Larson rides borrowed car to East Moline checkers

By Rob Hinckley 

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (May 23) – Jeff Larson borrowed Kenny Kostenbader’s machine for the second straight night and won for the second evening in a row, dominating the Sunday evening IMCA Modified 20-lap main at East Moline Speedway.

With the win from ninth starting the previous night at Maquoketa Speedway, he picked up a $100 bonus for the second time this year. 

Travis Denning, missing a lot of sheet metal, roared from near the back for second. Tim Hamburg, Brandon Durbin and Brandon Hamburg rounded out the top five.

It was a rollercoaster race for Karl Kustoms Northern SportMod driver Justin Veloz. He started fifth, suffered an early flat tire and then raced the high groove from the rear after a restart to take the 15-lap finale. Jarett Franzen zipped to second, but could not chase down Veloz. Jacob Copley also came from the tail to take third, followed by Logan Veloz and C.J. Durbin.

Blake Gonzales’ rough season hit a high note as he wheeled his brother R.J.’s IMCA STARS Mod Lite to victory, leading all 15 laps. Jon Padilla, Mike Morrow, Anthony Guss and Rob Guss followed.

Daniel Wauters took advantage of a couple tangles between Drew Burk and Randy Lamar to win the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock 12-lap feature. Burk, Lamar, Adam Parker and Logan Gustaf were next, topping a season high in car count.

Andy Nezworski got the IMCA Sunoco Late Model win after Tyler Erb was disqualified in post-race tech. Ja­cob Waterman was awarded second followed by Joe Ross, Chuck Hanna and B.J. Jackson.

The season continues on the quarter-mile dirt oval this Sunday May 30. Racing takes place in all weekly classes as the Late Models were scheduled to be off, but were added back to the tilt. Gates open at 4 p.m. Hot laps are at 5:30 p.m. with racing to follow.