IMCA Modified Duel In the Desert checkers fly for swift Schott

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (Nov. 14) – Once he regained the lead, there was no catching Lucas Schott.

Schott passed Jordan Grabouski for the front spot on the 29^th of 40 laps and stayed in front to the finish of Saturday’s Xtreme Motor Sports IMCA Modified main event at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Dirt Track.

The $7,777 victory put the Chatfield, Minn., driver on the ballot for next year’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.

Scott Drake, R.C. Whitwell and Ryan Ruter rounded out the top four. Grabouski was missing his right front shock when Scott drove by, collected Hunter Marriott the next time around and wound up in 19^th.

“This is awesome,” said Schott, who’d also won his Friday night qualifier. “I knew we were capable of making the show and I’ve got to give credit to Kody Scholpp and his dad for everything they do and giving me good cars to drive. I was able to pull it off.”

“I was just hoping (Grabouski) would mess up and it looked like he had something wrong with his front suspension,” added Schott. “I got the lucky bounce there. It all worked out for us.”

A total of 272 cars, from 23 states and four provinces, were entered at the 18^th annual Duel. Thirteen states and Canada were represented in the Modified main event, which paid a minimum of $777 to start.

Schott built an advantage of 10 car lengths over Drake in the early going with Grabouski settling into third by lap seven.

Grabouski went to the high side to take second on the 10^th circuit; Schott was nearing the back of the field on the next lap when three-time Duel winner Terry Phillips was part of a multi-car tangle that brought out the yellow.

The front pair pulled away at that point, Grabouski using the high side to his advantage again and this time for the lead.

Grabouski continued his run up front despite restarts on laps 20 and 27. He pushed on lap 29, opening the door for Schott.

With a full straightaway lead, Schott left the battle for second behind him between Drake and Whitwell. Dylan Smith held off Kyle Strickler for fifth.

Tyler Frye’s dream season continued with a convincing $1,777 victory in the Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod feature.

The 2015 national champion, winner of Thursday’s opening night qualifying feature, started from the pole and led every time around the track.

“The car was absolutely awesome,” said Frye, who led all drivers in the division with 156 career wins coming into the night. “It’s awesome to finally get this win.”

“I’d like to thank my wife, my whole family and my crew guys who decided to come all the way out to Las Vegas with me,” he added. “It’s been a dream season, and this is an awesome way to cap it off.”

Chris McKellar headed the initial pursuit of Frye after outside front row starter Chase Rudolf fell off the pace. Frye was half a straightaway ahead after just two laps and a full straight in front when the yellow waved on lap eight.

He pulled away again on the restart, chased by McKellar, Rick Diaz and Kevin Johnson. Frye caught the back of the field before another caution, on the 16^th circuit.

While Frye remained unchallenged to the checkers, there was plenty of racing for position behind him.

Clay Money’s late charge netted him second-place pay. Nick Spainhoward caught McKellar for third.

Masen Big Eagle outran everybody in winning the Young Guns feature for Modified drivers 19 and under.

The Canadian clipper shot in front at the drop of the green and led brother and eventual runner-up Jett by half a straightaway when the sixth of 12 laps was scored.

Third was Ethan Dotson.

“I’m pretty fired up. I’ve been dreaming about winning this particular race since I started racing and ever since Riley Emmel did it,” Masen Big Eagle said. “It feels pretty good. I wasn’t sure I could pull it off tonight after my performance in that last-chance race but Joey (Galloway) gave me a quick tip in the pits and it turned out pretty well.”

An IMCA Modified legend since the early 1980s was the Legends winner as Rex Merritt was in the right place to capitalize when Jerry Schram and Steve Noland spun after contact in the final turn. Noland had been in the middle groove, with Schram in the lower line and just a carlength back at the white flag.

Second was Lawrence O’Connor and Chris Clark took third. The Legends field was comprised of drivers 55 and older.

“I didn’t think that would ever happen,” Merritt said of the collision that put him on top of the podium. “I’d really like to thank (car owner) Paul Stone for letting me race the car and I didn’t tear too much up on it.”

Feature Results

Modifieds – 1. Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.; 2. Scott Drake, Joplin, Mo.; 3. R.C. Whitwell, Bakersfield, Calif.; 4. Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, Iowa; 5. Dylan Smith, Osceola, Neb.; 6. Kyle Strickler, Mooresville, N.C.; 7. John Hansen, Brush, Colo.; 8. Jeff Taylor, Cave City, Ark.; 9. Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C.; 10. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.; 11. Jeremy Payne, Nixa, Mo.; 12. Jason Wolla, Ray, N.D.; 13. Travis Hagen, Williston, N.D.; 14. Chad Andersen, Fort Calhoun, Neb.; 15. Joey Galloway, Manor, Sask.; 16. Lance Mari, El Centro, Calif.; 17. Rodney Sanders, Happy, Texas; 18. Benji LaCrosse, Green Bay, Wis.; 19. Jordan Grabouski, Beatrice, Neb.; 20. Hunter Marriott, Brookfield, Mo.; 21. Johnny Saathoff, Beatrice, Neb.; 22. Rob VanMil, Barnesville, Minn.; 23. Kody Scholpp, Estevan, Sask.; 24. Cody Laney, Torrance, Calif.; 25. Zane DeVilbiss, Farmington, N.M.; 26. Terry Phillips, Springfield, Mo.; 27. Bobby Hogge IV, Salinas, Calif.; 28. Jesse Sobbing, Malvern, Iowa.

Northern SportMods – 1. Tyler Frye, Belleville, Kan.; 2. Clay Money, Penokee, Kan.; 3. Nick Spainhoward, Bakersfield, Calif.; 4. Chris McKellar, Bakersfield, Calif.; 5. Rick Diaz, Los Banos, Calif.; 6. Kevin Johnson, Bakersfield, Calif.; 7. Jorddon Braaten, Central Point, Ore.; 8. Tony Konold, Clear Lake, S.D.; 9. Jason Nation, Bakersfield, Calif.; 10. Brian Cooper, Yuba City, Calif.; 11. Fred Ryland, Brentwood, Calif.; 12. Luke Krogh, Dickinson, N.D.; 13. Nick Sylvester, Bakersfield, Calif.; 14. Varion Hetle, Underwood, N.D.; 15. Chase Rudolf, Norwalk, Iowa; 16. Wayne Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.; 17. Kyle Smith, Yuma, Ariz.; 18. Michael Johnson, Bakersfield, Calif.; 19. Adam Armstrong, Beatrice, Neb.; 20. Ryan Wolla, Williston, N.D.; 21. Robert Elliott, Clinton, Okla.; 22. Chris Toth, Holtville, Calif.; 23. Ron Tex Jr., Papillion, Neb.; 24. Brylon Holder, Bakersfield, Calif.

Young Guns – 1. Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask.; 2. Jett Big Eagle, Manor, Sask.; 3. Ethan Dotson, Bakersfield, Calif.; 4. Zachary Madrid, Phoenix, Ariz.; 5. John Parmeley, Phoenix, Ariz.; 6. Clay Money, Penokee, Kan.; 7. Bricen James, Albany, Ore.; 8. Tanner Black, Albert, Kan.; 9. Mitchell Niemi, Lakeside, Calif.; 10. Jeff Stafford Jr., New River, Ariz.; 11. Lucas Schott, Chatfield, Minn.

Legends – 1. Rex Merritt, Billings, Mo.; 2. Lawrence O’Connor, Port Hardy, B.C.; 3. Chris Clark, Jackson, Wyo.; 4. Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas; 5. Joe Carr, Petaluma, Calif.; 6. Stephen Streeter, Madera, Calif.; 7. John Price, Great Falls, Mont.; 8. Steve Simpson, Kingman, Ariz.; 9. Mike Meazell, Gilroy, Calif.; 10. Steve Noland, Terra Bella, Calif.; 11. Jerry Schram, Vancouver, Wash.; 12. Sherman Barnett, El Paso, Texas; 13. Roger Bonneville, Calgary, Alb.; 14. Mickey Stubbings, Helper, Utah; 15. Rick Spangler, Grand Junction, Colo.; 16. Ken Schrader, Concord, N.C.; 17. Delos Haugen, Burlington, N.D.

Modified “B” Features

1^st “B” feature (winner qualifies) – 1. Ethan Dotson; 2. Dustin Andersen, Omaha, Neb.; 3. Chad Reichenbach, Bakersfield, Calif.; 4. Bob Moore, Sioux City, Iowa; 5. Brad Pounds, Bakers­field, Calif.; 6. Alan Sharpensteen, Amarillo, Texas; 7. Billy Wormsbecker, Big Bear Lake, Calif.; 8. Albert Gill, Central Point, Ore.; 9. Rick Spangler, Grand Junction, Colo.; 10. Matt Micheli, Live Oak, Calif.; 11. Delos Haugen, Burlington, N.D.; 12. David Day, Sherwood, Ore.; 13. Jason Strand, Portland, N.D.; 14. Robby Sawyer, Bakersfield, Calif.

2^nd “B” feature – 1. Benji LaCrosse; 2. Ryan McDaniel, Olivehurst, Calif.; 3. Dominic Ursetta, Arvada, Colo.; 4. Jay Foster, Peoria, Ariz.; 5. Jesse Williamson, Coburg, Ore.; 6. Jared Hoefel­man, Columbus, Neb.; 7. Jeff Olschowka, Quincy, Calif.; 8. Joel Myers, Santa Rosa, Calif.; 9. Roger Bonneville, Calgary, Alb.; 10. Mitch Dickinson, Monroe, Utah; 11. Stephen Streeter, Madera, Calif.; 12. Wade Taylor, Spring Creek; 13. Paris Archie, Sparks; 14. Joe Carr, Petaluma, Calif.

3^rd “B” feature – 1. Cody Laney; 2. Nick Roberts, Des Moines, Iowa; 3. Mike Petersilie, Hoising­ton, Kan.; 4. Bricen James, Albany, Ore.; 5. Jason Hilliard, Cache, Okla.; 6. Nick Nelson, Farming­ton, N.M.; 7. David Goode Jr., Copperas Cove, Texas; 8. Joe German, Aberdeen, Wash.; 9. Richard Anderson, Shelley, Idaho; 10. Steve Simpson, Kingman, Ariz.; 11. Chris Clark, Jack­son, Wyo.; 12. Freddie Plourde, Santa Rosa, Calif.; 13. Rob Sanders, Bakersfield, Calif.

4^th “B” feature – 1. Chad Andersen; 2. Tim Ward, Gilbert, Ariz.; 3. Bret Bennett, Bakersfield, Ca­lif.; 4. Mike Mullen, Suamico, Wis.; 5. Andy Obertello, Hollister, Calif.; 6. Kenny Wallace, Concord, N.C.; 7. Jacob Murray, Hartford, Iowa; 8. Nick Herrera, Ruidoso Downs, N.M.; 9. Jeff Stafford Sr., New River, Ariz.; 10. William Miller, Yuma, Ariz.; 11. Reed Payne, Idaho Falls, Idaho; 12. Gordy Beaumont, Charlie Lake, B.C.; 13. Robert Hellebust, Minot, N.D.

5^th “B” feature – 1. Zane Devilbiss; 2. Chris Abelson, Sioux City, Iowa; 3. Shane Hiatt, Rising City, Neb.; 4. Eddie Belec, Lakewood, Colo.; 5. Todd Shute, Des Moines, Iowa; 6. Nicholas O’Neil, Tucson, Ariz.; 7. Yancy Shepard, Smithville, Mo.; 8. Jeff Streeter, Madera, Calif.; 9. Nolan Olmstead, Devil’s Lake, N.D.; 10. Brandon Blochlinger, Concordia, Kan.; 11. Steve Stultz, Peoria, Ariz.; 12. Kris Asche, Shelton, Wash.; 13. Ryan Cousins, Darlingford, Man.

6^th “B” feature – 1. Jeremy Payne; 2. Jason Noll, Peoria, Ariz.; 3. Kyle Heckman, Bakersfield, Calif.; 4. Tanner Black, Albert, Kan.; 5. Josh Vogt, Santa Maria, Calif.; 6. Kyle Wilson, Salinas, Calif.; 7. Ryan Porter, Atwater, Calif.; 8. Jerry Schram, Vancouver, Wash.; 9. Garrett Funk, Peo­ria, Ariz.; 10. Mike Tanner, Smithville, Mo.; 11. Cale Carder, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.; 12. William Heath, Kaiser, Mo.; 13. Ricky Thornton, Chandler, Ariz.

7^th “B” feature – 1. Joey Galloway; 2. Mike Wedelstadt, Fremont, Wis.; 3. Joey Moriarty, Glen­dale, Ariz.; 4. Zachary Madrid, Phoenix, Ariz.; 5. Brian Schultz, Casa Grande, Ariz.; 6. Rex Merritt, Billings, Mo.; 7. Jesse Richter, Great Bend, Kan.; 8. Chester Kniss, Antioch, Calif.; 9. Johnny Sheets, Gatesville, Texas; 10. Rich Horibe, Pahrump; 11. Sean Fox, St. Helen’s Ore.; 12. Cody Grabbe, Yuma, Ariz.; 13. Dylan Sherfick, WaKeeney, Kan.

8^th “B” feature – 1. Rob VanMil; 2. 2. Collen Winebarger, Corbett, Ore.; 3. Steve Boles, Bakersfield, Calif.; 4. Darrell Hughes II, Manteca, Calif.; 5. Tim Balding, Prunedale, Calif.; 6. Da­vid Brown, Kellogg; 7. Donavon Sorenson, Laurel, Mont.; 8. Joey Price, Great Falls, Mont.; 9. Steve Noland, Terra Bella, Calif.; 10. Casey Delp, Rock Springs, Wyo.; 11. Robert Higgins, Beck­wourth, Ore.; 12. Bryan Wulfenstein, Pahrump; 13. Jeff Stafford Jr., New River,Ariz.

9^th “B” feature – 1. Jason Wolla; 2. Clay Daly, Watsonville, Calif.; 3. Chad Melton, Mineral Wells, Texas; 4. John Piker, Bakersfield, Calif.; 5. Bryan Burnes, Lemoore, Calif.; 6. Mike Villanueva, Atwater, Calif.; 7. Logan Drake, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; 8. William McGuire, Belton, Texas; 9. Lawrence O’Connor, Port Hardy, B.C.; 10. Darren Schatz, Williston, N.D.; 11. Andy Freeman, Central Point, Ore.; 12. John Parmeley, Phoenix, Ariz.; 13. Roger Holder, Bakersfield, Calif.

10^th “B” feature – 1. Kody Scholpp; 2. Alex Stanford, Chowchilla, Calif.; 3. Mark Wauge, Med­ford, Ore.; 4. Mike Hagen, Williston, N.D.; 5. Jett Big Eagle, Manor, Sask.; 6. P.J. Dyke, Jamul, Calif.; 7. Duane Cleveland, Plumas Lake, Calif.; 8. Christy Barnett, El Paso, Texas; 9. Mark Abouzeid, Chico, Calif.; 10. Raymond Keldsen Jr., Aromas, Calif.; 11. Mickey Stubbings, Helper, Utah; 12. Matt Murphy, Susanville, Calif.; 13. Justin Kay, Wheatland, Iowa.

11^th “B” feature – 1. Johnny Saathoff; 2. Paul Stone, Winton, Calif.; 3. Ricky Alvarado, Delta, Colo.; 4. Alexander Wilson, Salinas, Calif.; 5. Masen Big Eagle, Manor, Sask.; 6. Troy Morris Jr., Bakersfield, Calif.; 7. Dale Neitzel, Shepherd, Mont.; 8. Kenny Irwin, Bakersfield, Calif.; 9. Sher­man Barnett, El Paso, Texas; 10. Chris Cole, Cache, Okla.; 11. William Kinden, Williston, N.D.; 12. Bland Bohannon, Williston, N.D.; 13. Kyle Brown, State Center, Iowa.

12^th “B” feature – 1. Jeff Taylor; 2. Jason Beaulieu, Campbell River, B.C.; 3.Billy Vogel, Fargo, N.D.; 4. Mike Densberger, Lincoln, Neb.; 5. Troy Foulger, Martinez, Calif.; 6. Greg Gustus, Brighton, Colo.; 7. Joe Frock, Reno; 8. Mitchell Niemi, Lakeside, Calif.; 9. Mike Meazell, Gilroy, Calif.; 10. Rick Durica, Las Vegas; 11. Bo Partain, Casa Grande, Ariz.; 12. Eddie Kirchoff, Gillette, Wyo.; 13. Chett Reeves, Bakersfield, Calif.

Northern SportMod “B” Features

1^st “B” feature (top four qualify) – 1. Nick Sylvester; 2. Jason Nation; 3. Brian Cooper; 4. Ron Tex Jr.; 5. Jerry Hoffman, Oronogo, Mo.; 6. Danny Concelman, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 7. Austin Frye, Taft, Calif.; 8. Joey Yantis, Bakersfield, Calif.; 9. Chuck Black, Phoenix, Ariz.; 10. Rick Kretsch­mann, Sheboygan Falls, Wis.; 11. Brenden Damon, Great Bend, Kan.; 12. Arie Schouten, Blair, Neb.; 13. Jared Schweitzer, Bakersfield, Calif.; 14. Anthony Fierro, Cheyenne, Wyo.; 15. Anthony Giuliani, Morgan Hill, Calif.

2^nd “B” feature – 1. Fred Ryland; 2. Tony Honold; 3. Michael Johnson; 4. Luke Krogh; 5. Jordan Hagar, Bakersfield, Calif.; 6. Rex Higgins, Bloomfield, N.M.; 7. Brian Roode, Brooks, Alb.; 8. Billy Simkins, Bakersfield, Calif.; 9. Jerry Hinton, Adel, Iowa; 10. Ricky Saunders, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 11. Brenda Kirby, Lomita, Calif.; 12. Merl Fitzpatrick, Brooks, Alb.; 13. Brendon Frye, Taft, Calif.; 14. Chuck Delp, Rock Springs, Wyo.; 15. Marisa Odgers, Mariposa, Calif.

3^rd “B” feature – 1. Wayne Dotson; 2. Chris Toth; 3. Varion Hetle; 4. Kyle Smith; 5. Garrett Jerna­gan, Bakersfield, Calif.; 6. Shawn Harker, Nebraska City, Neb.; 7. Shane Helton, Artesia, N.M.; 8. Todd Cooper, Yuba City, Calif.; 9. Jeremy Hoff, Copperopolis, Calif.; 10. Mark Odgers, Mariposa, Calif.; 11. Ryan Gilland, Beatrice, Neb.; 12. Jason George, Laveen, Ariz.; 13. Scott Saun­ders, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 14. Sean Tyson, Council Bluffs, Iowa.