A record setting 43 entries of Powri Lightning Sprints would take to the fast Lake Ozark Speedway, with side by side action throughout the first night of the Powri Lightning Sprint Nationals. Drivers from nine states and even Canada would pack the pits. After five hard fought heat races, four fast-paced qualifiers, and a pair of edge-of-the-seat B-Feature battles, the feature field of 24 was set for 25 trips around “The Lake”.
Fresh off earning the night’s High Point Qualifier Award, pole sitter Chris Crowder #26, of Colorado Springs Colorado, would appear to be on a mission. Leading the first 22 circuits, lapping competitors at will. With a late race caution, bunching the field back up, Crowder would again take the point only to have mechanical issues taking him from competition. As three laps remain, front runner Grant Sexton #3 from Lakeside, California would grab the lead never relinquishing the top spot en route to claiming the night’s feature victory.
Previous years winner Mark Billings #51, Kearney Missouri, would be up on the wheel for the restart in the last caution to race his way to finish in the runner up position. Mason, Ohio’s Brad Strunk #23s would be in the hunt, only to run out of laps, placing third. Brent Sexton #44 from Lakeside, California would use late race dramatics to place fourth, with Jeffrey Dyer #4 from Helendale, California rounding out the feature’s top five.
Heat race winners include Kevin Douglas #5k, Jeffrey Dyer #4, Tomy Moreau #22, Jeffrey Weare #88, and Brad Strunk #23s. Qualifier winners were Brent Sexton #44, Chris Crowder #26, Alan Truscinski #13T, and Jeffrey Weare #88. B-Feature winners consisted of Jennifer Woods #86, and Jesse Fernandez #61. Hard charger was Eric Sundborg #16, after transferring through a B-feature. Sundborg would wheel his way past eleven other drivers in the main event.
With night number one in the books, the stage is set for night number two for the Powri Lightning Sprint Nationals at Lake Ozark Speedway as it should be another action packed event full of surprises.