Fallen Heroes tribute
Gragson claims Xfinity win at rain-shortened Kansas Lottery 300
by Brian Turrel
Noah Gragson knew the rain was coming — he’d known it since he checked the radar when got to the track in the morning. As the drops started to hit his windshield midway through the Kansas Lottery 300, he knew he needed to make a move.
Stuck for most of the race behind the speedy Toyota of Ty Gibbs, Gragson made the most of a lap 76 restart to get past Gibbs and Austin Hill for the lead.
The caution flag was flown for rain on lap 82, setting up some final drama as the drivers raced each other and the incoming rain.
On the lap 88 restart, Gragson held off teammate Justin Allgaier for the lead into turn 2, and Allgaier provided an assist by riding Gibbs up to the outside of the track to prevent him from making a move for the lead.
The race was red-flagged on lap 93. Drivers left their cars on pit road and headed to the garages, sensing that the race was over, but having to wait several minutes before word arrived from NASCAR that the result was final.
After the win, Gragson’s fifth of the year, the 24-year-old talked wistfully about his JR Motorsports team, which he will leave at the end of the season for a seat with Petty GMS in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“I think we have a great group of people,” said the Las Vegas native. “I really don’t want it to change. I’ve been thinking over these last two or three weeks, ‘It’s coming to an end.'”
“And it’s bittersweet because I’m in love with everybody at Junior Motorsports. I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had in my racing career, and I don’t want it to ever stop, but things move on.”
Allgaier finished the raced in second, followed by Gibbs. Brandon Jones started on pole and finished fourth, and Ross Chastain finished fifth. Sam Mayer (9th) and Riley Herbst (16th) clinched positions in the Xfinity Series playoffs, starting in two weeks.
The final regular season race will be held next Saturday in Bristol, Tennessee.
The ARCA Series Kansas Lottery 150, originally scheduled for Saturday evening, was postponed to Sunday morning at 9 a.m., and the NASCAR Series Kansas Lottery 400 will start at 2 p.m.
Faith news
Note: Please contact the church or check its social media pages to see if it is making schedule changes.
Blessed Sacrament and Christ the King Catholic churches have information about Masses at the churches’ websites or Facebook pages at www.facebook.com/Christ-the-King-Parish-KCKS-1392808997677579 and www.facebook.com/BlessedSacramentkck. Masses at Christ the King are at 4 p.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday. Masses at Blessed Sacrament will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. Sunday. Christ the King is planning an ice cream social after the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Oct. 8.
Bonner Springs United Methodist Church will have a Community Blood Center blood drive from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at the Fellowship Hall, 425 W. Morse Ave., Bonner Springs. To make an appointment, visit savealifenow.org or call 816-753-4040.
Casa – Worship House Christian Church, 5217 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, will have information about services at www.facebook.com/casadealabanzaKCKS. For more information, visit Facebook @casadealabanzaKCKS.
“Scripture Group: Lectio and Discussion,” will meet from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at the Keeler Women’s Center, 759 Vermont Ave., Suite 100-B, Kansas City, Kansas. Heather Neds will lead the meeting. Registration is required to 913-689-9375. For more information, visit www.keelerwomenscenter.org.
Oak Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 9301 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas, will have a 134th anniversary Family and Friends Day Celebration at the 9:50 a.m. worship service Sunday, Sept. 18. The special guest will be the Rev. Marion Ray Jr. and the Shiloh Community Church. There will be food, fellowship and games in the parking lot after the service. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ORMBCKC or http://ormbc.org/church-online/.
Open Door Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, Kansas City, Kansas, has a new senior pastor, the Rev. Jeff Ingle. Open Door will have services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. For information about services, see https://www.opendoorkc.com/livestream. For more information see https://www.facebook.com/opendoorkc/ and https://www.opendoorkc.com/.
Our Lady and St. Rose Catholic Church, 2300 N. 8th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will celebrate Mass at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/ourladyandsaintrose.
Stony Point Christian Church, 149 S. 78th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will have a worship service at 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, in the church park. A potluck dinner will follow. Those attending may bring lawn chairs. See more information at https://www.facebook.com/StonyPointChristianChurch.
St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1086 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas, has information about Masses at https://www.facebook.com/StPatrickKCK. Masses are at 5 p.m. Saturday, and on Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:45 p.m. in Spanish and 2:30 p.m. in Chin-Burmese. St. Patrick parish plans an ice cream social after the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Sept. 17. The event will include food, music and games.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1300 N. 18th St., Kansas City, Kansas, will have Sunday services at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. See more information at https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsKCK/ or https://www.stpaulskck.org/.
Sunset Hills Christian Church, 6347 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas, has regularly scheduled Sunday services at 9:30 a.m., with Sunday School following the service at 10:45 a.m. The Wednesday Night Bible Study will be held at 7 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Livestream services here at https://www.facebook.com/sunsethills.christianchurch/. For more information visit [email protected] or email [email protected].
Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Ave., Kansas City, Kansas, has regularly scheduled services at 10 a.m. Sunday, with Sunday School at 9 a.m. For more information, including information about livestreamed services, see https://www.facebook.com/Wyandotteumc.
Information about other church services in Wyandotte County may be available from the church’s social media page.
To send in items for the Faith News, email information to [email protected]. Please include your name and contact information.