WHEATLAND, Mo. — Sixth-starting Derek Brown held off William Garner in a caution-free O’Reilly Auto Parts USRA Stock Cars feature to headline Saturday’s Big Adventure RV Weekly Championship Series program at Lucas Oil Speedway.
The victory, while worth $750 for Brown, was priceless for its personal meaning. He said in victory lane it was dedicated to his friend Brian Webster, a fellow racer who passed away on Friday due to cancer. Webster, 36, was a Richland High School graduate who drove in the USRA Stock Cars division.
“That one was for him,” Brown said, noting that his motor’s water temperature was running a red-hot 260 degrees late in the 25-lapper. “But I wasn’t pulling off for nothing.”
Other feature winners on Ozarks Food Harvest Food Drive Night at the Races were Chad Lyle (Arctic Food Equipment USRA Modifieds), Dustin Kruse (Clear Creek Golf Cars USRA B-Mods) and Justin Wells (Hermitage Lumber POWRi Late Models).
Brown grabbed the lead on lap five of the USRA Stock Cars feature and didn’t give it up, though things got a bit dicey near the finish as Garner applied pressure and a lapped car nearly spun Brown in the final turn
“Luckily I had it straight enough when the run into me that I didn’t spin out, but I sure thought I was there for a minute,” Brown said.
Midseason division points champ Jaylen Wettengel took the early lead from the front row, but Brown rolled from fifth into the top spot on lap five. Wettengel fell all the way back to fourth with Mason Beck and Garner in between he and Brown.
Brown, Beck and Garner staged a three-way battled over the next several laps, not separated by more than a couple of car lengths. Brown was able to stave off the challengers and, with the race remaining green, built up a 1.5-second lead over Garner by lap 13.
Garner cut into the lead and was within on second by lap 18 with Beck and Wettengal well behind. Once again, Garner pulled right on the back bumper of Brown to complete lap 21 as both drivers hugged the low groove.
On the final lap, Garner made one final charge but Brown was able to hang on for a .630-second victory.
Wettengel finished third with Beck fourth and Waylon Dimmitt fifth.
Feature Finish (25 Laps)
1. 11-Derek Brown[5]; 2. 7-William Garner[6]; 3. 91J-Jaylen Wettengel[1]; 4. 0F-Mason Beck[3]; 5. 11W-Waylon Dimmitt[12]; 6. 8M-James McMillin[8]; 7. 33X-Justin Custer[9]; 8. 74-Rodney Schweizer[4]; 9. 15X-Corey Myers[10]; 10. 05G-Grayson McKiney[2]; 11. 22-Dawson Fennewald[13]; 12. 83-James Ellis[15]; 13. 24-Blayne McMillin[14]; 14. (DNF) 5-Robert White[7]; 15. (DNF) 34-Blake Bolton[11]; 16. (DNF) 41-Bryan White[16]; 17. (DNS) 140-Keith Jennings