By Ben Deatherage
UNDERWOOD, N.D. (Aug. 2, 2024) – McLean County Speedway hosted its final race weekend of 2024 with Steven Pfeifer, Gabriel Deschamp, Darren Medler and Taylor Heaton earning IMCA feature wins.
Dalton Flory was the early leader in the Friesen Performance IMCA Modified ranks. Travis Hagen caught Flory and challenged on the bottom but couldn’t make it work so he transitioned to the top shelf. While that occurred, Pfeifer came into the fray to make it a three-car battle for the lead.
Flory did his best to keep them all in check, but Pfeifer successfully obtained first place on lap six with Hagen motoring his way into second.
Drew Christianson went into third and tried to challenge Hagen for the runner-up around lap 10.
The yellow came out one last time with 13 laps complete, setting up a dozen laps left to cover. As the lap count got worked on, Hagen did his best to track down Pfeifer, but the leader did an excellent job staying ahead. Pfeifer kept Hagen in check for the $1,500 checkers and Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility.
Hagen and Christianson were the rest of the podium finishers.
The IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main event was a dynamite race. Things started off with polesitter Deschamp working the low line to take control while the battle for second was a spectacle between Austin Daae and Johnny Carter. Carter secured second on the second circuit just before the only caution came out.
On the restart, Daae was at home on the top side of the race track to retrieve second, but Carter had other plans. Carter operated on the inside line to navigate around Deschamp to officially lead lap four. Both Daae and Deschamp kept Carter honest, and things got wild on the backstretch on lap nine when the front three runners went three abreast.
Daae beat everyone to the line with a masterclass move on the high side of turn four.
But just as Daae was the new leader, lapped traffic became a factor the next time around. Deschamp worked the inside portion of turn three to get the top spot back and lead the 10th circuit at the line.
Daae kept his faith on the high side and tried to reel in Deschamp, but despite very little room for error, Deschamp held on to the $1,000 victory and B & B Racing Chassis All-Star Invitational qualifying eligibility.
Carter seized the runner-up spot on the final circuit, with Daae third.
Gabriel Deschamp prevailed in a $1,000 to win thriller for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars Friday at McLean County Speedway. (Photo by Mak’n Photography)
The Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod main event started with Cole Hanshew seizing control early after beating Keean Glasser to the line. Unfortunately, Hanshew got sideways in turn four and spun out, resulting in Glasser taking over the role of the new trailblazer.
After several cautions early, Medler powered outside Glasser to control the top spot on lap three. Restarts would be the name of the game, as six more additional stoppages occurred while Medler led.
Some challenges would come to Medler courtesy of Glasser, but each time, he kept the Glasser behind him. Glasser mounted a strong challenge one last time, but it would not be enough to overtake Medler.
Glasser was credited with a strong second-place effort, while Justin Fichter held on to third.
Brennor Grinstead made a strong start from his pole position, leading the opening lap of the IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock main event. However, Taylor Heaton, with a sweeping pass out of the fourth corner, took the lead on the second circuit.
Grinstead, not one to give up easily, fought back. Despite the pressure from Kyler Satran, he managed to regain the lead when Heaton made a mistake in the fourth corner on lap five.
The front three runners were close to each other as Satran applied pressure to Heaton, and Heaton did not allow Grinstead to get away. Lapped traffic came into play on the ninth trip around the track but was removed due to a stoppage the next time around.
On the restart, Satran, Grinstead, and Heaton went three-wide, but the caution came out again without any additional laps being completed. A little contact was made among the three, resulting in Grinstead having to go to the work area and Heaton inheriting the lead.
As the race resumed, Heaton surged ahead of Satran and the rest of the competition, setting a blistering pace. Despite a late charge from Satran, Heaton crossing the finish line first.
Satran was a close second, followed by Tyson Grinstead in third.
The event was broadcast on IMCA.TV affiliate DARN.TV.
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