DONNELLSON, Iowa — Colton Fisher picked up his first Sprint Invaders victory in exciting fashion Saturday night at Lee County Speedway.
A late pass of Jonathan Cornell in traffic netted the Mediapolis, Iowa, driver a $2,000 win aboard the Fisher/Zanfes Racing No. 11.
The pair entered the night first (Cornell) and second (Fisher) in series points.
Cornell shot out to an early lead in the 25-lap feature over Fisher, Tanner Gebhardt, Kaley Gharst and Paul Nienhiser. As the leader approached lapped traffic, Noah Samuel came to a stop five laps in, bringing a caution. Gharst grabbed third from Gebhardt on the restart, but Cornell pulled away again.
When a cone was knocked on the track to bring the second and final caution with nine laps down, Cornell was just about to enter traffic again. The lead four cars were Cornell, Fisher, Gharst and Nienhiser on the restart and they rode nose to tail on the cushion as they separated a bit from the field.
Cornell entered traffic with 10 laps to go. While the leaders rode the cushion, most of the lappers were running low.
With five laps to go, Cornell found himself behind a pair of cars side by side and hesitated for a second in turn three. Fisher put a slider on that cleared both a lapped car and Cornell.
Fisher slid to the cushion and led the lap and began to pull away in heavy lapped traffic. Gharst would vie for the second spot, taking it briefly at the white flag, but Cornell would nail it down on the last lap.
Fisher was followed by Cornell, Gharst, Nienhsier and Gebhardt.
“Man I don’t know what to say,” Fisher said. “I’ve been working so hard for this! I knew the top was going to be the way around. I just stuck to it. Cornell made a mistake when he got into lapped traffic. I took a shot, and it worked, so I’m stoked. I just want to thank everyone who helps us.”
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. 11, Colton Fisher, Mediapolis, IA (2) 2. 26, Jonathan Cornell, Sedalia, MO (1) 3. 78, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL (5) 4. 50, Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL (8) 5. 81, Tanner Gebhardt, Burlington, IA (3) 6. 2, Chase Porter, St. Joseph, MO (7) 7. 14, Randy Martin, California, MO (16) 8. 35, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (10) 9. 22s, Slater Helt, Harrisonville, MO (6) 10. 99, Miles Paulus, Marshall, MO (14) 11. 21, Gunner Ramey, Sedalia, MO (9) 12. 2m, Matt Moro, Polk City, IA (17) 13. 51J, Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA (18) 14. 11T, Dugan Thye, Burlington, IA (11) 15. 22, Ryan Leavitt, Knoxville, IA (12) 16. 9, Daniel Bergquist, Burlington, IA (20) 17. 83, Kurt Mueller, Reynolds, IL (19) 18. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA (13) 19. 13, Brayden Gaylord, Wever, IA (4) 20. 41, Noah Samuel, Burlington, IA