Springfield Raceway
Sullivan leads 30 laps, triumphs at Springfield
Jack Sullivan tunes up early Saturday evening at Springfield. (fasttrackphotos.net)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (March 10) — Leading all 30 laps from outside the front row, Jack Sullivan of Greenbrier, Ark., earned $2,000 on Saturday at Springfield Raceway in the unsanctioned Turkey Classic. The weather-postponed from November marked the season opener at the quarter-mile track.
Justin Wells of Aurora, Mo., was second while hometown driver Terry Phillips was third. Jon Kirby of Russellville, Ark., finished fourth ahead of R.C. Whitwell of Tucson, Ariz., and polesitter Dustin Mooneyham of Aurora.
Sullivan's victory was his second in a row after earning $3,500 eight days earlier at Texas Motor Speedway in the Southern United Professional Racing tour opener. He jumped to the lead at the outset over Jesse Stovall of Galena, Mo., with Phillips, Wells and Mooneyham in pursuit.
The leader quickly built a half-straightaway advantage while his pursuers mixed it up behind him. A lap-four yellow for Eric Tinderholt bunched the field and Sullivan pulled away again.
Brad Looney slowed on the backstretch for a lap-nine caution, and Sullivan resumed command while Wells took the second spot from Stovall.
Sullivan worked lapped traffic in the second half of the race and the frontrunners were battling the slower traffic on lap 23. Stovall lost the third spot when he got collected in a turn-two tangle, ending his race.
A final yellow appeared when Brandon McCormick pulled up lame on the restart, and Sullivan closed everyone out over the final seven laps to win a race that saw 14 of 20 starters finish on the lead lap.
Notes: Sullivan's GRT is powered by a Russell Baker Engine and sponsored by Triple A Diesel. ... The race was sponsored by Bad Boy Mowers. .... The event drew 120 race cars among all divisions. ... Third-place Late Model finisher Terry Phillips won the modified feature. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature: Mike Hammerle, Shane Essary, Justin Asplin and Jimmy Greenway. ... Springfield's next event is a March 24 Super Late Model event for MARS and MLRA paying $3,000-to-win.
Turkey Classic: (1) Jack Sullivan, (2) Justin Wells, (3) Terry Phillips, (4) Jon Kirby, (5) R.C. Whitwell, (6) Dustin Mooneyham, (7) Kyle Beard, (8) Tony Jackson Jr., (9) Dylan Smith, (10) Scott Schmitt, (11) Chris Morelock, (12) Jon Stinson, (13) Chris Hawkins, (14) Randy Roth, (15) Brandon McCormick, (16) Jesse Stovall, (17) Dewayne Kiefer, (18) Scott Fry, (19) Brad Looney, (20) Eric Tinderholt. Heat race winners: Sullivan, Phillips, Wells, Looney. Consolation winners: Morelock, Smith.
