ROBINSON, Illinois -- After a weekend which saw Mat Neely run with the
National Sprint Tour (NST), the Midwest Sprint Car Series (MSCS) and
the World of Outlaws (WoO), Neely will be running two United States
Auto Club (USAC) events this weekend. On Friday, Neely will be
piloting the Truckers 24 Hour Road Service car at Lake Ozark Speedway
in Eldon, Missouri and on Sunday will hustle his own machine around
the famed high-banks of Winchester Speedway.

Currently fifth in the USAC National Sprint Series point standings,
Neely is looking forward to running at a track that he has never laid
eyes on – Lake Ozark Speedway. Located in Eldon, Missouri, Lake Ozark Speedway is hosting both the USAC National Sprints and National Midgets.

Neely hopes to improve on his April Winchester finish of thirteenth
during the Rich Vogler Memorial event. He has become more comfortable on the pavement as the season has progressed, and believes that he can be a contender on Sunday. Sunday's race will pay tribute to former USAC and NASCAR driver, Kenny Irwin, Jr.

Neely is supported by Truckers 24 Hour Road Service, Maverick Energy, Boss Body Shop, Lytle Electric and Street Heat. For further
information on marketing opportunities with Mat Neely Motorsports,
please contact Marie Buffenbarger at 317.536.5842 or at
marie@tjslideways.com

Quotes:

On making his winged debut with the NST and WoO last weekend:
"After a couple of laps at Bloomington, I was already starting to get
comfortable in the car. The biggest difference at Terre Haute was
that in the non-winged car, you have to lift off of the throttle and
really have to turn the wheel to get through the corners. In the
winged car, you don't lift and you barely have to turn the car—the
wing helps to get the car through the corner."

On Lake Ozark Speedway:
"Everything that I have heard about Lake Ozark is that it is a great
track with a great surface and I'm looking forward to putting the
Truckers 24 Hour Road Service car in victory lane."

On returning to Winchester Speedway:
"I ran thirteenth there back in April, and now that we have some more
laps on the car at paved tracks, I'm confident that we can improve on
that finish. Winchester has so much history surrounding it, I really
enjoy racing there."

--

For More Information:
Marie Buffenbarger
Maverick Motorsports Marketing
317.536.5842
marie@tjslideways.com

pictures were sent to me from Bob Harvy...
thanks so much for sharing them with us..
cj


Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

http://matneely.com/

Neely wins Indiana Sprint Week opener; Jones finishes fourth
By Justin Hatten
Published: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 2:47 PM CDT



Robinson's Mat Neely was a sprint-car driver on a mission Thursday night.

The former USAC National Sprint Car Rookie of the Year rode the cushion to an improbable victory on opening night of the 2006 Indiana Sprint Week at Twin Cities Raceway Park in North Vernon.

The 14th-starting Neely drove like a man possessed, moving into seventh place by lap 13 and passing Shane Cottle for the lead on lap 26. Neely dove to the bottom over the final four circuits to hang on for his second-career USAC victory and his first win behind the wheel of Scott Benic's Lucas Oil Products #2B.


It was the first series win for Neely since May 7, 2005, when he joined a legendary list of USAC Sprint Car winners with his inaugural victory at Powercom Park in Beaver Dam, Wis. He also took home the KISS-sanctioned Bob Darland Memorial at Kokomo (Ind.) Speedway last summer.

Neely's move to Benic Enterprises has paid immediate dividends, with a victory, two runner-up finishes and a quick time in just three starts aboard the #2B machine. The team also claimed the 2006 Buckeye Nationals crown last month as well.

Olney's Levi Jones began his bid for a second Indiana Sprint Week title in three years with a strong fourth-place run behind the wheel of his Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises #21 Maxim.



The fourth-starting Jones inherited the lead on lap 13 of the 30-lapper, but his time at the point was short-lived as Cottle sped around the 2005 USAC Sprint Car champion for the top spot just one lap later.

Jones, who won his Indiana Sprint Week and USAC Sprint Car titles while driving for Benic, eventually lost positions to Neely and 11-time 2006 winner Jon Stanbrough late in the race.

However, his fourth-place run trimmed teammate Josh Wise's series lead to 25 points heading into tonight's event at the Bloomington Speedway. Jones entered North Vernon 41 points behind Wise as he searches for his second consecutive USAC Sprint Car crown.



For the second year in row, heavy rain plagued much of southern Indiana in the days leading up to Indiana Sprint Week. In 2005, the remnants of Hurricane Dennis stalled over the lower Ohio Valley, dumping several inches of rain and leaving the first leg of the tour in doubt.

With the wet stuff soaking much of the area on Tuesday and Wednesday, the track crew at Twin Cities Raceway Park scurried to get the sloppy 3/8 mile ready for the USAC Sprint Car invasion.

By early Thursday morning, the clouds had given way to the blazing July sun as several campers made their way into the water-logged parking lot in preparation for night one of Indiana Sprint Week.



Fifty-four cars pulled through the back gate at North Vernon as Mother Nature left the high-banked clay oval ultra tacky. Defending Indiana Sprint Week champion Cory Kruseman was bitten by the heavy surface in qualifying, flipping his Keith Kunz #67 Bullet entry.

Cottle had fast time at 14.420 seconds until 2005 USAC Sprint Car Rookie of the Year and three-time series winner Darren Hagen pushed off late in qualifying and shattered Cottle's mark, thundering around the speedway at a time of 14.408.

Jones qualified his Stewart entry third fastest with a lap of 14.452 seconds. California youngster Brad Sweet put Jack Yeley's #3J fourth quick while Wise rounded out the top five.



Mitchell, Ind., native Dickie Gaines won the first eight-lap non-qualifiers race from the pole. Third-starting Shane Hollingsworth claimed the other transfer spot into the night's heat-race action.

The second non-qualifiers race belonged to Saybrook's Kyle Wissmiller, while fellow front-row starter and 2004 USAC Sprint Car champion Jay Drake came home second.

Hagen was on the loud pedal in the first 10-lap heat race, motoring from his seventh starting spot to take the win. Kruseman, Hunter Scheurenburg and Wise filled out the final three transfer spots in the 30-lap main event.



Daron Clayton bested the field in the second heat race behind the wheel of his familiar yellow #92. Two-time Indiana Sprint Week champ Dave Darland was second followed by 2005 Non-Wing Sprint Car Rookie of the Year Brady Short. Bryan Clauson claimed the fourth and final transfer spot.

The third heat belonged to young Scotty Weir, who held off eighth-starting Jones for the win. John Wolfe and Dustin Smith rounded out the top four.

Former Lawrenceburg (Ind.) Speedway track champion Brandon Petty won the fourth and final heat, followed by Stanbrough, seventh-starting Neely and 2005 USAC/CRA champion Damion Gardner.



Sweet was victorious in the 12-lap semi while Cottle, Jerry Coons Jr., Mitch Wissmiller, Josh Ford and Marc Arnold claimed the final five transfer spots to the 23-car feature field.

Darland and Wise comprised the front row of the 30-lap main event at North Vernon while Sweet and Jones sat in row two.

Darland led the first 13 circuits as the 1999 USAC Sprint Car champion searched for his third victory of the 2006 campaign. In the blink of an eye, Darland and second-place Wise saw their fine runs abruptly end with separate woes as Jones inherited the point by lap 13.



After Cottle's pass for the lead on Jones, Neely moved into fourth and drove underneath Jones in turn one for the runner-up spot near the mid-point of the 30-lapper.

Following three caution periods over the final 10 laps, Cottle and Neely battled nose-to-tail for four laps in a furious challenge for the top spot with Cottle running low and Neely on the top shelf.

Neely finally made his move in turn four on lap 26 and disposed of Cottle for the lead. From there the Crawford County native held off a late-race challenge from 10-starting Stanbrough to notch his second-career USAC Sprint Car triumph.



Stanbrough, Cottle, Jones and Hagen rounded out the top five.

Neely claims Buckeye Nationals crown in USAC Sprint Car action
By Justin Hatten
Published: Tuesday, June 20, 2006 3:31 PM CDT
Olney Newspaper


The United States Auto Club (USAC) National Sprint Car series roared back to life in Ohio this weekend for the annual two-night running of the Buckeye Nationals.

It was a weekend for first-time winners as Ludlow Falls, Ohio's Matt Westfall notched his first-career USAC Sprint Car victory at the famed Eldora Speedway on Saturday night while Robinson's Mat “The Maverick” Neely captured his first Buckeye Nationals crown.

The red-hot Neely scored back-to-back runner-up finishes en route to winning the title, allowing him to overtake Olney's Levi Jones for second place in the series standings, 35 points behind leader Josh Wise.


The Crawford County hotshoe, who departed his Trucker's 24 Hour/ R&B #10 team early last week, joined forces with Scott Benic's Lucas Oil team for the Buckeye Nationals in a move that immediately paid dividends. On Friday night at Limaland Speedway in Lima, Ohio, Neely set quick time during qualifying and finished second to eventual winner Dave Darland in his debut behind the wheel of Benic's 2B Maxim sprinter.

Neely was subbing for Bud Kaeding, who was off competing in the USAC Silver Crown event at Kentucky Speedway, which he dominated, winning by an amazing 17 seconds, increasing his series' lead to 15 points over second place Brian Tyler.

With Kaeding back in the saddle of the 2B on Saturday night at Eldora, Neely jumped into the seat of Benic's 12B mount and scored a runner-up finish for the second night in a row, this time trailing Westfall to the stripe.



Neely also finished second to Jerry Coons Jr. at Lake Ozark Speedway on June 9 in his final race with the Trucker's team giving him three-straight runner-up finishes.

Jones and his Tony Stewart Racing Enterprises crew came home sixth on Friday night at Limaland, earning him his 10th top-10 finish of the season.

However, the 2005 USAC National Sprint Car champion struggled at Eldora on Saturday night, finishing 12th, dropping him to third in the points standings, 43 behind Wise and eight behind Neely.



Thirty-one sprinters were pitside at Limaland on Friday night for the opening night of the Buckeye Nationals. It didn't take Neely long to get accustomed to the seat of Benic's 2B, as he went out and set the quick time during qualifying, turning in a lap of 12.978 around the tight northwestern Ohio quarter mile. Neely's fast time was his first of the 2006 season.

Sheldon Kinser Memorial king Daron “The Modern Day Cowboy” Clayton qualified second aboard his Clayton Fabrication/DRC #92. Dave Darland, Darren Hagen and Wise rounded out the top five. Jones qualified his #21 Mopar/Maxim ninth in the 31-car field with a lap of 13.215.

Alton's Derek O'Dell won the first eight-lap heat race over Brandon Petty, Jones and Wise. Neely finished fifth relegating him to the 12-lap semi.



Heat two belonged to Shane Hollingsworth in Lynn Reid's #2, followed by Coons, Drake and Clayton. The third heat was won by Darland, with Critter Malone, Bryan “The Bullett” Clauson and Justin Marvel locking down the other three transfer spots.

Indiana veteran Jon Stanbrough won the fourth and final heat race with Shane “The Throttle” Cottle, Hagen and Kyle Nicholas rounding out the top four.

Neely earned a spot into the 30-lap feature with a third-place finish in the 12-lap semi.



Following a hard flip by Hollingsworth on lap one of the feature, Wise assumed the point and led the next eight laps behind the wheel of his Stewart Racing/Mopar #20.

Former USAC Sprint Car champion Tony Elliott flipped his Trucker's R&B #10 machine on lap eight, bringing out yet another red flag. When racing action resumed, Wise, Darland, Drake, Neely and Hagen comprised the top five.

Wise hopped the cushion on lap nine, allowing Darland to motor his Walker/Guiducci #11 into the lead where he fought off numerous challenges from second-place Neely to lead the last 20 laps and notch his second USAC Sprint Car win of the 2006 season.



Darland was also victorious at Anderson (Ind.) Speedway on April 9. Neely, Stanbrough, Clayton and Clauson rounded out the top five with Jones crossing the line sixth.

The USAC sprinters headed to the historic Eldora Speedway in Rossburg on Saturday for the finale of the Buckeye Nationals. Thirty-three cars made the trip for the third USAC Sprint Car race of the season at Tony Stewart's Darke County half mile.

Wise paced the field during qualifying, turning in a thunderous lap of 15.505 around the legendary high banks. Neely qualified his 12B second with a lap of 15.898. Eldora wizard Rob Chaney was third quick, followed by Dickie Gaines and Westfall.



Jones qualified 24th in the 34-car field with a lap of 17.039. Ohio native Kyle Stuchell suffered a nasty flip during qualifying, causing the top of his roll cage to make hard contact with the racing surface. He was transported to Coldwater Hospital in Ohio with a broken neck and later flown to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Kaeding won the first eight-lap heat race with Wise, Dustin Smith and Clayton claiming the other three transfer spots. The second heat belonged to Coons followed by Neely, Luke Hall and Elliott.

Chaney claimed the third heat aboard his SC Racing #9X. Corey Smith, Nick Smith and Stanbrough rounded out the top four.



Drake was victorious in the fourth and final heat race over Jones, Cottle and Darland. Westfall punched his ticket to the 30-lap feature event by winning the 12-lap B-main in front of Gaines, Clauson and Hagen.

Westfall led the first 20 laps of the main event on the dry-slick surface behind the wheel of his Westfall Motorsports/F5/Claxton #54. While Westfall was in search of his inaugural USAC Sprint Car score, Gaines, Clauson, Chaney and Neely duked it out for the second spot.

Chaney worked his way past Gaines on lap 14 as the Wooster, Ohio journeyman searched for his fourth victory in five USAC Sprint Car races at Eldora.



Bad luck struck Gaines once again on lap 18 when the Mitchell, Ind., pilot flipped violently down the backstretch. Gaines, who was just returning to the seat after sitting out nearly two months from injuries suffered earlier this season, climbed from his Roberts #21x on his own power.

Following the red-flag re-start, Chaney powered past Westfall for the lead on lap 21 and pulled out to a seemingly insurmountable straightaway lead by lap 26.

Just when Chaney appeared to have his second USAC Sprint Car victory of the season in the bag, his #9x made contact with the turn-two wall on the white-flag lap, ending his night in the process.

With Westfall back at the point, Neely moved into second and tried desperately to pass Westfall for his first victory of the 2006 season. However, a jubilant Westfall pulled away on the final circuit to pick up his first-career USAC National Sprint Car win in front of his home-state crowd.

Neely captured the Buckeye Nationals crown by 16 points over Stanbrough. Wise, Clauson and Clayton rounded out the top five.

The series returns to action Friday night at Richmond (Va.)


Posted by: 48modracer Jun 21 2006, 10:13 AM
I got to meet Mat at I-55 last week. He drove for our friend Mark Bush down there. He is a great driver and is really a good ambassador for the sport. He was excited to have a midget ride for the night and gave it a good drive. He would of won his heat if it had not been for a magneto problem. He won the consi and was cruising in the feature till he got caught in an early wreck. I think that he will do well in USAC and in anything else that he sets his mind on.