Pittman Is King of the Front Row Challenge For Third Time
by Jeremy Fox
Oskaloosa, Iowa (August 8th, 2016) - A few weeks ago I was asked by "T-Mac" Terry McCarl to operate the scoreboard during the 21st Annual Price Chopper Front Challenge at the Southern Iowa Speedway, just like i normally do on a weekly basis there and I accepted it. Monday Night was tough night for everybody in attendance as earlier in the day we had learned the sad news of Sprint Car/Midget racer Bryan Clauson had lost his life after a crash at Belleville Highbanks in Belleville, Kansas. There was a moment of silence before the races, Clauson's car was on display before the races and then paced the field during the A-main and Bucket's for Bryan campaign occur.
Officially 27 entries checked in to claim the big prize of $21,000 at the Front Row Challenge as part of the National Sprint League and it would be won by a guy that is in town for the Knoxville Nationals and a regular on the World of Outlaws, Daryn Pittman.
In the Deberg Concrete/Slade Shock Technology Qualifying presented by Country Builders Construction, Daryn Pittman came 12th in qualifying and was the quick timer with a time of 15.196 seconds. Second fastest was "Blackjack" Brian Brown with 15.208, third fastest was David Gravel with 15.295, fourth fastest with a 15.305 was "Mad Man" Kerry Madsen and fifth fastest was "Young Money" Kyle Larson with a 15.313.
Heat race winners included James McFadden (Seafoam Motor Treatment Heat one), Dakota Hendrickson (Taso's Steakhouse Heat two) and Rico Abreu (Arnold Motor Supply Heat three). Only notable point was in heat two as the field was coming to the checkered flag, Kyle Larson hit an implement tire in turns three and four and broke the left front, it would end the night for Larson. The Heat winners got prizes from Country Builders Construction, All Pro Cylinder Heads, Snow Plow and Nutri Shop of Maple Grove.
After a brief break in the action, it was time for the TK Concrete Keith Hutton Memorial “King of the Hill” Match Races. Top eight to make it in order of seeding included: Daryn Pittman, Rico Abreu, Brian Brown, David Gravel, Ian Madsen, Kerry Madsen, Danny Lasoski and James McFadden. Round one wins went to Pittman, Gravel, Lasoski and Brown. Round two winners was Pittman and Brown. Pittman took the win over Brown in the final taking home $1,000 for his win.
The orginal pole sitter for the B-Main was to be Kyle Larson, however Larson scratched so the lineup was changed and that moved Rager Phillips to the pole and Cory Eliason to the front row. Eliason took advantage with him outside starting spot as he took the lead and looked to be heading to the easy win but coming out of turn four on the last lap the engine let go, crippling across the finish line to the win but would scratch for the feature. Rager Phillips, Sheldon Haudenschild, Tasker Phillips and Brooke Tatnell rounded out the top five. Paul McMahon, Chad Trout and Bob Weuve got the final orginal eight qualifers for the A-Main. Robert Bell was take as the final qualifer after Eliason scratched.
After a ten minute break, it was time for the 30 lap Price Chopper Front Row Challenge A-Main to take to the track. Daryn Pittman took advantage taking the early lead but just after the completion of lap two, the caution came out for Jason Johnson in turn two. Brian Brown made the move on the restart and took the lead away from Pittman just before another caution came out on lap three for Rager Phillips coming to a stop in turn four. Brown got a great restart but just before the field completed lap five the caution came out for Ian Madsen in turn two, then after the completion of lap six the caution came out again for Justin Marks on the back stretch. Pittman got back by Brown on the restart and began to pull away until the caution came out for the final time on lap 16 for Bob Weuve in turn three.
Pittman was not going to be denied the win as he got a great restart and pulled away to claim the $21,000 which included a $1,000 bonus from USA Chemical. Pittman's total winnings was $22,500 after you add in the $500 cash from Country Builders Construction for Quick Time and $1,000 for winning the King of the Hill. Kerry Madsen made a charge and took second away from Brown on lap 22. Brown held off Brad Sweet for third and Danny Lasoski held Rico Abreu for fifth. David Gravel was seventh, Sheldon Haudenschild was the hard-charger moving up ten spots to finish eighth, James McFadden and Craig Dollansky rounded out the top ten.
Kale Kahne was selected as Mechanic of the Race, accepting a 3/8 Micro Lithium Impact Kit courtesy of Mark Stuchel Snap-On Tools franchisee. Sheldon Haudenschild received $500 from Country Builders Construction and a KSE Power Steering Pump for his Hard-charger honors.
For more information about the Front Row Challenge check out http://www.oskychallenges.com
21st Annual Price Chopper Front Challenge
presented by Musco Lighting, Don Long’s Searsboro Telephone Company and Hiland Dairy
Southern Iowa Speedway, Oskaloosa, IA
Monday August 8th, 2016
Price Chopper A Main (started), 30 laps: 1. 9 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK (1); 2. 29 Kerry Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia (6); 3. 21 Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (2); 4. 49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA (12); 5. 2 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO (3); 6. 24 Rico Abreu, St. Helena, CA (7); 7. 5 David Gravel, Watertown, CT (4); 8. 93 Sheldon Haudenschild, Wooster, OH (18); 9. 3H James McFadden, Alice Springs, NT, Australia (8); 10. 2KS Craig Dollansky, Elk River, MN (14); 11. 13 Mark Dobmeier, Grand Forks, ND (15); 12. 1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN (9); 13. 7w Tasker Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (19); 14. 41 Jason Johnson, Eunice, LA (13); 15. 55 Brooke Tatnell, Sans Souci, NSW, Australia (20); 16. 10 Dakota Hendrickson, Omaha, NE (11); 17. 1X Chad Trout, Dover, PA (22); 18. 19m Brent Marks, Myerstown, PA (10); 19. 19 Bob Weuve, Newton, IA (23); 20. 71 Robert Bell, Colfax, IA (24); 21. 99 Brady Bacon, Broken Arrow, OK (16); 22. 7 Paul McMahon, Nashville, TN (21); 23. 18 Ian Madsen, St. Mary's, NSW, Australia (5); 24. 10V Rager Phillips, Plesantville, IA (17); DNS - 5H Cory Eliason, Selma, CA. Lap Leaders: Pittman 1-2, Brown 3-6, Pittman 7-30. KSE Hard Charger : Haudenschild.
Seafoam Motor Treatment Heat one (started, qualified for feature), 8 laps: 1. 3H James McFadden (2);
2. 2KS Craig Dollansky (1*); 3. 18 Ian Madsen (4*); 4. 9 Daryn Pittman (6*); 5. 29
Kerry Madsen (5*); 6. 99 Brady Bacon (3*); 7. 55 Brooke Tatnell (9); 8. 7w Tasker
Phillips (7); 9. 1x Chad Trout (8).
Tasos Steak House Heat two (started, qualified for feature), 8 laps: 1. 10 Dakota Hendrickson (1);
2. 49 Brad Sweet (2*); 3. 19m Brent Marks (3*); 4. 1 Sammy Swindell (4*); 5. 21 Brian
Brown (6*); 6. 93 Sheldon Haudenschild (8); 7. 18JS Jason Solwold,
Burlington, WA (7); 8. 19 Bob Weuve (9); 9. 57 Kyle Larson, Elk Grove, CA
(5).
Arnold Motor Supply Heat three (started, qualified for feature), 8 laps: 1. 24 Rico Abreu (4);
2. 13 Mark Dobmeier (1*); 3. 41 Jason Johnson (3*); 4. 2 Danny Lasoski (5*); 5. 5
David Gravel (6*); 6. 10v Rager Phillips (2); 7. 7 Paul McMahan (8); DNS – 71 Robert
Bell.
TK Concrete Keith Hutton Memorial “King of the Hill” Match Races, 2
laps:
Round one:
(1) 9 Daryn Pittman defeats (8) 3H James McFadden
(4) 5 David Gravel
defeats (5) 18 Ian Madsen
(7) 2 Danny Lasoski defeats (2) 24 Rico Abreu
(3) 21 Brian Brown
defeats (6) 29 Kerry Madsen
Round two:
(1) 9 Daryn Pittman defeats (4) 5 David Gravel
(3) 21 Brian Brown defeats (7) 2 Danny Lasoski
Final Round:
(1) 9 Daryn Pittman defeats
(3) 21 Brian Brown
B Main (started), 10 laps: 1. 5H Cory Eliason (2); 2. 10v Rager Phillips (1);
3. 93 Sheldon Haudenschild (3); 4. 7w Tasker Phillips (4); 5. 55 Brooke Tatnell (5);
6. 7 Paul McMahan (6); 7. 1x Chad Trout (7); 8. 19 Bob Weuve (8); 9. 71 Robert Bell
(9); DNS – 57 Kyle Larson, 18JS Jason Solwold.
Deberg Concrete/Slade Shock Technology Qualifying presented by Country Builders Construction, 2 laps (draw order) : 1. 9 Daryn Pittman, 15.196 (12); 2. 21 Brian Brown, 15.208 (7); 3. 5 David Gravel, 15.295 (25); 4. 29 Kerry Madsen, 15.305 (20); 5. 57 Kyle Larson, 15.313 (11); 6. 2 Danny Lasoski, 15.318 (3); 7. 18 Ian Madsen, 15.347 (9); 8. 1 Sammy Swindell, 15.353 (23); 9. 24 Rico Abreu, 15.358 (10); 10. 99 Brady Bacon, 15.453 (4); 11. 19m Brent Marks, 15.509 (19); 12. 41 Jason Johnson, 15.532 (26); 13. 3H James McFadden, 15.558 (24); 14. 49 Brad Sweet, 15.561 (27); 15. 10V Rager Phillips, 15.572 (2); 16. 2KS Craig Dollansky, 15.576 (22); 17. 10 Dakota Hendrickson, 15.580 (14); 18. 13 Mark Dobmeier, 15.592 (16); 19. 7w Tasker Phillips, 15.615 (18); 20. 18JS Jason Solwold, 15.623 (1); 21. 5H Cory Eliason, 15.657 (13); 22. 1X Chad Trout, 15.670; 23. 93 Sheldon Haudenschild, 15.676 (8); 24. 7 Paul McMahan, 15.708 (5); 25. 55 Brooke Tatnell, 15.809 (6); 26. 19 Bob Weuve, 16.438 (21); 27. 71 Robert Bell, 17.569 (15).
List of Front Challenge Winners
3-Time Winners
9 Daryn Pittman, Owasso, OK (2008, 2012 & 2016)
1 Sammy Swindell, Germantown, TN (2009, 2010 & 2011)
2-Time Winners
21 Brian Brown, Grain Valley, MO (2013 & 2014)
Jeff Shepard, Upperco, MD (2000 & 2004)
Lance DeWease, Fayetteville, PA (2001 & 2003)
Tyler Walker, Los Angeles, CA (1998 & 2002)
1-Time Winners
49 Brad Sweet, Grass Valley, CA (2015)
Rob Chaney, Wooster, OH (2007)
Kenny Jacobs, Holmesville, OH (2006)
2 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO (2005)
Jac Haudenschild, Wooster, OH (1999)
Travis Cram, Snohomish, WA (1996 Night #1)
Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (1996 Night #2)
* Mother Nature won the 1997 Event *
