Earl Pearson Jr. Wins the 2009 Indiana Icebreaker

Brownstown, IN - The 2009 racing season for Apex One Photo has gotten off to a late start. In past seasons, a trip South during January or February would feed my need for carbon dioxide. The weather was around 50-60F. Still pretty cool, but after a long winter filled with frequent snowstorms, and a 2008 season with record rainouts it would have to do. This was the 77th track I have been to, and overall I enjoyed the experience

The historic Brownstown Speedway hosted the 12th annual Indiana Icebreaker. Brownstown Speedway is a 1/4 mile fairgrounds track with a covered grandstand, spread out among large buildings, a creek and some piece meal parking lots littered with RV's and trailers. With 65 late models, 68 modifieds and 50+ bomber/street stocks there was plenty of cars on hand. Most tracks pit all the same divisions in one locations, whereas here there were 15-20 late models pitting out back, over a bridge and out in the parking lots. The concession lines were long, the merchandise trailers were packed early in the afternoon. No signs of the doom and gloom and corporate bailouts in the Southern Indiana countryside. The racing started on time and lasted late into the night. With 6 modified heat races, the 3 spin rule was called into play a few times and the show went on.

The Lucas Oil Dirt Series sanctioned race paid $10,000 to win. Josh McGuire set fast time of 15.229. The heat races were full of action, as was the A-main. 26 cars took the green flag, with 10 or so finishing on the lead lap. Plenty of three wide action on the semi banked track, and several side by side laps for the lead added to the excitement. Ray Cook would lead first, and battle with Scott Bloomquist and Earl Pearson Jr. battling for the first 25 laps. One yellow for a spinning Scott James slowed the field on lap 23. From there on out Pearson in the Bobby Labonte owned Rocket would lead til the checkers.

FAST QUALIFIER: Josh McGuire (15.229)

HEAT ONE: Dale McDowell, Josh McGuire, Eric Jacobsen, Bart Hartman, Dennis Erb Jr, John Mason, Donnie Moran, Michael Chilton, Matt Miller, Jake Ruefer, Tom Sheets

HEAT TWO: Scott James, Billy Drake, Greg Johnson, Mike Jewell, Jason Smith, Freddy Smith, Kerry Mathew, Eric Wells, Mike Meyers, Justin Rattliff, David Breazeale

HEAT THREE: Earl Pearson Jr, Michael England, Jason Feger, Brad Neat, Chad Mahder, Kevin Cole, Mike Marlar, Michael Walker, Bobby Wolter Jr, Mike Bores, Nick Hodges

HEAT FOUR: Ray Cook, Billy Moyer, Dustin Linville, Victor Lee, Steve Barnett, Tommy Weder, Chad Stapleton, Jeremy Hines, Matt Weidner, Brian Wilhite, Brad Eitniear

HEAT FIVE: Scott Bloomquist, Jeep VanWormer, Dan Schlieper, Kevin Claycomb, John Blankenship, Chris Simpson, Arnie Fields, Jason Riggs, Tim Prince, Wayne Chinn

HEAT SIX: Jimmy Owens, Don O'Neal, Rusty Seaver, Steve Casebolt, Tim Isenberg, Jason Utter, Jason Keltner, Derek Fisher, Mike Mataragas

CONSI ONE: Bart Hartman, Brad Neat, Dennis Erb Jr, Michael Chilton, Mike Jewell, Kevin Cole, Jason Smith, Donnie Moran, John Mason, Matt Miller, Mike Marlar, Chad Mahder, Mike Bores, Tom Sheets, Kerry Mathew, Michael Walker, David Breazeale, Jake Ruefer, Freddy Smith, Mike Meyers, Bobby Wolter Jr

CONSI TWO: Victor Lee, Kevin Claycomb, Tommy Weder Jr, Jason Keltner, Wayne Chinn, Steve Casebolt, John Blankenship, Jason Utter, Arnie Fields, Derek Fisher, Tim Isenberg, Matt Weidner, Chad Stapleton, Tim Prince, Jason Riggs, Jim Price, Jeremy Hines, Brian Wilhite, Mike Mataragas, Chris Simpson

FEATURE: Earl Pearson Jr, Dale McDowell, Jimmy Owens, Brad Neat, Scott Bloomquist, Don O'Neal, Josh McGuire, Ray Cook, Billy Moyer, Billy Drake, Bart Hartman, Jeep VanWormer, Jason Feger, Dan Schlieper, Dustin Linville, Steve Casebolt, Victor Lee, Wayne Chinn, Michael England, Scott James, Rusty Seaver, Greg Johnson, Eric Jacobsen, Kevin Claycomb, Mike Jewell, Justin Rattliff