Blake enjoying new endeavor (Video)

CEDAR RAPIDS - Breaking in, breaking out, but don't expect any braking by Matt Blake.

In just his first season of auto racing of any kind, Blake finds himself atop the season points standings at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, capturing his first feature win a week ago. Blake followed last week's victory with a third-place showing in the feature Friday night at the asphalt track.

Blake's friend, Jason Beuregard, talked to him about before the season about buying a Legends race car. Beauregard changed his plans, but Blake was still interested.

"He ended up buying a modified and I had already looked at one of these," said Blake, whose cars display his Dublin City Pub designs. "I threw the idea around and ended up going and getting it.

"I haven't raced anything before. Not since Bever Park Bike Races when I was five or six. That was about the last thing."

Which makes the feat impressive, even in an introductory class. No experience, no problem. Blake held a 58-point lead in the standings before Friday's races. The results have surprised him slightly and he admits he still has much to learn. He received tips from other drivers, crediting Al Diercks for his work on guides for Legend car set ups.

"The cars do a lot of things I don't understand," Blake said. "A lot of the guys have been helpful."

Ben Schaitel claimed his first Legends feature victory, preventing a repeat for Blake. Schaitel grabbed the lead about four laps into the race and then pulled away from the field. Al Diercks edged Blake for second after starting last in the 11-car field. Blake, who showed some nifty driving avoiding a two-car crash between Brogan Fiala and Bryce Bailey with 17 laps left of the 30-lap contest, also started near the back of the field.

"I was just telling myself at the end to keep driving and keep driving," Schaitel said. "Nothing more I can ask for than a win like this." 

Blake, 37, a 1992 graduate from Cedar Rapids Washington, has become more comfortable and confident behind the wheel each time out. The feeling was different while sitting in his car before take the track for his first heat race.

"I was nervous. I didn't want to wreck anybody," Blake said. "I had been taking advantage of all the practices. I had a couple extra practices because I was new at it. Once I got that first heat race out of the way I was a lot more comfortable.

"As I'm figuring out more in the car I'm getting more comfortable in it."

Then Blake sped his way to victory lane in just his sixth race. He said he was more relaxed, resisting the urge to overdrive the car and benefiting from a shorter feature since his performance weakens later in the race. The thrill of winning just adds to Blake's excitement for racing.

"It was fun," said Blake, noting he is hooked and plans on racing for awhile. "I'm starting to figure it out. I'm settling in. I love it."

The night had two stellar finishes. Brad Osborn grabbed his second late model feature win of the season, taking the lead and battling Joey Gase after a restart with three laps to go. Kyle Hinrichs dominated the race, but those two chase him down with Gase taking the lead inside 10 laps remaining. Three cautions in the final five laps set up the final showdown.

"Man alive, that last restart was critical," Osborn said. "Thank God we got over the top."

Watch the final three laps to the checker.

The most exciting race of the evening came in the modified feature. Hawkeye Downs Wall of Fame driver Johnny Spaw, driving fellow Wall of Famer Arlo Becker's race car, won his second feature in three weeks. Spaw led the entire race, but was challenged late by six-time division champion Tim Plummer. Spaw had Plummer on his tail as the checkered flag dropped, as caution caused a dash to the end between them with six laps remaining.

Cory Houdek, Matt Petrzelka and Brad Chandler were all repeat winners from last week.

Houdek, the sportsman's points leader, held off runner-up Ben Glascock late for the victory. Houdek overcame spinning out in the second turn during the race, causing the feature's only caution.

"That was kind of an interesting race to say the least," Houdek said. "The car wasn't working the best so I started changing my driving style a little bit. It seemed to work great."

Like Spaw, Petrzelka led from start to finish in the hobby stock feature. He owned a comfortable lead and cruised to his third win this season.

Chandler led a 1-2-3 family finish in the hornets class with brothers, Nathan and Dallas, finishing second and third, respectively. It was the first time this season they have finished in the top three spots together, despite six combined feature wins.

See their finish.

Brad Chandler claimed his third feature win this year, starting last and maneuvering through the 13-car field to lead the pack at the end.

"I think that's the first time I've ever been able to win from the back," Brad Chandler said. "I never thought that would happen with Nate starting on the pole." 

Heat race - 1. Martin Ballard, 2. Nathan Ballard, 3. Matt Petrzelka

Feature -1. Matt Petrzelka, 2. Nathan Ballard, 3. Jeremy Robbins, 4. Martin Ballard, 5. Brad Chandler.

Heat races - 1st:1. Craig Stepanek, 2. David Ballstaedt, 3. Greg Hentrich; 2nd:1. Cory Houdek, 2. Ben Glascock, 3. Josh Williams.

Feature - 1. Cory Houdek, 2. Ben Glascock, 3. Craig Stepanek, 4. David Ballstaedt, 5. Gretg Hentrich.

Heat races - 1st: 1. Ben Schaitel, 2. Brogan Fiala, 3. Jason Beauregard; 2nd: 1. Troy Burkhart, 2. Dennis Diercks, 3. Bryce Bailey.

Feature -1. Ben Schaitel, 2. Al Diercks, 3. Matt Blake, 4. Troy Burkhart, 5. Don Erger.

Heat race -1. Johnny Spaw, 2. Brian Gibson, 3. Ryan Luedke

Feature -1. Johnny Spaw, 2. Tim Plummer, 3. Ryan Luedke, 4. Brian Gibson, 5. Craig Bender.

Trophy Dash winner - Todd Ness

Heat races - 1st:1. Nathan Chandler, 2. Brad Chandler, 3. Derek Parrott; 2nd: 1. Jose DeJesus, 2. Dallas Chandler, 3. Aaron Jarvis.

Feature - 1. Brad Chandler, 2. Nathan Chandler, 3. Dallas Chandler, 4. Jose DeJesus, 5. Derek Parrott.

Heat races - 1st: 1. Kyle Hinrichs, 2. Joey Gase, 3. Tim Plummer; 2nd: 1. Brian Allen, 2. Brad Osborn, 3. Andy Edwards.

Feature -1. Brad Osborn, 2. Joey Gase, 3. Kyle Hinrichs, 4. Andy Edwards, 5. Mason Mitchell.