By Steve Birmingham
Granite City, IL – Troy Rutherford shadowed early race leaders Tony Elliott, Cory Kruseman, Richard Griffin and J.J. Yeley for 25 laps before making the move of the night to win the SCRA/USAC “Summer Sprint Shootout” at Tri-City Speedway.
Rutherford ran in third position as Elliott raced out to a 10-length lead over Kruseman early in the 30-lapper while Yeley, starting ninth, slipped into fourth with Richard Griffin in tow. After 10 laps Rutherford was working the low side in an attempt to take Kruseman’s spot away.
On lap 16 Damion Gardner, John Scott and Charles Davis tangled in turn two with Scott getting upside down. All escaped unscathed but when the green flew on the restart Rutherford dove low in turn one to grab second from Kruseman. Kruseman gained it back at the line two laps later and Rutherford settled back to await his next opportunity.
Yeley was also on the move and grabbed second as Kruseman faded to fourth. With five to go Rutherford hauled it in deeper than the leaders, plowed through the grass in one and two past both Yeley and Elliott and sailed down the backstretch with a 10-length lead. Once ahead Rutherford stretched out to a 15 margin at the checkers. Trailing him were Yeley, Levi Jones, Elliott, Bud Kaeding, Kruseman, Brian Tyler, Mat Neely, Derek Davidson and Kent Christian.
In the companion Hoosier MicroSprint Lightning Series for 600cc Micro Sprints, Brett Anderson topped Mark Gass and Tad Alan Roach in the 20-lap headliner. Anderson and Tom Ritter won the qualifying heats.
“Summer Sprint Shootout”
SANDER ENGINEERING QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Cory Kruseman, 21,
Stewart-20.540 seconds.
SO-CAL PERFORMANCE FIRST HEAT: (10 laps, four transfer) 1. Tony Elliott, 2. Rip Williams, 3. Cory Kruseman, 4. Levi Jones.
SHAVER ENGINES SECOND HEAT: (10 laps, four transfer) 1. Damion Gardner, 2. Brian Tyler, 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Mike Spencer.
SPIN TECH MUFFLERS THIRD HEAT: (10 laps, four transfer) 1. Richard Griffin, 2. John Scott, 3. Mike English, 4. Josh Ford.
STINGER CHASSIS FOURTH HEAT: (10 laps, four transfer) 1. Bud Kaeding, 2. Jerry Coons, 3. Charles Davis, Jr., 4. Kent Christan.
JE PISTONS DASH: (4 laps) 1. Tony Elliott, 2. Cory Kruseman, 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Richard Griffin, 5. John Scott, 6. Levi Jones, 7. Damion Gardner, 8. Charles Davis, Jr.
SIMPSON B-FEATURE: (12 laps, six transfer) 1. J.J. Yeley, 2. Mat Neely, 3. Derek Davidson, 4. Dave Darland, 5. Mike Hess, 6. Alan Ballard.
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Troy Rutherford, 2. J.J. Yeley, 3. Levi Jones, 4. Tony Elliott,
5. Bud Kaeding, 6. Cory Kruseman, 7. Brian Tyler, 8. Mat Neely, 9. Derek Davidson, 10. Kent Christan, 11. Dave Darland, 12. Richard Griffin, 13. Mike Hess, 14. Jerry Coons, 15. Josh Ford, 16. Mike Spencer, 17. Charles Davis, Jr., 18.Alan Ballard, 19. Rip Williams, 20. Mike English, 21. Damion Gardner, 22. John Scott.
www.tricitymotorsports.com
Granite City, IL – Troy Rutherford shadowed early race leaders Tony Elliott, Cory Kruseman, Richard Griffin and J.J. Yeley for 25 laps before making the move of the night to win the SCRA/USAC “Summer Sprint Shootout” at Tri-City Speedway.
Rutherford ran in third position as Elliott raced out to a 10-length lead over Kruseman early in the 30-lapper while Yeley, starting ninth, slipped into fourth with Richard Griffin in tow. After 10 laps Rutherford was working the low side in an attempt to take Kruseman’s spot away.
On lap 16 Damion Gardner, John Scott and Charles Davis tangled in turn two with Scott getting upside down. All escaped unscathed but when the green flew on the restart Rutherford dove low in turn one to grab second from Kruseman. Kruseman gained it back at the line two laps later and Rutherford settled back to await his next opportunity.
Yeley was also on the move and grabbed second as Kruseman faded to fourth. With five to go Rutherford hauled it in deeper than the leaders, plowed through the grass in one and two past both Yeley and Elliott and sailed down the backstretch with a 10-length lead. Once ahead Rutherford stretched out to a 15 margin at the checkers. Trailing him were Yeley, Levi Jones, Elliott, Bud Kaeding, Kruseman, Brian Tyler, Mat Neely, Derek Davidson and Kent Christian.
In the companion Hoosier MicroSprint Lightning Series for 600cc Micro Sprints, Brett Anderson topped Mark Gass and Tad Alan Roach in the 20-lap headliner. Anderson and Tom Ritter won the qualifying heats.
“Summer Sprint Shootout”
SANDER ENGINEERING QUALIFICATIONS: 1. Cory Kruseman, 21,
Stewart-20.540 seconds.
SO-CAL PERFORMANCE FIRST HEAT: (10 laps, four transfer) 1. Tony Elliott, 2. Rip Williams, 3. Cory Kruseman, 4. Levi Jones.
SHAVER ENGINES SECOND HEAT: (10 laps, four transfer) 1. Damion Gardner, 2. Brian Tyler, 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Mike Spencer.
SPIN TECH MUFFLERS THIRD HEAT: (10 laps, four transfer) 1. Richard Griffin, 2. John Scott, 3. Mike English, 4. Josh Ford.
STINGER CHASSIS FOURTH HEAT: (10 laps, four transfer) 1. Bud Kaeding, 2. Jerry Coons, 3. Charles Davis, Jr., 4. Kent Christan.
JE PISTONS DASH: (4 laps) 1. Tony Elliott, 2. Cory Kruseman, 3. Troy Rutherford, 4. Richard Griffin, 5. John Scott, 6. Levi Jones, 7. Damion Gardner, 8. Charles Davis, Jr.
SIMPSON B-FEATURE: (12 laps, six transfer) 1. J.J. Yeley, 2. Mat Neely, 3. Derek Davidson, 4. Dave Darland, 5. Mike Hess, 6. Alan Ballard.
FEATURE: (30 laps) 1. Troy Rutherford, 2. J.J. Yeley, 3. Levi Jones, 4. Tony Elliott,
5. Bud Kaeding, 6. Cory Kruseman, 7. Brian Tyler, 8. Mat Neely, 9. Derek Davidson, 10. Kent Christan, 11. Dave Darland, 12. Richard Griffin, 13. Mike Hess, 14. Jerry Coons, 15. Josh Ford, 16. Mike Spencer, 17. Charles Davis, Jr., 18.Alan Ballard, 19. Rip Williams, 20. Mike English, 21. Damion Gardner, 22. John Scott.
www.tricitymotorsports.com
