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By David Smith Jr.
PARK CITY, Kan. (July 14, 2007) They say after getting your first win, the rest come easy. For Jeremy Massey, no truer words have ever been spoken as the Park City, Kan., driver picked up his second feature victory of the season in dominating fashion as the O'Reilly NCRA Modified Series, presented by ICM/Ethanol, invaded 81 Speedway in Park City on Saturday night.
By virtue of passing three cars to win the third heat race, Massey started on the front-row pole for the 30-lap feature with Wichita's Greg Stephens to his outside. It didn't take long for Massey to show his strength as he quickly took the lead entering Turns 1 and 2, setting sail to a quick six-car length advantage after lap one. Fourth-starting Brian McGowen moved into the runner-up position, followed by Stephens, Brian Franz and Johnny Allen in the top five after the first lap was complete, before Allen moved into fourth one lap later. Two laps later, Allen picked off one more position as he moved underneath Stephens into third place.
It stayed that way through lap five as Massey and his BillsBuilt modified used the top of the three-eighths mile track to open up a 10-car length advantage over McGowen before the first and only caution of the feature fell when Don Renfro spun to a stop in turn three.
On the restart, Massey kept the pace out front but behind him three-time series champion Allen drove underneath McGowen coming out of Turn 2 to take over second. Allen, who has already won two series features so far this season, got beside the leader briefly down the backstretch. But Massey and his Hillsboro built engine were not to be denied as he powered away from Allen in Turns 3 and 4.
At the races midway point, Massey had motored to a half-stretch lead over Allen with McGowen, Stephens, and Franz rounding out the top five. Massey began entering lapped traffic on lap 25 and was Allen's only hope of reeling in the leader. But Massey would not let the lapped cars slow him down as he led the final five laps unchallenged to pick up his second career series victory, this in front of his hometown fans.
"I just don't let these guys intimidate me," said a happy but worn out Massey in victory lane. "On the third lap, one of my crewmen motioned me to stay up high and signaled I was comfortably out front. I don't like being out front early but it all worked out good tonight. It is nice to get this in front of all my friends who wasn't there for my first one (Enid Speedway Park), especially in front of my 80-year-old Grandpa, Big O."
Along with giving credit to all the members of his crew, he also thanked his sponsors BillsBuilt chassis, Pro Motorsports, Rodriguez Concrete, Hillsboro Engine Service, TNY Trophies out of New York, and Finish Line Automotive.
Allen would settle for second, with McGowen, seventh-starting Troy Gemmill and Stephens rounding out the top five.
The 10-lap heat races for the 36-car field were won by Jason Friesen, McGowen, Massey and Stephens. The 10-lap C-feature was won by Shawn Langhover while Brian Casey took the lead on lap five and went on to win the 15-lap B-feature..
In all, 23 of the top 25 drivers in the NCRA modified point standings entering the night competed in the fifth series race held thus far.
Next stop for the NCRA modifieds will be Thursday, July 19, through Saturday, July 21, for the 51st running of the Hutchinson Grand Nationals in Hutchinson, Kan.
Heat #1:
1, Jason Friesen, Sutton, Neb.; 2. Brian Franz, Halstead, Kan.; 3. Brian Casey, Hutchinson, Kan.; 4. Casey McClaskey, Ponca City, Okla.; 5. Shawn Langhover, Haysville,Kan.; 6. Brian Powers, Wichita, Kan.; 7. Mike Miller, Wichita, Kan.; 8. Howard Williams, Wichita, Kan.; 9. Jason Yager, El Dorado, Kan.
Heat #2:
1. Brian McGowen, Frontenac, Kan.; 2. John Allen, Chanute, Kan.; 3. Richard Wilson, Wichita, Kan.; 4. Marlin Farr, Nickerson, Kan.; 5. Jason Roe, Wichita, Kan.; 6. Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.; 7, Nic Baalman, Wichita, Kan.; 8. Jimmie Hobbs, Wichita, Kan.; 9. Jason Teague, Tahlequah, Okla.
Heat #3:
1. Jeremy Massey, Park City, Kan.; 2. Mike Jarvis, Wichita, Kan.; 3. Jim Johnson, Derby, Kan.; 4. Don Renfro, Wichita, Kan.; 5. Travis Govern, Wichita, Kan.; 6. Kenny Sweet, Wichita, Kan.; 7. Delbert Smith, Wichita, Kan.; 8. Greg Burt, Enid, Okla.; 9, Shawn Govern, Wichita, Kan.
Heat #4:
1. Greg Stephens, Wichita, Kan.; 2. Marc Hurd, Wichita, Kan.; 3. Troy Gemmill, Ponca City, Okla.; 4. Brendon Gemmill, Ponca City, Okla.; 5. Ted Tolan, Wichita, Kan.; 6. Mark Crough, Hutchinson, Kan.; 7. Mike Farrell, Cheney, Kan.; 8. Craig Miller, Hutchinson, Kan.; 9. Brad Johnston, Peck, Kan.
C feature:
1. Shawn Langhover, 2. Delbert Smith. Wichita, 3. Greg Burt, 4. Grant Junghans, 5. Mike Miller, 6. Ted Tolan, 7. Jason Teague, 8. Craig Miller, 9. Mark Crough, 10. Howard Williams, 11. Shawn Govern, 12, Jason Yager.
B feature:
1. Brian Casey, 2. Brian Powers, 3. Don Renfro, 4. Marlin Farr, 5. Casey McClaskey, 6. Jason Roe, 7. Greg Burt, 8. Jim Johnson, 9. Delbert Smith, 10. Shawn Langhover, 11. Travis Govern, 12. Brendon Gemmill, 13. Kenny Sweet, 14. Ted Tolan, 15. Grant Junghans, 16. Mark Crough, 17. Howard Williams, 18. Jason Teague, 19. Craig Miller, 20. Mike Miller.
A feature:
1. Jeremy Massey, 2, John Allen, 3. Brian McGowen, 4. Troy Gemmill, 5. Greg Stephens, 6. Brian Franz, 7. Mike Jarvis, 8. Marc Hurd, 9. Brian Powers, 10. Jim Johnson, 11. Jason Friesen, 12. Brian Casey, 13. Casey McClaskey, 14. Delbert Smith, 15. Don Renfro, 16. Jason Roe, 17. Richard Wilson, 18. Greg Burt, 19. Shawn Langhover, 20. Marlin Farr.
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