Published: August 03, 2008 10:44 pm         

Hughes races to Summer Nationals win

Jason Hughes, of Watts, won the inaugural $10,000 to Win Summer Modified Nationals at Enid Speedway Park Sunday afternoon.

The race drew drivers from six states, some as far away as California.

Randy Timms, aboard his Western Flyer Express-sponsored car, exploded off the outside pole to maintain a commanding lead after 10 laps of the 50-lap race, despite two cautions.

A lap 10 yellow flag flew for debris and tightened up the field. Jeff Taylor challenged Timms for the lead until Taylor faded to the pits in lap 18 with a flat tire.

Timms, despite four more cautions, led the field until the 36th lap when he faded off the pace with flat right tire.

Hughes took the lead on the restart. He wasn’t seriously challenged on his route to the checkered flag. Scott Drake was second, trailed by Morgan Bagley, Bud Longpine and Brian Franz.

Robert Elliott posted an emotional win in the limited modified A feature, aboard his No. 19 Rocket Race Cars/Beaver Express-sponsored Hughes chassis.

“This is the 19th year that Robert and I have raced,” said car owner Johnie Rauschenberg. “Robert’s son, Darren, died from cancer several years ago and he would have been 19 this year, so we decided to run the No. 19. We want to dedicate this win to his memory.”

Elliott used a daring outside line to work his way from the fifth row to the front. He took the lead on the 11th lap, and despite a lap 18 caution, took a commanding lead to the line.

Milt David captured second, followed by Ross McCartney, Justin Danner and Greg Deterding.

Timms won the 20-lap modified feature Saturday to qualify for the outside pole in Sunday’s race.

Tommy Weder Jr. was second, followed by Martin, Brian Franz and Jeff Autry.

Danner won the limited modified feature Saturday to qualify for the outside pole Sunday in that division.

Danner was awarded the victory after original winner Shane Hebert was disqualified after failing a post tech inspection.

Greg Deterding was second, followed by Chad Austin and Troy Taylor.

Modified heat winners were Martin, Timms, Casey McClaskey, Weder and Franz. Hebert, Kevin Dupont, Dycos, Rodney Sanders and Don Reed won limited modified heats.

Morgan Bagley, modified and Nick Shenberger, limited modified, were B feature winners. Jason Teague, modified and Hesston Shaw, limited modified, were C feature winners.

Enid Speedway Park’s next card of racing will be 7 p.m. Saturday.