The Harris Clash is always one of our "must see" races every year, and last night's 25th running back at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City--- the track where it all began---was a thriller! Sixty-six IMCA Modifieds, and 51 IMCA Northern SportMods were in the house, representing 11 states (by my count) and Australia.
Six heat races and three B Mains were run for both the Modifieds and SportMods. Two from each of the heats, qualified for the A main and four from each of the B's, went on. There was also a special "Dash at the Clash" race before the two A mains were run. It pitted ten Modified drivers that had won at different Midwest tracks on a designated "Dash at the Clash" qualifier. Drivers drew for their starting positions in the ten-lap dash. The ten drivers were Ricky Thornton, Jr., John Logue, Luke Lemmens, Josh Ruby, Scott Hogan, Kelly Shryock, Jeremy Mills, Rob VanMill, Ethan Dotson, and Chris Abelson. Chris Abelson and John Logue drew the front row for the start. Much of the race became a duel between Abelson and fifth place starter, Ricky Thornton, Jr. Abelson came out the victor in the Inaugural Dash at the Clash, earning himself $500. Thornton was the runner up and Kelly Shryock took third after starting eighth.
Jake Sachau, Randy Roberts, Adam Armstrong, Shane Swanson, Doug Smith and Nick Meyer were all heat race winners in the Northern SportMods. The B main winners were Brett Lowry, Jack Housley, and Erik Laudenschlager.
Randy Roberts and Adam Armstrong started on the front row of the 20-lap feature and Armstrong immediately grabbed the lead. Armstrong's healthy lead disappeared when a yellow flew at lap seven, tightening the field for the restart. It was no concern to Armstrong however, as he motored off from the pack, sailing along on the topside and took the checkers, untouched. Sixth place starter, Jake Sachau finished a distant runner up, track champion Ty Griffith came from ninth starting spot, to finish third, Brett Lowry started thirteenth, and finished fourth and Nick Meyer completed the top five. The win earned Armstrong a healthy $1,000. Armstrong, who is from Beatrice, Nebraska is now calling Carlisle, Iowa home. He has had much success at the Beatrice Speedway in both the IMCA Hobby Stock and the SportMod classes.
The IMCA Modified heat winners were Chase Ellingson, Kelly Shryock, Chris Abelson, Josh Ruby, Richie Gustin, and Ryan Ruter. The three B main wins went to Tom Berry, track champion Tim Ward, and Cory Dripps. The luck of the draw pitted Kelly Shryock and Chris Abelson to lead the field to the green in the 25-lap feature. Those two were the whole show up front, while Joel Rust ran in third, watching the two go at it. Abelson led Shryock all of the race, with the #3 attached to his bumper. On the final lap, Shryock made his move, pulling alongside Abelson as they entered turn one. Then---contact was made...Abelson went spinning, Shryock slowed with a possible flat tire, and Joel Rust was able to slip between the two, and lead the final 3/4 lap circuit to the checkers and the $2,000 win. Josh Ruby, who had run fourth most of the race, took second, and Richie Gustin took third from starting eleventh. Twelfth place starter, Ryan Ruter came home in fourth and track champion, Tim Ward finished fifth after starting fourteenth.
It was an exciting finish to the race to say the least! The grandstand was abuzz after the race was completed...many opinions flying as to what just happened! There was no doubt however, as to who was the winner, as Joel Rust, young Grundy Center, Iowa racer, stood in Victory Lane! So ended the 25th running of the Harris Clash, and Rust's name is now the latest in a long line of prestigious winners.
There was a great crowd on hand at the historic Hamilton County Speedway, and it took us a good 40 minutes just to get out of the parking lot after the race was completed. We wonder just how many made an early exit and found out later, the outcome of the race to be a lot different than they had anticipated! It just goes to show, it's never over, until it's over!
There is still a lot of racing in the area this week. Tonight, the Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds closes out it's season at the Buena Vista Speedway in Alta, Iowa. Then there are three consecutive nights of racing at the Hancock County Speedway in Britt, Iowa. Thursday is the Night of a 1,000 Stars, Friday the Night of 10,000 Stars and Saturday, the All Stars. Of course, there is still weekly racing going on as well. Find a race to enjoy!
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