Midwest Region Jefferson results 2005-07-04

Brian Brown an ASCS Midwest Region Firecracker at Park Jefferson

JEFFERSON, SD (July 4, 2005) -- Brian Brown notched his first career American Sprint Car Series feature victory by topping Monday night's Fourth of July ASCS Midwest Region 25-lap feature at Park Jefferson Speedway.

Brown battled past early pacesetter Don Droud, Jr., on the eighth round then built a commanding lead to become the Midwest Region's third different winner in as many events, bolstering his slim point lead over runner-up Billy Alley in the process.

"Don was a little quicker than us down the backstretch, but I kept working the middle of one and two and finally got a good run," Brown explained of the winning pass in victory lane. "I kinda cut down on him when I got a little bit ahead, but I had to do it to make the pass stick."

After the initial attempt to start the race was waved off for a turn three tangle involving Mike Sandvig and Bryan Gossel, the balance of the main event was run in non-stop fashion.

Starting from the pole position, Droud outgunned Scott Winters for the lead at the drop of the green, with third-starter Brown immediately taking over second. Brown began pressuring Droud for the point after just four laps and made the winning pass as the pair exited turn two and raced down the backstretch on the eighth round.

While Brown made the winning pass on Droud's outside, Toby Chapman dove underneath Droud to take over second a half lap later in turns three and four. One lap later, Alley raced past Droud as well to claim third.

Chapman kept Brown in his sights for several laps and closed to within two car-lengths before lapped traffic came into play. Brown worked through traffic adeptly however, leaving Chapman and Alley to dice for second position.

As Brown stretched his advantage to a straightaway by the 20th lap, Alley made his way past Chapman for second on the 14th lap. Brown was long gone however and took the checkered flag with a comfortable lead aboard Tim Doogs' Jolt Caffeine Energy Gum/HostIowa.net No. 21 Maxim.

Alley settled for second, with Chapman a close third. Dustin Lindquist bounced back from an excursion off the top of turn four to snare fourth at the line, with Jason Danley rounding out the top five.

Droud crossed the stripe sixth, with Seth Brahmer, Winters, Frankie Heimbaugh and Jeff Mitrisin completing the top ten.

The ASCS Midwest Region fires back into action with the Lawrence Ideus Memorial this Friday night at Nebraska Raceway Park's I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, NE.

Results:

First Heat (8 Laps): 1. Don Droud, Jr., 2. Scott Winters, 3. Lee Grosz, 4. Seth Brahmer, 5. Jason Danley, 6. Frankie Heimbaugh, 7. Jeff Mitrisin, 8. Rick Ideus, 9. Eric Lutz.

Second Heat (8 Laps): 1. Dustin Lindquist, 2. Brian Brown, 3. Mike Sandvig, 4. Toby Chapman, 5. Billy Alley, 6. Brock Dump, 7. Bryan Gossel, 8. Lyle Howey III, 9. Justin Jacobsma.

A Feature (25 Laps): 1. Brian Brown, 2. Billy Alley, 3. Toby Chapman, 4. Dustin Lindquist, 5. Jason Danley, 6. Don Droud, Jr., 7. Seth Brahmer, 8. Scott Winters, 9. Frankie Heimbaugh, 10. Jeff Mitrisin, 11. Lyle Howey III, 12. Lee Grosz, 13. Rick Ideus, 14. Eric Lutz, 15. Mike Sandvig, 16. Brock Dump, 17. Bryan Gossel. DNS: Justin Jacobsma.

ASCS Midwest Region Points (Top Ten): 1. Brian Brown 440, 2. Billy Alley 432, 3. (tie) Don Droud, Jr., and Toby Chapman 414, 5. Rick Ideus 376, 6. Jason Danley 365, 7. Frankie Heimbaugh 282, 8. (tie) Lyle Howey III and Jake Peters 278, 10. Jason Martin 274.

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