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Bill Martin
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (July 3) - The eighth different driver to win a Deery Brothers Summer Series feature this season is also the newest leader in point standings for the IMCA J & J Steel Late Model Tour.
Boone McLaughlin topped Thursday's early holiday show at Independence Motor Speedway, earning $2,000 for his efforts. The victory, combined with Todd Cooney's early exit from both heat and "B" races, gives McLaughlin a 10-point edge over Tom Darbyshire as the series nears midway.
Fifty Late Models were entered, the most for a series event this season and the highest number ever for a Deery race at Independence. The previous record was 49, set two years ago.
Justin Reed drew his third pole start of the season, led the first two laps and chased McLaughlin to the check ers. Jason Hahne also spent time at the front before ending the 40-lapper in third. Darbyshire and rookie contender Mike Garland completed the top five.
Hahne caught Reed on the third circuit and led to lap 16, when the 10th starting McLaughlin used the higher line to steal the point. McLaughlin was pulling away from the pack before encountering lapped traffic beginning with 10 laps left.
That gave Reed and Hahne the opportunity to make up ground, and Reed pulled along side McLaughlin before the first caution of the contest came on lap 36.
Two more quick yellows came out before the final laps could be completed. McLaughlin pulled ahead on each re-start, winning by four car lengths. The victory was his Deery career fifth.
Cooney broke in his heat race, then switched to his back-up car and became part of a night-ending tangle on the first lap of his "B."
With eight events in the books, the series crosses the midway point of the 2008 schedule on the first night of a midweek doubleheader Tuesday, July 22 at Davenport Speedway,
Pit gates will open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand at 5 p.m. as Davenport makes up the race rained out back on April 18. Hot laps are at 6 p.m. and racing is set for 6:30 p.m.
The Wednesday, July 23 show takes the tour back to Southern Iowa Speedway at Oskaloosa for the first time in five years. Both pit gates and the grandstand open at 5 p.m., hot laps are at 6 p.m. and racing is at 7 p.m.
Feature results -
1. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis;
2. Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill.;
3. Jason Hahne, Webster City;
4. Tom Darbyshire, Morning Sun;
5. Mike Garland, DeWitt;
6. Rob Toland, Davenport;
7. Matt Ryan, Davenport;
8. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown;
9. Dale Hackwell Jr., Washburn;
10. T.J. Criss, Oskaloosa;
11. Darin Duffy, Hazleton;
12. Matt Strassheim, West Burlington;
13. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake;
14. Al Johnson, Story City;
15. Darren Ackerman, Readlyn;
16. Terry Neal, Ely;
17. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo;
18. Dale Stolte, Springville;
19. Ben Nading, Ankeny;
20. Travis Smock, Independence;
21. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.;
22. Sam Halstead, New London;
23. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove;
24. Mitch Current, Maquoketa.
1st heat (top three) - 1. Reed; 2. Stolte; 3. Ryan.
2nd heat - 1. Hahne; 2. Criss; 3. Neal.
3rd heat - 1. Smock; 2. Garland; 3. Ackerman.
4th heat - 1. McLaughlin; 2. Halstead; 3. Darbyshire.
5th heat - 1. Hackwell; 2. Toland; 3. Duffy.
1st "B" feature (top three) - 1. Nezworski; 2. Current; 3. Nading.
2nd "B" - 1. Guss; 2. DeFrance; 3. Zrost lik.
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