7/2/2023
Stuart Speedway
Zeitner Conquers the Quarter-Mile at Stuart Speedway
After a heartbreaking defeat the first time around, Justin Zeitner scored big in the Malvern Bank Super Late Models West Series’ return to Stuart International Speedway.
Sunday’s race at the high-banked quarter-mile bullring in Stuart, Iowa marked round 10 of the 2023 season for the West Series. It was also the tour’s second and final stop to Stuart for the season. A field of 28 cars from Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri made the call for a chance to stand at the top with the $3,000 paycheck.
Seven-Time Series Champion Kyle Berck started his night off on the right foot by setting the quickest lap in qualifying. The Marquette, Nebraska driver laid down a 12.636 second time. The four heat races on the night were won by JC Wyman, Charlie McKenna, Jason Hahne, and Corey Zeitner. Curt Schroeder would win the B-feature later in the night, and after provisional starters were decided, 24 cars took center stage for the 30-lap main event.
Kyle Berck started on pole position and was quick to jump to the race lead. The field were able to knock seven laps off the counter before the first of multiple cautions came out for a spin in turn four.
The race was a challenging one as many drivers found themselves in accidents throughout the race. One of those was Series Point Leader Jesse Sobbing who ended up sliding into the infield in turn three. He would go to the rear of the field but rallied back nicely to finish eighth.
Right before the halfway mark, trouble would strike the leader, Berck. Berck tried going low to dodge a slower lapped car, but the slower car cut right in front of Berck allowing him with no time to dodge. Berck would get sideways and suffer nose damage, but he would continue on.
However, that incident would hand the lead over to Andrew Kosiski. The La Vista, Nebraska driver would lead into the single digit laps when the final caution came out for a two-car tangle involving Josh Leonard and Derrick Stewart who were running fifth and sixth at the time. Leonard would continue on while Stewart was done for the evening. He would finish 18th.
On the final restart, Justin Zeitner, who had worked his way to second, caught Kosiski and threw a slide job on him for the race lead, and from that point, the Malvern, Iowa driver would capture the win. Less than a month after cutting a tire while leading at Stuart, Zeitner would take home his first win at the quarter-mile with the Malvern Bank West Series. The win is also Zeitner’s fourth of the 2023 season and his 12th win all-time.
Andrew Kosiski took home second while Corey Zeitner avenged his misfortunes the previous visit to Stuart with a third-place run. Josh Leonard, with loads of sheet metal damage, brought his machine home in fourth, and Jaxon Saatoff took fifth, one position better than his Series debut at the speedway the month prior.
The Malvern Bank West Series and Haulin’ with Hoker Trucking East Series come together for the next stop on both tours. On July 15th, the two series come together for the Rallen Zeitner Memorial at Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa with a massive $7,600 top prize on the line. After that, the Malvern Bank West Series heads north to Brandon, South Dakota for a 2-day debut at the Huset’s Speedway on July 21st and 22nd.
Photo Credit: Jared Bailey Photography
Article Credit: Anthony Ainslie, RacinBoys.com
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