Stuart Speedway

STUART WINS: C. PRUITT, BAKER, MURTY AND SCHIMMELLS

by DAVID WILKINSON

Stuart, Iowa (August 27, 2000) – It was a strange night as light fog surrounded the Stuart Speedway and the track lights came on early Sunday night on the last night of regular racing. The racing was rough on cars and drivers as three cars rolled. The crowd saw some of the closest racing of the season as Chris Pruitt won the IMCA modified feature, Tim Baker took the IMCA stock car main, Damon Murty repeated last week’s win in his IMCA hobby stock, and Fred Schimmels won the dwarf car feature.

The dwarf car feature was exciting and had a surprise ending. Fred Schimmels passed Tim Love on the second lap. Within two laps, Cliff Barber and Scott Bailey were challenging Schimmels. On the seventh lap, the three were side by side when Shane Hunter’s car rolled. After the restart, the three continued their tight competition. As the white flag was thrown, Barber and Bailey tangled with the straightaway cement wall. Barber rolled and Bailey flipped bringing out the red and checkered flags. Barber drove off the track as Bailey’s car was towed with him inside. He appeared to be okay, but was shook. Fred Schimmels received the win with Mike Morrill second, Rick Dennis third, and Sam Allison in fourth.

Dan Springer jumped into the lead at the drop of the green in the IMCA stock car main, but Tim Baker passed him on lap three and led to the finish. Baker was chased by Jerry McElderry who finished second and Steve Jackson who finished third. Springer finished fourth. After the race, Erick Knutson claimed the carburetor on Springer’s car.

Chris Pruitt passed leader Rusty Bates early in the IMCA modified feature. For the rest of the race, he worked to fend the challenge of Dave Farren who tried to make the low groove work as Mike Nichols followed him high in the corners and looked for a chance to pass. At the end of the race, Pruitt prevailed with Farren second, Nichols third, and Bob Bowman fourth.

The early leader in the IMCA hobby stock feature was Jerid Lund who yielded the front spot to Jim Wetzel. On lap eight, Damon Murty passed Wetzel and won the race. Jeremy Embrey finished second with Wetzel third and Don Wear fourth.

The duo of Coon and McLaughlin won the cruiser feature.

The racing season concludes next Sunday with season championships in all five classes. Gates open at 4:30 P.M., hot laps at 6:15, followed by racing competition. The track phone is (515) 523-1319.