MAQUOKETA, Iowa — Saturday night’s MLRA main event at the Maquoketa Speedway, provided fans with an epic 40-lap battle between Chris Simpson and Bobby Pierce in front of a near-capacity crowd.
The two drivers pushed one another to the limits for the entire distance but in the end, it was Chris Simpson prevailing for his fourteenth career Lucas Oil MLRA victory.
Simpson rolled from the pole alongside defending series champion Will Vaught and was able to take control at the drop of the green flag. Forth-starting Pierce quickly jumped into the runner-up position, while Chad Simpson joined the mix inside the top three in the early stages.
Chris Simpson used a fine line along the top side of the speedway to stretch out the advantage, but Pierce quickly found the same line to his liking and was able to chase down the Longhorn Chassis of Chris Simpson.
The duo went nose to tail lap after lap into lapped traffic with Pierce applying heavy pressure to the race leader. With under five laps to go both drivers were forced to maneuver the lapped traffic which appeared to be the break Pierce needed.
As Pierce finally looked to seize control in turns one and two, the pair raced back to the line with Pierce the new leader. However, before the lap cold be officially scored the events lone caution waved for the stalled car of Garrrett Alberson at the bottom of turn four.
That break proved to be the difference, putting Simpson back at the point with just three laps remaining. At the drop of the green, Simpson again shot to the top and was able to drive away from Pierce, collecting his 14th career Lucas Oil MLRA win and the $5,000 winners pay day.
Pierce would race home in second, ahead of seventh starting Dennis Erb Jr. who finished third. Chad Simpson collected his second consecutive top five, finishing in fourth while Ryan Unzicker moved up eight positions to round out the top five.
“I knew he was there, I could hear him bouncing off the cushion in one,” said Chris Simpson. “He threw me a couple of sliders and I had to give one back. I lifted for him and he got into the back of me once, but it was good hard clean racing racing around the top like that.”
The finish:
Feature (40 Laps): 1.Chris Simpson 2.Bobby Pierce 3.Dennis Erb Jr. 4.Chad Simpson 5.Ryan Unzicker 6.Billy Moyer Sr. 7.Jeremiah Hurst 8.Mike Spatola 9.Justin Kay 10.Will Vaught 11.Tony Jackson Jr. 12.Justin Duty 13.Payton Looney 14.Mitch McGrath 15.Jeremy Grady 16.Spencer Diercks 17.Garrett Alberson 18.Aaron Marrant 19.Jason Papich 20.Shannon Babb 21.Brian Birkhofer 22.Paul Parker 23.Dave Eckrich 24.Andy Eckrich