Clemmons edges Allen at wire

The crowd at State Fair Speedway was a bit thin Friday night, but the fans on hand saw one of the best finishes of the year.

An estimated 1,800 people watched Steven Clemmons and Justin Allen battle to a photo finish, with Clemmons notching the win in the 15-lap factory stock A feature.

Allen might have been seeking to avenge his brother Jeremy. Jeremy Allen was running in front early in the feature before spinning out and giving way to Clemmons.

Justin Allen caught and passed Clemmons on lap 14 and was still leading as the cars headed into the last turn. That's when Clemmons retook the lead.

Mike Goodman drove to a first-place finish in front of Jamie Passmore in the championship sprint feature.

It appeared championship sprint driver Michelle Decker caught a break when points leader Chris Burns crashed in his heat race, sustaining front end damage. But despite his front wheels bouncing off the track surface like basketballs, Burns drove to a B feature win to qualify for the A main.

Decker, who is second in the point standings, then suffered car damage in the A feature, flipping end-over-end through a turn on the three-eighths-mile dirt track..

Former speedway champion Mike Peters drove to a super sprint feature win with a lead the length of a straightaway. It was Peters' first feature win of the season in Oklahoma City.

Steve Smith, the record-holder in career feature wins and point championships in the pro stock division, added to his massive trophy collection with another victory in the full-bodied class.

Sprint driver Gary Owens was taken to the hospital after the July 27 races. Owens flipped his sprint car and suffered several injuries.

The 22-year-old driver from Pauls Valley spent the night in a local hospital with bruised lungs and head injuries.

Owens was released the next day and told speedway officials this week he was still suffering from headaches and blurred vision. Owens said he will be back racing as soon as he is healed.