MUSKOGEE, Okla. -- Chad Wheeler of Muskogee became the third different Cherokee Casino-Resort feature winner in as many races as the O'Reilly/NCRA Oklahoma Modifieds made their first appearance of the season at Outlaw Motor Speedway, south of Muskogee on Friday night.

Wheeler and Randy Timms started on the front row for the twenty-five lap feature with Wheeler taking the lead aboard the Wheeler Metals sponsored Hughes Chassis and quickly opened an eight car length lead while Timms, current series points leader Gene Weaver, Greg Skaggs and Jeremy Ross gave chase. Skaggs got around Weaver and Timms to take over the runner up spot on lap three but back up front, Wheeler had things under control as he built a have stretch lead by lap six.

The first caution of the feature fell on lap eleven when William Gould spun to a stop at the top of turn three. One lap after the restart, Skaggs' flat tire slowed the field once again.

When racing finally resumed Timms, who took over the runner up position when Skaggs pitted to change his flat tire, began to pressure Wheeler by using the low side of the track. Wheeler, who had committed to the top, now had a battle on his hands as both drivers raced side by side. On lap fifteen, Timms executed a slide job in turns three and four to take the lead on lap fifteen. But Wheeler would return the favor on the other end of the track, executing the same slidejob in turns one and two to retake the top position.

While the battle for the lead was fierce, the battle for third on back was just as extreme as Brian Williams came from his 12th starting position and battled past Weaver for third by lap fifteen. Lap seventeen was his doom, however, as a caution would wave for his blown motor.

On the lap seventeen restart it was still Wheeler followed by Timms, Weaver, tenth starting Casey McClaskey and Gould, who rebounded from his earlier spin. Gould took advantage of the restart and worked his way into the runner up position past Timms before Timms would regain the spot one lap later.

By this time Wheeler had opened a comfortable ten car length lead and looked to be on his way to victory. But a caution for a Jeremy Ross spin in turn four would bring out the final caution of the night.

On the final restart there was no challenge for Wheeler as he would go unchallenged the final four laps to claim his fourth career NCRA victory, first with the new Oklahoma modified division. "I have got to thank my crew, "Teameights" as we call them. I also want to give special thanks to my crew chief Curtis Allen. He gave up driving a race car to climb aboard with us during the winter and he helps us out a ton. The track was rough but I felt comfortable where I was at on the track. When Randy (Timms) put a slide job on us I thought it was time I drove it a little bit harder."

Timms would hold off Weaver to finish second while Skaggs rebounded from his earlier caution to finish fourth. McClaskey would round out the top five.

The eight lap heat races for the forty-two car field were won by Weaver, Ross, Cam Case, Timms and Wheeler. The two, twelve lap "B" features were won by Gould and Williams.

Delany Erickson would take home the C&E Performance sponsored 12th place position.

The next scheduled event for the NCRA Oklahoma modified division will take place on Saturday night, August 29th at Elk Citys I-40 Speedway in Elk City, Oklahoma.

More information on the O'Reilly/NCRA Oklahoma modifieds, along with other divisions 360 sprint cars, late models, modifieds and sport modifieds can be found at www.ncraracing.org. The series would also like to say "thank you" to the following sponsors for their support for the 2009 season and we ask all of you to please support them and let them know you appreciate their involvement with the series.

Official 2009 NCRA Sprint Car Series Sponsors: O'Reilly Auto Parts, Hoosier Racing Tires, Sunoco Race Fuels, Cherokee Casino-Resort

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

RESULTS

Outlaw Motor Speedway
Wainwright, Oklahoma
June 19, 2009

HEAT 1 - 1, Gene Weaver. 2, Delany Erickson. 3, Dan Leatherman. 4, Alan Oliva. 5, Jason Teague. 6, Brad Worley. 7, Brian Wolfe. 8, Thomas Tillson, Jr.. 9, J.D. Choate.

HEAT 2 - 1, Jeremy Ross. 2, Greg Skaggs. 3, Shawn Brassfield. 4, Brian Williams. 5, Chad Davis. 6, Tate Cole. 7, Joe Duvall. 8, William Gould. 9, Jason Redman.

HEAT 3 - 1, Cam Case. 2, Andy Morris. 3, Ron Gould. 4, Brandon Morton. 5, Chris Cole. 6, Fausten Willhite. 7, Chris Roach. 8, Jarred Russell.

HEAT 4 - 1, Randy Timms. 2, Glenn Bratti. 3, Willie Gammill. 4, Kerry Davis. 5, Melvin Picher. 6, Logan Cabbell. 7, Dalton Clay. 8, Kyle Sweeney.

HEAT 5 - 1, Chad Wheeler. 2, Casey McClaskey. 3, Lonnie Robins. 4, Jarrod Havens. 5, Joe Wright. 6, Jason Hilliard. 7, Travis Penrod. 8, Danny Womack.

1st B FEATURE - 1, William Gould. 2, Delany Erickson. 3, Brad Worley. 4, Melvin Picher. 5, Chris Roach. 6, Brian Wolfe. 7, Joe Duvall. 8, Kerry Davis. 9, Ron Gould. 10, Tate Cole. 11, Jarrod Havens. 12, Chris Cole. 13, Chad Davis. 14, J.D. Choate. 15, Jason Redman. DNS: Dan Leatherman, Danny Womack.

2nd B FEATURE - 1, Brian Williams. 2, Brandon Morton. 3, Alan Oliva. 4, Fausten Willhite. 5, Travis Penrod. 6, Joe Wright. 7, Jason Hilliard. 8, Logan Cabbell. 9, Thomas Tillson, Jr. 10, Kyle Sweeney. 11, Lonnie Robins. 12, Jason Teague. 13, Willie Gammill. 14, Jarred Russell. DNS: Dalton Clay.

Cherokee Casino-Resort A FEATURE - 1, Chad Wheeler. 2, Randy Timms. 3, Gene Weaver. 4, Greg Skaggs. 5, Casey McClaskey. 6, Cam Case. 7, Travis Penrod. 8, Jeremy Ross. 9, Fausten Willhite. 10, Alan Oliva. 11, Andy Morris. 12, Delany Erickson. 13, William Gould. 14, Brian Williams. 15, Chris Roach. 16, Brad Worley. 17, Glenn Bratti. 18, Brandon Morton. 19, Shawn Brassfield. 20, Melvin Picher. .

Current NCRA Oklahoma Modified Point Standings

1) Gene Weaver 875, 2) Alan Oliva 730, 3) Travis Penrod 695, 4) Cam Case 690, 5) Logan Cabbell/Chris Roach 670, 7) Brad Worley 645, 8) Casey McClaskey 565, 9) Thomas Tillison, Jr. 560, 10) Kerry Davis 520, 11) Jason Hilliard 450/Kyle Sweeney 13) Brian Wolfe 445