WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa — Aaron Reutzel took an early lead and never looked back Saturday night at the 34 Raceway, capturing the 30-lap $5,000 “Fall Haul” main event.
The Clute, Texas, native’s win marks the eight winner in as many events in “Fall Haul” history. It was also Reutzel’s first ever Sprint Invaders win, and it came aboard the Ridge & Sons Racing No. 87.
Paul Nienhiser capped off a great season with a top five finish sealing his first ever Sprint Invaders season title. Car owner Scott Bonar won his series record fourth car owner championship.
Terry McCarl led early in the main event, with Reutzel and Ryan Bunton in tow. Reutzel was already challenging McCarl for the point when Mike Mayberry slowed two laps in, bringing the first caution flag of the night. Reutzel shot into the lead on the restart and set sail, getting to lapped traffic by lap seven. Behind him, McCarl, Bunton, Cheris Martin and Colton Fisher followed.
At one point, Reutzel got over the top of the track in turn two and almost hit the tire entering the pit entrance. He righted his sprinter, and still retained a straightaway lead over McCarl.
At the halfway point, a 5.4 second lead was erased when Luke Verardi got over the top of turn two and came to a stop, setting up a restart that saw Reutzel leading McCarl, Bunton, Martin and Fisher.
Martin shot into third on the restart, and Cody Wehrle entered the top five. The sixth running Fisher, also took a trip over the top of turn two two laps later, and Garrett Benson did the same on lap 18.
Nienhiser was moving up from his 14th starting spot and entered the top five on the lap 17 restart, and took fourth on the restart for Benson.
Reutzel was back into lappers with seven to go, when Cam Martin suffered a flat right rear tire. The last stoppage of the race did not phase Reutzel, and with the track now taking rubber, he maintained his advantage to the checkers, ahead of McCarl, Chris Martin, Nienhiser and Bunton.
“There was enough moisture out there to hold on,” said Reutzel of his close call when he drove over the top of turn two early in the feature. “There might have been some rubber laid late, but it was a good race early. The track was awesome. The track was a lot of fun. The car was awesome all night. We really didn’t have to make any changes. We were able to run it really hard.”
“This is such a great event, and they do such a good job of promoting it,” said McCarl. “I really appreciate all the sponsors and doing this for our teams. I’d like to tell them how much we appreciate it. I was happy to run second. My wing broke before the green flag, and I couldn’t move it. I couldn’t fight Aaron off at all, and couldn’t stop him. I was praying for rubber and trying to hang on. We were able get second and a Dash win, so it was a good money night as well. I can’t thank my partners enough.”
“Obviously, we wanted to stand on the top step tonight, but I have to thank Scott Bonar and everyone that helps us,” said Nienhiser of his series championship. “I was lucky enough to drive all the races this year. To cap it off with a championship is what we set our goals to. This is a great group of drivers that run in this series. These guys make me strive to be better. You have that target on your back and you have to work all the harder. It’s a group effort and takes our families to make it possible.”
The finish:
Feature (30 laps): 1. 87, Aaron Reutzel, Clute, TX (3) 2. 24, Terry McCarl, Altoona, IA (1) 3. 44, Chris Martin, Ankeny, IA (4) 4. 50, Paul Nienhiser, Chapin, IL (14) 5. 6R, Ryan Bunton, Morton, IL (2) 6. 99, JJ Hickle, Quilcene, WA (10) 7. 27, Carson McCarl, Altoona, IA (11) 8. 40, Cody Wehrle, Burlington, IA (8) 9. 6, Dustin Selvage, Indianola, IA (22) 10. 57, Cam Sorrels, Hallsville, MO (13) 11. 2, Chase Porter, St. Joseph, MO (20) 12. 11, Colton Fisher, Mediapolis, IA (5) 13. 2B, Garrett Benson, Concordia, MO (9) 14. 24x, Kade Higday, Knoxville, IA (19) 15. 81, Tanner Gebhardt, Burlington, IA (21) 16. 49, Josh Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA (23) 17. 28, Luke Verardi, Taylorville, IL (25, prov.) 18. 15JR, Cole Mincer, Burlington, IA (12) 19. 31, McCain Richards, Burlington, IA (24) 20. 51J, Blaine Jamison, Mediapolis, IA (15) 21. 4M, Mike Mayberry, Fremont, IA (18) 22. 99D, Tucker Daly, Hallsville, MO (7) 23. 4, Cam Martin, Ankeny, IA (6) 24. 98P, Miles Paulus, Marshall, MO (17) 25. 5A, Alex Vande Voort, Knoxville, IA (16).