Guss duplicates Deery success at West Liberty
[easyrotator]erc_62_1342049623[/easyrotator]
WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (July 10) – The second Deery Brothers Summer Series event of the season at West Liberty Raceway looked a lot like the first.
Ray Guss Jr. started on the pole and led from start to finish in a convincing Tuesday night run to the IMCA Late Model tour checkers.
The $2,000 victory gave the two-time defending series champion a bookend trophy to the one he got at West Liberty in April. Guss had led the last 28 of 40 laps in winning by a comfortable margin that evening.
He repeated that strong showing when the series returned, catching up with the back on the field just eight laps into the 35-lapper and checking out.
The only caution came when Gary Webb’s motor expired on the 26th circuit. Nick Marolf had raced from sixth to second early on but couldn’t gain ground on Guss.
Marolf’s runner-up finish was his career best. Andy Eckrich, Jay Johnson and Jeff Aikey rounded out the top five.
Guss and Curt Martin are now tied for third on the series career wins list with 25 victories each. Aikey leads the way with 56 and Mark Burgtorf is second with 26.
Denny Eckrich won his “B” feature and finished sixth; point leader Mike Murphy Jr. was ninth while Doug Yates nabbed hard charger honors after using a provisional and advancing nine positions to 14th.
Johnson also won the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing.
Kyle Hinrichs was not injured after getting upside down and on top of an infield barrier at the conclusion of his heat race. There was considerable damage to the car and Hinrichs did not start his “B” feature.
Night two of the midweek twinbill is Wednesday at I-35 Speedway at Mason City. Pit gates open at 5 p.m., the grandstand opens at 5:30 p.m. and racing follows 7 p.m. hot laps.
The main event for Late Models pays $2,000 to win. Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods are also on the July 11 program and run for a top check of $750.
Feature results – 1. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.; 2. Nick Marolf, Moscow; 3. Andy Eckrich, Oxford; 4. Jay Johnson, West Burlington; 5. Jeff Aikey, Waterloo; 6. Denny Eckrich, Tiffin; 7. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown; 8. Kurt Kile, Nichols; 9. Mike Murphy Jr., Colona, Ill.; 10. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction; 11. Justin Kay, Wheatland; 12. Tommy Elston, Keokuk; 13. Colby Springsteen, Wapello; 14. Doug Yates, Monticello; 15. Joel Callahan, Dubuque; 16. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa; 17. Tyler Bruening, Decorah; 18. Brian Harris, Davenport; 19. Dave Stichter, Shannon, Ill.; 20. Gary Webb, Blue Grass; 21. Kevin Kile, West Liberty; 22. Mike Garland, Morrison, Ill.; 23. Sam Halstead, New London; 24. Ron Boyse, Kalona.
1st heat (top three) – 1. Marolf; 2. Aikey; 3. Andy Eckrich; 4. Jonathan Brauns, Muscatine; 5. Springsteen; 6. Spencer Diercks, Davenport; 7. Matt Strassheim, Morning Sun; 8. Kay; 9. Tom Goble, Burlington.
2nd heat – 1. Kurt Kile; 2. Johnson; 3. Guss; 4. Denny Eckrich; 5. Utter; 6. Halstead; 7. Yates; 8. Justin Diercks, Davenport; 9. Scott Fitzpatrick, Urbandale.
3rd heat – 1. DeFrance; 2. Murphy; 3. Bruening; 4. Elston; 5. Boyse; 6. Chris Simpson, Oxford; 7. Chad Holladay, Wilton; 8. Harris; 9. Webb.
4th heat – 1. Garland; 2. Kevin Kile; 3. Callahan; 4. Kyle Hinrichs, Swisher; 5. Jay Chenoweth, Wapello; 6. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill.; 7. Mitrisin; 8. Todd Alexander, Milledgeville, Ill.; 9. Stichter.
1st “B” feature (top four) – 1. Denny Eckrich; 2. Utter; 3. Springsteen; 4. Kay; 5. Yates; 6. Brauns; 7. Goble; 8. Halstead; 9. Strassheim; 10. Fitzpatrick; 11. Spencer Diercks; 12. Justin Diercks.
2nd “B” feature – 1. Boyse; 2. Elston; 3. Harris; 4. Mitrisin; 5. Alexander; 6. Stichter; 7. Holladay; 8. Denning; 9. Simpson; 10. Webb; 11. Chenoweth; 12. Hinrichs.
Hard charger provisional – Stichter. Point provisionals – Yates, Webb and Halstead.
Category: Deery Brothers Summer Series, Iowa, News, Series
