Hawks shines in the Ozarks as Invaders prepare for Southeastern Iowa Tandem
By Jake Croxton

BURLINGTON, IA (Sept. 5, 2006) – Stellar fields and intense racing graced the Lake Ozark Speedway over the Labor Day weekend as ten Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invader teams made the trek south to compete in the 4th Annual LOS 360 Nationals.

Randy Martin and Brian Brown won the respective battles, while Warsaw, Missouri, up-and-comer Jesse Hockett capped off a month that included the Friday night WOW win at Double X Speedway, a pair of runner-up finishes at LOS that earned him the “Loot at the Lake” points fund, and the Sprint Bandits Tour N’ Topless Midwest Swing championship in Wingless competition. Hockett literally pushed Martin across the line on Saturday, and missed the wet stuff on a late restart Sunday, allowing Brown to slide to the win.

Fields of 62 and 61 battled for the right to start in the 24-car fields. The draw format made for some loaded Heat Races, including a Sunday night qualifier that included five of the previous night’s top ten all vying for three transfer positions.

The season-long points battle between Matt Sutton and Ryan Jamison had its drama over the weekend. During Saturday’s event, Sutton finished one spot out of a transfer in the B-Main only to have the transferring car of Dustin Adams fail to report to the scales. That put the pressure on Jamison in the second B-Main, as he was one spot out of a transfer with one lap to go. Third-place runner Foster Landon then ran out of fuel, putting the duo on the final row of the A-Main. Jamison’s luck turned sour on Sunday as he was unable to get out of the B-Main, which cost the 2002 Champion 20 points to Sutton.

Jacksonville, Illinois, veteran Bobby Hawks had the strongest Invaders showing. Hawks won his Saturday Heat Race from the seventh starting position and brought the Jacksonville Chrysler-Dodge / Lumley Trucking / Eagle home in third. During the Sunday finale, Hawks led for seven laps before duplicating his previous night’s performance.

Nick Eastin took advantage of a pole starting position in his Saturday Heat Race and turned the good fortune into a fifth-place showing. It was “The Red-Head’s” best finish of 2006. Eastin pulled a 93 of 100 pills on Sunday and never recovered.

Korey Weyant’s weekend was similar to Eastin’s. The two contested the fifth position during Saturday’s A-Main, until traffic put Weyant’s night in the tenth position. Weyant pulled a 99 on Sunday and failed to qualify.

Jerrod Hull and Bobby Mincer also made an A-Main each. During the Saturday A-Main, Hull worked around Randy Martin with ten laps remaining, only to meet the flipping car of Gabe Maycock and ending his night. Hull was one spot out of a transfer on Sunday. Mincer’s car came to life during the Sunday B-Main #2. “The Lil’ Dude” brought the car home to a 22nd place finish.

Randy Plath and Matt Krieger showed bright spots at different times, but failed to make the show each night. Plath was racing for a transfer spot on Saturday but missed the cut. Krieger started on the pole of a Heat Race on Sunday, but faded to seventh and did not transfer. Justin Newberry battled engine woes all weekend and will look to resume his good fortune at the 34 Raceway on Saturday, September 9.

For up-to-date standings and statistics for the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders, punch in www.sprintinvaders.com  on the World Wide Web.



Race 17: Saturday, September 9, 2006
Event title: 34 Raceway 25
Venue: 34 Raceway, West Burlington, Iowa
Times: Pit Gates – 4 p.m., Grandstands – 5 p.m., Hot Laps – 6:30, First Race – 7 p.m.
Admission: Adults - $12, Students & Seniors - $10, 10 & Under – Free
Pit Passes: $25
Promoter: Terry & Jenni Hoenig
Race Day: (319) 752-3434
Website: 34raceway.com
Support: IMCA Modifieds

Race 18: Saturday, September 23, 2006
Event title: Mt. Hamill Elevator & Lumber/ Donnellson Elevator / Mt. Pleasant Lumber 25
Venue: Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, Iowa
Times: Pit Gates – 4 p.m., Grandstands – 5 p.m., Hot Laps – 6:30, First Race – 7 p.m.
Admission: Adults - $12, Students & Seniors - $10, 10 & Under – Free
Pit Passes: $25
Promoter: Terry & Jenni Hoenig
Race Day: (319) 835-5523
Website: www.leecountyspeedway.com
Support: IMCA Stock Cars
Hobby Stocks
Wild Things