STUART, IA (August 5) – Once again the fans and drivers of Stuart Speedway returned to the famous bullring to see some side by side dirt slinging action and they weren’t disappointed!
Blessington Returns to Victory Lane / Cooney’s Win Streak at 5
Story by Josh Reynolds
STUART, IA (August 5) – Once again the fans and drivers of Stuart Speedway returned to the famous bullring to see some side by side dirt slinging action and they weren’t disappointed! David Schlicht, Brian Blessington, Cory Flanigan, Josh Gilman, Brandon Pruitt, Todd Cooney and Andy Forcht were the feature winners on Town & Country Insurance Night at the Races.
The first feature of the night would be the IMCA Northern Sportmods with Joe Simbro and Matt Hays on the front row. Kody Havens broke through to lead lap one with Austin Paul right behind. Ty Luellen got by Paul on lap three while Havens continued to lead. David Schlicht moved past Luellen on lap six and powered by Havens a lap later to take over the top spot. After two cautions in the next two laps, the 92P machine of Mike Pruitt settled into second and set his sights on the win, but Schlicht was too strong and went on to pick up his fourth win of the year. Pruitt finished second with Nick Roberts third, Havens fourth and Clint Luellen fifth. Ty Luellen and Havens were the heat race winners. Roberts leads the point race by twenty-one over Pruitt and twenty-eight over Clint Luellen.
Next up was the IMCA Stock Cars with Robert Stofer and Michael Walrod on the front row. Stofer would lead lap one with Ron Godwin and Walrod in tow. Josh Daniels moved into second just before the caution flew on lap four with Stofer still in command. Stofer led through another yellow on lap six until Daniels moved by on the restart to take over on lap seven. Daniels led only two circuits when Brian Blessington powered by and began to stretch the lead quickly. Eleventh starting Jeff Joldersma took over the runner up position on lap twelve and set his sights on Blessington. Joldersma made up some ground, but the laps would run out as Blessington took the win, his first of the year. Joldersma finished in second with Stofer third, Marcus Fagan fourth and Godwin fifth. Stofer, Aaron Parmer and Derrick Rohe were the heat race winners. Joldersma is the new point leader over Fagan by one point and Blessington trails by nine in third.
IMCA Sport Compacts came out next with Cory Flanigan and Jordan Peters on the front row for the first ever Sport Compact Shootout where the winner stood to take home $225! Flanigan took the early lead in the twelve lap event with Peters and Cody Bristow trailing close behind. Try as they may, Flanigan was best on this night to take home the big check and his first win of the year. Peters and Bristow crossed in second and third but were disqualified due to illegal tires. That gave second to Scott Brown, third to Nash Coe, and fourth to Chad Beemer. Peters was the heat race winner and remains the point leader by 128 over Scott Brown.
Ron Bash and Ed Seibert brought out the IMCA Modifieds next for their twenty lap feature with Scott Bash leading lap one. Alison Davidson came to the point for lap two with Josh Gilman taking over on lap three just before the caution flag flew for Rex Parkison. Gilman shot out front on the restart, putting together a commanding lead over Jimmy Gustin at the half way mark. Gustin drove hard, but it wouldn’t be enough as Gilman took home the win, his third of the year. Gustin finished second with Scott Bash third, Parkison fourth and rookie Beau Kaplan fifth. Shay Woods and Davidson were the heat race winners. Gilman retains a nine point lead over Gustin.
IMCA Hobby Stocks came out next with Seth Janssen and Ed Mahlstedt on the front row. Fifth starting Jamie Songer led lap one with John Watson the frontrunner on lap two. Songer was first on lap three with Watson finally winning the battle on lap four. Watson would lead the next four laps until Brandon Pruitt moved by on lap nine. Pruitt would hold the top spot for the remainder of the race, winning his seventh feature of the year. Watson would finish second with Songer third, Jason Kohl fourth and Chad LeGere fifth. Pruitt and Watson were the heat race winners, and the two are also the point leaders with Pruitt holding a seven point advantage over Watson.
Dave Hubbard and Scott Fitzpatrick were on the front row next for the IMCA Late Models. Fitzpatrick led the first two laps with Chad Cooney moving out front on lap three. Todd Cooney moved past Fitzpatrick on lap four and set his sights on his fifth straight win. Todd Cooney drove alongside Chad Cooney on lap seven and past to take over the lead on lap eight. Todd Cooney stretched out the lead as the laps wound down and would go on to win number five for the year by almost half a lap over second! Chad Cooney took home second with Curt Schroeder third, Paul Glendenning fourth and Al Zeitner fifth. It was the Cooney show as Todd and Chad won the heat races as well. Todd holds an eleven point lead over Chad.
Last up for the night was the 6 Cylinder FWD’s with Scott Brown and Andy Forcht showing the way. Forcht was quick to the point and as he’s done pretty much all year would lead all the way to the end to pick up the win, his seventh of the year. Brown finished in second with Cory Flanigan third, Cody Bristow fourth and Jordan Peters fifth. Forcht leads the point race by eighty two over Peters.
We’d like to thank all who came out to support the race track on a beautiful Sunday evening. Join us next week for Hawkeye Auto Salvage Night at the Races. See you there!
Category: Iowa, News, Stuart Speedway
