Update - No sooner do I make the last post than I beat that level and work my way all the way to 70. It can be done. You just have to be smart! The question mark circle explains much of what you need to know. However, sometimes a run is just based on luck - if you find an area and wipe it out fast enough and get lucky enough to get a good powerup/powercircle that will take out the rapidly-spawning areas that make your gun look like it shoots spitwads.