WHEATLAND, Mo. -- DirtonDirt.com polesitter Terry Phillips took command early in the running of the ABC 17 Fall Nationals 50-lap feature Saturday night at Lucas Oil Speedway.
Phillips led the first 37 circuits before Ryan Gustin took over the top spot for good exiting turn 4, collecting his first dirt late model win at the "Diamond of the Dirt Tracks."
"It seemed like the longer it went, the better our car got," commented Gustin following the win. "It was a good night and an awesome race track. It has been a great season."
With just seven laps remaining Gustin got into the back of Brian Schutt, whom he was trying to put down a lap. The result was the final yellow of the event and a quick shoot-out to the checkers.
Phillips left the bottom lane open for 2014 series champion Chad Simpson and he took advantage of the line and jumped up to second where he finished.
"The car was good we just needed a little more right rear," said Simpson of his Saturday run. "These championships, they're just amazing. We really wanted to get a win in the series this year. We're consistent, we've got good equipment, we've got good cars. We made so many changes this year, for us to still run as consistent as we did, just tells a lot about our whole team."
Tony Jackson Jr. debuted a new Black Diamond Club 29 Race Car and picked off five spots to finish third. Phillips faded to fourth, and Brantlee Gotschall completed the remainder of the top five.
Sunday night the stars of the series will be honored at the season ending banquet at the Old Kinderhook Resort at the Lake of the Ozarks.
RESULTS
Lucas Cattle Company A Feature (50 Laps): 1. Ryan Gustin (Marshalltown, IA), 2. Chad Simpson (Mt Vernon, IA), 3. Tony Jackson, Jr (Lebanon, MO), 4. Terry Phillips (Springfield, MO), 5. Brantlee Gotschall (Nevada, MO), 6. Jeremy Payne (Springfield, MO), 7. Tommy Weder Jr. (Woodward, OK), 8. Travis Dickes (Madison, NE), 9. Jesse Stovall (Billings, MO), 10. Brandon McCormick (Lebanon, MO), 11. Dave Eckrich (Oxford, IA), 12. Austin Siebert (Grandview, MO), 13. Spencer Diercks (Davenport, IA), 14. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 15. Mark Dotson (Cameron, MO), 16. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 17. Brian Schutt (Lebanon, MO), 18. Jon Binning (Warrensburg, MO), 19. Scott Lewis (Henderson, CO), 20. Dustin Walker (Peculiar, MO), 21. Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, MO), 22. Charlie McKenna (Clear Lake, IA), 23. Matt Johnson (Archie, MO), 24. Mark Burgtorf (Quincy, IL), 25. Bill Koons (Omaha, NE), 26. Mike Hammerle (St. Charles, MO)
Hoosier Racing Tires B Feature 1 (12 Laps): 1. Mark Dotson (Cameron, MO), 2. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 3. Charlie McKenna (Clear Lake, IA), 4. Jacob Magee (Caney, KS), 5. Randy Martin (California, MO), 6. Larry Jones (El Dorado Springs, MO), 7. Terry Johnson (Piedmont, OK), 8. Mike Hammerle (St. Charles, MO), 9. Bill Koons (Omaha, NE), 10. Jeff Grey (Ozark, MO), 11. John Ketterer (Marthasville, MO)
Sunoco Race Fuel B Feature 2 (12 Laps): 1. Brian Schutt (Lebanon, MO), 2. Matt Johnson (Archie, MO), 3. Dustin Walker (Peculiar, MO), 4. Jon Binning (Warrensburg, MO), 5. Scott Lewis (Henderson, CO), 6. Steve Johnson (Joplin, MO), 7. LeRoy Johnson (Battlefield, MO), 8. Wesley Briggs (Olathe, KS), 9. Skip Frey (Swisher, IA)
Lucas Oil Products Heat 1 (10 Laps): 1. Brantlee Gotschall (Nevada, MO), 2. Ryan Gustin (Marshalltown, IA), 3. Mark Burgtorf (Quincy, IL), 4. Jason Bodenhamer (Centerview, MO), 5. Matt Johnson (Archie, MO), 6. Eric Turner (Hermitage, MO), 7. Dustin Walker (Peculiar, MO), 8. Larry Jones (El Dorado Springs, MO), 9. John Ketterer (Marthasville, MO)
ProtectTheHarvest.com Heat 2 (10 Laps): 1. Jeremy Payne (Springfield, MO), 2. Tommy Weder Jr. (Woodward, OK), 3. Brandon McCormick (Lebanon, MO), 4. Dave Eckrich (Oxford, IA), 5. Jacob Magee (Caney, KS), 6. Jon Binning (Warrensburg, MO), 7. Charlie McKenna (Clear Lake, IA), 8. LeRoy Johnson (Battlefield, MO), 9. Scott Lewis (Henderson, CO)
MAV TV American Real Heat 3 (10 Laps): 1. Chad Simpson (Mt Vernon, IA), 2. Tony Jackson, Jr (Lebanon, MO), 3. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 4. Austin Siebert (Grandview, MO), 5. Brian Schutt (Lebanon, MO), 6. Bill Koons (Omaha, NE), 7. Randy Martin (California, MO), 8. Terry Johnson (Piedmont, OK), 9. Jeff Grey (Ozark, MO)
Casey's General Stores Heat 4 (10 Laps): 1. Terry Phillips (Springfield, MO), 2. Jesse Stovall (Billings, MO), 3. Travis Dickes (Madison, NE), 4. Spencer Diercks (Davenport, IA), 5. Mark Dotson (Cameron, MO), 6. Steve Johnson (Joplin, MO), 7. Mike Hammerle (St. Charles, MO), 8. Skip Frey (Swisher, IA), 9. Wesley Briggs (Olathe, KS)
Contingency Awards:
AR Bodies $50 Certificate for non-qualifier - Jacob Magee
Casey's General Stores Hard Charger - Jon Binning
Chix Gear $25 Certificate for 7th Place Finisher - Tommy Weder Jr
GRT Heat Race Winners - Brantlee Gotschall, Jeremy Payne, Chad Simpson, Terry Phillips
Hooker Harness Gift Certificate for 11th Place Finish - Dave Eckrich
Landrum Springs Product Certificate - Ryan Gustin
Out Pace Certificate - Brantlee Gotschall
Peformance Bodies Certificate - Ryan Gustin
RacingJunk.com Hard Luck Award - Jason Bodenhamer
DirtOnDirt.com Pole Award - Terry Phillips
