After watching rain wash out racing opportunities in his home state of Illinois, McKay Wenger made the most of an unexpected trip south Saturday night, charging through heavy traffic before taking command on lap nine and racing to a $3,000 POWRi Heartland Late Model Tour presented by Mel Hambelton Ford Racing victory at Lake Ozark Speedway.

The win marked Wenger’s first Heartland Late Model Tour triumph and his first overall victory since August of 2025. Starting third, the Fairbury, Illinois driver crossed the finish line 1.856 seconds ahead of Bob Gardner following 25 fast-paced laps around the Eldon, Missouri oval.

Wenger credited an aggressive approach for helping him capitalize on the opportunity.

“I just had to get up on the wheel and send it tonight,” Wenger said in victory lane. “This is just a hobby for us. So it definitely helped out winning tonight, and hopefully we can keep on going.”

Polesitter Kayden Clatt and Friday night Lakeside Speedway winner Jake Nightingale brought the field to green, with Nightingale immediately taking command while Clatt settled into second. Gardner, Wenger, Justin Reed, Daniel Hilsabeck, Chevy Boyer, Sawyer Crigler, John Rowland, and Tucker Cox completed the early top ten.

As Nightingale established the early pace, Wenger wasted little time working forward, slipping past Clatt to take over second before the leaders encountered heavy lapped traffic. Gardner also found speed through the slower machines, briefly taking the lead on lap eight after slicing through traffic.

The battle at the front was just beginning.

One lap later, Wenger found an opening of his own, driving back around Gardner to reclaim the top spot. Nightingale’s bid for back-to-back Heartland Late Model Tour victories came to an abrupt end shortly thereafter as the No. 3J was forced to retire after leading the opening seven circuits.

Once out front, Wenger never looked back.

Mastering both the rough racing surface and heavy traffic, Wenger steadily stretched his advantage while Gardner maintained second and Chevy Boyer advanced from seventh to complete the podium.

The race’s first Midwest Sheet Metal caution flag flew on lap 19 when Dustin Walker came to a stop inside turn four, erasing Wenger’s sizeable lead. Another caution followed two laps later when John Rowland slowed on the speedway, setting up one final restart.

Despite the late interruptions, Wenger was flawless over the closing laps, quickly reestablishing his advantage before pulling away to secure the victory.

Gardner finished second with Boyer completing the podium. Daniel Hilsabeck turned in a strong fourth-place effort ahead of Justin Reed. Clatt recovered from the pole to finish sixth, while Scott Crigler earned KRC Hard Charger honors by charging from 22nd to seventh. Sawyer Crigler, Brandon Baldridge, and Tracy Cottrell rounded out the top ten.

Championship Standings Tighten Heading to August

Despite an early exit after leading the opening seven laps, Jake Nightingale remains fourth in the inaugural POWRi Heartland Late Model Tour championship standings, while Sawyer Crigler’s eighth-place finish allowed him to maintain the series points lead. Scott Crigler’s Hard Charger drive from 22nd to seventh kept him second in the standings, with rookie Kayden Clatt continuing an impressive first season in third. Nightingale and Joey Smith round out the current top five heading into the next event.

Current POWRi Heartland Late Model Tour Championship Standings (After 6 Events)

1. Sawyer Crigler, Alton, MO — 504 points (-)

2. Scott Crigler, Alton, MO — 480 (-24)

3. Kayden Clatt (R), Edina, MO — 470 (-34)

4. Jake Nightingale, Hutchinson, KS — 450 (-54)

5. Joey Smith, West Plains, MO — 421 (-83)

6. Dustin Walker, Polk, MO — 389 (-115)

7. Josh Leonard, Gibbon, NE — 282 (-222)

8. Terry Phillips, Springfield, MO — 257 (-247)

9. Braxten Leonard, Gibbon, NE — 239 (-265)

10. John Rowland, Warsaw, MO — 237 (-267)

The POWRi Heartland Late Model Tour now takes a brief break before returning to action on Friday, August 21, when the series heads to Salt City Speedway in Hutchinson, Kansas for another $3,000-to-win event.

For updated schedules, championship standings, event details, and breaking series news, visit HeartlandLateModelTour.com. Fans unable to attend in person can catch every remaining race of the 2026 season live and on demand exclusively on RacinDirt.tv.

Media Results for 8/1/2026 at Lake Ozark Speedway – Eldon, MO

POWRi Heartland Late Model Tour – 25 Entries

Pannell Chipping A Feature 1: 1. McKay Wenger 2. Bob Gardner 3. Chevy Boyer 4. Daniel Hilsabeck 5. Justin Reed 6. Kayden Clatt 7. Scott Crigler 8. Sawyer Crigler 9. Brandon Baldridge 10. Tracy Cottrell 11. Tracy Melloway 12. John Rowland 13. Joey Smith 14. Reid Millard 15. Dustin Atkinson 16. Dustin Walker 17. Jake Nightingale 18. Tucker Cox 19. Jace Parmley 20. Tim Petty 21. Dalton Cloyd 22. Jason Sivils 23. Dalton Imhoff 24. Brandon Morton 25. Justin Wells

Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning Heat 1: 1. McKay Wenger 2. Daniel Hilsabeck 3. Justin Wells 4. Dustin Atkinson 5. Jason Sivils 6. Dalton Imhoff

Smith Equipment Company Heat 2: 1. Kayden Clatt 2. Chevy Boyer 3. Sawyer Crigler 4. Dustin Walker 5. Dalton Cloyd 6. Brandon Baldridge

Kevko Racing Heat 3: 1. Jake Nightingale 2. Justin Reed 3. John Rowland 4. Tim Petty 5. Joey Smith 6. Reid Millard

Swift Springs Heat 4: 1. Bob Gardner 2. Brandon Morton 3. Tucker Cox 4. Jace Parmley 5. Tracy Melloway 6. Tracy Cottrell 7. Scott Crigler

Deatherage Opticians Qualifying: 1. McKay Wenger 2. Kayden Clatt 3. Jake Nightingale 4. Bob Gardner 5. Daniel Hilsabeck 6. Chevy Boyer 7. Joey Smith 8. Brandon Morton 9. Justin Wells 10. Sawyer Crigler 11. Justin Reed 12. Jace Parmley 13. Dalton Imhoff 14. Dustin Walker 15. John Rowland 16. Tracy Melloway 17. Dustin Atkinson 18. Dalton Cloyd 19. Tim Petty 20. Tucker Cox 21. Jason Sivils 22. Brandon Baldridge 23. Reid Millard 24. Tracy Cottrell 25. Scott Crigler

The POWRi Mel Hambelton Racing Heartland Late Model Tour would like to recognize and thank our season long partners. Please thank them, with your patronage for their support.

Gold Partners – Central Spray Foam & Cement Lifting, Day Motor Sports, Deatherage Opticians, Dirt Track Specialist, Dylan Scott Entertainment, Hochatown Saloon, Hoosier Tire Great Plains, Kevko Racing, Midwest Sheet Metal, Mel Hambelton Ford Racing, Pannell Chipping, RacinDirt.com, Real Racing Wheels, Rick Beebe Heating and Air Conditioning, Smith Equipment Company, Swift Springs, VP Racing Fuels Heartland, Wehrs Machine & Racing Products

Silver Partners – American Racer Tires, Buck Monson Photos, Bulletproof Tees and Racewear, Duvall Electric, Integra Shocks, JRT Trucking, Keyser Manufacturing, Midwest Automation, Photos By Boyd, Scotty Dogg’s Hideout

Bronze Partners – Bryke Racing, Fast Shafts, Freight Logistics Inc., KS Engineering, Maxima Racing Oil, Milburn Acreages by Tillison Enterprises, PEM Racing, Premier Lubricants, Schoenfeld Headers, Service Plumbing of Wichita, Transmissions Unlimited, Wagdog Spices, Wilwood Disc Brakes, Yeoman Race Engines

2026 HLMT Point Fund

1. $10,000

2. $6,000

3. $5,000

4. $4,000

5. $3,000

6. $2,800

7. $2,600

8. $2,400

9. $2,200

10. $2,000

*80 Percent attendance required to remain point fund eligible

NEXT: Bobby Pierce Wins Third USA Nationals In Four Years, Ties Single-Season Win Record