Photo finish Raintree at the Lawn

The largest crowd of the season braved temperatures in the high 80’s and humidity in the 90’s to witness the 51^st running of the Raintree 100 Saturday night at the Mt Lawn Speedway. Luckily the temperature and humidity lowered by race time but the action on the track remained at a very high level.

The Raintree 100 was the final event of the evening with 24 of the best Modifieds in Indiana taking the green flag. Colby Lane of Knightstown started on the pole and took the early lead. Lane led the first 10 laps until Brandon Mefford of Spiceland moved into the top spot after Lane’s engine began to show some mechanical issues. Mefford would lead the next 5 laps when defending Raintree champ Ryan Amonett of New Castle making only his second start of the year at Mt Lawn would get the lead on lap 16 and lead the rest of the way. Amonett appeared to be the class of the field as he continued to pull away until Eric Evans of Shirley got around Mefford and set his sights on Amonett. Evans and Mefford both began to reel in Amonett along with Dalton Conner of Greenfield. Mefford got back around Evans on lap 39 and Conner moved into third around Evans on lap 40. Conner took over second place on lap 47 and started putting heavy pressure on Amonett. Lapped cars seemed to help Amonett keep Conner at bay until a yellow flag at lap 73 for an altercation between Colby Lane and Brett Sutton of Shirley bunched up the field for a 26 lap shootout to end. Conner appeared to have the faster car but just couldn’t muster enough to momentum to overtake Amonett. At lap 96 Conner was setting up for his final shot at Amonett when his engine started missing out and finally stopped completely and he coasted to a stop on the backstretch on lap 97 bringing out the yellow flag. Conner was pushed to the pits and the crew found out that he has run out of fuel. Conner refueled and returned to the race at the tail of the field. That set up a three lap race to the checkered flag. Amonett started on the pole of the double file restart and got the quick lead. After taking the white flag Mefford, Evans and Jake Hinton were all within striking distance of the leader Amonett. Upon exiting the short turn coming to the checker Mefford got into the rear of Amonett’s automobile causing both cars to get loose which opened the door of Evans. Evans got under Mefford and Amonett but fell .147 short of winning the race. Mefford finished in third just .221 seconds back and Hinton was fourth .767 back.

Fifth place went to fast qualifier Brent Butler of Sandusky Ohio (formerly Knightstown), Austin Evans of Shirley, Jeff Lane of Knightstown, Jason Thompson of Shirley with Conner getting ninth all on the lead lap. Tenth was RJ Norton III of Indianapolis.

The win marks Amonett’s fourth win in the Raintree (‘2016,22,23 and 24) joining a club that includes five time winner Harold Scott of New Castle (’74,75,79,81 and 83) who dropped out of the ’24 Raintree after 4 laps, LJ Lines of Greensboro (73,76,82 and 94), and Rick Rhonemus of Desoto (87,90,92 and 93. Amonett is the only 3 peat winner.

Darrell Thompson Jr. of New Castle picked up his first feature win in the Stock Compacts. Mark Dulworth of Middletown led the first lap and Trey Thompson led lap 2. Chris Gray of Greenfield making his first start this year at Mt Lawn led laps 3 through 15. Thompson Jr then took over to take the win. Second went to point leader Robert Bryan of Indianapolis followed by JD Blankenship of New Castle, Dakota Clark of New Castle, Jacob Corn of New Castle, Dulworth, Trey Thompson, Brock Smith of Selma, Brashelle Wisner of Anderson, and Gray. Heat winners were Thompson Jr and Trey Thompson.

Pro Compacts saw Shaylon Calciano of Kennard get his first feature win beating Thomas Singer of Cadiz by 5.6 seconds. Third went to Trent Gossar of Markleville, Adam Lee of Westwood, Brett Smith of Richmond, Nathan Gwinn of New Castle, Carson Mattox of Anderson, Matt Rowe of New Castle and TJ Fannin of New Castle.

The Crown Vic feature went down to the wire again Adam Lee came across the finish line first ahead of point leader Kyle Evans by .083 seconds. However upon post race inspection Lee’s cars failed to meet specifications and was disqualified giving the win to Evans. Chase Sutton of Middletown finished second followed by JD Blankenship of New Castle, Wes Duvall of Connersville, Brandon Kindler of New Castle, Korbin Magee of Carthage, Stephen Vickery of New Castle, David Logsdon of New Castle, Jonas Gordon of Greenfield and Billy Hayes of Charlottesville. Calciano got the win in the heat.

Next racing at Mt Lawn will be Saturday night August 17 in the Dickie Jo Patterson Memorial Race with Modifies, Crown Vics, Stock Compacts and Pro Compacts returning.