Travis Sauter Wins Round Two of Triple Crown Challenge at MIS
Jerry Wood and Andy Jones Also Win
Travis Sauter took home the win in the Evie Handeland 100 as part of Round Two of the Super Late Model Challenge at Madison International Speedway. Jerry Wood won the Club LaMark Midwest Trucks feature while Andy Jones took the win in the Pellitteri Waste Systems Legends.
Travis Sauter Does It Again at MIS
For the eighth straight time that he’s been at MIS, Travis Sauter took home the checkered flag.
Andrew Morrissey and Brian Johnson Jr. had the honors of bringing the field to the green flag thanks to their wins in the earlier qualifying races. Johnson Jr. drifted up the track on the first lap giving the lead to Morrissey. Rubeck took second from Johnson Jr. on lap 3 and joined Morrissey in a two car break out from the pack. Travis Sauter was up to join the pair on lap 6 with Casey Johnson, Gary Lamonte and Landry Potter fighting for the fourth position.
Rubeck dropped to the inside of Morrissey on lap 12 to take the lead coming out of turn two with Sauter getting by Morrissey as well.
But Rubeck’s lead would be short as Sauter powered his way to the lead on lap 15 and wasted no time building a sizeable advantage before the caution came out when Kevin Eggert spun on lap 21.
Sauter continued to lead after the green flag waved again followed by Rubeck, Casey Johnson, Morrissey, and LaMonte. Sauter quickly got away from the pack and by lap 30 had a ten car length lead. On lap 44 Casey Johnson found the room he needed to get by Rubeck for second with Gary Lamonte passing Rubeck one lap later for third.
At the half-way mark Sauter’s lead over Johnson was 4.8 seconds. On lap 68 Matt Kocourek took the fifth spot away from Morrissey as the mandatory caution break was quickly approaching. Sauter’s lead continued to grow as the rest of the field eagerly awaited the break that came on lap 75.
After the ten minute break the field was ready for action, but would anyone be able to catch the high-flying Sauter?
The restart found Sauter and Casey Johnson in row one followed by Rubeck and LaMonte, Kocourek and Morrissey. Sauter continued to run out front, but back in the field Rich Bickle Jr. moved from eighth to fourth in two laps. On lap 80 Bickle Jr. was up to third and putting the pressure on Casey Johnson for second while Sauter was cruising out front.
Johnson was able to hold off Bickle Jr. for second with Rubeck in fourth and Morrissey and Lamonte fighting back and forth for fifth place. Both Morrissey and Lamonte would lose ground allowing Blake Brown to move into the top five.
But nobody was going to catch Sauter who won by 4.857 seconds over Casey Johnson. Rounding out the top five were Rich Bickle Jr., Steve Rubeck, and Blake Brown.
“We were running out of brakes just before the caution at lap 75 so we needed that break,” said Sauter from victory lane. “My crew did a great job. We had a great race car today.”
Runner-up Casey Johnson added, “I’m really happy with a runner-up finish today. This was a good field.”
Starting eighteenth in the field and working his way to third, Rich Bickle Jr. said, “After thirty-seven years of doing this we’ve learned a few things. We’ve got two more races here at Madison so we’re going out with bang in my last season.”
The Super Late Model drivers were presented with Bully Dog certificates with a $500 award going to fourth place finisher Steve Rubeck and a pair of $250 certificates to Blake Brown and Andrew Morrissey. Rich Bickle Jr. won a $100 certificate from Joe’s Racing Products for the Hard Charger Award while Jeff Storm received a certificate from Five Star Racecar Bodies for the Hard Luck Award after crashing hard in practice.
Brian Johnson Jr. won the twelve lap even qualifying race. Jeremy Spoonmore and Jeff Way led the field to the green flag in the twelve lap even qualifier. Spoonmore held the lead for the first four laps before Johnson Jr. worked his way to the inside coming out of turn four to take the lead on lap 5. Johnson Jr. increased his advantage to four car lengths and picked up the win with Landry Potter holding off Casey Johnson for second.
Andrew Morrissey picked up the win in the second qualifying race. Kevin Eggert led the first four laps before Morrissey took the lead coming out of turn four on lap 5. Behind Morrissey, Gary Lamonte and Travis Sauter were running side by side for second before the caution flag came out when Eggert spun on the backstretch lap 10. Morrissey maintained the lead after the restart and went on to pick up the checkered flag while Steve Rubeck edged Sauter for second.
Sauter was the fastest car in qualifying with a lap of 17.469 (103.040 mph) followed by Brown (17.531), Rubeck (17.565), Casey Johnson (17.582), and Wilberg (17.610).
100 Lap Feature:1. Travis Sauter (Prairie du Sac, WI), 2. Casey Johnson (Stoughton, WI), 3. Rich Bickle (Janesville, WI), 4. Steve Rubeck (Monroe Center, IL), 5. Blake Brown (Franksville, WI), 6. Andrew Morrissey (DeForest, WI), 7. Nick Murgic (Rosemount, MN), 8. Gary LaMonte (West Allis, WI), 9. Brian Campbell (Wyoming, MI), 10. Landry Potter (Genoa City, WI), 11. Jeremy Spoonmore (Somonauk, IL), 12. Bobby Kendall (Montello, WI), 13. Mikie Breiner (Johnsburg, IL), 14. Matt Kocourek (Franklin, WI), 15. Brian Johnson Jr (Rockford, IL), 16. Dale Nottestad (Cambridge, WI), 17. Jeff Way (Honey Creek, WI), 18. Kevin Eggert (Appleton, WI), 19. Bobby Wilberg (Beloit, WI)- DNS 20. Jeff Storm (East Troy, WI)- DNS
Qualifying:1. Travis Sauter (Prairie du Sac, WI), 2. Blake Brown (Franksville, WI), 3. Steve Rubeck (Monroe Center, IL), 4. Casey Johnson (Stoughton, WI), 5. Bobby Wilberg (Beloit, WI), 6. Rich Bickle (Janesville, WI), 7. Bobby Kendall (Montello, WI), 8. Matt Kocourek (Franklin, WI), 9. Gary LaMonte (West Allis, WI), 10. Landry Potter (Genoa City, WI), 11. Brian Campbell (Wyoming, MI), 12. Dale Nottestad (Cambridge, WI), 13. Andrew Morrissey (DeForest, WI), 14. Brian Johnson Jr (Rockford, IL), 15. Nick Murgic (Rosemount, MN), 16. Jeff Way (Honey Creek, WI), 17. Kevin Eggert (Appleton, WI), 18. Jeremy Spoonmore (Somonauk, IL), 19. Mikie Breiner (Johnsburg, IL), 20. Jeff Storm (East Troy, WI),
12 Lap Qualifying Race 1:1. Brian Johnson Jr (Rockford, IL), 2. Landry Potter (Genoa City, WI), 3. Casey Johnson (Stoughton, WI), 4. Matt Kocourek (Franklin, WI), 5. Jeff Way (Honey Creek, WI), 6. Blake Brown (Franksville, WI), 7. Dale Nottestad (Cambridge, WI), 8. Jeremy Spoonmore (Somonauk, IL), 9. Rich Bickle (Janesville, WI), 10. Jeff Storm (East Troy, WI)- DNS
12 Lap Qualifying Race 2:1. Andrew Morrissey (DeForest, WI), 2. Steve Rubeck (Monroe Center, IL), 3. Travis Sauter (Prairie du Sac, WI), 4. Gary LaMonte (West Allis, WI), 5. Brian Campbell (Wyoming, MI), 6. Nick Murgic (Rosemount, MN), 7. Bobby Kendall (Montello, WI), 8. Mikie Breiner (Johnsburg, IL), 9. Kevin Eggert (Appleton, WI), 10. Bobby Wilberg (Beloit, WI)- DNS
Jerry Wood Takes the Win in the Midwest Trucks
Jerry Wood held off his brother John to win the 30 lap feature for the Club LaMark Midwest Trucks.
Camden Murphy and Jerry Wood brought the field of ten trucks to the green flag in their 30 lap feature. After racing side by side for the first two circuits, Wood found himself with a two truck length margin by lap 3. By lap 8 Wood’s lead was beginning to diminish as both Murphy and John Wood had closed the gap. John Wood powered by Murphy for second on lap ten before the caution flag came out on lap 12 for a spin in turn four.
The restart found the Wood Brothers side by side and that’s how it stayed the rest of the way as the two put on an epic battle taking turns with the lead. Chad Knaus was on the outside looking inside from the third spot.
Jerry Wood’s advantage became a truck length on the last lap as he held off his brother to pick up the win. Knaus took home third place with Murphy and Andy Jones rounding out the top five.
“There’s nobody I’d rather race against than my brother,” said Wood. “It was a great run for both of us.”
Andy Jones took the lead from Mike Corvo on the first lap to win the first eight lap heat race. Camden Murphy edged Joshua James for second place.
Brothers John and Jerry Wood raced side by side the entire way in the second eight lap heat with John running the outside and winning at the wire by .031 seconds.
Fast qualifier was Knaus with a lap of 18.890 followed by Collins (18.981), John Wood (19.001), Jerry Wood (19.006), and James (19.117).
30 Lap Feature:1. Jerry Wood (Madison, WI), 2. John Wood (Sun Prairie, WI), 3. Chad Knaus (Sun Prairie, WI), 4. Camden Murphy (Itasca, IL), 5. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 6. Bill Collins (South St Paul, MN), 7. Joshua James (Saukville, WI), 8. Jerry Suderland (Muskego, WI), 9. Mike Corvo (Park Ridge, IL), 10. Natalie Decker (Eagle River, WI),
8 Lap Heat 1:1. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 2. Camden Murphy (Itasca, IL), 3. Joshua James (Saukville, WI), 4. Natalie Decker (Eagle River, WI), 5. Mike Corvo (Park Ridge, IL),
8 Lap Heat 2:1. John Wood (Sun Prairie, WI), 2. Jerry Wood (Madison, WI), 3. Chad Knaus (Sun Prairie, WI), 4. Bill Collins (South St Paul, MN), 5. Jerry Suderland (Muskego, WI),
Qualifying:1. Chad Knaus (Sun Prairie, WI), 2. Bill Collins (South St Paul, MN), 3. John Wood (Sun Prairie, WI), 4. Jerry Wood (Madison, WI), 5. Joshua James (Saukville, WI), 6. Camden Murphy (Itasca, IL), 7. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 8. Mike Corvo (Park Ridge, IL), 9. Natalie Decker (Eagle River, WI), 10. Jerry Suderland (Muskego, WI),
Jones Tops the Legends Field
Andy Jones picked up the win in the 25 lap feature for the Pellitteri Waste Systems Legends.
Austin Kunert and Brian Griffin led the field of Legends to the green flag in their 25 lap feature. On lap 2 Griffin got loose giving the advantage to Kunert with Kyle Jusits up to second followed by Chris Lishamer. On lap 5 Jusits took the top spot from Kunert with Lishamer to second and Andy Jones to third. On lap 7 Jones powered by Lishamer for second with Cory Talaska and Aaron Moyer right behind.
On lap 10 Jones drifted up the track going into turn three allowing Talaska and Moyer to move up to second and third. Talaska worked his way to the inside of Jusits coming out of four on lap 12 to take the lead with Moyer moving into second place. Jones was able to retake the third spot on lap 16 when he motored by Jusits.
As the leaders worked through lapped traffic, Moyer was all over Talaska’s bumper before the two got together on the front stretch bringing out the caution flag and moving Jones into the lead. Both Moyer and Talaska were able to continue but from the rear of the field.
Jones brought the field to the green flag on the restart with Jones quickly building a big lead over Jusits and Kevin Griffin. On lap 23 Talaska had worked his way up to fourth just before the caution flag waved when Lishamer’s car went off the track in turn one.
Jones easily held off the field while Talaska worked his way back to second with Jusits in third place.
“It was great to get the win though I wouldn’t have minded a three way battle with Cory and Aaron, but I’ll take this one,” said Jones.
Kyle Vergata took the lead on lap 2 from Matt Berlin and held off the hard charging Austin Kunert to pick up the win by inches at the stripe in the first eight lap heat.
Kyle Jusits took the early led before surrendering the top spot to Chris Lishamer on the second lap. Lishamer led the rest of the way holding off Cory Talaska for the win.
Moyer was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 13.948 followed by Talaska (14.070), Jones (14.167), Kevin Griffin (14.227), and Lishamer (14.256).
Legends 7/14/2013
25 Lap Feature:1. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 2. Cory Talaska (Campbellsport, WI), 3. Kyle Jusits (Kenosha, WI), 4. Aaron Moyer (Malone, WI), 5. Kevin Griffin (Green Oaks, IL), 6. Austin Kunert (Batavia, IL), 7. Brian Griffin (Elk Grove, IL), 8. Todd Schmitz (Verona, WI), 9. Shelby Berlin (Mequon, WI), 10. Kyle Vergata (New Berlin, WI), 11. Matt Berlin (Mequon, WI), 12. Chris Lishamer (Elgin, IL), 13. Jordan Wendt (Stoughton, WI)- DNS
8 Lap Heat 1:1. Kyle Vergata (New Berlin, WI), 2. Austin Kunert (Batavia, IL), 3. Brian Griffin (Elk Grove, IL), 4. Jordan Wendt (Stoughton, WI), 5. Shelby Berlin (Mequon, WI), 6. Matt Berlin (Mequon, WI),
8 Lap Heat 2:1. Chris Lishamer (Elgin, IL), 2. Cory Talaska (Campbellsport, WI), 3. Kyle Jusits (Kenosha, WI), 4. Todd Schmitz (Verona, WI), 5. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 6. Kevin Griffin (Green Oaks, IL), 7. Aaron Moyer (Malone, WI),
Qualifying:1. Aaron Moyer (Malone, WI), 2. Cory Talaska (Campbellsport, WI), 3. Andy Jones (Gurnee, IL), 4. Kevin Griffin (Green Oaks, IL), 5. Chris Lishamer (Elgin, IL), 6. Todd Schmitz (Verona, WI), 7. Kyle Jusits (Kenosha, WI), 8. Brian Griffin (Elk Grove, IL), 9. Austin Kunert (Batavia, IL), 10. Kyle Vergata (New Berlin, WI), 11. Shelby Berlin (Mequon
Stay tuned for Round 3 of the Super Late Model Triple Crown Challenge on Sunday, July 28th. Grandstands open at 11:30 AM with qualifying at 1:15 PM with the green flag waving at 2:30 PM. For more information please checkout our at madisoninternationalspeedway.com.