Knepley, Evans and Wyman capture first 2010 wins

Scott Knepley of Greensboro, Eric Evans of Greenfield and Taylor Wyman of Parker City got their first 2010 feature wins at hot Mt Lawn Speedway Saturday night. Knepley took the Late Model main event by 1.4 seconds over Kevin Claborn, Evans grabbed the MC Auto Repair Hornet division top spot by 3 seconds over Josh Owens of New Castle and Wyman won the Lady Hornet Main by a nose over Donnell Boykin of New Castle.

LJ Lines of Lewisville making his first start of 2010 took the lead on lap one over pole sitter Joe Woodring of Muncie. Lines, who substituting for William Mefford of Knightstown, fought a very loose race car but built a 5 second lead over second place but a yellow on lap 5 bunched the field and allowed Claborn to start along side Lines on the restart. Lines held off Claborn for a couple of more laps but Claborn finally made a pass in the short turn on lap 8. Knepley got around Lines for second on lap 9 and took the lead for good from Claborn on lap 14. Claborn finished second followed by Lines, Brandon Mefford of Knightstown, Woodring, Brock Anderson of Albany, Eric Evans, Ralph Lane of Greensburg, Jeff Marcum of Morristown and Bill Pierce of New Castle. Evans had a right rear tire go down on lap 20 while running in third. Marcum dropped out on lap 11 while in third with a problem in the engine on his ride and Terry Cater of New Castle did not start the feature because of an engine problem. Marcum set fast time at 16.548, Claborn won the Razzles Dash for Cash and Evans and Lane took the heats.

In the Thompson Builders Thunder Car feature only 5 cars took the green flag with apparent winner Kevin Claborn taking the checker first. Upon post race inspection it was found that Claborn’s machine failed to pass the minimum frame height test and he was disqualified. Claborn’s disqualification gave Neil Marcum of Morristown his 11^th feature win of 2010 out of 12 starts. Andrew Walker of Sulphur Springs crossed the line in second but his car also failed to meet the minimum ride height spec giving second place money to Chris Bolyard of Rushville and third to Adam Bolyard also of Rushville. Fast time went to Marcum with Chris Bolyard awarded the Dash for Cash money and Marcum took the heat.

Twenty of the twenty-three MC Auto Repair Hornets took the green flag from starter David Hill of Fishers. Joseph Jennings of Richmond took the lead of the race on lap one and led the first 12 laps. Eric Evans took over on lap 13 and led the race the rest of the way. Josh Owens of Ne w Castle finished second followed by Jennings, Brian Lewis of Indianapolis, Ryan Claborn of Cambridge City, John Massengale of New Castle, Joyce Dyer of Greenfield, Jacob Wyman of Parker City, Jeff Sorrell of New Castle and Brian Slavey of New Castle. The race was red flagged for an accident in turn one involving Jamin Vaughn of New Castle. Vaughn was transported to Henry County Memorial for treatment. Kevin Claborn set fast time at 19.783; Joyce Dyer won the MC Auto Repair Dash for Cash with Evans, Brian Slavey of New Castle and Scott Kilgore of New Castle winning the heats.

In Lady Hornet action Taylor Wyman held off Donnell Boykin of Ne w Castle to win the first all gal race of 2010. Denise Lethington of New Castle led the first 6 laps and Wyman the final 4. Boykin who was fast qualifier moved from last to fifth on lap one but a yellow flag at that point made her start all over. Boykin took the white flag in third place and got to second on the final lap but Wyman held on and won by inches at the finish. Boykin was followed by Megan Davis of New Castle, Karol Massengale of New Castle, Margaret Mefford of Spiceland, Lethington, Hanna Stanley of Cambridge City, Tricia Stanley of Cambridge City, Shawna Malone of New Castle and Alicia Sweet of Indianapolis.

A special Hornet race will be on tap for next week featuring drivers who have never competed at Mt Lawn in the past. The Rookie Hornets will qualify and have a least a feature event.