1986 – Noble Wins Chateau IMCA National

 

Mark Noble

Lansing, Minn. (June 18, 1986) – Mark Noble led from wire-to-wire, holding off serious challenges from two drivers along the way, to win the first Southeastern Minnesota IMCA Modified National Series race Wednesday night at Chateau Speedway.

Noble, who is the current point leader at the track, swept the action as he earlier had won his heat and the “Dash for Cash” before claiming the 25-lap feature win before a large crowd at the 1/3-mile dirt oval.

Noble’s first win – in the first heat – actually took 24 hours to complete. He led after six laps on Tuesday night when continuous rains forced discontinuation of the program until Wednesday. The heat race was resumed with six laps complete on Wednesday and Noble maintained his lead to the finish.

While Noble, who started on the pole, was credited with leading all 25 laps of the feature – picking up $100 bonuses for leading laps 10 and 20 along the way – he was passed momentarily twice on the backstretch before regaining the lead at the start/finish line.

First to challenge Noble was current IMCA National Series point leader Dude Thompson of Huxley, Iowa, who started third in the field. Thompson shot past Noble midway in the event as he entered the third turn, but lapped traffic slowed Thompson’s momentum and Noble was back out front at the flag.

Next to challenge was Greg Kastli of Waterloo, Iowa, who started sixth. Kastli moved into a challenging position after about 15 laps. He kept the pressure on Noble lap after lap, finally nudging ahead as the duo entered turn three. But, once again, Noble was able to regain the top spot on the front straightaway and stay out front to score his first-ever National Series victory.

Kastli’s hard charge ended three laps away from the finish when he suffered brake failure and was forced to race with Davenport, Iowa’ Bruce Hanford and Thompson for runner-up honors.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Noble said. “I thought I had a chance to win last week at Fairmont (a National Series race) but finished second.”


Results –

Heat #1 – Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie
Heat #2 – Bruce Hanford, Davenport, Iowa
Heat #3 – Dude Thompson, Huxley, Iowa
Heat #4 – Denny Anderson, Rochester
Dash – Mark Noble
Feature –
1. Mark Noble
2. Greg Kastli, Waterloo, Iowa
3. Bruce Hanford
4. Dude Thompson
5. Leroy Scharkey, Rochester
6. Gus Hughes, Monticello, Iowa
7. Doug Hillson, Blooming Prairie
8. Steve Rustman, Mankato
9. Randy Winter, Winnebago
10.Bob Van Gorp, Des Moines, Iowa
11.Mark Zimmerman, Cleveland
12.Ron Luitjens, Brewster
13.Jerry Boumeister, Wauseca
14.Dave Noble, Blooming Prairie
15.Al Reidel, Kasson