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Illinois Indoor Dirt Track Series Pearson's Perfect Ride
A record turnout of 426 riders turned out to battle on the indoor short track and TT today in Springfield, Illinois. Rob Pearson dominated the pro ranks by taking wins in the Open Pro short track and TT and the Open Pro-Am oval.
Henry Wiles nailed the start of the Open Pro main with Pearson tucked in behind. Two laps into the race Pearson slid underneath Wiles to take the lead and inched away to a clear cut win. Wiles was a safe second while Billy Gruwell led a banging pack consisting of Bryan Bigelow, A.J. Eslick and Aaron Ladd. Gruwell held firm for third over Bigelow while Ladd and Eslick took each other out on the last lap moving Clayton Riggle, Rod Hartqel, Ben Morton and Joe Duvalle up the chart.
The Open Pro-Am final was all Pearson as he led from start to finish topping Bigelow at the finish. Josh Toungett filled the podium while Wiles moved through the pack for fourth over Brian Shirley, Riggle, Eslick and Jason Goodwin.
Pearson's last race of the night came in the Open Pro TT where he gated perfectly and never bobbled taking a close win over Ladd and Wiles. Kenny Dahlin held off Darren Carter and Ben Morton for fourth.
Wiles would come back to top the Open Pro-Am TT with wins in both the heat and main. Brian Shirley held on for second after a race long fight with Darren Carter and Justin Hanna. Dahlin would round out the top five over Brock Schwarzenbacher and Stevie Nace.
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Rod Hartzel, who actually sat on the pole for the Open Pro main before jumping the start, thouroughly trounced the Vet and Senior divisions. Hartzel jetted to that front of the Vet class and only Duvall was able to keep him close in second. Gruwell held on to another third over Dahlin, Gene Yopp and Dennis Porter.
The Senior final was an instant replay with Hartzel slipping away with Yopp in second. Dennis Porter filled in third after swapping positions back and forth with Brian Isbell. Skeeter Williams rode to fifth over Joe McCormick, John Gilligan and Ron Anderson.
Porter controlled the Super Senior final with a wire-to-wire run over Anderson, Bill Goodwin and Gary Brennan.
Justin Hanna outgunned the 250 Pro riders in each event. He topped a close short track win over Riggle and Schwarzenbacher with Jordan Jenkle and Clint Collier filling in the top five. Schwarzenbacher chased him home for second with Jenkle third on the TT.
The 250cc Amateur final saw Patrick Ferrell cruise to the win while Chaz Landers had to fight for second over Kevin Vance, Casee McCammon and TT winner Jeb Polic.
In the 50cc Shaft short track Luke Baird took a big lead to the win after early leader Jacob Morris retired with mechanical problems. Blake Kraushaar held on for second from a fast closing Travis Zapfe. Stephen Lannom held off Molly Terry, Kayla Hamilton and Allyx Camp for fourth.
Morris returned in the TT to card the win with Baird and Zapfe filling the podium over Hamilton, Terry, Lannom and Kraushaar.
Quentin Lewis and Bailey Edsall swapped positions in the 50cc Chain short track with Lewis getting the win, Springer Derosear held off Drew lde for third with Morris leading Kole King, Zach Loehr, Zach Meyers and Zapfe for fifth.
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