(Bill W) August 21, 2009 - Though CJ Houseman is one of the up and coming young drivers in sprint car racing, he scored one for the old timers on Friday night at the Morgan County Speedway in Jacksonville, Illinois. The young man who tows to the track on an open trailer as a teammate to his brother, scored his first ever feature victory, as he topped the Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders to the tune of $1,200.
The extent of his operation is usually on the track at all times, and CJ Houseman proved that trailers don't win races, by sweeping his heat and the 25-lap feature event. Starting from the pole, he led one lap before his brother, Mike Houseman Jr., who was making his first start since suffering extensive burns at the Knoxville Raceway in July, brought a caution out when the car kicked out of gear. CJ led Justin Parrish, Jordan Goldesberry, Matt Sutton and Dave Feese, who was racing for the second time in 2009 after taking eleven years off.
On lap eight, Goldesberry ducked under Parrish for second, and began his pursuit of the leader. At the halfway point, Sutton had moved into third, with tenth starter, Joey Moughan assuming the fourth position. Sutton and Moughan battled for third, with the latter getting by on lap 17.
One lap later, Matt Rogerson, who started the night 11 points behind series' leader Bobby Mincer, spun in turn one. The last seven laps went non-stop. "I got kind of nervous a couple of times," said CJ of his win. "I thought I might hit the wall. I'm just happy to be here. I would like to thank Cliff and Gina's Runnells Inn for helping me out too. We really could use some more sponsors! I swear I heard somebody behind me the whole race!"
When the white flag came out, the butterflies hit for CJ. He got sideways in one and two and sputtered on the bottom of three and four, but he beat Goldesberry by two car lengths at the checkers. "I about spun out twice that last lap," said the Norwalk, Iowa driver. "The top really slicked off going into one. I definitely held my breath. The car was chugging a little when I was sideways in one and two. I don't know what I would have done if I'd have killed it."
Goldesberry was second in a strong run. "We'd been in a slump the past month, and we finally got back on track after running the Knoxville Nationals," said the Springfield, Illinois driver. "The car was working good all night long. We really didn't make any adjustments. We were close on the last lap, and I think with one more, we would have given him a run for his money."
Joey Moughan completed his fine run in third. "I like the top, but most of the guys were running up there," he said. "I was going through the middle of three and four, and the bottom of one and two was good too. I just had to take the top when I could get there. We got by (Matt) Sutton there going into one before the last restart. We both just about flipped. He got swallowed up a little more than I did. Sometimes it pays to be lucky."
Sutton and Mincer rounded out the top five. Jim Moughan Jr. was the hard-charger moving up ten spots to sixth, with Ryan Jamison seventh, Donnie Steward eighth, Russ Hall from 18th to ninth and Rogerson coming back to complete the top ten.
Three-time 2009 series' winner Kaley Gharst suffered motor problems in the Dash and was a scratch for the feature. Separate heat accidents claimed Tony Davis and Ben Wagoner. CJ, Parrish and Mike Houseman Jr. won heats, while Sutton took the Shake-Up Dash.
The Sprint Invaders hit the 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa on Saturday night, August 22, for Twin Features and the 2nd Annual Brian Hetrick Tribute.
Results
Ideal Ready Mix 25-lap A main Finish (started): 1. 80x, CJ Houseman, Norwalk, IA (1) 2. 65, Jordan Goldesberry, Springfield, IL (6) 3. 8H, Joey Moughan, Springfield, IL (10) 4. 3, Matt Sutton, Macomb, IL (3) 5. 15, Bobby Mincer, Burlington, IA (7) 6. 1m, Jim Moughan Jr., Springfield, IL (16) 7. 51J, Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, IA (9) 8. 16HD, Donnie Steward, West Burlington, IA (15) 9. 29x, Russ Hall, Des Moines, IA (18) 10. 29, Matt Rogerson, West Burlington, IA (8) 11. 4J, Justin Parrish, Oquawka, IL (2) 12. 53H, Matt Harms, Morton, IL (11) 13. 40, Andy Huston, Roseville, IL (12) 14. 99, Jimmy Davies, Oquawka, IL (13) 15. 83, Dave Feese, Saybrook, IL (5) 16. 4m, Mark Tischer, Hannibal, MO (14) 17. Y2, Mike Houseman Jr., Des Moines, IA (4) DNS - 14P, Kaley Gharst, Decatur, IL; 3D, Tony Davis, Monmouth, IL; 84, Ben Wagoner, Emdel, IL. Lap Leader: CJ Houseman 1-25. Hard Charger: Jim Moughan Jr.
Golden Eagle Distributors - Budweiser of Burlington Heat Race #1 (8 laps, top two to Dash): 1. CJ Houseman (4) 2. Jordan Goldesberry (6) 3. Dave Feese (3) 4. Joey Moughan (1) 5. Matt Harms (2) 6. Jim Moughan Jr. (7) 7. Tony Davis (5)
Cole Implement of Media, IL Heat Race #2 (8 laps, top two to Dash): 1. Justin Parrish (2) 2. Matt Sutton (5) 3. Matt Rogerson (4) 4. Ryan Jamison (6) 5. Mark Tischer (7) 6. Donnie Steward (1) 7. Ben Wagoner (3)
Huston Land Improvement of Roseville, IL Heat Race #3 (8 laps, top two to Dash): 1. Mike Houseman Jr. (4) 2. Kaley Gharst (6) 3. Bobby Mincer (3) 4. Andy Huston (1) 5. Jimmy Davies (5) 6. Russ Hall (2)
The Links of Jacksonville Shake-Up Dash (6 laps): 1. Matt Sutton (2) 2. Jordan Goldesberry (1) 3. CJ Houseman (6) 4. Justin Parrish (5) 5. Kaley Gharst (4) 6. Mike Houseman Jr. (3)
Contingency Awards:
Rod End Supply: Mike Houseman Jr., Bobby Mincer
Saldana Racing Products: Matt Harms
Diversified Machine, Inc.: Mark Tischer
Hepfner Race Products: Donnie Steward
Brake Man: Andy Huston