Blessington Wins on Last Lap Pass at Stuart

by: Josh Reynolds

Stuart, IA (June 2) – Picture perfect weather and some great driving highlighted night number three of the young season at Stuart Speedway. James Britton, Ty Luellen, Brian Blessington, Brandon Pruitt, Jesse Sobbing and Deavon Richards were the winners on Roy Sargent Building, Inc. Night at the Races.

An absolutely gorgeous night was led off by the 6 Cylinder FWD’s with Deavon Richards and Cory Sauerman on the front row. James Britton moved into the lead right away and looked to run away with the race, but Andy Forcht would reel Britton in and make things interesting. The two had some contact, but kept things clean and raced side by side until Britton eased away on the last lap to take win number two on the year. Forcht held on for second with Sauerman third, Richards fourth and Shawn Cooney fifth. Britton was also the heat race winner.

IMCA Northern Sportmods came out next with Jordan Peters and Arie Schouten bringing the field to green. Ty Luellen moved into the lead on the first lap with brother Clint passing Peters for second on lap two. A couple quick cautions bunched the field up, but the top two remained the same with Clint giving chase and moving up beside Ty lap after lap. Cole Ferguson, after changing a tire early on, moved into third on lap ten as the Luellen duo held form at the front. Clint tried everything he had, but Ty held strong and went on to the win, his second at the speedway this year. Clint crossed in second with Ferguson third, Peters fourth and Matt Webb fifth. Ty and Clint Luellen were the heat race winners.

Derrick Rohe and Bryan Snell brought out the IMCA Stock Cars next with Snell leading lap one. After a four wide moment at the start of lap two, Nyle Godwin emerged as the leader with Jamie Schirm close behind in second. Bob Daniels moved into second on lap seven with Brian Blessington following suit on lap ten. Godwin had built up almost a straightaway lead at the halfway point and Blessington began to eat away at the deficit. With five laps to go the lead was a few car lengths, and at the tip of the green the 92B was right on the bumper of the #11G machine. As the two took the white flag, Blessington moved up just a bit in turns 1-2 and swung to the outside of Godwin going into turn three. Godwin held the lead coming out of four until Blessington used the momentum from the outside lane to move into the lead just as the cars came to the finish line! Blessington was declared the winner, his first of the season, with Godwin coming up an excruciating foot short of his first ever Stock Car win. Jeff Joldersma, after starting shotgun on the field, finished in third with Marcus Fagan fourth and Joe Zadina fifth. Rohe and Daniels were the heat race winners.

 IMCA Hobby Stocks came out next with Andy Mahlstedt and Gina Greubel on the front row. Greubel led lap one with Austin Luellen taking over on lap two. Luellen was followed by Jamie Songer at first and then Brandon Pruitt took second on lap six. Pruitt worked low and high and moved by for the lead just before the caution flag flew on lap ten. A double file restart set up a five lap dash to the finish and Pruitt was strong, picking up his third feature win of the weekend after sweeping make up and regular features at Marshalltown Speedway on Friday night. Behind Pruitt’s first win at Stuart was Andrew Burg in second, Shannon Anderson third, Luellen fourth and Garrett Eilander fifth. Mike and Brandon Pruitt were the heat race winners.

 Casey Greubel and Scott Bash paced the IMCA Modifieds with Greubel jumping out to an early lead. Greubel held the top spot until going for a spin in turn two on lap six, handing the lead to Bash. Bash kept steady at the front until Alison Davidson turned up the heat, taking the lead on lap eleven with Bash going back on top for the next four circuits. Lap sixteen found visiting hotshoe Jesse Sobbing taking over the lead, and though it was his first visit to the track this season, Sobbing had no trouble finding Victory Lane after taking the checkered flag. Bash held on for second with Beau Kaplan third, Davidson fourth and Josh Gilman fifth. Greubel and Josh Most were the heat race winners.

 Last up on the evening was the IMCA Sport Compacts with Nash Coe and Logan Richards on the front row. Coe led lap one with Shawn Cooney taking over on lap two. David Archibald pounded the outside wall to bring out the yellow flag, and when the green came back out it was Deavon Richards moving up to the lead and going on to the win, his second win in as many starts. Cooney ended in second with L. Richards third, Coe fourth and Archibald fifth. D. Richards was the heat race winner.

We’d like to thank all who came out to support the race track for event number three for the season. Next week is Short’s Place in Menlo & Organ Donor Awareness Night at the Races. We will have all of our regular classes racing for fame on the fastest clay quarter mile racetrack in the midwest. See you then!

 

 

Category: Iowa, Stuart Speedway