Ben Wagoner Sweeps For First Career Win at Lee County!

(Bill W) July 9, 2010 - Ben Wagoner made it a sweep on Friday night at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa with the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders. The Emden, Illinois native took the checkers first in his heat, the dash and the main event to collect his first career Sprint Invaders win.

Russ Hall took command in the early going of the 25-lap feature paying $1,200 to the winner. Hall's lead put three lapped cars between himself and Wagoner at one point. The 3/8 mile oval was dry-slick early in the night and started to collect a good deal of rubber. Jake Blackhurst, who became an alternate for the event when Seth Wilke could not start and Mike Houseman Jr. did not make the call, flipped wildly in turn two with ten laps in the books. The fourteen year old driver was uninjured.

Hall led Josh Schneiderman, Wagoner, Mike Trent and Kaley Gharst back to green flag racing. By lap 16, the top three cars were nose to tail, with Wagoner taking second back from Schneiderman. With rubber down hard, Wagoner made his winning move by getting around Hall on the 19th lap. From there he pulled away.

"It was tough to get around him," said Wagoner of his run at Hall. "I had an idea that it would take rubber. Halfway through the race, the car started coming in for me. I was waiting for Russ to make a mistake, and I was finally barely able to squeak by him."

The wait was worth it for Ben's first win. "It's been a long time coming," said Wagoner. "We've been so close. It's been driving me crazy. Last year was our rookie year, and this year has been so up and down. We're either running up front, or going off on the hook. It's a good feeling to get the win out of the way, and maybe we can get some more now."

Hall was able to hold onto second after a late restart for Haley Arnold, who spun. "I didn't want to see a red or the caution at all," said Hall relating to his big lead early. "I knew if we got the restart that we would be in trouble, because we were snug against the fence. I could smell the rubber, but I was just too tight and Ben did a good job. I have to thank Mike Waddell and all the sponsors who keep us going like Mike and Dean Drywall."

Schneiderman was able to bring home third. "We were nice early, and when the rubber came, it was one-lane and tough to pass," he said. "We're definitely happy with third, with it being our first 360 start of the year. Our tire was totally bald, so to finish third was all we could ask for. J&J gives us a great car and Bobby Jack's supplies us with some good power."

Trent finished fourth and Gharst was fifth, both finishing without brakes. Jordan Goldesberry, Mark Shirshekan, Donnie Steward, hard-charger Ryan Jamison and Bobby Mincer completed the top ten.

Joining Wagoner with heat wins were Hall and Schneiderman. Josh Higday took the B main. Tasker Phillips who scored a podium finish at Donnellson in June, flipped in his heat and was done for the night. He was uninjured.

Next up, the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders head to the Cedar County Raceway and the Cedar County Fair in Tipton, Iowa on Thursday, July 15.

Results

Ideal Ready Mix 25-lap A main Finish (started): 1. 84, Ben Wagoner, Emden, IL (6) 2. 45c, Russ Hall, Pleasant Hill, IA (1) 3. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (4) 4. 10T, Mike Trent, Rocheport, MO (2) 5. 14P, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL (3) 6. 65, Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL (7) 7. 3x, Mark Shirshekan, Farmington, MO (11) 8. 16HD, Donnie Steward, West Burlington, IA (5) 9. 51J, Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA (16) 10. 15, Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA (8) 11. 3, Matt Sutton, Macomb, IL (17) 12. 10, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (14) 13. 35AU, Jamie Veal, Warrnambool, VIC, Aust. (9) 14. 88, Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (19) 15. 18, Mike Hess, Springfield, IL (12) 16. 9x, Bart Andrews, Mediapolis, IA (13) 17. 99, Jimmy Davies, Oquawka, IL (15) 18. 165, Haley Arnold, Sedalia, MO (18) 19. 4J, Justin Parrish, Oquawka, IL (10) 20. 61J, Jake Blackhurst, Mapleton, IL (20) DNS - 38, Seth Wilke, Burlington, IA, 68, Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines, IA. Lap Leaders: Hall 1-18; Wagoner 19-25. Hard Charger: Ryan Jamison.

Golden Eagle Distributors - Budweiser of Burlington Heat Race #1 (8 laps, top five to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Russ Hall (2) 2. Donnie Steward (4) 3. Jordan Goldesberry (6) 4. Seth Wilke (1) 5. Bart Andrews (8) / 6. Jake Blackhurst (7) 7. 70, Brian Stansberry, Moulton, IA (9) 8. 31P, Travis Porter, Rock Island, IL (3) 9. 7TAZ, Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (5)

Cole Implement of Media, IL Heat Race #2 (8 laps, top five to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Josh Schneiderman (2) 2. Kaley Gharst (4) 3. Bobby Mincer (6) 4. Mark Shirshekan (8) 5. Mike Hess (1) / 6. Josh Higday (9) 7. Matt Sutton (5) 8. Jarrod Schneiderman (3) 9. Mike Houseman Jr. (7)

Huston Land Improvement of Roseville, IL Heat Race #3 (8 laps, top five to feature, top two to Dash): 1. Ben Wagoner (2) 2. Mike Trent (4) 3. Jamie Veal (1) 4. Justin Parrish (6) 5. Jimmy Davies (3) / 6. Ryan Jamison (9) 7. 5m, Miranda Arnold, Sedalia, MO (7) 8. Haley Arnold (8) 9. 40, Andy Huston, Roseville, IL (5)

Blackbird Motorsports Shake-Up Dash (6 laps): 1. Ben Wagoner (2) 2. Russ Hall (4) 3. Mike Trent (1) 4. Kaley Gharst (3) 5. Josh Schneiderman (6) 6. Donnie Steward (5)

Holtkamp's Truck and Trailer Repair B Main (12 laps, top five to feature): 1. Josh Higday (2) 2. Matt Sutton (5) 3. Ryan Jamison (3) 4. Jarrod Schneiderman (8) 5. Haley Arnold (9) / 6. Mike Houseman Jr. (11) 7. Jake Blackhurst (1) 8. Andy Huston (10) 9. Travis Porter (7) 10. Miranda Arnold (6) 11. Brian Stansberry (4) DNS - Tasker Phillips

Contingency Awards:

Rod End Supply: Justin Parrish, Mike Hess

Saldana Racing Products: Matt Sutton

Weld Racing: Jarrod Schneiderman

Hepfner Race Products: Josh Higday

Brake Man: Bobby Mincer