PEORIA, Ill. — A six hour drive from Lone Jack, Missouri to victory lane for Jack Wagner was the perfect way to end his two night stint with the Morrow Brothers Ford MOWA Sprint Car Series.
Starting from the pole position in the 25-Lap A-Main, Wagner jumped to the early race lead and was able to maneuver around both the low line and top shelf of the race track, searching for the best place to hold serve over the field.
Behind him, fellow front row starter Cruz Dickerson placed his No. 4 car around the bottom side, making consistent laps, with action heating up behind him.
Eighth-starting Paul Nienhiser muscled his way around the topside of the speedway, quickly hunting down the lead pack, setting into third, after working past Jake Blackhurst and Bryce Norris, and working his way into the top five.
Nienhiser quickly tracked down Dickerson, who had fallen to third behind reigning champion Will Armitage, before he successfully worked past the Newton, Iowa, driver for the third position.
The race was slowed for one red flag on lap 16 when Athens, Illinois driver, Justin Standridge ended up upside down on the track’s frontstretch, but appeared to be unhurt in the incident. Returning to green flag competition, with Wagner at the point, the field raced around the quarter-mile oval in multiple grooves before once more being slowed for a lap 20 caution when Paul Nienhiser slowed with a flat right-rear tire.
With five laps remaining, Wagner was facing a late race charge from Will Armitage who showed late race speed with a chance to overtake the top spot.
Behind the front two, Cruz Dickerson continued to work around the track comfortably, while Jake Blackhurst and Bryce Norris were battling side by side around the track as the laps wound down.
As the checkers fell over the field, it was Wagner, scoring the win ahead of Will Armitage, Cruz Dickerson, Byrce Norris and Jake Blackhurst.
The finish:
Feature (25 Laps): 1. 77-Jack Wagner[1]; 2. 7A-Will Armitage[3]; 3. 4-Cruz Dickerson[2]; 4. 37-Bryce Norris[6]; 5. 96-Jake Blackhurst[4]; 6. 6-Mario Clouser[13]; 7. 10S-Jeremy Standridge[5]; 8. 28-Korbin Keith[9]; 9. 44-Cory Bruns[7]; 10. 73-Samuel Wagner[11]; 11. 52F-Logan Faucon[12]; 12. 2A-Austin Archdale[10]; 13. 29-Brayton Lynch[15]; 14. 9-Tyler Duff[16]; 15. 67-Jonathan Hughes[19]; 16. 70-Eric Shelton[20]; 17. 9X-Paul Nienhiser[8]; 18. 2-Brandon Anderson[18]; 19. 5H-Colton Fisher[14]; 20. 01-Justin Standridge[17]; 21. 17-Paul Haley[21
