JACKSON JR TAKES MLRA RESURGENCE OPENER
March 13, 2026
By: Psycho Billy
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆
𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱, 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶
𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆: 𝗠𝗟𝗥𝗔
𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴: Race On
𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟱𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗻
𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟱𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗻
The very first race of the season for me has always brought about both types of emotions. The good part is dusting the cobwebs off and making sure that I am in race mode for when I have races every single weekend. And then there is the part about being around my people. That's probably the biggest take away. The bad part is forgetting to bring things. Or maybe forgetting to have pictures ready which was the case. I didn't have the Watermelon Sugar High Pitwalk picture saved nor did I have the Best Appearing Car Competition picture saved. But those were minor compared to things I've forgotten in previous years. So yeah, our opener went rather well. Just ran a little bit behind schedule. I didn't have time to run to the car. So I was stuck with only 2 layers of clothing plus my safety vest. But I survived.
The crowd was light which means that I didn't do my job. When I started this business, I wanted to promote it in ways that racetracks, sanctioning bodies, and streaming services don't. They all mostly advertise online to people who already know about the event. But being a 1-man band makes it difficult to find that extra time to have chat sessions with the powers that be. With this being my final season, it would be rather cool if I could scrounge up enough time to do just that. To make a difference. Or at least try. To fill the majority of the seats. This is an exciting sport. I know damn well that it's do-able.
It was really great to see the MLRA get back into action after a 1 year hiatus. MARS kinda helped fill some gaps by coming over into Iowa a few times to pick up their former shows. But there are many more in Iowa, Missouri, and maybe even Nebraska where they used to run an awful lot, where there are major gaps with no regional Super Late Model shows.
We must thank RaceON who saved the day. They were our only sponsor this weekend keeping us out of the red ink. They also happen to be the "Official Streaming Partner of the MLRA Series." They will be streaming every single MLRA event. All season long. So pick up an annual membership. This helps support both them and the MLRA.
Time Trial action with 40 MLRA Super Late Models. It looked like we were only going to have 39. But Timmy Culp rolled in late. But not late enough to Hot Lap! Group A Qualifying was just a tick quicker although both were rather close. This was a well prepared track by Jerry Hoffman! "Opie" Mike Spatola set the overall quick time besting Billy Moyer from Group B who was quickest there and 3rd quickest overall behind Spatola and Aaron Marrant.
Time Trials Group A Top 5
1. 89s Mike Spatola 12.049
2. 1x Aaron Marrant 12.055
3. 56 Tony Jackson Jr 12.130
4. 15M Shane DeMey 12.249
5. 3w Brennon Willard 12.323
Group B Top 5
1. 21 Billy Moyer 12.103
2. 8k Tyler Kuykendall 12.210
3. 99c Caden McWhorter 12.212
4. 11H Jeff Herzog 12.221
5. 15s Clay Stuckey 12.263
Four heats with 10 in each would advance 3. The heat winners were:
Heat Race #1: 56 Tony Jackson, Jr.
Heat Race #2: 43 Derrick Stewart
Heat Race #3: 21 Billy Moyer
Heat Race #4: 8k Tyler Kuykendall
Then 2 B Mains would push forward 8 more (4 from each). The 2 winners were Sawyer Crigler and Clay Stuckey. Four provisionals would be added. Dillon McCowan received the Fan Save Provisional. The other 3 went to: Steve Stultz, Brennon Willard, and Dayton Pursley.
The Main Event would run 30 laps for $5,000. Tony Jackson Jr seemed to have an extra gear. Some extra ponies. Some extra something. He would lead all 30. On every single restart, he would immediately gap everyone. Nobody could run with him at this stage of the evening. Clay Stuckey, who won a B Main, came all the way from 14th to finish runner-up. There was some really fine, fun to watch, racing going on from 2nd on back. Eli Ross started 6th. Pretzel Man picked him to win. This was a solid pick as the high side here was rocking tonight. Ross poked his nose into 2nd a couple of different times but had to settle for 3rd. A podium finish for Jackson Jr, Stuckey, and Ross.
30 Lap Main Event
1. 56 Tony Jackson Jr $5,000 Winner
2. 15s Clay Stuckey
3. 66R Eli Ross
4. 99c Caden McWhorter
5. 89s Mike Spatola
6. 75A Daniel Adam
7. 8M Dillon McCowan
8. 8k Tyler Kuykendall
9. C8 Timmy Culp
10. 75 Terry Phillips
11. 1x Aaron Marrant
12. 3w Brennon Willard
13. 11c Sawyer Crigler
14. 15M Shane DeMey
15. 17A Austin Howes
16. 11H Jeff Herzog
17. 9T Dustin Tiger
18. 13 Brandon Baldridge
19. 78s Steve Stultz
20. 21 Billy Moyer
21. 4TW Tim Ward
22. 10p Dayton Pursley
23. 128 Kylan Garner
24. 43 Derrick Stewart
* Psycho's Mover & Shaker Award goes to Dillon McCowan 21st to 7th.
* Psycho's Drop the Anchor Award goes to Derrick Stewart 3rd to 24th.
____________________________________
Coverage brought to you by:
Race On • "Official Streaming Partner of the MLRA Series". Go to our Facebook page & click "Sign Up" to watch this weekend's MLRA double-header in Springfield, Missouri plus many other Motorsports venues!
Coles County Speedway-Mattoon, IL- Home of Rural King’s Road to the Dome. Where Super Late Models and Modifieds prepare for the Gateway Dirt Nationals on Sunday Sept 27!
Psycho Nation #1 Supporter
Noah Kavran has signed up for our fan club which includes fan sponsorship of today's event, 1 PBC T-Shirt, & 1 PBC Window Decal. His support helps keep PBC on the road in 2026. Thanks Noah!!!
March 13, 2026
By: Psycho Billy
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆
𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱, 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶
𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆: 𝗠𝗟𝗥𝗔
𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴: Race On
𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟱𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗻
𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟱𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗻
The very first race of the season for me has always brought about both types of emotions. The good part is dusting the cobwebs off and making sure that I am in race mode for when I have races every single weekend. And then there is the part about being around my people. That's probably the biggest take away. The bad part is forgetting to bring things. Or maybe forgetting to have pictures ready which was the case. I didn't have the Watermelon Sugar High Pitwalk picture saved nor did I have the Best Appearing Car Competition picture saved. But those were minor compared to things I've forgotten in previous years. So yeah, our opener went rather well. Just ran a little bit behind schedule. I didn't have time to run to the car. So I was stuck with only 2 layers of clothing plus my safety vest. But I survived.
The crowd was light which means that I didn't do my job. When I started this business, I wanted to promote it in ways that racetracks, sanctioning bodies, and streaming services don't. They all mostly advertise online to people who already know about the event. But being a 1-man band makes it difficult to find that extra time to have chat sessions with the powers that be. With this being my final season, it would be rather cool if I could scrounge up enough time to do just that. To make a difference. Or at least try. To fill the majority of the seats. This is an exciting sport. I know damn well that it's do-able.
It was really great to see the MLRA get back into action after a 1 year hiatus. MARS kinda helped fill some gaps by coming over into Iowa a few times to pick up their former shows. But there are many more in Iowa, Missouri, and maybe even Nebraska where they used to run an awful lot, where there are major gaps with no regional Super Late Model shows.
We must thank RaceON who saved the day. They were our only sponsor this weekend keeping us out of the red ink. They also happen to be the "Official Streaming Partner of the MLRA Series." They will be streaming every single MLRA event. All season long. So pick up an annual membership. This helps support both them and the MLRA.
Time Trial action with 40 MLRA Super Late Models. It looked like we were only going to have 39. But Timmy Culp rolled in late. But not late enough to Hot Lap! Group A Qualifying was just a tick quicker although both were rather close. This was a well prepared track by Jerry Hoffman! "Opie" Mike Spatola set the overall quick time besting Billy Moyer from Group B who was quickest there and 3rd quickest overall behind Spatola and Aaron Marrant.
Time Trials Group A Top 5
1. 89s Mike Spatola 12.049
2. 1x Aaron Marrant 12.055
3. 56 Tony Jackson Jr 12.130
4. 15M Shane DeMey 12.249
5. 3w Brennon Willard 12.323
Group B Top 5
1. 21 Billy Moyer 12.103
2. 8k Tyler Kuykendall 12.210
3. 99c Caden McWhorter 12.212
4. 11H Jeff Herzog 12.221
5. 15s Clay Stuckey 12.263
Four heats with 10 in each would advance 3. The heat winners were:
Heat Race #1: 56 Tony Jackson, Jr.
Heat Race #2: 43 Derrick Stewart
Heat Race #3: 21 Billy Moyer
Heat Race #4: 8k Tyler Kuykendall
Then 2 B Mains would push forward 8 more (4 from each). The 2 winners were Sawyer Crigler and Clay Stuckey. Four provisionals would be added. Dillon McCowan received the Fan Save Provisional. The other 3 went to: Steve Stultz, Brennon Willard, and Dayton Pursley.
The Main Event would run 30 laps for $5,000. Tony Jackson Jr seemed to have an extra gear. Some extra ponies. Some extra something. He would lead all 30. On every single restart, he would immediately gap everyone. Nobody could run with him at this stage of the evening. Clay Stuckey, who won a B Main, came all the way from 14th to finish runner-up. There was some really fine, fun to watch, racing going on from 2nd on back. Eli Ross started 6th. Pretzel Man picked him to win. This was a solid pick as the high side here was rocking tonight. Ross poked his nose into 2nd a couple of different times but had to settle for 3rd. A podium finish for Jackson Jr, Stuckey, and Ross.
30 Lap Main Event
1. 56 Tony Jackson Jr $5,000 Winner
2. 15s Clay Stuckey
3. 66R Eli Ross
4. 99c Caden McWhorter
5. 89s Mike Spatola
6. 75A Daniel Adam
7. 8M Dillon McCowan
8. 8k Tyler Kuykendall
9. C8 Timmy Culp
10. 75 Terry Phillips
11. 1x Aaron Marrant
12. 3w Brennon Willard
13. 11c Sawyer Crigler
14. 15M Shane DeMey
15. 17A Austin Howes
16. 11H Jeff Herzog
17. 9T Dustin Tiger
18. 13 Brandon Baldridge
19. 78s Steve Stultz
20. 21 Billy Moyer
21. 4TW Tim Ward
22. 10p Dayton Pursley
23. 128 Kylan Garner
24. 43 Derrick Stewart
* Psycho's Mover & Shaker Award goes to Dillon McCowan 21st to 7th.
* Psycho's Drop the Anchor Award goes to Derrick Stewart 3rd to 24th.
____________________________________
Coverage brought to you by:
Race On • "Official Streaming Partner of the MLRA Series". Go to our Facebook page & click "Sign Up" to watch this weekend's MLRA double-header in Springfield, Missouri plus many other Motorsports venues!
Coles County Speedway-Mattoon, IL- Home of Rural King’s Road to the Dome. Where Super Late Models and Modifieds prepare for the Gateway Dirt Nationals on Sunday Sept 27!
Psycho Nation #1 Supporter
Noah Kavran has signed up for our fan club which includes fan sponsorship of today's event, 1 PBC T-Shirt, & 1 PBC Window Decal. His support helps keep PBC on the road in 2026. Thanks Noah!!!