ARCA: Hessert wins Prairie Meadows 200

Tom Hessert took his first career ARCA Racing Series victory at Iowa Speedway on Saturday night.

The Cunningham Motorsports driver passed series debutant and pole sitter Ty Dillon on lap 9 of the 200-lap race, but dropped behind Max Gresham during the second caution period a quarter of the way into the event.

The two then raced door-to-door around the 0.875-mile oval, while NASCAR Trucks star Matt Crafton also had a stint in the lead mid-race, before Hessert assumed control and led the final 77 laps for a 5.052 second victory.

"It was incredible,” Hessert said. “From our first laps on the track, we had a really good car.

"We had a great qualifying run. The car was just so good in the long runs, as long as we could keep our track position and stay ahead of the guys on short runs.

"The car was wonderful, and I couldn't ask for anything more."

Dillon completed an impressive debut by finishing in second place, equalling the result he scored at Iowa in the spring in a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West combination race.

"I had a ball just learning the car. It's a lot different than what I've been running all year. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot," Dillon said. "The guys worked really hard on the car and we ended up with a pretty good piece."

Grant Enfinger completed the podium ahead of Hessert’s Cunningham Motorsport team-mate Dakoda Armstrong and Crafton.

Former multiple champion Frank Kimmel celebrated his 400th ARCA Series start with sixth place, while Casey Roderick, Craig Goess, Justin Marks and Gresham completed the top ten.

Ninth for Marks was sufficient to give him the points lead after several championship front-runners suffered problems.

Venturini Motorsports team-mates Steve Arpin and Mikey Kile both suffered right front punctures and hit the wall, while Patrick Sheltra, points leader heading into the round, was forced out after just 47 laps with engine problems.


"It just wasn't our night. I guess it's all a part of racing. My emotions are just all over the place right now because we've worked so hard to make this team a factor week in and week out," said Sheltra, who had finished in the top ten in each of eight races to start the season. "We did that again tonight, (but) just didn't receive the result we were looking for."

ARCA Racing Series results – Round 9, Prairie Meadows 200, Iowa Speedway

1 2 77 Tom Hessert/Cherry Hill NJ Cherry Hill Classics Dodge 200 Running
2 1 41 Ty Dillon/Lewisville NC Karl Chevrolet-RCR Development Chevrolet 200 Running
3 7 09 Grant Enfinger/Fairhope AL BeasleyAllen.com Ford 200 Running
4 10 22 Dakoda Armstrong/New Castle IN Ferrellgas Dodge 200 Running
5 12 88 Matt Crafton/Tulare CA Messina Wildlife Management-Menards Ford 200 Running
6 16 44 Frank Kimmel/Clarksville IN Ansell-Menards Ford 200 Running
7 19 51 Casey Roderick/Lawrenceville GA Bill Elliott Driver Development Dodge 200 Running
8 6 81 Craig Goess/Greenville NC Greenville Toyota of NC Toyota 200 Running
9 3 32 Justin Marks/Rocklin CA Construct Corps Toyota 200 Running
10 5 71 Max Gresham/Griffin GA Gresham & Associates Toyota 200 Running
11 13 17 Chris Buescher/Prosper TX Roulo Brothers Racing Ford 199 Running
12 15 31 Tim George Jr./New York NY RCR Development Chevrolet 199 Running
13 33 11 Bryan Silas/Stuart FL Rockingham Speedway-PBG Ford 198 Running
14 4 16 Joey Coulter/Miami Springs FL LiftUpEllie.com-Darrell Gwynn Foundation Chevrolet 198 Running
15 22 02 Josh Williams/Port Charlotte FL Southwest Florida Cable Construction Ford 195 Running
16 24 1 Chad McCumbee/Supply NC Modspace-Red Cross Disaster Relief Ford 194 Running
17 28 14 Nick Igdalsky/Long Pond PA Modspace-Red Cross Disaster Relief Ford 192 Running
18 21 59 Will Kimmel/Sellersburg IN Mark Gibson Racing Dodge 189 Running
19 25 47 Timmy Hill/Port Tobacco MD Fuel Doctor Chevrolet 187 Running
20 27 76 Jerick Johnson/Faribault MN American Legion-David Law Firm Chevrolet 183 Running
21 29 26 Brad Smith/Shelby Township MI ApplianceZone.com Ford 182 Running
22 17 6 Kyle Fowler/Smyrna GA Alabama Air National Guard Toyota 158 Running
23 20 36 Robb Brent/Shelby Township MI Orchard Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Dodge 157 Running
24 23 15 Tom Berte/New Berlin WI CGS Premier-StayTuned Customs Chevrolet 155 Running
25 32 23 Rob Jones/Bowie MD Hixson Construction Chevrolet 138 Running
26 18 5 Bobby Gerhart/Lebanon PA Lucas Oil Chevrolet 89 Accident
27 14 37 Joey Gase/Cedar Rapids IA Spraker Racing Chevrolet 88 Accident
28 11 55 Steve Arpin/Fort Frances Ontario Mike's Hard Lemonade Toyota 54 Accident
29 8 60 Patrick Sheltra/Indiantown FL Recycling Services-Ferguson Pipe Toyota 47 Engine
30 9 25 Mikey Kile/Westlake LA Venturini Motorsports Toyota 37 Accident
31 26 2 Pierre Bourque/Ottawa Ontario ESR Toyota 35 Accident
32 31 06 Tyler Miles/Pulaski TN Wayne Peterson Racing Ford 30 Engine
33 34 34 Darrell Basham/Henryville IN Darrell Basham Racing Chevrolet 10 Engine
34 35 28 Levi Youster/Oak Harbor OH Youster-Hixson Ford 6 Handling
35 36 10 Marc Easton/Saranac Lake NY Fast Track High Performance Driving School Dodge 5 Transmission
36 30 48 James Hylton/Inman SC Radon.com Ford 5 Clutch
37 37 3 Brent Brevak/Ashland WI Brevak Racing Dodge 0 Handling
38 38 9 Mark Gibson/Winder GA Mark Gibson Racing Chevrolet 0 Handling
DNS 0 Wayne Peterson/Pulaski TN Wayne Peterson Racing Chevrolet
DNS 7 Tanner Berryhill/Bixby OK AmericashAdvance.com-AutoZone Chevrolet

Championship Standings (after 9 rounds)

1 Justin Marks, 2040pts
2 Patrick Sheltra, 1970
3 Craig Goess, 1940
4 Frank Kimmel, 1920
5 Tom Hessert, 1900
6 Mikey Kile, 1890
7 Dakoda Armstrong, 1855
8 Tim George Jr, 1760
9 Steve Arpin, 1720
10 Joey Coulter, 1695

Next round: 17 July, Tim Richmond Memorial ARCA 200, Mansfield Motorsports Park

Watch ARCA Racing Series highlights as part of Motors TV’s Winter Programming.


Andy Wilkinson

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