KANSAS CITY, KAN. ? Finding Clint Bowyer in victory lane is certainly no surprise. After all, the Emporia native has been there 18 times since Lakeside Speedway went back to dirt before the 2000 season. Bowyer is the defending champion in the Modifieds, and his six wins this year make him the odds-on favorite to have that honor bestowed on him this year.

With only eight weeks left in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge, every win and top-ten finish is increasingly important as Bowyer leads the Midwest Region in a closely contested battle with John O’Neal, Jr., who gathers points from I-70 Speedway.

Not only do the two compete together at Lakeside in Modifieds, but they also compete together in Late Models at I-70.

NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge presents money to all track champions in addition to whatever each track individually adds to the purse. Winning one of the eight 2002 Regional Championships comes with a $43,000 paycheck and a trip to the tux-mandatory NASCAR banquet in Nashville.

For any driver or team dreaming to move up the rings of the NASCAR ladder, this is the best way to do it.

Tim Karrick was back on track as he obviously solved whatever problem, as he put it, was, “putting the car in a bind.” The Basehor, Kan. pilot led the first eight laps of the 25-lap feature starting from outside row two.

Karrick had his hands full at first by keeping Bowyer at bay and then had to fend off the advances of Kerry Davis, K.C., Mo., and Tom Charles, Bonner Springs, Kan. Davis and Charles would do no better than third and fourth place finishes. Bubba Harvey, K.C., Kan., rounded out the top five.

Once again the Grand National Limited Late Model class provided another top-notch, exciting feature, with four lead changes among three drivers. The story this season has been the dominating Kerry Davis. With 11 wins in 13 starts and 13 top-fives, the Kansas City chauffer not only leads Lakeside Speedway track points, but also leads the Midwest Region and the nation in Shortrack Series points.

Just like winning the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series, the title carries with it a great deal of prestige, not to mention an approximately $14,000 paycheck from NASCAR and the same tux-mandatory invite to the big banquet in Nashville.

It looked early on in the 20-lap feature that yet another chapter would be added to the same story, but a right rear flat on lap 13 made a revision.

With the caution out, Davis made it back out on the lead lap, but would only be able to post a fifth-place finish. Mark Shafman, Edwardsville, Kan., inherited the lead back (he lead laps 1-7 also) and looked as if his first career victory was at hand.

For the last two laps, Allan Lawrence, K.C., Kan., running on the bottom, challenged the youngster. Shafman hooked up on the cushion and gave it a gallant effort, but the paint-scraping, door-dinging, drag race to line had Lawrence ahead by mere inches.

For the recently married Lawrence, this victory was an emotional one, given that it was his first win since being life-flighted from a horrific 1996 crash at Lakeside Speedway.

The Factory Stocks’ ninth different feature winner makes it the most competitive class at Lakeside this year. The Factory Stocks winner this week last won on dirt in 1987, and his last win on asphalt was in 1995.

Doug Richards drove to victory lane after the 15-lap battle. After the race the 51 year-old Richards, shouting at the top of his lungs, climbed on top of the car and shook his fists with joy.

Darin Christy, K.C., Kan., who led the first 4 circuits, kept pace with Richards most of the race but would never be able to gain the momentum needed to challenge him.

Christy and Tim Billings, two-time winner this season from Gladstone, Mo., put on a show of their own the last third of the race. Billings ended up third.

Greg Sheilz, former demolition driver, and rookie from Tonganoxie, Kan., finished a strong fourth just ahead of Wade Sherman, K.C., Mo.