WHEATLAND, Missouri - Tyler Wolff took the lead on lap 10 and went on to capture Saturday night's 25-lap Pitts Homes USRA Modified feature at Lucas Oil Speedway, the headliner of NMI Night at the Races Presented by Wild Animal Safari.
Wolff, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, prevailed on a chilly night in which all mothers were admitted free courtesy of NMI/VMG Marketing. Wolf earned $1,000 for his first victory of the season at the speedway.
Other feature winners on the Big Adventure RV Weekly Racing Series program, with 112 cars in the pits, were Aaron Poe (O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks) and Kaeden Cornell (Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA Late Models).
A heavy mist set in prior to the Ozark Golf Cars USRA B-Mods feature and that race was postponed. The B-Mods will run double features next Saturday, with the postponed lineup leading off the program. Kris Jackson and Andy Bryant will be starting on the front row.
Wolff started on the second row and was lurking behind pole-starter Ryan Middaugh in the early going of Saturday's USRA Modified feature, along with Tanner Mullens. On lap nine, Mullens' car suddenly came to a halt as the leaders were working their way through lapped traffic. That brought out a caution flag and proved to be a key moment.
Wolff used the restart to vault from third to first with a turn-two pass. He sprinted to a 3.5-second lead by lap 17, then held on the rest of the way to earn the win as Paden Phillips finished second and Chase Domer was third.
The top three cars were separated by just 1.1 seconds at the finish.
Wolff said the track surface was challenging after receiving a lot of moisture during the week, but he found it to his liking.
"It was a lot of fun," Wolff said. "With the track having so much bite, you could pretty much maneuver wherever you needed to go. Overall, it was an awesome race track. Thanks to the fans for sticking it out."
Poe wires Street Stocks field: Aaron Poe led all the way to win his first O'Reilly Auto Parts Street Stocks feature of the season in a race that had plenty of action behind him. Points leader Toby Ott wound up in second.
"They got a lot of rain, but they did their best of get this going and I can't complain," Poe said. "This car was hooked up. I appreciate the crew for getting this track ready for us."
Poe, of Knob Noster, Missouri, started outside front row and sprinted to the lead, opening a 1.5-second margin by lap eight over Toby Ott. Just as James Flood moved past Ott and into second, he began to reel in the leader as the two navigated lapped cars, before a caution waved on lap 11 with Zach Zeugin in third and Ott in fourth.
On the restart, Flood took a harrowing ride as he attempted to make the pass for the lead in turn two. Flood's car rode on its right-side wheels as it nearly flipped, with a car on the outside helping to break the unstable momentum and set Flood's car back on all four wheels.
Before the lap was over, Flood tangled with Bob Barnett in turn four to eliminate both as they spun into the infield. Flood entered the night just three behind Ott for the season points lead.
Poe was able to hold off Ott and Zeugin over the final laps to get the win. Cody Frazon was fourth.
Cornell elevated to ULMA win: Kaeden Cornell, after crossing the finish line in second, was elevated to the Warsaw Auto Marine & RV ULMA feature win after Dylan Hoover was disqualified in post-race technical inspection.
It was the first feature win of the season for Cornell, who is scheduled to graduate from Willard High School next week. The result continued a strong start to the 2019 season for Cornell, who also has feature finishes of fifth, third and second.
Season points leader Aaron Marrant wound up in second with Shane Essary third and Cole Henson fourth.
Article Credit: Lyndal Scranton