By NICK SCHWIEN

nschwien@dailynews.net

When the sun set and the temperature dropped low enough to force everyone to bundle up, it became the perfect setting for the "Iceman."

And David Murray Jr. didn't disappoint.

The modified driver worked his way through the field on chilly second day of the third annual Fall Nationals at RPM Speedway in Hays to win $5,000 -- besting more than 70 modified drivers in the two-day event.

"As cold as it is, you'd think it was," Murray said about the conditions being perfect to suit his nickname. "And the track was slick as ice, too."

The track might have slicked off after numerous heat races in five different classes, along with several other last-chance qualifiers and D through B features.

But the nationally known Murray -- who hails from Oberlin -- walked away with the top prize.

"I was hoping for a top-four finish," he said. "Then I started to widdle my way up through there and things started to work in my favor. I got into third and thought I might have a chance."

Murray, who has won numerous IMCA modified national titles, starting inside the seventh row of the 30-lap main event.

He slowly worked this way through the field as Benji Lacrosse bolted to the lead from his starting spot inside the third row.

But when the halfway point came, Murray had moved up substantially and was threatening the lead pack.

And with about 10 laps to go, he got by Jordan Grabouski -- who passed Lacrosse for the lead -- to take the top spot.

"My car came around, and I figured out the track a little," Murray said.

He didn't have any trouble weaving his way through lap cars to maintain and even stretch the lead until the checkered flag finally waved.

It was the first time Murray had won the $5,000 payout at the Fall Nationals. Jeremy Zorn won the event in 2007, and Jerry Phillips pocketed the large check last year.

"That doesn't hurt a darn thing,"  Murray said about the winning purse. "A guy needs one of those every once in a while."

Lacrosse finished second, followed by Chris Abelson and Grabouski. Ricky Alvarado rounded out the top five. Phillips, who made it all the way to the feature after running the D-main, finished 13th.