By Bob Wilson
Elston and Lettow are IMCA Harris Clash Wednesday Victors
KNOXVILLE, Iowa (July 8) After the opening night of the 18the annual Harris Clash was washed out by a heavy shower at race time, the second night of the new format ran off without conflict as Tommy Elston and Matt Lettow captured feature events at Knoxville Raceway Wednesday night.
It had been 12 years since the Deery Brothers had brought the IMCA Late Models to this central Iowa track and the 35-lap feature event proved to be a good one for the fans. Right off the bat pole sitter Jason Frankel took the lead and held it for six laps before the first caution flag. The yellow flagged incident was brought about when a car stalled up against the big Knoxville fences in turn three. Before the caution lights could come on, third running Barry Sorenson came flying into the turn and had no where to go except to crash into the stalled car.
When the race went green again, Jeff Aikey gave Frankel all he wanted and when they flew by the flag stand on lap seven, Aikey had the narrowest of leads. At the end of ten circuits Aikey could only manage a two car-length lead over the runner-up car. The two cars stayed close for the next twenty laps with Frankel always looking for Aikey to make a mistake. Through lap traffic over the course of nearly the entire distance there was never much of a gap between the two.
It was ten laps from the finish that Elston drove into the picture from his fifth row start. Little by little he began to cut into the lead of the first and second place cars. With a late race yellow and only a few laps to go, Elston was in a perfect spot to make a run at the leaders.
Lap 33 saw him take the low route in turns one and two to get past Frankel. The next lap Elston did the same as he disposed of Aikey for the lead. With just a half mile to go, Elston actually began to pull away from his nearest challenger, Aikey.
At the pay window Elston collected $2,000 for the win as Aikey took home $1,500 for second. Third paid $1,200 to Frankel while fourth running Fred Remley pocketed $1,000. Rob Toland was fifth.
The Second annual Sport Mods feature turned out to be a 4-car race from beginning to end. The 15-lap race saw only two leaders for the distance with Matt Lettow taking the win. Through two yellows he kept the top spot to place his Sky Rocket chassis in Victory Lane. He was chased most of the distance by Kevin Sather, who finished second and Austin Kaplan who took third. Rounding out the top five were Nate Chodur and Brett Moffit.
KNOXVILLE RACEWAY, Knoxville, IA
July 8, 2009
Late Models RESULTS
Heat 1, 10 laps, 3:39.4: 1. Jeff Aikey, Waterloo IA; 2. Fred Remley, Stockton IA; 3. Justin Kay, Wheatland IA; 4. Tyler Bruening, Decorah IA; 5. Jay Johnson, West Burlington IA; 6. Frank Jorgenson, Carroll IA; 7. Todd Malmstrom, Silvis IL; 8. Rick Dralle, Waterloo IA; 9. Rob Petsche, Peosta IA; 10. Ray Guss Jr., Milan IL;
Heat 2, 10 laps, No Time: 1. Jason Frankel, Quincy IL; 2. Jason Hahne, Webster City IA; 3. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun IA; 4. Greg Kastli, Waterloo IA; 5. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown IA; 6. Al Johnson, Story City IA; 7. Robby Warner, Quincy IL; 8. Adam Helmick, Fort Madison IA; 9. Jeff Segebart, West Side IA; 10. Kyle Wahlert, Des Moines IA;
Heat 3, 10 laps, 3:33.8: 1. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake IA; 2. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo IA; 3. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis IA; 4. Craig Roberts, Des Moines IA; 5. David Engelkens, Morrison IL; 6. (Car Number Not On File); 7. Mick Wiele, Columbus Junction IA; 8. Bobby Hansen, Center Point IA; 9. Dale Hackwell, Washburn IA;
Heat 4, 10 laps, No Time: 1. Terry Neal, Maquoketa IA; 2. Rob Toland, Davenport IA; 3. TJ Criss, Oskaloosa IA; 4. Jon Merfeld, Peosta IA; 5. Matt Ryan, Davenport IA; 6. Luke Goedert, Holy Cross IA; 7. Craig Jacobs, Des Moines IA; 8. Kevin Williams, Durant IA; 9. Ryan Giles, West Des Moines IA;
Heat 5, 10 laps, 3:38.7: 1. Tommy Elston, Mt. Pleasant IA; 2. Barry Sorenson, Avoca IA; 3. Nate Beuseling, Silvis IL; 4. Matt Strassheim, West Burlington IA; 5. Todd Cooney, Des Moines IA; 6. Scott Badker, Garner IA; 7. Josh Most, Red Oak IA; 8. Chris Schroeder, Ankeny IA; 9. Tysus Pattee, Vinton IA;
B Feature 1, No Time: 1. Matt Strassheim, West Burlington IA; 2. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown IA; 3. Tyler Bruening, Decorah IA; 4. Robby Warner, Quincy IL; 5. Matt Ryan, Davenport IA; 6. (Car Number Not On File); 7. Craig Roberts, Des Moines IA; 8. Frank Jorgenson, Carroll IA; 9. Craig Jacobs, Des Moines IA; 10. Tysus Pattee, Vinton IA; 11. Scott Badker, Garner IA; 12. Rob Petsche, Peosta IA; 13. Chris Schroeder, Ankeny IA; 14. Dale Hackwell, Washburn IA;
B Feature 2,10 laps 4:37.8 1. Todd Cooney, Des Moines IA; 2. Jon Merfeld, Peosta IA; 3. Jay Johnson, West Burlington IA; 4. Ray Guss Jr., Milan IL; 5. Al Johnson, Story City IA; 6. Josh Most, Red Oak IA; 7. Adam Helmick, Fort Madison IA; 8. Greg Kastli, Waterloo IA; 9. Mick Wiele, Columbus Junction IA; 10. Kevin Williams, Durant IA; 11. Todd Malmstrom, Silvis IL; 12. Luke Goedert, Holy Cross IA; 13. Jeff Segebart, West Side IA; 14. David Engelkens, Morrison IL; 15. Ryan Giles, West Des Moines IA;
A Feature 1, 35 laps, No Time: 1. Tommy Elston, Mt. Pleasant IA; 2. Jeff Aikey, Waterloo IA; 3. Jason Frankel, Quincy IL; 4. Fred Remley, Stockton IA; 5. Rob Toland, Davenport IA; 6. Nate Beuseling, Silvis IL; 7. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis IA; 8. Terry Neal, Maquoketa IA; 9. Ray Guss Jr., Milan IL; 10. Todd Cooney, Des Moines IA; 11. Josh Most, Red Oak IA; 12. Matt Strassheim, West Burlington IA; 13. Jason Hahne, Webster City IA; 14. Robby Warner, Quincy IL; 15. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake IA; 16. TJ Criss, Oskaloosa IA; 17. Jay Johnson, West Burlington IA; 18. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown IA; 19. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun IA; 20. Al Johnson, Story City IA; 21. Greg Kastli, Waterloo IA; 22. Adam Helmick, Fort Madison IA; 23. Frank Jorgenson, Carroll IA; 24. Brian Klein, Cedar Rapids, IA; 25. Matt Ryan, Davenport IA; 26. Jon Merfeld, Peosta IA; 27. Stephan Kammerer, Blue Grass, IA; 28. Justin Kay, Wheatland IA; 29. Barry Sorenson, Avoca IA; 30. Tyler Bruening, Decorah IA; Lap Leaders: Frankel 1-6; Aikey 7-33; Elston 34-35
Other RESULTS
Heat 1, 8 laps, 3:17.6: 1. Austin Kaplan, Des Moines IA; 2. Bill Hildreth, Rhodes IA; 3. Rocky Caudle, Webster City IA; 4. Kyle Harpster, Omaha NE; 5. Brandon Toftee, Webster City IA; 6. Greg Simmons, Clarion IA; 7. Jerry Hinton, Adel IA; 8. Cory Hillgartner, Earling IA;
Heat 2, 8 laps, 3:21.2: 1. Jeremy Embrey, Granger IA; 2. Paul Underwood, Ottumwa IA; 3. Tim Love, Kelly IA; 4. Lynn Brocket, Ogden IA; 5. Andy Tiernan, Woodward IA; 6. Kyle Brown, Kellogg IA; 7. Aaron Durall, Kirksville MO; 8. Harvey VandeWeerd, Alton IA; 9. Gary Stajcar, Bondurant IA;
Heat 3, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Jared Timmerman, Norwalk IA; 2. David Schlicht, Des Moines IA; 3. Matt Pittman, Jefferson IA; 4. Damon Murty, Chelsea IA; 5. Tyler Gross, Bondurant IA; 6. Leland Mitchell, Bondurant IA; 7. Dalton Dingman, Grimes IA; 8. Randy Rudolf, Cummings IA; 9. Cody Graham, Chillicothe MO; 10. Shay Woods, Humeston IA;
Heat 4, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Doug Smith, Lake City IA; 2. Nate Chodur, Lake Mills IA; 3. Tracy Wassenberg, Shawano WI; 4. Scott Forbes, Fort Dodge IA; 5. Huey Jacobs, Stewartsville MO; 6. Geoff Olson, Ames IA; 7. Robert Tippery, Council Bluffs IA; 8. Kaleb Bentley, Fairbank IA; 9. Dan Tenold, Northwood IA; 10. Scott Jorpeland, Marshalltown IA;
Heat 5, 8 laps, No Time: 1. Kevin Sather, Ankeny IA; 2. Matt Lettow, Roland IA; 3. Brian Miller, Grand Junction IA; 4. Anthony Asher, St. Joseph MO; 5. Kevin Fee, Knoxville IA; 6. Blake Peeler, Milan MO; 7. Brandon Leeman, Roland IA; 8. Galen Hassler, Hallsville MO; 9. Derek Coleman, New London IA; 10. Jake Zuercher, St. Charles IA;
Heat 6, 8 laps, 3:13.0: 1. Brett Moffit, Grimes IA; 2. Joel Bushore, Boone IA; 3. Jim Weigel, Oberlin KS; 4. Brian Herrick, Curtis NE; 5. Kent Croskey, Polk City IA; 6. Rodger Dresden, Keokuk IA; 7. Aric Becker, Cedar Rapids IA; 8. Jack Myer, Ankeny IA; 9. JD Albright, Norwalk IA;
B Feature 1, No Time: 1. Scott Davis, Madrid IA; 2. Greg Simmons, Clarion IA; 3. Kyle Brown, Kellogg IA; 4. Jesse Sobbing, Glenwood IA; 5. Andy Tiernan, Woodward IA; 6. Lynn Brocket, Ogden IA; 7. Kyle Bentley, Independence IA; 8. Cory Hillgartner, Earling IA; 9. Gary Stajcar, Bondurant IA; 10. Jerry Hinton, Adel IA; 11. Kyle Harpster, Omaha NE; 12. Aaron Durall, Kirksville MO; 13. Brandon Toftee, Webster City IA; 14. Harvey VandeWeerd, Alton IA;
B Feature 2, No Time: 1. Tyler Gross, Bondurant IA; 2. Scott Forbes, Fort Dodge IA; 3. Robert Tippery, Council Bluffs IA; 4. Shay Woods, Humeston IA; 5. Damon Murty, Chelsea IA; 6. Dan Tenold, Northwood IA; 7. Randy Rudolf, Cummings IA; 8. Leland Mitchell, Bondurant IA; 9. Scott Jorpeland, Marshalltown IA; 10. Geoff Olson, Ames IA; 11. Cody Graham, Chillicothe MO; 12. Dalton Dingman, Grimes IA; 13. Kaleb Bentley, Fairbank IA; 14. Huey Jacobs, Stewartsville MO;
B Feature 3, No Time: 1. Brian Herrick, Curtis NE; 2. Kevin Fee, Knoxville IA; 3. Kent Croskey, Polk City IA; 4. Blake Peeler, Milan MO; 5. Brandon Leeman, Roland IA; 6. Jack Myer, Ankeny IA; 7. Derek Coleman, New London IA; 8. JD Albright, Norwalk IA; 9. Anthony Asher, St. Joseph MO; 10. Galen Hassler, Hallsville MO; 11. Rodger Dresden, Keokuk IA;
A Feature 1, 35 laps, No Time: 1. Matt Lettow, Roland IA; 2. Kevin Sather, Ankeny IA; 3. Austin Kaplan, Des Moines IA; 4. Nate Chodur, Lake Mills IA; 5. Brett Moffit, Grimes IA; 6. Joel Bushore, Boone IA; 7. Jeremy Embrey, Granger IA; 8. Scott Davis, Madrid IA; 9. Brian Herrick, Curtis NE; 10. Paul Underwood, Ottumwa IA; 11. Doug Smith, Lake City IA; 12. Tracy Wassenberg, Shawano WI; 13. Tyler Gross, Bondurant IA; 14. David Schlicht, Des Moines IA; 15. Matt Pittman, Jefferson IA; 16. Bill Hildreth, Rhodes IA; 17. Greg Simmons, Clarion IA; 18. Tim Love, Kelly IA; 19. Rocky Caudle, Webster City IA; 20. Jared Timmerman, Norwalk IA; 21. Kevin Fee, Knoxville IA; 22. Jim Weigel, Oberlin KS; 23. Brian Miller, Grand Junction IA; 24. Scott Forbes, Fort Dodge IA; Lap Leaders: Lettow 1; Kaplan 2; Lettow 3-10; Sather 11; Lettow 12-15