Slinger, Wis., Aug. 3-While Brad Mueller only led one lap of the Russ Darrow Toyota 60 Sunday night at the Slinger Super Speedway, it was the one that counted as his last lap pass of Mike Strupp netted him his first late model feature victory of the season in a highly competitive and thrilling main event.

   “This just goes to show that you stick in there until the end because the best race car doesn’t always win,” an excited Mueller told the crowd afterwards. “We drove the death out of this thing tonight and there is no better feeling than winning at Slinger Speedway, it’s just absolutely awesome.”

            Mike Egan and Nick Schumacher raced in tandem for the lead over the opening laps with Dennis Prunty and David Prunty lined up side by side behind them. With Egan and Schumacher swapping the lead, the field was slowed under the caution flag for the first time on lap ten when Dan Jung spun in turn four. Egan maintained the point on the restart but Schumacher became caught on the top side and Dennis Prunty, David Prunty, and Mike Strupp all were able to get by. Dennis Prunty took his shot at the point by jumping to the outside to challenge Egan just before the caution flag waved again on lap 17 when Race McComb spun and smacked the turn one wall. On the restart, Egan and Dennis Prunty once again renewed their side by side battle for the lead with Egan hugging the inside and Prunty riding the top. Dennis Prunty was able to clear Egan for the lead on lap 24 and Mike Strupp and David Prunty also used the outside groove to pass Egan for second and third respectively. Fred Winn and Jung tangled in turn three on lap 28 and the field was slowed under yellow again with Dennis Prunty leading over Strupp, David Prunty, Egan, and Lowell Bennett. As racing resumed, Dennis Prunty and Strupp went wheel to wheel for the lead while Bennett and David Prunty were side by side for third. Strupp kept his run going on the outside and cleared Prunty for the lead on lap 30 as Bennett and David Prunty continued their battle for third. Five laps later, the hard racing between Bennett and David Prunty came to a head when Bennett slid through turn three and made slight contact with Prunty, sending his car around to bring out the caution flag and placing both at the rear of the field.

            Strupp led on the restart over Dennis Prunty and Dale Prunty while Brad Mueller advanced to fourth place, just ahead of Egan in fifth. Strupp and Dennis Prunty renewed their battle for the lead as racing resumed while Mueller went to work on Dale Prunty for third. Mike Meyerhofer had something break on his car and he slid to the fence on lap 43 to produce another caution and as the field went back to green, Strupp and Dennis Prunty turned up the wick on their battle for the lead. Both drivers raced door to door, determined to take the top spot as Mueller made his way around Dale Prunty to take over third. On lap 51, Dennis Prunty made an inside charge for the lead exiting turn two, but lost the handle and spun down the backstretch, the tail end of his car rising in the air as he bounced through the infield grass. The caution flag waved two laps later as the safety crew was summoned to check on Prunty with Strupp now leading over Mueller, Dale Prunty, Nick Schumacher, and Egan. Strupp was able to shut the door on Mueller’s bid for the lead from the outside on the restart and kept the lead as the laps wound down. As the leaders came to the white flag, Strupp’s car pushed high exiting turn four, opening the door for Mueller to stick the nose of his car to the inside as they charged down the front stretch. Mueller was able to make the pass and hang onto the lead over the final lap, taking the checkered flag for the win with Strupp on his rear bumper in second. Dale Prunty finished third while Mike Egan and Lowell Bennett completed the top five. Nick Schumacher finished sixth ahead of Jamie Wallace and David Prunty. Fred Winn and Brad Dahmer were ninth and tenth respectively. Mueller also set fast time 11.396