Travis Dickes (6) battles Brian Birkhofer (15B) at Jackson County.
What won the race: Travis Dickes of Madison, Neb., led all but the first lap to capture a feature co-sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Midwest LateModel Racing Association and the Corn Belt Clash Super Late Model Series, giving him his first victory on either tour. The polesitter kept fourth-starting Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, at bay late while Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, Ill., Chris Simpson of Oxford, Iowa, and Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis., rounded out the top five.
Quotable: “Starting up front was huge,” Dickes said. “Luckily I was able to stay there the whole time. When you can run with them guys and stay in front, you’ve got to take your hat off to the Victory Circle guys and Jim Kuntz. I just knew if I stayed committed to my line, we’d be fine. I tried to stay smooth and patient as long as I could.”
Key notes: Dickes clipped an infield tire late in the race but it didn't hamper him. ... John Anderson of Omaha, Neb., led the first lap but slipped to 10th at the finish. ... The third-starting Sheppard and sixth-starting Birkhofer took turns challenging Dickes in the second spot before Chad Simpson took it for good. ... Birkhofer ended up fading to seventh late. ... Three yellows slowed the feature. ... It marked a rare open-competition engine event in Maquoketa. ... Chris Simpson (2012) and Chad Simpson (2013) previously won Corn Belt Clash events at Jackson County; co-sanctioning MLRA made its track debut. ... Defending track champion Justin Kay of Wheatland, iowa, won the evening's IMCA Late Model feature.
On the move: Jeremy Payne of Springfield, Mo., made up seven positions in finishing eighth in the GRT house car.
Winner's sponsors: Dickes drives an Al and Lori Humphrey-owned Victory Circle Chassis with Kuntz & Co. power sponsored by Big Daddy's Salsa, Reigle Trucking and Weiland Well Co.
Points chase: Birkhofer holds an 18-point advantage over Chad Simpson atop the Corn Belt Clash standings, while Simpson leads Dickes by 50 marks in the MLRA standings. Terry Phillips of Springfield, Mo., entered Saturday's event with the MLRA lead, but skipped the event in favor of a hometown MARS DIRTcar Series event where he triumphed for $3,000.
Car count: 30
Polesitter: Travis Dickes
Heat race winners: John Anderson, Chad Simpson, Travis Dickes, Jake Meier, , , ,
Consolation race winners: Spencer Diercks, , ,
Provisional starters: Bill Koons, Matt Furman, Mike Fryer, ,
Next series race: May 16, Outlaw Motorsports Park (Muskogee, OK) $2,000