It was the first points night of the year and it did not disappoint.
It took a few laps and six Cautions for various incidents for Andy Milliken to make his way to the front and keep it as he drove the #327 Monte Carlo to victory lane in the Medieval Chassis USRA Stock Car class. After a battle for the lead with Alma’s Brandon Hunter a Caution came out bringing the field together. Hunter would take the #1/4 to the pits with an overheating issue. From there it was Milliken, Chad Abernathy out of Mt. Ida, Andy Morris, and Mena’s Bruce Busch in 4th. This was Busch’s first race back at Tri-State since 2009. “Most of the guys racing today don’t know how intimidating it was to see that 92 (Bruce Busch) to roll through the pit gate. They’re fixing to learn it all over again.” Milliken said in a post on Social Media. Bruce Busch was 2001 winner of the Super Stock Showdown at Tri-State.
In B-Modified, Cody King would take the win in his Franklin Chassis Modified. King would start on the pole with Hindsville’s Dan Culp to his right. Culp would spin in front of the field and the rest of the racers would miss him. On the ensuing restart Culp, Dody Luu, Jayme McGarrah, and Ty Evans would come together coming to the Green. Those 4 would continue on. The C02 of Caleb Barker would provide some fireworks for those in turns 3 & 4 when his car would get up on two wheels and then head for the wall, bringing out another caution. The 4th caution would come out after the restart when 6 cars would come together as they ran closely. There would be one more caution before Cody King would get the checkered flag. Hackett’s Jacob Campbell would edge out Dalton Ragsdale for second. Christopher Theodore and Kevin Guinn would round out the Top 5.
The fastest A feature of the night belonged to USRA Modifieds. Watts, Oklahoma native and Multi-Time United States Modified Touring Series champion Jason Hughes put on a clinic for everyone in the Modified class. Hughes would take the lead from Mike Hansen out of Dickinson, North Dakota on the first lap and it was all Hughes from there. No cautions, no mistakes as the 12JH of Jason Hughes took the checkered flag in the 20 lap feature. Mike Hansen, Jake Davis from Hackett, Trevor Hughes, and Jared Russell out of Wagoner, Oklahoma were the rest of the Top 5. Greenwood Alumni Michael Hines and Jason Payton would finish 6th and 10th on the evening.
Talihina driver Tyler Kirkes looked to have the race won, but a cut tire ended his night surrendering the lead to Andrew Bohannon out of Stigler, OK. There would be several cautions that would bring the field together and challenge Bohannon for the lead. Grant Davis, Rocky Cox, Dallas Bourland, and Chad Abernathy are the rest of the Top 5 finishers in Sunoco USRA Factory Stocks presented by PG Roofing.
The USRA Tuners would be the night cap race Chris Tuck in a Honda Prelude would take the win. With the other 4 racers either not starting the race or disqualified for rules infractions.
Memorial Day Weekend Tri-State Speedway will play host to the “A Night To Honor” to honor all past drivers and veterans. 2023 Tri-State took on a different format as the Kegger and points championship nights were to be the two races honoring legendary promoter Cecil Harlin and track founder Tillman Evans respectively. As a way to honor Veterans and all of those that have raced at Mighty Mouse and Tri-State Speedway, owners Michael and Jerri Hoover created the Night to Honor. Allowing whoever wants to make a memorial lap during the playing of the Anthem to do so. All five USRA sanctioned classes will be in action that night.
