May 12, 2025 | By Dean Reichel

Ben Brown takes Doublr-X Soeedway season opener

CALIFORNIA, Mo.—After a brief weather-related delay, the 2025 racing season at Double X Speedway officially kicked off on Sunday night, May 11, reigniting a beloved Mid-Missouri tradition. Now in its 36th consecutive year, the historic 1/4-mile clay oval welcomed fans and racers back for another summer of adrenaline-fueled “Sunday Night Thunder.” The season opener featured a full lineup of Winged Sprint Cars, Super Stocks, and B Modifieds, thrilling the crowd with side-by-side action and close finishes under the lights.

With a good crowd of eager race fans and a good car count in the pit areas, the night delivered on all the anticipation built during the week’s delay. Taking to the dirt for the opening heat race was the Super Stock class. The first heat saw Dale Berry pick up the win in the last turn as leader Harlan Dowell, Jr had a misfire, Darin Porter was able to capitalize as well to take second, Dowell held on for third, Steve Beach was fourth and Ryan Oerly completed the field. Heat two saw Eddie Keeran drive to victory over Jody Romig in second and Chris Romig in third, Joe Miller was unable to start the heat race.

With the guest class of B Modifieds up next the first heat was all Rylan Gibbs. The driver from Osceola led green to checkered over Alex Schultz in second, Don Williams third, Chad Staus was fourth Richard Brainard fifth and Tyler Imhoff in sixth. The second heat was won by Colson Kirk, Terry Schultz crossed the line in second, Adam Hall was third, Joshua Ready came home fourth and Tyler Crocker completed the field in fifth. Results posted below reflect a correction due to a disqualification after the feature event.

Double X Speedway has featured 360 Winged Sprint Cars since opening night and is still the home track. Heat race action saw Broc Elliott pick up the win in heat 1 over Terry Easum, Garrett Benson in third, Casey Shuman in fourth and Samuel Wagner completing the top five.  Heat two had Ben Brown claiming first over Miles Paulus in second, Taylor Walton in third, Tyler Blank in fourth and Jack Wagner in fifth.

Feature event time rolls around after intermission and the Super Stocks led off the card for a fifteen lap main event. Veteran drivers Dale Berry and Eddie Keeran led the field to green with many talented shoes following them into turn one. After a lap one caution, Jody Romig took the lead on the restart and led the first 7 laps, Darin Porter took over on lap 8, Romig moved back ahead on lap 9, Porter would lead lap 11, Romig lap 12 and Porter would take over on lap 13 to claim the victory in the event. More close racing between Dale Berry and Steve Beach for the third and fourth spots was taking place as well. At the checkered it was Darin Porter, Jody Romig, Steve Beach, Dale Berry and Harlan Dowell, JR completing the top five. Eddie Keeran, Ryan Oerly and Chris Romig completed the field.

The first main event for B Modifieds in 2025 at Double X saw Rylan Gibbs and Colson Kirk leading the lineup. Colson Kirk won the race into turn one on the high side with Gibbs on the low line. Kirk was able to use the momentum on the top to open a five car length lead over Gibbs by the eighth lap. A caution bunched the field behind Kirk but he was able to move back out while Adam Hall began challenging Gibbs for second. Hall would run the low groove with Gibbs in the middle of the track as they made laps side by side. Through the restart Colson Kirk was not to be denied as he ran the top consistently hitting his marks. Over the last five laps Kirk would not falter but he received challenges from Adam Hall who finished a strong second. Chad Staus crossed the finish in third, Ryaln Gibbs was fourth at the stripe, however he did not go to post race technical inspection and was disqualified. This moves Alex Schultz to fourth and Tyler Crocker to fifth. Richard Brainard was sixth, Tyler Imhoff in seventh, Joshua Ready in eighth, Terry Schultz in ninth and Don Williams was credited with tenth.

The 25 lap 360 Winged Sprint Car feature event saw Ben Brown take the lead heading into turn one over Broc Elliott and Brown set sail for the first one half of the event. Terry Easum, Miles Paulus and Broc Elliott were trading jabs following the leader. A caution after lap 12 set the field behind Brown for the restart, he resumed his leading ways only to have the field bunched again for a lap 16 caution. On the restart Brown found perennial hard charger Tyler Blank in second with Easum, Garrett Benson and Taylor Walton completing the top five. Surviving yet one more restart, Brown would take the win with Blank in second, Taylor Walton in third, Garrett Benson in fourth and Casey Shuman completing the top five. Completing the second five were Terry Easum in sixth, Tom Curran in seventh, Jack Wagner in eighth, Blake Bowers in ninth and Emylee Yoder in tenth.

Be sure to come out for Sunday Night Thunder next weekend with the360 Winged Sprint Cars, Super Stocks and B Modifieds again on the racing card. Chack out the schedule at www.doublexspeedway.com or find the “Double X Speedway Fan Page on Facebook”.