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Dishong, Kauffman, Vrbka, Bowers Jr and Barker Reign Supreme in the Joe Crist Memorial at US 36 Raceway

By Rick Staley (Osborn, MO) -- After a heartwarming opening ceremony, the stage was set for a great night of racing featuring the IMCA Stock Cars competing for big money in the Joe Crist Memorial. Travis Barker and heat race winner Conner Masoner would start on the front row setting the pace for this star-studded event.

PHOTO: 30 Travis Barker from Sioux City, IA Joe Crist Memorial IMCA Stock Car Feature Winner

Barker would get the lead and see Shadren Turner #17X charge by and slide past but not for long as Barker, #30 would hold the high line to perfection and drive by Turner. As Barker paced the field, another heat race winner Chad Clancy #21C would work his way near the front to challenge for the lead, pressuring Barker to make a bobble. Throughout the pack racing was fierce as Rookie of the Year Contender Kasey Ayers #18K would fly through the field and challenge the front runners. Another heat winner Doug Keller #7 was in contention all night as he, JJ Baumli and Ayers would battle.

Masoner would slowly fade as hard charger of the race Blake Peeler #292, who would win the B feature to advance, would move from a 22nd starting position to challenge the leaders in the closing laps. Barker could not be pressured into a mistake, nor would he bobble and hold the perfect line claiming the double checkers, big paycheck, respect of all the fans and make his mark forever winning the Joe Crist Memorial! Clancy would try high, low and every lane possible but would be forced to settle for second on this night with Shadren Turner a very close third.

Former winners of this event Blake Peeler and JJ Baumli #46 would impress racing to the line with Peeler fourth and Baumli firth. Other heat race winner was Mich Ross #34X whom developed mechanical trouble taking him from contention. Hat’s off to all the drivers and Joe Crist Family as this was a great race and we will do it again next year!

A loaded field of racers in the always exciting E-Mod class would enter the arena 18 strong with Briceson Crockett and James burns #3B leading them to green. Heat race winner Logan Rash #59 would charge to the front and slide a little fast looping in turn one and two sending Burns to the lead.

Crockett #454 would battle for the front challenging until the always present Chris Dishing #54L would charge past both taking the top spot. Other heat race winner Coleman Browning #21K would have to make an early race pit stop under yellow and tag to the rear of the field. As racing continued Dishong would not be denied and pick up the checkers to celebrate in victory lane. Coleman Browning would mount an incredible charge through the pack to challenge Dishong late to finish second with Burns finishing a strong third. Logan Rash would also charge through the field to finish a nose ahead of George Burnett #23 to place fourth with Burnett rounding out the features top five.

Pure Stock would be 24 strong as they made their way on to a smooth, fast, high banked US 36 Raceway. Jimmie Workman #24 and Conrad Kauffman #49K would lead the field to green and battle hard for the front. Kauffman would lead, then enter heat winner Colton Couch #13X, then heat race winner #27H Brandon Hoover, then Alvie Christofferson #17C after winning his heat was a challenger. Kauffman would charge back to the front only to see Gracie Couch #53 wrestle the lead away with only a couple laps remaining. Couch would appear to have the race win in hand until lap traffic would come into play allowing Kauffman, Workman and Hoover to charge by creating a mad dash for the win. As they all charged for the checkers and smoke had cleared, Conrad Kauffman was declared the winner with Workman a photo finish second and Hoover third. Gracie Couch would recover for fourth with Louisburg, KS native #399 finishing fifth at the end of a great race.

Heat race winner Tim Stallbaumer #K27 would start on the pole with the always fast Adam Vrbka #7V on the outside as the green would fly in IMCA Sport Mod. Vrbka would charge to the front bringing #74 Justin Asher #74 with him and these two orange cars would put on a show. Just when you thought Vrbka would pull away, hear would come Asher and show him the nose of the car and race side by side for the lead. Trevor Noonan #66N would make his presence felt passing cars and challenging late form the lead with a fast Steven Clancy #12X. Vrbka would not be denied and celebrate in Lake Road Warehouse Victory Lane with Asher a very close and impressive second. Jase Whitt #26J was a contender very early until mechanical issues forced him from competition. Trevor Noonan would end the feature third with Clancy fourth and the always present Chris Wright #66X a close fifth.

Action in IMCA Modified would be come heated and competitive throughout their event with heat winner Shayne Bailey #7 setting a blistering pace in the early stages. Josh Munsen #19X continues to impress as he would challenge Bailey only to see Steven Bowers Jr and Chad Anderson slip by battling hard for the top spot. Anderson #8c would dive hard into turn #4 contacting the leader Bailey with Bowers #77 slipping past Bailey as well. Anderson and Bailey would both again make contact in turn #2 with neither continuing in the feature. As the race was restarted after the yellow, Bowers would continue to lead the feature with Munsen challenging. Bowers would pick up the Feature win with Munsen a close second. Third place would belong to Jason Withrow #47L with Doug Heimbaugh #49D fourth and Jim Masoner Jr #48X fifth.

Race Results US 36 Raceway Joe Crist Memorial 07/30/2021

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