Iowa Speedway Results

Murphy Wins ASA Late Model Challenge ‘Pride of Iowa 150’

5/18/2008

(Newton, IA) - (Newton, Iowa) Sean Murphy of Mooresville, N.C., won the ASA Late Model Challenge “Pride of Iowa 150” Saturday night at Iowa Speedway.

Murphy raced with the leaders for much of the race, but didn’t take the lead until the 145th lap of the 150-lap event that was run in three 50-lap segments with an announced estimated crowd of 10,670 watching.

Murphy’s race to the front spoiled the run by Jacob Goede of New Germany, Minn., who established a new ASA speed record in qualifying (:23.178, 135.905 mph) and was seeking his second straight ASA victory at Iowa Speedway. Goede took the lead on the 16th lap and stayed out front until lap 113 when Peter Cozzolino of Indianapolis, Ind., took over.

“This is just an awesome place to race,” Murphy said. “And, this is a beautiful part of the country, too. I’m from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) originally and we never see cornfields and combines – I love it up here.

“We were good on long runs and I was hoping for a green flag last segment, but we didn’t get it. It took me awhile to come from the back.”

Murphy started the race third, but was involved in a 13th lap crash, suffering some body damage to the right side. He restarted at the back of the pack before racing to the win.

Chris Sevey of Waterloo, Iowa, finished third with Goede fourth and Kyle Sirizzotti of Helotes, Texas, rounding out the top five.

Thirteen-year-old Logan Ruffin of Nashville, Tenn., finished 12th and 15-year-old Joey Gase of Cedar Rapids was 13th. Two other 15-year-old Iowa drivers dropped out earlier in the event. Brett Moffitt of Grimes was involved in a mid-race crash and finished 23rd, while Thor Anderson of Bondurant dropped out with mechanical problems, finishing 25th.

Results: 1. Sean Murphy, Mooresville, N.C.; 2. Peter Cozzolino, Indianapolis, Ind.; 3. Chris Sevey, Waterloo, Iowa; 4. Jacob Goede, New Germany, Minn.; 5. Kyle Sirizzotti, Helotes, Texas; 6. Jack Smith, Medina, Ohio; 7. Joey King, Silvis, Ill.; 8. Darren Robertson, Commerce City, Colo.; 9. Griffin McGrath, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 10. Eddie Hoffman, Wheaton, Ill.; 11. Brent Downey, Avon, Ind.; 12. Logan Ruffin, Nashville, Tenn.; 13. Joey Gase, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; 14. Travis Dassow, West Bend, Wis.; 15. Brian Green, Pierce City, Mo.

Wood wins USST Twin 25s

John Wood of Sun Prairie, Wis., won the United States Super Trucks twin 25-lap feature segment of Saturday night’s program at Iowa Speedway.

Wood, who set fast time with a lap of :23.395 (124.040 miles per hour), started ninth in the field, but took the lead before the first 25-lap segment of the event was completed. He won over Ronnie Hartford of Raytown, Mo.

Results: 1. John Wood, Sun Prairie, Wis.; 2. Ronnie Hartford, Raytown, Mo.; 3. Bret Widdis, Manistique, Mich.; 4. Steve Miller, Manitowoc, Wis.; 5. Tonny Kossakowski, Elgin, Ill.; 6. Randy Price, Independence, Mo.; 7. Jeff Babb, Elgin, Ill.; 8. Ralph Cottone, Onalaska, Wis.; 9. Lucas Korish, LaCrosse, Wis.; 10. Nate Anderson, Scandia. Minn.