Logger Appreciation Night this Saturday at Legit Speedway

By Scott Williamson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This weekend will be the second free grandstand event of the season at Legit Speedway Park in West Plains as they honor those in the Timber Industry. “Logger Appreciation Night” is sponsored by a host of local businesses and will draw a crowd anticipated to be between 3000 and 5000 folks.

Timber is the #1 agricultural product in Missouri and the local Ozarks and employs over 41,000 people statewide. Realizing how important the timber industry is to our local communities, the Stolba’s, owners of Legit Speedway, wanted to pay special tribute to the local loggers. There will be a “Picker Race” for the folks who want to bring their picker trucks and race to load logs into a prescribed area. There’s $200 cash and a trophy for the winner. Also on hand to entertain the crowd Saturday evening, will be Aaron Hovis. Aaron graduated in May from Three Rivers College and is a finalist in the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS COMPETITION. That National Final will be held in Central Park New York on June 20th. Aaron will be performing some of the Timbersports events during breaks and intermission at the track. Aaron is also part of the Timberworks Lumber Jack Show, which travels the U.S. and Canada performing lumber jack events. They may be seen at the Dixie Stampede in Branson June 30-July 4.

Saturday will see lots of racing, with a full night of points races on tap.  Going into Saturday’s races, Corey Lambert of West Plains, is still your points leader in the Hobby Stock class with 282 points. Allen McChesney of Squires finished in the money last week and holds on to 2nd in that division, just 35 points off the lead.  Darren Fox from Mtn. Grove won the Hobby Stock Main Event last week to move him into 5th place in the points race, 82 points off the lead.

Last Saturday’s USRA-B-Mod “race to the finish” saw Toby Thompson of Mtn. Grove out-maneuver Rustin Miller of Houston in turns 3-4 of the final lap to take the checkered flag.  Thompson and Miller are now tied for the points lead in B-Mod at 195. Carl Murphy, Caulfield, Dustin Shaw of Thomasville and Lonnie Judd of Caulfield, round out the top 5 in the B-Mod division. 32 points separate 5th place Judd from the points leaders Miller and Thompson.

Despite major engine trouble and being unable to make the feature Super Stock event, Landon Clinton of Willow Springs was able to earn enough points to move into the points lead in the Super Stock class. Landon won’t be back in action this week, but plans to be on the dirt for June 27th. Right behind Clinton is a tightly packed field.  With less than 50 points separating them from the leader, are Donnie Miller, John Kelley and Doug Lambert. Tony Anglin, who led going into last weekends points race wasn’t on hand and dropped to 5th in the points standings.

Hunter Duren of Yellville Arkansas is the leader in a tightly packed Late Model Division with 169 points. Less than 50 points separate the top 7 drivers. Daymon Mayfield, Kenny Barker, Shawn Knuckles and Jerry Croney round out the top five in the late model division. Brad Looney’s win last weekend moved him into 8th place in the points right behind Kaleb Stolba.

In the IMCA Modified division, last weekends winner, Darryl Hay of Doniphan  moved into 1st place with a four point lead over Shane Kelley of Jonesboro. Matthew Rodgers of Doniphan is five points behind Kelley, followed by Cam Rank and Kanyan Methvin. Methvin remains in the top 5 despite having to give up his 3rd place points and check, after weighing light in the post race tech inspection and being disqualified.

“We are being tough in tech because we want the races to be fair to everyone. It’s unpopular with some folks, but in the long run its going to make this a premier track” said Gary Stolba, owner of Legit Speedway.

On Thursday a group of 300 elementary school students from West Plains were on a field trip to Legit Speedway where they learned about the pre race tech inspection, how the starting positions in the heat races are determined, a behind-the-scenes look at the broadcasters booth and what it will take to make Saturday’s races a success. The kids loved the outing, and were excited to see the cars and meet the owners and some of the drivers.

The gates will open a 4 PM on Saturday at Legit Speedway Park. Free tickets are available at participating sponsors. The sponsors list along with this weeks “Driver Spotlight Video” and other related items may be seen at www.legitspeedway.com.

“I just want to say Thanks to Gary Stolba & the whole crew at LSP for bringing back one of the best tracks in the country in my opinion! Absolutely the BEST Sponsor Recognition I've seen on social media yet, along with visiting your local racers” - said Peyton Taylor on the Legit Speedway Park facebook page. ‪

There will be lots of fun for the whole family. Lots of give-a-ways and a great evening of entertainment await you at Legit Speedway Park on 63 Highway south of West Plains. You may also like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/legitspeedwaypark.