Plath Shocks Invaders at 34
By Jake Croxton

BURLINGTON, IA (Aug. 19, 2006) – Stronghurst, Ill. veteran Randy Plath became the eighth different winner in twelve Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders A-Mains after fending off multi-time 34 Raceway winner Matt Rogerson during the “34 Raceway 25.”

“It was good to win where I started out racing…I don’t care if I run another race,” said an elated Plath, driver of the Midland Performance / RSC Rentals / Scott’s Performance / Maxim.

Late morning rain provided an incredibly heavy surface all night long on the 3/8-mile West Burlington, Iowa speed plant. Loaded heat races and a high cushion made it an exciting night from start to finish.

Rager Phillips’ night began with promise after wiring the Tender Trap Heat Race and the Mike Campbell’s Body Shop & Towing Shake-Up Dash. Phillips pulled the number five and began inside the third row, but his night ended with a broken Jacob’s Ladder on lap 2.

Nick Eastin found the front for the first ten laps of the finale after starting on pole. Eastin was the next driver to be snake-bitten, after clipping a boundary tire and subsequently looping the US Bank-sponsored Avenger. The W. Burlington, Iowa driver restarted and soldiered on for a 10th-place finish.

Eastin’s misfortune turned the lead over to Plath, who thwarted Matt Rogerson’s bid for the lead over three mid-race restarts. Rogerson and Plath exchanged the top spot unofficially as the caution flew for the final time, restoring Plath as the leader.

“If we could have gotten out in front of him I think we’d have been alright,” Rogerson quipped. “We were catching him when we got into traffic. I probably should’ve went to the bottom about five laps sooner since I started running him down when I went to the bottom and running my own race, there. Scott (Bonar) had the car really nice tonight. My job was easy.” Rogerson was piloting the H&H Enterprises / Midland Performance #94 in a substitute roll for Jerrod Hull.

Plath hit his marks to perfection over the final 12 laps and earned his first sprint car win since 2002 and his first with the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders.

”That was the luckiest break I’ve ever gotten,” Plath said of the timely caution. “It means the world to me (to win in front of my home fans). It just proves (that I can still do it). I took a couple years off because I thought I was totally washed up. A couple of guys came forward and put up some money toward the car. It’s not the most top-notch equipment. I feel our equipment’s probably three or four years outdated.”

Behind the lead duo, Jeff Mitrisin methodically picked up positions on his way to the front. “The Magician’s” 13th to 3rd run was his best since his win in Memphis.

“I was needing another yellow and I think I could’ve won that thing,” said Mitrisin. “The racetrack was narrow and I can’t believe we didn’t get the Hard Charger, but if Bobby (Mincer) got one more car, then he deserved it. We start towards the rear at these things it seems, but we’ll take (third).”

Bobby Hawks and Matt Sutton ended the event in the top five ahead of Josh Schneiderman, John Schulz, Ryan Jamison, KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Bobby Mincer, and Eastin.

The Lake Ozark Speedway 360 Nationals is next on the Invader’s slate over the Labor Day weekend. For more information, contact www.sprintinvaders.com on the World Wide Web.

Results

Staats Awards Heat Race #1 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. MattSutton, Macomb, IL; 2. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis; 3.Matt Rogerson, Burlington; 4. Jeff Mitrisin,Oskaloosa; 5. John Hall, Marion; 6. Manny Rockhold,Pekin, IL; 7. Bobby Mincer, Burlington; 8. MattKrieger, Burlington

Storm Steel / Abrasive Jet Technologies Heat Race #2(Top 4 Advance) – 1. Justin Newberry, W. Burlington;2. Nick Guernsey, Burlington; 3. Josh Schneiderman, W. Burlington; 4. Jimmie Davies, Oquawka, IL; 5. Bart Andrews, Muscatine; 6. Jayson Ditsworth, Gladstone, IL; 7. Brett Golik, Newton

Rich DeReu Memorial Heat Race #3 (Top 4 Advance) – 1.Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL; 2. Nick Eastin, W.Burlington; 3. Bobby Hawks, Jacksonville, IL; 4. MattHarms, Chillicothe, IL; 5. Dave Anderson, Burlington;6. Seth Wilke, Burlington; 7. Brian Hetrick,Stronghurst, IL

The Tender Trap Bar & Grill Heat Race #4 (Top 4Advance) – 1. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville; 2. RandyPlath, Stronghurst, IL; 3. John Schulz, W. Burlington;4. Travis Porter, East Moline, IL; 5. Dustin Whiting, Burlington; 6. Mark Tischer, Hannibal, MO; 7. Dan Avery, Burlington

Mike Campbell’s Body Shop & Towing Shake-Up Dash – 1.Phillips; 2. Sutton; 3. Eastin; 4. Guernsey; 5.Weyant; 6. Plath; 7. Jamison; 8. Newberry

Budweiser B-Main (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Ditsworth; 2.Andrews; 3. Anderson; 4. Mincer; 5. Rockhold; 6. Hall;7. Whiting; 8. Tischer; 9. Wilke; 10. Avery; 11.Krieger; 12. Golik; 13. Hetrick

34 Raceway 25 – 1. Plath; 2. Rogerson; 3. Mitrisin; 4.Hawks; 5. Sutton; 6. Schneiderman; 7. Schulz; 8.Jamison; 9. Mincer; 10. Eastin; 11. Ditsworth; 12.Weyant; 13. Davies; 14. Andrews; 15. Newberry; 16.Porter; 17. Guernsey; 18. Anderson; 19. Harms; 20.Phillips

Car Count – 29
Cautions – 5 (L2, 10, 10, 12, 13)
Leaders – Eastin 1-10, Plath 11-25
Laps Led – Plath 15, Eastin 10
Highest Finishing Rookie – N/A

Contingency:
B&B Oval Track Products Pole Award – Nick Eastin
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Bobby Mincer
(Started 20th, Finished 9th)
Design 500 5th Place – Matt Sutton
Design 500 First Non-Qualifier – Manny Rockhold
Weld Racing Products First Non-Qualifier – Manny
Rockhold
Rainbo Oil Second Non-Qualifier – John Hall
Storm Steel 10th in B-Main – Dan Avery
Saldana Racing Products – Bobby Hawks
Ultra Shield Racing Products – John Schulz
Jocko’s Sprint Parts – Ryan Jamison
Rod End Supply – Jayson Ditsworth
Brake Man – Korey Weyant
M&W Aluminum Products – Jeff Mitrisin
Hepfner Racing Products – Justin Newberry
Velocity Wings – Bobby Mincer
Kinser Air Filter Systems – Jimmie Davies