Guss gets Pepsi USA Nationals Deery pole, Criss repeats as Ironman Challenge winner

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (Sept. 2) – Ray Guss Jr. has the pole start for Saturday’s $10,000 to win Pepsi USA Nationals Deery Brothers Summer Series feature, while T.J. Criss has already gone home with $750 in his pocket.

The defending IMCA Late Model tour champion and current series point leader, Guss set fast time before winning the first of five heats Friday night at 34 Raceway to earn the main event pole. Tyler Bruening topped the second heat and will start outside the front row.

Lonnie Bailey, Matt Bailey and Tom Goble were also heat winners and will line up in the third through fifth spots. Runners-up from the heats will start in positions six through 10 and third place finishers are in the 11th through 15th spots.

Criss repeated as winner of the J & J Steel Ironman Challenge, contested by drivers with perfect attendance through the first 13 series events of the season.

Sam Halstead led the first circuit before spinning and bringing out what proved to be the only caution of the 20-lapper. Criss took the $750 checkers comfortably in front of Mike Garland, Jay Johnson, Matt Strassheim and Terry Neal.

Three drivers advance from each of two 20 lap “B” features on Saturday. Five provisional starters complete the 26-car grid, including the non-qualified driver with Friday’s time trials, the hard charger from heat and “B” races, the top two non-qualifiers based on series point standings and a track provisional.

A minimum of $500 will be paid to start the main event. Distance for the feature will be 99 laps, in memory of former track owner and promoter Johnny Johnson who died in February. Ninety-nine was Johnson’s number during his Late Model career.

Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods and 4-cylinders round out the Saturday program. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow.

Grandstand admission is $20 for adults and $18 for seniors and students. Kids 10 and under get in free when accompanying a paid adult. Pit passes are $25.

In conjunction with the Pepsi, the final ‘Partnering For A Purpose’ cookout will be held from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. tomorrow at Deery Brothers of West Burlington.

Driver Charlie McKenna will have his grill car, an otherwise IMCA legal Late Model with a grill replacing the fuel cell, at the dealership and Fareway Stores provide the complimentary pork loins, hot dogs, potato chips and bottled water.

Funds raised at the cookout benefit the Karsyn’s Krusaders Kickin’ Cancer’s Butt One Lap At A Time organization.

 

Friday Results

1st heat (top three qualify) – 1. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.; 2. Jay Johnson, West Burlington; 3. Justin Kay; 4. Darin Duffy, Hazleton; 5. Keith Pratt, Quincy, Ill.; 6. Tommy Elston, Keokuk; 7. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake; 8. Bobby Toland, Coal Valley, Ill.; 9. Gary Webb, Blue Grass.

2nd heat – 1. Tyler Bruening, Decorah; 2. Joey Gower, Quincy, Ill.; 3. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun; 4. Jay Chenoweth, Wapello; 5. T.J. Criss, Oskaloosa; 6. Marty Diercks, Bettendorf; 7. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo; 8. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown; 9. Ben Nading, Ankeny.

3rd heat – 1. Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 2. Andy Eckrich, Iowa City; 3. Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill.; 4. Jeff Guengerich, Washington; 5. Terry Neal, Ely; 6. Matt Ryan, Davenport; 7. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 8. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.; 9. Jason Hahne, Webster City.

4th heat – 1. Matt Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 2. Sam Halstead, New London; 3. Matt Strassheim, Morning Sun; 4. Tom Bowling Jr., Danville; 5. Jason Perry, Payson, Ill.; 6. Stephan Kammerer, Blue Grass; 7. Bill Genenbacher, Camp Point, Ill.; 8. Brian Harris, Davenport; 9. Eric Sanders, Moline, Ill.

5th heat – 1. Tom Goble, Burlington; 2. Denny Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.; 3. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls; 4. Mike Cothron, Moline, Ill.; 5. Nate Beuseling, Silvis, Ill.; 6. Todd Malmstrom, Silvis, Ill.; 7. Travis Denning, Sterling, Ill.; 8. Mike Garland, Morrison, Ill.; 9. Rick Dralle, Waterloo.

Ironman Challenge – 1. Criss; 2. Garland; 3. Johnson; 4. Strassheim; 5. Neal; 6. Beuseling; 7. Bruening; 8. Guss; 9. Springsteen; 10. Eckrich; 11. McKenna; 12. Reed; 13. Halstead; 14. DeFrance.