Klem Claims First Win at I-70

? Three-time defending champion, Jeff Klem, Basehor, Kan., found victory lane after the 40-lap action packed feature. Although Kent Crane, Independence, Mo. and Clint Bowyer, Emporia, Kan., both led a substantial distance, a bump and spin sent Bowyer and John O’Neal, Jr. to the tail, giving the lead to Klem on the 34th circuit.

Both worked their way up through the field, but they would never again have a chance to mount a challenge to Klem. Bowyer and O’Neal ended up settling for 6th and 7th, respectively.

In victory lane, Klem admitted he “certainly didn’t have the fastest car” although it was good enough to accumulate his 34th win at the high banks of I-70 since the 1995 season.

Four lead changes in the Modified division with as many cautions made for interesting competition. Gary Ainsworth, Terry Smith, Buddy Benedict and point leader Rod Cordon would all share the hot seat. It would be Cordon, with his patented diamond-line pass, that held on to the lead and earned his fourth trip to victory lane out of five races.

Don Marrant took the early lead in the Super Truck feature but would be quickly overtaken by Scott Traylor, who would never look back as he sailed to his second win of the season.

Damon Clevenger would also mark his season to date with four out of five wins. In a race that had five different leaders, the Dash Cars once again proved to be extremely competitive.

With extra laps for the Strucks, they were considered the “premier” division and had the honor of qualifying through time trial in stead of standard heats. They also had their feature run last.

David Kidwell of Kingsville, Mo. was one of two drivers to qualify in the 19-second range, with a time of 19.830. With a role of the inversion die he started inside row 4 but managed to capture the lead on lap nine and would go on to win his first of the season.