Theme: https://youtu.be/OkC_oi0ksuw?si=0KvAL3QnodCeDk5Y&t=10
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DK: And hello again, everyone. We're coming at you live from the great state of Missouri. I'm Dave Knight alongside NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip. Welcome to the Ozarks International Raceway for the running of the Miller Lite 131. DW, what do we have in store today?
DW: Dave, we're gonna go left, we're gonna go right, and one of these 9 drivers is gonna go to Victory Lane!
DK: Well, the opening ceremonies have been completed and now let's get those engines fired!
Race fans, it's time for the most famous words in motorsports! Please welcome our Grand Marshal, NASCAR Hall of Famer and 1989 Winston Cup Champion, give it up for Missouri's own Rusty Wallace!
RW: Ozarks International Speedway, let's fire these hot rods up! Drivers, start your engines!
Green Flag
DW: Boogity boogity boogity! Let's go road racin'!
DK: First of 33 laps at OIR, Dude Watson leads the charge. He'll bob and weaveout of the first turn intothe first right hander on this course. Kim Johnson about a car length behind. Sheldon Hatterfield avoided a little contact between the Steve Hutson and David Johnson. He'll draw a good bead on the 8 as Johnson slips into the rear view of the 17. 2-time winner this season, Hatterfield wants to make it 3 in a row today.
DW: And the leader's coming up on the bus stop which is turn 6. Kim Johnson not able to keep up at this point. Hutson still has a solid 3rd but that 17's not gonna let him out of his sight.
DK: There are 19 turns at this facility. It's 3.97 miles around. A lot of shifts per lap and a lot of opportunities to make something happen.
DW: And a lot of places things can go very wrong as the Dude's about to swing it through 10 and 11. Thats a pretty sharp chicane.
DK: And Watson gets off into the grass a little but so does Kim Johnson. She pretty much mirrored the 00 and Hutson's checking up a bit which allows Hatterfield to make a move. They're door to door in turn 11. Watson gathered it up and starts checking his mirror for the 42c of Kim Johnson. Still keeping a few car lengths advantage over her. Watson in the Buick and Johnson in the Chevy. They'll hammer out of the hairpin that is turn 14.
DW: Another big gainer's been ol' Razorback. That 46 has picked up 2 spots since the start. He just hammered past David Johnson. And we've got a spinner in 14. Steve Hutson loops it around off track. No caution but he's gonna lose some spots as he gets her straightened out.
DK: Meanwhile, Dude Watson gets loose in turn 18. He'll wobble around sideways a bit and make a little contact with Johnson. And the 17 gets a little bigger in the rear view.
DW: He's gonna save it though and keep it up front through 19.
DK: And he's going to lead the opening lap here at OIR!
Lap 8
DK: Billy Hobin has followed his boss' line to the T and they're gonna give Hatterfield a fit for that 3rd spot but the leader is gonna overcook it in turn 4. He goes around! Kim Johnson assumes the top spot.
Lap 15
DW: And we've got a car stalled over in turn 10.
DK: That's the 6 of Rattlecan Dan. He just told crew cheif Brother Mario that he lost all of the oil pressure in that car. Donato DiRenzo, better known as Rattlecan Dan in his sophomore Fantasy Cup season, started off strong but he'll take a major hit in the points today.
Lap 25
DW: Hatterfield's lead is in trouble. That 46 machine's been stalkin' him like a cougar on an empty stomach.
DK: He's been side by side a few times with the 17 but hasn't been able to seal the deal.
Lap 30
DK: And a slight bobble in turn 18 is gonna throw the door wide open for Sealey. He'll sail it through the long sweeping turn 19 to take the lead with 3 to go!
White Flag
DK: And the Buick of JR Sealey makes it stick in turn 14. He maintains a 4 car length advantage over Sheldon Hatterfield. The 17's been unable to reel the 46 back in but he's got a sizeable advantage over the 42 of Hobin.
DW: Ol' Razorback keeps it together through the last hairpin and he's in the home stretch in 19.
DK: And for the first time since the Charlotte Roval in 2022, JR Sealey takes the checkered flag to win the Miller Lite 131 at OIR!!
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DW: What a race, Dave!!
DK: And what a shake-up in the points, DW. Sheldon Hatterfield now has a 16 point lead over all 3 Razorback Motorsports cars, each with 120. By virtue of his win today, Sealey breaks the tie for 2nd place but we're not even halfeway through the season and we've already got a dramatic championship battle!
DW: And another tie for 6th between Rattlecan Dan and Dude Watson!
DK: And with that, we'll call it a day here at OIR. For Darrell Waltrip, I'm Dave Knight. Thanks for joining us and we'll see you next week at Williams Grove Speedway for the Armor All 100!
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Congrats to Sheldon. Boy, I'm dealing with a sad group of people. But they're a veteran bunch, and we will bounce back.