Barksdale slingshots to victory lane at DCRP

Koby Barksdale cashed in on his first NCRA feature win by charging to victory lane in Saturday night's 30-lap main at Dodge City Raceway Park. It was the second appearance for the winged warriors at DCRP.
    The Steve King Memorial Sprint Classic brought loyal sprint car fans to the track. Mother Nature provided a beautiful night of racing while 26 O'Reilly NCRA 360 Sprint Cars did the rest. IMCA Monster Modifieds, United Wireless IMCA Stocks, Napa Thunder Cars, Hornets and Jr. Sprints also checked in for a spectacular night of racing at the park.
    The fire-breathing winged warriors of the National Championship Racing Association headlined the Steven King Memorial Event. Cody Forshee led the star-studded field to the green for the 30-lap main event, but it was Mike Peters, current NCRA sprint point leader, who used the high line off his outside row-one starting position to grab the lead down the back chute.
    Gavin Punch, Luke Cranston, Forshee and C.J. Johnson rounded out the top five. Johnson worked on Forshee as the battle for fourth and fifth heated up. Johnson slipped by Forshee, bringing Derek Drown into the top five.
    As the leaders hit lapped traffic, Punch locked his ride on the bottom side of turn one to take the lead. Cranston out-worked Peters for second, and the battle for the top position reached a boiling point as the top four sliced and diced their way through the traffic. Caution flew on lap 10 as Marc Robe lost a wheel and came to a stop in turn four.
    Punch led the field back to the green, but trouble on the restart saw the field check up, and Mike Chadd and Don Droud Jr. saw their night come to an end. Back under the green, Punch, Cranston, Peters and Johnson rounded out the top of the field.
    But Barksdale was the man to watch. Coming from the 14th position, Barksdale had found the cushion and was on the move.
    Flying high, wide and handsome, he had stormed into the top five and before anyone knew what hit them, he grabbed the second spot and set his sights on Punch. With five laps to go, Barksdale blew the doors off Punch to take the lead.
    Just as it looked as though Barksdale had checked out, a caution for Steven Richardson slowed the field. Back under green, Johnson moved around Punch, taking second. But just as C.J. Johnson had the leader in sight, time ran out and Barksdale grabbed his first NCRA career feature.
    Johnson, Punch, Peters and J.D. Johnson rounded out the top five.