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Pierce Storms to MLRA Win at Stuart Speedway

Stuart, IA (May 2) – Fans of Stuart Speedway came out in force to witness the first visit of the ground pounding Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models and they got their money’s worth! Bobby Pierce took home the big check along with Shannon Anderson, Buck Schafroth and Tyler Inman taking home wins in the Hobby Stocks, Stock Cars and SportMods.
After the heats were over it was the IMCA Hobby Stocks taking to the track with Richard Pahlka Jr and Chuck Madden on the front row. Madden led early with Jack Phillips and Shannon Anderson in tow. Anderson worked on Phillips and moved into second on lap six, and one lap later overtook Madden for the race lead. Lap traffic became an issue as the white flag came out and Madden pulled up beside Anderson, but the 78 machine was stronger through the middle of turn two and went on to the feature win in the caution free event. Madden finished second with Phillips third, Dylan Nelson fourth and Adam Ayers fifth. Madden, Korbin Nourse and Ayers were the heat race winners.
IMCA Stock Cars were next up with Jeremy Gettler and Buck Schafroth showing the way. Gettler led lap one with Schafroth and Todd VanEaton hot on his tail. Schafroth got up beside Gettler on lap three and took the lead a lap later. Gettler and VanEaton put on a spirited battle for second with VanEaton securing that position on lap seven as Schafroth continued to lead. While this was going on, eighth starting Mike Nichols worked his way to fourth and got to third on lap eight. Three circuits later lady luck hammered VanEaton as he retired to the infield with mechanical issues. The race went green from here, and Schafroth had his hands full as Nichols worked high and low trying to find a way around. After taking the white flag, Nichols seemed to set up a move down the backstretch and into turn three, but his car went up on two wheels in turn three and his shot at the win was over. Schafroth took the exciting victory with seventeenth starting Shawn Ritter sneaking by Nichols for second, Nichols grabbed third, Kyle Brown fourth and Josh Daniels fifth. Gettler, Schafroth and Chris Pruitt were the heat race winners.
Next up was the race everyone came to see, the first ever visit by the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models to Stuart Speedway. After some four wide parade laps it was time to get down to forty laps of business with Payton Looney and Tyler Bruening on the front row. Looney led lap one with Bruening, Will Vaught and Chris Simpson close behind. A caution flag on lap three slowed the field, and a lap later Looney would bring another yellow out as his engine expired, handing the lead to Bruening. Lurking a couple spots behind Bruening was the “Smooth Operator”, Bobby Pierce as he was charging from his thirteenth starting position. Pierce got to second on lap eleven and methodically worked the top side of the track to gain ground on the leader. Lap sixteen saw Pierce take the lead with Bruening, Vaught and Simpson in tow. Vaught took over second on lap twenty six, and four laps later a caution for debris set up a ten lap dash to the checkers. Pierce was up to the challenge and put in what looked like ten qualifying laps as he blistered his way to a straightaway lead and the $3000 win. Simpson wound up finishing second with Bruening third, Vaught fourth and Jordan Yaggy fifth. Vaught, Bruening and Looney were the heat race winners.
The last race for the night was the IMCA Northern SportMods with Blair Simmons and Brett Vanderheiden on the front row. After a couple of cautions to start the twenty lap race it was Hunter Longnecker leading over Vanderheiden and Johnathon Logue. The top three stayed in formation through lap eleven until Tyler Inman fought his way past Logue and Vanderheiden to get to second on lap twelve. Two laps later Inman used the bottom of the track to get by Longnecker to take the lead and drive off to the victory. Longnecker finished second with Brayton Carter third, Austin Kaplan fourth and Jake McBirnie fifth. Carter, Kody Havens, Inman and Colton Nelson were the heat race winners.
We’d like to thank all who came out to support the race track at our third event of the year. Next Wednesday will be Pitts Lawn Service & Stuart Herald Night at the Races with the Cruiser Cars joining our six regular classes. See you then!

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