Eldon, Missouri (August 31, 2024)………Cody Baker perfected the event by leading all 20 laps of Saturday night’s Non-Wing Nationals presented by Start2Finish TV opener at Lake Ozark Speedway, co-sanctioned by the POWRi WAR Sprint Car League and USAC Wholesale Batteries Midwest Wingless Racing Association.
Racing onto the quick surface of Lake Ozark in a field featuring 20 talented traditional sprinters, Cody Baker set the quickest hot lap time of 13.649 seconds as Cody Baker and Xavier Doney each earned heat racing victories.
Kickstarting the initial green flag start with high-point qualifier Xavier Doney and Cody Baker lined up in the front row, Baker gained the lead on the opening lap with Zach Clark blasting into the runner-up spot as Xavier Doney, Anthony Nicholson and Justin Johnson all battled inside the early top-five.
Cruising to a comfortable lead, Baker set sail out front as Wesley Smith rapidly ran into the runner-up position early after starting deep in the field with Samuel Wagner also racing through the field after visiting the work area during the parade lap.
Driving into a battle for the lead, Smith jumped the cushion out of turn four to relinquish multiple spots as Clark, Nicholson, Jack Wagner and Samuel Wagner all battled closely inside the contending group of drivers.
Never wavering, Baker emerged victorious at the finish line. Staying in the hunt and hard-charging towards the front, Smith recovered to finish as the runner-up after starting 16th as point leader Samuel Wagner completed the final spot on the podium.
“I knew Wesley would be coming towards the front; I just didn’t expect him that quickly,” said victorious Cody Baker. “I was a little worried on the late restart, so I loosened all my shocks and just stood on it.”
Challenging closely behind were Anthony Nicholson who finished fourth as defending champion Jack Wagner rounded out the top-five.
USAC WHOLESALE BATTERIES MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR SPECIAL EVENT RACE RESULTS: August 31, 2024 – Lake Ozark Speedway – Eldon, Missouri – 6th Annual Non-Wing Nationals
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. 9H-Cody Baker (3), 2. 77-Jack Wagner (4), 3. 4T-Taylor Forbes (2), 4. 16-Anthony Nicholson (9), 5. 99-Bryan Roach (6), 6. 52B-Blake Bowers (5), 7. 44-Wesley Smith (1), 8. 13-Chase Howard (7), 9. 11T-Trey Osborne (8), 10. 51-Doug Martens (10). NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. 74-Xavier Doney (6), 2. 9-Chad Goff (3), 3. 27-Justin Johnson (1), 4. 26-Zach Clark (2), 5. 73-Samuel Wagner (9), 6. 75-Glen Saville (4), 7. 82-Vinny Ward (5), 8. 97-Bret Mellenberndt (10), 9. 33-Bryson Smith (8). NT
FEATURE: (20 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Cody Baker (2), 2. Wesley Smith (16), 3. Samuel Wagner (6), 4. Anthony Nicholson (3), 5. Jack Wagner (4), 6. Zach Clark (10), 7. Xavier Doney (1), 8. 98-Saban Bibent (20), 9. Trey Osborne (17), 10. Bryan Roach (9), 11. Chad Goff (5), 12. Justin Johnson (8), 13. Vinny Ward (14), 14. Chase Howard (15), 15. Doug Martens (19), 16. Bryson Smith (18), 17. Bret Mellenberndt (13), 18. Blake Bowers (11), 19. Taylor Forbes (7), 20. Glen Saville (12). NT
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-20 Cody Baker.
NEXT USAC WHOLESALE BATTERIES MIDWEST WINGLESS RACING ASSOCIATION SPRINT CAR SPECIAL EVENT RACE: September 1, 2024 – Lake Ozark Speedway – Eldon, Missouri – 6th Annual Non-Wing Nationals
