The Josh Burton Memorial Race at Bloomington Speedway unfolded under ideal conditions, attracting a packed pit area with 48 sprint cars competing for the substantial $10,000 winner’s purse in the MSCS-sanctioned event. Brent Beauchamp secured fast time in qualifying.
The format featured five heat races advancing the top three finishers, followed by a progression of D-main, C-main, and B-main events to determine the final five transfer positions into the feature. Heat race victories went to CJ Leary, Jadon Rogers, Jason McDougal, Kyle Cummins, and Brady Bacon.
Alec Sipes emerged victorious in the D-main, while Saban Bibent claimed the C-main win. Mario Clouser took the B-main triumph to secure his position in the championship feature. CJ Leary further strengthened his position by winning the Dash for Cash, earning the pole position for the 30-lap Josh Burton Memorial. None of the top four qualified drivers accepted the challenge to start from the rear for bonus money.
With 138 race teams filling the pit area, the feature race ran late into the evening but delivered exceptional competition throughout its 30-lap distance. The main event ran without interruption from start to finish—a testament to the caliber of the 20 drivers who qualified for the showcase race.
Leary controlled the bottom lane while Brady Bacon worked the cushion during the opening ten laps, the two racing side-by-side for supremacy. During the middle portion, Jason McDougal (who started fifth) advanced into the second position before the final third of the race. Brady appeared to surrender positions in the closing stages, potentially struggling with diminishing grip on the high line.
In the final five circuits, CJ Leary navigated lapped traffic masterfully to secure the significant victory along with substantial lap money. Jason McDougal, Geoff Ensign, Brady Bacon, and Kyle Cummins completed the top five finishers. Chase Stockon earned hard charger honors by advancing to sixth place, maintaining his MSCS points lead heading into the series’ final events.
Special appreciation extends to the entire Burton family and all sponsors who contributed to making this event exceptional. The level of talent and competition rivaled historic events held at both Jungle Park Speedway and Terre Haute Speedway during their legendary years.
Jordan Wever Claims UMP Modified Victory in Points Battle
The UMP Modified division attracted 15 competitors, with Jordan Wever (12.916) and Derek Groomer (13.212) recording the quickest times in their respective groups. These two drivers, currently battling for first and second in the Indiana UMP state points standings, won their heat races to earn front row starting positions for the feature.
Jordan secured the lead at the start of the 20-lap main event and successfully held off Derek Groomer to claim an important victory in their state championship battle, which concludes in just four weeks. John Demoss, John Clippinger, and Jeff Deckard rounded out the top five finishers.
Strunk Dominates MMSA Mini-Sprint Action
The MMSA organization brought 23 entries to Bloomington, with Bryan Brewer setting the quick time in qualifying. Heat races were won by Cody Knieriem, Brad Strunk, and Elijah Knoke.
Brad Strunk captured the feature victory over Bryan Brewer, Scott Bradley, Kayla Roell, and Adyn Schmidt. The MMSA group delivered another strong performance, contributing to their excellent 2022 season at Bloomington Speedway.
Boknecht Uses Late Pass to Secure Super Stock Win
Twenty-five UMP Super Stocks registered for competition, with Matt Boknecht, Steve Hollars, and Zach Sasser posting the fastest qualifying times. Matt Boknecht, Cale Kern, and Zach Sasser claimed heat race victories.
Derek Groomer, driving the #11 Sasser entry, led most of the feature event. However, during the final three laps, the leaders encountered lapped traffic, allowing Matt Boknecht to overtake Groomer for the win. Derek Groomer, Zach Sasser, Greg Amick, and Austin Perry completed the top five positions.
Owens Prevails in Competitive Hornet Feature
The UMP Hornet class saw 21 entries with heat race wins going to Davey Waggoner, Conner Garrison, and Jacob Owens. Jacob Owens secured the feature victory ahead of Jimmy Dutlinger, Michael Brewer, Kaleb Caudill, and Davey Waggoner.
Special thanks to all 138 teams who participated in the Josh Burton Memorial Race, which attracted an impressive car count and enthusiastic crowd. Many fans made a full day of the event, handling mail at the Speedway Post Office before arriving, while others stopped at Bobby and Steve’s Auto World Bloomington for last-minute automotive needs.
The Bloomington Speedway season finale is scheduled for Friday, September 9th. While Geoff Ensign and Chad Taylor hold comfortable points leads in their respective divisions, two championships remain closely contested: Jeff Deckard leads Derek Groomer by just one point in the Modified division, while Zach Sasser holds a seven-point advantage over Austin Phelps in the Super Stock standings.
For local racing enthusiasts seeking weekend entertainment alternatives to Night Moves Bloomington, the historic speedway provides high-octane action supported by community businesses including Bob Grim Chevrolet. See you at the red clay for the season finale as another outstanding year concludes with championship battles coming down to the wire.
Leave a Reply