CAMARGO, IL (07-18-08) by Robert Cortum - Midwest All Star Series


The First Annual Tennessee Stampede kicked off in fine fashion Friday, June 18^th with the O’Reilly Midwest All Star Series. The first night of the event was held at the high-banked West Tennessee Motor Speedway near Lexington, Tennessee. Ryan Bunton of Morton, Illinois in the Morton Collision Center 6R grabbed onto the lead from the start and never looked back as many of the “Best in the Midwest” gave it everything to chase him down.

Bunton used a variety of lines to power his way to the points lead with the Tennesse Stampede. The 2008 event will feature an add $800 bonus to the best performing car over the 2-nights, presented by RubbnRepair.com.

In the onset of the feature, Bunton was closely matched by AJ Bruns in the Bruns Service Center 44. Bruns would land pitside do to a meet and greet with the front stretch wall and his right-rear Hoosier. Bunton and series point leader, Jerrod Hull would duke it out the remainder of the 26 laps, as Hull in the Ozark Welding Gas Supercenter #12 would round out his night in second despite hard running final laps. Rounding out the top 5 in the 30 lap affair, Miranda Throckmorton in the M&W Aluminum Products #22T would finish 4^th with Brad Greer in the Greer Farms #3B finishing 5^th .

The Tennessee Stampede is also paying a $500 bonus to the best finishing 360 c.i. for the event. A pair of Tennessee natives are on board for the weekend with Tony Wilson in the 10W machine holding the edge over Greg Merritt in the 12M. Both drivers are hungry for the added cash on the line.

Qualifying for the night also went to Bruns as he set quicktime and a
track record break out an impressive 10.625 lap time. Average lap time on the night was 11.400, with 4 drivers under the 11.000 second barrier.

In Heat Race #1, Bruns would move methodically around his fellow
competitors from his initial starting place of 4^th . Tiffany Wyzard in the Wyzard Cleaning #5 would come home second, with Lee Sowell rounding out the top 3. Shane Wade would bring home top honors in the second Heat Race in the Shane Wade Enterprises #74. The heart stopping moment of the night came when Tyler Thompson meet Brad Greer’s Right rear tire coming out of turn 2. Thompson would come out of the melee unscathed; however his USMD Medical Development #11 was down for the night. Wade, who was having difficulties early on in the Heat Race found his marks and move up to edge out Ryan Bunton and Greg Merritt.

The night’s Dash Event came down to the wire as Bunton held off a
charging AJ Bruns. Tiffany Wyzard would finish 3^rd , Jerrod Hull, 4^th, Shane Wade, 5^th .

The series will round out the First Annual Tennessee Stampede Saturday, July 19^th at Thunderhill Raceway in Summertown, Tennessee. Thunderhill Raceway boasts high banks and a family friendly atmosphere that makes a great place to finish out the event.


Official Results

Qualifying:
1) AJ Bruns – 44 – 10.625
2) Tyler Thompson – 11- 10.671
3) Jerrod Hull – 12 - 10.949
4) Ryan Bunton – 6R - 10.954
5) Lee Sowell – 51 - 11.126
6) Brad Greer – 3B - 11.523
7) Tiffany Wyzard – 5 – 11.634
8) Shane Wade – 74 – 11.828
9) Miranda Throckmorton – 22T – 11.936
10) Greg Merritt – 12M – 11.944
11) Tony Wilson – 10W – 12.214
12) Alex Shanks – 39W – N/T

Heat Race 1 Numerically (Start)
44(4), 5(1), 51(2), 12(3), 22T(5), 10W(6)

Heat Race 2 Numerically (Start)
74(1), 6R(3), 12M(5), 39W(6), 3B(2), 11(4)

Dash Event Numerically (Start)
6R(2), 44(4), 5(1), 12(3), 74(5), 39W(DNS)

A-Main Numerically (Start)
6R(2), 12(3), 51(1), 22T(10), 3B(9), 74(6), 10W(11), 39W(8), 5(5),
12M(7), 44(4), 11(DNS)




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