NEW CASTLE, Ind. -- William Mefford of Knightstown won the 34th running of the Raintree 100 Saturday night at the Mt. Lawn Speedway located west of New Castle. Mefford is now a two-time winner of the prestigious event. Rain fell on the speedway at 4:00 but the track was dried in time for hot laps at 5 PM.

Scott Knepley of Greensboro took the lead from his outside front row starting position and led the first eight laps. On lap nine, pole sitter, Jason Fullen of Anderson got around Knepley and held the top spot for three laps when his transmission broke entering the short turn. David McConnell of Shirley was running second at the time of Fullen’s misfortune and ran into the back of Fullen. McConnell’s machine showed some cosmetic front-end damage but was able to keep the lead until lap twenty-one when Mefford got the lead and held the top spot the rest of the way.

Nineteen cars started the race with Tom Latham of Anderson dropping out on lap one with engine problems. Fullen was credited with eleven laps. Mike Coates was the next to drop out on lap twenty-four and Randy Anderson of Knightstown exiting four laps later both cars were overheating. McConnell fell out on lap thirty-two and eight laps later LJ Lines of Knightstown went to the pits for good with a broken rear end. On lap fifty-six Jeremy Stephens of Greenfield pulled out of the race with water coming from his overflow tube caused by an overheated engine. Next to exit was Jon Conklin of Anderson on lap seventy. Conklin started seventeenth and was running fifth when a broken gearbox sent him to the pits. On lap seventy-two David Graham of Rushville left with transmission failure. On the next lap Scott Hinshaw of Indianapolis went to the trailer with undisclosed mechanical troubles. Nine cars were running at the end with Scott Runion of Mooreland finishing ninth, Kent Carson of Richmond eighth, David Fox II of Markleville seventh, Calvin Parham of Carthage sixth, Chuck Cook of Greensboro fifth all one lap down. Cars finishing on the lead lap were Knepley fourth, fast qualifier Dean Baker of Modoc third, Mike Riddle Jr. of Anderson second and Mefford. There was only one caution during the race on lap thirty-two when Fox spun in turn one.

In the Thunder division Larry Sargent of Morristown won for the first time this season. Sargent picked up the lead on lap six from Billy Orcutt of New Castle who led the first five laps. Sargent was followed by Eric Evans of Greenfield, Randy Phillips of Muncie, Jeff Marcum of Morristown, Charlie Thomas of Selma, Michael Zambos of Middletown, Bill Clark of Rushville, Kevin Lunsford of Lebanon, Doug Lunsford of Frankfort, and Dave Kehl of Falmouth. Jeff Marcum set fast time at 18.948 and the heat winners were Zambos, Phillips and Jason Clark of Shirley.

The Rookie feature winner was Kyle Evans of Greenfield. Evans led laps fifteen and sixteen and lap twenty-five. Dave True of Knightstown appeared to have his first feature win sewed up until the spinning car of Chris Jenkins of Indianapolis got in his way allowing Evans to get under him on the last lap. Ray Evans of Greenfield finished second followed by True, Eddie King of Hagerstown, Gordon Guffey of New Castle (making his first Rookie start), Joe Evener of Shelbyville, Julie Burcham of New Castle, Butch Ryan of New Castle, Jeremy Baker of Modoc and Paul Starks of Shelbyville. Fast time went to True at 19.364 and the heat winner were Mike Worrell of Muncie, Kyle Evans and Michael Starks of Shelbyville.

Mini Cup Future Stars winner was Drew McConnell of Shirley. Regular Mini Cup feature went to Frankie Kimmel of Borden, Indiana. The go-kart feature went to Scott Carson of Fairland.

Next week the Founder’s Day 100 will head the program with the Thunders going 100 laps for $1000 to win. Late Models, Thunder Rookies and Hornets will join the Thunders. Ticket prices will be $9 for adults, $4 for children 6-10 with senior citizens getting $2 off adult admission price.