Merv Chandler Memorial decided among his sons

CEDAR RAPIDS - When the Merv Chandler Memorial 42 was announced to be run in conjunction with the ARCA Midwest Tour in the Coors Light Summer Shootout at Hawkeye Downs, three of Merv's sons instantly had plans to run the race.

All three - Nathan, Brad and Dallas - have track championships and several wins at Hawkeye Downs, and were all intent on running in the race that was to honor their dad, who died March 10. And if you asked them - or anyone in their family - it was either Nathan or Brad who was picked to take home the $2,000 prize for winning.

But it was Dallas who came out of the 42-lap main event doing reverse donuts and celebrating on top of the car.

'I took my time and made my way up there, and it was fun running with my brothers two (and) three wide,” Dallas Chandler said. 'We told everyone we were going to trade paint for this. It was every man for themselves.

'This is huge. It's the inaugural Merv Chandler 42-lapper. I was planning on Brad or Nate trying to get (the win), but I got it. I knew my dad was with me the whole time.”

The three brothers put on a show for the Hawkeye Downs crowd, who came despite cloudy skies and cooler weather after rain early in the day pushed back the start of the event. The feature went caution free, with Brad leading from lap 3 to lap 41 and Nathan and Dallas coming up through the field to chase him down.

Dallas made the winning pass coming to the white flag, and after he cleared his brothers, Nathan and Brad made contact and both nearly spun. They kept it together and Brad ended up second, with Nathan third.

It was a crowd-pleasing finish, and nearly a heart-stopping one for their mother Connie, sitting in the stands. After getting the winner's trophy, Dallas gave it to his mom.

'That was totally awesome,” Connie said. 'I never would've dreamed Dallas would've snuck up there. But I'm so proud of his confidence.

'When they almost wrecked, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh.' And Merv's sister is sitting here next to me. We both grabbed each other and I was just squeezing her leg so hard. I was worried I was going to hurt her. I couldn't believe that happened.”

Most of all, the brothers were happy they were able to decide the race among themselves. They used to get to race against each other regularly, but life - jobs, kids - has prevented that from happening as much.

'It was just a really good race,” Brad said. 'Now that we're all having kids and stuff, it's rare we all get to race together, so I was happy we all got the chance. It's really cool all our cars are equal.”

After the race, all three brothers went to Victory Lane to celebrate as a family.

Nathan and Brad, who had the contact on the final lap, were giving each other a hard time. Nathan jokingly told Brad he'd have made a run for the win if Brad hadn't held him up. Then both turned to Dallas and said he wouldn't have won if they hadn't run into each other.

It was a lighthearted and jovial post-race with tears of joy for a family who lost their dad and husband just a few months ago.

'We don't spare each other any mercy, and we raced hard to the end. We got knuckles deep there at the end trading paint,” Nathan said. 'It was great to support this for my dad.

'It means a lot to come out here and do what my dad loved best. He's definitely looking over us and would be proud of all of us boys.”

In the ARCA Midwest Tour Coors Light 100, Ty Majeski won the main event in a caution-free race. Cedar Rapids native Griffin McGrath finished fourth.

MERV CHANDLER MEMORIAL 42 RESULTS

1. Dallas Chandler, Cedar Rapids

2. Brad Chandler, Cedar Rapids

3. Nathan Chandler, Norway

4. Matt Petrzelka, Norway

5. Kyle Stark, Waterloo, Wis.

6. CJ VanHorn, Cedar Rapids

7. Jay Orr, Milwaukee, Wis.

8. Todd Ness, Cedar Rapids

9. Brannon Bechen, Farley

10. Justin Schroeder

11. Dave Reed, Troy Mills

12. Drew Nickell, Cedar Rapids

13. Dave Elliott, Marion

14. Erik Hood, Wilton

15. Gage Neal, Ely

16. Jordan Walker, Cedar Rapids

17. Zach Hartman, Cedar Rapids

18. Kaden Reynolds, Cedar Rapids

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@sourcemedia.net