Todd Shute races to win in Ron Little Memorial at Stuart Speedway

A grandstand filled to capacity and a pit area holding over 100 cars were on the card for the 10th annual running of the Ron Little Memorial Sunday night at Stuart Speedway. A sunny, windy, late afternoon left the track dry-slick and shedding dust, but the drivers on hand put on a good show to honor the late modified driver Little. It is hard to believe that Ron left us back in 1999, it seems like just yesterday I was chatting with him in the infield in Des Moines. He is one of the faces I truly miss around the pit area. In remembrance - The modified of Ron Little paced the modified feature field Sunday night. - BWJ photo

Little Memorial winner - Todd Shute was the winner of the Ron Little Memorial IMCA modified feature on May 24. - BWJ photo

I think he would have been pleased with the program run in his memory Sunday as the action was wild and woolly at times, but with a minimum of yellow flags.
The main event was with the IMCA modifieds. Dennis Pittman started on the front row inside of Josh Gilman, and as the green flag dropped, the field went two and three wide as drivers dove and dashed for open positions. One of the more intense early battles was between Rex Parkison, Todd Shute and Nate Carruth as they raced hard and close for the lead. Shute would eventually pull out on top. The next hard chargers came from row five as Jimmy Gustin and Randy Havlik raced their way to the front. The duo had battled it out in the third heat race with Gustin taking the win, and now they picked off positions until Gustin held down second and Havlik third. It looked like Gustin may have something up his sleeve for Shute, but it wasn’t to be as the 2008 Stuart track champion held out for the big payday and the Ron Little Memorial win. Following Gustin and Havlik were Parkison and Gilman to round out the top-five.

For the early lead - From left, Rex Parkison (31R), Todd Shute (5) and Nate Carruth (7c) race for the modified feature lead. - BWJ photo

For second - Randy Havlik (3z) and Jimmy Gustin (19) race for the second spot, eventually taken by Gustin. - BWJ photo

The IMCA sportmod feature also showcased some good racing as Geoff Olson and Paul Nagle raced for the win. Joel Bushore looked to be a factor for several laps as well before settling for third. Nagle and Olson would decide amongst themselves with Olson taking the win.
IMCA hobby stocks saw Shannon Anderson school the field from his outside row one starting spot, while the IMCA stock cars put on a good show as fifth-starting Tim Bengard and third-starting Bryan Snell went door-to-door for the win. Bengard would win out to take the feature with Jason Day placing third.
In other action, Colton Nelson went from the back row to the lead in one lap to win the IMCA sportcompact feature while Josh May capitalized on his pole starting position to win the dwarf car main event.

Stock race - Tim Bengard (19B) races with Bryan Snell (3S) for the lead in the IMCA stock car feature. - BWJ photo

Sportmod battle - The race for the lead was between eventual winner Geoff Olson (2G) and Paul Nagle (05). - BWJ photo

Showing the way - Shannon Anderson topped the IMCA hobby stock field. - BWJ photo

Dwarf winner - Josh May was the dwarf car feature winner at Stuart - BWJ photo

Nelson wins - Colton Nelson was the IMCA sportcompact feature winner - BWJ photo

Dry slick conditions and some rough spots low in turn one put up their challenges on this windy night, but I came away from Stuart having seen some good racing. The sportmods struggled the most with cautions during their feature, while the remaining classes raced hard and kept on the gas for the most part. It was great to see a full grandstand and over 100 cars at Stuart Sunday night. It has always been one of my favorite places and it is deserving of some big nights like they had on Sunday. Bill Davis, Jr. and his staff do a fine job there, and I have never gone home regretting my drive to Stuart. Sunday night was certainly one of those nights.