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David Smith, Jr. NCRA Press and Contingencies (405) 740-4769 Thomas Claims Caney NCRA Sport Mod Feature FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 19, 2009 - Caney, Kansas - Randy Thomas became the fourth different feature winner in the last four races held as the Elk City, Oklahoma driver held off current series points leader Chad McNamara to win the O'Reilly/NCRA sport modified Hard Rock Hotel-Casino feature Saturday night at Caney Valley Speedway in Caney, Kansas. Robert Elliott of Clinton, Oklahoma and Thomas started on the front row for the twenty-five lap feature with Elliott taking the brief lead on the initial start. The green was quickly replaced with yellow for a spin in turn two. The complete restart brought new life to Thomas as he out ran Elliott into turns one and two and pulled ahead heading down the backstretch. But after the first lap the caution waved once again when two time Hard Rock Hotel-Casino feature winner Donny Raney of Amarillo, Texas went for a spin in turn two. Raney would restart on the tail of the twenty-three car field and would be heard from again later in the event. A couple of cautions delayed the restart with one of them being Elliott, who suffered right front damage and exited to the work area. He would return but would get caught up in a lap five red when Walter O'Dell and Mike Schenberger got together on the front stretch causing O'Dell to crash hard into the front stretch wall. He was uninjured but done for the night. Elliott, who came into the night third in the point standings and one of the top contenders for the inaugural division championship, had nowhere to go and also suffered damage ending his night with his second "DNF" in as many races. Once racing action resumed, Thomas, aboard the Machine Works powered Race Car chassis kept out front and maintained a three to five car length lead until the races midway point when McNamara and his Hughes Automotive powered Biscuit Built chassis made a serious challenge for the lead coming out of turn two. The Blackwell, Oklahoma resident appeared to take over the top spot but the pass was all for not as Ian Nichols came to a stop in turn two. On the lap twelve restart it was still Thomas, followed by McNamara and Levi McGowen, who gave the hometown folks thrill coming up from his eleventh starting position. However, his strong run would come to an end three laps later when his driveline broke entering turns one and two to bring out the caution. Thomas, aboard the #BOO, Thomas Distribution Borden Milk & Ice Cream/Champs Graphics sponsored car kept the pace over McNamara by three car lengths for several laps before the final caution of the night fell with two laps to go when Nick Schenberger came to a stop on the front stretch. McNamara pressured the leader on the restart but was no match for Thomas on this night as the Elk City veteran picked up his first career O'Reilly/NCRA victory. "I was thinking I was going to be a second or third place car their on the original start but that caution was a good thing for a change," said Thomas in victory lane. "I got a good run on Elliott on that restart and I knew I was running the fast way around the track and just tried to keep it there. The cautions and lapped cars kinda hurt my momentum but it all worked out." Todd Decker of Edmond put on a solid run to finish third from his eighth starting position while Raney came through the field after his lap one caution to finish fourth. Cory Pope of Marshfield, Missouri made his trip worth while to round out the top five. Veteran Frank Graven of Cushing, Oklahoma put on the best passing performance of the night as he started at the tail end of the twenty-three car field and came home with a strong sixth place finish. Tyler McGee of Caney finished in the C&E Performance twelve place position. The three, eight lap heat races were won by Elliott, Thomas and Nick Schenberger. The next event for the O'Reilly/NCRA sport modified division will be held on Saturday night, October 3rd, as part of the Brill Motor Speedway Winter Nationals in Meeker, Oklahoma. The night will also be the final points night for the new O'Reilly/NCRA Oklahoma modified division. Official 2009 NCRA Sprint Car Series Sponsors: O'Reilly Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tires, Sunoco Race Fuels, Hard Rock Hotel-Casino. 2009 NCRA Sport modified contingency sponsors: Design 500, C&E Performance, Hoffman Race Cars, Billsbuilt Chassis, Racing Optics, BSB Manufacturing, Belleville Motor Sports, Schoenfeld Headers, Hatfield Racing Engines, Taylor Cable Products, Bassett Wheels, Pro Shocks, Ultra Shield, Pro Motor Sports, AFCO Race Products, The Brake Man, Rod End Supply, Keizer Wheels and Arizona Sport Shirts. HEAT 1 - 1, Robert Elliott. 2, Chad McNamara. 3, Landon Maddox. 4, Walter O'Dell. 5, Corey Pope. 6, Kyle Kuehn. 7, Tyler McGee. 8, Cecil Noles.HEAT 2 -1, Randy Thomas. 2, Donny Raney. 3, Levi McGowen. 4, Walter O'Dell. 5, Corey Pope. 6, Kyle Kuehn. 7, Tyler McGeen. 8, Cecil Noles.
HEAT 3 - 1, Nick Schenberger. 2, Bob Mock. 3, Todd Decker. 4, Kevin Snow. 5, David Givins. 6, Jerry Slaughter. 7, Ian Nichols.
HARD ROCK HOTEL-CASINO A FEATURE- 1, Randy Thomas. 2, Chad McNamara. 3, Todd Decker. 4, Donny Raney. 5, Cory Pope. 6, Frank Graven. 7, Jerry Kustanborter. 8, Landon Maddox. 9, Jimmy Davis. 10, Kevin Snow. 11, Bob Mock. 12, Tyler McGee. 13, David Givins. 14, Nick Schenberger. 15, Mike Schenberger. 16, John Westhoff. 17, Kyle Kuehn. 18, Jerry Slaughter. 19, Levi McGowen. 20, Ian Nichols. 21, Walter O'Dell. 22, Robert Elliott. 23, Cecil Noles.
David Smith Jr.
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