I-80 Speedway
Chris Simpson captures opener at I-80, $2,000
Chris Simpson led the final 12 laps at I-80 Speedway. (Todd Boyd)
GREENWOOD, Neb. (April 5) — The beginning of Friday’s Spring Meltdown didn’t go so well for Chris Simpson. But the 29-year-old Oxford, Iowa, driver made up for that miscue and more, dominating the final 12 laps at I-80 Speedway for a $2,000 victory co-sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association and Corn Belt Clash Super Late Model Series. | Video | Slideshow
“I think I feel asleep on the start,” said Simpson, who started outside the front row but slipped back to fourth entering turn one on the first lap. “I'm glad to get up there and get a win.”
Simpson notched his first victory at the 4/10-mile oval since Oct. 8, 2006, on the World Dirt Racing League.
"We've had a rough couple years here,” Simpson said. "It's good to win now. We've got a good car. My dad's here tonight. He told me I was going to come out here and win, so I'm glad I could do it for him.”
Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., was second followed by Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, the winner’s older brother. Polesitter Kyle Berck of Marquette, neb., and Will Vaught of Crane, Mo., rounded out the top five.
After Chris Simpson’s poor start, Berck and Phillips dueled early, taking turns in leading the first two laps before Berck asserted command in the high groove. Chris Simpson stalked the frontrunners before taking the second spot from Phillips on eighth lap.
He moved up to challenge Berck in traffic and made the winning move on the 19th lap. Berck was trying to work past the slower car of Justin Mitchell on the backstretch when Simpson made a low-side move to slide past entering turn three.
“We were good, and I knew Kyle kept throwing dirt up in my lane,” Simpson said. “I moved just a little bit lower, and I could get more traction than him off of the corner.”
Simpson built a straightaway lead before a lap-23 caution for Corey Zeitner’s spin exiting turn two. Another yellow appeared for Jesse Stovall, who got into the first-turn wall on lap 26, but Simpson kept his pursuers in check over the final laps.
Notes: Chris Simpson’s MB Customs machine has a Pro Power engine and sponsorship from Five Star Shop Service, GearWrench, Advance Machine & Tool, King Farms and Christner Concrete. ... Simpson has seven career Corn Belt Clash victories and two on the MLRA tour. ... John Anderson’s 18th-to-sixth run gave him MLRA’s Casey's General Stores Hard Charger honors. ... Chase Junghans was ninth as MLRA’s top finishing rookie. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature event: Junior Coover, Kevin Hamele, Mike Stadel, Jake Meier, Clint Benson, Doug Blashe, Justin Gregg, Leon Zeitner and Jase Kaser. ... The Spring Meltdown continues Saturday with a $3,000-to-win event.
Spring Meltdown: (1) Chris Simpson, (2) Terry Phillips, (3) Chad Simpson, (4) Kyle Berck, (5) Will Vaught, (6) John Anderson, (7) Travis Dickes, (8) Jason Bodenhamer, (9) Chase Junghans, (10) Dave Eckrich, (11) Brad Looney, (12) Tony Jackson Jr., (13) Tyson Turnbull, (14) Justin Asplin, (15) Matt Furman, (16) Tommy Weder Jr., (17) Al Humphrey, (18) Justin Mitchell, (19) Bill Leighton, (20) Tad Pospisil, (21) Mark Dotson, (22) Dustin Walker, (23) Jesse Stovall, (24) Corey Zeitner, (25) Justin Zeitner, (26) Andrew Kosiski. Heat race winners (among 47 cars): Asplin, Dickes, Stovall, Dave Eckrich, Chris Simpson. Dash winner: Berck. Consolation winners: Anderson, Weder.
