The Final NKF Tour (Part Four)

The track at the Winnebago County Fairgrounds in Pecatonia, Illinois, is one of the most unique that I have ever visited in more than four decades of going to races. It was considerably longer than a half-mile and it was odd-shaped, not even close to being an oval so while you were still making left turns only, it had the sense of a dirt track road course.

Flag To Flag NKF Tour Win For Dolan At Pecatonica

Pecatonica, Illinois (July 2) – Ryan Dolan of Lisbon, Iowa, went flag to flag for victory during the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure event at the Winnebago County Speedway Monday night, but he had plenty of company along the way.

Dolan drew the pole position for the fifteen-lap main event on the monstrous 5/8-mile oval with Mike Garland sitting to his outside. Garland had the advantage down the backstretch, but Dolan was able to use the inside line in three and four to lead lap one. Garland applied intense pressure on the leader through the first half of the race, pulling even with Dolan on a couple of occasions. As the laps wound down Garland soon had his hands full with Dan Chapman who had moved toward the front from his tenth starting spot. As Garland and Chapman fought it out for second Dolan was able to pull away for a ten car-length victory. Chapman edged out Garland for runner-up honors while Ron Barker, who started eleventh, finished fourth and Scott Holbert took fifth.

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Ron Barker, Dubuque IA 2. Dan Chapman, Clarence IA 3. Mike Hill, Rock City 4. Terry Pfeiffer, Freeport

2^nd Heat – 1. Scott Holbert, Morrison 2. Jed Hurst, Dubuque IA 3. Casey Schram, Sterling 4. Tim Maurer, Pearl City

3^rd Heat – 1. Mike Garland, Morrison 2. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon IA 3. Bob Dominacki, Bettendorf IA 4. Josh Vinnedge, Forreston

A-Main – 1. Dolan 2. Chapman 3. Garland 4. Barker 5. Holbert 6. Dominacki 7. Schram 8. Vinnedge 9. Bob Bollon, Freeport 10. Pfeiffer 11. Jeff Larson, Freeport 12. Hurst 13. Hill 14. Ron Morris, Belvidere 15. Corey Hallahan, Dubuque IA 16. Jeff Parks, Lena 17. Rodney Vautsmeier, Freeport 18. Pat Gillespie, Pecatonica 19. Matt Mish, Bloomington WI 20. Maurer DNS: Reed Withers, Oregon

Threatening weather held the car count down considerably at the CJ Raceway as the 1998 NKF Tour Modified champion Corey Dripps returned to victory lane.

Dripps Repeats, Fett Captures Checkers At CJ Raceway NKF Stop 

Columbus Junction, Iowa (July 3)  – Corey Dripps put it on cruise control as he dominated the Modified field at the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour event at the CJ Raceway Tuesday night. In the Tour’s Hobby Stock headliner Russell Fett went flag to flag while many of his potential contenders fell by the wayside.

After coming from the back of his heat to take the lead just after the first lap had been completed it was obvious that Corey Dripps was the man to beat on this warm muggy evening with thunderstorms threatening from all directions. And when his crewman drew the pole position during the pre-race ceremonies it was a pretty good bet that Dripps would repeat his Tour victory at CJ from a year ago. Matt Stalder tried to keep pace early on while some exciting racing went on mid-pack. As Dripps pulled away from the field it was current NKF Tour point leader Darin Thye that was on the move as he came from eighth to third. When the checkers fell it was Dripps by half a lap with Stalder holding off Thye for the second spot. Darin Duffy and Dan Chapman completed the top five.

Russel Fett raced his way to the front from his outside row starting spot in the Hobby Stock feature with several drivers poised to make a bid for the top spot. But several top contenders, including Jeff Wellington, Dion Harris and Ryan Meyer soon found themselves in the pits with a variety of problems. Jason Utter closed in on Fett mid-race and was able to put a nose under the leader on a couple of occasions. On one of those attempts, the two cars touched leaving Utter with a flat tire that sent him to the pits for service. As the laps wound down, pole-sitter Matt Strassheim closed in to challenge, but his bid came up a half car length short at the checkers with Fett taking his first-ever NKF Tour victory. Matt Greiner, Tim Madsen and current Tour point leader Rod Miller rounded out the top five.

The NKF Tour now prepares for a busy week ahead with a stop at the Crawford County Speedway in Denison on Monday, July 9^th, a first time stop at the Adams County Speedway in Corning on Tuesday, July 10^th, a trip to the Peoria Speedway on Wednesday, July 11^th, and a Davis County Fair date at the Bloomfield Speedway on Thursday, July 12^th.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 2. Darin Thye, Burlington 3. Matt Stalder, Washington 4. Steve Stewart, Washington

2^nd Heat – 1. Dan Chapman, Clarence 2. John Bull, Rock Island IL 3. Darin Duffy, Hazleton 4. Bruce Hanford, Davenport

A-Main – 1. Dripps 2. Stalder 3. Thye 4. Duffy 5. Chapman 6. Scott Hogan, Vinton 7. Hanford 8. Bart Miller, Clarence 9. Tim Sands, Conesville 10. Rob Hillyer, Nichols 11. Stewart 12. Bull

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Jeff Wellington, Columbus Jct. 2. Matt Greiner, Washington 3. Ryan Meyer, Wayland 4. Travis Finke, Columbus Jct.

2^nd Heat – 1. Dion Harris, Muscatine 2. Russell Fett, Montrose 3. Matt Strassheim, Sperry 4. Max Leonard, Ladora

3^rd Heat – 1. Dustin Bliven, Columbus Jct. 2. Jason Utter, Columbus Jct. 3. Mike Grantham, Clarksville 4. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello

A-Main – 1. Fett 2. Strassheim 3. Greiner 4. Tim Madsen, Iowa City 5. Rod Miller, Eldon 6. Utter 7. Finke 8. Jake Purdy, West Branch 9. Roger Krieger, Burlington 10. Kinsley 11. Tim Staley, Muscatine 12. Mike Rees, Columbus Jct. 13. Bliven 14. Meyer 15. Grantham 16. Leonard 17. Peter Cook Jr., DeWitt 18. Harris 19. Wellington

Scott Hogan would join us on the NKF Tour every chance that he had. Here he is racing to the inside of Toby Scharp at Blue Grass during the early 1990's

No Macomb For NKF Tour, Bethany Also In Question

Mt. Pleasant IA  – The Saturday night, July 21^st, National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified event at the Macomb Speedway has been removed from the schedule. Also, the NKF Tour Modified event scheduled for Saturday, September 8^th, at the Bethany Fairgrounds Speedway is now in question due to the recent cancellation of weekly racing at the facility.

I want to once again say a big Thank You to the following businesses who signed on as Contingency Sponsors for the 2001 NKF Tour. Most of these were with us for all four years!

Tonight’s Contingency Awards

Modifieds

 

1^st               $50 Certificate from Midwest Motorsports

 

4^th               $20 Certificate from Race Mart

 

8^th               $25 Certificate from Aero Race Wheels

 

11^th             $25 Certificate from AFCO Racing Products

 

A $20 Certificate from Kosiski Racing Products will be awarded to the driver who advances the most positions in the feature event. The best finish will be used to break a tie.

Hobby Stocks

 

1^st               $25 Certificate from Midwest Motorsports

 

7^th               $20 Certificate from Real Racing Wheels

 

12^th             $20 Certificate from McDaniel Racing Enterprises

Noble and Zehr In Control For Crawford County NKF Checkers 

Denison, Iowa (July 9)  – Mark Noble made a dazzling move on lap two and then pulled away for the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified feature win at the Crawford County Speedway Monday night. In NKF Tour Hobby Stock action, Jeff Zehr held off David Smith for his fifth career Tour victory.

Scott Stecher of Muscatine was making his first-ever appearance at Denison and after winning his heat race he found himself leading lap one of the twenty-lap headliner from his outside front row start. On lap two, Stecher was introduced to the driver who dominated the speedway last year. Mark Noble closed quickly on Stecher down the backstretch and looked as if he was going to attempt a pass on the highside of turn three. When Stecher closed that door, Noble hit the brakes, set the car and dove to the bottom with a move for the lead that brought the crowd to its feet. As Noble pulled away Stecher did a nice job of holding back some of the top drivers in western Iowa including Dan Mueller, Kelly Shryock and Mike Jensen. Shryock made his way into second with five laps to go and on a late restart he made one hard charge to the inside of Noble, but he couldn’t make it stick as Noble again pulled away for the win. Shryock, Stecher, Mueller and Dan Chapman completed the top five.

Mike Grantham paced the first four laps of the NKF Hobby Stock main before an incident with Jim Lampe virtually eliminated both talented drivers. Jeff Zehr picked up the point on the restart with David Smith in hot pursuit and, despite some bumper tag from his chaser, Zehr held on for the victory. Jason Minnehan finished in the third spot ahead of Dustin Smith and Mick King.

The NKF Tour returns to the Crawford County Speedway next Wednesday, July 18^th, as the Modifieds will run a show in combination with the popular NCRA Modifieds for $1,000-to-win and $300-to-start. The NKF Tour Hobby Stocks will also be in action.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Scott Stecher, Muscatine 2. Kelly Shryock, LeMars 3. Chris Spieker, Massena 4. Dan Chapman, Clarence

2^nd Heat – 1. Joe Kraemer, Early 2. Mike Jensen, Sioux City 3. Brandon Monson, Harlan 4. Chris Hogan, Lenox

3^rd Heat – 1. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie MN 2. Dan Mueller, Griswold 3. Chad Preul, Council Bluffs 4. Craig Reetz, Dunlap

Scott’s Quality Seeds B-Main – 1. Gary March, Hinton 2. Rich Hesse, Sioux City 3. Greg Peck, Sioux City 4. Mike Molle, Glidden 5. Russ Byriel, Ankeny 6. Dan DeMey, Denison 7. Rick Germar, Red Oak

A-Main – 1. Noble 2. Shryock 3. Stecher 4. Mueller 5. Chapman 6. Jensen 7. Preul 8. Reetz 9. Kraemer 10. Dan McKeighan, Omaha NE 11. Hogan 12. Kyle Koster, South Sioux City NE 13. Andy Claiborne, Fort Scott KS 14. Peck 15. Dean Palmer, LeMars 16. Mike Johnson, Council Bluffs 17. Hesse 18. Byriel 19. Bill Osbahr, Avoca 20. Molle 21. March 22. Spieker 23. DeMey 24. Monson

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Jeff Zehr, Manson 2. Dustin Smith, Lake City 3. Allen Dixon, Webster City 4. Jason Minnehan, Churdan 5. Mick King, Kiron

2^nd Heat – 1. Rod Miller, Eldon 2. Mike Grantham, Clarksville 3. Jim Lampe, Carroll 4. Ron Stein, Woolstock 5. Kit Hovey, Fort Dodge

A-Main – 1. Zehr 2. David Smith, Lake City 3. Minnehan 4. Dustin Smith 5. King 6. Stein 7. Dan Hanselman, Algona 8. Kyle Schultz, Charter Oak 9. Miller 10. Hovey 11. Grantham 12. Joe Lampe, Carroll 13. Jim Lampe 14. Chad Klocke, Carroll 15. Dixon

Next it was on to Corning and even though we had one driver tow all the way in from Austin, Minnesota, only nine Hobby Stocks signed in for action. You will notice that our car counts were down at most of our events and it was becoming clear that expanding the schedule was having a negative effect. But we had a great night with the 50/50 raffle and a nice interview with one of the volunteers from the Kidney Care of Iowa Dialysis Unit and it was a reminder of why that schedule had been expanded.

Mueller Fights Off Wyman, Embrey Holds Back Miller For Adams County NKF Wins

Corning, Iowa (July 10)  - Dan Mueller fought off numerous challenges from Mark Wyman and Randy Embrey held off a late charge from Rod Miller to earn checkered flags during the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure feature races at the Adams County Speedway Tuesday night.

Passing points from their qualifying heat races put Mueller and Wyman on the front row for the twenty-lap Modified feature with Mueller getting the jump at the drop of the green. Wyman kept the pressure on throughout the ten-mile distance, pulling alongside the leader on several occasions, but each time Mueller maintained his line and his composure to keep the lead. On the final lap Wyman made on last charge on the inside of turn three to briefly take the lead, but Mueller had the momentum to charge back to take the checkers by a car-length. Bill Hull came home third with Todd VanEaton and Randy Foote completing the top five.

It was a short field of NKF Tour Hobby Stocks to begin with and when local favorite Joe Zadina barrell-rolled his car several times in the heat race the field was reduced even further. Randy Embrey came from the back of the heat to win and then in the feature Embrey held back a last lap run by current point leader Rod Miller to earn the victory. Tom Myers, Barry Sandeman and Jeff Hovick rounded out the top five.

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Mark Wyman, Papillion NE 2. Dan Mueller, Griswold 3. Scott Stecher, Muscatine 4. Todd VanEaton, Creston

2^nd Heat – 1. Bill Hull, Tarkio MO 2. J.C. Wyman, Griswold 3. Andy Claiborne, Fort Scott KS 4. Randy Foote, Stanton

A-Main – 1. Mueller 2. M. Wyman 3. Hull 4. VanEaton 5. R. Foote 6. Chris Spieker, Massena 7. Stecher 8. Jeremy Tibben, Red Oak 9. Greg Peck, Sioux City 10. Tim Cooney, Corning 11. Lynn Howard, Glenwood 12. Jerod Weston, Red Oak 13. Rick Germar, Red Oak 14. Kirby Stiems, Conception Jct. MO 15. Chris Hogan, Lenox 16. Jeff James, Stanton 17. Ron Gay, Villisca 18. Jeremy Houck, Corning 19. Claiborne 20. J.J. Baumli, Maryville MO 21. Trent Jackson, Corning 22. J.C. Wyman 23. Larry Foote, Red Oak 24. Frank Sefrit, New Market

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Randy Embrey, Granger 2. Rod Miller, Eldon 3. Tom Myers, Glenwood 4. Barry Sandeman, Creston

A-Main – 1. Embrey 2. Miller 3. Myers 4. Sandeman 5. Jeff Hovick, Truro 6. Chris Bozwell, Red Oak 7. Rod Stuckey, Austin MN DNS: Joe Zadina, Corning and Kenny Darnold, Emerson

Next up was the Tour's one and only appearance at the little quarter-mile in Peoria and one of the Tour travelers would come in and take the $1,000 top prize.

Dripps Mops Up For A Grand At Peoria 

Peoria, Illinois (July 11) – Corey Dripps used a higher groove to his advantage to move to the front and win the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure event at the Peoria Speedway Wednesday night. The second win of the 2001 Tour was worth $1,000 for the Cedar Falls, Iowa, driver who now has nine career NKF Tour victories.

Jason Lakey paced the field from his pole position and with almost all of the front-runners glued to the bottom of the quarter-mile oval, Dripps began to work one groove up to try to advance from his row three start. The strategy looked like a good move as he was soon even with Lakey for the lead, but he was unable to make a full pass. By lap twelve Dripps had faded back to fourth and had tucked into the popular low groove. That was only temporary. On lap eighteen Dripps again pulled to the outside and began to march to the front and on lap twenty-three he was able to clear Lakey for the lead. Two laps later, the cars behind Dripps stacked up leaving top contenders Bruce Hanford, Jeff Maher and Bill Gray sitting in turn three. For Hanford it was an extension of his bad luck that has kept him from picking up the valuable top five finishes needed to win the Tour championship.

On the restart Dripps again pulled away from the field to take the forty-lap win with Lakey coming home in second. Rodney Bowman completed a final lap pass of Gary Cook Jr. to take third while Billy Tuckwell put on quite a show finishing fifth after starting eighteenth.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

Fast Time – Jerry Wolland, Edwards 14.491

1^st Heat – 1. Bill Gray, Germantown Hills 2. Rodney Bowman, Mapleton 3. Bob Singer, Peoria 4. Glen Duncan, Peoria

2^nd Heat – 1. Robbie Verbeck, Annawan 2. Darin Thye, Burlington IA 3. Todd Cummings, Jacksonville 4. Darren Pennycuff, Peoria

Dash – 1. Jason Lakey, Urbana 2. Bruce Hanford, Davenport IA 3. Gary Cook Jr., Deer Creek 4. Erik Bruce, East Peoria 5. Jeff Maher, Brimfield 6. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls IA 7. Marty Thompson, Mineral 8. Wolland

Scott’s Quality Seeds B-Main – 1. Todd Bennett, Peoria 2. Billy Tuckwell, Washington 3. Eric Gaffney, North Pekin 4. Tom Duncan, Peoria 5. Gary Cook Sr., Deer Creek 6. Randy Cusack, Dunlap 7. Donovan Lodge, Colona 8. Rick Scott Jr., Mapleton 9. Scott Schoener, Toluca 10. Jim Hibser, Bartonville 11. Todd O’Neill, Peoria 12. Tony Fisher, Pekin 13. Carl Feger, East Peoria 14. Casey Lappin, Bartonville

A-Main – 1. Dripps 2. Lakey 3. Bowman 4. Cook Jr. 5. Tuckwell 6. Wolland 7. Verbeck 8. Thye 9. Pennycuff 10. Bennett 11. Cummings 12. Maher 13. Hanford 14. Lodge 15. Singer 16. Gray 17. G. Duncan 18. Thompson 19. Bruce 20. Gaffney

The weather had turned around and we had a bunch of races scheduled for the month of July with the next stop coming at the Bloomfield Speedway during the Davis County Fair.

Point Leaders Thye and Miller Take Bloomfield NKF Tour Checkers

Bloomfield, Iowa (July 12)  - National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure point leaders Darin Thye and Rod Miller solidified their positions with feature wins in their respective divisions at the Bloomfield Speedway Thursday night.

Thye grabbed the lead at the drop of the green in the twenty-lap Modified headliner with Todd Holman in hot pursuit. A lap fifteen restart gave Holman an opportunity to challenge as he pulled even with the leader down the backstretch only to have the yellow reappear before they entered turn three. When the field went back to green Holman now had his hands full with Mike Hughes who slipped into second two laps later and looked as if he would mount a late run on Thye, but instead his motor let go two laps shy of the finish. Thye then sailed in for his second NKF Tour win of the season with John VanDenBerg making a late pass on Holman to finish second. Randy Schroeder and Bruce Hanford completed the top five.

Miller bested a short field of Hobby Stock cars to stretch his point lead as he attempts to earn his first NKF Tour title after finishing second and third the past two seasons. Jim Walker was the runner-up in the feature followed by Doug Gordon Jr., Matt Messamaker and Dave Mason.

The NKF Tour now prepares for a western Iowa tripleheader with events at the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan on July 17^th, at the Crawford County Speedway in Denison on July 18^th and at the Buena Vista Raceway in Alta on July 19^th.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Tim Folkerts, Albia 2. Todd Holman, Ottumwa 3. Darin Duffy, Hazelton 4. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls

2^nd Heat – 1. Mike Hughes, Rose Hill 2. Darin Thye, Burlington 3. Tony Fraise, Montrose 4. Jim Lynch, Bloomfield

3^rd Heat – 1. John VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa 2. Randy Schroeder, Keswick 3. Denny Banks, Ottumwa 4. Bruce Hanford, Davenport

Dash – 1. Holman 2. Thye 3. Schroeder 4. Folkerts

A-Main – 1. Thye 2. VanDenBerg 3. Holman 4. Schroeder 5. Hanford 6. Fraise 7. Folkerts 8. Lynch 9. Andy Claiborne, Fort Scott KS 10. Banks 11. Jeff Kropf, Ottumwa 12. Scott Dickey, Packwood 13. Hughes 14. Mark Widmar, Ottumwa 15. Chris Eggers, Lancaster MO 16. Jim Fuller, Memphis MO 17. Duffy 18. Dripps DNS: Jardin Fuller, Memphis MO

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Rod Miller, Eldon 2. Jim Walker, Mystic 3. Matt Messamaker, Centerville 4. Dave Mason, Bloomfield

2^nd Heat – 1. Walker 2. Doug Gordon Jr., Ottumwa 3. Mason 4. Miller

A-Main – 1. Miller 2. Walker 3. Gordon Jr. 4. Messamaker 5. Mason DNS: Mike Zintz, Plano and Cody Townsend, Bloomfield

During the third year of the Tour promoter Howard Mellinger paired us up with the USMTS Modifieds and in 2001 we would hold another co-sanctioned event at the Crawford County Speedway in Denison, this time with the NCRA Modifieds.

Monson Runs Away, Lampe Holds Off Challengers For NKF Tour Wins At Denison

Denison, Iowa (July 18)  – Brandon Monson grabbed the lead early and then ran away from the field to win the Modified feature at the Crawford County Speedway here Wednesday night. The event was a combined effort by the National Championship Racing Association (NCRA) and the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure. In the NKF Tour Hobby Stock main event it was Jim Lampe who held off all challengers for the victory.

With a strong contingent of the NCRA’s finest on hand it was South Dakota driver Jason Weatherton who earned the pole position for the Modified headliner and he beat Brian Franz to turn one at the drop of the green. Monson, who is from nearby Harlan, was on the fly from his fourth starting spot and quickly disposed of Weatherton for the lead on lap three. Even with some cautions sprinkled in to tighten the field, Monson had no trouble opening up a large advantage under racing conditions and had nearly a half of a lap on the field as he raced under the checkers. Greg Skaggs made the bottom groove work on the big half mile as he charged all the way to second after starting twelfth. Johnny Bone Jr. came home fourth followed by Weatherton and Brian McGowen.

The Hobby Stock field may have been short on numbers, but not on talent as the field looked like they were locked in a Daytona-style draft throughout the entire feature distance. Lampe paced the field flag-to-flag, but on several occasions he had either David Smith or Jeff Zehr pulling alongide of him in the corners. At the stripe it was Lampe, Smith, Zehr, Jon Ziegmann and Jason Minnehan in the top five.

 

Results

Heartland Tour/NCRA Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. John Allen, Chanute KS 2. Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge AR 3. Curt Fulps, Wichita KS 4. Dan Daniels, Humboldt KS

2^nd Heat – 1. Brian McGowen, Erie KS 2. Jason Weatherton, Beresford SD 3. Brian Powers, Wichita KS 4. Greg Skaggs, Glenpool OK

3^rd Heat – 1. Brandon Monson, Harlan 2. Vernon Hammond, Haysville KS 3. Dave Hardesty, Minneapolis KS 4. Bruce Hanford, Davenport

4^th Heat – 1. Scott Green, Derby KS 2. Brian Franz, Newton KS 3. Marc Hurd, Wichita KS 4. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie MN

C-Main – 1. Craig Reetz, Dunlap 2. Brent Burkhart, Hutchinson KS 3. Brook Phillips, Wichita KS 4. Chad Preul, Council Bluffs 5. Tim Echevarria, Junction City KS 6. Jim Armstrong, Liberal KS 7. Brian Foote, Stanton 8. Rodney Dodds, Haysville KS 9. Lyle Shepard, Manhattan KS 10. Chad Wheeler, Muskogee OK 11. Don Renfro, Wichita KS 12. Tony Foster, Wichita KS

B-Main – 1. Noble 2. Skaggs 3. Hanford 4. Jerry Phillips, Galva KS 5. Greg Stephens, Wichita KS 6. Daniels 7. Preul 8. David Lahey, Moscow KS 9. Burkhart 10. Hurd 11. Echevarria 12. Wheeler 13. Shepard 14. Dodds 15. Foote 16. Reetz 17. Phillips 18. Marc Robe, Wichita KS 19. Armstrong

A-Main – 1. Monson 2. Skaggs 3. Bone Jr. 4. Weatherton 5. McGowen 6. Burkhart 7. Allen 8. Hammond 9. Green 10. Lahey 11. Daniels 12. Franz 13. J. Phillips 14. B. Phillips 15. Fulps 16. Stephens 17. Hardesty 18. Powers 19. Hurd 20. Hanford 21. Reetz 22. Foote 23. Preul 24. Noble

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

Heat – 1. David Smith, Lake City 2. Jason Minnehan, Churdan 3. Jim Lampe, Carroll 4. Mike Grantham, Clarksville

A-Main – 1. Lampe 2. Da. Smith 3. Jeff Zehr, Manson 4. Jon Ziegmann, Odeboldt 5. Minnehan 6. Dan Hanselman, Algona 7. Randy Embrey, Granger 8. Grantham 9. Dustin Smith, Lake City

A return trip to BVR was next on the schedule and it was good to see the Hobby Stock car count get back up to where we were used to seeing.

McEwan and Soules Collect BVR NKF Laurels

Alta, Iowa (July 19)  – Brad McEwan fended off the challenges of Doug Riley, and Rick Soules prevailed in an entertaining three car battle to earn feature victories as the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure returned to the Buena Vista Raceway Thursday night for the annual Simpson Memorial event.

McEwan picked up the lead from his pole position start in the twenty-five lap Modified feature race with Doug Riley in hot pursuit. The two leaders were able to separate themselves from the field primarily due to the exciting battle for third featuring drivers such as Jesse Drost, Jerry King, Derek Smith, Jim Thies, Dan DeMey and Corey Dripps. As the laps wound down, the fired up BVR crowd had to choose which battle to watch as Riley pulled even with McEwan twice in the final five laps. On the final circuit though, McEwan showed his strength and won by three car lengths over Riley. Behind them it was Dripps who picked up the third spot after starting twelfth while King and Thies completed the top five.

The Hobby Stock finale was a good one as local favorite David Smith paced the first seven laps with defending NKF Tour champion, Dan Hanselman, and Minnesota challenger, Rick Soules, right on his tail. As Smith and Hanselman went at it for the lead, Soules waited for his opportunity and found it on lap eight as he moved to the lead. On the final lap Hanselman was able to pull even with the leader down the back stretch, but Soules maintained his composure and held off Hanselman for the win. Donovan Smith edged out David for third with Chad Palmer putting in a nice showing finishing fifth.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Jim Thies, Mapleton 2. Doug Riley, Lytton 3. Paul Sangwin, Aurelia 4. Jesse Drost, Worthington MN 5. Steve Olson, Sioux City

2^nd Heat – 1. Daniel Mattson, Alta 2. Brad McEwan, Storm Lake 3. Jerry King, Waterloo 4. Derek Smith, Hinton 5. Dan DeMey, Denison

A-Main – 1. McEwan 2. Riley 3. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 4. King 5. Thies 6. DeMey 7. Sangwin 8. Mattson 9. Jason Briese, Cleghorn 10. Smith 11. Olson 12. Jeremy Kleemeier, Rockwell City 13. Kevin Pospisil, Worthington MN 14. Drost 15. Matt Frederickson, Aurelia 16. Jeff Herrig, Wall Lake 17. Jon Passick, Waterloo

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Dan Hanselman, Algona 2. John Briggs, Calumet 3. David Smith, Lake City 4. Donovan Smith, Lake City

2^nd Heat – 1. Rick Soules, Worthington MN 2. Neal Finley, Lake City 3. Andy Boeckman, Wall Lake 4. Jim Johnson, Cherokee

3^rd Heat – 1. Randy Lawrey, Marcus 2. Brandon Lucas, Cherokee 3. Chad Palmer, Renwick 4. Dustin Smith, Lake City

Scott’s Quality Seeds B-Main – 1. Mark Hill, Cherokee 2. Mitch Dowhower, Homer NE 3. Cody Lucas, Cherokee 4. Rick Ockerman, Cherokee 5. Kyle Robinson, Cherokee 6. Jim Lampe, Carroll 7. Rod McClurg, Pocahontas 8. Derek Barglof, Siuox Rapids 9. Ryan Moberg, Worthington MN

A-Main – 1. Soules 2. Hanselman 3. Do. Smith 4. Da. Smith 5. Palmer 6. Du. Smith 7. B. Lucas 8. Dowhower 9. C. Lucas 10. Lampe 11. Finley 12. Robinson 13. Ockerman 14. Lawrey 15. Aaron Plum, Sioux City 16. Briggs 17. Ben Hoesing, Perry 18. Pat Cross, Storm Lake 19. Johnson 20. Josh Filmer, Lake City 21. Randy Christensen, Audubon 22. Jay Goosman, Hinton 23. Boeckman

After featuring the Hobby Stocks for the first four years, the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson switched their 5th Annual Budweiser Nationals to a $1,000-to-win Stock Car show with the NKF Tour Modifieds and Hobby Stocks running in support.

Meyer and Dripps Beat The Drops For NKF Tour Checkers At Donnellson

Donnellson, Iowa  – With strong thunderstorms advancing from the west Corey Dripps and Ryan Meyer used front row starting positions to their advantage to win their respective features on the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure at the Lee County Speedway. The event, run in conjunction with the 5^th Annual Budweiser Stock Car Nationals, raised nearly $1,300 for the Southeast Renal Dialysis Units in Mt. Pleasant, Keokuk and Burlington.

Dripps drew the pole position for the twenty-lap Modified main and quickly opened up a sizable advantage over the rest of the field. Tom Goble broke from the pack first and tried to stay with the leader after a lap eleven restart, but he soon had his hands full with current Tour point leader Darin Thye. Thye, who had started ninth, moved into second with a hand full of laps remaining, but he could not mount a challenge on Dripps who picked up his tenth career NKF Tour feature win and his third of the 2001 campaign. Thye, Goble, Tony Fraise and John Bull completed the top five.

Vivid lightning to the west of the speedway filled the skies as Ryan Meyer went flag-to-flag virtually unchallenged to win the NKF Tour Hobby Stock feature. John Oliver and Bill Shaffer had a good battle going for second until Oliver nearly spun the car with five laps to go. Shaffer then cruised in for second followed by Chris Webb, Bruce Summers, and John Oliver Jr.

The NKF Tour will close out its 2001 schedule at the Lee County Speedway during the 3^rd Annual Shiverfest event on Saturday, October 20^th.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. John Bull, Rock Island IL 2. Tom Goble, Burlington 3. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 4. Ryan Meyer, Liberty IL

2^nd Heat – 1. Darin Thye, Burlington 2. Jeff Gerhardt, Niota IL 3. Corey Richards, Burlington 4. Jim Lynch, Bloomfield

3^rd Heat – 1. Gary Wilson, Bowling Green MO 2. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington 3. Tony Fraise, Montrose 4. Mike Karhoff, Quincy IL

A-Main – 1. Dripps 2. Thye 3. T. Goble 4. Fraise 5. Bull 6. Richards 7. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 8. Lynch 9. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy IL 10. Karhoff 11. Tim Tucker, Lomax IL 12. Gerhardt 13. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis 14. Mike Hughes, Rose Hill 15. Dave Goble, Burlington 16. Jerry Bliesener Jr., Burlington 17. Jardin Fuller, Memphis MO 18. LaVeine 19. Randy Trefz, Vinton 20. L.D. Gall, Biggsville IL 21. Tim Warning, Quincy IL 22. B.J. Fraise, Donnellson 23. Wilson 24. Bruce Thuleen, Denmark 25. Charles Baker, Labelle MO 26. Meyer

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Chris Webb, Biggsville IL 2. Rod Miller, Eldon 3. Bruce Summers, Hamilton IL 4. John Oliver Jr., Burlington

2^nd Heat – 1. Rodger Dresden, Keokuk 2. John Oliver, Burlington 3. Bill Shaffer, Wayland MO 4. Jeff Soper, Kahoka MO

3^rd Heat – 1. Ryan Meyer, Wayland 2. Jody Dodson, Fort Madison 3. Kevin Riddle, Denmark 4. David Weitholder, Liberty IL

A-Main – 1. Meyer 2. Shaffer 3. Webb 4. Summers 5. Oliver Jr. 6. Miller 7. Oliver 8. Dodson 9. J. Soper 10. Luke Vantiger, East Mt. Union 11. Weitholder 12. Phillip Beard, Winfield 13. Riddle 14. Jim Walker, Mystic 15. Robert Kephart, Donnellson 16. Boe McLaughlin, Mediapolis 17. Carla Soper, Kahoka MO 18. Kevin Hetrick, Gladstone IL 19. Dresden

A trip to Mason City and a date at the annual North Iowa Fair would be up next for both NKF Tour divisions

Lewerke and Webner Snare NKF Tour Wins In Mason City

Mason City, Iowa (July 25)  – Local favorites Rich Lewerke and Earl Webner raced to National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure feature wins at the Price Motors Speedway Wednesday night during the annual North Iowa Fair.

Pole-sitter Rob Rose held the advantage for the first lap of the Modified main event, but Lewerke, who had started right behind him in third, charged to the front on lap two. As the Garner, Iowa, driver was building on his margin both Mark Noble and Rick Gustin were keeping the crowd’s attention as they worked their way forward from the fifth and sixth row. When the checkers flew it was Lewerke who picked up the NKF win for the second year in a row at Mason City in victory lane with Noble making a late pass on Rose for the runner-up honors. Curt Badker held off Gustin to finish fourth.

The NKF Hobby Stock headliner was a good one with Brent Hanson leading the pack for the first seven laps. Webner, who started eighth, picked up the point from there and survived a late run by Jim Ringham to win his first Tour feature. Dan Jimenez, Tory Reicks and defending NKF Tour champion Dan Hanselman rounded out the top five.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Mark Noble, Blooming Prairie MN 2. Al Hejna, Clear Lake 3. Scott Anderson, Mason City 4. Mike Hackenmiller, Ventura

2^nd Heat – 1. Pat Graham, LeMars 2. Curt Badker, Clear Lake 3. Keith Schmitz, Swaledale 4. Ron Pope, Mason City

3^rd Heat – 1. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown 2. Rob Rose, Cedar Rapids 3. Rich Lewerke, Garner 4. Kurt George, Ionia

A-Main – 1. Lewerke 2. Noble 3. Rose 4. Badker 5. Gustin 6. Graham 7. Pope 8. Dean Mahlstedt, Garner 9. A. Hejna 10. Mike Hejna, Clear Lake 11. George 12. Kevin Sutton, Mason City 13. Ryan Ruter, Kanawha 14. Hackenmiller 15. Anderson 16. Todd Patterson, Manly 17. Schmitz 18. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 19. Shawn Wilson, Rock Falls

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Joe Willier, Mason City 2. Tory Reicks, Waucoma 3. Mike Grantham, Clarksville 4. Brad Nelson, Glenville MN

2^nd Heat – 1. Chad Palmer, Renwick 2. Dan Hanselman, Algona 3. Randy Hadacek, Britt 4. Nick West, Mason City

3^rd Heat – 1. Earl Webner, Garner 2. Jim Ringham, Mason City 3. Tim Tickal, Mason City 4. Tim Anderson, Mason City

4^th Heat – 1. Dan Jimenez, Mason City 2. Brent Hanson, Mason City 3. Tim Gebel, New Hampton 4. Brad Harris, Clear Lake

Scott’s Quality Seeds B-Main – 1. Shane Monson, Clear Lake 2. Ryan Lund, Mason City 3. Craig Flirea, Wesley 4. Gerald Santee, Nora Springs 5. Cory Gansen, Clear Lake 6. Stac Schroeder, Clear Lake 7. Ken Anderson, Clear Lake 8. Ron Winkowitsch, Mason City 9. Darren Grangruth, Albert Lea MN 10. David Anderson, Mason City 11. Scott Asche, Mason City 12. Tim Entner, Clear Lake 13. Jim Francis, Mason City 14. Dan Feltus, Allison

A-Main – 1. Webner 2. Ringham 3. Jimenez 4. Reicks 5. Hanselman 6. Nelson 7. Hadacek 8. Hanson 9. West 10. Tickal 11. T. Anderson 12. Harris 13. Monson 14. Lund 15. Schroeder 16. Winkowitsch 17. Santee 18. Palmer 19. Willier 20. K. Anderson 21. Gansen 22. Gebel 23. Grantham

A return trip to Audubon was up next.

Stephan and Boeckman Go Flag To Flag For Audubon NKF Tour Honors

Audubon, Iowa (July 26)  – Ricky Stephan and Andy Boeckman each proved in their respective heat races that they were fast and when both drivers drew the pole position for their feature race, the outcomes were pretty much decided during the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure visit to the Audubon Speedway Thursday night.

The only thing that could slow down Stephan during the Modified feature was a late race caution, but when the green flag reappeared he was off to hide once again winning by nearly a half a lap over runner-up Brian Schmitt. Chad Waples was the man on the move as he came from tenth to finish third and he was followed by Greg Subbert and Jeff James.

Boeckman, who won the night before in Alta, was on a rail again tonight with his Hobby Stock as he kept Rod Hansen about five car lengths back the entire distance for the victory.  David Smith came from the ninth starting hole to finish third with Bryan Snell and Rick Christenson next in line.

 

Results

Heartland Tour Modifieds

1^st Heat – 1. Russ Byriel, Ankeny 2. Greg Subbert, Garner 3. Bob Werkmeister, Omaha NE 4. Jeff James, Stanton

2^nd Heat – 1. Greg Cox, Altoona 2. Brian Schmitt, Wall Lake 3. Brandon Monson, Harlan 4. Mike Albertson, Gray

3^rd Heat – 1. Rod Scheuermann, Jefferson 2. Chad Waples, Sioux City 3. Steve Reetz, Arcadia 4. Ricky Stephan, South Sioux City NE

A-Main – 1. Stephan 2. Schmitt 3. Waples 4. Subbert 5. James 6. Byriel 7. Scheuermann 8. John Nielson, Coon Rapids 9. Rex Parkison, Earlham 10. Kent Hansen, Omaha NE 11. Todd Hansen, Elk Horn 12. Reetz 13. Monson 14. Werkmeister 15. Mike Molle, Glidden 16. Dennis Elliott, Mount Ayr 17. Albertson 18. Cox

 

Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks

1^st Heat – 1. Andy Boeckman, Wall Lake 2. Rod Hansen, Audubon 3. Bryan Snell, Coon Rapids 4. Rick Christensen, Audubon

2^nd Heat – 1. Bill Richards, Coon Rapids 2. Josh Filmer, Lake City 3. Clint Stetzel, Audubon 4. Kerry Hayes, Guthrie Center

3^rd Heat – 1. David Smith, Lake City 2. Donovan Smith, Lake City 3. Travis Rust, Harlan 4. Rod Miller, Eldon

A-Main – 1. Boeckman 2. Hansen 3. Da. Smith 4. Snell 5. Christensen 6. Richards 7. Do. Smith 8. Filmer 9. Hayes 10. Derrick Rohe, Audubon 11. Jerry Eiklenborg, Earlham 12. Kris Walker, Oskaloosa 13. Miller 14. Stetzel 15. Rust 16. Heath Kasperbauer, Dedham 17. Donella Chadwick, Council Bluffs

Next on the schedule was a two day road trip to Mayetta, Kansas, and Eagle, Nebraska, with one of those events giving us a winner that would become the most well known driver on the NKF Tour's career win list. Find out who that is when Part Five of The Final NKF Tour is posted soon here on the Back Stretch.