Carney Cashes in with $5,000 Melton Memorial Sprint Car Win at Kennedale

Feature, News, Southern SportMod, Sprint Car, Stock Car

John Carney II celebrates with his crew in victory lane after dominating the Mike Melton Memorial at Kennedale Speedway Park. (Photo by Mike Frieri)

By Ben Deatherage

KENNEDALE, Texas (May 10, 2025) — The second annual Mike Melton Memorial at Kennedale Speedway Park drew a packed house as Mike’s daughter, Michelle Parson, led a four-wide salute before the 30-lap, $5,000-to-win RaceSaver IMCA Sprint Car main event. When the green flag dropped, Taco Casa Racing teammates John Carney II and Jeb Sessums shared the front row, with Carney taking the early lead in the no. J2 entry. Sessums pressured Carney throughout the first half of the race, briefly slipping ahead on lap 14 before the two-time Texas State and KSP track champion pulled to the infield with mechanical issues.

As Carney navigated through lapped traffic, Ryder LaPlante and Marcus Thomas waged a fierce battle for second. A red flag on lap 19 briefly slowed the action, but Carney remained firmly in control, extending his lead after each restart. Thomas, a four-time Texas State and 2017 National champion, finally secured second from LaPlante with three laps to go, but Carney was untouchable, cruising to his first win of the season.

The 2015 RaceSaver Nationals winner from El Paso capped off a triumphant return to victory lane, with Thomas finishing second and LaPlante completing the podium.

Friday night’s preliminary feature was claimed by Chad Wilson, the 2015 National, Texas State, and KSP champion, with Carney and Sessums rounding out the top three.

Guillaume Powers to Stock Car Victory

Matt Guillaume charged from 12th starting to first in a spectacular drive to the front in the Sunoco IMCA Stock Car feature. Clint Nabors initially held the top spot after passing Dylan Moss on lap two, but Guillaume worked the high side, eventually taking command on lap 13.

Once out front, the three-time EQ Cylinder Heads Southern Region and KSP track champion pulled away to score his second win of the season and first since the March 1 opener. Brad Ekstrom rallied late to take second, while Cody Baker completed the podium.

Lunsford Scores First Career SportMod Victory

Matt Lunsford finally found victory lane with a dominant drive in the Smiley’s Racing Products IMCA Southern SportMod feature. Lunsford, who started fourth, took over the lead from Matt Rust on lap five and never looked back, surviving multiple restarts to secure his first-ever feature win. Lunsford, a Crandall native, celebrated the milestone win in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Davis Lemaster climbed to second after a spirited battle with Rust, while Klayton Reeves rounded out the podium.

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