Taylor Scores First Ironman Late Model Win at Tri-City!
By Steve Birmingham
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July 31, 2004; Granite City, IL -Late Model veteran Dick Taylor made the tow from Springfield, Illinois a lucrative one by winning the 25-lap Dodge Ironman Late Model feature at Tri-City Speedway.
A record number of cars jammed the pits for the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Racing Series, making the action hot and heavy until the final checkered. Taylor, starting from the third row pole, dodged two first-lap melees that twice shuffled the starting order and eventually moved him to the front row. Once the green flew Taylor put on a driving clinic, weaving through lapped traffic and surviving two more caution periods. With the race nearing its conclusion and Tom Krankel moving from deep in the pack to challenge for the lead, Taylor hugged the inside of turn one, put three cars between himself and Krankel and raced to the three-length lead. Krankel made a last ditch effort at the line but was edged out by Taylor by mere inches. Rounding out the top five were Chris Winters, Michael Kloos and Dan Dondero.The qualifying heats went to Mike Schulte, Randy Rawlings and Krankel.
Steve Maisel and Bert Jacoby chased Marty Kopp for 19 laps of the Mountain Dew Sportsman main and looked to settling for the place and show finishes. But, just as Kopp sailed through the final turn a flat tire slowed his rapid pace and Maisel breezed past for his fifth win of the year with Jacoby, Kopp, Bubb Mitchell and Rick Squires trailing. The heats went to Maisel, Pat Chalmers and Kopp.
Dylan Sharp won his first career Budweiser Modified main over Tommie Seets, Jr., Joe Dresch, Ed Lenhardt and Ricky Huebner. The heats fell to Sharp, Lenhardt, Jim Lafferty and Bob Stanton.
Brad Yotter won his third Domino's Street Stock feature of the year, besting Brandon Hogenson and David Parker. The heats were won by Yotter, Andy Beavers, Ricky Huebner, Keith Jackson and Mike Schulte.
David Pulley Jr., crossed the line first in the Auto Trader Factory Stock main but two post-race disqualifications handed the win to Todd Oplt, his first career win at Tri-City. Aaron Wood and Paul McEntyre trailed with Ken Bell and Wood winning the heats.