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Bill Martin
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (September 1) - After dominating the first half of the race, Ray Guss Jr. was in position to capitalize on a rare mistake by point leader Jeff Aikey and eke out the Tuesday night Deery Brothers Summer Series victory at Marshalltown Speedway.
Aikey looked to nail down his fifth IMCA Late Model tour victory of the season before jumping the cushion with three circuits left in the 50-lapper. Guss made the most of the opportunity, speeding back into the front spot and taking the $2,000 checkers less than two car lengths ahead of Aikey.
Todd Cooney and Terry Neal both passed nine cars to finish third and fourth, respectively. "B" qualifier Jason Frankel moved up 13 spots to round out the top five. Joe Zrostlik started last in the field of 24 and ended in 11th.
Guss drew the pole start and led by a straightaway when the 10th lap was scored. Cautions kept the field close, however, and the seventh starting Aikey followed a higher line to challenge Guss at the front.
The lead pair ran side by side before Aikey was able to pull ahead. A caution with 10 laps to go negated a Guss pass and put the five-time series champion back at the front for the re-start.
Aikey's luck ran out six laps later when he got too high on the track, opening the door for Guss.
The win was Guss' fourth of the season and Deery career 15th, seventh on the all-time tour list.
Scott Davis was the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod winner.
Three series dates are on the Deery schedule over the Labor Day holiday weekend, at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson on Saturday, Sept. 5; at Quincy, Ill., Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 6; and at Boone Speedway on Monday, Sept. 7, during opening night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals.
The tour sees its final checkered flag with the $10,000 to win Pepsi USA Nationals at 34 Raceway in West Burlington on Sept. 18-19.
Feature results -
1. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.;
2. Jeff Aikey, Waterloo;
3. Todd Cooney, Des Moines;
4. Terry Neal, Ely;
5. Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill.;
6. Jason Hahne, Webster City;
7. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake;
8. Jon Merfeld, Peosta;
9. Tyler Bruening, Decorah;
10. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown;
11. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove;
12. Greg Kastli, Waterloo;
13. Jon Passick, Waterloo;
14. Rob Toland, Davenport;
15. Craig Jacobs, Des Moines;
16. Cory Zeitner, Omaha, Neb.;
17. Al Johnson, Story City;
18. Bobby Hansen, Center Point;
19. Craig Roberts, Des Moines;
20. Jeff French, Adel;
21. Justin Kay, Wheatland;
22. Luke Goedert, Holy Cross;
23. Fred Remley, Blue Grass;
24. T.J. Criss, Oskaloosa.
1st heat (top three) - 1. McKenna; 2. Bruening; 3. Johnson.
2nd heat - 1. Cooney; 2. Aikey; 3. Jacobs.
3rd heat - 1. Hahne; 2. Guss; 3. Toland.
4th heat - 1. Remley; 2. Kay; 3. Hansen.
1st "B" feature (top four) - 1. Neal; 2. Merfeld; 3. Zeitner; 4. Passick.
2nd "B" feature - 1. Roberts; 2. DeFrance; 3. Frankel; 4. French.
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