MURFREESBORO, Ark (Aug. 7) – Blake Wilson and what has become The 18 Show held off a strong Lone Star State contingent to lay victory to his second IMCA STARS Mod Lite Challenge Series presented by Super Clean feature Saturday at Diamond Park Speedway.
Wilson was the night’s top qualifier in passing points, going from ninth to second in his heat, and that landed him front row with his father Jeromy. The elder Wilson turned fast time of the night at a blistering 16.176 on the red clay speed plant better known as ‘The Park’.
A strong field of competitors including national STARS Mod Lite contender Kaden Cochrun, Texas’ own Willie Veach, Jr., Dawson Fisher, Aubrey Taylor, Jason Reavis and the lone entry from the Volunteer state was Cookeville, TN driver Ronnie Choate.
The 25-lap main event paid $1,000 to the winner and a possible $400 additional bounty if they could beat Wilson or track regular James ‘Big Daddy’ Rollins.
At the drop of the green, Blake Wilson took a commanding lead and never really looked back. A couple early race cautions sent some top competitors pitside for mechanical issues.
At midway it was Wilson, Aubrey Taylor and locals Cameron Wagner and J.J. Borden. Borden’s car fell off the pace and Jason Reavis and Dawson Fisher joined that battle. A few additional single car cautions and an eventual flip, roll over, and re-fire by Joseph McIntyre, were the only time anyone was close to the bumper of The 18 Show.
Hard charger was Choate as he advanced into the show from a “B” and rolled through the field to a second place finish. Wagner rebounded from a late-race shuffle to come home third and Taylor was the final tech spot in fourth.
Next up for the IMCA STARS Mod Lite Challenge Series is the fourth installment of the five-race series on Oct. 2 where the bounty will be increased to a possible $500 bonus for the driver who can beat Wilson at his new favorite home.
