Rager Phillips Bests Alley for Career-First at Lee County
By Jake Croxton

DONNELLSON, Ia (May 19, 2006) – Rager Phillips blasted past Bobby Mincer on the fourteenth lap of the Lee County Bank & Trust 25 for the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders and promptly went on to score his first career Sprint Car victory. The Pleasantville, Iowa driver held off one final charge from Billy Alley on a lap 21 restart.

“It’s awesome,” said the driver of the KNSP Farms / Computers for You / Bozell Construction / Eagle. “It was crazy out there battling with Billy Alley… I’ve just been determined the whole week. I was ahead of schedule putting the cars together and getting them serviced. I just got out of school, so the whole day Friday I was just pumped up and ready to go. I was relaxed and singing (to the radio) before the race.”

Phillips bested Dave Anderson in the Mike Campbell’s Body Shop & Towing Shake-Up Dash, but pulled the #4 and started outside row two. Brian Hetrick and Bobby Mincer paced the 20-car field at the race’s outset. Hetrick won the race into turn one and led the opening six circuits before Mincer took control as the leaders approached lapped traffic.

Jeff Mitrisin is making a habit of collecting the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger Award. “The Magician” clipped a boundary tire while in a transfer spot in the Heat Race and was forced to come from the B-Main. Mitrisin steadily worked through the field before settling into the top five.

As Mincer worked traffic, Phillips reeled the 2004 Series Champion in and set sail opening up nearly a straightaway advantage at times.

The event’s only stoppage was for points leader Matt Sutton’s encounter with the turn one guardrail. Sutton was uninjured, but done for the event.

That set the stage for a four-lap dash to the finish with Phillips leading Billy Alley, Korey Weyant, Mitrisin, and Mincer. Phillips timed the restart perfectly and held on by a couple car lengths to earn the victory.

“I took off and I could hear him right on my butt the whole time,” continued Phillips, who graduated from High School on Sunday. “I just kicked it in gear and tried to pull away from him. He came up and congratulated me afterward and said he didn’t have anything for me.”

Alley, Weyant, Mitrisin, and Hetrick completed the top five ahead of Dustin Lindquist, Mincer. Larry Ball, Jr., John Schulz, and Dave Anderson,

In preliminary action, Matt Krieger was uninjured after getting into the catch fence coming out of turn four. After a short delay, racing resumed. Josh Schneiderman was also uninjured after a stuck throttle put the W. Burlington driver into the concrete blocks on the cool-down lap of his Heat Race.

The series will make its first visit to Quincy Raceway on Wednesday, June 7th, before returning to 34 Raceway for a Saturday night shootout on June 10th. For more information, check out www.sprintinvaders.com  on the World Wide Web.

Results

Staats Awards Heat Race #1 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Larry Ball, Jr., Knoxville; 2. Brian Hetrick, Stronghurst, IL; 3. Matt Sutton, Macomb, IL; 4. Dustin Lindquist, Floodwood, MN; 5. Matt Moro, Des Moines; 6. Josh Schneiderman, W. Burlington; 7. Travis Porter, East Moline, IL; 8. Matt Krieger, Burlington

Storm Steel / Abrasive Jet Heat Race #2 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL; 2. Bobby Mincer, Burlington; 3. Curtis Boyer, New Haven, MO; 4. Jimmie Davies, Oquawka, IL; 5. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls, SD; 6. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa; 7. Bart Andrews, Muscatine; 8. Nick Eastin, W. Burlington

Rich DeReu Memorial Heat Race #3 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Billy Alley, Lincoln, NE; 2. Dave Anderson, Burlington; 3. Randy Plath, Stronghurst, IL; 4. Manny Rockhold, Pekin, IL; 5. Justin Newberry, Burlington; 6. Justin Gianetto, Cedar Rapids; 7. Seth Wilke, Burlington; 8. Matt Harms, Chillicothe, IL

Walljasper Tile & Excavation Heat Race #4 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville; 2. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis; 3. John Schulz, Burlington; 4. Jayson Ditsworth, Gladstone, IL; 5. Stevie Walsh, Auckland, NZ; 6. Tony Daniels, Galesburg, IL; 7. Nick Guernsey, Burlington; 8. Dan Avery, Burlington

Mike Campbell’s Body Shop & Towing Shake-Up Dash – 1. Phillips; 2. Anderson; 3. Weyant; 4. Hetrick; 5. Mincer; 6. Alley; 7. Jamison; 8. Ball, Jr.

Budweiser B-Main (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Moro; 2. Mitrisin; 3. Newberry; 4. Gianetto; 5. Porter; 6. Avery; 7. Daniels; 8. Walsh; 9. Krieger; 10. Eastin; 11. Peters; 12. Wilke; 13. Guernsey; 14. Harms; 15. Andrews; 16. Schneiderman

Lee County Bank & Trust 25 – 1. Phillips; 2. Alley; 3. Weyant; 4. Walsh; 5. Hetrick; 6. Lindquist; 7. Mincer; 8. Ball, Jr.; 9. Schulz; 10. Anderson; 11. Jamison; 12. Boyer; 13. Plath; 14. Ditsworth; 15. Newberry; 16. Davies; 17. Gianetto; 18. Moro; 19. Rockhold; 20. Sutton

Car Count – 32
Cautions – 1 (L21)
Leaders – Hetrick 1-6, Mincer 7-13, Phillips 14-25
Laps Led – Phillips 12, Mincer 7, Hetrick 6
Highest Finishing Rookie – Gianetto (17th)

Contingency:
B&B Oval Track Products Pole Award – Brian Hetrick
QA1 Motorsports Feature Winner – Rager Phillips
KSE Racing Products Hard Charger – Jeff Mitrisin (Started 18th, Finished 4th)
Design 500 5th Place – Brian Hetrick
Design 500 First Non-Qualifier – Travis Porter
Storm Steel B-Main Consolation Prize – Dan Avery
Rainbo Oil 2nd Non-Qualifier – Dan Avery
Saldana Racing Products – Billy Alley
Ultra Shield Racing Products – Justin Newberry
Jocko’s Sprint Parts – Curtis Boyer
Kinser Air Filters – Randy Plath
Rod End Supply – Dave Anderson
Brake Man – John Schulz
M&W Aluminum Products – Ryan Jamison
Hepfner Racing Products – Manny Rockhold
Velocity Wings – Korey Weyant
 

John Oliver, Jr. was the man to beat twice on the evening. Oliver, Jr. worked to the lead in the 15-lap Donnellson Tire Hobby Stock finale and dominated the event. Rodger Dresden worked from his twelfth starting spot and followed Oliver, Jr. across the line ahead of Dan Wenig, Matt Gavin, and Brad Weber.

Oliver, Jr. had to work a bit harder in the Budweiser IMCA Stock Car 15-lapper. Pole-starter Abe Huls and Jeff Mueller each led at different points, before Oliver, Jr. took control on lap 8. Huls, Mueller, Kirk Kinsley, and Shawn Whiting finished in the top five.

A wild ending to the Arrowhead Bowl B-Modified feature saw defending track champion Wyatt Lantz come out on top. It was the Bowen, Ill. driver’s second win of 2006. Scott Boles led on a late restart, but contact from Jack Evans, Jr. sent Boles for a 360 in front of traffic. Lantz threaded the needle and beat Jeff Waterman to the line. Evans, Jr., Boles, and Brandon Savage rounded out the top five.

Dennis Schulte topped a field of 24 in the GM Giant Wild Thing feature. Schulte had a half-straightaway advantage over Tyler Schulte at the checkers. Gordon Blankenship, Jr., Jim Oliver, III, and Travis DeMint ended the event in the top five.


Results



Staats Awards Heat Race #1 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Larry Ball, Jr., Knoxville; 2. Brian Hetrick, Stronghurst, IL; 3. Matt Sutton, Macomb, IL; 4. Dustin Lindquist, Floodwood, MN; 5. Matt Moro, Des Moines; 6. Josh Schneiderman, W. Burlington; 7. Travis Porter, East Moline, IL; 8. Matt Krieger, Burlington



Storm Steel / Abrasive Jet Heat Race #2 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL; 2. Bobby Mincer, Burlington; 3. Curtis Boyer, New Haven, MO; 4. Jimmie Davies, Oquawka, IL; 5. Jake Peters, Sioux Falls, SD; 6. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa; 7. Bart Andrews, Muscatine; 8. Nick Eastin, W. Burlington



Rich DeReu Memorial Heat Race #3 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Billy Alley, Lincoln, NE; 2. Dave Anderson, Burlington; 3. Randy Plath, Stronghurst, IL; 4. Manny Rockhold, Pekin, IL; 5. Justin Newberry, Burlington; 6. Justin Gianetto, Cedar Rapids; 7. Seth Wilke, Burlington; 8. Matt Harms, Chillicothe, IL



Walljasper Tile & Excavation Heat Race #4 (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Rager Phillips, Pleasantville; 2. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis; 3. John Schulz, Burlington; 4. Jayson Ditsworth, Gladstone, IL; 5. Stevie Walsh, Auckland, NZ; 6. Tony Daniels, Galesburg, IL; 7. Nick Guernsey, Burlington; 8. Dan Avery, Burlington



Mike Campbell’s Body Shop & Towing Shake-Up Dash – 1. Phillips; 2. Anderson; 3. Weyant; 4. Hetrick; 5. Mincer; 6. Alley; 7. Jamison; 8. Ball, Jr.



Budweiser B-Main (Top 4 Advance) – 1. Moro; 2. Mitrisin; 3. Newberry; 4. Gianetto; 5. Porter; 6. Avery; 7. Daniels; 8. Walsh; 9. Krieger; 10. Eastin; 11. Peters; 12. Wilke; 13. Guernsey; 14. Harms; 15. Andrews; 16. Schneiderman



Lee County Bank & Trust 25 – 1. Phillips; 2. Alley; 3. Weyant; 4. Walsh; 5. Hetrick; 6. Lindquist; 7. Mincer; 8. Ball, Jr.; 9. Schulz; 10. Anderson; 11. Jamison; 12. Boyer; 13. Plath; 14. Ditsworth; 15. Newberry; 16. Davies; 17. Gianetto; 18. Moro; 19. Rockhold; 20. Sutton



Discount Tire IMCA Modifieds – Heat Race #1 – 1. Josh Foster, Montrose; 2. Tyler Cale, Donnellson; 3. Phillip Cossel, Montrose; 4. Andy Krieger, W. Burlington; 5. Bill Parks, Colchester, IL; 6. Brandon Rothzen, Media, IL; 7. Lonnie Heap, Media, IL

Heat Race #2 – 1. Chris Larson, Keokuk; 2. Billy Roberts, Burlington; 3. Kevin Cale, Donnellson; 4. David Wietholder, Liberty, IL; 5. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington; 6. Michael Irwin, Kahoka, MO

Lee County Bank & Trust 20 – 1. T. Cale; 2. LaVeine; 3. Larson; 4. K. Cale; 5. Wietholder; 6. Cossel; 7. Rothzen; 8. Parks; 9. Krieger; 10. Roberts; 11. Foster; 12. Irwin; 13. Heap



Donnellson Tire Hobby Stocks – Heat Race #1- 1. Dan Wenig, Middletown; 2. Jake Wenig, Middletown; 3. Rodger Dresden, Keokuk; 4. Robert Kephart, Donnellson; 5. Derek Goble, Burlington; 6. Jessie Little, LaHarpe, IL; 7. Brett Swyter, Donnellson

Heat Race #2 – 1. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 2. Matt Gavin, Monmouth, IL; 3. Patrick Profeta, Keokuk; 4. Russell Passmore, Burlington; 5. Austin Schulte, Keokuk; 6. Eric Rowley, Burlington; 7. Jim Lynch, Donnellson

Heat Race #3 – 1. Jim Oliver, Jr., Beardstown, IL; 2. Brad Weber, Donnellson; 3. Ricky Hutcherson, Keokuk; 4. Todd Reichert, Quincy, IL; 5. Stacey Jennings, Mt. Pleasant; 6. Matt Burgtorf, Quincy, IL

Lee County Bank & Trust 15 – 1. Jo. Oliver, Jr.; 2. Dresden; 3. D. Wenig; 4. Gavin; 5. Weber; 6. Kephart; 7. Reichert; 8. Goble; 9. Lynch; 10. Profeta; 11. Little; 12. Schulte; 13. Swyter; 14. Rowley; 15. J. Wenig; 16. Hutcherson; 17. Jennings; 18. Passmore; 19. Ji. Oliver, Jr.; 20. Burgtorf



Budweiser IMCA Stock Cars – Heat Race #1 – 1. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 2. Jeff Mueller, Mt. Pleasant; 3. Abe Huls, Carthage, IL; 4. Chad Witte, Burlington; 5. Dennis Harwood, Denmark; 6. Dianna Chamberlin-Johnston, Montrose

Heat Race #2 – 1. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello; 2. Ryan Meyer, Wayland; 3. Shawn Whiting, W. Burlington; 4. L.Z. Coleman, New London; 5. Travis Plummer, Burlington

Lee County Bank & Trust 15 – 1. Oliver, Jr.; 2. Huls; 3. Mueller; 4. Kinsley; 5. Whiting; 6. Meyer; 7. Harwood; 8. Coleman; 9. Chamberlin-Johnston; 10. Witte; 11. Plummer



Arrowhead Bowl B-Modifieds – Heat Race #1 – 1. Jack Evans, Jr., Keokuk; 2. Jim Kuhlmeier, Ft. Madison; 3. Mitch Higdon, Denmark; 4. Brandon Symmonds, Keokuk; 5. Kevin Londrie, Keokuk; 6. Brandon Savage, Keokuk

Heat Race #2 – 1. Scott Boles, New London; 2. Wyatt Lantz, Bowen, IL; 3. Tom Goble, Burlington; 4. Bob Jennings, Mt. Pleasant; 5. Thad Gaylord, Ft. Madison; 6. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL

Lee County Bank & Trust 15 – 1. Lantz; 2. Waterman; 3. Evans, Jr.; 4. Boles; 5. Savage; 6. Kuhlmeier; 7. Jennings; 8. Symmonds; 9. Higdon; 10. Londrie; 11. Goble; 12. Gaylord



GM Giant Wild Things – Heat Race #1 – 1. Tyler Schulte, Montrose; 2. Travis DeMint, Basco, IL; 3. David Helenthal, Ft. Madison; 4. Jim Oliver, III, Hamilton, IL; 5. Rob Hammel, Hamilton, IL; 6. Adam Swanson, Burlington; 7. Steve Strunk, West Point; 8. John Helenthal, Ft. Madison

Heat Race #2 – 1. Gordon Blankenship, Jr., Keokuk; 2. Ron Kibbe, Mt. Pleasant; 3. Joel Kerr, Quincy, IL; 4. Luke Davidson, Argyle; 5. Chris Wrage, Ft. Madison; 6. Jim Hamelton, Keokuk; 7. Levi Smith, Donnellson; 8. Tim Brown, Ft. Madison

Heat Race #3 – 1. Dennis Schulte, Keokuk; 2. Dave Burdette, Keokuk; 3. Brent Hartley, Niota, IL; 4. Jake Oglesby, Ft. Madison; 5. Ryan Anderson, Donnellson; 6. Chuck Fullenkamp, Ft. Madison; 7. Robert Anderson, Payson, IL; 8. Michael Smith, Ft. Madison

Lee County Bank & Trust 12 – 1. D. Schulte; 2. T. Schulte; 3. Blankenship, Jr.; 4. Oliver, III; 5. DeMint; 6. Kibbe; 7. Davidson; 8. D. Helenthal; 9. Oglesby; 10. Ry. Anderson; 11. Hamelton; 12. Swanson; 13. Wrage; 14. Ro. Anderson; 15. M. Smith; 16. J. Helenthal; 17. Brown; 18. Burdette; 19. Hammel; 20. Fullenkamp; 21. Hartley; 22. Kerr; 23. Strunk; 24. L. Smith