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ASA: Garvey Conquers Hawkeye Downs for Third-Straight Time

13 August 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Picks Up Win in Iowa 250 for Third Win of the Season

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa.--For the second time in 2000, Mike Garvey dominated the field at Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, picking up his third win of the season, 11th career, in the Iowa 250. Garvey, has won three-straight races at the half-mile oval dating back to 1999. He topped the field for 182 of the 250 laps. ASA veteran Bob Senneker is the only other driver to win at the track on consecutive occasions.

Garvey took the lead on lap 96 and led the final 155 laps, pitting only one time. He gave up the lead on lap 80 to Russ Tuttle, pitting for right side tires and fuel. Garvey ran the entire race on his left side BFGoodrich Traction T/A Radials, which was the plan all along.

"I used to run better on the high-banked tracks, but it seems like lately, we are running much better on the flat track," said Garvey, who, besides both Hawkeye Downs wins, also picked up a win at Chicago Motor Speedway. "For some reason, we have just hit on a set up here at this track. And to think, I used to not like this place!"

Tim Sauter was able to make up some ground on points leader Gary St. Amant with his second place finish, a sixth podium result for Sauter in 2000. Sauter battled with Garvey all day, pitting at the same time, but could not make the pass late in the race. Sauter trailed Garvey by 2.420 seconds at the checkers.

"This was a good run for us and we will be ready for Madison (International Speedway) next weekend," said Sauter. "The might have to think about remaining this place Garvey Downs."

Matching his career-best finish, which also came at Hawkeye Downs in June, was second-year driver Tristan Dupuis, coming home third. Joey Clanton, who finished second in the June race, and Butch Miller finished fourth and fifth respectively. Points leader St. Amant hung in the top five most of the day finished sixth place finish.

For his winning efforts, Garvey collected $19,900 of the $196,300 purse. Four drivers swapped the lead five times, with Tuttle and Tim Taylor also leading several laps. At days end, there were eight caution flags for 45 laps.

Sauter gained some ground on St. Amant, shrinking the point lead to just 289 heading into the ACDelco Factory Motor Parts 300 at Madison International Speedway in Wisconsin next Saturday. It marks ASAs return to Madison, where the series last visited in 1993. The race takes the green Saturday night at 8 p.m. (Central) and will be telecast LIVE on TNN Sports.

Text provided by Jeremy Troiano

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