(Bill W) September 26, 2009 – Bobby Mincer came into Saturday night's Season Championship for the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders with a 13-point lead, and left no doubt who was in charge by the end of the night, sweeping all events. The Burlington, Iowa driver was crowned with his second championship in the series' history, having also won in 2004.
After handily winning his heat, Mincer drew the pole for the special Bud Taeger Memorial Dash, then rolled a two to start the 25-lap main event outside of row one. Ryan Jamison entered the night second in points, and won his heat as well. He started fifth in the main after running fourth in the dash.
Mincer shot out to a lead immediately, with Joe Beaver and Mike Houseman Jr. in tow. Pole-sitter Andy Huston spun into the infield on lap two, but green flag conditions continued. With a week full of rain, the banked 3/8-mile oval was tacky all night long. Mincer roared to a good lead by lap ten ahead of Beaver, Houseman Jr., Jamison and Kaley Gharst. Jamison made a move around Houseman Jr. for third by a lap fifteen caution for debris. Rogerson had moved into the top five as well.
The next seven laps went well for Mincer, but as he approached lapped traffic, Beaver closed in. Meanwhile, Donnie Steward had climbed to the fourth spot from outside row seven, and looked poised to make some noise himself. On lap 22, Tasker Phillips tangled with a lapped car and got upside down in turn two. He was uninjured.
With a clear track in front of him, Mincer held on for the $1,500 win and cemented his second championship. "Things really went well for us, and I have to thank the entire crew and our sponsors," he said. "Without them, it wouldn't happen. We tried to have the approach tonight that what happens happens. Tomorrow will be a new day, regardless, and I think it worked for us."
"We had nothing for him in clean air," said Beaver, who finished second. "His car was awesome. We knew he'd be the guy to beat after blowing by us in the heat race. Traffic was our only shot. We got a little tight at the end. It's just fun racing with these guys."
"It was a heavy track, and just tough to move up any positions," said a third place Jamison. "A lot of times you beg for a yellow, but just when we got to traffic and I had them where I wanted them, the yellows came out when we didn't need them."
Mincer embraced his second championship with the Sprint Invaders. "It's a real honor that's hard to describe, because this is a very good group of drivers," he said. "The last month has really been tough on us. We've blown a motor while leading (Columbus Junction) and last week (Farley) we had a tire go down while leading. It's all worth it now."
Jamison, who has two championships of his own with the Sprint Invaders (2002, 2006) finished just 22 points behind the leader. "A mishap here or there, really hurts you and puts a damper on things," he said. "You have to hit everything right to win it. We had a heavy track tonight, and we just went for it. The sun will still rise tomorrow."
Hard-charger Steward was fourth, ahead of Houseman Jr., Rogerson, Gharst, Josh Schneiderman, CJ Houseman and Justin Parrish. Jamison, Houseman Jr. and Mincer won heats. Mincer took the Bud Taeger Memorial Shake-Up Dash, and Steward claimed the special Storm Steel Super Dash.
Results
Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders 25-lap A main Finish (started): 1. 15, Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA (2) 2. 53, Joe Beaver, Knoxville, IA (4) 3. 51J, Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA (5) 4. 16HD, Donnie Steward, West Burlington, IA (14) 5. Y2, Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines, IA (3) 6. 29, Matt Rogerson, West Burlington, IA (7) 7. 14P, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL (6) 8. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (8) 9. 80x, CJ Houseman, Norwalk, IA (12) 10. 4J, Justin Parrish, Oquawka, IL (11) 11. 84, Ben Wagoner, Emden, IL (18) 12. 99, Jimmy Davies, Oquawka, IL (9) 13. 02, Manny Rockhold, Pekin, IL (19) 14. 51, Dave Hall, Des Moines, IA (15) 15. 3, Matt Sutton, Macomb, IL (10) 16. 53H, Matt Harms, Chillicothe, IL (17) 17. 61J, Daniel Bergquist, Burlington, IA (22) 18. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (13) 19. 38, Seth Wilke, Burlington, IA (20) 20. 2, John Schulz, West Burlington, IA (16) 21. 3x, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA (21) 22. 40, Andy Huston, Roseville, IL (1). Lap Leader: Mincer 1-25. Hard Charger: Steward
Golden Eagle Distributors/Budweiser Heat Race #1 (started, Top Two to the Shake-Up Dash): 1. Ryan Jamison (2) 2. Kaley Gharst (1) 3. Matt Rogerson (4) 4. Matt Sutton (6) 5. Tasker Phillips (3) 6. John Schulz (5) 7. Manny Rockhold (7) 8. Daniel Bergquist (8)
Cole Implement Heat Race #2 (started, Top Two to Shake-Up Dash): 1. Mike Houseman Jr. (2) 2. Andy Huston (1) 3. Josh Schneiderman (7) 4. Justin Parrish (3) 5. Donnie Steward (6) 6. Matt Harms (4) 7. Seth Wilke (5)
Huston Land Improvement Heat Race #3 (started, Top Two to Shake-Up Dash): 1. Bobby Mincer (3) 2. Joe Beaver (1) 3. Jimmy Davies (2) 4. CJ Houseman (5) 5. Dave Hall (4) 6. Ben Wagoner (7) 7. Nate Van Haaften (6)
Bud Taeger Memorial Shake-Up Dash (started): 1. Bobby Mincer (1) 2. Mike Houseman Jr. (2) 3. Joe Beaver (4) 4. Ryan Jamison (6) 5. Kaley Gharst (3) 6. Andy Huston (5)
Storm Steel Super Dahs (started): 1. Donnie Steward (1) 2. Andy Huston (2) 3. Kaley Gharst (8) 4. Justin Parrish (3) 5. Mike Houseman Jr. (7) 6. Matt Harms (5) 7. CJ Houseman (4) 8. Jimmy Davies (6)
Contingency Awards
Rod End Supply – Daniel Bergquist, Matt Harms
Saldana Racing Products – John Schulz
Diversified Machine, Inc. – Seth Wilke
Hepfner Racing Products – Matt Sutton
Brake Man – Tasker Phillips