Kevin Campbell Outlasts Raymond Jones at Showtime Speedway

Showtime Speedway is a special place and for the Outlaw Modified drivers, a feature win there is a treasured accomplishment.  For most, it wasn't the way to start the 2013 racing season for the Outlaw Modified Series.  If you asked Kevin Campbell though, he'd tell you that he wouldn't have it any other way having won feature event in a 20 lap, caution free, head to head battle with Raymond Jones.

The Outlaws were expecting to field 9 to 10 cars for their season opener.  Matt Delaney detonated the motor of his #8 machine at practice during the week.  Mark Patton, driver of the 51 had even worse fortune losing his car truck and trailer. 

Other drivers had committed to making the race at Showtime but were AWOL.  Of the six cars that made the trip, the 28 of Raymond Jones and the 19 of Kevin Campbell were clearly the best prepared and determined to to succeed.  Two of the drivers were welcomed to the series as rookies.  Kyle Rice drove the 22 owned by race director Ric Mills and Jim Laferniere drove the 56 owned by Harold Perry.

Reigning Outlaw Champion, Mike Endee (26) had his hands full of mechanical problems reminiscent of years past.  First is was a valve tick after a practice run.  After changing the head, the timing belt was jumping teeth on the cam sprocket.  During the heat race an electrical problem burned through several wires and ended his night.

Past Outlaw Champion Tom Meyer (04) had starter and solenoid problems.  When he was on the track for practice and the heat race, the car was uncontrollably loose.

Raymond Jones won the heat race.  The line up for the feature race had Meyer (04) on the pole with Jones (28) on the outside.  It didn't take long for Meyer to fall back with his unforgiving handling problem.  A post race inspection reveals a loosened oil line fitting that sprayed oil on his left rear tire.

Rookie driver Kyle Rice (22) waited patiently to overtake Meyer (04) without incident.  Up front, Jones (28) took the early lead with Campbell (19) chasing.  The two battled nose to tail for the 20 lap feature with Campbell (19) making a late pass for the lead and the win.  Jones (28) finished a close second.  Rice (22) drove a conservative and clean race to finish third.  Meyer (04) mangd to keep his car out of he infield for a fourth place finish and the field was rounded out by Jim Laferniere (56).

The next Outlaw Modified race is at Punta Gorda Speedway on 2 March.