Intense. Incredible. Amazing. Heartbreaking. All those words and more described Josh Most's unthinkable run to the front of the pack as he made a last-corner pass to win the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models event at Lee County Speedway on Saturday night.
Most, who had to race his way through the pack - nearly twice - brought the crowd to its feet as he inched past race leader Jason Perry at the line to complete the 35th and final lap of the Late Model feature.
From his inside second row start, Perry slid beneath pole-siter Tyler Bruening to escape with the lead at the end of the first lap. Outside pole starter T.J. Criss made his way to second, forcing Bruening back to third before the race's first caution on lap four when series points leader Ray Guss Jr. suffered a flat tire in turns three and four to bring out the yellow flag.
Two more laps were scored before the next caution on lap six. This time, Most slowed on the high side of turns one and two to bring out the caution. He then limped to the pit area for what he believed was a flat tire on the right side of his #92. His pit crew, who met him at the back stretch exit, informed him all four tires had air and quickly sent him back to the speedway. Forced the realign at the tail of the field for the next restart, Most went to work.
When racing resumed, Rob Toland and Mark Burgtorf started to charge to the front from their mid-pack starts. They entered their own battle as they worked toward the front, swapping the fourth position before Burgtorf exited with a flat tire on lap 12.
Perry, meanwhile, continued to have the field covered as Toland worked the low groove into contention, making his way into second on lap 13. By the time the yellow flag waved again on lap 20, Most worked his way back into seventh.
As Most charged through the pack, after initially starting 15th, then restarting from the tail on lap six, Jeff Aikey was also making some noise. Aikey, who started outside row six, slipped into third before the lap 20 caution. He edged past Toland for second one lap later before the race's final caution flag waved.
On the restart, Perry continued to show the way with Aikey, Toland, Justin Reed and Most in tow. Running the low side, Most worked past Reed and Aikey, who faded on the restart, and into the top three. With five laps to go, Most made his way under Toland for second as Perry built a five car-length lead over his competitors.
Most then moved to the very top of the lightning-fast, 3/8-mile oval to reel in Perry. Running on the cushion, and frequently in the crumbs just below the outside wall, Most pulled to within a car-length as the white flag was displayed. Committed to the top side, Most pulled even with Perry coming out of turn four on the final lap. Most pulled ahead at the line to score the win as the crowd came to its feet during the thrilling finish. Perry ran second ahead of Toland, Reed and Aikey. Terry Neal came from an 18th start to finish sixth ahead of Tom Darbyshire, who started 20th. Jay Johnson ran eighth ahead of Boone McLaughlin. Guss worked back through the pack to finish 10th.
In other action, Mike Shelton took control of the B Mod feature following a lap two caution. He dominated the rest of that 15-lapper to take the win ahead of Cayden Carter, Michael Bliven and Tyler Van Den Berg,
Jake Wenig led all 15 laps to score the win in the Hobby Stock feature. He took the checkers over a straightaway ahead of Jim Lynch. Dane Fenton ran third ahead of Jim Oliver.
Matt Greiner worked the high side past Abe Huls in the late stages of the 15-lap Stock Car feature to take the victory. Jason Cook ran second ahead of Cale Samberg and Phil Holtz. Huls retired with an expired engine with two laps to go.
Nick Wilkerson took the victory in the 4-cylinder Wild Things. Wayne Noble, Chuck Fullenkamp and Darin Smith rounded out the top four.
It was a great night of racing at LCS. The track was in perfect shape and the feature action was stellar in all five divisions. Great job to Terry and Jenni Hoenig and crew for a great night of racing. The show, which featured 98 cars, including 34 Late Models, saw the final checkered flag before 10:30 p.m.
Last week I mentioned how I had a unique responsibility over the weekend. I was to announce a non-racing event at a track in southeast Iowa. Longtime Modified and former Pro Stock driver Bill Roberts Jr. got married to his girlfriend, Brooke Houtz. I was asked to announce the event because it was held on the front stretch of 34 Raceway in Burlington. While I'm not a man of the cloth and didn't actually conduct the ceremony, the couple wanted the event to have a race night feel so I "opened the show" and introduced Brooke and Bill as the starting lineup... after the wedding party was brought to the front stretch by 4-wheelers, including the bride! In fact, the ceremony took place on the front stretch, right in front of Roberts' #5R Modified. Those in attendance were greeted by Facilities Director Jason Goble at the front gate as he was handing them their tickets for the event. Even flagman Bruce Thuleen and his wife Tara were in the flagstand with Bruce waving the checkers when the groom kissed the bride.
Around 150 were in attendance for the ceremony, which was absolutely perfect. In fact, Pastor Cindy, who led the ceremony, referred to the racing community through her words. Having never been a racing fan until recent years, she compared the couple's relationship to that of racing relationships and how the racing community is family, supportive of one another and special to all of those involved.
As I was saying to Jason after the event (after he was again waiting by the gate to thank everyone for coming to the night's program), at first I thought it would be fun to be a part of the event. In the end, I truly felt honored that Brooke and Bill asked me to be a part of their big day. Thank you to them, congratulations and I hope you have many happy, healthy years together. Now, I just need to figure out if I can count this as one of my race nights on my march to 60...
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