Bahrs Wins Open Wheel Onslaught at East Moline
By: Anthony Sandoval
EAST MOLINE, Ill. (June 18, 2014) – Jason Bahrs knew he had the car to win at the Quad City Speedway on Wednesday, but he just had to wait for the right time to use it.
Bahrs started fourth and squeezed his way into second position behind Milo Veloz Jr. by lap two. His sat there for the first handful of laps, biding his time. He and the leader, Veloz Jr., eventually caught the tail end of the field and began lapping cars.
On the ninth circuit, Veloz Jr. was trapped behind the No 00 of Rob Henry on the inside of the track, allowing Bahrs to scoot by on the outside. Bahrs led the final 21 laps in route to his first $1,000 Rock Island County Fair race.
“He has the capability to win a race even if he doesn’t have the best racecar,” Bahrs said, praising Veloz. “He’s a challenge anytime we’re at the race track.”
Veloz led the opening nine laps, but was challenged by Bahrs for the first six. The two battled for the top-spot with some exciting side-by-side action.
“I was seeing where he was going to run and trying to figure out what it was going to take to get around him,” said Bahrs. “I showed him the nose and seen where he moved. Once I decided what was going to work out, I was able to get around him.”
It was just the second time this season that Veloz’s IMCA V43 modified had seen the track. He used Sunday night’s points race at QCS to work out some kinks in the setup. The three-time Fair race winner mentioned on Tuesday that a good draw was a must to compete on Wednesday.
Sure enough, the top four just exchanged positions in the race. Bahrs started fourth and finished first and Veloz, who finished second, was the polesitter. Greg Durbin started in second and came home third with Terry Renfro finishing fourth after a third-place starting spot.
“It was muddy and I was trying to hold my line, but I saw the 00 getting tighter,” said Veloz, explaining how he lost the lead. “I took my chance without getting carried away. For the second night out, the car was fantastic. I have no complaints.
“We drew the No. 1, there was no better spot. I knew if there was anybody here that was going to beat me, (Bahrs) was the one. He’s a tough 20-year veteran that has been running real good.”
Troy Cordes came home with a strong fifth-place finish. Brandon Durbin, Nebraska’s Jeff Joldersma, Chris Lawrence, Matt Werner and Rob Henry rounded out the Top-10 in the 20-car field.
Final lap: Bryan Brinker wheeled the 1M machine to the win in the Mod-Lite class. There were two cautions in the feature. Jason Masengarb started in last (ninth) and brought the 4M to a very close second-place finish. Brian Schnell won the lone heat race of the night for the Mod-Lites and came home third in the feature. Robert Bell won the Midget 15-lap feature.
Results – 6/18/14
U-Pull-A-Part/Cimco IMRA Midget Lites
Heat 1
1. 31J – Jeff Mallonee
2. 6B – Andy Baugh
3. 15M – Shane Morgan
4. 51 – Brent Burrows
5. 13 – Brayden Gaylord
6. 0B – Robert Bell
7. 0 – Johnny Murdock
Feature
1. 0B – Robert Bell
2. 15M – Shane Morgan
3. 13 – Brayden Gaylord
4. 51 – Brent Burrows
5. 0 – Johnny Murdock
6. 6B – Andy Baugh
7. 31J – Jeff Mallonee
McDonald’s Mod Lites
Heat 1
1. 2 – Brian Schnell
2. 1M – Bryan Brinker
3. 8G – Dan Guss
4. 11s – Gary Snyder
5. 3 – A.J. Pappas
6. 20J – John Belville
7. 15 – Justin Ashby
8. 007 – Jared Norton
9. 4M – Jason Masengarb
Feature
1. 1M – Bryan Brinker
2. 4M – Jason Masengarb
3. 2 – Brian Schnell
4. 11s – Gary Snyder
5. 20J – John Belville
6. 007 – Jared Norton
7. 3 – A.J. Pappas
8. 15 – Justin Ashby
9. 8G – Dan Guss
Toppert Services IMCA Modifieds
Heat 1
1. 15D – Brandon Durbin
2. 8 – Greg Durbin
3. 96 – Jason Bahrs
4. 26 – Joe Jones Jr.
5. 43 – Justin Veloz
6. 1 – Eric Barnes
7. 99 – R.J. Gonzales
Heat 2
1. V – Milo Veloz Jr.
2. 00 – Rob Henry
3. 85B – Brian Bushong
4. 71 – Troy Cordes
5. 66 – Jeff Joldersma
6. 4G – Kevin Goben
Heat 3
1. 93 – Matt Werner
2. 8L – Chris Lawrence
3. 18R – Terry Rentfro
4. 85 – Leland Bushong
5. 8s – Josh Starr
6. 17 – Todd Dykema
7. 140 – Nathan Hall
Feature
1. 96 – Jason Bahrs
2. V – Milo Veloz Jr.
3. 8 – Greg Durbin
4. 18R – Terry Rentfro
5. 71 – Troy Cordes
6. 15D – Brandon Durbin
7. 66 – Jeff Joldersma
8. 8L – Chris Lawrence
9. 93 – Matt Werner
10. 00 – Rob Henry
11. 26 – Joe Jones Jr.
12. 1 – Eric Barnes
13. 85B – Brian Bushong
14. 8s – Josh Starr
15. 4G – Kevin Goben
16. 17 – Todd Dykema
17. 43 – Justin Veloz
18. 140 –Nathan Hall
19. 99 – R.J. Gonzales
20. 85 – Leland Bushong
Category: East Moline, Illinois
