Jesse Stovall heads to his seventh MLRA victory of the season.
What won the race: Inheriting the point after polesitter Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb., retired with mechanical trouble with four laps remaining, second-starting Jesse Stovall of Billings, Mo., led the final circuits for a $2,000 payday in the Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association's King of the Hill opener at Junction Motor Speedway.
Key notes: Stovall notched his series-best seventh victory of 2015. ... He also won four days prior at Farley (Iowa) Speedway, earning a career-high $10,000. ... Berck led the first 21 laps before misfortune ended his race. ... R.C. Whitwell ran second before trouble in the closing laps. ... The 25-lapper was plagued by seven cautions and took 43 minutes to complete. ... Dan Shepherd loaned fellow Rookie of the Year contender Jake O'Neil a motor to compete this weekend after O'Neil suffered troubles Tuesday in MLRA action at West Liberty (Iowa) Raceway. ... The ninth annual King of the Hill weekend continues Saturday with a $3,000-to-win program.
On the move: Berck rallied from the tail to finish second in the opening heat; Stovall came from 10th to third in the second heat.
Winner's sponsors: Stovall's Black Diamond Chassis has a Scott Bailey Racing Engine and is sponsored by Hoosier Racing Tire, Malvern Trust & Savings Bank, Midwest Sheet Metal, Rushin Towing and Swafford's Service.
Points chase: Entering the weekend, Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., held a 46-point advantage on Stovall.
Car count: 20
Polesitter: Kyle Berck
Heat race winners: Mike Wiarda, Terry Phillips, , , , ,
Next series race: August 8, Junction Motor Speedway (McCool Junction, NE) $3,000