West Liberty Raceway
West Liberty gives Utter career-richest $10,000
Jason Utter tells Jerry Mackey about his victory. (mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com)
WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (Aug. 6) — Jason Utter of Columbus Junction, Iowa, grabbed a career-high $10,000 victory, topping Tornado Tuesday action at the half-mile West Liberty Raceway.
Utter took the lead from polesitter Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, in the opening laps, then held off Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, in the 50-lapper before enjoying an emotional visit to victory lane. | Slideshow
Birkhofer, racing with a broken right hand, finished second with Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., third in the Illinois-based Moring Motorsports No. 1 car. Simpson was fourth and Dave Eckrich of Cosgrove, Iowa, rounded out the top five finishers.
Utter, who formerly crew-chiefed for Birkhofer, notched his second overall victory of the season. His first came in weekly action at his hometown C.J. speedway on June 14.
Notes: Utter’s MasterSbilt Race Car has Pro Power Racing engine and sponsorship from Cox Design and Metal Fabrication, Louisa Farms, P&L Transportation, BLT Farms, Wehrs Machine, 92 Roadhouse Bar and Grill, Brown Bros. Enterprises, Mendenhall Inc. and Skubal Electric. ... Andy Eckrich lost a driveshaft and slowed while running second with one lap remaining. ... Jay Johnson's smoking car brought out a yellow on the 36th lap. ... All 24 entrants started the main with the top six in heat race passing points running a dash to set the first three rows of the lineup. ... Among a half-dozen events remaining on the track’s schedule is the Ideal Ready Mix Liberty 100 set for Oct. 4-5.
Tornado Tuesday: (1) Jason Utter, (2) Brian Birkhofer, (3) Don O'Neal, (4) Chad Simpson, (5) Dave Eckrich, (6) Brian Harris, (7) Gregg Satterlee, (8) Justin Kay, (9) Clay Fisher, (10) Joel Callahan, (11) Andy Eckrich, (12) Spencer Diercks, (13) Jason Rauen, (14) Jay Johnson, (15) Justin Diercks, (16) Charlie McKenna, (17) Rick Wendling, (18) Ray Guss Jr., (19) Tyler Bruening, (20) Jake Meier, (21) Nick Marolf, (22) Denny Eckrich, (23) Chris Simpson, (24) Brunson Benning. Heat race winners (among 24 cars): Rauen, Andy Eckrich, Denny Eckrich. Dash winner: Chad Simpson.
