By Bob Buffenbarger
Montpelier, IN — (April 18, 2015) Montpelier Motor Speedway opened their season under sunny skies and warm temperatures with a fine 25 car field of midgets and ended the evening with a chilly breeze and a barn burner, near photo finish with Chett Gehrke taking the win in front of a large crowd.
The 20 lap event took the green with Shane Hollingsworth leading the initial circuit but the 7w of Gage Walker quickly came from his fourth starting spot to grab the lead on lap two. As Walker continued to lead, Hollingsworth and Gehrke, were trading position lap after lap and keeping Walker in their sights.
Joining in the fray was Michael Koontz and Isaac Chapple in hot pursuit of the lead pack. Laps were clicking off at furious pace with Walker maintaining the advantage until a lap fourteen caution took Koontz out of contention.
At the re-start, Walker hit a rut in turn one resulting in big bicycle allowing Hollingsworth and Gehrke to sneak past but Walker made the save to continue in 3rd. The final laps saw Hollingsworth and Gehrke in a wild battle with the #85 of Hollingsworth taking the white flag. Racing down the backstretch the Don Moore owned #10 of Gehrke was pulling even with the 85, and coming out of turn four on the high side, Gehrke was wheel to wheel with a finish too close to call with Gehrke declared the winner over Hollingsworth, Walker, Isaac Chapple and Nick Speidel.
Heats were won by Hollingsworth, Gehrke and Koontz with Corey Bedwell victorious in the B main.
1. 10 Chett Gehrke – Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
2. 85 Shane Hollingsworth – Indianapolis, Indiana
3. 7 Gage Walker – Indianapolis, Indiana
4. 52 Isaac Chapple – Wilkerson, Indiana
5. 21 Nick Speidel – Muncie, Indiana
6. 21D Justin Dickerson – Pittsboro, Indiana
7. 91 Austin Nemire – Toledo, Ohio
8. 7 Rob Parish – Knightstown, Indiana
9. 56 Mitchell Davis – Auburn, Illinois
10. 17 Michael Koontz – Bloomington, Indiana
11. 22 John Heydenreich – Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
12. 43 Logan Arnold – Franklin, Indiana
13. 11 Brandon Gray -*R – Greenfield, Indiana
14. E99 Gage Etgen – *R – Celina, Ohio
15. 0B Bobby Jackson – Detroit, Michigan
16. 15 Cole Fehr -*R – Coatesville, Indiana
17. 8JR Bear Woods -*R – New Madison, Ohio
18. 22B Brad Racer – Ottawa, Ohio
19. 3W Alex Watson – Columbus, Ohio
20. 0 Johnny Murdock – St Louis, Missouri