Stroebel wins, monkey finally off modified’s back

 

By Linda Brittsan

 

 

 

TWIN FALLS – It took 13 races to do it, but Shelby Stroebel finally broke the mold and became the first driver of a modified car to win a feature division race this season at Magic Valley Speedway. Stroebel, who recently brought back the gray #24 Pepsi Premier Division ride to MVS, edged out Rob Vest, who also drives a modified vehicle for the victory last Saturday night.

 

Stroebel started fourth in the field of 16 cars entered in the main event and spent the first half of the race behind the cars of David Patrick and Travis Monett as they swapped positions for the lead. At lap 28 Stroebel had cemented himself in second behind Patrick, but soon Vest had made a couple of great moves to position himself behind Stroebel. A caution at lap 35 involving the cars of Dan Pehrson and points leader Steve Jones sent the pair back in the field for the restart with 15 laps remaining in the race – and set up the battle between Stroebel and Vest for the long awaited trip to Victory Lane for possibly one of the modified drivers. However, it was anything but a gift as the yellow flag flew two more times in the following six laps, bringing the 99 late model car of TJ Woodhall into the scene with Stroebel and Vest. The two modified drivers never let up – and Stroebel edged Vest for the win with Woodhall having to settle for third.

 

“Rob (Vest) was right there and he wanted the win too,” Stroebel explained. “But the win felt good. We’ve been working on this car a lot and I’m glad to have it back out here – and I’ll be happy to bring it back next week.”

 

 

Budweiser Grand Nationals

 

It was arguably the closest finish in a main event contest this season as Jerry McKean and Louis Lopez hit the finish line at seemingly the same moment at the conclusion of the 25-lap race. But it was McKean who was given the nod to take his car into the winner’s circle – although he insisted that Lopez join him in Victory Lane. According to the transponders, McKean crossed the line .020 seconds ahead of Lopez, but neither driver was certain without the aid of the timing devise who had actually prevailed in the race.

 

“He thought he won - and I wasn’t sure,” McKean said of the trip to the winner’s circle. “I actually just didn’t know – it was so close. But I saw the board change and I wanted him (Lopez) in there too.”

 

Lopez had the same view on the outcome.

 

“I had people tell me it was just too close to call – but I thought I had the edge,” Lopez said. “They decided to go with the transponder – which is fine – it’s always good to see a close race.”

Eight cars were in the field for the main event race, a big improvement over recent weeks.

 

NAPA Pony Stocks

 

Jason Whited hadn’t seen the view from the winner’s circle for at least a couple of months, and apparently he decided he needed to revisit the territory Saturday night.

 

Whited assumed the lead at lap 12 after starting deep in the field of the 13 cars entered in the main event race. At lap 20 Whited had put 20 car lengths between himself and a pack of cars including Trent Champlin, Shawn Nice, Kevin Grubbs and Randy Grubbs as they battled for second. A caution at lap 25 of the 30-lap event erased Whited’s command of the race, but he was able to hold on to the lead after the restart. Whited was going to have to work for the win however, as another caution a lap later set up an added restart – this time with Billi Miles, winner of the previous two main event contests – right along side. Whited stood his ground though, and the 2006 Pony Stocks champion took the win.

 

Josh Pitz, driver of the No. 47 car, had the bad racing luck of the night when he lost the left-rear axle in turn two early in the race – and had to spend the remainder of the event in the pits.

 

“I never thought that race was going to end,” Whited said from Victory Lane.

 

Magic Valley Pipe Thunder Stocks

 

John Hoogendoorn outlasted Jim Shirley to take his first main event win of the season. Hoogendoorn has had an up-and-down year, but he ended on a high note Saturday night after controlling the race from the pole position despite a caution at lap 23 where the restart put points leader Shirley and 2006 Thunder Stocks champion Craig Nuthak along side the No. 72 car of Hoogendoorn. Shirley made sure Hoogendoorn knew he was right behind him for the final laps as he ran up on Hoogendoorn’s bumper, but Hoodendoorn would have none of that and landed in the winner’s circle.

 

Quale’s Electronics Hornets

 

Ryan Jund won his second main event race of the season, but only after making a great save on the front stretch - keeping the car moving forward after getting it sideways with one lap to go. Daniel Shirley placed second in the 20 lap main event while Renee Lopez recovered from an earlier spin to place third.

 

RESULTS:

 

Pepsi Premier: 1. Shelby Stroebel; 2. Rob Vest; 3. TJ Woodhall; 4. David Patrick; 5. Harold Wartluft; 6. Mike Greco; 7. Steve Jones; 8. Travis Monett; 9. Dan Pehrson; 10. Rick Fowble.

 

Budweiser Grand Nationals: 1. Jerry McKean; 2. Louis Lopez; 3. Kris McKean; 4. Jonathon Gomez; 5. Kenny Hatke; 6. Kent Jensen; 7. Willie Dalton; 8. Robbie Hyde.

 

NAPA Pony Stocks: 1. Jason Whited; 2. Billi Miles; 3. Trent Champlin; 4. Shawn Nice; 5. Kevin Grubbs; 6. Jonathon Gomez; 7. Randy Grubbs; 8. Mike Shoemaker; 9. Luis Aguilar, Jr., 10. Brent Abbott.  

 

MV Pipe Thunder Stocks: 1. John Hoogendoorn; 2. Jim Shirley, 3. Craig Nuthak; 4. Jim Howard; 5. Jason Todd; 6. Spencer Meyer; 7. Shiela Harms; 8. Brian Lopez; 9. Stacey Jensen; 10. Desi Ahrens.

 

Quale’s Electronics Hornets: 1. Ryan Jund; 2. Daniel Shirley; 3. Renee Lopez; 4. Evan Albright; 5. Mitchell Pehrson; 6. Justin Slocum; 7. Jeff Peck; 8. Josh Black.