Four down, one to go: Harris equals Deery consecutive wins record at West Liberty

 

WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (June 18) – Going into Tuesday night’s Deery Brothers Summer Series event, Brian Harris said West Liberty Raceway was one of his favorite tracks.

He has even more reasons to like it now.

Harris won a record-tying fourth straight IMCA Late Model tour feature at West Liberty, going back and forth with Andy Eckrich for the lead midway through the 40-lapper before settling into the front spot and running away with the $3,000 checkers.

Next, Harris will try to set the new record of five straight series wins when Independence Motor Speedway hosts the Tuesday, July 2 show.

Pole starter Nick Marolf had his sights set on being the driver to end Harris’ streak, looking strong while lead the first 12 circuits.

Eckrich pressured Marolf before enjoying a brief run at the front of his own. That’s when the 10th starting Harris joined the mix, swapping the lead with Eckrich six times over the course of the next seven laps.

Harris was the leader when the one and only caution of the night came out on lap 24. He checked out from that point on, winning easily ahead of Eckrich. Justin Kay completed a late-race bid for third, Ray Guss Jr. was fourth and Marolf ended in fifth.

Guss was the hard charger, advancing 11 positions from his original starting spot. Dan Shelliam was the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing winner.

Indee also pays $3,000 to win and a minimum of $300 to start. Pit gates and the grandstand both open at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:45 p.m. with racing to follow.

IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods are also on the midweek card.

The record of wins in four consecutive Deery Series events was set by Gary Webb in 1994 and first matched by Rob Toland in 2004. Now the owner of nine career tour wins, Harris remains the point leader heading to Independence for the eighth of 17 events on the 2013 schedule.

Feature results – 1. Brian Harris, Davenport; 2. Andy Eckrich, Oxford; 3. Justin Kay, Wheatland; 4. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.; 5. Nick Marolf, Moscow; 6. Kyle Hinrichs, Swisher; 7. Joel Callahan, Dubuque; 8. Ron Boyse, Kalona; 9. Tom Goble, Burlington; 10. Kevin Kile, West Liberty; 11. Nate Beuseling, Silvis, Ill.; 12. Colby Springsteen, Wapello; 13. Rob Moss, Iowa City; 14. Tommy Elston, Keokuk; 15. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls; 16. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown; 17. Spencer Diercks, Davenport; 18. Dan Shelliam, Hazel Green, Wis.; 19. Tyler Bruening, Decorah; 20. Jay Chenoweth, Wapello; 21. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction; 22. Denny Eckrich, Tiffin; 23. Jay Johnson, West Burlington; 24. Matt Ryan, Davenport.

1st heat (top three) – 1. Utter; 2. Andy Eckrich; 3. Denny Eckrich; 4. Callahan; 5. Chad Holladay, Muscatine; 6. Elston; 7. Spencer Diercks; 8. Tim Simpson, Iowa City.

2nd heat – 1. Harris; 2. Goble; 3. Marolf; 4. Guss; 5. Springsteen; 6. Marty Diercks, Bettendorf; 7. Ryan; 8. Chad Lerch, Cedar Rapids.

3rd heat – 1. Hinrichs; 2. Shelliam; 3. Boyse; 4. Johnson; 5. Beuseling; 6. Aikey; 7. Kevin Kile; 8. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque.

4th heat – 1. Bruening; 2. Kay; 3. DeFrance; 4. Kurt Kile, Nichols; 5. Jonathan Brauns, Muscatine; 6. Moss; 7. Chenoweth; 8. Luke Pestka, Robins.

1st “B” feature (top four) – 1. Callahan; 2. Guss; 3. Elston; 4. Spencer Diercks; 5. Holladay; 6. Springsteen; 7. Ryan; 8. Marty Diercks.

2nd “B” feature – 1. Beuseling; 2. Johnson; 3. Aikey; 4. Kevin Kile; 5. Moss; 6. Brauns; 7. Chenoweth; 8. Pestka.

Hard charger – Ryan. Point provisionals – Springsteen, Moss and Chenoweth.

 

Category: Deery Brothers Summer Series, Iowa, Series