Lewis Wins Dudley Memorial in Spectacular Fashion at Springfield!

By Ray Cunningham

Springfield, Mo: Saturday night the Wholesale Batteries Inc. USAC MRA Sprint Car Series conducted their first ever event at Springfield Raceway with Ricky Lewis taking first place in spectacular fashion over Braydon Cromwell, Wesley Smith, Wyatt Burks. and Jack Wagner rounding out the top five. While Chase Howard, Bryson Smith, Kobe Simpson, Chris Parkinson, and Justin Johnson, would complete the top 10 finishers in that order.

Earlier, 27 cars had checked into the pits at Springfield from eight states to run in the inaugural Aubren Dudley Memorial paying 4,000 dollars to win and 400 dollars to start.

Wesley Smith from near by Nixa. Missouri, would take quick time in hot laps/time trials, turning in a run of 12.157. Interestingly enough, Camarillo, California’s Lewis was not able to take a time setting the stage for his wild drive in the 25 lap feature coming from 14th on the grid to the eventual win.

Racing in the four heats was fast and furious as Lone Jack, Missouri’s Jack Wagner took the first heat in the JHR 77, Luke Howard from Overland Park, Kansas, came home first in the second heat driving the Lewis 2. While Ricky Lewis, after posting no time, had to start scratch in heat race number three, but came from 7th to first for the victory. And Chris Parkinson of Gladstone, Mo: raced to the win in the fourth and final heat.

With a storm blowing in on radar, a quick decision was made by track officials to scrap intermission, and subsequently the B feature for the MRA sprint cars. . Meaning all cars were now eligible to run the main event.

26 of the 27 cars in attendance made the call for the 25 lap feature sponsored by All Metal Recycling. And with 4,000 on the line for first place, and the bragging rights that would come with winning the first ever MRA feature. and first ever Aubren Dudley Memorial the racing was truly spectacular, not just for the win, but throughout the 26 car starting lineup. With several drivers looking like they had a legitimate shot at victory.

Early on positions were swapped at an amazing rate up front, while Lewis steadily worked his way to the front eventually taking the lead.

But the old adage “It ain’t over till it’s over” certainly applied to this one! After a late race caution, Lewis was penalized two spots for taking off to early on the restart and was docked two positions. This moved Wesley Smith to the lead, and Cromwell to second place. Smith took off like a man possessed, but coming out of four slipped off the cushion giving the lead to Cromwell, and moving Lewis up to second. As they came down for the white flag Cromwell was in first, Lewis second, and Smith in third.

But Lewis was gaining, and then pulled off a massive slide job going into three that stuck, beating Cromwell to the line by about a car length, with Smith in third, Burks in fourth, and Jack Wagner fighting his way up to fifth following a right rear tire going down earlier in the feature which sent him to the back for the restart that followed.

Photos by John Lee High HFP