Cook captures opening night checkers at IMCA American Stock Car Shoot-Out

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (July 2) – A see-saw battle tilted Jason Cook’s way, on opening night of the IMCA American Stock Car Shoot-Out.
Cook finally got the better of Brian Irvine in a caution-free 30-lap main event that saw five lead changes be tween the two, as well a dead heat on the 11th circuit in Monday’s main event at Marshalltown Speedway. Cook took the checkers half a car length ahead of Irvine in collecting the $1,000 victory. David Smith, Donavon Smith and Luke Veren completed the top five.

Seventy Stock Car drivers from eight states vied at the 12th annual special. Tuesday night’s program will boast a $2,000 top prize and an overall Shoot-Out champion will be determined by points accumulated over the two days, with that driver becoming eligible to qualify for the Sunoco Race Fuels Race of Champions dur ing the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals in September.

Cook and Irvine, the Shoot-Out winner in 2005, drew front row starts and tussled back and forth in the early going of the 30-lapper, with David Smith their closest pursuer from the sixth lap on.

Irvine held the tenuous front spot at midway, with Cook close behind and looking for a way past. That opportu nity came as the pair charged into the first turn on lap 20, as Cook shot ahead and took Irvine along with him into lapped traffic.

In a two-car race to the checkers, Cook held Irvine at bay to score the popular win.

“I held my line and tried not to make any mistakes,” he said afterwards, relishing the victory while trying not to look too far forward to the next night. “There are a bunch of tough guys coming back who want that $2,000 as much as I do.”

Defending race winner Damon Murty was sixth. Rod Snellenberger qualified from the second of four “B” features and made the biggest move to the front, 15 spots, in finishing seventh.

Devin Smith continued a family tradition in topping the Hobby Stock feature on Monday while Jason Malli coat dominated the main event for Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods.

Smith followed the lead of brothers Dustin and Donavon, winners of the last two Shoot-Out features for the Hobbies, coming from the 10th starting spot and passing Luke Wanninger with four laps to go. He’ll spend a portion of the $500 he earned for his efforts for a new tire to replace the rear flat that escaped no one’s atten tion in victory lane.

Wanninger ended the night in second. Jamie Schirm, Nick Murty and Bryan Snell followed.

Mallicoat took charge from the drop of the green flag in the Northern SportMod feature and pocketed $200. Brett Meyer, Austin Kaplan, Kyle Bentley Danny Dvorak rounded out the rest of the top five after the second car across the finish line was disqualified in post-race tech.

Hobbies race for $750 to win when they return to Marshalltown Tuesday while the Northern SportMods gun for $400 in first place money. Pit gates open at 5 p.m., grandstands open at 5:30 p.m., hot laps are at 6:45 p.m. and racing starts at 7:30 p.m.

Feature Results
Stock Cars –
1. Jason Cook, Mount Pleasant;
2. Brian Irvine, Oelwein;
3. David Smith, Lake City;
4. Donavon Smith, Lake City;
5. Luke Veren, Haverhill;
6. Damon Murty, Chelsea;
7. Rod Snellenberger, Pulaski, Wis.;
8. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown;
9. Jason Schoenberger, Gorham, Kan.;
10. Richard Stofer, Jefferson;
11. Brian Bruechert, Kewaunee, Wis.;
12. Scotty Brown, Dallas, Texas;
13. Mike Van Genderen, Newton;
14. Rick Brown, Kellogg;
15. Jeff Mueller, New London;
16. Jay Schmidt, Tama;
17. Mike Pruitt, Stuart;
18. Brian Blessington, Breda;
19. Steve Jackson, Polk City;
20. Bryan Trogdon, Bouton;
21. Rick Mees, Eagle Lake, Minn.;
22. Mike Nichols, Harlan;
23. Sean Johnson, Independence;
24. Dustin Smith, Lake City.

Hobby Stocks –
1. Devin Smith, Lake City;
2. Luke Wanninger, Jefferson;
3. Jamie Schirm, Dexter;
4. Nick Murty, Chelsea;
5. Bryan Snell, Coon Rapids;
6. Terry Shaffar, State Center;
7. Steve Kesl, Elberon;
8. Josh Irvine, Oelwein;
9. Bo Hunter, Saint Anthony;
10. Allen Montgomery, Rhome, Texas;
11. Shannon Anderson, Atlantic;
12. Leonard Loftus, Des Moines;
13. Marcus Fagan, Adair;
14. Eric Knutson, Huxley;
15. Justin Maschke, Knoxville;
16. Andy Boeckman, Lake View;
17. Trent Murphy, Jefferson;
18. Chris Luloff, Independence;
19. Michael Murphy, Jefferson;
20. Dustin Elliott, Marshalltown;
21. Bill Bonnett, Knoxville;
22. Michael Smith, Marshalltown;
23. Jason Stringer, Marshalltown;
24. Doug Smith, Lake City.

Northern SportMods –
1. Jason Mallicoat, Boone;
2. Brett Meyer, Ames;
3. Austin Kaplan, Ankeny;
4. Kyle Bentley, Fairbank;
5. Danny Dvorak, Vinton;
6. Fred Schimmels, Van Meter;
7. Austin Lucas, Ames;
8. Ryan Engelkes, Dike;
9. Joel Bushore, Boone;
10. Mark McNeece, Albion;
11. Ben Wilson, Nevada;
12. J.D. Albright, Norwalk;
13. Rod McDonald, Manchester;
14. Dustin Filloon, Toledo;
15. Brad Iverson, Grinnell;
16. Eric Becker, Cedar Rapids;
17. Chris Abelson, Sioux City;
18. John Dumer, Cedar Falls;
19. Kyle Brown, Kellogg.