VINTON, Iowa — With a team put together during the offseason to tackle the Sprint Invaders schedule, Jonathan Cornell struck with a victory Sunday night in the Sprint Invaders first appearance at the Benton County Speedway.
The team constructed by Marty Howard, Lee Nelson, Tony Moro and others had difficulties in the Sprint Invaders opener but topped a stacked field for a $2,000 payday. It was the multi-time ASCS Warrior champion’s first official win with the Sprint Invaders.
Two-time and defending series champion Chris Martin led early in the 25-lap feature ahead of Austin McCarl, Cornell and Ayrton Gennetten. Cornell moved under McCarl to take second on the second circuit. The leader was into traffic on lap six on the quarter-mile bullring. Spins by first-time Sprint Invaders starter Luke Verardi and Braydn Greubel brought a caution on lap nine.
Cornell shot by Martin in turns one and two on the restart and began to pull away in the lead. As he approached lapped traffic with ten to go, the second running Martin did a 360 spin and had to restart at the rear.
McCarl briefly shot ahead of Cornell on the restart in turn two, but Cornell crossed over and stormed back to the point on the backstretch. A caution for a spun Tim Moore on lap 17 afforded Gennetten the opportunity to get by McCarl.
Two more cautions were flown, but Cornell stood the test every time to take the win ahead of Gennetten, McCarl, Riley Goodno and Kaley Gharst.
“I’m sure you guys were just as tired of that as I was,” said Cornell to the packed house in attendance of the number of restarts. “It’s been a crazy year with all the rain (three of four Sprint Invaders shows have been rained out), and I can’t thank this team enough. It’s a first-year operation. We knew the track was going to (attain rubber), so we had to make our moves early, or really quick on the starts. (McCarl) slid me on the restart there, so I knew I needed to make my line a little lower.”
“Obviously, Scott and I have run well together,” said Gennetten of his car owner, Scott Bonar. “We made a Dash with the World of Outlaws a few weeks ago, and have run second a couple times here together. It was kind of ironic that both times I got beat by someone from Missouri that I watched growing up. The No. 50 car is fast, and we’ll take it to Moberly next week and see what we can do.”
The finish:
Feature (25 laps): 1. 26, Jonathan Cornell, Sedalia, MO (3) 2. Ayrton Gennetten, Gravois Mills, MO (4) 3. 99, Austin McCarl, Altoona, IA (2) 4. 22, Riley Goodno Knoxville, IA (9) 5. 78, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL (6) 6. 11, Colton Fisher, Mediapolis, IA (12) 7. 23K, Rob Kubli, Milo, IA (13) 8. 28, Luke Verardi, Taylorville, IL (8) 9. 40c, Cody Wehrle, Burlington, IA (5) 10. 13, Brayden Gaylord, Wever, IA (15) 11. 81, Tanner Gebhardt, Burlington ,IA (11) 12. 44, Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA (1) 13. 88, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (10) 14. 51J, Blain Jamison, Mediapolis, IA (14) 15. 83, Kurt Mueller, Reynolds, IL (19) 16. 33, Alan Zoutte, Knoxville, IA (21) 17. 10T, Tim Moore, Moline, IL (18) 18. 9, Daniel Bergquist, Burlington, IA (16) 19. 8L, Tom Lenz, Marion, IA (17) 20. 29w, Wyatt Wilkerson, Morning Sun, IA (22) 21. 99x, Braydn Greubel, Lacona, IA (20) 22. 35, Josh Higday, Des Moines, IA (7) 23. 11T, Dugan Thye, Burlington, IA (23).