The second part of the Harris Clash (rescheduled from a weather-out three weeks prior) was completed this past Wednesday night, July 28th at Knoxville. This night saw the running of the IMCA Deery Brother Late Models and the IMCA Northern SportMods. There were 33 Late Models and 71 SportMods in competition on the famed half-mile of the Knoxville Raceway.
The SportMods ran eight 6-lap heat races with only the winner moving on to the 20-lap feature. Three B mains moved the four top finishers of each, to tag the end of the field. Young Jared Timmerman from Norwalk, Iowa found himself sitting on the pole position along side Robert Weber out of Burt, Iowa. Timmerman scooted to the lead but soon it was Oskaloosa's Cayden Carter on his tail. Carter and Timmerman swapped the lead several times as the laps wound down. Carter was pushing it to the limit on the last lap in an attempt to catch the 7+ of Timmerman, when he found himself in spin mode in turn three. Adam Ackerman would then collect Carter, ending both of their runs. The race ended under a green-white-checkered finish with Timmerman keeping his composure to take the SportMod Harris Clash win for 2010. Dylan Book and Nate Chodur finished second and third, both having been front runners all night. Jeremy Embrey finished a strong fourth after having qualified through a B main and starting 21st, and southeastern driver Jim Gillenwater from Keokuk rounded out the top five.
The Deery Brother Late Models fielded 33 cars as they qualified through four heat races and two B mains. Three cars transferred from the heats and four from each of the two consy races. Four cars were added as provisionals with Robby Warner, Ryan Giles, Craig Roberts and Cory Goldbeck snagging those positions. It was a "third times the charm" before the race got under way as mishaps caused by spinning cars, led to the no-starts. When racing finally got going, it was the day-glow orange #15 of Jeff Guengerich out front and leading the pack as Nebraska driver Jay Stewart pursued him. We shouldn't have been surprised at the impressive moves that veteran Ray Guss, Jr. was then making. Guss came from starting sixth to pass Stewart and find himself in the second spot with just four laps down in the 35-lap contest. By lap 9, Guss had taken the lead over Guengerich and was pulling away.
With 17-laps to go, on a restart situation, Chargin' Charlie McKenna #22, would catch the berm in turn one, and make several spectacular barrel rolls before coming to a stop. Thankfully, the Clear Lake, Iowa driver was okay. While Guss continued to be in command with little trouble, Jeff Aikey was fighting it out with Darren "The Thriller" Miller for second spot. Aikey had started back about nineteenth place having qualified through a B, and flew through the field.
When it was all said and done, Ray Guss, Jr. took his second consecutive Deery Brother Late Model win, having won last Wednesday night at the Southern Iowa Speedway. Darren Miller stayed ahead of Aikey as they finished second and third. Jeremiah Hurst was scored in fourth place and Brian Harris slapped a 21H on his plain black car he had hot lapped, to take fifth. Rookie to the series, Andy Eckrich finished in sixth and Geingerich fell back to seventh.
Thanks to Bob Harris for the hospitality and for putting the Harris Clash on each year. These are always fun shows to attend and are always marked on our calendar as "must see". Positively Racing was well represented last night and you can check out a more in depth take of last night's racing by clicking on "Back Stretch" and "Tapfan's Tours". Also check http://www.imca.com/ and http://www.harrisclash.com/ for more information and results.
There are a lot of specials about this time of year and between those mid-week races and the regular season track races, it's not hard to find a race to attend. Happy racing!
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