ELDON, Mo. — Cody Baker would perfect the event by leading all 20 laps in night one of the Non-Wing Nationals presented by Start2Finish TV at Lake Ozark Speedway with the POWRi Wingless Auto Racing Sprint League to notch his second career feature victory kicking off the premier weekend event in an epic 20-lap feature.
Racing onto the quick surface of Lake Ozark Speedway, POWRi WAR would find 20 talented traditional sprinters witnessing Baker set the quickest hot-lap time of 13.649-second lap as Baker and Xavier Doney each earned heat racing victories.
Kick-starting the initial green flag start with high-point qualifier Doney and Baker lined up in the front row as Baker would gain the lead on the opening lap with Zachary Clark blasting into the runner-up spot as Doney, Anthony Nicholson and Justin Johnson all battled inside the early top five.
Cruising to a comfortable lead, Baker would set sail out front as Wesley Smith rapidly ran into the runner-up positioning early after starting deep in the field with Samuel Wagner also racing through the division after visiting the work area during the parade lap.
Driving into a battle for the lead, Smith would jump the cushion out of turn four to relinquish multiple spots as Clark, Nicholson, Jack Wagner and Samuel Wagner all battled closely inside the contending group of drivers.
Never wavering, Baker would emerge victorious to notch his first yearly league victory. Staying in the hunt and hard-charging towards the front, Smith would recover to finish runner-up after starting sixteenth as point leader Samuel Wagner completed the final podium placements.
“I knew Wesley would be coming towards the front, I just didn’t expect him that quickly,” said victorious Baker in victory lane celebrations. “I was a little worried in the late restart so I loosed all my shocks and just stood on it.”
Challenging closely behind would find Nicholson finish fourth as defending champion Jack Wagner rounded out the top five finishers.
Feature Finish (20 Laps)
1. 9H-Cody Baker[2]; 2. 44-Wesley Smith[16]; 3. 73-Samuel Wagner[6]; 4. 16-Anthony Nicholson[3]; 5. 77-Jack Wagner[4]; 6. 26-Zachary Clark[10]; 7. 74-Xavier Doney[1]; 8. 98-Saban Bibent[20]; 9. 11T-Trey Osborne[17]; 10. 99-Bryan Roach[9]; 11. 9-Chad Goff[5]; 12. 27-Justin Johnson[8]; 13. 82-Vinny Ward[14]; 14. 13-Chase Howard[15]; 15. 51-Doug Martens[19]; 16. 33-Bryson Smith[18]; 17. 97-Bret Mellenberndt[13]; 18. 52B-Blake Bowers[11]; 19. 4T-Taylor Forbes[7]; 20. 75-Glen Saville[12].