The Keeppers

The Transport Graphic Factory Stocks were first out of the gate tonight with 46 entries. That made for five great heat races and two
B-Features. When the dust cleared, it was a very apropos Chris Darnell in the number 30 Transport Graphics Car on the pole. Beside him on the front row the 72 of Ben Solberg.

On the first lap the two them test the integrity of the Transport Graphics vinyl wrap on Darnell’s car as they race hard into turn one. It survives the racing contact but Solberg does get by him on the back stretch. Things are still wild into the next set of turns as the pack tries it three wide in several places. Multiple cars including Darnell do not make the turn bringing out an early yellow and forcing an official restart.

Back to green and clean racing all the way around this time with Solberg leading the first official lap. Isaac Keeper in the 72K, Solberg’s team car, picks up 3 spots in one lap. It’s obvious early this is going to be a two car race as the yellow flies again for acorner marker track tire gets punch and looks as though it is going to join the field for a bit.

As the green flies again, Jody Tillman in the 85 has mechanical troubles but makes it off the track. However, less then a half lap later several other drivers are not so lucky as things get wild between 3 and 4 again collecting some front runners: 25JR of Troy Reasoner, the 18 of Jim Reaves, and the 0 of Jeffery Douty. When the dust cleared, Reaves is out and the rest restart tailback leaving the red and white twins of Solberg and Keepper up front.

After a great green flag stretch of racing, Solberg and Keepper pull to nearly a front stretch lead over the field and hold it for a one two finish sending Solberg to the brand new AAA Motorsports’ Winner’s Circle.

Hard charger tonight goes to Mark Bourey from Pierce City in the number 6 as he races his way in through the first “B” Feature of the night and then fights through the field for a 6th place finish. David Gemes in the 6G started beside Boury in the second to last row and also charged to a top 10 finish in 8th.

It was a cold start to the season at Midway Speedway with temperatures in the 40s. Started 6th in the Heat and managed to finish 2nd. Midway does a row inversion based on a draw which worked out to my advantage putting me in pole position. Off the green in the Feature I grabbed the lead and found the bottom of the track to be fast. To my surprise teammate Isaac Keepper was running strong on the high side. I decided to move up the track after exiting each corner in order to stop Isaac’s momentum. As a result Isaac tried to pass me down low but his car didn’t stick causing him to turn sideways putting him at the back of the field. With Isaac as no longer a threat I managed to pull off a victory at the first race of the season.