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John Schulz Awarded Sprint Invaders Win at 34 Raceway!

(Bill W) May 25, 2008 – John Schulz was awarded a feature win after apparent winner, Josh Higday, failed a technical inspection following the 25-lap Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders feature event Sunday night at the 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. The win was worth $1,200 to Schulz, who trailed Higday for the duration of the feature.

Schulz and Higday made up row one for the main event, with Higday getting an early jump. The track lent two racing grooves, but built a sizable cushion in turn one. Matt Sutton hit it wrong and tumbled into a wild set of flips over the turn one berm on the second go-around. Fortunately, he was uninjured.

Higday led Shulz, Ryan Jamison and Rager Phillips, who won the shake-up dash, back to green flag racing. The defending Knoxville 360 track champion entered lapped traffic a few laps later, with Schulz in tow. The pair weaved through lapped traffic with relative ease as Jamison and Phillips tried to keep them in their sights. At the halfway point, disaster struck for Phillips, who jumped the cushion in turn two and flipped four times. He was also unhurt, but left with a bent racecar.

The remaining twelve laps went non-stop with Higday holding onto the lead despite a couple of challenges from Schulz in traffic. Schulz was in a familiar spot chasing the leader in traffic, as he chased winner Matt Rogerson in the April season opener at 34. "It was just about the same as the opener (chasing the leader)," said Schulz. "We had a great racecar and were able to close in on Josh in the end. We just couldn't quite get him."

As the race wore on, conditions dried a bit, something that helped Shulz, who scored his second win in as many years at the 34 Raceway. "That helped us by freeing the car up a bit," he said. "We just had to be careful in lapped traffic and I think we were. Even though we're not running every week this year, we're staying sharp, and the guys are staying after it. I will too."

Jamison would end up in second after the disqualification. "It was definitely our best finish yet this year," he said. "I was happy with what we did. It's tough when you have good cars like that (Higday and Schulz) starting in front of you. The line was pretty much on top and they were both right there. You had to hope for traffic or a failure on there part, and that didn't happen. It wasn't too bad for the old man!"

Russ Hall finished third, up from a tenth starting spot. Bobby Mincer earned hard-charger honors by moving forward eight spots to fourth, and Matt Harms ran a solid fifth. Rogerson was sixth, and Jordan Goldesberry, Josh Schneiderman, Joey Moughan and Austin McCarl completed the top ten.

McCarl took his first career win in a sprint car by winning his heat race. Other heat winners included Sutton, Rogerson and Jamison. Nick Eastin took his second Sprint Invaders B main in a row. Seventeen year old, Mark Shirshekan took a wild ride down the frontstretch in the third heat race. He was uninjured.

Results

Ideal Ready Mix 25-lap A main Finish (started): 1.2, John Schulz, West Burlington, IA (1) 2. 51J, Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA (3) 3. 29x, Russ Hall, Des Moines, IA (10) 4. 15, Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA (12) 5. 53H, Matt Harms, Morton, IL (8) 6. 29, Matt Rogerson, Burlington, IA (7) 7. 65, Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL (11) 8. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (13) 9. 8H, Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL (15) 10. 17, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (4) 11. 3x, Nate Van Haaften, Otley, IA (16) 12. 9x, Bart Andrews, Muscatine, IA (18) 13. 16HD, Donnie Steward, West Burlington, IA (19) 14. 99w, Korey Weyant, Springfield, IL (9) 15. 9, Rager Phillips, Pleasantville, IA (6) 16. 35, Brian Hetrick, Stronghurst, IL (20) 17. 12, Jerrod Hull, Sikeston, MO (14) 18. 3, Matt Sutton, Macomb, IL (5) 19. 22x, Nick Eastin, West Burlington, IA (17) 20. DQ – 24, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (2). Lap Leader: Higday 1-25.

Staats Awards Heat Race #1 (8 laps, top four to A main, top two to Dash): 1. Matt Sutton (1) 2. Rager Phillips (6) 3. Korey Weyant (3) 4. Josh Schneiderman (5) / 5. Donnie Steward (7) 6. 36, Justin Newberry, Burlington, IA (8) 7. 40, Andy Huston, Roseville, IL (2) 8. 99, Jimmy Davies, Oquawka, IL (4)

Golden Eagle Distributors/Budweiser Heat Race #2 (8 laps, top four to A main, top two to Dash): 1. Austin McCarl (2) 2. John Schulz (4) 3. Russ Hall (7) 4. Jerrod Hull (5) / 5. Bart Andrews (1) 6. Nick Eastin (6) 7. Brian Hetrick (3) 8. 88, Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (8)

Midland Performance Heat Race #3 (8 laps, top four to A main, top two to Dash): 1. Matt Rogerson (1) 2. Josh Higday (7) 3. Jordan Goldesberry (5) 4. Joey Moughan (6) / 5. 18A, Dan Avery, Burlington, IA (6) 6. 3/, Mark Shirshekan, Farmington, MO (2) 7. 4, Jon Agan, Knoxville, IA (3) DNS – 93, Jamie Needham, Moline, IL

Fastway Fabrication Heat Race #4 (8 laps, top four to A main, top two to Dash): 1. Ryan Jamison (6) 2. Matt Harms (2) 3. Bobby Mincer (5) 4. Nate Van Haaften (3) / 5. 0, Nick Guernsey, Burlington, IA (1) 6. 38, Seth Wilke, Burlington, IA (7) 7. 23, Kevin Hetrick, Gladstone, IL (4)

Heartland Harley Davidson-Buell Shake-Up Dash (6 laps): 1. Rager Phillips (2) 2. John Schulz (1) 3. Josh Higday (6) 4. Ryan Jamison (3) 5. Austin McCarl (4) 6. Matt Sutton (5) 7. Matt Rogerson (8) 8. Matt Harms (7)

Holtkamp's Trailer Repair B main (started): 1. Nick Eastin (6) 2. Bart Andrews (2) 3. Donnie Steward (1) 4. Brian Hetrick (9) / 5. Justin Newberry (5) 6. Seth Wilke (7) 7. Jarrod Schneiderman (12) 8. Andy Huston (8) 9. Dan Avery (3) 10. Nick Guernsey (4) 11. Jimmy Davies (11) 12. Kevin Hetrick (10) DNS – Mark Shirshekan, Jon Agan, Jamie Needham

Contingency Awards:

Hard Charger – Bobby Mincer

The Brake Man – Austin McCarl

Diversified Machine – Rager Phillips

M&W Aluminum Products – Bart Andrews

Ultra Shield – Korey Weyant

Saldana Racing Products – Josh Schneiderman

Rod End Supply – Ryan Jamison, Jerrod Hull

If this post isn't results, stories or something c
constructive, it isn't me! 
@BillWMedia
www.OpenWheel101.com

So does that mean that Higday was illegal at Knoxville the day before, or was it something they put on the car/motor for the invaders race?

I have seen the invaders officials dive into those cars after the feature, I assume the Knoxville tech is the same?

Wondering what was illegal on Josh's car?

Josh said they told him his stacks were too small. Same stacks he has had for three years. Straight from Hilborn. Been tech at knoxville several times.

I know sometimes that heat expands those stacks a little bit. I've seen the same issue a few times now. Once the stacks cool down they would probably have passed.

How can "too small" be illegal? Did they have a taper or something?

Both Josh Higday and John Schulz drove a great race. Two good drivers, and I'm sure John and Bart wouldn't want to see anyone disqualified. With that said, Josh's stacks have been tested and passed at Knoxville and other tracks. Heat can expand them and gauges must be right on. If somebody is going to be disqualified and take a feature win and money away, you better be right. Not to start anything, but just stating the truth and the facts. In a past SIA race, a SIA board member and a nice guy, but crew chief on a car, won the feature and was going to be disqualified because he was pumped and found illegal for being too big. He said they were not reading the gauges right and the heat had caused expansion. The car was taken back to Midland Performance were the crew chief worked and teched the next week and found legal. Does everybody get this same treatment? I'm not saying Scott wasn't right, but maybe Josh Higday is right too?   Bill G

Chris,

I won't respond after this. If you want to read far more into what I said and twist and get smart, then I can't control that. I also have donated funds to your end of the year awards every year. We won't be this year with that attitude.To be honest, I would't want any part in your board. Your board members criticised the SI racers that were planning on racing Friday at Lee County, which got rained out. The board members said their SI members should go to the SI car show and support that and not race. But one of your board members went racing elsewhere. You Chris, went racing before at the Lake of the Ozarks when the Invaders had a race the same night and nobody said anything. It looks like you have different standards for your board members and your cars. It is a membership, not a dictatorship. I don't appreciate you twisting what I said. It wasn't the past tech inspector that created the issue and YOU know that. He did a great job. That wasn't my point, the car should have been either legal or illegal when it left the race track.All I said, is maybe Josh was right too, like Scott was right. I didn't think it was that difficult to understand what I said.

I haver a sign in my office that reads, "A camel is really a horse built by a committee."

Save your butt, get a colon screening TODAY

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Duane Davis

Laser Engraving 
641-751-7777
101 N Center
Marshalltown, Iowa 

Just a suggestion, don't get in a fizzy again. I would suggest that YOU and your well properly trained tech inspector read the post on " Higday Disqualified" explanation from a professional at WESMAR, you may learn something! Josh tried to explain the clearances allowed that Kelly is explaining, because I talked to him after he was disqualified. It's ridiculous that you guys think you can't be wrong, when maybe Knoxville and WESMAR have a better understanding. Your correct, anybody can make mistakes, but it takes character to admit it, learn and correct it.

temp makes a big difference when checked after cooled down some checked out when you use something that looks like a home made T-handle allen wrench for a gauge that is 2 thousands smaller then what it is suppose to be yes it will fall threw they are 8 inch restrictor stack tubes which are different then straight tube ones gauge is suppose to go threw on a restrictor stack stated in SI rule book i doubt that ascs uses a gauge that is so in accurate as the one SI has tommy estes would not use some junk gauge that is already 2 thousands smaller then what it is suppose to be and was new this year and SI has only raced 3 races this year the gauge is already 2 thousands smaller come on not rocket science

What I meant was temp. should not have been a factor since the stacks sat in the tray for about an hour before this all was concluded. I was pitted directly next to tech area and seen the stacks out of the car for a long time and they checked them over and over again. This style gauge has been created for a reason. The old style round gauges could be easily defeated by egg shaped tubes. If the tube was bowed at all than the gauge would not fit in even though they were to large.

Josh is a great racer. This should not reflect negatively on him or his team. But this gauge has been in service for part of 07 and all of 08. No one has ever been d.q. and they check three cars a night at every feature conclusion.

Bill I'm sorry you feel that way. And I never tried to influence anyone from racing lcs. As a matter of fact I encouraged your driver to go and kick their butts.

Tell me how much money you got and I'll tell you how 
fast you can go!

My two cents:

Josh is a heck of a racer, and I hate that the win got taken away. My mind is already made up that in the process of putting a car back together after a rough night at Knoxville, the wrong stacks were put in. I don't believe it was anything intentional. However, if it was a matter of not knowing, I once heard a saying about ignorance of the law...

I commend the Sprint Invaders for enforcing their rules. Members are given the option to vote on the rules at the meetings in the off-season to make changes for the next year. Join. Vote. It's something similar to this whole election thing we hear so much about. If you don't like it, vote and change it. But, the rules are set for this season, so live with it. It's not like you don't have to follow the rules when you race with any other series.

The Mermaid

First off, the stacks DID NOT sit in the tray for up to an hour before it was all concluded. The race was completed at 10:30, we were at the tech trailer at 10:42 and a protest was issued at 11:15-after we had been back at the trailer for at least 10 minutes. They were checked "over and over" because they have passed tech at Knoxville in both 2007 and 2008. The gauge that SIA is using is not the same in both 2007 and 2008, according to their officials-who supposedly got the 2008 guage "this spring" at the Chili Bowl, along with their training. We run the swedged stacks, if we were really trying to cheat, don't you think we would have run straight 3"stacks? The SIA officials don't even know the differnce between steel stacks and aluminum, so it makes me wonder how much they really know about what they're doing. These stacks were brand new last spring direct from Hilborn, so if they are wrong, they were wrong from the beginning. The stacks are going to be sent off to be examined by Tommy Estes with the ASCS and then a final decision will be made on the legallity of them.

What does Tommy Estes have to do with the stacks being legal or not? I thought this was an SIA event where they have a no tolerance rule, not an ASCS or Knoxville event.

I guess maybe she was a little bit pregnant after all.

Not taking sides here at all, but the rules are the rules, and if they are enforced properly, everybody knows the rules before the game starts.

Really sad how stupid officials are if it is your car that gets DQ'd and how smart they are if the guy ahead of you gets DQ'd.

When people get DQ'd more than once, maybe they ought to get a break in the action for a few months untill they can regroup and get legal again.

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Duane Davis

Laser Engraving 
641-751-7777
101 N Center
Marshalltown, Iowa 

No dust is correct. SIA rules and Knoxville rules seem to differ on this point. I'm not accusing you of cheating or of being illegal at Knoxville. And we did have that gauge last year but the guys were trained at the chili bowl. The simple truth is they did not pass at a SIA event. You are welcome to run them at any other venue that you see fit. Sorry for the confusion.

Tell me how much money you got and I'll tell you how 
fast you can go!

The reason Tommy Estes is being involved is because the SIA techs involved him by calling him that night. We were then told we could send them to him to check out. I was told in the tech area by a SIA tech official that the gauge was brand new at the Chili Bowl this year, not last, replacing the guage that was used in 2007. Either way, it will all come out in the wash, as they say.

I wasn't trying to pick on you, but if the rules state that a car must weigh x pounds, and that is what the car weighs with new tires, after the race it weighs less on bald tires, then I guess it is a lesson learned.

There are without a doubt, people who when they know a tolerance they try to be on that tolerance, win a few, lose a few, but really you are too good of a driver in too good of a car to get the reputation as a cheater, you can do it honest.

If indeed you did not alter the product from new, I would be pissed as hell at whoever sold it to me, not the tech people for discovering it.

Now I would be pissed if someone was 30 cubic inches too big, but we know the "big" boys would never do that to the locals. hahahahaha

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Duane Davis

Laser Engraving 
641-751-7777
101 N Center
Marshalltown, Iowa 

Basically what it boils down to is that it is between our team and the SIA officials. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone is entitled a chance to prove themselves right or wrong. Trust me, we don't get into the practice of cheating. After 9 years, this is the first time he's been dq'ed and hopefully it will be the last.

Whats with the number change?