Aikey aces Deery Series feature at Des Moines
DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 12) – Jeff Aikey turned in another blue ribbon-worthy performance at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway, leading all 35 laps of Monday night’s Deery Brothers Summer Series main event.
Aikey started outside pole for the IMCA Late Model tour feature and primarily ran the top side of the ½-mile oval to take the $3,000 checkers ahead of Justin Kay, Joel Callahan, point leader Brian Harris and Todd Cooney.
The win was the career-leading 59th for Aikey, the seven-time and defending series champion.
While four yellow flags waved before midway, the second half of the race ran caution free. Kay stayed close and joined Aikey in lapped traffic over the final five circuits, finally falling off the pace and crossing the stripe six car lengths behind.
Callahan closed the gap on both before ending in third while Harris’ fourth place finish was his worst in 12 series outings this season.
Cooney improved seven positions from his original starting spot to challenge Harris before rounding out the top five and earning hard charger honors.
Darrel DeFrance won the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing.
Aikey had won five previous Deery events at Des Moines, most recently in 2009.
Five events remain on the 2013 schedule, the next being Monday, Sept. 2 at Boone Speedway on opening night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals fueled by Casey’s.
The series is at Farley Speedway for the Sept. 13 and 14 Yankee Dirt Track Classic and at Independence Motor Speedway on Sept. 20 before concluding Sept. 21 at Davenport Speedway.
Feature results – 1. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls; 2. Justin Kay, Wheatland; 3. Joel Callahan, Dubuque; 4. Brian Harris, Davenport; 5. Todd Cooney, Des Moines; 6. Spencer Diercks, Davenport; 7. Andy Eckrich, Oxford; 8. Jay Johnson, West Burlington; 9. Tommy Elston, Keokuk; 10. Nate Beuseling, Silvis, Ill.; 11. Craig Jacobs, Urbandale; 12. Paul Glendenning, Mount Ayr; 13. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown; 14. Ryan Giles, Grimes; 15. Kurt Kile, Nichols; 16. Curt Schroeder, Ames; 17. Dan Shelliam, Hazel Green, Wis.; 18. Rob Moss, Iowa City; 19. Ron Boyse, Kalona; 20. Jeremy Grady, Story City; 21. Jason Hahne, Webster City; 22. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction; 23. Josh Most, Red Oak; 24. Rick Dralle, Waterloo; 25. Ben Nading, Ankeny; 26. Ryan Griffith, Webster City.
1st heat – 1. Aikey; 2. Eckrich; 3. Callahan; 4. Giles; 5. Moss; 6. Beuseling; 7. Utter; 8. Grady; 9. Boyse.
2nd heat – 1. Kay; 2. Jacobs; 3. Diercks; 4. Harris; 5. Shelliam; 6. Glendenning; 7. Dralle; 8. Schroeder; 9. Griffith.
3rd heat – 1. DeFrance; 2. Cooney; 3. Most; 4. Elston; 5. Johnson; 6. Hahne; 7. Kile; 8. Nading.
Category: Deery Brothers Summer Series, Iowa, Series
