East Moline Speedway
Guss scores a threepeat of race honoring friend
Ray Guss Jr. (58) works under Justin Kay (15k) en route to victory. (mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com)
EAST MOLINE, Ill. (May 5) — Sunday’s Deery Brothers Summer Series Hershel Roberts Memorial at Quad City Speedway brought out the best in Ray Guss Jr. Again.
The Milan, Ill., driver and two-time IMCA series champion won the race held in memory of his late friend and car owner for the third time, holding off a late challenge from ninth-starting Mike Zemo Jr. of Geneseo, Ill., for the $3,000 victory. | Slideshow
Zemo found the fastest line on the high side and almost caught Guss with six circuits left in the 58-lapper. Guss moved up to slam the door shut, taking the win ahead of Zemo, 14th-starting Brian Harris of Davenport, Iowa, Dan Shelliam of Hazel Green, Wis., and pole-starting Colby Springsteen of Morning Sun, Iowa.
After winning the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels drawing, Springsteen led the first three laps from his pole position. Outside front-row starter Justin Kay of Wheatland, Iowa, took charge on the fourth lap, running in the lead on the top groove to lap 22.
That’s when Guss drove by. Zemo had fallen back early before mak�ing his own steady advance toward the front. He couldn’t quite complete the pass on Guss, who moved up from the lower line and took the checkers by two lengths in the 58-lapper.
Notes: Guss’s No. 58 is sponsored by Roemer Machine & Welding, Sears Seating, Eriksen Chevrolet-Buick and P&L Transportation. ... Guss has 28 career series victories, second on the all-time list. ... Hard charger Dean Wagner advanced 16 positions to finish sixth. ... Among drivers failing to make the feature lineup: Kelly Pestak, Ryan Claeys, Joe Ross, Mike Guldenpfennig, Bobby Toland, Todd Malmstrom, Tyler Bruening, Shawn Mulvany, Dean Wagner, Mike Murphy Jr. ... The series goes back into action midweek with a Wednesday event at Dubuque (Iowa) Speedway paying $3,000-to-win.
Hershel Roberts Memorial: (1) Ray Guss Jr., (2) Mike Zemo Jr., (3) Brian Harris, (4) Dan Shelliam, (5) Colby Springsteen, (6) Dean Wagner, (7) Nate Beuseling, (8) Darrel DeFrance, (9) Jeff Aikey, (10) Justin Kay, (11) Andy Eckrich, (12) Tom Darbyshire, (13) Ron Klein, (14) Rob Moss, (15) Joel Callahan, (16) Mike Garland, (17) Tom Goble, (18) Jeremiah Hurst, (19) Travis Smock, (20) Matt Ryan, (21) Gary Webb, (22) Mike Cothron, (23) Travis Denning, (24) Rob Toland. Heat race winners (among 33 cars): Darbyshire, Webb, Zemo, Guss. Consolation winners: Ryan, Harris.
