Lasoski returning to defend sprint title

World of Outlaws star Danny Lasoski and national rookie of the year Josh Fisher will highlight the third annual Bob Ramey Sr. Memorial auto races Sunday at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.

The event honors a man who helped prepare the speedway for races for 40 years. He died in 2003, not long after preparing the track for the State Fair races.

The night will feature three classes: the Winged Outlaw Warriors, the United Late Model Association and local modified cars.

Lasoski, who won the Warriors’ race last year, informed co-promoter Bob Ramey, Bob Sr.’s son, on Monday that he would be here Sunday. Lasoski will be racing with the World of Outlaws on Saturday in  Knoxville, Iowa.

Fisher, of Smithton, won the North American 360 Sprint Car Poll national rookie of the year award in 2007 after finishing second to three-time champ Randy Martin in the Warriors points race.

Fisher will receive his rookie of the year trophy on Sunday night.

With only two races completed, Brian Brown, who drives a car owned by Sedalians Tim and Gina Doogs, holds a six-point lead over Martin in the Warriors points standings.

Fisher is tied for fourth, 20 points off the pace. Sedalian Jonathan Cornell is fifth, four points behind Fisher.

Sedalian’s Matt Fox and Tony Crank are 11th and 16th, respectively.
 
Jesse Hockett won the season opener April 5 at LA Raceway, and Jason Johnson, of Eunice, Iowa, won April 19 at Wheatland. Both drivers have competed in only one race.

Brett Rollert, of Smithville, is the defending ULMA points champion. He beat out Jeff Schlup and Jason Estes by 16 points last fall.

Schlup, of California, Mo., won the tiebreaker with Estes, of Winston, because he won seven features races while Estes won only four.

The series has raced only once this season, according to Ramey.

ULMA features several drivers from The Democrat’s coverage area: Bryon Allison, of Marshall; Joe Binning, of Warrensburg; Chad Clark, of Marshall;  Dan Eckhoff, of Sedalia; Donnie Gemes, of Warsaw; Bob Hiller, of Sedalia; Kevin Kaiser, of Cole Camp; Paul Neel, of Sedalia; Shawn Williams, of Knob Noster; and Brett Wood, of Warrensburg.

The modifieds races will feature teams who regularly race at LA Raceway.

Ramey expects around 100 cars for Sunday’s races.

Admission is $15. Children 10 and younger will be admitted for free. Pit access costs $25.

The grandstand will open at 4 p.m. with hot laps starting at 5 p.m. and racing at 6 p.m.