(Bill W) September 12, 2009 - After years of trying, veteran Jim Moughan Jr. can add a Tom Knowles Memorial win to his long list of accomplishments. Moughan took the win at the 25th Annual edition at the Spoon River Speedway south of Canton, Illinois Saturday night.
Moughan was the class of the field from outside row one in the 25-lap feature event, though a series of cautions in the first six laps plagued the event. Jim joined nephew Joey Moughan on the front row of the $1,500 to win main event, and took off from the start. An incident before a lap could be completed claimed Dustin Selvage and Justin Parrish. Randy Martin broke a U-joint at the next try at green. On lap two, Korey Weyant spun, on lap three it was Ryan Jamison, and on lap four, defending race winner, Jordan Goldesberry and Matt Sutton had issues.
Through it all, Jim Moughan Jr. was in command. Ben Wagoner worked around Joey early for second and held the spot for the first six laps. Joey took over the spot shortly thereafter, and a charging Kaley Gharst pressured Wagoner for third, before taking the position.
Sid Blandford Jr. brought out the final caution of the night on lap 17, with a spin of his own. The restart saw Jim ahead of Joey, Gharst, Wagoner and the charging efforts of Dave Hall and Dustin Barks. The lead pack was able to maintain their spots, but Joey would suffer a flat right rear tire with just three laps to go. Jim was able to win by a full straightaway.
Despite years of trying, this was Jim Moughan's first triumph in the Tom Knowles Memorial. "It's fun racing with my nephew Joey, and I have him to thank," said the winner. "I used to help him out all the time with his setups, but lately he's been the one helping me out. I've been trying to win this race since about 1987, so getting this one is special to me."
Gharst was able to hold down second after getting by Wagoner. "We were supposed to start 13th, and after all that stuff early, I don't know where we ended up," he said. "Wagoner and I raced real close and real clean. I got a better run on him out of two. Unfortunately, Joey had the flat, and we never had a shot at Jimmy. To finish second after we were supposed to start 13th on a rubber-down track isn't bad at all."
It was the second straight year for a top three finish for Wagoner, who followed in third. "I took a shot at Jim early there, but I couldn't quite stick it," he said. "I got tight after that, and just tried to keep my tires under me. Kaley and I had a good battle. I missed the groove on both ends, and he got under me. I like this track, even if I don't have any tires afterwards."
Dustin Barks earned hard-charger honors by moving up 12 spots into fourth. Dave Hall was fifth, followed by Weyant, Jamison, Mike Houseman Jr., Mark Shirshekan and Sutton. Jamison earned a spot at the second alternate to the A out of the B. Both John Draper and Russ Hall were unable to make the call. Mincer, Joey Moughan, Wagoner and Goldesberry won the heats, while Joey took the Rich DeReu Memorial Shake-Up Dash. Sutton took the B main.
The Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders will complete their Illinois "Triple Threat" weekend on Sunday night at the Quincy Raceways. The race will again feature a $1,500 to win purse thanks to Storm Steel, Midland Performance and Hosehead's Radio.
Results
Ideal Ready Mix 25-lap A main Finish (started): 1. 1m, Jim Moughan Jr., Springfield, IL (2) 2. 14P, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL (13) 3. 84, Ben Wagoner, Emden, IL (4) 4. 22, Dustin Barks, Farmington, MO (16) 5. 51, Dave Hall, Des Moines, IA (14) 6. 99w, Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL (3) 7. 51J, Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA (19) 8. Y2, Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines, IA (17) 9. 3x, Mark Shirshekan, Farmington, MO (12) 10. 3, Matt Sutton, Macomb, IL (15) 11. 53H, Matt Harms, Morton, IL (11) 12. 8H, Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL (1) 13. 29, Matt Rogerson, West Burlington, IA (10) 14. 7x, Sid Blandford Jr., Vail, CO (20) 15. 65, Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL (6) 16. 40, Andy Huston, Roseville, IL (18) 17. 7, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (5) 18. 15, Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA (7) 19. 4J, Justin Parrish, Oquawka, IL (8) 20. 14, Randy Martin, California, MO (9) DNS - 44, John Draper, Bryant, IL; 29x, Russ Hall, Des Moines, IA. Lap Leader: Jim Moughan Jr. 1-25. Hard Charger: Dustin Barks.
Golden Eagle Distributors - Budweiser of Burlington Heat Race #1 (8 laps, top four to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Bobby Mincer (3) 2. Dustin Selvage (1) 3. Randy Martin (7) 4. Kaley Gharst (8) / 5. Mike Houseman Jr. (2) 6. Sid Blandford Jr. (6) 7. 83, Dave Feese, Saybrook, IL (5) 8. 165, Haley Arnold, Sedalia, MO (4)
Cole Implement of Media, IL Heat Race #2 (8 laps, top four to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Joey Moughan (2) 2. Korey Weyant (3) 3. Matt Rogerson (5) 4. Dave Hall (6) / 5. Andy Huston (7) 6. 99, Jimmy Davies, Oquawka, IL (8) 7. 18, Jamie Lasher, Pekin, IL (4) 8. 4m, Mark Tischer, Hannibal, MO (1)
Huston Land Improvement of Roseville, IL Heat Race #3 (8 laps, top four to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Ben Wagoner (7) 2. Jim Moughan Jr. (2) 3. Matt Harms (1) 4. John Draper (4) / 5. 95, Tommy Rockwell, Towanda, IL (8) 6. 02, Manny Rockhold, Pekin, IL (6) 7. 31P, Travis Porter, Rock Island, IL (5) 8. 80x, CJ Houseman, Norwalk, IA (3)
Ideal Ready Mix Heat Race #4 (8 laps, top four to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Jordan Goldesberry (1) 2. Justin Parrish (2) 3. Mark Shirshekan (5) 4. Dustin Barks (7) / 5. Russ Hall (4) 6. Matt Sutton (3) 7. Ryan Jamison (6)
Rich DeReu Memorial Shake-Up Dash (6 laps): 1. Joey Moughan (1) 2. Jim Moughan Jr. (6) 3. Korey Weyant (2) 4. Ben Wagoner (4) 5. Dustin Selvage (8) 6. Jordan Goldesberry (5) 7. Bobby Mincer (3) 8. Justin Parrish (7)
Holtkamp Trailer Repair B Main (12 laps, top four to feature): 1. Matt Sutton (8) 2. Andy Huston (2) 3. Mike Houseman Jr. (1) 4. Sid Blandford Jr. (5) / 5. Russ Hall (4) 6. Ryan Jamison (12) 7. Dave Feese (9) 8. Manny Rockhold (7) 9. Jimmy Davies (6) 10. Travis Porter (9) 11. Haley Arnold (13) 12. CJ Houseman (14) 13. Jamie Lusher (10) 14. Tommy Rockwell (3) DNS - Mark Tischer
Contingency Awards:
Rod End Supply: Dustin Selvage, Matt Rogerson
Saldana Racing Products: Justin Parrish
Diversified Machine, Inc.: Jordan Goldesberry
Hepfner Race Products: Matt Harms
Brake Man: Matt Sutton