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The Championship Battle Heats up this Weekend

The Championship Battle Heats up this
Weekend at Lebanon I-44 Speedway
This Saturday, July 21st, the Lebanon I-44 Speedway racing seasons continues with show number five of 2018! Emerson-Copeland night at the races will feature all five of our weekly racing divisions including a bicycle race around the new 1/5-mile infield track for the kids. The past four nights of racing action have been packed with thrilling, edge of your seat excitement and we are only halfway through the season. Last Weekend’s race hosted several close finishes which tightened up the Championship points battles throughout all divisions.
The Pro Late Model Championship has been blown wide open after Kennie Dickinson was unable to finish the 75-lap Pro Late Model feature last weekend. Dickinson lost his Championship lead to Springfield Missouri resident, Tim Swearengin. Swearengin has one win on the year so far and he will be looking to extend his six-point lead over Dickinson this weekend with another win. Sitting 3rd overall in the Championship currently is Jimmy Vanzandt. If Jammin’ Jimmy can pick up a win this weekend it will surely put him right in the hunt for the lead. Vanzandt also experienced some issues in the Salute to 75, but with one week off between races Jimmy has decided to make a trip to Sellersburg Indiana to visit the Salute to 75 winner, Cole Williams, in hopes of getting his car dialed-in to make a mid-season run at the Championship.
The Modified’s have been putting on exciting shows throughout the season, but one driver has made statement after statement by coming from the back and picking up wins and that driver is none other than the Iceman, Ricky Icenhower. Icenhower has won every feature event except one this season and currently holds a 28-point lead over second placeman, Richard Lewis. Richard has shown speed as well this season with one feature win. Lewis issued a statement on social media that stated, “I just need to get better at getting through traffic.” If Richard can beat Icenhower to the front of the field, there is bound to be an exciting race for the win!
The new Big 10 Late Model division has been one of the most exciting divisions so far this season. Throughout four nights of racing, we have had three different winners! So far it has been Jimmy Fohn holding onto the Championship lead, but there are several drivers looking to run-down the Eldridge Missouri racer. While Jimmy Fohn is yet to finish worse than 2nd place, another driver has been hot on his heels. Dylan Bates moved into second overall in the Championship last weekend and is one of the two drivers to beat Fohn so far this year. The Rookie is yet to finish outside of the top three, but still chases Fohn by 23 points. Another driver who is looking for another good weekend is Lebanon’s Justin Blake. Blake finished a season best second place last weekend and showed that he has what it takes to beat Jimmy Fohn as he matched him move for move throughout the majority of the race.
The Street Stocks have been putting on some of the best shows of the night week in and week out. There have been four different winners so far this season, but Jordan Nisbett continues to maintain the points lead. Last weekend, two rookies went to battle showing that they have what it takes to run up front with the seasoned veterans. Brock Johnson and Trevor Icenhower put on a show from the drop of the green flag. The Rookies swapped the lead back and forth several times, it should be noted that both of them were competing for their first win and are battling for second in the Championship. Finally, on the last lap of the race, Brock Johnson was able to get around Icenhower and beat him to the line by just a fraction of a second. Brock took home the win leaving Trevor Icenhower hungry. You should expect to see him in Victory Lane very soon.
Last but not least, the Chargers. This season, the Chargers have made the switch to the 1/5-mile track in the infield in order to keep the drivers safer and keep costs at a minimum for the entry level division. In turn, we have seen several dirt Hornet drivers make the switch over to asphalt since the new track suits their cars much better as well. The battle between the dirt and asphalt drivers has been very exciting and is shaping up to be yet another tight Championship battle. So far, Rookie driver Crystal Blake, the wife of Big 10 Late Model driver Justin Blake, has maintained the Championship lead since opening night. But the dirt brothers Will Garner and Shannon Geller are on the move climbing the standings each week in hopes of taking the Championship. Chris Albright picked up his first win of the season last weekend, he could also be a threat for the Championship as we approach the halfway point of the season.
We hope to see each and every one of you this weekend at Lebanon I-44 Speedway for Emerson Copeland night at the races! The gates will open at 6:00PM and racing starts at 7:30, you don’t want to miss this! Don’t forget to bring your child’s bicycle and helmet for the kids bike race, kids 10 and under are always free in the grandstands and tier parking! For more information head over to our Facebook page or our website at www.i44speedway.net.
By Dylan Bates

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