Chad Holladay enjoys his first career Deery Brothers victory.
What won the race: Rallying from the eighth row, Chad Holladay of Muscatine, Iowa, raced to his first career IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series victory, outrunning Andy Eckrich of Oxford, Iowa, at West Liberty Raceway in the Ideal Ready Mix Liberty 100. Holladay led the last 28 laps and collected a $2,500 winner's check, while Tyler Bruening of Decorah, Iowa, wrapped up his first series title. Joel Callahan collected $2,500 in the following non-points feature.
Quotable: “We had a good car, obviously. I was able to run the cushion where no one else was and found some bite on (turn) four. The cautions helped and we had a little bit of luck. It was a little bit of everything tonight,” Holladay said. “A Deery Series win is something we’ve always wanted and we’ve come close a couple times. We’re hoping to pick up at the same place we left off next year.”
Key notes: Bruening's sixth-place finish clinched his first series title after Jeff Aikey, who entered the event just one point behind Bruening, wasn't able to start the feature. ... Justin Kay was an early retiree. ... Along with a $2,500 victory in the non-points feature (lined by inverted lead-lap cars for the first feature), Joel Callahan won the $1,000 Ironman Challenge event. ... Friday's portion of the weekend program was postponed by weather, forcing a full Saturday of action.
Winner's sponsors: Holladay's No. 32 is sponsored by Holladay Trucking, Honts Construction, Miracle Car Wash and Franzen Family Garage, Ellsworth Trucking, Hosktra Masonry, Zaiser Painting, Country Financial and Pas Vogel & Son Feed Company, and Fluid Systems.
Points chase: Sixth-place finisher Tyler Bruening of Decorah, Iowa, won the 2016 points chase after challenger Jeff Aikey could not make the call for the feature.
Car count: 32
Heat race winners: Jeremiah Hurst, Rob Toland, Denny Eckrich, Matt Ryan, Richie Gustin, Andy Eckrich, Joel Callahan, Cayden Carter, ,