Only two rounds left when the Ironman Challenge series pulled into Rattlesnake Raceway outside of Fallon.

Fallon (July 3) – The Evenson Law Office Ironman Challenge pulled into its final stop on this Sunday. On the card were the IMCA, Hobby Stocks and the Pro 4’s or Mini Mods as they have been known.

For one driver it was a night of hard racing.

After winning what was his 99th IMCA victory Sample said, “I have a smile from ear to ear. You know he (Miller) makes me work for it every lap. He was protecting the bottom and there was nothing you could do about it so you run outside. I had to make a move and wasn’t going to make it on the bottom but he was slow enough to where I thought I could just barrel in and probably had one opportunity to do it. Think I caught him sleeping a little bit and made it work.”

Before the IMCA main began the field did a 4-wide salute to the fans. Then they formed up for the start.

Before the IMCA main began the drivers did a 4-wide salute to their fans.

When the green sent the 18-car field on its way Robert Miller jumped into the lead followed by Jeff Olschowka and James Thiboudeaux.

A few laps into the race the caution came out due to a car spinning at the exit of Turn 2. Then on the restart Travis White spun in Turn 4 but down the track more cars tangled and spun at the exit of Turn 2.

At that time official stopped the race so they could clean up the mess and get everyone back in order.

Once again Miller led the charge with Olschowka right behind him but now series points leader Cory Sample was closing in on Thiboudeaux.

Then Olschowka used the outside line to take the lead but due to a caution for debris on the front stretch. Scoring reverts to the previous lap when cautions occur.

Right after that Olschowka stopped on the front stretch then exited the race. No Sample was behind Miller on the restart although it took three attempts to get the race restarted.

Late in the IMCA main Cory Sample (00) chases leader Robert Miller (59).

On the green Miller took off but Sample was closing fast then used an outside move through Turns 1 and 2 to take the lead and victory. Miller ended up second head of Thiboudeaux and Andy Straight, who scored one of this best finishes in the series.

Cory Sample scores his 99th IMCA victory on July 3rd at Rattlesnake Raceway.

Due to the cautions and tangles that eliminated several care Sample had to be careful as well.

Asked about that he said, “My strategy tonight was just to survive. We have a pretty good point lead and you don’t want to give it away. You’ve just to go to the protect mode.”

During the interview Miller came up and said he was proud of Sample.

As promoter Steve Evenson looks on Robert Miller (center) congratulates IMCA winner Cory Sample.

Asked about that second place Miller said, “The story is pretty simple, Cory came again.You know we ran better than yesterday, still got a second so we’re the first loser. But I’ll tell you what I’m still proud of the team for doing what they’re doing. They worked their butt off all day and it looks we’ll have to work tomorrow but we keep digging.

“After 37 years I’m still excited to do this. Makes me work hard to get back out there and see if we can beat the kid.”

Asked if his tires were going away at the end Miller said, “They weren’t going away, I just couldn’t drive in straight. So I’m not going to go any faster and more sideways so you’ve got to just peddle it.”

The other part of the Ironman Series is the Hobby Stock class. All the cars run Fallon rules and there were two championships, south and north.

Shayna Robertson, who used her daughter’s last name of Hartman was the south champion and in a close race with the northern points leader Bob Vaden. She has dedicated this series to her daughter that is in the Army.

When the green sent the 21-car field on its way Mickey Beuhat and Jeff Tuttle were on point.

Soon after the start there was a caution when Hartman wound up on the berm. Thent he lights in Turns 3 and 4 went out so the race was halted.

While waiting for the lights to come back on in Turns 3 and 4, pit crew members had a foot race of their own down the front straight.

After the offending breaker was reset it took some time for the lights to warm up. During this time promoter Steve Evenson staged foot races for those in the pits.

There were also some kids and they ran a separate race. After that the adults ran a race down the front straight.

When raing resumed Beuchat took off with Rocky Goetz in pursuit. Behind them David Ausano and Bad Vaden were moving through the pack.

A short caution bunched the field and on the first restart there was a 4-car tangle so everyone got in place again the green waved again. Not too many laps later there was another caution when Goetz slowed and pitted with a flat tire.

Up front Chris Christiano was closing in on the leader while young Cody Morris was also heading toward the front. Another caution with four to go bunched the field and erased any advantage the leader may have had.

By now Christiano was on point followed by Beuchat and Morris.

On the green Beuchat challenged Christiano for the lead but Morris saw his chance and soon swooped past both of them to take the point.

From there he streaked to the finish while Beuchat took second while Christiano and Vaden were third and fourth.

Cody Morris wins Sunday night’s Hobby Stock main.

Asked about the winning pass Morris said, “He (Beuchat) got loose coming out of Turn 4 so I just drove under him and didn’t let off going into the corner. He lost power steering so it was kind of hard for him.”

Then he thanked his parents and family for their support as well as Parson Drilling, Performance by Gilly, Fallon Airmotive and Grace Racing.

For his part it was quite a performance for Beuchat as his car was somewhat ailing.

“I’ve been fighting the car the whole time as I lost power steering about four laps in and the restart just let me relax a little bit. So I just held on to the wheel harder,” he said.

Then he thanked Lightning Motorsports, CMF Fabrication, Brad Stokes at State Farm Insurance, his family and all those that support him.

Along with the classes in the series the Super Stock 4 division also was running. These are also called by an earlier name as the Mini Mods.

On the green there was a side-by-side duel between Kenny Martin and Stephen Crook Sr., who took the position. Behind him his son Dennis Crook was using the outside line to move forward.

After only a few laps the younger Crook used an outside move going through Turn 2 to take the lead and streak off to the victory.

Dennis Crook wins the Super Stock 4 main.

Even though it was a long night everyone finally had time to do any repairs, get some sleep and be ready for the annual races on the next day, July 4th.

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OTHER RACING NEWS

• For those that are into the cruise nights leading to Hot August Nights the one in the Reno-Sparks area will be on Wednesday from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. This week it is at Morning Star located in Sparks at 2360 Wingfield Hills Road.

For those in the Carson City, Minden, Gardnerville area there will be a cruise night on Thursday, as the lead up to the Silver Dollar Classic at the Carson Lanes – Johnny Rockets. Sorry but don’t know the exact times.

RESULTS

IMCA:

+ Heat #1: 1. Robert Miller, 2. Joel Myers, 3. Travis White, 4. Mark Skender, 5. Vince Evenson, 6. Connor Tatum.

+ Heat #2: 1. Jeff Olschowka, 2. Wade Taylor, 3. Fred White, 4. Mike Martin, 5. Zane DeVillbiss, 6.Carl Barlow.

+ Heat #3: 1. James Thiboudeaux, 2. Malen Gonzalez, 3. Cory Sample, 4. Robert Mull, 5. Andy Strait, 6. Reldon Hatch.

+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Cory Sample, 2. Robert Miller, 3. James Thiboudeaux, 4. Andy Strait, 5. Zane DeVillbiss, 6. Mark Skender, 7. Vincent Evenson, 8. Malen Gozalez, 9. Jeff Olschowka, 10. Mike Martin, 11. Fred White, 12. Travis White, 13. Wade Taylor, 14. Joel Myers, 15. Robert Mull, 16. Reldon Hatch, 17. Connor Tatum, 18. Carl Barlow.

Hobby Stocks:

+ Heat #1: 1. Rocky Goetz, 2. Cody Morris, 3. Shane Cazel, 4. Raymond  Davis, 5. Michael Barlett, 6. Edwin Cedeno.

+ Heat #2: 1. David Ausano, 2. Bob Vaden, 3. Dan Diaz, 4. Shayna Hartman, 5. Tammie Buehn.

+ Heat #3: 1. Mickey Beuchat, 2. Jimmy Berhorst, 3. Jeff Tuttle, 4. Tim Russell, 5. Alex Kniestedt.

+ Heat #4: 1. Chris Christiano, 2. Tori Edgington, 3. Paul Shamlin, 4. Robert Weaver, 5. Ray Miller.

+ Main (24-Laps): 1. Cody Morris, 2. Mickey Beuchat, 3. Chris Christiano, 4. Bob Vaden, 5. David Ausano, 6. Paul Shamlin, 7. Dan Diaz, 8. Michael Bardlett, 9. Tim Russell, 10. Shayna Hartman, 11. Tori Edgington, 12. Tami Buehn, 13. Ray Miller, 14. Edwin Cedeno, 15. Raymond Davis, 16. Alex Kniestedt, 17. Jeff Tuttle, 18. Shane Cazel, 19. Robert Weaver, 20. Rocky Goetz, 21. Jimmy Berhorst.

Super Stock 4 (Mod Minis):

+ Heat: 1. Dennis Crook, 2. Kenny Martin, 3. Janet Lyford, 4. Stephen Crook  Sr., 5. Galen Reese, 6. Rich Innis.

+ Main (20-Laps): 1. Dennis Crook, 2. Stephen Crook Sr., 3. Kenny Martin, 4. Janet Lyford, 5. Dan Pieretti,      6. Galen Reese.