Kansas City, Mo. - When Gene Claxton decided to come back to the Grand National class for 2010, the rumblings from the 'cheap seats' started. Why would he want to do that? Things have changed, I don't think he will have that big of an impact.

After 8 races Claxton has 4 wins. That means that 50 percent of the time he is going to win. That's better than Vegas odds!

Friday night, July 2, the Grand National race would have extra meaning for the drivers. As a matter of fact it had 1,000 reasons to be special. A bonus purse was in place tonight and the winner would walk away with $1,000.

A wreck with 3 cars started the feature event off. Claxton would get to move up further in the field on the next re-start. He would take full advantage of the situation. While he was closer to the front it made it a little easier to get to the point position.

Claxton's teammate, Chad Shaw, had also raced by the field and found himself in 2nd place.

The two driver have combined to win 6 of the 8 features held at Lakeside this season.

Dennis Melvin had to be the fly in the ointment for Claxton. For several weeks, Melvin had been trying to figure out the characteristics of his new Grand National. Tonight he had it figured out for 18 laps of the 20 lap main event. As the cars moved to the bottom of the track, Melvin moved to the high side and found some momentum. He would drive past Shaw, but Claxton was going to be a harder nut to crack.

As the laps began to wind down, Claxton's ride began to puff a little smoke. Melvin's car was coming into it's own. Melvin got a couple of good runs at Claxton but could not make the pass. On his best pressure move of the night Melvin got in to the turn to hot and ended up smacking the wall. The damage was done and Claxton would go unchallenged the rest of the way.

Shaw finished in the runner-up spot. Last year's champ, Chad Clancy, had a long night. He missed his heat due to a broken flywheel. Starting at the back of the feature, Clancy marched his way all the way up to a 3rd place finish. Paul Lanfermann finished 4th and last week's winner, Gary Donaldson, finished 5th.

Sometimes as a racecar driver you just go out and you do the best you can.

Joe Walker is one of those guys, You don't hear him talk a whole lot, you don't see the flash with him but what you do see is Joe Walker in victory lane.

Friday night Walker celebrated his 2nd Modified win on the season.

Not to bad for a guy who was upside down on the back straight about earlier in the year, not bad for a guy who blew a motor up earlier in the year nor is it bad for a guy who is running an older race car than the competition. Many of these things might have given Walker a reason to throw in the towel. He didn't he just kept on racing. It paid off tonight.

Starting from the 5th row Walker made his way to the front and waged a battle with the early leader Danny Charles.

Working the bottom of the track, Walker was able to dispose of Charles and take over the top spot.

Justin Boney in the meantime also took his shot and Charles and got by him. Next on his hit list was Walker. The ultimate battle never materialized. Boney would get close but Walker took his line away from him. In doing so, it looked as if Walker got faster. He would go on to win easily.

Boney, driving for Randy Moore, would come home 2nd after winning last week's feature, his teammate for the night, Danny Charles finished 3rd, 4th went to Bubba Harvey and Kerry Davis rounded out the top 5 for the 2nd straight week.

In the Factory Stock feature, Darrin Christy held on to a close win.

By getting the win, Christy has established that his race team has done a complete 180 degree turnaround.

Christy got a win just a couple of weeks ago and he was once out of the points picture. Now he is all the way back up to 6th place. Tonight, by no means, was no easy win.

Starting up front gave Christy a good spot. He would have to hold it for the 15 laps of the feature. Not an easy task considering the tough company he is in. The Factory Stock division is an ultra-competitive class. Marshall Jewett & Jason Ryun were knocking on Christy's door the whole night.

A few yellow flags would mar the race, but Christy would stay in the top spot.

Nate Barnes put on an impressive display tonight. Late in the race he made the bottom side of the race track work. He picked off a few spots before making a push at the leader. Barnes would finish 2nd. Jewett, maintained his points lead with a 3rd place finish, 4th went to Jason Ryun and rounding out the top 5 was Cliff Hedges Jr.

The crowd tonight was also treated to a wonderful fireworks extravaganza.

Next week racing action continues at Lakeside Speedway. For up to the minute information, log on to www.lakesidespeedway.net for all your needs.