Who Will Have Mercy on I-44 in 2014
Previewing the first 20 entries in the 2nd Annual Mercy Masters of the Pro's 144 (Special from Lebanon I-44 Speedway)
May 2, 2014
Lebanon, Missouri (May 2, 2014) – Entries are flowing in for the 2nd Annual Mercy Of The
Masters Pro 144 at the "High-Banks" of the Lebanon, Mo. I-44 Speedway on May 17th.
The winner takes home $8,000 making it the biggest payday in the 2014 JEGS/CRA All-
Stars Tour along with the embroidered green jacket which the winner will proudly wear.
So far 9 different states and Canada have filed entries with more arriving at the JEGS/CRA
offices daily. Heading up the early entries is last year's event runner-up Chuck Barnes Jr.
He wasted no time in filling his entry after finishing second to winner Chase Elliott. Barnes
Jr., a former CRA/Super Series Champion will be driving a Kevin Crider prepared Chevrolet
again based out of nearby Rolla, Mo. and is looking for his first ever Pro Late Model win.
Last season was his first time ever in a Pro Late Model.
Chad Finley also was a very early entry as the DeWitt, Michigan Speedster who is known
for setting track records and making late race surges. Finley has been busy with Pro,
Super Late Model and recently made his ARCA Super Series debut this year. Finley was
placing himself into contention last year when problems forced him behind the wall late in
the event.
It will be a Homecoming for "The Hurrying Hoosier" Cole Williams of Sellersburg, Indiana
as the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Missouri and I-44 Speedway Late Model Pro Champion had a top 10 run last season. The only driver at I-44 last season to complete every lap of competition including the Mercy event, is supporting a new Port City Chassis and is looking for a shot at a new Pro track record and victory for the 6 time feature winner last season.
The 2012 Howie Lettow Rookie of the Year Anderson Bowen of Suwanee, Ga. Is making up for lost time last season. A leg injury kept the Swift Suwanee out of a car for a limited time, but his schedule is busy in 2014. Anderson was strong in last season's event and has his eyes not only on the $8,000, but being from Ga. that Green Jacket would mean a lot.
2013 Howie Lettow Rookie Of The Year and points runner-up Cory Deuser has turned several laps at I-44, and was at the track opening night hoping to find that extra edge. The Lanesville, Indiana Youngster has a new car number this season supporting 71 instead of the 14, but the Fast Flying Ford is still a force to look at. Expect the 16-year-old to not only avoid any kind of a downfall, but to contend for the 2014 championship. The Georgetown, Indiana teenager wasn't happy with not becoming the first rookie to win a point race when Dominique Van Wieringen accomplished the feat in September 2013. So Deuser went ahead and passed Van Wieringen on the last lap out of turn four at the historic Winchester Speedway (IN) during Winchester 400 weekend to ice the Rookie title in 2013.
One of the hottest drivers in early entries is Harrison Burton of Huntersville, N.C. The 13 year old son of NASCAR driver Jeff Burton is becoming a front runner in the South and East in both Pro and Super Late Model events. Harrison was the World Series of Asphalt point's runner-up in 2014 with only 1 night outside the top 5 when mechanical issues forced him out. Harrison captured 2 wins during Speed weeks.
If the last two point's races of the 2013 JEGS/CRA season were any indication, Dominique Van Wieringen will have a breakout year in 2014. The Amherstburg, Ontario sophomore put on a driving clinic en route to her first career win at Lucas Oil Raceway (IN) during the 2013 CRA Fall Brawl. The 2013 Rookie of the Year runner-up nearly backed up her win in the Circle City with another dominating performance at Winchester Speedway (IN) before power steering problems relegated her to a second-place finish. She was passed coming out of turn four heading to the checkers. The 18-year-old has a world of potential that could carry her to not only more wins, but the 2014 title.
Several missed opportunities in 2013 cost the Birch Run, Michigan driver, Dan Leeck the title. Leeck is hoping to avoid those mistakes of the past and contend for the 2014 championship. All the tools are in place for the 24-year-old to emerge as a legitimate title contender. Veteran Crew Chief Neil May is now on top of the pit box and will definitely help with Leeck who looks to avoid those issues that hindered his title hopes from a year ago. He still finished third in points last year and like Nelms, Leeck is another driver who is one of the best in the series without a trip to victory lane. Expect that to change in 2014 and when he finally earns that elusive victory, there's no telling what else he can accomplish.
With three-time CRA Championship winning Crew Chief Butch VanDoorn calling the shots on top of the pit box and three-time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion Johnny VanDoorn as his driver coach and spotter, the 16-year-old Hunter Baize will be a force to be reckoned with in JEGS/CRA. The third straight Kentucky based driver in the 'in the hunt' category, the Bremen, Kentucky teenager has a wealth of knowledge and resources as VanDoorn Racing Development's first driver within their stables. If Baize merely listens and does what the VanDoorn' s tell him to do and is a sponge when it comes to learning from them, Baize could pull off some wins and even contend for the championship.
Dalton Armstrong is the newest driver in the Scott Neal Racing stable and has already been racing quite a bit as he has two starts in the ARCA/CRA Super Series where he is also gunning for CRA's top division's freshman title. The season will be a long one for the 19-year-old open-wheeled graduate from New Castle, Indiana as he goes through the wear and tear of competing in two different touring series. If that begins to drain on the full-bodied stock car rookie, Scott Neal, the 2012 Championship winning Car Owner and Crew Chief with Daniel Hemric, will be right there to keep him motivated.
One of the two racing Jacobs brothers, Jaxson Jacobs , the youngest of the two London, Ontario siblings showed signs of life with solid finishes towards the end of his rookie year. An impressive career high fourth place finish in the final point's race of the year at the legendary high-banks of Winchester Speedway (IN) during Winchester 400 weekend certainly opened a lot of eyes. Earlier in the year he finished sixth at another historic high-banks, Salem Speedway (IN). If the 16-year-old can keep that momentum going from his career high JEGS/CRA finish beginning with the opener at Springport, Jacobs could surprise a lot of people with consistent top 10s, which leads into top fives and eventually, wins.
Marc Jacobs is the oldest of the 'Brothers Jacobs' racing family, the 21-year-old showed more consistency than his younger brother towards the end of their rookie years. But Marc couldn't garner the better finishes and that resulted in him finishing four points back of Jaxson in the final 2013 points standings. He did register three top 10s in 2013 with a career high seventh place at the tricky Auto City Speedway (MI). Also like his brother, the London, Ontario driver had a knack for doing well at the big high-banked facilities with a pair of eighth place finishes at Salem Speedway (IN) and Winchester Speedway (IN). If his consistency continues to improve, better finishes will come and so will title contention.
J.J. Haley is one of a handful of drivers to completely utilize the complete CRA feeder system. He started in the CRA Street Stocks Series then moved up to the CRA Late Model Sportsman Series before heading to one of the two Late Model tours within CRA. The 15-year-old was impressive in the 2014 non-points opener, SpeedFest 2014 at Watermelon Capital Speedway (GA), where he collected a fourth-place finish. The Winamac, Indiana teenager will benefit greatly from the expert tutelage of Crew Chief Bobby Blount and will improve each and every time out. Will he follow the path of Cody Coughlin, Anderson Bowen and Corey Deuser lay before him and win the rookie title?
Chris Hacker is another driver who graduated from the CRA Late Model Sportsman Series, the 2013 Rookie of the Year there will go for his second rookie title in a row, this time with JEGS/CRA. The 14-year-old will benefit from guidance by 2012 Championship winning Crew Chief Scott Neal who consults with the Noblesville, Indiana driver from time to time. Hacker's 2014 season is already off to a good start as in an effort to shake the rust off before running in JEGS/CRA full-time, the Hoosier State teenager won the 2014 CRA Late Model Sportsman Series season opener at his home track of Anderson Speedway (IN). If he can adapt quickly to the new tracks, to him, on the schedule, he'll be one to watch.
Cole Rouse is a product of the weekly wars at Lebanon I-44 Speedway (MO). He'll rely heavily on the guidance of the 'Y-Town Hustler' Rick Turner and his Rick Turner Racing Team who have taken him in. They will house his entries during the year while Rouse travels back and forth following the 2014 JEGS/CRA tour. At Lebanon I-44 in 2013, his first year in a Late Model, he finished ninth in track points with two top fives and he did travel towards the end of the year and at the beginning of 2014.
Heading up the local contenders that have filed entries to this point, 3-time track Champion Mike Slone of Rolla. Brennon Willard of Sleeper, a feature winner last season and has been doing some traveling early before settling in to NASCAR Whelen action at the track his Grandfather Bill Willard built.
Other top runners filing entries include Jordan Miller of Pennsylvania, Amber Slagle of Michigan and Tristan Van Wieringen of Canada.
Friday evening May 16 there will be an open practice from 4 till 8PM for all cars while Grandstand and Tier Parking are Free to the public to watch. Saturday All-Star practice begins at 2PM with rotating practice among the 3 classes. Boyne Machine Qualifying is slated to start at 5PM while the Autograph Session under the VIP Suites will follow at Approx. 5:45 with racing to begin at 6:30.
Advance Discount Mercy Master of the Pro's 144 entries are due to the JEGS/CRA offices or Lebanon I-44 Speedway by May 10 to avoid late fee.
Mercy is the sixth largest Catholic health care system in the U.S. and includes 32 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, 38,000 co-workers and 1,900 integrated physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has outreach ministries in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Health care in Lebanon, Missouri and surrounding communities has always been built upon a cornerstone of serving the needs of the area residents. The Mercy Health Foundation Lebanon continues this same commitment of providing for the medical needs of the community members. Mercy Health Foundation Lebanon is led by a volunteer board of community leaders and served by an active group of committee volunteers. Since 2004, the Foundation has continued to grow because of a need for more medical services and the generous spirit of the people of this community. For more information visit www.mercy.net
Champion Racing Association (CRA) sanctions four different nationally and regionally recognized short track racing tours. Founded in 1997, CRA tours include the ARCA/CRA Super Series for Super Late Models, the JEGS/CRA All Stars Tour presented by Chevrolet Performance for Pro Late Models, the Top Speed Fabrication/CRA Late Model Sportsman, and Stealth Trailers/CRA Street Stocks. For more information on the JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour or CRA Racing, visit their site at www.cra-racing.com. Fans and teams can find even more news and discussion on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CRARacing or on Twitter at @CRARracing
About Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Lebanon I-44 Speedway is Missouri's only NASCAR facility and weekly Asphalt Racing Oval settled nearly 300 miles from any other and proudly flies the NASCAR Whelen All American Series banner. Located in Lebanon, Missouri, along Interstate 44 on Route 66 adds easy access from any direction. Just about 45 minutes to the East of Springfield, Missouri on I-44 and just 2 hours West of St. Louis on I-44 as well as just 30 minutes south of Lake of the Ozarks.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway has a history of producing great racecar drivers, and some of the biggest stars in American motorsports honed their skills on our tracks high banked 3/8-mile asphalt oval. Legends such as the great Larry Phillips, the only 5-time national champion in NASCAR's weekly racing series, along with NASCAR stars like Mike Wallace, Jamie McMurray, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and the late Tony Roper have either won races or even track championships over the years.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway has perhaps the smoothest racing surface of any weekly racing facility in the nation along with new aluminum backed Monster Energy Grandstand seating, Budweiser "Wild Side" tier parking that you can pull up in your car or tailgate in your pickup and enjoy all of the racing from a great view, the beautiful VIP Suites in the middle of the front stretch and entering turn one is the newest addition, the Budweiser Fan Deck.
Lebanon I-44 Speedway runs many special events throughout the race season as well as an exciting NASCAR weekly show that consists of Pro Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Road Warriors and the Chargers with special appearances by the United States Super Truck Series, Pro National Baby Grand Cars, NASCAR racing special events and various Concerts.
For more information visit the website at www.i44speedway.net and be sure to visit and like the ever growing Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for updated information as drivers from Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Illinois compete each Saturday Night.
2014 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Official Partners:
NASCAR - National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing
Big Surf Water Park - Preferred Amusement Park
Budweiser - Official Beer
Caddy Shack Golf Cars - Official Golf Cars
Hampton Inn / Lebanon - Preferred Hotel
Holiday Inn Express / Lebanon - Preferred Hotel
Hoosier Tire - Official Race Tire
K&N Engineering - Preferred Performance Filter
Lindsay Auto Group - Official NASCAR Pace Vehicle
Mercy - Official Health Care Provider
Missouri Eagle - Official Beer, Energy Drink & Tea Supplier
Monster Energy - Official Energy Drink
O'Reilly Auto Parts - Preferred Auto Parts Store
Ozarks Coca-Cola Dr. Pepper - Official Supplier: Soft Drinks, Water, Sports Drinks
Peace Tea - Official Tea
Racing Electronics - Official Communications Supplier
Safety-Kleen - Preferred Environmental Services Company
Sportsland Accessories - Preferred Truck Accessories
Springfield Yamaha - Official UTV & ATV Supplier
Sunoco - Official Racing Fuel
Super 8 / Lebanon - Preferred Hotel
2014 Lebanon I-44 Speedway Supporting Partners:
Auto Body Supply, Auto Meter, Commerce Bank, Cometic Gaskets, Dickey's Barbecue, Emerson Climate Technologies, ESPN Radio, E-Z Disposal, Graven Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Headley's Value Tire Center, Helton's Home Furnishings, Heritage Bank, Independent Stave Inc., JEGS, KZNN Superstation, Lebanon Ready Mix, Liberty Tire, McGunegill Engine Performance, Missouri Tool & Automation, Owens Sandblasting, Ozarks Harley Davidson, Regional Radio - KJEL, Reliable Toyota, Rock Auto, Royal Purple, Shadel's Colonial Chapel, Sherwin Williams, Show Me Guns, Sprint, Starnes Auto, Totally You, Toyota Motorsports, Unilever, United Insurors, Waffle House, Whelen Engineering, Willard Asphalt, Z102.3 Radio, 107.9 The Coyote
Lebanon I-44 Speedway
Kevin Greven / General Manager
Track (417) 532-2060 / Cell (417) 399-5756 / Fax (417) 532-7624
24069 Route 66 / Lebanon, MO 65536
