300 Raceway
Chad Simpson captures Yankee prelim
Chad Simpson enjoys victory lane at Farley. (Dan Busch)
FARLEY, Iowa (Sept. 13) — A driver who is no stranger to victory lane at Farley Speedway won his career first Deery Brothers Summer Series feature there Friday despite his right-rear tire going flat in victory lane.
Chad Simpson of Mount Vernion, Iowa, raced his way from a consolation race to the $3,000 checkers in the IMCA Late Model tour event. A season-best 54 cars were entered in the Yankee Dirt Track Classic preliminary feature, the 14th of 17 tour events this season.
Tommy Elston of Keokuk, Iowa, started on the pole and led the first 18 of 40 laps. Denny Eckrich of Tiffin, Iowa, ran second most of that time before catching Elston and running in front the next three times around the half-mile dirt oval.
That’s when Simpson took over. After winning the second consy and starting 14th in the big show, Simpson shot into the lead on lap 22, just before the first caution came out. He was running comfortably in front with the final yellow waved with three to go and bunched the field.
Eckrich got the better of Elston in their battle for second but neither could make up any distance on Simpson. Ron Klein and Jason Rauen completed the top five; Klein’s fourth-place finish was his Deery career best. Series points leader Brian Harris of Davenport, Iowa, ran 12th, three places ahead of Justin Kay of Wheatland, Iowa.
Notes: Simpson is making a guest appearance in a Steve and Lisa Diercks' owned Victory Circle race car this weekend. ... Joel Callahan was the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing winner. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature lineup Rob Toland, Tyler Bruening, Chris Simpson, Luke Merfeld, Nick Marolf, Spencer Diercks, Ray Guss Jr., Travis Denning, Dan Shelliam, Dean Wagner, Curt Martin, Todd Hansen, Jon Merfeld, Jeremy Grady, Rick Drallie, Darrel DeFranics, Mike Cothron, Kyl Hinrichs and Terry Neal, who was strippled of a heat race victory for failing post-race technical inspection. ... Top prize for Saturday’s 75-lap Deery feature at Farley is $7,500. That race pays a minimum of $500 to start.
Deery Brothers @ Farley: (1) Chad Simpson, (2) Denny Eckrich, (3) Tommy Elston, (4) Ron Klein, (5) Jason Rauen, (6) Matt Ryan, (7) Cory Goldbeck, (8) Brunson Behning, (9) Jeff Aikey, (10) Kevin Kile, (11) Joel Callahan, (12) Brian Harris, (13) Chad Holladay, (14) Joe Zrostlik, (15) Justin Kay, (16) Doug Yates, (17) Greg Kastli, (18) Ryan Dolan, (19) Nate Beuseling, (20) Mike Murphy Jr., (21) Jay Johnson, (22) Tom Goble, (23) Andy Eckrich, (24) Rob Moss. Heat race winners (among 54 cars): Kastli, R. Klein, Rauen, Murphy, Harris, Kile. Consolation winners: Bueseling, Chad Simpson, Dolan. Provisional starters: A. Eckrich, Callahan.
Correction: Changes Simpson's chassis to Victory Circle sted MasterSbilt by Huey, amends car owners.
