Published: September 22, 2009 10:51 pm      

BOWMAN: Nutter finds victory lane in Gas City

Stanbrough wins MSCS event at Bloomington

While the 2009 season is slowly winding down across the Midwest, Kokomo’s Jimmy Nutter seems to be hitting his stride.

Friday night at the Gas City I-69 Speedway, the popular driver piloted his No. 1N Street Stock to the feature win over the always-tough Brandon Roundtree. Nutter, who came up just inches shy of capturing a feature late in the season at Kokomo, wasn’t going to be denied Friday night.

Trailing the pair to the checkered flag was Scott Hubbard, Kaleb Nutter and Dennis Freeland in the top five. Kokomo veteran Thurman Wines took eighth.

In the sprint car feature event the No. 57 of Thomas Meseraull held off 2007 and 2008 track champion Billy Puterbaugh in the 25-lap event.

Shane Hollingsworth was third, Travis Welpott fourth and Ted Hines fifth. Kokomo’s Josh Spencer continued his solid late-season surge, notching ninth while Jamie Frederickson was 11th. Greentown driver Tyler Pearce came home 13th.

Scott Martin was victorious in the modified A-main, his first win of the season, as he beat perennial favorite Scott Orr to the checkered flag. J.D. Francis was third, Brandon McComas fourth and Shawn Schultz fifth.

In the Thunder Car finale, Travis Nichols posted the win over Jerald Owens and Bryan Martin. Todd Whittenberger and Scott Apple rounded out the top five.

Just two events remain on the schedule for the track. This Friday it will host its weekly program while the annual running of the Jack Himelick Fall Finals will take place Oct. 2.

The gates open at 4 p.m. with racing slated to begin at 7:30 both nights.

Stanbrough takes MSCS clash

While the action was going on at Gas City, a huge car count (65) converged on the Bloomington Speedway Friday night for the Midwest Sprint Car Series (MSCS) event that paid the winner a hefty $5,000.

When the dust settled a familiar face to Victory Lane, Jon Stanbrough, walked away with the big payday.

The Brownsburg driver, who garnered 32 feature wins a couple seasons ago, started inside the third row and held off a hard-charging Jerry Coons Jr., who started outside the seventh row. Bobby Stines also put on quite a show, coming from outside the eighth row to finish third while Kokomo’s Shane Cottle put on the drive of the night, finishing fourth after starting 20th. Danny Holtsclaw rounded out the top five.

Lincoln’s Dave Darland was 19th after flipping his No. 2B in the early stages of the feature event.

Following the stop at Bloomington, the series returned to action Saturday at the Tri-States Speedway in Haubstadt.

Former Chip Gannasi developmental driver and Kokomo Speedway Rookie of the Year Bryan Clauson took home the win over Michael Waltrip Racing driver and former USAC Sprint and Midget National Champion Josh Wise.

Brady Short, who captured the 2009 King of Indiana Sprint Series title, was third, Stanbrough fourth and Damion Gardner fifth. Darland came home ninth.

Shafer claims win, title

Kokomo teenager Halen Shafer put the finishing touches on his championship season by capturing the Winged feature Saturday night at the Miami County Speedway.

Shafer, who has been at or near the top in the points chase all season, left nothing to chance by taking the 25-lap feature event over Sharpsville veteran standout Bob Bourff. Brian Busz was third with Travis Ray and Sam Kimmel rounding out the top five. Kokomo’s Conner Donelson and Logan Jarrett were eighth and ninth, respectively.

Zach Shepler claimed the win in the Restrictor A-main, topping Tyler Gunn and Tyler Huffman. Jacob Kincaid and Zach Lacy completed the top five. Kris Knox held off a stellar field to win the non-wing feature over Tyler Courtney. Wes McIntyre was third, Ryan Kline fourth and Jarrett fifth.

Kline was on a mission in the Senior division, sweeping the program.

The Kokomo veteran won his heat and the trophy dash before claiming the feature win over Joe Taylor. Former sprint car driver Warren Mockler was third, Bruce Bretzman fourth and Dale Latty fifth.

Justin Weir took the Junior feature over Kaleb Kinsler and Jered Van Ness. Hallie Feuquay was fourth and Parker Price-Miller fifth.

The track returns to action Saturday night.