GEHRKE GETS IT DONE, WINS MIDWEST THUNDER MIDGET INVITATIONAL AT KOKOMO
Kokomo, Indiana (July 27, 2024)………Chett Gehrke took over on lap two and was never headed from that point forward as he collected Saturday night’s invitation only USAC Midwest Thunder SpeeD2 Midget event at Indiana’s Kokomo Speedway.
Driving Don Moore’s No. 10, Gehrke (Broken Arrow, Okla.) advanced from his third starting position and into the lead on lap two after getting by opening lap leader Luke Hall (Ludlow Falls, Ohio).
For Gehrke, it was his first USAC victory of the season, and his second at Kokomo’s 1/4-mile dirt oval after winning this same event a year ago.
Hall crossed the line in second with reigning series champion Zach Wigal (Belpre, Ohio) third, Matt Lux (Manilla, Ind.) fourth and Michael Magic (Winder, Ga.) rounding out the top-five.
The event was invitation only with the top-24 drivers in the series point standings being allowed to compete.
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USAC MIDWEST THUNDER SPEED2 MIDGET RACE RESULTS: July 27, 2024 – Kokomo Speedway – Kokomo, Indiana
FIRST VMS MOTORSPORTS QUALIFYING GROUP: 1. Chett Gehrke, 10, Moore-14.403; 2. Matt Lux, 5, Wells-14.464; 3. Kayla Roell, 21R, Fedorczyk-14.595; 4. Ian Creager, 36, Creager-14.726; 5. Gunnar Lucius, 22, Lucius-15.013; 6. Carl Peterson, 49, Peterson-15.085; 7. Stratton Briggs, 71, Briggs-15.162; 8. Brayden Schwartz, 55s, Schwartz-15.589.
SECOND VMS MOTORSPORTS QUALIFYING GROUP: 1. Tate Martz, 34, GMB-14.271; 2. Michael Magic, 5m, Magic-14.424; 3. Jakeb Boxell, 44JB, Boxell/Merkler-14.592; 4. Alex Watson, 3, Watson-14.686; 5. Bryce Massingill, 11, Taylor-14.778; 6. Cale Coons, 63, Dooling-14.823; 7. Luke Lemons, 31, Lemons-15.441; 8. Jim Jones, 97, Jones-15.859.
THIRD VMS MOTORSPORTS QUALIFYING GROUP: 1. Tyler Nelson, 10N, Nelson-14.130; 2. Zach Wigal, 18, Wigal-14.443; 3. Luke Hall, 74, Heitmeyer-14.638; 4. Cole Morgan, 7m, Morgan-14.859; 5. Ryan Fleming, 11T, Fleming-15.029; 6. Bryce Dues, 0H, Sniper-15.292; 7. Tommy Bigelow, 2B, Bigelow-15.478.
PERFORMANCE ELECTRONICS FIRST HEAT: (8 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Kayla Roell (2), 2. Chett Gehrke (4), 3. Matt Lux (3), 4. Ian Creager (1), 5. Stratton Briggs (7), 6. Gunnar Lucius (5), 7. Carl Peterson (6), 8. Brayden Schwartz (8). NT
STIEFEL’S HOME & AUTO SECOND HEAT: (8 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Michael Magic (3), 2. Jakeb Boxell (2), 3. Alex Watson (1), 4. Tate Martz (4), 5. Bryce Massingill (5), 6. Cale Coons (6), 7. Luke Lemons (7), 8. Jim Jones (8). NT
HOOSIER AUTO RACING FANS THIRD HEAT: (8 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Zach Wigal (3), 2. Luke Hall (2), 3. Tyler Nelson (4), 4. Cole Morgan (1), 5. Ryan Fleming (5), 6. Tommy Bigelow (7), 7. Bryce Dues (6). NT
FEATURE: (25 laps, starting positions in parentheses) 1. Chett Gehrke (3), 2. Luke Hall (1), 3. Zach Wigal (9), 4. Matt Lux (4), 5. Michael Magic (2), 6. Kayla Roell (7), 7. Cale Coons (17), 8. Jakeb Boxell (8), 9. Tate Martz (11), 10. Bryce Massingill (14), 11. Cole Morgan (12), 12. Ian Creager (10), 13. Gunnar Lucius (16), 14. Alex Watson (5), 15. Luke Lemons (20), 16. Ryan Fleming (15), 17. Carl Peterson (19), 18. Bryce Dues (21), 19. Tyler Nelson (6), 20. Brayden Schwartz (22), 21. Stratton Briggs (13), 22. Tommy Bigelow (18), 23. Jim Jones (23). NT
FEATURE LAP LEADERS: Lap 1 Luke Hall, Laps 2-20 Chett Gehrke.
USAC MIDWEST THUNDER SPEED2 MIDGET POINTS: 1-Bryce Massingill-580, 2-Jakeb Boxell-571, 3-Cale Coons-546, 4-Tate Martz-521, 5-Matt Lux-492, 6-Ian Creager-482, 7-Zach Wigal-437, 8-Stratton Briggs-429, 9-Luke Hall-400, 10-Ryan Fleming-386.
NEXT USAC MIDWEST THUNDER SPEED2 MIDGET RACE: August 2, 2024 – Moler Raceway Park – Williamsburg, Ohio
CONTINGENCY AWARD WINNERS:
VMS Motorsports Fast Qualifier: Tyler Nelson (14.130)
Performance Electronics First Heat Winner: Kayla Roell
Stiefel’s Home & Auto Second Heat Winner: Michael Magic
Hoosier Auto Racing Fans Third Heat Winner: Zach Wigal
Performance Powder Coating Hard Charger: Cale Coons (17th to 7th)
Rosewood Machine & Tool Precision Move of the Race: Zach Wigal
Competition Suspension Inc. Highest Pill: Zach Wigal
Impact Lucky 7th Place Feature Finisher: Cale Coons
Saldana Racing Products Gift Certificate: Luke Lemons
