WHEATLAND, Mo. — Jesse Stovall of Billings, Mo., finished off a frustrating Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association campaign on a high note Saturday night, leading all 50 laps to capture the fourth annual Fall Nationals finale at Lucas Oil Speedway.
Meanwhile, Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., wrapped up his fourth MLRA championship as the series schedule came to a conclusion in front of a big crowd.
Stovall, last year’s MLRA champ, earned $5,000 for his first series win this season. He suffered a concussion after flipping his car in a mid-summer practice accident in Nebraska and missed a series race while recovering.
He also suffered a mechanical failure with one lap to go, while leading the Larry Phillips Memorial at Lucas Oil Speedway, on Sept. 2. Early in Friday's Fall Nationals opening feature, Stovall hit the wall while battling for second place.
"I've had a heck of a year since I had that flip and I can't seem to put anything together," Stovall said. "This is really satisfying to finally get it done.”
Stovall was the class of the field from the outset, beating fellow front-row starter Dave Eckrich to lead the first lap. Austin Siebert moved into second with Tony Jackson Jr. third and Billy Moyer fourth when a lap-nine caution bunched the field behind Stovall.
Stovall quickly opened up nearly a straightaway-margin lead over Siebert and Moyer when another caution came out on lap 17 as Tad Pospisil slowed in turn four.
By the time the race reached the mid-point on lap 25, Stovall was a full straightaway in front of Moyer, Siebert and Chad Simpson and just getting ready to enter lapped traffic. One lap later, Martin spun and brought out the fifth caution of the event to wipe out Stovall's large lead.
It didn't matter. Stovall checked out after the restart and, as the race went green the rest of the way, finished well ahead of Moyer with Simpson third and Jack Sullivan fourth. Randy Timms, winner of Friday's feature, was fifth.
"This has been the most trying year I've had," Stovall said. "It's very difficult for me and for everybody involved to try and run two cars out of one trailer. It's definitely been a learning curve. All in all, I can't say it's been a good year because it really hasn't been — until now.
"It's a good way to end the year. This series has been more than good to me."
Stovall congratulated his good friend Phillips, of Springfield, Mo., in post-race ceremonies, joining in to douse the champ with Champagne.
"This guy, he's a hell of a racer," Stovall said. "He's a road warrior and he's taught me a lot and congrats to him."
Phillips, who finished 14th in Saturday's feature, made light of his ongoing struggles at Lucas Oil Speedway. But he was relentless with his consistency in 2017, winning four times along the way en route to his fourth career series title.
"We've had some good wins this year," Phillips said. "It's been a long year and Jesse had some bad luck. It's just a long grind. When we get this place figured out, we'll surely be better. I just want to thank everybody on this car. It takes everybody to make this operation go."
Phillips now has won 10 regional Late Model touring series titles, counting six in the MARS DIRTcar Series. He credited his late father, short-track legend Larry Phillips, for instilling the determination in him to achieve success.
"I learned this racing deal from the best racer that's ever been, my dad. I just try to make him proud every day," Phillips said.
Rodney Sanders of Happy, Texas, finished 18th in the feature but wrapped up the Sunoco Race Fuels Rookie of the Year honors. Sanders also finished runner-up to Phillips in the points chase.
