SMITH PULLS AWAY FROM FIELD AT RACEPARK

BENTON -- -- Robert Smith of Sikeston took the lead on the first lap over polesitter Billy James and went on to lead the final 20 laps to capture the Super Street Feature Saturday at Missouri International Racepark.

On the way to victory, Smith lapped the entire field with the exception of the second- and third-place cars.

Smith's strategy was pretty simple. The first thing he felt he had to do was take the lead from the start on James, last week's winner.

"Coming out of turn four, whenever we took the green flag, I just figured if (James) ever got the jump on me that would be it," said Smith.

By lap four, Smith held a commanding one-half lap lead on James.

As Smith started to encounter lapped traffic on the seventh lap, James started to close on the leader. Smith had the faster car, but James proved he had more expertise in traffic.

"I was in lap traffic and I knew that he was coming," Smith said.

But on lap 11 James dropped out of the race with mechanical problems and Jason Sissom moved into second place.

Larry Hull overtook Sissom on the final lap to take second. Sissom finished third and Mark Warren and Stephen Worley rounded out the top five spots.

The victory was Smith's second feature win of the 1997 season.

Jerrod Hull of Sikeston benefited when leader Rod Redman slammed into a spinning car in turn four of the Winged Sprint Feature. It marked the second straight week Hull benefited from such a mishap. Hull led the final 21 laps to pick up his second $1,200 payday this season.

"Everything has just fell into place as far as lap cars coming when I needed them," said Hull. "(Redman) was running real good and he was going to be a strong competitor."

Shawn King and Lee Dunn finished second and third respectively. Todd Rowland took fourth and Randy Dukes made a late pass to place fifth.

Terry Johnson of Benton led all 20 laps of the Modified Feature for his second straight win. Johnny Wyatt, Charles LaPlant, Randy Stahley and Steve Zelch Jr. rounded out the top five.

Joey Mack finished first, ahead of Steve Plieman, to take Pure Street honors. Keith Brugger, Robert Cooksey and Cline Myers rounded out the top five spots.