stoecklin
MCCOOL JUNCTION, NE (August 8) -Those in attendance for night one of the annual King of the Hill Late Model Shootout will remember the 25-lap, $2,000-to-win main event by one word ... domination!

Marshalltown, Iowa's Ryan Gustin began the main event at Delmar Friesen's pristine Junction Motor Speedway from pole position alongside Mike Wiarda of Aurora, Nebraska. Gustin made quick work of Wiarda and the rest of the field darting out to an early race lead.

Former MLRA Champion John Anderson drew the first of two cautions during the race when his car went around in turns three and four. One lap later on the third circuit, Tommy Weder, Jr. of Oklahoma also found trouble in turns three and four to draw the second and final caution flag of the event.

Gustin led the field after both restarts as Wiarda, Chad Simpson, Terry Phillips, and Jase Kaser tried to keep up with 'The Reaper's' torrid pace. With each passing lap Gustin's built a sizeable lead over Simpson with Phillips gaining ground to move inside the top three.

Meanwhile, fourteenth-starting Travis Dickes and seventeenth-starting Bill Leighton of Omaha continued raced their way towards the top five. As Gustin went unchallenged at the front, Phillips, Simpson, and Wiarda did all they could to keep the leader within site of the same straightaway.

With less than five laps remaining, Phillips surged into the runner-up position when Simpson's car veered out of the preferred racing line. Simpson quickly regrouped and held on to the third position by lap 23.

Gustin virtually went unchallenged save for a few close calls with lapped traffic as he claimed his third Lucas Oil MLRA main event of the year and fourth of his young and storied career.

Phillips claimed the second spot after starting fifth with series point's leader Chad Simpson finishing third. Wiarda held on for fourth while Dickes charged his way into the top five. Rounding out the top ten were Bill Leighton, Justin Asplin, J.C. Wyman, Justin Zeitner, and defending series champion, Tony Jackson, Jr.

Preliminary heat race victories went to Weder, Simpson, and Wiarda, while Jackson claimed the b-main. Twenty-eight cars competed throughout the evening for the night one portion of the double-header weekend.

On Saturday, drivers return for a $3,000-to-win main event with gates opening at 5 and racing at 7. Adult General Admission is $20 with kids ages 6 to 12 remaining $5. Saturday Pit Passes are $30.

Heading West on I-80 towards Grand Island, the speedway is located off Exit 353 via US-81, the physical address is 1206 Rd. 4, McCool Junction, NE 68401. Visit the speedway online at www.junctionmotorspeedway.com or call (402) 724-3100 for more information.

MLRA Results - Junction Motor Speedway - McCool Junction, Nebraska

A-Main
1 1 19R Ryan Gustin Marshalltown, IA
2 5 75P Terry Phillips Springfield, MO
3 4 25C Chad Simpson Mt Vernon, IA
4 2 15W Mike Wiarda Aurora, NE
5 14 6T Travis Dickes Madison, NE
6 17 24L Bill Leighton Omaha, NE
7 15 77A Justin Asplin Birch Tree, MO
8 8 4W J.C. Wyman Griswold, IA
9 7 Z62 Justin Zeitner Lavista, NE
10 13 56J Tony Jackson, Jr Lebanon, MO
11 16 14B Kyle Berck Marquette, NE
12 10 21X John Anderson Omaha, NE
13 9 6H Al Humphrey Giltner, NE
14 19 186 Jeremy Payne Springfield, MO
15 11 14M Dean Moore Grand Junction, CO
16 12 51S Les Siebert York, NE
17 20 99L Scott Lewis Henderson, CO
18 6 15K Jase Kaser Lincoln, NE
19 18 10H John Hansen Brush, CO
20 22 29K Bill Koons Omaha, NE
21 23 49P Wylan Petrie Solomon, KS
22 3 02 Tommy Weder Jr. Woodward, OK
23 24 28J Leroy Johnson Battlefield, MO
24 21 77P Jeremy Petty Smolan, KS

B-Main
1 56J Tony Jackson, Jr
2 6T Travis Dickes
3 77A Justin Asplin
4 14B Kyle Berck
5 24L Bill Leighton
6 10H John Hansen
7 1G Justin Gregg
8 29K Bill Koons
9 77P Jeremy Petty
10 4G David Garmann
11 3H Jarred Hacker
12 49P Wylan Petrie
13 99L Scott Lewis
14 04 Tad Pospisil
15 28J Leroy Johnson
16 186 Jeremy Payne

Heat #1
1 02 Tommy Weder Jr.
2 75P Terry Phillips
3 4W J.C. Wyman
4 6H Al Humphrey
5 6T Travis Dickes
6 99L Scott Lewis
7 4G David Garmann
8 1G Justin Gregg
9 28J Leroy Johnson
10 186 Jeremy Payne

Heat #2
1 25C Chad Simpson
2 Z62 Justin Zeitner
3 14M Dean Moore
4 21X John Anderson
5 56J Tony Jackson, Jr
6 24L Bill Leighton
7 14B Kyle Berck
8 77A Justin Asplin
9 29K Bill Koons

Heat #3
1 15W Mike Wiarda
2 15K Jase Kaser
3 19R Ryan Gustin
4 51S Les Siebert
5 10H John Hansen
6 04 Tad Pospisil
7 3H Jarred Hacker
8 77P Jeremy Petty
9 49P Wylan Petrie