(Photo by Hale Photography)
SWEET SPRINGS, Mo. – No stranger to impressive finishes in the second half of the 2015 season, Clinton Boyles put on a show on three consecutive nights this weekend. Sweet Springs Motorsports Complex’s Show-Me Showdown saw Boyles rallying around the top after a rain delay on Thursday to take second in a preliminary feature, then earning podium finishes in both nonwing classes in Saturday night’s finale.
The weekend began on Thursday for the Greenwood, Mo. racer in the outlaw nonwing division; 40 racers signed in for action in that class. His 12.648-second lap in qualifying put him tenth quick on the charts. Fully inverted heat races meant Boyles would start seventh in the fifth and final heat. A steady run resulted in three positions gained to finish fourth. Next was a qualifier race, where the Ramey Racing No. 28 again started seventh. This time, Boyles finished 5th and locked himself into the main event with the eighth-highest point total.
The top-eight redraw wouldn’t help Boyles any, drawing the “8” pill. The 25-lap outlaw nonwing preliminary feature would conclude the night. From eighth, Boyles took over sixth on the opening lap and picked up fourth when the caution flew with five in the books. While Nathan Benson and Jason McDougal battled for the lead, Boyles rallied to third and closed in on the pair around the time the crossed flags were displayed. A lap-16 caution would bunch the field up a final time, and when McDougal jumped the cushion on the ensuing restart, Boyles took advantage and captured the second spot. Benson proved too strong and went on to win, but Boyles gave chase and completed the night with a second-place showing.
Friday night started off quite similarly, with 41 cars signing in for the stock variant of nonwing micro action, and Boyles timing in with a 13.097-second effort, the ninth-fastest lap. Starting sixth in his heat race this time, he picked up another fourth-place finish. Starting and finishing spots in his qualifier would be the same as the night prior, going seventh to fifth. His point total missed the redraw, but narrowly locked him into the main event, with the 12th and final lock-in position.
Starting 12th, Boyles couldn’t get his forward momentum going like he had the night before. The cushion was closer to the wall, making the bottom a more preferred groove. Up to ninth early, his progress stalled when moving into the eighth spot. After riding there for the majority of the race, Boyles fell to ninth on the final lap, falling out of the Saturday night redraw at the same time. Regardless, the Ramey Racing No. 28 machine was locked into both main events for Saturday.
Saturday’s events were simple for Boyles: two main events. First on the card was the stock nonwing main event. Ninth on the grid, Boyles returned to form quickly and set a torrid pace around the cushion, just inches from the wall. However, the majority of his gains came late in the 30-lap event. He had only attained seventh with ten laps to go. Moving to sixth before a lap-24 caution, Boyles hustled into third on the restart and earned one more position on the final circuit to move up one step on the podium, taking the runner-up spot.
The outlaw nonwing main event was another great showing, starting with Boyles in grid position six. Boyles attempted to move by three-time POWRi champion Nathan Benson for fifth on lap eight, but a caution negated his move. He was unable to duplicate the pass after the restart, and ran sixth until ten laps later, when the leader made contact with a slower car and spun to a stop. Restarting fifth, Boyles maneuvered into fourth and then took advantage of Benson going too high and jumping the cushion, taking third. He fended off a challenge in the late laps to secure his second podium of the night.
Boyles would like to thank Aaron Moon with Moon Construction, and Hinchman Racing Uniforms, as well as his fans and family for their continued support.
Boyles is next scheduled to compete with the Allstar Midget Series on October 17 at Valley Speedway in Grain Valley, Mo. in the No. 98 midget entry.
Quick Results
October 8 – Sweet Springs, MO – 600cc Outlaw Nonwing – Qualifying: 10th; Heat: 4th (7); Qualifier: 5th (7); Feature: 2nd (8)
October 9 – Sweet Springs, MO – 600cc Stock Nonwing – Qualifying: 9th; Heat: 4th (6); Qualifier: 5th (7); Feature: 9th (12)
October 10 – Sweet Springs, MO – 600cc Stock Nonwing –Feature: 2nd (9)
October 10 – Sweet Springs, MO – 600cc Outlaw Nonwing –Feature: 3rd (6)
2015 Stats
17 races, 15 features, 1 win, 8 top fives, 12 top tens, 2 DNFs
Social Media
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cbtheenforcer
Facebook: www.facebook.com/clinton.boyles.5
Instagram: www.instagram.com/clinton_boyles
Article Credit: Redbeard Promotions