News/Results

Modified Pinkerton perfect in 7th Annual Spring Classic triumph

OSKALOOSA, Iowa– Brad Pinkerton knows the Southern Iowa Speedway as well as—if not better than—any driver in the history of Oskaloosa, Iowa's Mahaska County Half-Mile Monster. Among his accomplishments are multiple track championships, including two (Stock Car and Modified) in one season twice (2003 and 2006); two victories in the $10,000-to-win USRA Great American Stock Car Shootout; and his first O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victory in August, 2005. Make that two O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victories.

Pinkerton picked up the $2,000 top prize Wednesday night, winning the 30-lap main event of the 7th Annual Spring Classic at his home track over a stellar field of Modified superstars. But the 35-year-old from New Sharon, Iowa, didn't just win the race, he dominated it.

After scoring the AFCO Pole Award, fellow New Sharon pilot Zack VanderBeek redrew the pole position for the Holley “A” Main while Pinkerton's draw put him on the outside of the front row. Using the low side of the racing surface, VanderBeek jumped out to the lead at the drop of Ryne Staley's green flag with Pinkerton running the extreme high side of the track.

VanderBeek, who captured the USRA Stock Car feature race just a few minutes earlier, built a four-car-length lead through the first three laps, but “Pinky” reeled in his long-time teammate and nemesis to take the lead on lap 7. A dozen laps later, his lead expanded to a full straight-away.

After a caution on lap 2 for Steve Kosiski's brush with the front stretch wall, the contest nearly went green to checkered. With three laps to go, however, a broken drive shaft left Alan Mondus stopped beneath the flagstand to bring out the yellow flag, wipe out Pinkerton's half-straight-away advantage and create a three-lap shootout to the finish. It was a tough break for the leader, and even tougher for Mondus who had climbed from 15th on the starting grid to challenge Kelly Shryock for fourth.

Pinkerton led the field to the restart with Al Hejna and VanderBeek on his tail. The pause in the action only served to delay the inevitable, however, as Pinkerton drove away from the competition to score his career-second O’Reilly USMTS National Tour victory and take the initial points lead in the Central States Region.

NEW VISION GRAPHICS HEAT RACE #2 (8 laps):
1. 4rv - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (1)
2. 17p - Brad Pinkerton -- New Sharon, IA (6)
3. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (5)
4. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (3)
5. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (4)
6. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (8)
7. 18L - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (10)
8. 22 - Brandon Banks -- Washington, IA (2)
9. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (9)
10. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (7)

HOLLEY “A” MAIN (30 laps):
1. 17p - Brad Pinkerton -- New Sharon, IA (2)
2. 7 - Al Hejna -- Clear Lake, IA (6)
3. 19r - Ryan Gustin -- Marshalltown, IA (3)
4. 3 - Kelly Shryock -- Fertile, IA (7)
5. 33z - Zack VanderBeek -- New Sharon, IA (1)
6. 12 - Jason Hughes -- Westville, OK (11)
7. 7n - Jay Noteboom -- Hinton, IA (12)
8. 90 - Steve Wetzstein -- West Concord, MN (14)
9. 4r - Dereck Ramirez -- Woodward, OK (16)
10. 74 - Mark Noble -- Blooming Prairie, MN (17)
11. 4rv - Ron Ver Beek -- Oskaloosa, IA (5)
12. 56 - Chris Spieker -- Massena, IA (4)
13. 55x - Scott Stecher -- Muscatine, IA (21)
14. 21b - Brandon Kenny -- Woodward, OK (9)
15. 8 - Colt Mather -- Webster, IA (10)
16. 20r - Bryan Rowland -- Woodward, OK (18)
17. 93 - Cale Sponsler -- Grimes, IA (24)
18. 14j - Jake Neal -- Omaha, NE (23)
19. 7c - Nate Caruth -- Ames, IA (13)
20. 55 - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (15) DNF
21. 32 - Donovan Lodge -- Moline, IL (22) DNF
22. 18L - Michael Long -- Quincy, IL (19) DNF
23. 22 - Brandon Banks -- Washington, IA (20) DNF
24. 22k - Steve Kosiski -- Papillion, NE (8) DNF

Lap Leaders:VanderBeek 1-7, Pinkerton 8-30.
Total Laps Led:Pinkerton 23, VanderBeek 7.