I-80 Speedway
Phillips spells out $5,000 Alphabet Soup victory
From series reports
Terry Phillips gets rolling July 3 at I-80. (bobjonesphotos.com)
GREENWOOD, Neb. (July 2) — Terry Phillips beat 72 of the nation's best dirt Late Model drivers as he won I-80 Speedway's Alphabet Soup Classic to earn $5,000 in a rain-postponed event sanctioned by four tours. Polesitter John Anderson led early in the 50-lap feature as he worked the high side to perfection. But when rear-end failure sent Anderson pitside, Phillips took over and led the rest of the way at the 4/10-mile oval between Omaha and Lincoln.
"I was set up for a dry, slick track," said Phillips, who drove a new GRT Race Car. "John was way better than us tonight when the track was wet. I kept waiting for the track to come to us. I didn't think it would, but it finally did, and we were catching John. Then I saw his rear end shift, and his night was done."
Kyle Berck battled in the top five throughout the 50-lapper. With 10 laps remaining, Berck was locked in a battle for fifth. He worked his way through the top five and heavy lapped traffic to grab second place as the white flag was displayed. He held that spot to finish ahead of 13th-starting Chad Simpson, Frank Heckenast Jr. and John Kaanta.
The race, a makeup from a Memorial Day weekend rainout, was co-sanctioned by the World Dirt Racing League, O'Reilly MLRA, O'Reilly NCRA and O'Reilly TORA.
Alphabet Soup Classic: (1) Terry Phillips, (2) Kyle Berck, (3) Chad Simpson, (4) Frank Heckenast Jr., (5) John Kaanta, (6) Denny Woodworth, (7) Jeremy Payne, (8) Denny Eckrich, (9) Eric Pember, (10) Jason Utter, (11) Delbert Smith, (12) Chris Simpson, (13) Bryant Goldsmith, (14) Rob Moss, (15) Dave Eckrich, (16) Curt Martin, (17) David Turner, (18) Matt Furman, (19) Tim Isenberg, (20) Rick Hanestad, (21) Shawn Harker, (22) Ben Schaller, (23) Mike Wiarda, (24) John Anderson, 25) Craig Preble, (26) Jim Beaman, (27) Bill Leighton, (28) Al Humphrey, (29) Kelly Boen, (30) Brantlee Gotschall. Heat race winners (among 72 cars): Berck, Boen, Phillips, Goldsmith, Simpson, Heckenast, Payne. Consolation winners: Furman, Utter, Harker. Dash winner: Anderson.
Correction: An earlier version of this story reported the incorrect date of the race; it was July 2.
