[Chris Nunn]

It was "Wings Over Bloomington Speedway" on Friday night, as the O'Reilly Midwest AllStars Winged Sprint Cars were in town. Bloomington Speedway only schedules one Winged Sprint Car event per year, so most of the competitors have either never raced at the track, or havent been here in a long time. Bloomington Speedway used to be strictly a winged Sprint Car track, until the Non Wing craze hit in the early 90's. This event also gave the local racers a chance to dust off the wings, or scramble to find one to race. Shane McElhinney, Chase Briscoe, Arin McIntosh, Bobby Stines, Blake Fitzpatrick, Dickie Gaines, Eric Smith, Ethan Barrow, Jeff Bland, Jr., and Ty Deckard all represented the local Bloomington Speedway contingent with the wings. Sikeston, MO driver Jerrod Hull brought the Midwest AllStars into Bloomington Speedway as the points leader.



SMITH REPEATS LAST YEARS VICTORY

Chillicothe, OH driver Danny Smith is usually the hands down favorite anytime the Winged Sprints roll into town, last night was no different, as he cruised from his third row starting spot to take the checkers. The 30 lap, $2,000 to win main event would see Fitzpatrick and Ryan Bunton make up the front row. A caution flag slowed the initial start, as Miranda Throckmorton slowed with a flat tire. When racing resumed, Bunton shot to the lead on lap one, as Bland moved from fourth to second in one lap. Fitzpatrick would lose another position to Smith, who moved around him for third on lap two. A red flag flew on lap three, as Scott Williams got upside down just off of turn two. After a lengthy delay, racing got back underway with Smith shooting by Bland for second on lap five. Smith used the next three laps to reel in Bunton and take the lead on lap eight. Bland then moved around Bunton to take second. As the lead duo began to approach lapped traffic, Bland used that opportunity to close in on Smith. With years of experience over the younger Bland, Smith diced through lapped traffic like a pro, and stretched out his lead once again. With five to go, Smith held almost a three quarter straight lead over Bland. As they clicked off the remaining laps, Smith almost saw disaster on the white flag lap. Arin McIntosh spun in turn four, directly in front of Smith. Smith hit the binders and narrowly avoided a collision with McIntosh. A one-lap shootout was on tap, with Smith cruising to the win over Bland, Randy Hannigan, Paul May, and Fitzpatrick.



26 Winged Sprinters signed in with fast time honors going to Hannigan with a lap of 9.904 seconds. Heat Winners were J.T. Imperial, Danny Smith, and Mikey Kuemper. The Dash went to Bunton, and the B-Main to Deckard.



HINES SCORES WIN 19 ON THE SEASON

Jeremy Hines scored his 19th win overall on the season Friday night. Hines currently leads the nation in UMP Super Stock wins, and leads the National points standings. Chris Hillman and Greg Amick led the starting field to the green, with Hillman jumping out to the lead. With Amick second, Kevin Arthur moved around Hines to grab the third spot on lap two. Hines returned the favor on lap four, moving back around Arthur. On the next lap, Hines got around Amick for the second position. While that was happening, Winston Howe took the fourth position from Arthur. Lap eight would see Hines take the point away from Hillman for good. As Hines began to pull away from the field, the battle within the top five began to heat up. At the halfway point, Howe and Amick began to wage war for the third position, with Howe grabbing the spot. Meanwhile, Brad Cummings shot around BOTH Amick and Howe for third on lap 19. With five to go, Hines was enjoying a full straightaway lead over the field. With three to go, Cummings moved around Hillman to grab the runner up spot. At the front, it was all Hines, taking the win over a side by side battle for second. Cummings barely nipped Hillman at the line for the spot. Howe and Amick rounded out the top five.



20 UMP Super Stocks signed in with heat wins going to Arthur, Cummings, and Hines.



BEX BIG IN MODIFIED FEATURE

Matt Bex of Avoca, IN scored the feature win on Friday night, in somewhat convincing fashion. He and Clint Demoss made up the front row for the feature event, with Bex leading the first circuit. Josh Eads ran third, with Kent Robinson and Shelby Miles battling for fourth. Robinson would hold Miles off for the spot, as the yellow flew for Bennie Smith on lap three. The battle between Miles and Robinson became a three way dance for third, as they added Eads into the mix. Miles and Robinson both moved around Eads, with Robinson taking third, and Miles fourth. Up front, Bex began the lapping process, throwing lapped cars at Demoss to try to maneuver through. With five to go, the caution flew, again for Smith after contact with Robinson. Unfortunately for Robinson, Miles moved around him just before the caution flew, as more than three cars crossed the line before the yellow. When racing resumed, Bex opened his lead once again, as Miles used the high side to get around Demoss for the second position. Bex had enough of a lead to cruise to the win over Miles, Demoss, Robinson, and Eads.



22 UMP Modifieds signed in with heat wins going to Eads, Demoss, and Miles. The B-Main went to Chase Sterrett.



Bloomington Speedway will be off for the next two weekends, with racing resuming on Friday night, September 12th. That night will feature the UMP Super Stock Nationals paying $1,500 to win along with Non Winged Sprints, and UMP Modifieds.

[Eagle14]

The Midwest All-Stars needs to thank the Bloomington locals for getting the wings on or they would of had a JOKE...THATS RIGHT.. A JOKE... for a car count. I must say there is nothing better than watching Danny Smith put on a clinic though....he is smooth and just on. Gotta love the throw back car on the track and the t-shirts.

[illiNOISE]

Originally Posted by Chris Nunn 26 Winged Sprinters signed in with fast time honors going to Hannigan with a lap of 9.904 seconds.

That works out to 90.84 mph. I know the racing is better without the wings, but you've got to admit that averaging nearly 91 mph on a 1/4 mile is pretty impressive.

[Charles Nungester]

Originally Posted by Eagle14 The Midwest All-Stars needs to thank the Bloomington locals for getting the wings on or they would of had a JOKE...THATS RIGHT.. A JOKE... for a car count. I must say there is nothing better than watching Danny Smith put on a clinic though....he is smooth and just on. Gotta love the throw back car on the track and the t-shirts.

:applaud:

[a tall Short fan 36]

:rolling Thats the huge car count all of you wing fans were telling me about ???!!!!! Half the field was represented by local non-wing sprinters..... Keep your wings we don't em

At least they made a pass for the lead. Which is more than I can say for the Gas City choo choo. :O:

[1BIGracefan]

Originally Posted by illiNOISE That works out to 90.84 mph. I know the racing is better without the wings, but you've got to admit that averaging nearly 91 mph on a 1/4 mile is pretty impressive.

If memory serves the track record at Bloomington with the wing is 9.37* seconds. That was the last time the Outlaws ran there. When the NST rolled into town the one year QT was 9.7** seconds. Yea, that's FLYING around there!

[petey]

The MASS series is pretty much a joke.

The MASS series a JOKE? Its a reginal series it hopes needs to get the track regulars to put the PILLOW on top. 26 cars is roughly 25% increase from last year I do think they had 21 cars. Bloomington is Freaking great place to watch Sprint Cars so quit complaining and be glad we have so a varied choice.

[Eagle14]

Originally Posted by Peter Griffin The MASS series a JOKE? Its a reginal series it hopes needs to get the track regulars to put the PILLOW on top. 26 cars is roughly 25% increase from last year I do think they had 21 cars. Bloomington is Freaking great place to watch Sprint Cars so quit complaining and be glad we have so a varied choice.

Its not a complaint.. it is an obvious statement...if it wasnt for the local guys... MASS would have 5-7 teams that follow it... I didnt complain about the racing.. on my point of view.. I had a blast watching Danny Smith.. and it is nice having wings around here... but lets face it...it is what it is... there car count was a JOKE I do stand by that, the racing.. wasn't bad... bullrings and wings are nice... but it is what it is... easy PETE