DJ Wood becomes fourth different winner in IMCA Modified action at Winter Challenge Series
PEORIA, Ariz. (Feb. 1) – D.J. Wood raced to his first-ever Winter Challenge Series win Wednesday night at Canyon Speedway Park, and he has the driver he passed on the last lap to thank for it.
Scott Drake shared setup tips with the Wood Team prior to the fourth installment of the IMCA Modified series at Peoria. The Missouri veteran led much of the 25-lapper before late contact with a lapped car opened the door for Wood.
“We had struggled with the suspension on our car but Scott helped us with that and everything worked the way we wanted it to,” said Wood, who’s best finish in three previous 2012 series starts has been 12th. “I’d never won a Winter Challenge race before. It’s awesome.”
Drake, quick to congratulate Wood during post-race activities, salvaged second place points and pay. Jay Foster, Jason Noll and Ryan Roath followed as home state drivers captured four of the top five positions.
Wood ran second early on, then watched Drake shoot from third to first following a restart. Drake began to pull away before Wood changed lines, going high in the turns and to the lower line on the straightaways.
After reeling in the leader, Wood was in the right place at the right time when Drake was unable to avoid a spinning car, driving between both and taking the checkers by not much more than a car length.
The $1,000 victory put Wood on the ballot for this year’s Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational. Self-funded, Wood has already matched his win total for all of last season. The 2010 Allstar Performance Arizona state champion is also the newest member of the Karsyn’s Krusaders team and will help raise money for cancer awareness and prevention.
Daniel Hilsabeck and Guy Norton, the final qualifiers from the ‘B’ feature, were the evening’s hard chargers. Hilsabeck advanced 16 spots to sixth while Norton passed 14 cars to seventh.
Another qualifier from the semi, R.C. Whitwell, moved up 10 positions from his original start to end in eighth.
Remaining Winter Challenge Schedule at Canyon Speedway Park:
Round Five – Friday, February 3 @ 7:00 p.m.
Round Six – Saturday, February 4 @ 1:00 p.m.
To keep up on all the latest news and happenings please sign up for Canyon Speedway E-News. The track update registration can be found at the top of the home page: www.canyonspeedwaypark.com
COMPLETE RESULTS:
IMCA Modifieds – Main Event
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 4 52W Dj Wood -
2 3 19D Scott Drake -
3 13 09 Jay Foster Phoenix , Az
4 6 44 Jason Noll -
5 1 45 Ryan Roath New River, Az
6 22 22D Daniel Hilsabeck -
7 21 12 Guy Norton Peoria , Az
8 18 L8 Rc Whitwell -
9 14 41 George Fronsman -
10 12 4TW Tim Ward -
11 17 20R Robbie Chiles -
12 15 2 Justin Thornton -
13 11 78 Steve Stultz Peoria , Az
14 10 36 Jeff Conner Jefferson , Ia
15 8 W5 Jesse Williamson -
16 2 74 Garrett Funk -
17 16 95 Dylan Smith Osceola , Ne
18 20 21 Phil Penney Percival , Ia
19 5 1X Chris Abelson -
20 19 60 William Gould -
21 9 20RT Ricky Thornton Jr -
22 7 87X Joel Bushore -
IMCA Modifieds – Semi
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 2 20R Robbie Chiles -
2 1 L8 Rc Whitwell -
3 9 60 William Gould -
4 4 21 Phil Penney Percival , Ia
5 10 12 Guy Norton Peoria , Az
6 8 22D Daniel Hilsabeck -
7 5 3 Jason Briese -
8 7 31 Jay Parvin -
9 6 82 Jc Parmeley -
10 11 6X Jason Schoenberger -
IMCA Modifieds – Heat Race 3
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 2 W5 Jesse Williamson -
2 4 45 Ryan Roath New River, Az
3 8 52W Dj Wood -
4 5 78 Steve Stultz Peoria , Az
5 6 41 George Fronsman -
6 7 L8 Rc Whitwell -
7 3 31 Jay Parvin -
8 9 82 Jc Parmeley -
9 1 6X Jason Schoenberger -
IMCA Modifieds – Heat Race 2
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 2 1X Chris Abelson -
2 1 87X Joel Bushore -
3 3 20RT Ricky Thornton Jr -
4 5 36 Jeff Conner Jefferson , Ia
5 7 4TW Tim Ward -
6 4 20R Robbie Chiles -
7 6 77 Jason Haug Salida , Co
8 9 3 Jason Briese -
9 8 60 William Gould -
IMCA Modifieds – Heat Race 1
________________________________________
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 2 19D Scott Drake -
2 8 44 Jason Noll -
3 6 74 Garrett Funk -
4 3 09 Jay Foster Phoenix , Az
5 4 2 Justin Thornton -
6 7 95 Dylan Smith Osceola , Ne
7 1 22D Daniel Hilsabeck -
8 9 21 Phil Penney Percival , Ia
9 5 12 Guy Norton Peoria , Az
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