Slocum 50 checkers fly for first-time Deery winner Ryan

WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (April 9) – A veteran of the Deery Brothers Summer Series got his first feature win trophy, and a big check, Saturday at 34 Raceway.

Matt Ryan led the last 10 laps in winning the Slocum 50 IMCA Late Model tour feature at West Burlington. He inherited the front spot after Denny Woodworth was forced to pit with a flat tire, then held off a late charge by Boone McLaughlin to take the $3,000 checkers by a margin meas­ured in inches.

Defending race winner Mark Burgtorf earned the hard charger starting spot by passing the most cars in his heat and “B” feature, then moved up 19 positions to finish third in the main event.

Terry Neal was fourth and provisional starter Tom Darbyshire advanced 18 spots to complete the top five.

Woodworth started on the pole and led early in the caution-slowed contest, giving way to the fifth starting Rob Toland before regaining the point and staying there through a myriad of restarts.

Ryan and McLaughlin, meanwhile, swapped second several times. Ryan held the position when Woodworth cut his right rear tire and left the track. McLaughlin challenged the last three circuits, making his bid coming out of the final turn but coming up just short.

A non-qualifier in the series opener last weekend at Dubuque, Ryan’s previous best finish in 45 career feature starts was a runner-up showing on the asphalt at Hawkeye Downs in 2008. He ran third at Jackson County Speedway in 2009.

The grandstand was at near capacity for the third annual event, held in memory of late local driver Brent Slocum. One dollar from each adult ticket sold for the stands was donated to a scholarship fund benefitting area high school seniors.

Mike Murphy Jr. won the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing.

The second half of the weekend Deery doubleheader takes the tour to Quincy, Ill., Raceway for a Sunday, April 10 show. The grandstand opens at 4:30 p.m., hot laps are at 5:45 p.m. and racing starts at 6:30 p.m.

Quincy is the third of 19 races on the schedule for the 25^th anniversary series.

Feature Results –

1. Matt Ryan, Davenport;

2. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis;

3. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.;

4. Terry Neal, Ely;

5. Tom Darbyshire, Morning Sun;

6. Matt Strassheim, Burlington;

7. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun;

8. Tyler Bruening, Decorah;

9. Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill.;

10. Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant;

11. Denny Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.;

12. Todd Malmstrom, Silvis, Ill.;

13. Brian Harris, Davenport;

14. Andy Eckrich, Iowa City;

15. Rob Toland, Davenport;

16. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.;

17. Matt Bailey, Quincy, Ill.;

18. Nate Beuseling, Silvis, Ill.;

19. Sam Halstead, New London;

20. Dan Shelliam, Hazel Green, Wis.;

21. Tom Goble, Burlington;

22. Keith Pratt, Mendon, Ill.;

23. Billy Tuckwell, Spring Bay, Ill.;

24. Mike Murphy Jr., Colona, Ill.

1^st heat (top three) – 1. Ryan; 2. Beuseling; 3. Harris. 2^nd heat – 1. Halstead; 2. McLaughlin; 3. Goble. 3^rd heat – 1. Malmstrom; 2. Eckrich; 3. Reed. 4^th heat – 1. Toland; 2. Woodworth; 3. Neal. 5^th heat – 1. Guss; 2. Tuckwell; 3. Cook.

1^st “B” feature (top three) – 1. Springsteen; 2. Pratt; 3. Bailey. 2^nd “B” feature – 1. Murphy; 2. Shelliam; 3. Strassheim.