Plummer 15th in ASA Midwest Tour debut

NEWTON - Tim Plummer had a completely new experience Friday night.

His debut appearance at Iowa Speedway in his first ASA Midwest Tour event resulted in a 15th-place finish in the Sandvik Coromant 150. Plummer opened this season with aspirations to race the ASA Midwest Tour and finally got his chance.

"It's a mile different than anything I have ever done," Plummer said. "It was neat to do."

Plummer began the race in the last position of the 29-car field that included Griffin McGrath of Cedar Rapids, who is one of the circuit's touring stars. Plummer, of Norway, had transmission issues for qualifying which led to his start in the back of the pack. He credited McGrath's team for providing him with parts to repair the transmission.

"The way the day went before the race, (15th) was OK," Plummer said. "All things considering, I ended up fairly competitive. It was a lot of fun."

Plummer climbed as high as high as 12th, but couldn't hold his spots during cautions in the second half of the race. He will certainly take the performance.

"At one point of the race I thought I would do better," Plummer said. "At the start of the race I thought I would do worse."

The 28-year-old driver, who is the defending late model and modified season points champion at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, appreciates the opportunity to race the late model owned by Dudley Fleck. He expects to make his second straight start on the ASA Midwest Tour at next Friday's Miller 100 at Hawkeye Downs.

McGrath, who entered Friday's race eighth in the series points standings with three top-10 finishes, placed 21.

Other drivers with ties to Hawkeyes Downs were Thor Anderson, of Bondurant, who placed 22nd, Mason Mitchell, of West Des Moines, who was 24th, and Janesville's Brad Osborn, the late model points leader before this weekend, who finished 29th.