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Late Model Nationals win goes to Matt Strassheim
By Dana Royer/34 Raceway
BURLINGTON, IA (Sept. 28) "That was a whole bunch of fun"
said West Burlington's Matt Strassheim after winning the prestigious J & J
Steel Pepsi USA Late Model Nationals Sunday evening at 34 Raceway.
Strassheim took the lead on lap sixteen of the 50 lap, $5000 to win feature
event holding off Rob Toland for the win.
The Nationals were originally set for Sept. 12 and 13 but over 7 inches of
rain forced promoters and IMCA to rescheduled the final stop for the IMCA
Deery Brother Summer Series to Sunday, Sept. 28. A season high fifty five
cars showed up at the 3/8 mile to compete for the 25 qualifying spots in the
50 lap main.
Gary Russell held the pole position in the twenty five car field with Boone
McLaughlin sitting to his right. After a red flag came out for a rollover by
Tom Goble on the first lap, McLaughlin took the early lead working to hold
off Russell and Strassheim throughout the first fifteen laps. On lap
sixteen, Strassheim got by McLaughlin and would run into lap traffic by lap
twenty four. Working his way up from his 13th position starting spot was
three time track champion Rob Toland. With Strassheim running into lap
traffic, Toland would inch his way closer. But Strassheim was running strong
staying on the low side of the track and would be able to hold off Toland
for the win, becoming the fifteenth driver to win the Nationals in its
seventeen year history, Jeff Aikey was a two time winner and Mark Burgtorf
has take the title three times. Burgtorfıs shot at a 4 time winner was
stopped after blowing an engine during qualifying races.
The win was special for Strassheim and car owners Lynn and Karen Richards
with this being the last time Strassheim would be driving the familiar #15.
Mediapolisı Boone McLaughlin just had to take the green flag to win the
Deery Brother Summer Series point championship earning him $5,000.
McLaughlin won three of the 17 series events held this season, finishing in
the top five on six nights. The 2 day show, cut to one day, also included
the Iron Man Challenge feature including all the drivers who have completed
in every Deery Brothers Summer Series race this season. With the drivers
lined up in reverse order of the point finish, Morning Sunıs Tom Darbyshire
passed Mike Garland on the final lap to get the win and $750 prize money
working his way from his fourteen starting position.
The J & J Steel, Louisa Communications, I Wireless 4 cylinders made their
fourth stop in their Dash for Cash Series with Tyler Schulte, Montrose
topping the twenty four car field. Geoffrey Theobald took the lead for the
first four laps before Schulte took advantage of a red flag restart and
getting the lead over Theobald. The fifteen lap race was stopped on lap four
when a spectacular fire engulfed the cars of Randy Foor and Dustin Fenton in
turn one. A gas leak started the fire that then traveled back down the
speedway. With boys cars fully engulfed both drivers escaped unharmed.. The
final stop of the series will be Saturday, Oct. 4 during the Ideal Ready Mix
Sprint Invaders Season Championship. Wapelloıs Geoffrey Theobald holds just
a one point lead over Tyler Shulte of Montrose with one race left.
Coming Up The final race of the 2008 season at 34 Raceway will be
Saturday, October 4 with the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders Season
Championship. John Schulz currently leads the point series with 2081 points
over Bobby Mincer with 2067. Also running will be the final race for the 4
cylinder Dash For Cash Series paying $225 to win. The IMCA Modifieds will
also be making their final appearance with $750 going to the winner.
LATE MODELS:
FEATURE: 1. Matt Strassheim, West Burlington, 2. Rob Toland, Bettendorf, 3.
Ray Guss, Jr., Milan, Il., 4. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis, 5. Jay Johnson,
West Burlington, 6. Gary Russell, Biggsville, Il., 7. Terry Neal, Ely, 8.
Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Il., 9. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun, 10. Todd
Cooney, Des Moines, 11. Fred Remley, Blue Grass, 12. Matt Ryan, Davenport,
13. Shawn Mulvany, Moline, Il., 14. Luke Goedert, Holy Cross, 15. Tom
Darbyshire, Morning Sun,1 6. Jerry Weisenberger, Quincy, Il., 17. Keith
Pratt, Mendon, Il., 18. Josh Most, Red oak, 19. Stephan Kammerer, Blue
Grass, 20. Kevin Tomlinson, New London, Mo., 21. Justin Reed, Quincy ,Il.,
22. Tom Bowling, Danville, 23. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, 24. Matt Bailey,
Quincy, Il., 25. Tom Goble, Burlington B-Features: Bowling, Goedert, HEAT
WINNERS: Kammerer, Cooney, Bailey, Ryan, Springsteen
Lap Leaders: McLaughlin 1-15; Strassheim, 16-50. 1 Red Flag, 1 Yellow Flag
IRON MAN CHALLENGE 1. Darbyshire, 2. Garland, 3. Neal, 4. Cooney, 5. Nading,
6. Hansen, 7. Strassheim, 8. DeFrance, 9. Reed, 10. Nezworski, 11. Bryan
Klein, 12. Kammerer, 13. Charlie McKenna, 14. Mitch Current, 15. Criss, 17.
Zrostlik.
J & J Steel/Louisa Communications/I-Wireless 4 cylinders
FEATURE: 1. Tyler Schulte, Montrose, 2. Geoffrey Theobald, Wapello, 3. Tyler
Whalen, Riverside, 4. Bill Whalen, Jr., Riverside, 5. Gabe Harrison, Warsaw,
Il., 6. Brent Hartley, Niota, Il., 7. Darin Smith, Wapello, 8. Wayne Noble,
Wapello, 9. Jonny Williams, Norway, 10. Devon Timmerman, Wapello, 11.
Amanda Tipps, Wapello, 12. Chuck Fullenkamp, Ft. Madison, 13. Brian Tipps,
Wapello, 14. Andrew Theobold, Wapello, 15. Jena Barthelmes, Marion, 16.
Seith Woodruff, Hamilton, Il., 17. William Michel, Farmington, 18. Dane
Fenton, Burlington, 19. Chase Klenk, New London, 20. Travis Yakle, Wapello,
21. Eric Palmer, Burlington, 22. Randy Foor, Morning Sun 23. Dustin Fenton,
Burlington, 24. Daytona Fenton, Burlington. HEAT WINNERS: Brian Tipps,
Wapello, Darin Smith, Wapello.
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