EAST MOLINE, Ill. – Lap after lap Austin Becerra did not change his strategy and knew he would not.
The Carthage, Ill., ace went to the top groove and stayed there the entire 20 laps of the Mike Mix Memorial SportMod Shootout Sunday evening at East Moline Speedway.
Becerra wheeled around Cody Calam and Adam Birck, then held off track point leader Jarett Franzen for the $1,000 win.
“The track had some character and you have to (be able to) run the top like that,” Becerra said in the Winners Circle. “I’m not a bottom feeder so I had to make the top work.”
Becerra waited out a couple cautions, but always pulled away from the field.
Franzen, Birck, Nathan Balensiefen and Logan Veloz rounded out the top five.
“Franzen is the class of the field here and I saw his nose under me a couple times. I knew running the top I could have the momentum.”
Twenty six SportMods signed in with all but four taking the green flag.
Not to be overshadowed, Hall of Famer Gary Webb put on a show for his 520th victory in the Eriksen Chevrolet IMCA Late Model 25-lap feature.
Webb led every lap, survived several cautions and outran point leader Andy Nezworski. Ryan Claeys, Joe Ross, Jr. and Mike Haines.
Travis Denning survived a chaotic J&J Camper Sales IMCA Modified 20-lap finale. Eight cars crashed out in the first two laps and only four competitors took the checkered flag.
Chance Huston, Shane Richardson, Brandon Hamburg and Alex VerVynck followed.
Rob Henry held off point leader Jesse Owen for his second straight County Waste Systems Street Stock 15-lap feature. Indiana visitor Ryan Arnett, Rick Schriner and Peter O’Dell came next.
Drew Burk took win number four in the Rudy’s Tacos IMCA Hobby Stocks 12-lap ender. David Crimmins, Steven Rangel, Matt Crane and Randy Lamar followed.
Mike Zemo, Jr. also made the high side work en route to the 15-lap Weekend Performance IMCA Mod Lite win. Early leader R.J. Gonzales, Jon Padilla, Jason Masengarb and Blake Gonzales were next.
The Riverbend Pizza Place Sport Compact 12-lap feature was postponed due to the track’s curfew. It will be made up at a later date.
Sunday’s race was broadcast live by SPEED SPORT TV affiliate Done Right TV.