Cody Morris, Grain Valley, Missouri (4-13-2012) - Valley Speedway offered up its' 1/3 mile dirt oval as the site of the 2012 Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region season opener.
Starting 5th in the 25 lap Warrior main event, Sedalia, Missouri's Jonathan Cornell steadily picked his way forward, overtaking Australian gasser Chad Ely on the 16th round before cruising on to season opening ASCS Warrior honors aboard the Ostrich powered BKC/VKCC Motorsports no. 28 Yaeger Cycle Maxim.
Starting outside front row of the main event, Ely would ultimately settle for the same spot despite leading the first half of the 25 lap affair. Grain Valley's hometown pilot "Blackjack" Brian Brown advanced from the inside 4th row to snare show positions honors at the finish line.
Nixa, Missouri native Kyle Bellm finished as he started in the 4th spot, with Tyler Blank advancing from 9th to complete the top 5 running order.
A season removed from being upset by sprint car rookie Brad Loyet for the inaugural ASCS Warrior Region Championship, four time series' champion (under Winged Outlaw Warrior sanction) and California, Missouri native Randy Martin appeared in form to reestablish his favorite form.
Martin drew the pole position starting spot for the 25 lap main event, but fellow front row starter Chad Ely jumped to the early lead. Martin was pacing the rounds in the 3rd after succombing to Cornell's charge, but retired from action with 5 laps remaining having jumping the cushion 1 round before.
Topeka, Kansas native and mini sprint standout Wyatt Burks earned Hard Charger honors, advancing 8 positions to finish 11th at the finish line.
Haley Arnold, Brian Brown, and Jonathan Cornell each took heat race honors over the 22 car field.
The 2012 Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior campaign marches on to LA Raceway in LaMonte, Missouri for a Saturday night finale to the season opening ASCS Warrior weekend.
Featured Photo Credit: Paul Gray
2012 Speedway Motors ASCS Warrior Region
Valley Speedway / Grain Valley, Missouri
4-13-2012 / Round 1 of 24
A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 28-Jonathan Cornell[5]; 2. 9m-Chad Ely[2]; 3. 21-Brian Brown[7]; 4. 86-Kyle Bellm[4]; 5. 75-Tyler Blank[9]; 6. 6-Haley Arnold[6]; 7. 38-Cody Baker[11]; 8. 5M-Miranda Arnold[15]; 9. 76-Jay Russell[16]; 10. 33-Austin Alumbaugh[3]; 11. 11w-Wyatt Burks[19]; 12. 01-Mike Trent[12]; 13. 48-David Brown[10]; 14. 0-Jeff Osborn[14]; DNF 14-Randy Martin[1]; DNF 1A-Adam Jones[8]; DNF 89-Todd McVay[18]; DNF 33c-Jordan Creason[17]; DNF 55-Greg Clemons[20]; DNF 09-Joshua Stephens[13]; DNS 2A-Randy Hibbs; DNS 775-Chris Morgan
Lap Leaders: Ely 1-13, Cornell 14-25
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 6-Haley Arnold; 2. 14-Randy Martin; 3. 1A-Adam Jones; 4. 48-David Brown; 5. 38-Cody Baker; 6. 09-Joshua Stephens; 7. 11w-Wyatt Burks; DNS 775-Chris Morgan
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 21-Brian Brown; 2. 86-Kyle Bellm; 3. 9m-Chad Ely; 4. 0-Jeff Osborn; 5. 76-Jay Russell; 6. 33c-Jordan Creason; 7. 2A-Randy Hibbs
Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 28-Jonathan Cornell; 2. 33-Austin Alumbaugh; 3. 75-Tyler Blank; 4. 01-Mike Trent; 5. 5M-Miranda Arnold; 6. 89-Todd McVay; DNS 55-Greg Clemons