By Josh Wessler
Journal Star sports reporter @joshwessler
PEORIA — A little self-control paid off in a big way for Allen Weisser on Saturday. Competing in the night’s featured race at Peoria Speedway, the 22-year-old Peorian won his first race of the season by outdueling Steven Brooks in the 40-lap Modified Feature. Weisser, who earned $2,064 by taking the checkered flag in the Gary Cook Jr. Memorial’s top event, was able to put himself into the winner’s circle thanks to some late maneuvering to deny Brooks. “It was real close,” said Weisser, whose last feature win was in the 100-lap race last September. “I got out there in front for a while and then the bottom started to go away,” Weisser said. “Brooks started gettin’ me on the outside, and we had a pretty good battle until the end.” Brooks, who led for the first 11 laps of the race, was able to regain his lead on Lap 33 before Weisser took it back with two laps to go. “I started driving over my head a little bit when he got next to me,” Weisser said. “Once I slowed down a little bit, I got control of it and got back ahead of him.” Austin Simpson won the 18-lap Steel Block Late Model Feature without breaking a sweat, with Matt Shannon placing second ahead of James Carmody. McKay Wenger won the 25-lap Late Model Feature in similar fashion after opening up a sizable lead by the 10th lap. Jason Wagner and Myles Moos gave chase to Wenger but failed to make up much ground in the caution-free race. Andrew Funk beat out Tyler Benson to win the 15-lap Street Stock Feature. Butch Weisser won the 16-lap Crate Modified Feature, beating out Todd Bates and Matt Parrott. Brandt Cole was the winner in the 12-lap Hornet Feature. Next race for the Peoria Speedway is Saturday April 16, 2016 featuring its UMP Weekly Racing along with Central Illinois Mini Sprints the Crate Modifieds will be off this weekend.
Josh Wessler can be reached at 686-3214 or jwessler@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @joshwessler.
