SPARKS IGNITES TO FIRST IMRA WIN AT PEORIA
Peoria, Illinois (October 20, 2019)………Jeff Sparks collected his first career USAC Engler IMRA Speed2 Midget victory Saturday night at Peoria Speedway in Peoria, Ill.
Sparks (Lincoln, Ill.) started from the pole and led all 20 laps of the main, but not without a challenge as Bryan Stanfill (Brea, Calif.) pressured Sparks for much of the first half of the feature. Following a lap 12 caution, Will Armitage, Tyler Roth and point leader Andy Baugh entered the fray along with Stanfill as Sparks held strong up front.
A red flag for Russell Johnston on the final lap created a one-lap dash to the finish. Sparks held off the pursuit of both Baugh and Armitage entering the first turn on the ensuing restart. Sparks then raced away to the victory over Baugh, Armitage, Tyler Roth and Brent Burrows.
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USAC ENGLER IMRA SPEED2 MIDGET RACE RESULTS: October 19, 2019 – Peoria Speedway – Peoria, Illinois
FIRST HEAT: (8 laps) 1. #24 Bryan Stanfill, 2. #51R Will Armitage, 3. #18R Tyler Roth, 4. #5m Sean Murphy, 5. #7B Dave Baugh, 6. #42 Kevin Battefeld. NT
SECOND HEAT: (8 laps) 1. #51 Brent Burrows, 2. #0 Russell Johnston, 3. #55 Jeff Sparks. 4. #37 Andy Baugh, 5. #127 James Picardi, 6. #43 John Heitzman, 7. #5 Jake Sollenberger, 8. #7x Devin Feger, 9. #27 Jace Sparks. NT
ALSO AT THE TRACK: #28 Jason Allen & #15m Shane Morgan
FEATURE: (20 laps) 1. Jeff Sparks, 2. Andy Baugh, 3. Will Armitage, 4. Tyler Roth, 5. Brent Burrows, 6. Kevin Battefeld, 7. #57 Mark McMahill, 8. Jake Sollenberger, 9. #18 Tori Smith, 10. Devin Feger, 11. James Picardi, 12. Dave Baugh, 13. Bryan Stanfill, 14. Sean Murphy, 15. Russell Johnston, 16. John Heitzman, 17. Jace Sparks. NT
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**Russell Johnston flipped on lap 20 of the feature.
NEW USAC ENGLER IMRA SPEED2 MIDGET POINTS: 1-Andy Baugh-1,058, 2-Jake Sollenberger-917, 3-Tyler Roth-896, 4-Mark McMahill-820, 5-Kevin Battefeld-783, 6-Brent Burrows-770, 7-Jeff Sparks-693, 8-Russell Johnston-678, 9-John Heitzman-618, 10-Shane Morgan-541.
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Laps 1-20 Jeff Sparks.
NEXT USAC ENGLER IMRA SPEED2 MIDGET RACES: October 25-26, 2019 – Spoon River Speedway – Canton, Illinois