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Back in the Win Column at East Moline

7/2/2009 - Kaley Gharst was victorious in the 25-lap Sprint Invaders main event last Sunday night at the Quad City Raceway in East Moline, Illinois. The Decatur, Illinois driver needed a boost after his recent 410 struggles. Saturday, he plans on racing with the Sprint Invaders at the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, IA.

Kaley drew the pole for his heat on Sunday and cruised home for a dash spot by running second to Jack Dover. After backing up to third in the dash from the front row, he caught a break when dash winner, Ryan Jamison, drew a six, putting Kaley on the outside of row one. “It was an advantage to start on the outside,” says Kaley. “The fast way was definitely around the top.”

Kaley jumped out to the lead early, with Russ Hall and Dover trailing him. Before a lap 13 caution, Hall made at least two attempts to slide in front that came up short. “I didn’t know who it was, but I saw that black nose wing down there twice,” he says. “There were a couple times when I was getting held up in traffic, with cars on the top and the bottom. When I tried the middle to get by them…that’s when (Hall) got a run.”

Kaley was never seriously challenged the rest of the way, winning for the second time in Randy Plath’s #14P in three tries with the Invaders. “The cushion pretty much became the wall tonight,” he adds. “You can get around here pretty good for as small as it is. It’s a lot of fun.”

The 2007 Sprint Invaders champion also won at the high-banked ¼ mile when the series visited East Moline in September of that season. “The way the track was so dry, it reminded me of that night,” he says. “The only difference was that night, it laid rubber later on.”

Struggles continued in the 410. Hoping to win $3,500 at the Leon Smith Memorial on Friday night at the Morgan County Speedway, Kaley never got on the track for the finale. “We’re not sure what our issue is, but we’re going to get to the bottom of it,” he assures.

Keep an eye on Kaley's progress this week and beyond at www.KaleyGharst.com!

If you would like to receive Kaley's weekly releases, send an e-mail with the subject line "Kaley" to sprntcar@iowatelecom.net.

Kaley and car owner Randy Plath would like to thank Sebastian Powder Coating and Sandblasting, Scott Performance, Holtkamp's truck and trailer repair, Rockstar Graphics and all of their sponsors.

Kaley and the Plath Motorsports team in Victory Lane at East Moline (Sandy Brockway Photo)

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