James Wins Inaugural Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Racing Series Ironman Feature!"

By Steve Birmingham
 

April 3, 2004; Granite City, IL – With 105 race cars jamming the pits for the inaugural Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers Racing Series, Terry James sped to his first Ironman Late Model feature win Saturday at Tri-City Speedway.

James survived an eight car pilup as the bunched steel block field raced into the first corner. No injureis resulted but four cars went to the trailer for the night. On the restart Grondski took a two inch lead over James and could only hold it for nine laps before James took the lead for good. Following James at the checkers were Grondski, Pat Ryan, Ed Purcell and Lenny Garson. The heats went to Grondski and Ken Johnson.

Bobby Martintoni put on a driving clinic in the Budweiser Modified main, besting Jim Lafferty, Wayne Downing, Ed Lenhardt and Tommie Seets, Jr. The heats fell to Lenhardt, Steve Meyer, Jr., and Downing.

Tim Gaerter won the Mountain Dew Sportsman nightcap over Rick Squires, Bert Jacoby, Terry Chester and Tony Walker. The win was Gaertner's first at Tri-City. Steve Maisel, Paul Jones, Bubb Mitchell and Chester won the heats and Tony Walker captured the Semi.

Ken Johnson, Jr, won his first career Domino's Street Stock main event with Andy Beavers, Steve Carter, Mark Pflueger and Brad Gilleland chasing him across the stripe. The heats were won by Pflueger, Carter, Johnson and Brad Yotter, with Steve Stonecipher winning the Semi.

Pat Harper won his first career Auto Trader Factory Stock main over Robert Crawford, Jr., Travis Beckman, Todd Erickson and Jonathan Schulte. Ralph Bradford and Paul Johnsaon won the heats.

Next Saturday, April 10 is "Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Poster Night" with the first 500 adults witha paid admission receiving a free Dale Earnhardt, Jr., poster. Spectator gates open at 6 p.m.with racing at 7 p.m.