Sutton Wires Field for First Invader Victory
By Jake Croxton

Donnellson, Iowa (April 21) – Matt Sutton took control of the Shottenkirk GM Giant 25 and led from start to finish as he earned his first career $1,000 payday with the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders. The Macomb, Ill. driver held off defending WISSOTA champion Dustin Lindquist over the final five laps at the Lee County Speedway 3/8-mile to score the win.

“It was fast. I have to thank Mom and Dad and Ivan and Tina Gordon for putting all new stuff underneath me – and Chris McGraw for setting it up,” stated a jubilant Sutton. “You could almost drive it one-handed.”

After winning the Mike Campbell’s Body Shop & Towing Shake-up Dash, Sutton drew the pole position and took command from the initial green. Behind Sutton’s S&S Shortstop / Onion Farms / Maxim, Lindquist shot from fifth to second by the first caution at lap 5. B-Main winner Jeff Mitrisin was on the move as well, working from seventeenth to seventh by the first slowdown.

Jason Ditsworth brought out the second caution at lap 9 after slowing in turn two. The ensuing restart saw Lindquist make a bid for the top spot as John Schulz and Jake Peters dueled for third.

“The car was pretty good all night long,” commented Schulz. “It was tough going with some tough competitors. The track was up on the top on the fence and you had to be there.” The pilot of the Mann’s McDonald’s / Ames Contracting / J&J first held off Peters and then Billy Alley to wind up on the podium.

However, the battle was between Sutton and Lindquist. After the final lap 16 yellow for Stevie Walsh’s pirouette in turn four, the two mirrored each other over the final nine circuits.

“I wasn’t very good in lapped traffic,” admitted Lindquist. “That’s where I should’ve had him but I messed up.”

With three to go, traffic occupied both race-worthy lines leaving little option for the leaders. Sutton was able to withstand one final charge from Lindquist over the last set of corners and earn the popular win.

“I could hear him,” said Sutton. “I knew he had to be close. We were getting into lapped traffic and they kind of had the bottom and the top covered and there wasn’t much in the middle. I just stayed the course and kept in on the cushion. Luckily we pulled it off.” Sutton will carry the points lead into Spoon River Speedway on Sunday evening.

Billy Alley and Jeff Mitrisin completed the top five ahead of Jake Peters, Bobby Mincer, Nick Eastin, Ryan Jamison, and Rager Phillips. The DQ Clash is up next for the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders. Hot Laps get under way at 4 p.m. at the high-banked 3/8-mile oval. The first race hits the track at 5 p.m.

In support action, Ryan Meyer made a triumphant return to victory lane in the Budweiser IMCA Stock Car main. Meyer took the lead from Kirk Kinsley on lap 7 and never looked back to score the win in his first start after sitting out most of 2005 with a brain tumor. Chris Wibbell followed Kinsley across the line in third, while Shane Richardson and Dennis Harwood rounded out the top five.

Josh Foster started the year off the right way by claiming the Discount Tire IMCA Modified 20-lapper. Foster took advantage of Billy Roberts’ mistake while leading and led the final fifteen circuits. Roberts rebounded for the runner-up finish ahead of Jim Gillenwater, Phillip Cossel, and Chad Sovern.

Next up, points racing begins in all classes as the Lee County Speedway will welcome members of Donnellson, Argyle, and Montrose free of charge with proper identification.


Results

Staats Awards Heat Race #1 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Jason Ditsworth, Gladstone, IL; 2. Curtis Boyer, New Haven, MO; 3. Billy Alley, Lincoln, NE; 4. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville; 5. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa; 6. Matt Harms, Chillicothe, IL; 7. Justin Gianetto, Cedar Rapids; 8. Matt Krieger, Burlington

Storm Steel Heat Race #2 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls, SD; 2. John Schulz, Burlington; 3. Bobby Mincer, Morning Sun; 4. Justin Newberry, Burlington; 5. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis; 6. Nick Guernsey, Burlington; 7. Manny Rockhold, Pekin, IL; 8. Dan Avery, Burlington

Rich DeReu Memorial Heat Race #3 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Matt Sutton, Macomb, IL; 2. Chuck Swenson, Watertown, SD; 3. Randy Plath, Stronghurst, IL; 4. Stevie Walsh, Auckland, NZ; 5. Dave Anderson, Burlington; 6. Seth Wilke, Burlington; 7. Bart Andrews, Muscatine; 8. Robert Bell, Colfax

Ideal Ready Mix Heat Race #4 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Dustin Lindquist, Floodwood, MN; 2. Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL; 3. Brian Hetrick, Gladstone, IL; 4. Josh Schneiderman, W. Burlington; 5. Nick Eastin, W. Burlington; 6. Jimmie Davies, Oquawka, IL; 7. Tony Daniels, Galesburg, IL

Mike Campbell’s Body Shop & Towing Shake-up Dash – 1. Sutton; 2. Weyant; 3. Schultz; 4. Swenson; 5. Lindquist; 6. Peters; 7. Ditsworth; 8. Boyer

Budweiser B-Main (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Mitrisin; 2. Jamison; 3. Eastin; 4. Anderson; 5. Andrews; 6. Krieger; 7. Harms; 8. Daniels; 9. Gianetto; 10. Guernsey; 11. Avery; 12. Wilke; 13. Davies; 14. Rockhold; 15. Bell

Shottenkirk GM Giant 25 – 1. Sutton; 2. Lindquist; 3. Schulz; 4. Alley; 5. Mitrisin; 6. Peters; 7. Mincer; 8. Eastin; 9. Jamison; 10. Phillips; 11. Weyant; 12. Anderson; 13. Swenson; 14. Walsh; 15. Hetrick; 16. Boyer; 17. Newberry; 18. Plath; 19. Ditsworth; 20. Schneiderman


Budweiser IMCA Stock Cars – Heat Race #1 – 1. Jeff Mueller, Mt. Pleasant; 2. Chris Wibbell, Dallas City, IL; 3. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello; 4. Dennis Harwood, Denmark; 5. Shane Richardson, Morning Sun; 6. Ryan Meyer, Wayland; 7. L.Z. Coleman, New London; 8. John Oliver, Jr., Danville

GM Giant 15 – 1. Meyer; 2. Kinsley; 3. Wibbell; 4. Richardson; 5. Harwood; 6. Coleman; 7. Oliver, Jr.; 8. Mueller

Discount Tire IMCA Modifieds – Heat Race #1 – 1. Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk; 2. Chris Larson, Keokuk; 3. Chad Sovern, W. Burlington; 4. Andy Krieger, W. Burlington; 5. Phillip Cossel, Montrose; 6. Bryan Fett, Donnellson

Heat Race #2 – 1. Josh Foster, Montrose; 2. Billy Roberts, Burlington; 3. Lonnie Heap, Media, IL; 4. Brandon Rothzen, Media, IL; 5. Tyler Cale, Donnellson; 6. Phillip Beard, Crawfordsville; 7. Mitch Higdon, Wever

GM Giant 20 – 1. Foster; 2. Roberts; 3. Gillenwater; 4. Cossel; 5. Sovern; 6. Krieger; 7. Fett; 8. Beard; 9. Rothzen; 10. Cale; 11. Heap; 12. Higdon; 13. Larson