Published: March 30, 2008 10:35 pm         

Missouri racer wins big race

Jeremy Payne of Springfield, Mo., found the long haul to Enid profitable as he led all 50-laps of the main event to win the $10,000 Thunder in the Park at Enid Speedway Park Sunday.

Randy Timms and Paul White, who finished second and fifth in the race, were disqualified for failing to make weight. That allowed Eddie Martin and Chad Wheeler to finish in the top five.

“Randy Timms and I had a real good race,’’ said Payne. “I’m excited about winning. We didn’t have much tire left, so I guess I’m lucky.’’

Pacesetter Payne showed the way in the fast and furious race. Payne sported a five car-length lead when Willie Kraft came to rest at the top of turn three and put the race under caution in lap five.

Payne resumed the point, only to see another yellow wave the next lap. A caution flag flew on the start as Jamie Burford stopped in turn four. Payne picked up where he left off and had a solid lead when Mark Smith flew off the front straight and brought out another caution in lap eight.

Payne hustled away when the race finally went green with Timms in the chase. The two sprinted away from the field locked in an intense battle.

Payne kept his foot on the gas and guarded his line to the race’s mid-point when a caution waved as two cars flew off the track. Officials stopped the race and allowed the drivers time to refuel and change tires.

Payne rushed away from the field with Timms hooked to his bumper like glue. The duo sported nearly a straightaway-advantage on the field when yet another yellow flag waved in lap 37. Payne resumed the lead — and undaunted by five late-race cautions — took a commanding lead to the line.

Persistence paid off for Paul White of Temple, Texas, as he picked up the victory in the caution-riddled limited modified feature..

White raced off the pole and headed up the field, but his run was cut short as a three-car crash put the race under caution in lap two. A yellow flag waved on the restart for a twin spin in turn one.

White picked up where he left off when the track finally went green and looked to be the man to beat. A three-car crash on the front straight brought out another yellow flag in lap six

A heated battle developed on the start as veteran Frank Graven went in hot pursuit. The duo raced side-by-side for three laps before mayhem in turn four put the track back under caution. White broke away from the field when the race went green, only to see the yellow wave for chaos on the back straight. Kevin Snow stalled on the start and delayed the race yet again.

White showed the way on the restart, only to see a red flag wave as Logan Macy rolled on the front straight. White pulled away with Graven in the hunt.

The duo raced away from the field locked in a heated battle. Graven faded off the pace in lap 13 with a flat and Joey Whiteaker spun in turn one, putting the race back under yellow. The race stayed under caution as David Givens came to a rest at the top of the track.

Willis Adams crashed in turn one on the start and brought out the eighth yellow flag of the race. White sailed away from the field, only to see another caution wave for a double spin in turn four.

White set up a commanding lead on the restart never looked back. Robert Elliott, Greg Deterding, Roger Lawrence and Graven rounded out the top five. Graven was disqualified in the post race tech inspection for illegal pistons, which saw Randy Miller inherit fifth

Hennessey’s James Lott picked up the crown and a $1,000 payday in street stocks with aboard his Dunsworth Machine-powered Jackson car.

“I’m really excited,’’ said Lott. “It was a great day, the track was good and my Midwest Refrigeration/Choate Spraying-sponsored car worked really well.”

A yellow flag waved on the start when Dustin “Hollywood’’’ Allen spun and triggered a four-car pileup in turn one. Jerry Derr exploded off the pole on the restart and sped into a five car-length, but all that effort was for naught as debris put the track back under caution.

Derr hustled away when the track went green, but his glory was short lived as he flew off the front stretch in lap three with a right rear flat and brought out a third yellow flag. Lott inherited the “hot seat” and set up a straightaway-advantage his second time around.

Lott skillfully hooked up smooth in the groove and lapped over half of the field on his path to the checkers.

Lance “The Wild Child’’ Sessions raced to second, trailed by Jon Herring Sr., Aaron Morse and Dustin Allen.

Scott Drake posted the win in the B feature with Allen Sharpensteen chasing down the victory in the C. Brandon Morton and Kirby Steins took wins in the D and E classes respectively.

Enid Speedway Park’s first point card of the season will be 7 p.m. Saturday.