Aikey aces Shelby County Deery feature to regain share of top spot in series standings

HARLAN, Iowa (July 12) – The first Deery Brothers Summer Series event held at Shelby County Speedway saw all-time tour wins leader Jeff Aikey add another victory to his list of IMCA Sunoco Late Model accomplishments.

As a result, the four time champion is again tied with Rob Toland for first place in the point standings with 10 of 17 scheduled events in the 2006 record book.

Aikey started on the pole and checked out on the rest of the field Wednesday night at Harlan, winning the caution free 40 lapper comfortably ahead of Toland, Mike Murphy Jr. and Jeremy Grady. Dave Jorgesen was fifth while Andy Nezworski took a provisional start and advanced 18 positions to end his night in sixth.

The win, Aikey’s career 47th on the circuit and second of the season, paid $2,000.

Aikey, Murphy and Toland lined up 1-2-3 on the inside row for the green flag and steadily pulled away on the multi groove track. Aikey found the quickest way through when the lead trio got into the back of the field just before halfway, leaving Murphy and Toland behind to fight over second.

Murphy held that advantage until lap 30, when Toland got by on the inside line. All 24 cars in the starting grid were still on the track when the checkered flag came out, but the traffic didn’t slow Aikey in his dash to the finish.

Up next for Deery drivers is the Wednesday, Aug. 9 show on the half mile asphalt at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m., with 6 p.m. hot laps and 7 p.m. racing. IMCA sanctioned Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks are also on the midweek card.

The IMCA Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod division also made its first appearance Wednesday at Shelby County, with top honors in the feature going to Scott Davis.

Deery Series Feature Results –
1. Jeff Aikey, Waterloo;
2. Rob Toland, Bettendorf;
3. Mike Murphy Jr., Colona, Ill.;
4. Jeremy Grady, Story City;
5. Dave Jorgensen, Omaha, Neb.;
6. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo;
7. Terry Neal, Ely;
8. Mike Smith, Jewell;
9. Phil Miller, Missouri Valley;
10. Ron Gustaf, Moline, Ill.;
11. Todd Cooney, Des Moines;
12. Robby Warner, Quincy, Ill.;
13. Sam Halstead, New London;
14. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown;
15. Travis Roth, Bancroft, Neb.;
16. Jason O’Brien, Atlantic;
17. Eric Gustaf, Moline, Ill.;
18. Ben Nading, Ankeny;
19. Darin Duffy, Hazleton;
20. Greg Kastli, Waterloo;
21. Kelly Tapper, Boone;
22. Jeff Segebart, Westside;
23. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis;
24. Jason Hahne, Webster City.

1st heat (top four) – 1. Toland; 2. Kastli; 3. Miller; 4. Ron Gustaf.

2nd heat – 1. Aikey; 2. Murphy; 3. Grady; 4. Segebart.

3rd heat – 1. Smith; 2. Duffy; 3. Jorgensen; 4. Hahne.

4th heat – 1. Neal; 2. Roth; 3. Halstead; 4. Tapper.

1st “B” feature (top three) – 1. Cooney; 2. Eric Gustaf; 3. Warner.

2nd “B” feature – 1. DeFrance; 2. Nading; 3. O’Brien.