The Final NKF Tour (Part Five)

Still no word from XYZ on a title sponsor and, to no surprise, no rescheduling of that meeting with US Cellular, so by now I had sent my resume to seven different companies and had interviews at three of them. There were some big races still ahead on the Tour schedule and we had a couple of good point races going, but I was losing my excitement for carrying on and the two race swing into Kansas and Nebraska were a good comparison to my mood at the time.

I took the whole family with me on this trip and when we showed up at Thunder Hill Speedway in Mayetta, Kansas, promoter Mike Henry and his staff greeted us with open arms. Christine and the kids handled the 50/50 raffle and manned the table on the grandstand side passing out as many Organ Donor card applications as we ever had in one night. And to top it all off Mike Henry pledged to donate $2 from every adult admission ticket sold to the National Kidney Foundation. That rolled up to a handsome $3,182 to go along with a raffle take of $241. 

The racing was great as well and our NKF Tour winner for the night went on to have a pretty good career in NASCAR.

Bowyer Tops Davis For NKF Tour Laurels At Thunderhill

Mayetta, Kansas (July 28) – Clint Bowyer chased down Kerry Davis and made the pass for the win at the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified event at Thunderhill Speedway Saturday night. It was the first-ever trip to Kansas for the four year old series and a large crowd was on hand for the activities including Late Models, Sportsman and “Monster Truck Mania”.

Mark Dotson started the twenty-lap Modified main event from the pole and ran the first few laps side-by-side with fellow front row starter Bobby Layne. Kerry Davis, who has won the majority of the Modified features at the track this year and had won the Late Model main event earlier evening, joined the battle making it three-wide for the lead. Dotson was able to break away from his two challengers on lap four and began to open up an advantage. A lap ten caution put Davis on the leaders’ bumper and on the restart Davis charged to the inside of Dotson down the backstretch. As he tried to answer the challenge, Dotson went into the corner to hard and spun the car off the track bringing back the caution.

Davis now assumed the lead with Clint Bowyer now in second. The 2000 Thunderhill Modified track champion, Bowyer has been racing elsewhere on Saturday nights this year, but it was obvious that he still knew his way around the high-banked 3/8-mile as he put the heat on Davis. There was a bit of contact as Bowyer made the winning move with five laps to go, but both talented drivers maintained control and raced to the checkers ahead of Justin Boney, Travis Patch and Bobby Layne.

Forty-one Modifieds signed in for the evening and track promoter Mike Henry announced that he will be donating $2 from every adult admission to the National Kidney Foundation. With the large crowd on hand the amount will likely be a new single event record for the Tour and the official amount will be announced this week.

The NKF Tour will make its first-ever appearance in Nebraska this Tuesday night, July 31^st, as the Modifieds will be featured along with the USAC Midgets during the Pepsi Mid-Summer Championship at Eagle Raceway.

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Mark Dotson, Cameron MO 2. John Washburn, Kansas City 3. Ryan Phillips, Emporia 4. Rodger Peck, Manhattan

2^nd Heat – 1. Bobby Layne, Kansas City 2. Rick Spriggs, Savannah MO 3. Tom Charles, Bonner Springs 4. Steve Hanna, Kansas City

3^rd Heat – 1. Leon Bidinger, Perry 2. Justin Boney, DeSoto 3. Paul Lanferman, Atchison 4. Brandon Blochlinger, Concordia

4^th Heat – 1. Travis Patch, Holton 2. Clint Bowyer, Emporia 3. Mike Taylor, Topeka 4. Allen Halderman, Topeka

5^th Heat – 1. Kerry Davis, Kansas City MO 2. Kurt Johnston, Concordia 3. Doug Metz, Washington 4. Larry Koch, Dawson NE

1^st B-Main – 1. Peck 2. Greg Hanna, Auburn 3. Brian Neiberger, Meriden 4. Joe Landis, Oskaloosa 5. Ronnie Burkhardt, Topeka 6. Ron Dishong, Atchison 7. Steve Coffman, Emporia 8. Marc White, Topeka 9. Blochlinger 10. Koch 11. Jim Simpson, Topeka

2^nd B-Main – 1. S. Hanna 2. Halderman 3. Dan Johnston, Topeka 4. Steve Hawks, Topeka 5. Shane Golden, Lecompton 6. Jeff Herbers, Holton 7. Ken Meggison, Topeka 8. Alan Covert, Silver Lake 9. Allen Henery, Emporia 10. Greg Gieswien, Council Grove 11. Darren Lofts, Topeka 12. Tony Amoroso, Topeka 13. Doug McConnaughey, Meriden

A-Main – 1. Bowyer 2. Davis 3. Boney 4. Patch 5. Layne 6. K. Johnston 7. Peck 8. Charles 9. Bidinger 10. Washburn 11. Taylor 12. Dotson 13. D. Johnston 14. Halderman 15. Hawks 16. S. Hanna 17. Neiberger 18. Spriggs 19. Lanferman 20. Burkhardt 21. Golden 22. Phillips 23. Metz 24. G. Hanna 25. Landis

So that night brought on the "high" of knowing that we were still making a difference in the lives of others while enjoying the sport that we love, only to have our next event at Eagle Raceway tip the scale back down to the "low" side. The NKF Tour Modifieds had been booked as the support class for the USAC Midgets and despite the fact that Tour basics, such as an opportunity to have a table setup somewhere in the grandstand area to provide educational information about kidney disease, were specified in the Event Proposal, we were essentially told to stay out of the way for the evening. Now granted, not a single Tour driver showed up to take on the big field of regulars at Eagle, so I would have understood this attitude if it had happened just prior to race time, but we were given our instructions upon arrival before the pit gate had even opened.

I took my clipboard with me to keep track of the results and take some notes for the following story and the five of us sat in the stands. Honestly, it was kind of nice to just kick back and enjoy a night of racing with my family. And please know, this was well before the current ownership of Eagle Raceway was in charge and I hold no ill will against a facility that puts on one of the best weekly shows in the country.

Deterding Sizzles For NKF Win At Eagle Raceway

Eagle, Nebraska (July 31) – Doug Deterding was as hot as the weather Tuesday night as the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure visited the Eagle Raceway. Deterding moved from eighth to first in just four laps and then held off Scott Bivins for the Modified feature win in one hundred degree heat.

Tod Jones moved from his second row inside start to the lead on lap one with fellow second row starter Ken Eckhoff in tow. There was no stopping Deterding, however, as the veteran driver out of Lincoln, Nebraska, charged to the front and swept past Jones as the field completed the fourth circuit. Scott Bivins, who had followed Deterding to the front from the fourth row, was able to make one good run on the leader, but could not make the pass as he settled in for second. Eckhoff, James Kleinheksel and Jones rounded out the top five at the finish.

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Scott Bivins, David City 2. Clint Hummer, Lincoln 3. Tim Pickens, Omaha 4. Bill Bader, Omaha

2^nd Heat – 1. Doug Deterding, Lincoln 2. John Slinkard, Omaha 3. Brad Tuttle, Elmwood 4. Mike Bennett, Nebraska City

3^rd Heat – 1. Tod Jones, Unadilla 2. Mike Meyer, Greenwood 3. Marvin Fuller, Lincoln 4. Bob Phillips, Lincoln

4^th Heat – 1. Jon Schwartz, Omaha 2. Ken Eckhoff, Omaha 3. Dan Wayman, Lincoln 4. Bob Ruisinger, Bennett

5^th Heat – 1. Dave Trauernicht, Beatrice 2. James Kleinheksel, Columbus 3. Randy Pavey, Lincoln 4. Don Lang, Tabor IA

1^st B-Main – 1. Rik Gropp, Lincoln 2. Clint Homan, Bellevue 3. Dave Vogt, Elmwood 4. Phillips 5. James Waltke, Bennett 6. Nathan Lundgren, Lincoln 7. Ed Raines, Lincoln 8. Jan Korth, Lincoln 9. Nate Tilson, Plattsmouth 10. Dennis Campbell, Plattsmouth 11. Chris Shallenbarger, Nebraska City 12. Bader 13. Lang

2^nd B-Main – 1. Bennett 2. Ruisinger 3. Phil Penney, Percival IA 4. Steve Adams, Omaha 5. Terry Vantine, Milford 6. Robby Marsh, Hebron 7. Mike Wilson, Plattsmouth 8. Mike Flaherty, Plattsmouth 9. Steve Mangum, Nebraska City 10. Rodney Stopak, Lincoln 11. Mike Christiansen, Nebraska City 12. Tim Vogt, Elmwood 13. Jeff Spring, New Market IA 14. Randy Minzel, Pickerell

A-Main – 1. Deterding 2. Bivins 3. Eckhoff 4. Kleinheksel 5. Jones 6. Meyer 7. Gropp 8. Tuttle 9. Penney 10. Trauernicht 11. Schwartz 12. Pickens 13. D. Vogt 14. Pavey 15. Ruisinger 16. Bennett 17. Hummer 18. Slinkard 19. Homan 20. Wayman 21. Fuller

Next up was a trip to southwest Minnesota for what is still my one and only visit to the Murray County Speedway in Slayton. As you will see from the results that follow, the promoter would only start fourteen cars in the main event. I can't remember exactly why, but it is the smallest "maximum" starting field that I can recall in all of my years of going to the races.

Prussman and Ross Fly To NKF Checkers In Slayton; Soules Collects Bonus 

Slayton, Minnesota (August 3)  – The Murray County Speedway was “bad fast” Friday night as the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure made its first visit to the southwest Minnesota facility. Chris Prussman was able to flat-foot his Modified during the final laps of his feature win while David Ross made a late pass of Ryan Brinks to earn the Hobby Stock victory.

Current track point leader E.J. Bassett drew the pole position for the Modified main event and the local fans knew that it would be tough to beat the South Dakota driver from there. Prussman started directly behind him though and took up the chase at the drop of the green. With a tacky race track the two drivers raced inches apart at high speeds until the mid-race point when Bassett’s car pushed up the track slightly in turn two. That was all that Prussman needed as he flew by and ran away to the checkers. Bassett’s race ended shortly after he lost the lead when mechanical problems forced him to the infield leaving Ron Luitjens in the runner-up spot after he had started eighth. Josh Reisch, Chad Muecke and Jay Ireton completed the top five.

Ryan Brinks had a mirror full of David Ross from the outset of the Hobby Stock main event as the two drivers seperated themselves from the field. Ross made the winning move on lap nine leaving Brinks to take the runner-up spot. Rick Soules nipped Mark Steinle by inches for third place with Eric Gillette taking fifth. The finish was good enough for Soules to earn the $200 NKF Tour Northwest Bonus for the Hobby Stocks.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Josh Reisch, Luverne 2. Jay Ireton, Slayton 3. Randy Hook, Russell 4. Dan DeMey, Denison IA

2^nd Heat – 1. Chris Prussman, Brookings SD 2. Andy Kotek, Wood Lake 3. Troy Klasse, Westbrook 4. Chris Palsrok, Sibley IA

3^rd Heat – 1. E.J. Bassett, Volga SD 2. Chad Muecke, Slayton 3. Ron Luitjens, Brewster 4. Jay Triplett, Brookings SD

Scott’s Quality Seeds B-Main – 1. Kevin Pospisil, Worthington 2. Darren Blair, Westbrook 3. Aaron Betz, Avoca 4. Dave Owens, Brookings SD 5. Terry Bertamus, Minneota 6. Chris Thompson, Tea SD

A-Main – 1. Prussman 2. Luitjens 3. Reisch 4. Muecke 5. Ireton 6. Palsrok 7. DeMey 8. Klasse 9. Hook 10. Kotek 11. Bassett 12. Blair 13. Pospisil 14. Triplett

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Rick Soules, Worthington 2. David Ross, Reading 3. Ryan Brinks, Slayton 4. Dan Hanselman, Algona IA

2^nd Heat – 1. Darren Prins, Leota 2. Jerry Gronewald, Worthington 3. Marshall Isder, Fulda 4. Byron Carlson, Garvin

3^rd Heat – 1. Eric Gillette, Slayton 2. Mark Steinle, Worthington 3. Brian Rogers, Reading 4. Mike Fogelman, Okabena

Scott’s Quality Seeds B-Main – 1. Greg Klein, Pipestone 2. Mike Grantham, Clarksville IA 3. Scott Jorgenson, Westbrook 4. Cliff Lynn, Adrian

A-Main – 1. Ross 2. Brinks 3. Soules 4. Steinle 5. Gillette 6. Fogelman 7. Grantham 8. Prins 9. Hanselman 10. Gronewald 11. Klein 12. Rogers 13. Carlson 14. Isder

Here is the top twelve in the race for the Northwest Bonus money

  National Kidney Foundation

Heartland Tour for a Cure

Final NKF Hobby Stock

Northwest Bonus Points

Pos. Driver Hometown Car # Points

1 Rick Soules Worthington MN 57 148

2 Dan Hanselman Algona IA 98 119

3 Mike Grantham Clarksville IA 20G 85

4 Kit Hovey Fort Dodge IA 9x 60

5 David Ross Reading MN 25 60

6 Chad Palmer Renwick IA 14 57

7 Jeremy Smith Wilmont MN 7J 55

8 Ryan Brinks Slayton MN 22 55

9 Donovan Smith Lake City IA 35 50

10 Greg Sidles Emmetsburg IA 1s 46

11 David Smith Lake City IA 8 46

12 Mark Steinle Worthington MN 31 46

And on the way home we would make a stop in Algona. See, sometimes the schedule did make sense from a travel standpoint!

Hot Night At The Fair For Stoa And Monson In Algona 

Algona, Iowa (August 4)  – With a good-sized crowd baking in the grandstands, some great racing was just the right distraction as Kevin Stoa and Shane Monson picked up feature wins at the Algona Raceway Saturday night. The Kossuth County Fair also provided plenty of entertainment as the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure made its third straight appearance during the fair.

Keith Schmitz and Chris Rakness waged the early battle up front during the twenty-five-lap Modified headliner with Schmitz holding the advantage. Kevin Stoa, who had started ninth, was on the fly using the entire race track to move through traffic until he had moved into position behind Schmitz and the now second place car of Doug Riley. As the trio took the crossed flags on lap twelve Stoa made a dazzling move on the high-side of turns one and two to go from third to first. Stoa then opened up a solid lead, and it was good for him because Ron Pope found the low groove to his liking late in the race to advance from twelfth to second. There was not enough time to run down Stoa, however as he picked up a popular win. Pope, Schmitz, Riley and Pat Graham completed the top five.

In the Hobby Stock feature Shane Monson found an opening on the first lap to charge from the second row to the lead and he cruised uncontested to the win. It was Monson second NKF Tour win in three appearances at Algona during the Kossuth County Fair. Randy Hadacek was strong enough for second followed by pole-sitter Dan Haugland. Earl Webner was fourth and Gary Pesicka took fifth.

After nineteen races during the past thirty-eight days the NKF Tour now takes a break until August 16^th when the Modifieds will look for $1,000 to win at 34 Raceway in Burlington.

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Pat Graham, LeMars 2. Chris Rakness, Fairmont MN 3. Keith Schmitz, Swaledale 4. Dave Nutt, Fairmont MN

2^nd Heat – 1. Al Hejna, Ventura 2. Ron Pope, Mason City 3. Bill Cook, Algona 4. Brad Bakken, Forest City

3^rd Heat – 1. Kevin Stoa, Polk City 2. Doug Riley, Lytton 3. Denny Anderson, Dodge Center MN 4. Jeff Feaster, Humboldt

A-Main – 1. Stoa 2. Pope 3. Schmitz 4. Riley 5. Graham 6. D. Anderson 7. Hejna 8. Bakken 9. Loren Pesicka, Burt 10. Rick Smith, Algona 11. Dave Erpelding, Algona 12. Rakness 13. Cook 14. Nutt 15. Mike Ehrhardt, LuVerne 16. Nathan Chodur, Lake Mills 17. Dean Anderson, Humboldt 18. Curt Nygaard, Bode 19. Feaster

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Shane Monson, Clear Lake 2. Earl Webner, Garner 3. Jeff Richardson, Laurens 4. Dan Hanselman, Algona

2^nd Heat – 1. Randy Hadacek, Britt 2. Mike Grantham, Clarksville 3. Craig Florea, Wesley 4. Chris Evenson, Algona

3^rd Heat – 1. Jared Dirks, Belmond 2. Calvin Lange, Humboldt 3. Dan Haugland, Forest City 4. Chad Palmer, Renwick

A-Main – 1. Monson 2. Hadacek 3. Haugland 4. Webner 5. Gary Pesicka, Algona 6. John Simpson, Algona 7. Cary Heinen, Algona 8. Kyle Schattschneider, Algona 9. Lange 10. Chad Gentz, Forest City 11. Roger Picray, Emmetsburg 12. Dirks 13. Josh Gray, Buffalo Center 14. Evenson 15. Palmer 16. Butch Paterson, Fort Dodge 17. Florea 18. Richardson 19. Grantham 20. Hanselman

Starting in mid-August we were giving the following flier to each and every driver that checked in for an NKF Tour event.

The National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Visits The World Famous

Knoxville Raceway

Knoxville, Iowa

Friday and Saturday, September 21^st and 22^nd (Full Show Each Night)

For The Tour for a Cure Weekend At Knoxville

 

NKF Tour Modifieds

 

Basic Rules: McCreary American Racer G60 Tires, $525 Engine Claim or Exchange, After Market Transmissions Okay, Aluminum Heads Must Have 50 Pounds Added In Front Of Motor Plate, No Spoilers. All other rules “Legal At Your Track, Legal Here”. Bring your track’s rules for proof of questionable items.

 

Friday – 1. 700 2. 600 3. 500 4. 450 5. 400 6. 350 7. 325 8. 300 9. 275 10. 250 11. 200 12. 190 13. 180 14. 170 15. 160 16. 150 17. 145 18. 140 19. 135 20. 130 21. 125 22. 120 23. 110 24. 100  Tow: 50

 

Saturday – 1. 1000 2. 800 3. 750 4. 700 5. 650 6. 600 7. 550 8. 500 9. 450 10. 425 11. 400 12. 375 13. 350 14. 325 15. 300 16. 275 17. 250 18. 225 19. 200 20. 180 21. 175 22. 165 23. 160 24. 155 Tow: 60

NKF Tour Hobby Stocks

 

Basic Rules: All Standard Safety Equipment Required (Full Roll Cage, Full Firesuit, Approved Helmet, etc.), Stock OE Passenger Tires with Maximum 7 ½” Tread Width, 2 Barrel Carburetor, $325 Engine Claim Or Exchange. All other rules “Legal At Your Track, Legal Here”. Bring your track’s rules for proof of questionable items (Rules for Division similar to IMCA or southeast Iowa Hobby Stocks. No Stock Car or similar divisions allowed)

 

Friday – 1. 400 2. 325 3. 275 4. 250 5. 225 6. 200 7. 190 8. 180 9. 170 10. 160 11. 150 12. 140 13. 130 14. 125 15. 120 16. 115 17. 110 18. 105 19. 100 20. 95 21. 90 22. 85 23. 80 24. 75  Tow: 40

 

Saturday – 1. 700 2. 600 3. 500 4. 450 5. 400 6. 375 7. 350 8. 325 9. 300 10. 275 11. 250 12. 225 13. 200 14. 175 15. 165 16. 155 17. 150 18. 145 19. 140 20. 135 21. 130 22. 125 23. 120 24. 115 Tow: 50

 

After taking my mandatory pause in the NKF Tour schedule to attend the Knoxville Nationals the Modifieds were back in action at 34 Raceway.

Duffy’s First Trip To Burlington Nets NKF Win At 34 Raceway

Burlington, Iowa  – It never hurts to start up front, but when it is your first time ever at a racetrack it can be real important. Darin Duffy found the 3/8-mile oval at 34 Raceway to his liking Thursday night as he cruised to victory in the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified event during the annual Pepsi USA Late Model Nationals.

Duffy drew a front row start for his first visit to the southeast Iowa facility and moved to the point at the drop of the green. Defending NKF Tour champion Ron Barker kept the pressure on the leader and was able to pull even with him on a couple of occasions before a caution with five laps remaining bunched up the field. The action heated up on the restart with Barker, Tony Fraise and Dennis LaVeine all making a run at Duffy. A bit of contact between Barker and Duffy scrambled the leaders allowing Duffy to get away while the battle for second raged on. At the checkers it was Duffy by nearly a straightaway followed by Fraise, LaVeine. Michael Long and Barker.

The NKF Tour Modifieds have a busy week ahead with events at the Independence Motor Speedway on Wednesday, August 22^nd, followed by the Greene County Speedway in Jefferson on Thursday night, August 23^rd. The NKF Tour Hobby Stocks will also be in action both nights. On Saturday, August 25^th, the NKF Modifieds will look for a $1,000 top prize at the Adrian Speedway in Adrian, Missouri, and looking further ahead the Tour’s Modifieds and Hobby Stocks return to 34 Raceway on Saturday, September 15^th.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 2. Tony Fraise, Montrose 3. Michael Long, Canton MO 4. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 5. Rod Smith, Monmouth IL 6. Shawn Ryan, Waterloo

2^nd Heat – 1. Ron Barker, Dubuque 2. Darin Thye, Burlington 3. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy IL 4. Darin Duffy, Hazelton 5. John Bull, Rock Island IL 6. Tom Goble, Burlington

3^rd Heat – 1. Dan Chapman, Clarence 2. Scott Boles, Mt. Pleasant 3. Jim Lynch, Bloomfield 4. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington 5. Bill Roberts Jr., Burlington 6. Tim Tucker, Lomax IL

Scott’s Quality Seeds B-Main – 1. Rick Hixson, Orion IL 2. John Fellman, Blue Grass 3. Dave Goble, Burlington 4. Jim Roach, Kahoka MO 5. John Dimmitt, Macomb IL 6. Corey Richards, Burlington 7. Mike Karhoff, Quincy IL 8. Donovan Lodge, Andover IL 9. Adam Mitchell, Cameron IL 10. Bruce Thuleen, Denmark 11. Darrell Tarrence, New London 12. Lonne Heap, Macomb IL 13. L.D. Gall, Biggsville IL 14. Jerry Bliesener Jr., Burlington 15. Kevin Pittman, Waterloo

A-Main – 1. Duffy 2. Fraise 3. LaVeine 4. Long 5. Barker 6. Hanford 7. Chapman 8. T. Goble 9. Lodge 10. Smith 11. Karhoff 12. Fellman 13. Hixson 14. Lynch 15. Ryan 16. Thye 17. Boles 18. D. Goble 19. Dripps 20. Tucker 21. Bull 22. Burgtorf 23. Roach 24. Roberts

And just a few nights later I would be joining Darin Duffy in victory lane once again at his home track of Independence. Plus it was a big night for Eldon's Rod Miller who came to town and took the win. Recall that Rod had lost the NKF Tour Hobby Stock title on the final night of the 1999 season so I have to admit that I was pulling for him to close the deal here in 2001 knowing that I would not likely be giving him another chance.

Duffy By Inches Over Luloff; Miller Strong In Indee NKF Features 

Independence, Iowa (August 22^nd)  – Despite rain in the area all day long a large field of Modifieds and Hobby Stocks turned out Wednesday night as the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure made its second of three appearances for the season at the Independence Motor Speedway. A lightning fast track with a tall cushion provided plenty of action as Darin Duffy and Rod Miller picked up wins in their respective divisions.

Jerry Luloff started from the outside of row one in the twenty-five lap NKF Modified main event and moved quickly to the lead with the drivers who started directly behind him, Darin Duffy and Vern Jackson, in hot pursuit. Both drivers kept the pressure on the leader through the early laps before Jackson established himself as the prime contender around lap ten. Luloff was able to hold off Jackson’s low groove challenge, but soon found Duffy pulling even with him on the high-side. After Duffy hopped the cushion in turn one on the seventeenth circuit Jackson again was there to make his bid with Duffy recovering and now moving to the low groove. On lap twenty Duffy was able to find enough of a bite to slide by Luloff for the lead. Jerry was not about to just settle in for second however as he charged back on the bottom-side and pulled even with Darin coming off of turn four for the checkers. At the stripe it was Duffy by no more than six inches over Luloff for the victory with Jackson, Duane Peterson and Bruce Hanford close behind.

The front row starters dominated the Tour’s Hobby Stock headliner as Derek Reisner paced the first three laps before current Tour point leader Rod Miller scooted by and cruised to the win in the non-stop fifteen lap event. Jason Goedken raced in for third, but was unable to pass the post-race tech inspection putting Jeff Roete in third, Jeff Wedemeier fourth and Steve Kesl fifth.

The NKF Heartland Tour returns to Independence once again Saturday, September 1^st.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Darin Duffy, Hazleton 2. Tim McBride, Evansdale 3. Ed Thomas, Waterloo 4. Shawn Ryan, Waterloo

2^nd Heat – 1. Vern Jackson, Waterloo 2. Jerry King, Waterloo 3. Jerry Luloff, Independence 4. Randy Trefz, Vinton

3^rd Heat – 1. Troy Cordes, Dewar 2. Richard VonKrog, Toledo 3. Lew Chipp. Waterloo 4. Clayton Thomas, Waterloo

4^th Heat – 1. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 2. Duane Peterson, Beaman 3. Joey Schaefer, Evansdale 4. Jamie Johnson, Waterloo

1^st B-Main – 1. Trefz 2. Ryan 3. Jim Aschenbrenner, Waterloo 4. Ben Metcalf, Evansdale 5. Jamie Aikey, Cedar Falls 6. Pat Flannagan, Marion 7. Mike Gill, Cedar Falls 8. Don Wharton, Center Point 9. Todd Jensen, Waterloo

2^nd B-Main – 1. Jon Passick, Waterloo 2. Johnson 3. Brett McGill, Independence 4. Tim Thomas, Waterloo 5. Dave Fangman, Marion 6. C. Thomas 7. Steve Ricks, Cedar Rapids 8. Curt Carey, Ionia 9. Dennis Betzer, Central City 10. Darin Thye, Burlington

A-Main – 1. Duffy 2. Luloff 3. Jackson 4. Peterson 5. Hanford 6. Cordes 7. Schaefer 8. VonKrog 9. McBride 10. Thye 11. King 12. McGill 13. Ryan 14. Johnson 15. Aschenbrenner 16. Flannagan 17. Passick 18. Trefz 19. E. Thomas 20. Chipp

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Rod Miller, Eldon 2. Jeff Wedemeier, Sumner 3. Joel Brasch, Dunkerton 4. Mike Grantham, Clarksville 5. Jim Ball, Independence

2^nd Heat – 1. Derek Reisner, Oelwein 2. Chris Schares, Fairbank 3. Brad Forbes, Waterloo 4. Jason Goedken, Oelwein 5. Steve Kesl, Elberon

A-Main – 1. Miller 2. Reisner 3. Jeff Roete, Oelwein 4. Wedemeier 5. Kesl 6. Schares 7. Grantham 8. Forbes 9. Alvin Larson, Waterloo 10. Rod Abbas, Waterloo 11. Ball 12. Brasch 13. Craig Pesek, Ryan 14. Todd Temeyer, Independence 15. Dave Kinkead, Cedar Rapids 16. Jason Niedert, Waverly 17. Mike Reese, Independence 18. Goedken

Rod Miller was a faithful NKF Tour follower for all four seasons and after finishing second and third the past two seasons he was looking to win the Hobby Stock title in 2001

I am so glad that promoter Keith Conroy rescheduled the NKF Tour into the Greene County Speedway in Jefferson after the original date was weathered out. Otherwise I would have never attended a race at this facility that has since been long shuttered. I also want to mention Keith's daughter Sue McDaniel who has been the third "partner" of our website Positively Racing along with myself and Barry Johnson. We call her "The Webmistress" as she is responsible for keeping the site online and updated with the latest All Iowa Points and the Special Events and Weekly Racing calendars. We couldn't do this without Sue and she has been a good friend for many, many years now!

NKF Winners At Jefferson; First For Gustin, Most For Zehr 

Jefferson, Iowa (August 23)  – The National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure made its first-ever visit to the Greene County Speedway in Jefferson Thursday night and it was a significant night in the Tour’s four year history for both winners. In the Modifieds, semi-regular Tour contender Rick Gustin raced to his first career NKF victory while in the Hobby Stocks Jeff Zehr earned his sixth career checkered flag moving him to the top of the Hobby Stock Tour’s all-time win list.

With a tacky-fast quarter-mile the first four laps of the Modified main event kept the crowd on the edge of their seats as Rod Scheuermann, Rick Gustin and Darin Duffy ran in tight formation for the lead. On lap five Gustin was able to get by Scheuermann for the lead while Duffy got crossed up in turn two and collected the fourth place car of Darren Huntley. The damage was too much for Duffy to continue and after the caution the battle up front, now featuring just two cars, waged on. Scheuermann regained the lead after the restart and went to the low groove with Gustin tucked in behind him. After following the leader for five laps, Gustin moved up to the cushion and found the speed that he needed to sail into the lead on lap eleven. Scheuermann was able to keep pace with Gustin through traffic, but was never able to get close enough to pressure him again before the checkered flag flew. Kevin Lovell made a nifty last-lap pass of Mike Molle to come home third while Huntley completed the top five.

Rick and Jeremy Tasler made up the front row of the twenty-lap NKF Hobby Stock finale with Rick moving to the front to pace the field for the first three circuits. On lap four Jeff Zehr used the high line to slide by Tasler with Kit Hovey close behind. As Zehr methodically picked his way through traffic Hovey was able to keep him in sight, but there was no denying the Manson, Iowa, driver of his sixth career NKF Tour victory. Zehr now has one more win than the 1998 Tour champion, Steve Holthaus. Hovey held back a late charge by Jeff Danielson for the runner-up honors while Rick Tasler and Jason Minnehan completed the top five.

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Darin Duffy, Hazelton 2. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown 3. Rod Scheuermann, Jefferson 4. Chris Pruitt, Stuart 5. Tyler Pemble, Scranton

2^nd Heat – 1. Carl Allbee, Grand Junction 2. Dan DeMey, Denison 3. Darren Huntley, Ogden 4. Larry Silbaugh, Jefferson 5. Dan Chapman, Clarence

A-Main – 1. Gustin 2. Scheuermann 3. Kevin Lovell, Des Moines 4. Mike Molle, Glidden 5. Huntley 6. James Allbee, Grand Junction 7. Silbaugh 8. Duane Peterson, Beaman 9. Pruitt 10. DeMey 11. Russ Byriel, Ankeny 12. Jake Durbin, Perry 13. Pemble 14. C. Allbee 15. Bob Airhart, Stuart 16. Duffy 17. Chapman

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Dan Hanselman, Algona 2. Rick Tasler, Jefferson 3. Chad Waddell, Stuart 4. Mike Bunch, Des Moines

2^nd Heat – 1. Jason Mallicoat, Boone 2. Jason Minnehan, Churdan 3. Eric Brown, Boone 4. Jeff Zehr, Manson

3^rd Heat – 1. Jeff Danielson, Duncombe 2. Kit Hovey, Fort Dodge 3. Jeremy Tasler, Jefferson 4. David Smith, Lake City

A-Main – 1. Zehr 2. Hovey 3. Danielson 4. R.Tasler 5. Minnehan 6. Brown 7. Mike Pruitt, Stuart 8. Waddell 9. Hanselman 10. Steve Jones, Ames 11. Rick Speck, Garwin 12. Scott Pickrell, Greenfield 13. Rod Butler, Jefferson 14. Stacy Clark, Boone 15. Nyle Godwin, Redfield 16. Steve Renslow, Stuart 17. Courtney Lauffer, Jefferson 18. Kendall Miller, Boone 19. Bunch 20. Mallicoat 21. J. Tasler 22. Smith 23. Jared Vote, Boone

We had another event coming up quickly in Independence and it was great to have this added attraction.

Indee NKF Tour Appearance Bolstered By Waterloo Tool Storage

Independence IA  – The National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure returns to the Independence Motor Speedway on Saturday night, September 1^st, and with the help of the folks at Waterloo Tool Storage it will be a very special evening of racing for drivers and fans alike.

In the grandstand there will be a raffle held with the top prize being a Tool Box valued at $1,700 courtesy of Waterloo Tool Storage. All proceeds from the raffle will go to the Dialysis Unit at Peoples Memorial Hospital in Independence for use in patient assistance. The winners of all four feature races will also benefit from the support of Waterloo Tool Storage as the Late Model and Modified winners will be presented with Tool Storage units valued at $1,200 each, while the Stock Car and Hobby Stock winners will take home Tool Storage units that normally carry a $400 price tag.

It will be a very special night of racing as the Independence Motor Speedway wraps up its 2001 season on Saturday night, September 1^st, featuring the NKF Heartland Tour for a Cure. 

Before returning to Independence though we had another road trip to make to Adrian, Missouri.

Early Evening Success Leads To $1,000 For Darling At Adrian

Adrian, Missouri (August 25) – When Kevin Darling came from the back of the pack to win his qualifying heat, the stage was set for a dominating victory by the Garden City driver in the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified feature at the Adrian Speedway Saturday night.

Darling started at the rear of the second heat race and gradually picked his way through the field to pass Charlie Laizure coming off of turn four for the checkers. The victory put Darling on the outside of pole-sitter Brad Page for the thirty-lap headliner and when the green flag flew the race for the lead was essentially over. Darling left the field in his wake and was so far out in front that when a lapped car nearly spun in front of him with just a few laps remaining he was able to come to nearly a complete stop before continuing on for the $1,000 victory. The large crowd on hand was treated to plenty of action behind Darling though as Jerry Tarwater fought off Eddie Bray Jr. for the runner-up honors. Close behind that duo it was Darren Roberts edging out Bob Kerbs for fourth while Dustin Boney beat Page to the line by inches for sixth.

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Brad Page, Butler 2. Bob Kerbs, Nevada 3. Brian Bolin, Fort Scott KS 4. Robert Kluender, Olathe KS

2^nd Heat – 1. Kevin Darling, Garden City 2. Charlie Laizure, Urich 3. Jason Earls, Independence 4. Larry Stevenson, Peculiar

3^rd Heat – 1. Dennis Bunger, Harrisonville 2. Eddie Bray Jr., Archie 3. Craig Jackson, Excelsior Springs 4. Brantlee Gotschall, Nevada

4^th Heat – 1. Jerry Tarwater Jr., Harrisonville 2. Mike Vanover, Grandview 3. Dustin Boney, DeSoto KS 4. Luke Feeback, Harrisonville

5^th Heat – 1. Darren Roberts, Harrisonville 2. Danny Scrogham, Peculiar 3. Dan Nasalroad, Lacygne KS 4. Daniel Anders, Nevada

1^st B-Main – 1. Bolin 2. Nasalroad 3. Anders 4. Steve Tiedeman, Harrisonville 5. Mike Ryun, Kansas City 6. Kluender 7. Feeback 8. Earls 9. T.J. Burgin, Garden City 10. Joe Walker, Grandview

2^nd B-Main – 1. Justin Boney, DeSoto KS 2. D. Boney 3. Stevenson 4. Steve Watkinson, Blue Springs 5. Jackson 6. Jim Wooton, Belton 7. Ed Kline, Kearney 8. Jeff Cullifer, Belton 9. Kyle Gray, Lees Summit 10. Gotschall

A-Main – 1. Darling 2. Tarwater 3. Bray 4. Roberts 5. Kerbs 6. D. Boney 7. Page 8. Scrogham 9. Stevenson 10. Bolin 11. Laizure 12. Tiedeman 13. Nasalroad 14. Vanover 15. Feeback 16. Anders 17. J. Boney 18. Bunger

And now let's close out Part Five with the story, results and more from a very special night in Independence.

Duffy Three For Three, Otto In The Right Place For NKF Win At Independence 

Independence, Iowa (September 1)  – Darin Duffy swept past Ron Barker with ten laps to go and cruised to his third National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified feature win of the season at the Independence Motor Speedway Saturday night. In NKF Tour Hobby Stock action, Doug Otto was in the right place at the right time to pick up the win after the leaders crashed late in the feature event.

Defending NKF Tour champion Ron Barker started the twenty-five lap Modified headliner from the pole and looked as if he would be hard to catch in the early going. A pair of caution flags in the first ten laps tightened the field and with Darin Duffy and Kevin Pittman now right on his bumper, Barker was under the gun. A third caution on lap fifteen saw the restart that would change the event as Duffy drove in hard to the cushion in turn one and drove to the lead around the high side. As Barker tried to fight back in the following laps Pittman was also able to get by for second, but he was unable to reel in Duffy who collected his fourth Tour victory of 2001 and his third in three appearances this year in Independence. John Bull and Darren Ackerman completed the top five.

The fifteen-lap Hobby Stock feature looked like it would be a thrilling battle to the finish between race-long leader Mike Grantham and his primary challenger Chris Schares. However, on the tenth circuit the two cars collided while racing down the backstretch side-by-side with Schares nearly rolling his car at the entrance to turn three. Both cars were in need of the towing service turning the lead over to Doug Otto. Otto, who now competes regularly in the Stock Car class, was driving his old Hobby Stock that Brad Forbes normally pilots and he found that the car was still plenty fast as he held off Jeff Wedemeier for the win. NKF Tour point leader Rod Miller came from the sixth row to finish third while Alvin Larsen and Patrick Stansberry rounded out the top five.

The evening was a big success off the track as well, with help from sponsors such as Waterloo Tool Storage, as $1,710 was raised from a raffle that will go to the Dialysis Unit at Peoples Memorial Hospital in Independence.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Darin Duffy, Hazleton 2. Jerry King, Waterloo 3. Ken Irvine, Hazleton 4. Garry Stuber, Evansdale

2^nd Heat – 1. Vern Jackson, Waterloo 2. Ron Barker, Dubuque 3. Tim McBride, Evansdale 4. Darren Ackerman, Waterloo

3^rd Heat – 1. Kevin Pittman, Waterloo 2. Lew Chipp, Waterloo 3. Dave Stricker, Waterloo 4. Mike Swarts, New Hartford

4^th Heat – 1. John Bull, Rock Island IL 2. Dan Kohls, Waterloo 3. Mike Gill, Cedar Falls 4. Brett McGill, Independence

1^st B-Main – 1. Ackerman 2. Stuber 3. Dan DeMey, Denison 4. Timm Jensen, Dunkerton 5. Todd Jensen, Waterloo 6. Doug Lauterwasser, Belle Plaine 7. Mary Koester, Waterloo 8. Craig Pattee, Garrison 9. Don Wharton, Center Point 10. Kenny Nichols, Evansdale

2^nd B-Main – 1. Swarts 2. Ben Metcalf, Evansdale 3. McGill 4. David Brown, Kellogg 5. Clayton Thomas, Waterloo 6. Robert Whalen, Charles City 7. Pat Flannagan, Marion 8. Jamie Johnson, Waterloo

A-Main – 1. Duffy 2. Pittman 3. Barker 4. Bull 5. Ackerman 6. Brown 7. McBride 8. Kohls 9. McGill 10. Gill 11. DeMey 12. Stuber 13. Metcalf 14. Timm Jensen 15. Stricker 16. Flannagan 17. Johnson 18. King 19. Chipp 20. Irvine 21. Swarts 22. Jackson

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Mike Grantham, Clarksville 2. Brad Schipper, New Hartford 3. Paul Shepard, Marengo 4. Mike Reese, Independence

2^nd Heat – 1. Rod Miller, Eldon 2. Jim Ball, Independence 3. Alvin Larson, Waterloo

3^rd Heat – 1. Doug Otto, Cedar Falls 2. Jeff Wedemeier, Sumner 3. Chris Schares, Fairbank 4. Patrick Stansbery, Evansdale

A-Main – 1. Otto 2. Wedemeier 3. Miller 4. Larson 5. Stansbery 6. Rod Abbas, Waterloo 7. Ball 8. John Roete, Oelwein 9. Joel Brasch, Dunkerton 10. Shepard 11. Rob Irvine, Stanley 12. Lloyd Bacon, Cedar Falls 13. Reese 14. Rob Arthur, Oelwein 15. Grantham 16. Schares 17. Schipper 18. Kyle Scheel, Oelwein 19. Chad Klein, Waterloo 20. Mike Hiller, Dunkerton 21. Dan Giesler, Waterloo

Big Night For Local Dialysis Unit In Independence 

Independence IA  – Race fans at the Independence Motor Speedway not only enjoyed a great evening of racing Saturday night, they also helped out their friends and neighbors who are affected by kidney disease during the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure event at the track.

Waterloo Tool Storage donated several items to be raffled off during the evening highlighted by a Tool Storage Unit valued at $1,700. Other area sponsors chipped in as well such as Turner’s Floor Store in Evansdale who gave away a room full of installed carpet. With all of the proceeds from the raffle going to the Dialysis Unit at Peoples Memorial Hospital in Independence, the fans, drivers and pit crews opened their wallets and when the total collected went over the $1,500 mark, promoter Dana Benning challenged the crowd by offering to add $100 to the total if they reached $1,600. It didn’t take long for the fans to meet that challenge and when everything was tallied up, the Dialysis Unit will receive a check in the amount of $1,710 for use in patient assistance.

The Heartland Tour for a Cure would like to thank everybody involved with this very special night of racing at the Independence Motor Speedway

Dana Benning is another one those friendships that I developed during the four years of the Tour. He was a good race car driver and an even better promoter who knew how to put on a great show each and every race night. I can't thank him enough for what he did on that night in Independence, it truly was a special evening.

More to come in Part Six to be posted soon here on the Back Stretch.