Good impression may keep ATPR in Outlaws' future

A big crowd and good competition Saturday left officials at Auto Tire and Parts Racepark optimistic that the track will snag another World of Outlaws event next season.

ATPR attracted more than 30 sprint cars and about 3,000 fans for its Gumout Series event sanctioned by the Texas-based World of Outlaws. Officials and racers with the group left the rural Scott County track happy, and that could bode well for an event next year with either with the Gumout Series or even the World of Outlaws' Pennzoil Series -- a more well-known, higher-paying circuit that features high-profile racers Steve Kinser, Jac Haudenschild and Danny Lasoski.

"We plan to have one of those groups here next year," ATPR promoter Doug Friese said. "This weekend was sort of a test for us, but the Outlaws people who were here seemed really happy with the track, the turnout and the way everything went."

It turned out to be an ideal weather weekend to host the series. It was the first time all year ATPR officials haven't had to second-guess the weather or try to outrun lingering storms.

Wayne Johnson won Saturday's event, worth $5,000. Among the track's frequent competitors, Jerrod Hull was fifth, Alex Shanks 10th, Steve Short 11th, Robbie Standridge 20th and Todd Rowland 21st.

Cline Myers Jr. is 5-for-5 in pure street feature events this season after winning Saturday. Robert Powers held off Terry Johnson in modifieds.

Over the weekend

Jerrod Hull of Sikeston, Mo., won Friday's sprint feature at Jacksonville (Ill.) Speedway.

Jay Musgrave of Cape Girardeau finished seventh in the Sports Car Club of American national event Sunday at Heartland Park Raceway, a 2.5-mile road course near Topeka, Kan.

Joey Mack of Benton, Mo., was sixth in the late model class Saturday at Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway near Calvert City, Ky.

Chad Zobrist of Highland, Ill., made his first trip to Fredericktown (Mo.) Raceway and won Friday in late models. Kasey Nations (pro street), Darrell Jarrett (pure street) and Jathon Cruse (mini stock) also won.

Alan Rettig of Sikeston won Friday's late model feature at Malden (Mo.) Speedway over Billy James. Robert Powers won in modifieds, Claudie Cook in hobby stocks and Nathan Rettig in pure street.

Joey Montgomery of Fredericktown was sixth in Friday's ASCS sprint series race won by Jan Howard at Memphis (Tenn.) Motorsports Park.

Greg Casey of Sikeston finished second in the pure street stock class Saturday at Poinsett County Speedway near Harrisburg, Ark.

Tommy Worley Jr. of Bismark, Mo., picked up $2,000 in Saturday's sprint special at Saint Francois County Raceway near Farmington, Mo. Former ATPR frontrunner Bob Thoman was fourth. Timmy Hill won in modifieds and Karl Francis in hobby stocks.

Outlaws on TV

The Speed Channel (ch. 44, Charter Cable) will televise six events from the World of Outlaws Pennzoil Series on a tape-delayed basis. Each starts at 10 p.m. on Thursdays. The first will air July 18 and 25 from Red River Valley Speedway. Other dates: Eldora on Aug. 15, Sept. 5; Knoxville Nationals on Sept. 26, Oct. 24; Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 7, Dec. 5; Lowe's Motor Speedway on Dec. 12, Dec. 26; and Las Vegas on Jan. 2, Jan. 9.

Making change

SEMO Motor Speedway's corners have been widened after officials there removed concrete discs at each end of the track last week. General manager Jerry Wolsey said the change was made because the concrete, located in the bottom of the turns, has caused damage to racing equipment. "I'm glad they're gone for good," he said.

Up the road at ATPR, the track's Stadia-Cross Series featuring quads and bikes revs up next Friday, and that means track officials will start work on the super-cross style track Monday. The track will be built in what has been a rain-soaked infield inside the oval track. The project is expected to be done in a couple of days.

Coming up

SFCR will not race Saturday because of a concert at the track. Racing there will resume next week with the MARA midget series and sprints.

I-55 Raceway near Pevely, Mo., will host a rare combination of sprints, late models and Winston Cup stars Wednesday. Ken Schrader and Dale Jarrett will sign autographs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The feature races later that night each will be worth $2,000 to the winners. Adult admission is $20.