Pevely, MO – Zach Daum of Pocahontas, Illinois rebounded to take tonight’s Ironman 55 finale with the POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series and POWRi Lucas Oil West Midget Series at Federated Auto Parts Raceway at I-55. In Friday night’s feature, Daum openly admits driver error, but his night was ultimately ended when a fellow competitor collided and hit the front end of Daum’s Toyota-powered Eagle Chassis as soon as it came to a stop, completely ending his bid. Daum’s Ironman victory is his 16th career and third of 2016.
2013 and 2014 POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series champion, Daum, started outside front row to pole sitter and 2012 POWRi champion, Andrew Felker. At the drop of the green flag, Daum jumped to a healthy lead over Dave Darland and Casey Shuman. In a caution-less 30 lap feature event, fans held their breath as Daum worked through lap traffic, while battles for second on back ensued. Almost to halfway, Daum’s teammate, Kyle Jones moved past Darland for the second position after starting seventh.
As laps wound down, Daum encountered heavy lap traffic on his way to victory allowing Jones to close slightly, but time ran out for a chance to challenge Daum for the lead. Dave Darland took the final podium position, while Casey Shuman finished fourth. Steven Shebester rounded out the top five with a charge from the twelfth position.
“We thought we had a car to win last night and I stepped on it,” admits Zach Daum. “I’m not going to make excuses, I screwed up there. But, we’re happy to be standing here. This car was hell to build. It took us four months to take it apart and put it back together. I’m happy to get a win with it. I hope somebody with Keith Kunz, or Chad Boat, somebody with Toyota wins Belleville and we’ll get them two feature wins in one night.”
“That was awesome,” said Kyle Jones. “It’s my first time being here. I love this place. I cannot thank Zach and his team enough; they gave me a great car. I drive sprint cars and midgets back home in Texas. Toyota gave me a shot to come up here and I can’t thank them enough.”
“Third place sucks,” stated Dave Darland. “Tomorrow night at Kokomo is my dad’s memorial race. I’ve only won it one time out of the twelve it’s been ran. Kokomo’s a great race track and this place is too. I’d like to run this place more often. Been driving midgets for 20 years and this is my first time here in any racecar and hopefully we’re back with some more stuff, too.”
Midgets
Speedway Motors Heat Race Winners: Heat 1: 7 - CASEY SHUMAN , Heat 2: 5D - ZACH DAUM, Heat 3: 11A - ANDREW FELKER
Great Clips Feature Winner: 5D - ZACH DAUM
POWRi Lucas Oil National Midget Series Feature Results (30 laps): 1. 5D - ZACH DAUM 2. 5B - KYLE JONES 3. 11AG - DAVE DARLAND 4. 7 - CASEY SHUMAN 5. 82M - STEVEN SHEBESTER 6. 27 - TUCKER KLAASMEYER 7. 32 - GARRETT AITKEN 8. 11A - ANDREW FELKER 9. 72 - GRADY CHANDLER 10. 5X - JUSTIN PECK 11. 3N - JAKE NEUMAN 12. 17E - BLAKE EDWARDS 13. 9K - KYLE SCHUETT 14. 22 - ANDY MALPOCKER 15. 10C - DALTON CAMFIELD 16. 25- ANTON HERNANDEZ 17. 50 - DANIEL ADLER 18. 35 - TYLER ROBBINS 19. 89 - NICK BAILEY 20. 23 - HANNAH ADAIR 21. 76 - KELLEN CONOVER 22. 6C - DEVIN CAMFIELD 23. 5 - DANNY FRYE 24. 16 - DAVE CAMFIELD JR
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- Kenny Brown on Aug 07, 2016
- Article Date: 8/7/2016