Justin Kay won the battle Saturday (09/23/2017), but it was Jesse Sobbing that won the war.

Kay topped the $5,000 to win, 100-lap 'Liberty 100' this past weekend at the West Liberty Raceway. The event served as the 2017 season finale for the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series.

Kay started 16th after being forced to race his way into the main event through a B-Main. While charging through the field, he and Sobbing were involved in a multi-car wreck. Both were forced to restart at the back of the field.

Kay raced his way back through the field, and he took the lead away from Tyler Bruening on lap 92, and he was able to hold on for the win.

Sobbing’s car sustained heavy front end damage in the earlier incident. He stayed on the track and his perseverance was rewarded with 15th place points and the series championship.

The checkers were the fifth of the season and series career 24th for Kay.

“I don’t think I’ve ever won a Deery show like that,” said Kay, who figured he passed around 33 cars over the course of his ‘B’ and the main event. “I’ve gone to the back and won weekly shows but never a Deery.”

“The track was absolutely awesome,” he added. “It was smooth, slick and black. The race was just fun.”

A former Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMod national champion and IMCA Modified regional cham­pion, Sobbing is the first driver to win both the Deery Series crown and rookie of the year title the same year.

Neal was the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing winner at West Liberty.
Chad Holladay had set fast time on Friday to earn $300. Bruening was the winner of the opening night champions’ race, passing Holladay out of the final turn for a $1,000 payday.

Feature Results:
1. Justin Kay, Wheatland; 2. Tyler Bruening, Decorah; 3. Jake Neal, Omaha, Neb.; 4. Andy Eckrich, Oxford; 5. Nick Marolf, Wilton; 6. Kevin Kile, West Liberty; 7. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon; 8. Cayden Carter, Oskaloosa; 9. Ron Boyse, Kalona; 10. Chris Horn, Cedar Rapids; 11. Chad Holladay, Muscatine; 12. Scott Fitzpatrick, Cedar Falls; 13. Matt Ryan, Davenport; 14.Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown; 15. Jesse Sobbing, Malvern; 16. Tim Simpson, West Branch; 17. Jeff Tharp, Sherrill; 18. Joel Callahan, Dubuque; 19. Denny Eckrich, Tiffin; 20. Curt Martin, Independence; 21. Kyle Hinrichs, Swisher; 22. Rob Moss, Iowa City; 23. Kyle Krampe, Baxter; 24. Luke Merfeld, Dubuque.

Content Provided By: Bill Martin (IMCA Media Relations)

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