BOXELL SCORES FIRST USAC MIDWEST THUNDER WIN AT STREICHER MEMORIAL

By: Gerry Keysor

Elida, Ohio (June 28, 2024)………Limaland opened the gates on Friday night for the Mike Streicher Memorial presented by Stolly Insurance.  The USAC Midwest Thunder SpeeD2 Midgets were in action to honor the memory of Streicher, the 1991 USAC National Midget Champion.

It was Zanesville, Indiana’s Jakeb Boxell picking up the Streicher Memorial victory in the Boxell-Merkler Racing No. 44JB, his first career midget win after multiple second place runs.

The USAC Midwest Thunder Midgets kicked off feature action with No. 63 Cale Coons and No. 10 Stratton Briggs bringing the field to green.  Action was halted quickly when No. 21G Jimmy Guidry flipped violently in turn two.  Guidry walked away from the accident, and the field refired for a complete restart.

Briggs grabbed the early lead, but No. 10G Chett Gehrke, Coons, Boxell, and No. 18 Zach Wigal were all champing at the bit to take a shot at the leader.  Gehrke took the lead on lap three with Wigal grabbing the point on lap five.

Boxell found the edge of the cushion to his liking as he charged to the front on lap nine.  Wigal and Gehrke put on a show as they battled for second until Gehrke pulled off the track late in the race.

In the end, Boxell emerged victorious over Wigal and Coons while Luke Hall finished fourth after starting 15th.  Series point leader, No. 35 Bryce Massingill, complete the top-five.

==============

USAC MIDWEST THUNDER SPEED2 MIDGET RACE RESULTS: June 28, 2024 – Limaland Motorsports Park – Elida, Ohio

PERFORMANCE ELECTRONICS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Matt Lux (#5 Wells) (2), 2. Chett Gehrke (#10G Moore) (1), 3. Cole Morgan (#7m Morgan) (4), 4. Kayla Roell (#4K Roell) (8), 5. Ian Creager (#36 Creager) (5), 6. Alex Watson (#3E Watson) (9), 7. Ryan Fleming (#11T Taylor) (7), 8. Page Perrine (#55 Perrine) (3), 9. Jim Jones (#97 Jones) (6). NT

STIEFEL’S HOME & AUTO SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Jakeb Boxell (#44JB Boxell-Merkler) (1), 2. Cale Coons (#63 Dooling) (2), 3. Gunnar Lucius (#22 Lucius) (5), 4. Tyler Nelson (#10 Nelson) (8), 5. Ryan Moran (#01 Moran) (3), 6. Brayden Schwartz (#55s Schwartz) (6), 7. Lucas Lemons (#33L Lemons) (9), 8. Bryce Dues (#0H Sniper) (7), 9. Taylor Nibert (#11N Taylor) (4). NT

HOOSIER AUTO RACING FANS THIRD HEAT: (8 laps) 1. Bryce Massingill (#35 Massingill) (1), 2. Stratton Briggs (#10B Briggs) (5), 3. Zach Wigal (#18 Wigal) (3), 4. Tate Martz (#34 GMB) (6), 5. Luke Hall (#74 Heitmeyer) (8), 6. Michael Magic (#5m Magic) (2), 7. Jimmy Guidry (#21G Guidry) (9), 8. Carl Peterson (#49p Peterson) (4), 9. Thomas Bigelow (#2B Bigelow) (7). NT

SEMI: (12 laps) 1. Lucas Lemons (2), 2. Ryan Fleming (1), 3. Jimmy Guidry (3), 4. Taylor Nibert (8), 5. Carl Peterson (6), 6. Page Perrine (4), 7. Bryce Dues (5), 8. Jim Jones (7), 9. Tommy Bigelow (9). NT

FEATURE: (25 laps) 1. Jakeb Boxell (4), 2. Zach Wigal (8), 3. Cale Coons (1), 4. Luke Hall (15), 5. Bryce Massingill (7), 6. Matt Lux (5), 7. Kayla Roell (10), 8. Gunnar Lucius (9), 9. Michael Magic (18), 10. Tyler Nelson (11), 11. Luke Lemons (19), 12. Ryan Fleming (20), 13. Ian Creager (13), 14. Bryce Dues (24), 15. Carl Peterson (22), 16. Brayden Schwartz (17), 17. Chett Gehrke (3), 18. Stratton Briggs (2), 19. Ryan Moran (14), 20. Cole Morgan (6), 21. Page Perrine (23), 22. Alex Watson (16), 23. Tate Martz (12), 24. Jimmie Guidry (21). NT

FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-2 Stratton Briggs, Laps 3-4 Chett Gehrke, Laps 5-8 Zach Wigal, Laps 9-25 Jakeb Boxell.

USAC MIDWEST THUNDER SPEED2 MIDGET POINTS: 1-Bryce Massingill-433, 2-Cale Coons-424, 3-Jakeb Boxell-418, 4-Tate Martz-365, 5-Matt Lux-361, 6-Ian Creager-349, 7-Zach Wigal-309, 8-Stratton Briggs-299, 9-Ryan Fleming-295, 10-Brayden Schwartz-260.

NEXT USAC MIDWEST THUNDER SPEED2 MIDGET RACE: July 12, 2024 – Moler Raceway Park – Williamsburg, Ohio

CONTINGENCY AWARD WINNERS:

Performance Electronics First Heat Winner: Matt Lux

Stiefel’s Home & Auto Second Heat Winner: Jakeb Boxell

Hoosier Auto Racing Fans Third Heat Winner: Bryce Massingill

VMS Motorsports Semi Winner: Luke Lemons

Performance Powder Coating Hard Charger: Luke Hall (15th to 4th)

Lynn Cook – A Racer’s Friend Hard Luck Award: Jimmy Guidry

Rosewood Machine & Tool Precision Move of the Race: Chett Gehrke

Competition Suspension Inc. Gift Certificate: Gunnar Lucius