4/23/2019
Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Lebanon I-44 Speedway to Host Wheel Simple 100
This Saturday night, April 27th, the 2019 Lebanon I-44 Speedway racing season rolls into night number two with yet another huge night of racing. The Wheel Simple 100 will host Hornets, Street Stocks, Modifieds, Big 10 Late Model and will feature a 100-lap Ozark’s Asphalt Late Model Series special event. Even though this race is a special event, the ticket prices are stellar thanks to our friends at Wheel Simple! Admission into tier parking is only $50.00 a car load, as many people as you can fit in your car! Between hours of 5:00PM and 6:00PM is Fort Awesome Happy Hour and admission into the grandstands is only $10.00 per adult. Kids 10 & under are always free!
Kicking off the night will be our 4-cylinder Hornet division on the 1/5-mile inner track. On opening night, in his first career start, Dustin Atkinson picked up the win but will be sitting out this weekend while his car owner, Ricky Barker, jumps behind the wheel. Chris Albright, who finished second on opening night, is hungry for his first win of 2019 and is hoping to take control of the points lead.
After the Hornets, the extremely exciting Street Stock division will take to the high-banks. Matt Pilant made his return to short track racing after a several year hiatus on opening night and didn’t miss a beat picking up the win over Trevor Icenhower after an exciting, edge of your seat, feature race. Steve Shaw rounded out the podium on opening night after picking up a heat race win. Be on the lookout for him to make some noise this weekend as he searches for his first win of 2019.
The Modified division put on a specular show as Richard Lewis grabbed the first win of 2019 over last year’s dominating Champion, Ricky Icenhower. Lewis made a statement with his win showing that he is here looking for a Championship this year. Don’t count out Icenhower though, if history repeats itself, we all know that Ricky will show up faster and better than ever looking to take the points lead and park the No. 7 in Victory Lane. Brian Lewis, father of Richard, is hot off a win at the Historic Bolivar Speedway and is looking to show his son who is boss. Brian Brown will also be making his full debut in his new Modified after engine problems sidelined him in the feature on opening night.
Next, the Big 10 Late Models will roll out. Last year’s Pro Late Model Champion, Kennie Dickinson, picked up the win on opening night with Justin Blake in second and Jimmy Fohn in third. Last year’s Big 10 Champion, Jimmy Fohn, suffered a cut tire early in the feature and charged from deep in the field to salvage some Championship points. Dickinson will be starting at the rear of the field this weekend which will add some exciting drama as we wait and see if he can make his way to the front.
Finally, the Ozark’s Asphalt Late Model Series will take to the track for 100-laps. Tony Jackson Jr. picked up the win in the inaugural Ozark’s Asphalt Late Model Series event after a fierce battle with Cole Williams, until Williams had a mechanical familiar around the halfway point. Raymond Merrill finished his first ever asphalt late model race in 2nd and is looking to improve by one spot this weekend. After brake issues early on, Tim Swearengin finished the night in third and showed once again that he has what it takes to be a Champion. Brennon Willard was sidelined early in the feature after losing a motor. He is hoping that the early season gremlins are behind him and is looking to shake things up. Jammin’ Jimmy Vanzandt showed a lot of speed opening night and was the winner of the final race of 2018. Cole Williams will be joined by fellow Fairgrounds Speedway Nashville competitor, Tanner Arms, on the High-Banks this weekend as well as a rumored appearance from a former Lebanon I-44 Speedway feature winner, Corey Dueser. You do not want to miss this star-studded field! Who do you think will park it in Victory Lane this weekend and take home the $2,000 payday?
The gates will open and 5:00PM this Saturday night and racing will begin at 7:00PM. Kicking off the night will be single car qualifying for the Ozark’s Asphalt Late Model Series, then heat race for all classes, followed by intermission which will feature a one lap Spartan Lawn Mower race around the inner-track sponsored by Wheel Simple! After intermission we will roll into feature races for all classes. Take advantage of the great deals, great weather, and exciting racing this weekend and head out to Lebanon I-44 Speedway!
By Dylan Bates
Article Credit: Dylan Bates
Submitted By: Lebanon Speedway