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Saathoff scores fifth Spring Nationals career IMCA Modified win

BEATRICE, Neb. (March 15) – Johnny Saathoff won his fifth career Spring Nationals IMCA Modified feature in 11 years, while Jordan Grabouski came oh-so-close to winning his second on the same day at Beatrice Speedway.

Saathoff regained the lead with 10 laps left in the Saturday evening main event, then ran in front the rest of the way to take the $1,500 checkers ahead of fellow Beatrice hotshoes Grabouski and Dave Trauernicht. His collection of Spring Nationals hardware also includes trophies from 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2006.

Grabouski had been first across the finish line in the feature postponed from Friday night to Saturday afternoon. Trauernicht, the
2003 and 2006 Spring Nationals king, made a strong bid from his 10th starting spot. Grant Junghans of Manhattan, Kan., and Marlyn Seidler of Underwood, N.D., rounded out the top five.

Saathoff and Grabouski drew front row positions for the 30-lapper, with Grabouski taking the early lead ahead of Saathoff, Junghans and Randy Brands of Boyden, Iowa. Saathoff was leading the pack when the second circuit was scored, settling in at the point while the fight for second through fifth developed behind him.

Seidler motored past Brands on lap four; yellows brought out re- starts on laps 10 and 12 before Trauernicht made his way into the top five. Junghans caught Saathoff at midway but lost the spot four laps later.

A three-car tangle brought the caution back out on lap 23. Grabouski and Trauernicht made their moves into second and third, respectively, following the re-start.

Saathoff joins Grabouski on the growing list of Fast Shafts All-Star ballot qualifiers. Modified features at Spring Nationals are also part of the Larry Shaw Racing Blood, Sweat and Tears Series.

Brett Moffitt’s long pursuit of Les Lundquist paid off with a $500 victory in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod main.

Lundquist, from Sioux City, Iowa, led much of the 20-lapper before Moffitt, from Grimes, Iowa, made what proved to be the winning pass.

Dusty Leonard of Marysville, Kan., Travis Runcie of Beatrice and Troy Jerovetz of Green Bay, Wis., followed at the finish. The only caution of the contest came on lap four.

Chelsea, Iowa, charger Nick Murty paced the qualifying feature for IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks, ahead of B.J. Dauer from Marquette, Kan., and defending Spring Nationals winner Andy Gregg of Lincoln.

Sunday’s 2 p.m. show at Beatrice sports a $2,000 to win feature for the Modifieds, the $500 to win Hobby Stock Challenge and a $200 to win feature for IMCA Sport Compacts.

Results
IMCA Modified feature –
1. Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice;
2. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice;
3. Dave Trauernicht, Beatrice;
4. Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.;
5. Marlyn Seidler, Underwood, N.D.;
6. Randy Brands, Boyden, Iowa;
7. Chris Alcorn, Lincoln;
8. Randy Foote, Stanton, Iowa;
9. Jeremy Frenier, Fort Morgan, Colo.;
10. Sean Jerovetz, Sobieski, Wis.;
11. Will Brack, Mead, Colo.;
12. Dan Nelson, Pickrell;
13. Jeremy Mills, Garner, Iowa;
14. Vern Jackson, Waterloo, Iowa;
15. Jordy Nelson, Marysville, Kan.;
16. Lance Borgman, Beatrice;
17. Corey Lagroon, Salina, Kan.;
18. Chris Mills, Sioux City, Iowa;
19. Chris Burk, Friend;
20. Jared Siefert, Green Bay, Wis.;
21. Justin Bell, Deshler;
22. Jeff Meeker, Northglenn, Colo.;
23. Matt Brack, Mead, Colo.;
24. Jason Murray, Hartford, Iowa;
25. Aaron Pella, Lincoln.

1st heat (top three) – 1. Grabouski; 2. Dirk Kirk, Sloan, Iowa; 3.
Brandon Blochlinger, Concordia, Kan.
2nd heat – 1. Frenier; 2. Jordy Nelson; 3. Lagroon.
3rd heat – 1. Seidler; 2. Dan Nelson; 3. Matt Brack.
4th heat – 1. Foote; 2. Jackson; 3. Josh Gilman, Earlham, Iowa.
5th heat – 1. Saathoff; 2. Scott Hogan, Vinton, Iowa; 3. Jeremy Mills.
6th heat – 1. Jerovetz; 2. Chris Mills; 3. Brandon Hagan, Culbertson.
7th heat – 1. Brands; 2. Borgman; 3. Alcorn.
8th heat – 1. Trauernicht; 2. Murray; 3. Eddie Belec, Lakewood, Colo.
9th heat – 1. Pella; 2. Meeker; 3. Dan McKnight, Beatrice.
10th heat – 1. Junghans; 2. Burk; 3. Bell.
1st “B” feature (top three) – 1. Jordy Nelson; 2. Will Brack; 3.
Lagroon.
2nd “B” – 1. Jackson; 2. Dan Nelson; 3. Matt Brack.
3rd “B” – 1. Chris Mills; 2. Siefert; 3. Jeremy Mills.
4th “B” – 1. Murray; 2. Alcorn; 3. Borgman.
5th “B” – 1. Burk; 2. Bell; 3. Meeker.

Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature – 1. Brett Moffitt, Grimes, Iowa; 2. Les Lundquist, Sioux City, Iowa; 3. Dusty Leonard, Marysville, Kan.; 4. Travis Runcie, Beatrice; 5. Troy Jerovetz, Green Bay, Wis.; 6. Jeremiah Asher, St. Joseph, Mo.; 7. Robert Tippery, Council Bluffs, Iowa; 8. Craig Evers, Beatrice; 9. Max Harder, Beatrice; 10. Randy Grimmett, Lathrop, Mo.; 11. Nick Hermser, Lincoln; 12. Jesse VanLaningham, Beatrice; 13. Jacques Smit, Wymore; 14. Greg Taylor, Sioux City, Iowa; 15. David Nicholson, Emery, S.D.; 16. Daryl Dorn, Beatrice; 17. Damon Murty, Chelsea, Iowa; 18. Benji Legg, Beatrice; 19. David Willey, Trenton, Mo.; 20. Steve Swarthout, Beatrice; 21. Luke Wanninger, Jefferson, Iowa; 22. Brent Alverson, Centralia, Kan.

IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock qualifying feature – 1. Nick Murty, Chelsea, Iowa; 2. B.J. Dauer, Marquette, Kan.; 3. Andy Gregg, Lincoln; 4. Robby Marsh, Hebron; 5. Chad Borgman, Beatrice; 6. Kevin VanLaningham, Beatrice; 7. Shannon Anderson, Atlantic, Iowa; 8. Trent Murphy. Jefferson, Iowa; 9. R.J. Macku, Lincoln; 10. Alan Van Gorp, Carlisle, Iowa; 11. Matt Fralin, Beatrice; 12. Dustin Smith, Lake City, Iowa; 13. Brandon Wergin, Milford; 14. Lee Beethe, Beatrice; 15. Tony Spunaugle, Blue Rapids; 16. Devin Smith, Lake City, Iowa; 17. Nick Topil, Rising City, Neb.; 18. Ryan Roschewski, Beatrice; 19. Kenneth Hansen, Audubon, Iowa; 20. Michael Murphy, Jefferson, Iowa; 21. Eric Chab, DeWitt; 22. Aron Roth, Waterville, Kan.; 23. Adam Armstrong, Beatrice; 24. Josh Modde, Des Moines, Iowa.