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Christine Rublack
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (July 16) - The Dart Corn Belt Clash Series presented by Cen-Pe-Co Lubricants took a trip to Independence Motor Speedway last night for the one and only time this season as part of the 2009 Buchanan County Fair. Chris Simpson found more than enough money for the midway rides and he scored his first victory on the series.
Rick Wendling and Keith Foss started the 40-lap feature on the front row with Foss taking the early lead. Foss, who already has one victory this season, was looking to be the first two-time winner, but a flat tire early in the event sent him from the front to the back and brought out the first caution of the night.
On the restart, Jason Rauen took the lead and was quickly pulling away from the field. Behind Rauen, Chad Simpson was moving towards the front and was looking for third using the low groove.
Justin Mitchell was holding onto second and trying to close the gap between himself and Rauen. Mitchell had company with Simpson right behind him, continuing to use the low groove to his advantage. With 10 laps down, Simpson was able to get by Mitchell, take over second place and go after Rauen for the lead.
Rauen had almost a full straightaway lead on the rest of the field as he moved into lapped traffic, but a caution put Simpson right behind him and the two had a terrific multi-lap battle for the top spot. Then on lap 31, push came to shove, literally. On lap 31, Simpson shot beneath Rauen going into turn one. Simpson's car hit a rut that had developed in turn one and the car came off the ground and made contact with Rauen, putting Rauen into a spin, which brought out the caution. Both drivers were sent to the tail, setting up a nine-lap sprint to the finish with a new front row made up of Simpson's brother Chris and Jason Utter. Close on their heels was tenth-starting Travis Smock, a hometown son of Independence, Iowa.
Smock was able to get by Utter and started to put some serious heat on Chris Simpson for the win. A late caution seemed to break Smock's rhythm just a bit and Simpson was able to hold on for the $2,000 win. Smock, as the highest finishing IMCA car, took home a $200 bonus for his efforts on top of his second place check.
Rounding out the top five were Utter, Curt Martin and Terry Neal.
July 16 th, Independence Motor Speedway, Independence, IA - Race 3
Summary of Results
Feature (40 laps):
1. Chris Simpson, Marion; 2. Travis Smock, Independence; 3. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction; 4. Curt Martin, Independence; 5. Terry Neal, Ely; 6. Keith Foss, Winona, Minn.; 7. Rick Wendling, Hazleton; 8.Justin Mitchell, Cedar Rapids; 9. Kurt Kile, Nichols; 10. Jerry Bloom, Rochester, Minn.; 11. Chad Simpson, Mount Vernon; 12. Kevin Kirkpatrick, Waterloo; 13. Gary Crawford, Independence; 14. Kevin Kile, West Liberty; 15. Curt Schroeder, Des Moines; 16. Randy Wheeler, Cedar Falls; 17. Bobby Hansen, Center Point; 18. Chris Smyser, Lancaster, Mo.; 19. Jason Rauen, Farley; 20. Chris Schroeder, Des Moines; 21. Darin Burco, Independence; 22. Rick Dralle, Waterloo; 23. Curt Hansen, Dike; 24. Jim Aschenbrenner, Aplington.
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