BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- As has been the norm for the past couple of weeks, sunshine and scorching temperatures greeted fans and racers alike, as Bloomington Speedway presented the 21st Annual Sheldon Kinser Memorial. With $3,000 to win and over $2,600 in lap prize money for the Safety-Kleen Sprint Cars, 42 very stout competitors signed in for the racing action. Sheldon Kinser , a Bloomington native, died of cancer in 1988. He was a three time USAC Sprint Car Series Champion (1977, 1981, and 1982). He also drove in the USAC and CART Championship Car Series. He competed from 1975-1981, with 38 combined career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 each year except 1980, when he failed to qualify. The past winners list of the Sheldon Kinser Memorial reads as a who's who of Winged and Non Winged Sprint Car drivers. Names like Hewitt, Norris, Shepard, Thomas, Briscoe, Gaines, Darland, Elliott, Kruseman, Doty, Cottle, Stanbrough, and Clayton make up the list of the 18 winners of the event. The 21st edition of the event turned out to be an absolute classic as Beford, IN native Kenny Niflis scored his first EVER feature in in a Sprint Car. If you could call a race a cinderella story, you could definitely make an argument for this one being just that.

Chad Boat and Jon Stanbrough made up the front row for the 40 lap Sheldon Kinser Memorial main event, with Boat leading lap one. Stanbrough moved to the top side and grabbed the lead away from Boat on lap two. Behind the lead duo, Robert Ballou and Shane Cottle battled for the fifth, with Cottle nabbing the position. Back up front, Bryan Clauson moved around Boat for the runner up position, and set his sights on Stanbrough. Back to Ballou, as he now had to contend with Brady Short, as Short moved into the sixth spot. At the same time, the crowd was keeping an eye on Niflis, who had started 16th on the grid and was already up to seventh by lap eight. The only caution of the event flew on lap nine, as Ricky Williams slowed to a stop outside of turn four. On the restart, a battle for fifth began to take shape, as Short and Cottle ran side by side for the spot. Short ended up taking the position, moving Cottle back to sixth. Short then caught up with Casey Shuman, and the duo split Boat in a daring move for the fourth position. Meanwhile, Niflis began to pick off Cottle, and Ballou to move himself up to fifth. With 17 laps to go, you could throw a blanket over the top five, as Stanbrough, Clauson, Shuman, Short, and Niflis ran within inches of each other. Short then began his high side march to the front, moving around Shuman for third, and then Clauson for second. Stanbrough was the only car left in his path, as he took the lead from him. While this was going on, Niflis started to pick off cars, using precise timing and movement. First getting around Shuman, then Clauson, then Stanbrough, and finally taking the lead away from Short on lap 25. As the laps ticked down, Niflis began to open up his lead lap after lap, until he held a full straightaway advantage over Short. With five to go, you could feel the excitement from the crowd, as they began to rise to their feet. With two to go, Niflis carefully moved through lapped cars, even going three wide at one point. As the white flag flew, it was up to Niflis to turn one more perfect lap, and that he did. Niflis took the checkers in front of a wildly cheering grandstand, ahead of Short, Stanbrough, Clauson, and Shuman. Niflis is sponsored by Niflis Design, Indiana Stone Works, Gutswear.com, The Edge Collision Center, Indy Race Parts, and Indy Screen Print. The Sprint Mart hard charger award went to Niflis, as he started 16th en route to his victory.

Safety-Kleen Sprint Car heats went to Jon Stanbrough, Chad Boat, Casey Shuman, Robert Ballou, and Bryan Clauson. The C-Main went to Mark Perry III with the B-Main going to Kenny Niflis

Chase Sterrett and Matt Bex led the field to the green in the 25 lap O'Neal Wood Products UMP Modified main event. Bex jumped to the lead at the start, and would lead lap one with Sterrett and John Demoss in tow. Demoss looked under Sterrett for the second spot on lap three, and made the pass. Behind them, Kent Robinson moved around Clint Demoss for the fourth spot. The caution flew on lap four, as Chris Martin stopped in turn four. During the yellow, John Demoss stopped in turn three while running in the second position. DeMoss would exit the track, and retire from the event. On the restart, Bex took the field to the green flag, with Sterrett and Robinson running second and third. Bex began to pull away from Sterrett, opening up a half straightaway lead by lap seven. Behind him, Robinson began to feel pressure from Clint Demoss, who moved around him for third. Bex began to put lapped cars between he and the field, as he moved around David Lawson to put him a lap in arrears. At the halfway point, it was Bex, Demoss, Sterrett, Robinson, and Josh Eads making up the top five. Demoss had gotten around Sterrett as they came to the crossed flags. Bex made a daring three wide pass on two lapped cars on lap 16, as he moved to the bottom to clear the cars. A scary incident occurred on lap 17, as Sterrett jumped off the front stretch banking, flying backwards into the wall. Sterrett climbed out the car under his own power. Three lapped cars separated Bex from Clint DeMoss as the field restarted on lap 17. Demoss used no time in clearing all three lapped cars, using the bottom of the track to do so. This put the gap between Bex and Demoss to just over a half straightaway with five laps to go. With four to go, Bex continued to keep his lead at the same margin. All he needed to do was stay smooth and steady to the checkers. As the white flag flew, it was no doubt, as Bex took his second victory on the season ahead of Demoss, Robinson, Ralph Groomer, and Jared Bailey. The win was Bex's second on the season. He is sponsored by Baileys Flowers and Gifts, Indiana Stone Works, Ringers Gloves, Travis Kern Racing Engines, and Larry Shaw Race Cars

Heat races for the O'Neal Wood Products UMP Modifieds went to Matt Bex, Clint DeMoss, and Jared Bailey. The B-Main winner was Derek Groomer

Brad Cummings and Steve Peeden brought the Tire and Wheel Center UMP Super Stock main to the green, with Cummings leading the first circuit. Peeden and Lee Hobbs fell in behind Cummings in second and third. Peeden was all over the back bumper of Cummings, attempting to grab the point, but Cummings held steadfast in his low groove. Hobbs then moved up to challenge Peeden for the second position, with Peeden able to hold him off. Troy Clark and Winston Howe saw back in fourth and fifth watching the action take place up front. As the leaders moved into lapped traffic, Cummings was able to clear the lapped car of Justin Davis. The caution flew, as Davis spun over the backstretch banking on lap 12. On the restart, Cummings led the field to the halfway mark. Cummings, Peeden, Hobbs, Clark, and Howe made up the top five. On lap 14, Peeden moved to the high side, in an attempt to take the lead. The moved worked, as he nabbed the lead on lap 15. Once he got out front, Peeden opened up a four car length advantage over Cummings. The gap grew as Peeden took the five to go signal a half straightaway ahead of Cummings. Behind them, Clayton Perry moved his way into the top five, getting around Howe in the process. With two to go, Peeden held a comfortable advantage, almost a full straightaway over Cummings. He would hold that lead and claim his second straight win at the Bloomington Speedway ahead of Cummings, Hobbs, Perry, and Clark. Peeden is sponsored by Darlene Robinson of Remax Realty, Townsend Transmission, Drapalik Surveying and Engineering, Davis Automotive, and Butler Grafix

Tire and Wheel Center UMP Super Stock heat races were won by Brad Cummings and Troy Clark

$2,650 was donated in lap prize money, and Bloomington Speedway would like to thank the following: Indiana Stone Works, Peterson's Holdings Inc., Servpro of Monroe County, Chips Countertops, Extreme Performance, Sprint Mart, Advance Auto Care of Bloomington, Jerry Shaw, JB Salvage, STIDA.com for two great racers in Sheldon Kinser and Jerry Rice, Pritchards Service Center, Foxco Inc., Kyle Busch Motorsports. $400 was also donated for the fast qualifier by Race Fans and Kyle Busch Motorsports.

RESULTS

SAFETY-KLEEN SPRINT CARS (42 ENTRIES)

QUALIFICATIONS: Jeff Bland, Jr. 11.154; Chad Boat 11.236; Kenny Niflis 11.273; Brady Short 11.279; Bryan Clauson 11.300; Nic Faas 11.315; Shane Cottle 11.323; Casey Shuman 11.352; Ted Hines 11.376; Jeff Wimmenauer 11.378; Jon Stanbrough 11.395; Ty Deckard 11.468; Brent Beauchamp 11.493; Tim Spindler 11.510; Danny Holtsclaw 11.533; Eric Smith 11.550; Mike Hess 11.576; Jared Harris 11.578; Robert Ballou 11.599; Kevin Thomas, Jr. 11.604; Matt Goodnight 11.653; Chase Briscoe 11.691; Kenny Carmichael 11.693; Mike Spencer 11.714; Kent Christian 11.727; Drew Ikerd 11.744; Ethan Barrow 11.759; Hunter Scheurenberg 11.784; Ricky Williams 11.784; Seth Parker 11.788; Casey Riggs 11.852; Mark Perry III 11.855; Scott Hampton 11.907; Dickie Gaines 11.994; Kyle Robbins 12.051; Bub Cummings 12.172; Jordan Kinser 12.197; John Dick 12.434; Cam Schafer 12.611; Eric Edwards 12.970; Brian Lake NT; Jesse Cramer NT

HEAT ONE: Jon Stanbrough, Jeff Bland, Jr., Eric Smith, Casey Riggs, Nic Faas, Matt Goodnight, Bub Cummings, Drew Ikerd, Brian Lake

HEAT TWO: Chad Boat, Shane Cottle, Mike Hess, Ethan Barrow, Ty Deckard, Jordan Kinser, Mark Perry III, Chase Briscoe, Jesse Cramer

HEAT THREE: Casey Shuman, Brent Beauchamp, Hunter Scheurenberg, Kenny Niflis, Kenny Carmichael, Scott Hampton, Jared Harris, John Dick

HEAT FOUR: Robert Ballou, Brady Short, Ricky Williams, Dickie Gaines, Tim Spindler, Mike Spencer, Ted Hines, Cam Shafer

HEAT FIVE: Bryan Clauson, Kent Christian, Jeff Wimmenauer, Kevin Thomas, Jr., Seth Parker, Eric Edwards, Kyle Robbins, Danny Holtsclaw

C-MAIN: Mark Perry III, Bub Cummings, Jared Harris, Chase Briscoe, Danny Holtsclaw, Drew Ikerd, Ted Hines, Cam Schafer, Kyle Robbins, Brian Lake, John Dick, Jesse Cramer

B-MAIN: Kenny Niflis, Dickie Gaines, Ethan Barrow, Casey Riggs, Kevin Thomas, Jr., Tim Spindler, Scott Hampton, Kenny Carmichael, Mark Perry III, Seth Parker, Bub Cummings, Eric Edwards, Danny Holtsclaw, Jared Harris, Jordan Kinser, Matt Goodnight, Nic Faas, Mike Spencer, Chase Briscoe, Ty Deckard

SHELDON KINSER MEMORIAL FEATURE: Kenny Niflis, Brady Short, Jon Stanbrough, Bryan Clauson, Casey Shuman, Dickie Gaines, Shane Cottle, Eric Smith, Chad Boat, Hunter Scheurenberg, Jeff Bland, Jr., Brent Beauchamp, Robert Ballou, Casey Riggs, Kevin Thomas, Jr., Jeff Wimmenauer, Mike Hess, Ricky Williams, Kent Christian

O'NEAL WOOD PRODUCTS UMP MODIFIEDS (23 ENTRIES)

HEAT ONE: Matt Bex, John Demoss, Josh Eads, Chris Martin, Karlie Holt, Derek Groomer, Danny Harris, Brad Barrow

HEAT TWO: Clint Demoss, Chase Sterrett, Shelby Miles, Earl Plessinger, Richie Lex, Matt Hamilton, Joe Godsey, Charlie Belden, Jr.

HEAT THREE: Jared Bailey, Kent Robinson, Ralph Groomer, Bennie Smith, Jr., David Lawson, Bradley Sterrett, Phil Vansant

B-MAIN: Derek Groomer, Brad Barrow, Bradley Sterrett, Joe Godsey, Phil Vansant, Matt Hamilton, Danny Harris

FEATURE: Matt Bex, Clint Demoss, Kent Robinson, Ralph Groomer, Jared Bailey, Derek Groomer, Josh Eads, Brad Barrow, Richie Lex, Earl Plessinger, Matt Hamilton, Joe Godsey, Karlie Holt, Phil Vansant, David Lawson, Chris Martin, Chase Sterrett, Bennie Smith, Jr., Bradley Sterrett, John Demoss, Shelby Miles

TIRE AND WHEEL CENTER UMP SUPER STOCKS (20 ENTRIES)

HEAT ONE: Brad Cummings, Lee Hobbs, Steve Hollars, Winston Howe, Greg Amick, Kevin Arthur, Kyle Zike, Jim Moore, Tami Lawson, Travis Howe

HEAT TWO: Troy Clark, Steve Peeden, Jack Frye, Justin Hammond, Jake Byers, Justin Davis, Clayton Perry, Chris Hillman, Travis Todd, Tom Ault

FEATURE: Steve Peeden, Brad Cummings, Lee Hobbs, Clayton Perry, Troy Clark, Winston Howe, Greg Amick, Jack Frye, Steve Hollars, Chris Hillman, Justin Hammond, Jake Byers, Jim Moore, Kyle Zike, Justin Davis, Tami Lawson, Travis Todd, Kevin Arthur, Tom Ault