WHEATLAND, Mo. —Dayton Pursley of nearby Hermitage, who grew up watching his dad race USRA Modifieds at Lucas Oil Speedway, found his way to victory lane in the division on Saturday night.
Pursley led all but the opening lap and held off Dustin Hodges for his first Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modified victory and pick up the $1,000 check in the headliner during Ozarks Food Harvest Food Drive Night at the Races.
Pursley, who started third, took the lead on lap two after pole-starting Hodges paced the opening circuit. Pursley also zoomed past his dad who’s the reigning track champ, Jason Pursley, to make his way to the front.
Competing for only the second time this season, Dayton Pursley never surrendered the lead the remainder of the 25-lapper, despite a strong challenge from Hodges on the final lap. Nic Bidinger was third and Jason Pursley came home in fourth.
“I can’t thank the Lord enough for giving me the opportunity,” Dayton Pursley said in victory lane. “This is my second race of the year and first win. That’s 50 percent, so it ain’t bad. I want to thank my grandpa, who’s worked his butt off, and my dad for his countless hours and money and everything.
“I want to thank all my sponsors. I don’t know what to say.”
Pursley drove like a veteran from the start. His lead was 1.4 seconds when the first caution flew on lap seven. Pursley drew off to a 1.6-second margin by lap 15 as Hodges and Jason Pursley gave chase. The leaders entered lapped traffic soon after and it didn’t slow down the eventual winner – but a caution did on lap 19 to bunch the field for another restart with six to go.
Hodges stayed within two car lengths the rest of the way after action resumed and tried a low-side bid in the final turns of the final lap, but couldn’t get around the 22-year-old in his first full season driving a USRA Modified.
It was Pursley’s second career win at Lucas Oil Speedway, with the other coming in a USRA B-Mod in 2023.
Other feature winners in the Pitts Homes and Realty Weekly Racing Series program were Johnny Fennewald (Hickamo Super Stocks), Tucker Cox (Hermitage Lumber Late Models), Jon Sheets (Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mods) and William Garner (O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars).
