Chad Simpson tops Short Track Challenge at Davenport
by Mike McGuire
DAVENPORT, Ia. (May 4, 2017) – Restarts were the key to victories in three of the four classes competing Friday at the Davenport Speedway, in the Short Track Challenge.
The Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models were on hand to battle the quarter-mile oval. Chad Simpson passed J.C.Wyman for the top spot following a lap three restart. Chad would drive to the win, his first MLRA victory of the year.
Wyman would hold on for a second place finish with Mitch McGrath taking third. Chris Simpson made a late race charge to finish fourth, and Payton Looney completed the top five.
Chad Simpson, Payton Looney, and Tony Jackson Jr. won the late model heats. Chad completed the Simpson sweep of the Lucas Oil MLRA events at Davenport in 2018. His brother Chris won when the series raced on the half-mile track in April.
In the Eriksen Chevrolet IMCA Modified main, six cars were involved in a lap one incident. One of those six was Justin Kay. Kay restarted at the tail of the field. Several cautions later, Kay would take the lead after a lap twelve restart. Kay would lead the remainder of the race to take victory.
Kurt Kile worked his way to a second place finish, followed by Bryce Garnhart, Eric Barnes, and Doug Crampton in that order.
A rash of caution flags set the tone in the Koehler Electric Street Stock feature. Early race leader Gene Ehlers stayed up front until a lap eight restart. Third place racer Jesse Owen dove to the bottom and passed both Ehlers and second place Jeff Struck. The caution flag would fly once more setting up a two lap shootout to the checkers. This time it was Struck’s turn to dive under Owen, take the lead and the win. Owen would finish second with Ehlers third. Kevin Goben and Austin Riggs rounded out the top five.
The Hawkeye Auto IMCA SportMods also saw a lot of yellow early in their feature, however there would be no pass for the lead. Keith Blum started on the front row and would survive all the restarts to score the victory. Jared Waterman started third and finished second. Joe Nemitz took third, ahead of Brandon Setser and Mike Goben.
Next Friday, May 11th, all four weekly classes will be back in action at the Davenport Speedway. Our guest class will be the American Iron Racing Series.
Results:
Davenport Speedway
May 4, 2017 –
Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models
Heat #1: 1. Chad Simpson; 2. Jonathan Brauns; 3. Tyler Bruening; 4. Chris Simpson; 5. Rickey Frankel;
Heat #2: 1. Payton Looney; 2. J.C. Wyman; 3. Justin Kay; 4. Joe Godsey; 5. Dave Eckrich;
Heat #3: 1. Tony Jackson Jr.; 2. Will Vaught; 3. Mitch McGrath; 4. Rob Toland; 5. Spencer Diercks;
Feature: 1. Chad Simpson; 2. J.C. Wyman; 3. Mitch McGrath; 4. Chris Simpson; 5. Payton Looney; 6. Tony Jackson Jr.; 7. Justin Kay; 8. Jonathan Brauns; 9. Tyler Bruening; 10. Dave Eckrich; 11. Rob Toland; 12. Allen Murray; 13. Jordan Yaggy; 14. Joe Godsey; 15. Rickey Frankel; 16. Jay Johnson; 17. Jeff Riddell; 18. Spencer Diercks; 19. Paul Parker; 20. Jeremy Grady; 21. Billy Drake; 22. Jeff Roth; 23. Matt Ryan;
IMCA Modifieds
Heat #1: 1. Brandon Durbin; 2. Milo Veloz; 3. Chris Zogg; 4. Kurt Kile; 5. Rob Toland;
Heat #2: 1. Bryce Garnhart; 2. Bob Dominacki; 3. Craig Crawford; 4. John Ahlers; 5. Tony VonDresky;
Heat #3: 1. Doug Crampton; 2. Justin Kay; 3. Eric Barnes; 4. Stephan Kammerer; 5. Matt Werner;
Feature: 1. Justin Kay; 2. Kurt Kile; 3. Bryce Garnhart; 4. Eric Barnes; 5. Doug Crampton; 6. Stephan Kammerer; 7. Bruce Hanford; 8. John Ahlers; 9. Todd Dykema; 10. Brad Montgomery; 11. Tony VonDresky; 12. Brad Dierks; 13. Todd Malmstrom; 14. Matt Werner; 15. Chris Zogg; 16. Bob Dominacki; 17. Milo Veloz; 18. Craig Crawford; 19. Brandon Durbin; 20. Casey Franks; 21. Rob Toland; 22. Bruce Fosdyck; 23. Derek Wilson;
Street Stocks
Heat #1: 1. Gene Ehlers; 2. Austin Riggs; 3. Justin Skiles; 4. Kori Murphy; 5. Kyler Hickenbottom;
Heat #2: 1. Jeff Struck Jr.; 2. Jesse Owen; 3. Rob Nylin; 4. Kevin Goben; 5. Bryan Ritter;
Feature: 1. Jeff Struck Jr.; 2. Jesse Owen; 3. Gene Ehlers; 4. Kevin Goben; 5. Austin Riggs; 6. Justin Skiles; 7. Erick Turner; 8. Kyler Hickenbottom; 9. Bryan Ritter; 10. Jeremy Gustaf; 11. Kori Murphy; 12. Chase Zaruba; 13. Rob Nylin; 14. Jeffery Peterson;
IMCA SportMods
Heat #1: 1. Keith Blum; 2. Tony Olson; 3. Matt Fulton; 4. Chance Huston; 5. Mike Goben;
Heat #2: 1. Jared Waterman; 2. Brandon Setser; 3. Andrew Burk; 4. Jeremy Gustaf; 5. Trey Grimm;
Heat #3: 1. Tyler Soppe; 2. Brandon Jewell; 3. Rance Powell; 4. Joe Nemitz; 5. Nick Groth;
Feature: 1. Keith Blum; 2. Jared Waterman; 3. Joe Nemitz; 4. Brandon Setser; 5. Mike Gobern; 6. Tony Olson; 7. Brandon Jewell; 8. Matt Fulton; 9. Andrew Burk; 10. Randy Lamar; 11. Richard Nelson; 12. Rance Powell; 13. Jeremy Gustaf; 14. Trey Grimm; 15. Dillon Flogel; 16. Chance Huston; 17. Tyler Soppe; 18. Jeff Haines; 19. Troy Wages; 20. Casey Wages; 21. Doug Burkhead;
Category: Iowa
