Comer collects bonus at Springfield, cops first USRA B-Mod win of 2020
Joplin's Justin Comer has had a rollercoaster ride in Reliable Chevrolet USRA B-Mod action for the last three seasons at the Springfield Raceway.
He has won the Turkey Bowl in his Hoods Propane No. 112 and a couple of weekly shows but just not what the constant winner in Legends Cars was used to in the past few seasons. He even thought about hanging up the open-wheel car.
After a good start and improving strong runs this season, Comer and crew chief Jason Rayle have been building and Saturday night at his hme track Comer came away with a $500 feature win and had to fend back current and defending track champion Jackie Dalton in getting his first win of the season in a thrilling 20-lap feature.
After winning the first qualifying heat and being high points driver, Comer's son Brax redraw the number 2, placing him on the outside front row—just what he was hoping for as they had the car set for the high side.
Comer took the lead from polesitter Austin Joplin at the drop of the green and was on cruise control early until the first caution flew on lap 10 as Michael Maggard, Dalton, Sam Petty, Levi Phillips and a host of others closed the gap.
On the restart, Comer shot to the top side as Dalton and Maggard went to battle. Dalton made the pass and started to close up on Comer while back in the field 17th-starting and former track champ J.C. Morton was slicing forward.
Caution waved on lap 13, bunching the field and Dalton picked the low groove for the double-file restart. Comer fired quickly as Dalton stayed right with the leader and attempted to make a low groove pass in turn 3 but Comer kept the car smooth on the top groove.
On lap 16 after 3 attempts down low, Dalton took his Hoffman Race Cars/Garretson Performance No. 21 to the top lane as the battle between spec and crate motor powerplants was on.
Comer hit his marks perfect as Dalton rolled through the center and pulled to the quarter panel of Comer twice while Morton was coming hard while battling Maggard and Petty for the spot.
Heading for the white flag, Dalton was still searching for a spot to carry him around but Comer was on track in taking the win and $500 payday.
"I knew on the second caution that Jackie was there and we race each other clean but with Dalton in second late in the race you better be on the wheel and hit your marks," Comer said. "He hasn't won those titles without knowing how to get around this place."
Following the lead duo to the checkered was Morton, Maggard, Petty, Kenton Allen, Cayden Stacye, Phillips, Joplin and Wes Long in the top 10 of the feature that had three-wide racing all 20 laps.
Reliable Chevrolet USRA B-Mod action returns Thursday when the track will hold a $500-to-win, $100-to-start feature as the UMP Summer Nationals Hell Tour comes to town.
USRA B-Mods will be an open draw with passing points to help set the feature lineups while the top 8 will redraw for starting spots. There is an entry fee of $25. Adult pit passes are $40. Draw cutoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7:15.
The USRA B-Mod event will award Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series national points only.
More information can be found on the track's Facebook page or SpringfieldRaceway.com.
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OFFICIAL RESULTS
United States Racing Association
Summit USRA Weekly Racing Series
Springfield Raceway, Springfield, Mo.
Saturday, July 18, 2020
Showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver and hometown.
RELIABLE CHEVROLET USRA B-MODS
Heat #1:
1. (4) 112 Justin Comer, Joplin, Mo.
2. (5) 6 Ryan McDermott, Dittmer, Mo.
3. (9) 9 Sam Petty, Marshfield, Mo.
4. (2) 3A Aaron Speck, Republic, Mo.
5. (7) 32 Kelly Hicks, Pea Ridge, Ark.
6. (3) 80 T.J. Yount, Greenfield, Mo.
7. (6) 55 Bill Schahuber, Springfield, Mo.
8. (8) 17 Chris Countryman, Clever, Mo.
9. (1) 18. J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo.
Heat #2:
1. (1) 21 Jackie Dalton, Carthage, Mo.
2. (4) 160 Michael Maggard, Springfield, Mo.
3. (6) 18 Austin Joplin, Willard, Mo.
4. (3) 15 Cayden Stacye, Fair Grove, Mo.
5. (8) 68 Ricky Watkins, Brookline, Mo.
6. (7) 5W Derek Watson, Brighton, Mo.
7. (5) 24 Cody Acklin, Calico Road, Ark.
8. (2) 3 Jacob Long, Greenfield, Mo.
Heat #3:
1. (2) 11 Levi Phillips, Neosho, Mo.
2. (5) 98K Kenton Allen, Chanute, Kan.
3. (1) 23 Casey Acklin, Norfork, Ark.
4. (4) 37 Wesley Long, Greenfield, Mo.
5. (8) 71 Rusty Rickard, Shell Knob, Mo.
6. (6) 4W Mark Wolfe, Joplin, Mo.
7. (7) 33 Danny Martin, Republic, Mo.
8. (3) 28B Wesley Briggs, Lebanon, Mo.
"B" Feature:
1. (5) 33 Danny Martin, Republic, Mo.
2. (2) 5W Derek Watson, Brighton, Mo.
3. (11) 18. J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo.
4. (3) 4W Mark Wolfe, Joplin, Mo.
5. (4) 24 Cody Acklin, Calico Road, Ark.
6. (7) 28B Wesley Briggs, Lebanon, Mo.
7. (1) 32 Kelly Hicks, Pea Ridge, Ark.
8. (6) 3 Jacob Long, Greenfield, Mo.
9. (9) 55 Bill Schahuber, Springfield, Mo.
10. (10) 17 Chris Countryman, Clever, Mo.
DNS – 80 T.J. Yount, Greenfield, Mo.
"A" Feature:
1. (2) 112 Justin Comer, Joplin, Mo.
2. (7) 21 Jackie Dalton, Carthage, Mo.
3. (17) 18. J.C. Morton, Springfield, Mo.
4. (3) 160 Michael Maggard, Springfield, Mo.
5. (8) 9 Sam Petty, Marshfield, Mo.
6. (6) 98K Kenton Allen, Chanute, Kan.
7. (13) 15 Cayden Stacye, Fair Grove, Mo.
8. (4) 11 Levi Phillips, Neosho, Mo.
9. (1) 18 Austin Joplin, Willard, Mo.
10. (14) 37 Wesley Long, Greenfield, Mo.
11. (19) 24 Cody Acklin, Calico Road, Ark.
12. (11) 71 Rusty Rickard, Shell Knob, Mo.
13. (15) 33 Danny Martin, Republic, Mo.
14. (18) 4W Mark Wolfe, Joplin, Mo.
15. (20) 28B Wesley Briggs, Lebanon, Mo.
16. (9) 23 Casey Acklin, Norfork, Ark.
17. (12) 3A Aaron Speck, Republic, Mo.
18. (5) 6 Ryan McDermott, Dittmer, Mo.
19. (16) 5W Derek Watson, Brighton, Mo.
20. (10) 68 Ricky Watkins, Brookline, Mo.
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