(Bill W) September 11, 2009 - Russ Hall picked a great time for his first 360 sprint car win. His earnings approached $3,000 when he swept the dash and led the feature from flag to flag at the Herb Barlow Memorial in Jacksonville, Illinois on Friday night. The $1,500 to win feature at the Morgan County Speedway also included $50 per circuit lap money, netting him an additional $1,250. Add a dash win and heat money, and it was a great night for the Des Moines, Iowa driver.
Twenty-eight Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders joined a huge field of POWRi Midgets and Mini-Sprints to kick their Illinois "Triple Threat" weekend off. Luck was on Hall's side, when CJ Houseman, who won at the banked 1/4 mile oval in August, scratched from his pole position in the heat. That gave Hall the pole, and he finished second, transferring to the dash. In addition, veterans Randy Martin and Jim Moughan Jr. tangled in the Modern Paving and Scrap Shake-Up Dash, giving him another front row start. He took full advantage, netting a new Hoosier left rear tire for his dash win.
After another stroke of luck saw him roll a one on the line-up dice, he headed to the 25-lap feature in the pole position. He shot out to an early lead ahead of Ben Wagoner early. Joey Moughan would soon take over second, and begin a race-long battle with Matt Sutton for the spot. "I passed Matt early, he got me back, and then I went by him again," said Moughan. "Then he shot by me up top. I found the middle of the track where there was rubber, and started moving forward. Racing this track as much as I have, when it gets wide like it was, it lays rubber somewhere. We were lucky enough to find it early."
Hall chose to ride the rim, and distanced himself from the battle for second. Moughan charged late and pulled side by side after finding the rubber. Hall dropped in Moughan's line, and held on for the win. "It's the same thing I would have done if I was in position to do it," said Moughan, who settled for second in the Hicks Farms #8H.
"We were half-throttle there getting around until we saw Joey down there beside us," said Russ. "I had to get my elbows up a bit and get on the throttle there to change our line. I left the car free, because we planned on running the cushion. Once I saw the rubber, I was a little hesitant to go down there. We've missed the last two shows, and I have to thank my dad for working on this motor the last three days. I had to work this week to pay my bills, and this money tonight will help too."
Hall was appreciative of all the contingencies that included a new Maxim coat for winning in addition to his tire for the Dash win. "I'd like to thank the whole Herb Barlow family for doing what they do. This is special."
Sutton settled for a hard-earned third. "We had a good car, and Chris (McGraw) had it dialed in," he said. "We blew up at Columbus Junction, but the back-up motor was good tonight. It was a heck of a race, and congratulations to Russ Hall."
Matt Rogerson was fourth, ahead of Dustin Selvage who earned hard-charger honors by moving up eleven spots. Jim Moughan Jr., Kaley Gharst, Wagoner, Ryan Jamison and Korey Weyant rounded out the top ten. Joey Moughan, Wagoner, Sutton and Martin took heat race wins, while Jimmy Davies took the B Main.. The Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders will be back in action Saturday night at the 25th Annual Tom Knowles Memorial held at the Spoon River Speedway south of Canton, Illinois.
Results Ideal Ready Mix 25-lap A main Finish (started): 1. 29x, Russ Hall, Des Moines, IA (1) 2. 8H, Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL (3) 3. 3, Matt Sutton, Macomb, IL (2) 4. 29, Matt Rogerson, West Burlington, IA (5) 5. 7, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (16) 6. 1m, Jim Moughan Jr., Springfield, IL (8) 7. 14P, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL (9) 8. 84, Ben Wagoner, Emden, IL (4) 9. 51J, Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA (14) 10. 99w, Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL (6) 11. 4J, Justin Parrish, Oquawka, IL (18) 12. 99, Jimmy Davies, Oquawka, IL (17) 13. Y2, Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines, IA (11) 14. 15, Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA (13) 15. 4, Robbie Standridge, Springfield, IL (10) 16. 51, Dave Hall, Des Moines, IA (20) 17. 7x, Sid Blandford Jr., Vail, CO (15) 18. 40, Andy Huston, Roseville, IL (19) 19. 14, Randy Martin, California, MO (7) 20. 65, Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL (12). Lap Leader: R. Hall 1-25. Hard Charger: Dustin Selvage
Golden Eagle Distributors - Budweiser of Burlington Heat Race #1 (8 laps, top four to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Joey Moughan (2) 2. Korey Weyant (1) 3. Kaley Gharst (4) 4. Bobby Mincer (5) / 5. Jimmy Davies (6) 6. 4m, Mark Tischer, Hannibal, MO (3) 7. 18, Jamie Lusher, Pekin, IL (7)
Cole Implement of Media, IL Heat Race #2 (8 laps, top four to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Ben Wagoner (1) 2. Matt Rogerson (2) 3. Robbie Standridge (3) 4. Ryan Jamison (5) / 5. Andy Huston (6) 6. Dave Hall (7) 7. 22, Bret Tripplett 22 (4)
Huston Land Improvement of Roseville, IL Heat Race #3 (8 laps, top four to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Matt Sutton (2) 2. Russ Hall (1) 3. Mike Houseman Jr. (4) 4. Sid Blandford Jr. (3) / 5. Justin Parrish (6) 6. 83, Dave Feese, Saybrook, IL (5) DNS - 80x, CJ Houseman, Norwalk, IA
Ideal Ready Mix Heat Race #4 (8 laps, top four to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Randy Martin (2) 2. Jim Moughan Jr. (1) 3. Jordan Goldesberry (5) 4. Dustin Selvage (7) / 5. 44, John Draper, Bryant, IL (4) 6. 53H, Matt Harms, Morton, IL (6) 7. 3G, Lance Gullo, Springfield, IL (3)
Modern Paving and Scrap Shake-Up Dash (6 laps): 1. Russ Hall (4) 2. Matt Sutton (1) 3. Joey Moughan (5) 4. Ben Wagoner (8) 5. Matt Rogerson (7) 6. Korey Weyant (6) 7. Randy Martin (2) 8. Jim Moughan Jr. (3)
Holtkamp Trailer Repair B Main (12 laps, top four to feature): 1. Jimmy Davies (1) 2. Justin Parrish (3) 3. Andy Huston (2) 4. Dave Hall (6) / 5. John Draper (4) 6. Lance Gullo (11) 7. Dave Feese (7) 8. Bret Tripplett (10) 9. Matt Harms (8) 10. Mark Tischer (5) 11. Jamie Lusher (9) 12. CJ Houseman (12)
Contingency Awards:
Rod End Supply: Andy Huston, Bobby Mincer
Saldana Racing Products: Jordan Goldesberry
Diversified Machine, Inc.: Justin Parrish
Hepfner Race Products: Jimmy Davies
Brake Man: Mike Houseman Jr.