VanderBeek Tames Mahaska County Monster

OSKALOOSA, Iowa -- Race fans that braved the heat wave Wednesday night got a fiery hot finish as local favorite Zack VanderBeek used a last-lap pass to win the 10th Annual Arnold Motor Supply Spring Classic presented by KBOE Radio as the USMTS Casey’s General Stores National Tour powered by Swan Energy invaded the Southern Iowa Speedway.

After earning the AFCO Pole Award by accumulating the most passing points during the heat races, VanderBeek redrew sixth for the start of the 30-lap WIX Filters “A” Main while Ryan Gustin drew the pole position.

Gustin, who has a series-leading 31 wins over the last two seasons, including both events last year at the Mahaska County Monster, took off at the drop of the green flag and pulled out to a ten-car-length advantage over Corey Dripps during the first 10 laps.

Riding the high side in Gustin’s shadow, Dripps narrowed the margin over the next few laps but VanderBeek snuck by to grab second place on lap 16 and began to run down Gustin.

Three laps later, the yellow flag waved when Shane Demey suffers mechanical trouble in turn 3. With Gustin setting the pace, VanderBeek chose the inside line for the restart and left Dripps on the high side.

On the restart, Gustin abandoned the top groove and pulled in front of VanderBeek on the low side of the half-mile Osky oval. With the top lane all to himself, Dripps powered around the outside of both leaders to lead lap 20.

VanderBeek got around Gustin five laps later and began to track down Dripps. Tucked in behind Dripps as they crossed beneath the white flag, VanderBeek dove to the inside in turns 1-2 and pulled even with Dripps down the back-stretch.

Through the final corner, Dripps could only watch as VanderBeek inched ahead and drove away to cross the finish line two car-lengths ahead.

The $2,000 triumph was third in the last five events for the 26-year-old from nearby New Sharon, and career win number 21 for the 2004 USMTS Rookie of the Year.