Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights finale, IMCA Modified tour title to Richie Gustin

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Gustin
Richie Gustin capped his run to the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour crown with the $1,500 IMCA Modified checkers Saturday at Benton County Speedway. (Photo by Jim Morrison)

VINTON, Iowa (Sept. 28) – Richie Gustin clinched the Arnold Motor Supply Dirt Knights Tour champi­onship by taking the green flag Saturday night. 

He earned $1,500 by taking the IMCA Modified checkers 25 laps later at Benton County Speedway.

Gustin passed long-time race leader Cayden Carter following a restart with six laps left en route to his record-extending fifth tour win of the season.

He became the 10th different driver to win the championship in as many years the tour has been held. 

Carter was a lapped car ahead of Gustin before that yellow and still had the lead when the 20th circuit was scored. Gustin had a half car length advantage at the stripe the next two times around, however, then pulled ahead.

Carter, early leader Tim Ward, Joel Rust and Jeff Larson completed the top five. Hard charger Al Hejna advanced a dozen spots from his original starting position.

The all-time leader with 13 tour victories, Gustin had also won at the Vinton Bullring in 2014. Already on the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot, he’ll receive the lion’s share of the tour point fund, along with a Traeger Lil’ Tex Elite Pel­let Grill valued at $700 cour­tesy of title sponsor Arnold Motor Sup­ply. 

The rest of Saturday’s IMCA program was rained out.

Feature results – 1. Richie Gustin, Gilman; 2. Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa; 3. Tim Ward, Harcourt; 4. Joel Rust, Grundy Center; 5. Jeff Larson, Freeport, Ill.; 6. Kollin Hibdon, Pahrump, Nev.; 7. Jeff Ai­key, Cedar Falls; 8. Todd Shute, Norwalk; 9. Brock Bauman, Eureka, Ill.; 10. Troy Cordes, Dunker­ton; 11. Al Hejna, Clear Lake; 12. Scott Hogan, Vinton; 13. Matt Werner, Colona, Ill.; 14. Ronn Lauritzen, LaPorte City; 15. Eric Barnes, Colona, Ill.; 16. Taylor Musselman, Urbandale; 17. Ja­son Snyder, Dunkerton; 18. Cody Bauman, Eureka, Ill.; 19. Scott Simatovich, State Center; 20. Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington; 21. John Emerson, Waterloo; 22. Jerry Dedrick, Vinton; 23. Rod McDon­ald, Manchester; 24. Tommy Belmer, Evansdale; 25. Patrick Flannagan, Cedar Rapids; 26. Brennen Chipp, Dunkerton; 27. Jordan Bacon, Luana.