When the green flag waved, Guss pulled away from the pack to build a straightaway lead over Andy Eckrich in just four laps. While Eckrich attempted to keep Guss in his vision, Nick Marolf ran the high side from his third row starting spot to challenge Eckrich 10 laps into the 35-lapper.
Marolf worked past Eckrich on the following circuit, but Guss had already checked out on the field as he encountered the lapped car of Sam Halstead. As Marolf worked to cut into the huge lead, Guss came upon heavier traffic. That allowed Marolf to nearly cut the margin in half, however Guss worked through the backmarkers and eventually rebuilt his straightaway lead by lap 20.
The event's only stoppage came on lap 26 when Gary Webb lost an engine, which bunched the field and put Marolf and Eckrich on the leader's rear bumper.
When racing resumed, Guss again pulled away from the field to score the win in dominant fashion. Marolf ran a strong second ahead of Eckrich. After battling Darrel DeFrance throughout the entire first half of the event, Jay Johnson made a strong run to come home fourth. Jeff Aikey, who was running seventh at the time of the caution, took advantage of the restart and drove the high side to finish fifth. Denny Eckrich came from the seventh row to finish sixth ahead of DeFrance. Kurt Kile ran eighth ahead of points leader Mike Murphy Jr. and Jason Utter.
DEERY SERIES IMCA LATE MODEL
Feature - 1. 58 Ray Guss Jr.; 2. 33 Nick Marolf; 3. 56 Andy Eckrich; 4. 93 Jay Johnson; 5. 77 Jeff Aikey; 6. 50 Denny Eckrich; 7. 99D Darrel DeFrance; 8. 77K Kurt Kile; 9. 14 Mike Murphy Jr.; 10. 31 Jason Utter; 11. 15K Justin Kay; 12. 45 Tommy Elston; 13. 38 Colby Springsteen; 14. 72 Doug Yates; 15. 40 Joel Callahan; 16. 5J Jeff Mitrisin; 17. 16 Tyler Bruening; 18. 5 Brian Harris; 19. 27X Dave Stichter; 20. 56W Gary Webb; 21. 88 Kevin Kile; 22. G1 Mike Garland; 23. 84 Sam Halstead; 24. 74 Ron Boyse.
First heat (3 qualify) - 1. Marolf; 2. Aikey; 3. A. Eckrich; 4. 22B Jonathan Brauns; 5. Springsteen; 6. 29 Spencer Diercks; 7. 41 Matt Strassheim; 8. Kay; 9. 69 Tom Goble.
Pole-sitter Kurt Kile took the lead at the drop of the green and built a straightaway advantage until mechanical problems sidelined him on lap six to bring out the first caution. Scott Dickey and Zack Vanderbeek restarted side-by-side at the front of the pack with Dickey taking command when the green flag waved again.
The lead pair broke away from the field, pulling away from the pack by a straightaway margin by the 11 lap mark. Vanderbeek remained within a few car-lengths of the leader until he closed the gap with six laps to go. Vanderbeek dropped to the low side of Dickey in turns one and two on the 19th circuit to run door-to-door with the leader as the front-runners encountered slower traffic. Dickey held the top spot until contact with a lapped car exiting turn four on lap 21 sent him into a spin and forcing the final caution.
With Dickey retired to the pit area, Vanderbeek took advantage on the restart. While Vanderbeek led, Bruce Hanford powered to the inside of the leader in turn one after restarting fourth. Although Hanford made a strong run late, Vanderbeek held on to take the checkers first. Kile, who returned to the track just in time for the lap six restart, made an incredible run back through the field to sneak past Noah Coppess at the line for third.
MODIFIED
Feature - 1. 33Z Zack Vanderbeek; 2. 61 Bruce Hanford; 3. 77 Kurt Kile; 4. 61C Noah Coppess; 5. 89 Brad Dubil; 6. 21 Todd Hansen; 7. 17 Steve Stewart; 8. 30 Stump Brockert; 9. 7 Ryan Dolan; 10. 1 Johnny Spaw; 11. 24 Justin Speers; 12. 20L Zach Less; 13. 2 Colby Hixson; 14. 20 John Fellman; 15. 40 Scott Dickey; 16. 02T Tanner Allen; 17. J40 Clayton Jensen; DNS 9Z Mike Zogg; DNS 22 Nick Nevins.
First heat (4 qualify) - 1. Kile; 2. Brockert; 3. Hixson; 4. Allen; DNS Zogg; DNS Nevins.
Second heat - 1. Vanderbeek; 2. Hanford; 3. Hansen; 4. Dolan; 5. Speers; 6. Stewart; 7. Fellman.
Third heat - 1. Dickey; 2. Spaw; 3. Dubil; 4. Coppess; 5. Less; 6. Jensen.
It was great to see old friends Kevin and Carey Feller and Jerry Mackey in my first visit to West Liberty in 10 years. Thanks to the SPI crew for their hospitality and a well-run program. Although I hadn't been there since 2002, I anticipate my next visit will come prior to 2022!
Fellow Positively Racing bloggers Jeff Broeg and Barry Johnson were also in attendance tonight. Be sure to check out their thoughts on the Back Stretch (already available) and Running the High Side (expected sometime Wednesday). Prove me right, Barry!
Wednesday, the MOWA Sprints will be in Donnellson to kick off the 2012 Lee County Fair. IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Sport Compacts are also slated to compete. There are no races at the speedway this Friday so come out to Donnellson a couple days early this week to get your racing fix and take in opening night of the fair! Hope to see you there!
Second heat - 1. Kurt Kile; 2. Johnson; 3. Guss; 4. D. Eckrich; 5. Utter; 6. Halstead; 7. Yates; 8. 30 Justin Diercks; 9. 24 Scott Fitzpatrick.
Third heat - 1. DeFrance; 2. Murphy; 3. Bruening; 4. Elston; 5. Boyse; 6. 45K Chris Simpson; 7. 32C Chad Holladay; 8. Harris; 9. Webb.
Fourth heat - 1. Garland; 2. Kevin Kile; 3. Callahan; 4. 15 Kyle Hinrichs; 5. 6 Jay Chenoweth; 6. 56D Travis Denning; 7. Mitrisin; 8. 42T Todd Alexander; 9. Stichter.
First B feature (4 transfer) - 1. D. Eckrich; 2. Utter; 3. Springsteen; 4. Kay; 5. Yates; 6. Brauns; 7. Goble; 8. Halstead; 9. Strassheim; 10. Fitzpatrick; 11. S. Diercks; DNS J. Diercks.
Second B feature - 1. Boyse; 2. Elston; 3. Harris; 4. Mitrisin; 5. Alexander; 6. Stichter; 7. Holladay; 8. Denning; 9. Simpson; 10. Chenoweth; 11. Webb; DNS Hinrichs.
Provisionals - Stichter, Webb, Yates, Halstead.
The SPI Open Modifieds ran a draw/redraw program for track points and $1,000-to-win. Unfortunately for a pair of drivers, the lead was not the best place to be for most of that 25-lapper.
Third heat - 1. DeFrance; 2. Murphy; 3. Bruening; 4. Elston; 5. Boyse; 6. 45K Chris Simpson; 7. 32C Chad Holladay; 8. Harris; 9. Webb.
Fourth heat - 1. Garland; 2. Kevin Kile; 3. Callahan; 4. 15 Kyle Hinrichs; 5. 6 Jay Chenoweth; 6. 56D Travis Denning; 7. Mitrisin; 8. 42T Todd Alexander; 9. Stichter.
First B feature (4 transfer) - 1. D. Eckrich; 2. Utter; 3. Springsteen; 4. Kay; 5. Yates; 6. Brauns; 7. Goble; 8. Halstead; 9. Strassheim; 10. Fitzpatrick; 11. S. Diercks; DNS J. Diercks.
Second B feature - 1. Boyse; 2. Elston; 3. Harris; 4. Mitrisin; 5. Alexander; 6. Stichter; 7. Holladay; 8. Denning; 9. Simpson; 10. Chenoweth; 11. Webb; DNS Hinrichs.
Provisionals - Stichter, Webb, Yates, Halstead.
The SPI Open Modifieds ran a draw/redraw program for track points and $1,000-to-win. Unfortunately for a pair of drivers, the lead was not the best place to be for most of that 25-lapper.
Pole-sitter Kurt Kile took the lead at the drop of the green and built a straightaway advantage until mechanical problems sidelined him on lap six to bring out the first caution. Scott Dickey and Zack Vanderbeek restarted side-by-side at the front of the pack with Dickey taking command when the green flag waved again.
The lead pair broke away from the field, pulling away from the pack by a straightaway margin by the 11 lap mark. Vanderbeek remained within a few car-lengths of the leader until he closed the gap with six laps to go. Vanderbeek dropped to the low side of Dickey in turns one and two on the 19th circuit to run door-to-door with the leader as the front-runners encountered slower traffic. Dickey held the top spot until contact with a lapped car exiting turn four on lap 21 sent him into a spin and forcing the final caution.
With Dickey retired to the pit area, Vanderbeek took advantage on the restart. While Vanderbeek led, Bruce Hanford powered to the inside of the leader in turn one after restarting fourth. Although Hanford made a strong run late, Vanderbeek held on to take the checkers first. Kile, who returned to the track just in time for the lap six restart, made an incredible run back through the field to sneak past Noah Coppess at the line for third.
MODIFIED
Feature - 1. 33Z Zack Vanderbeek; 2. 61 Bruce Hanford; 3. 77 Kurt Kile; 4. 61C Noah Coppess; 5. 89 Brad Dubil; 6. 21 Todd Hansen; 7. 17 Steve Stewart; 8. 30 Stump Brockert; 9. 7 Ryan Dolan; 10. 1 Johnny Spaw; 11. 24 Justin Speers; 12. 20L Zach Less; 13. 2 Colby Hixson; 14. 20 John Fellman; 15. 40 Scott Dickey; 16. 02T Tanner Allen; 17. J40 Clayton Jensen; DNS 9Z Mike Zogg; DNS 22 Nick Nevins.
First heat (4 qualify) - 1. Kile; 2. Brockert; 3. Hixson; 4. Allen; DNS Zogg; DNS Nevins.
Second heat - 1. Vanderbeek; 2. Hanford; 3. Hansen; 4. Dolan; 5. Speers; 6. Stewart; 7. Fellman.
Third heat - 1. Dickey; 2. Spaw; 3. Dubil; 4. Coppess; 5. Less; 6. Jensen.
It was great to see old friends Kevin and Carey Feller and Jerry Mackey in my first visit to West Liberty in 10 years. Thanks to the SPI crew for their hospitality and a well-run program. Although I hadn't been there since 2002, I anticipate my next visit will come prior to 2022!
Fellow Positively Racing bloggers Jeff Broeg and Barry Johnson were also in attendance tonight. Be sure to check out their thoughts on the Back Stretch (already available) and Running the High Side (expected sometime Wednesday). Prove me right, Barry!
Wednesday, the MOWA Sprints will be in Donnellson to kick off the 2012 Lee County Fair. IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Sport Compacts are also slated to compete. There are no races at the speedway this Friday so come out to Donnellson a couple days early this week to get your racing fix and take in opening night of the fair! Hope to see you there!
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