JACKSONVILLE, Ill. — If there is any driver who knows how to navigate around the quarter-mile oval at the Morgan County Fairgrounds, it’s Paul Nienhiser.
On the heels of three series victories in 2023, the Chapin, Illinois driver returned to victory lane at his “home away from home,” besting the field of 25 competitors on Friday night at Jacksonville Speedway.
Nienhiser started inside the second row in the evening’s 25-lap main event alongside Trevin Littleton.
Gunner Ramey and local favorite Will Armitage led the field to the green flag.
Ramey pounced to the early lead and held serve over the field. Quickly behind, Armitage, Nienhiser, and Littleton waged war in a three-car battle for third. Not far behind were Jake Neuman, Chase Briscoe and Korey Weyantwho wanted to throw their names into the mix.
Nienhiser pulled alongside Ramey on the 10th lap and overtook the top spot. Armitage had found momentum and moved past Ramey into the second position just as Kevin Petty made contact with the turn four embankment, sending his No. 72 upside down just ahead of the lead pack.
Returning to green-flag action, Nienhiser jumped to a commanding lead as he piloted his No. 9x machine through open air around the speedway. Behind him, the battle ensued as Chase Briscoe set his sights on Jake Neuman and a top five position. A lap-12 caution for Jason Keith slowed the field once more as the right-front tire on Keith’s machine came unattached and he sat in turn one unable to move.
At the halfway point, Nienhiser brought the field back to green flag conditions ahead of Will Armitage, Gunner Ramey, Trevin Littleton and Jake Neuman. Perfecting his run on the high line of the track, Nienhiser again showed that his No. 9x would be unstoppable, only to see a third yellow flag over the field with Tyler Duff stopped atop the turn two exit.
The field bunched up with 12 laps remaining for a third try of a restart. Ramey
then collided with Jake Neuman and collected Steven Russell and Jeremy Standridge in a turn-three melee that ultimately ended Neuman’s evening with damage to his No. 3n.
NInehiser used a strong run to lead the remaining laps and score his 27th career
MOWA Sprint Car Series victory — and 10th at Jacksonville.
Korey Weyant overtook Armitage to grab a second-place finish. Briscoe and Littleton completed the top five.
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. Paul Nienhiser [3], 2. Korey Weyant [5], 3. Will Armitage [2], 4. Chase Briscoe [7], 5. Trevin Littleton [4], 6. Ryan Bunton [9], 7. Gage Montgomery [13]. 8. Logan Faucon [20], 9. Bryce Norris [19], 10. Shelby Bosie [17], 11. John Barnard [12], 12. Jeremy Standridge [15], 13. Paul Solomon [10], 14. Shane O’Banion [16], 15. Gunner Ramey [1], 16. Jake Neuman [6], 17. Tyler Duff [8], 18. Steven Russell, [18], 19. Jason Keith [24], 20. Kevin Petty [11], 21. Kyle Danback [25], 22. Joey Moughan [14], 23. Chase Richards [23], 24. Jeff Masson [21],