By Rob Hinckley
MAQUOKETA, Iowa (Aug. 18) – The jubilation was apparent as Jake Morris slammed his open hand repeatedly on top of his car.
The long season became worth it after his 15-lap B&D Pit Stop IMCA Northern SportMod feature win on Back to School Night at Maquoketa Speedway Saturday evening.
“Wow, it has been such a long year so this makes it worth it,” Morris said in victory lane. “Our luck has been bad and I can’t say enough about my sponsors and crew for hanging in there.”
Morris ran in the top three the entire race, taking the lead for good on lap eight and beating Gage Neal, Jason Bahrs, Austin Heacock and Tyler Soppe to the checkered flag.
The race went nonstop until a caution flew after the white flag and the race was called complete.
A record total of 129 race teams jammed into the pits and racing was completed just after 10 p.m.
Matt Ryan always studies the IMCA Modified feature before his Andover Meat IMCA Late Model 25-lap finale. He decided to run the high groove to get to the front and then moved low, racing to the win.
Bryce Garnhart kept his hot August going with another QCJeeps.com IMCA Modified 20-lap win. He held off a charging Jordan Hicks, Jeff Larson, Tyler Madigan and Ray Cox Jr.
Greg Gill captured the 15-lap Ueland Auto IMCA Stock Car finale. Joe Bonney, David Brandies, John Oliver, Jr. and Donnie Louck followed.
Daniel Wauter used the low line of the racing surface en route to his eighth IMCA Hobby Stock 12-lap victory. Kile Vohringer made a late charge for second, followed by Dakota Simonsen, Roger Winkers and Randy Byerly.