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Lawton Speedway
Saturday, July 2, 2005
McClelland strikes for ASCS Sooner Region Lawton loot
by Race AuthorLAWTON, Okla. -- Sean McClelland captured his fourth American Bank of Oklahoma American Sprint Car Series Sooner Region feature victory of the season in stirring fashion by battling past race long leader Danny Jennings on the final round to top Saturday night’s 25-lap main event at Lawton Speedway.
Sean McClelland notched his fourth American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region feature win of the season by topping Saturday night's 25-lapper at Lawton Speedway. (Photo credit: Lonnie Wheatley) |
After Jennings led the opening 23 rounds, McClelland dove underneath the 2002 Sooner Region champion entering turn three on the 24th round. The pair raced wheel-to-wheel, brushing tires several times before McClelland edged into the lead as the pair charged down the backstretch on the final lap.
“I found a little bit up top coming off of two and I kinda started catching him, I wasn’t sure if he was slowing down or if I was getting faster,” current ASCS Sooner Region point leader McClelland commented in victory lane. “But I kept catching him and decided to hell with it, let’s go for it.”
McClelland led the feature field to the green flag from the pole position, but it was outside front row starter Jennings gunning into the early lead. Following a lap two caution for Gary Owens and Cody Branchcomb, who tangled while dicing for third, Jennings and McClelland set sail with Kerry McAlister, Dex Eaton and Foster Landon in tow.
Sean McClelland (1) and Danny Jennings (61J) fought it out for the win in Saturday night's 25-lap American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region feature at Lawton Speedway. (Photo credit: Lonnie Wheatley) |
Jennings stretched his lead to nearly ten car lengths until lapped traffic came into play after ten circuits. McClelland closed the gap and was poised to challenge for the lead when the race’s second and final caution flew after 13 rounds for Dara Morrow’s turn two spin.
Jennings took off again on the restart, holding a six car-length edge over McClelland. But McClelland began to close the gap over the final five laps. McClelland closed on Jennings and slipped underneath entering turn three on the white flag lap to challenge for the point.
McClelland edged ahead in turns three and four, but Jennings fought back on the high side, brushing the front stretch wall as held a slim lead while racing underneath the white flag. With McClelland on the low side, the pair rubbed wheels all the way through turns one and two before McClelland took command on the backstretch.
Sean McClelland celebrates his victory in Saturday night's 25-lap American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region feature at Lawton Speedway with a little wing dancing. (Photo credit: Lonnie Wheatley) |
McClelland raced underneath the checkered flag with a car-length advantage aboard Kurt Temple’s Myers-powered Cloud Nine/K&N Filters No. 1 J&J before a packed house, as Jennings settled for second.
Kerry McAlister turned in his strongest performance of the season by snaring the show position, while J.P. Bailey recovered from an early spin to claim fourth. Foster Landon rebounded from a heat race flip to round out the top five after starting 13th.
Eaton crossed the stripe sixth, while Owens came back from the early tangle to finish seventh. Derek Cottrell was eighth, with Branchcomb and Landon Brown completing the top ten.
Results:
First Heat (10 Laps): 1. Gary Owens, 2. Sean McClelland, 3. J.P. Bailey, 4. Lee Jennings, 5. Brian McClelland, 6. Earnest Jennings, 7. Conner Pullen, 8. Foster Landon.
Second Heat (10 Laps): 1. Danny Jennings, 2. Cody Branchcomb, 3. Kerry McAlister, 4. Dex Eaton, 5. Dara Morrow, 6. Derek Cottrell, 7. Rance Stoll, 8. Landon Brown.
A Feature (25 Laps): 1. Sean McClelland, 2. Danny Jennings, 3. Kerry McAlister, 4. J.P. Bailey, 5. Foster Landon, 6. Dex Eaton, 7. Gary Owens, 8. Derek Cottrell, 9. Cody Branchcomb, 10. Landon Brown, 11. Dara Morrow, 12. Earnest Jennings, 13. Rance Stoll, 14. Lee Jennings, 15. Brian McClelland. DNS: Conner Pullen.
American Bank of Oklahoma ASCS Sooner Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Sean McClelland 1,602, 2. Danny Jennings 1,570, 3. Kerry McAlister 1,428, 4. Cody Branchcomb 1,366, 5. Brian McClelland 1,351, 6. Preston Peebles II 1,259, 7. Foster Landon 1,163, 8. J.P. Bailey 1,119, 9. Derek Cottrell 1,103, 10. Dex Eaton 1,007.
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