If you are just interested in browsing old race results well then read on my friend, but if you are interested in the full story of how the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure got its start and then grew to "NKF Tour 2000" I invite you to go back and read the earlier entries from the Back Stretch if you have not already done so.
After just two years it was no longer a struggle to get promoters to book an event on the NKF Tour. The challenge now was to try to build a schedule that made sense from a travel standpoint and that stayed off of other traditional events in the area. I will tell you though that at this point I was getting a bit cocky and thinking that other tracks should consider where the Tour was on a given night rather than the other way around.
Following is a snippet from my column the Back Stretch in the December 1999 issue of Hawkeye Racing News.
Here’s
hoping that each and every one of you are having a great Holiday season. I’ve
been very busy here in the month of December putting together the schedule for
“NKF Tour 2000” as the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure
prepares for its third season of action. We already have twenty dates spoken
for and we have not yet “followed up” on our event proposal with several
promoters.
There will be two important changes for the 2000 Tour. One of the goals of the NKF is to have the Tour visit as many communities in the Midwest as possible to better communicate the mission of the Foundation. Therefore, the Iowa based Tour has been given the go ahead to propose events to tracks in southern Minnesota, southeastern South Dakota, eastern Nebraska, central and northern Missouri, and northwest Illinois. With this change in the area covered by the Tour, and the resulting increased number of scheduled events, a change has also been made in how the point standings will be compiled.
For the 2000 NKF Tour a driver’s best twelve (this number is not yet set in stone) finishes will be used to determine the driver’s point total. This change will allow a driver to compete for over $15,000 of point fund money while not having to participate in every event. The change was proposed by several of our drivers on the 1999 Tour and the response to this change has been very positive. It allows a driver to compete in as many scheduled NKF Tour events as they desire, however they can eliminate events that conflict with their weekly shows, conflict with their work schedule or where their car is not legal without hurting their chances at earning the point championship.
As I indicated near the end of the 1999 season recap, while the racing side of the NKF Tour was on a roll, I was very concerned about the turnover at the NKF of Iowa. Jodi Enger who was the Executive Director of the Iowa affiliate when we started the series in 1998 was now long gone and someone who had worked with Jodi had filled in on an interim basis after she had left. But heading into 2000 there was a new Executive Director and since I won't have much good to say about that individual during the remainder of this recap I am just going to use the letters XYZ to represent that individual going forward.
XYZ seemed to be completely on board with the Tour and what it was doing for the Iowa affiliate, but every time I asked about the search for a new title sponsor I was given pretty much the same answer. "Just waiting for them to sign on the dotted line!" With more and more events being added, and requests coming in from out of state promoters to schedule races there as well I asked XYZ if that would be a problem and the response was "No, absolutely not, I have talked with my colleagues from the surrounding states and they think it is great. Go ahead and schedule them." In hindsight, I don't think that XYZ ever did communicate with the NKF affiliates in Illinois, Missouri or Minnesota, not that it ever became a problem that I was aware of.
As we expanded our coverage area as well as our number of events the goal was to grow the point fund as well and based upon a title sponsor "soon to be signing on the dotted line" I forged ahead full steam putting together the schedule and announcing a Point Fund that was not yet officially funded.
I also constructed the document below due to the fact that the first two years of the Tour had many nights that were threatened by weather. Just thought you might be interested in some of the things that a Tour Director has to sit around and think about in an effort to cover his own ass as best as possible.
Rainout Policy
As of January 27, 2000, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Heartland Tour for a Cure has thirty-seven Modified events and twenty-three Hobby Stock events on the schedule. While we hope that we will have sunny skies and mild temperatures for each and every event on the schedule, we know that Mother Nature will sometimes interfere. With our busy schedule for 2000, it may be difficult to establish make-up dates for events that are washed away.
It is impossible to set a policy for every circumstance that may arise due to weather, or any other (electrical, etc.) problem that may force the cancellation of a scheduled event. However, the NKF Tour has established a general policy that should be adapted as well as possible to any situation that may arise.
If an event is cancelled before the pit gate opens:
If the track and the NKF Tour can agree upon a make-up date, the race may be re-scheduled as a NKF Tour points event.
If the track and the NKF Tour cannot agree upon a make-up date, the event may be completely cancelled, or the track may run the event at a later date, but not as a NKF Tour points event.
If an event is cancelled before any heat races are run in the NKF division(s):
The NKF Tour will take the position that the event “was never run”. Therefore, any entry fees will be refunded to the drivers and “the draw” will be thrown out.
In regard to re-scheduling see: If an event is cancelled before the pit gate opens
If an event is postponed after any of the qualifying races have been run, but all are not completed, in the NKF division(s):
If the track and the NKF Tour cannot agree upon a date to continue the event as a NKF Tour points race, the NKF Tour entry fee will be refunded to all drivers and the event will be considered by the Tour to be a complete cancellation. The track may continue the event, however it sees fit, at another date as a non-NKF Tour points race.
If the track and the NKF Tour can agree upon a date to continue the event, the event will continue from the point that it was postponed.
1. If
there are “complete” heat races yet to be run, new drivers may still enter the
event and will be treated as if they “arrived late” by starting at the rear of
the established line-up. (If enough new entrants sign in, the remaining number of
heats may be increased in order to maintain an appropriate balance, with the
new entrants still starting behind the original entries.)
2. If
the final heat had taken the green flag, or was completed, and no B-Main(s) had
taken the green flag before the postponement, new drivers may still enter the
event and will start at the rear of the B-Main(s). However, a new entry will
not be eligible for a provisional due to the fact that they did not take the
green flag in a heat race.
3. If
the B-Main(s) had taken the green flag before the postponement, no new entries
will be allowed.
Any driver who is unable to return for the “continuation date” will be paid and awarded points as if the driver “scratched” from the event.
If an event is postponed after all of the qualifying races have been completed in the NKF division(s):
If the track and the NKF Tour have another event on the 2000 schedule, the postponed feature race will be completed at the future event.
If the track and the NKF Tour can agree upon a date to complete the feature, the event will be completed at that date. (The NKF Tour must take into consideration the travel and “regular race night” of the drivers qualified for the feature. Therefore this option will be a difficult one.)
If no “completion date” can be established and no laps have been completed, the NKF Tour precedent is to add up the total purse for the feature race and divide it equally among all of those drivers qualified, including provisionals, for the feature. Points will be distributed in the same manner. If any feature race laps have been scored, and there is no agreeable date to complete the event, the race will be considered complete as of the final lap scored with the purse and points distributed accordingly.
It is important to the Tour and to its drivers that all cancellations or postponements are handled in a consistent manner. Your cooperation will be much appreciated.
And here is the base Event Proposal Letter that was sent out to promoters at tracks outside of Iowa
National Kidney Foundation
Heartland Tour
for a Cure
«Track»
«Address1»
«City» «State» «PostalCode»
We have now been given the go ahead from the «StNm» affiliate of the National Kidney Foundation to expand the Tour into «StNm».
The 2000 Heartland Tour for a Cure will offer a $12,000 point fund for the Modifieds and a $6,000 point fund for the Hobby Stocks. This is a 20% increase from the point funds that were paid out in 1999. After looking over this Event Proposal we hope that you will decide to include a NKF Heartland Tour for a Cure event on your 2000 schedule.
The Show Is Yours
The NKF Tour is different from other tours for you, the track promoter. When you agree to put on a show in our series, you decide what the purse structure will be, you decide what rules the Hobby Stocks and, or Modifieds will run under, and you decide whether or not the event will be sanctioned.
Purse
Our events may be run either as a support class or classes for late model, sprint car or stock car specials, or as a featured event. It is your choice. If you have run special events in the past you have likely had the Modifieds and, or Hobby Stocks race on the same night as a support class. Now you can have these classes running in a “special event” as well and you can pay virtually the same purse as you have before with the drivers now earning points toward a possible end-of-the-year payout. If you want to feature the Modifieds and, or Hobby Stocks in their own special event, making it a NKF Tour race will definitely add to the evening. However you decide to run the show, we do not require a minimum total purse. You know how much you can pay and still make money, so you set the purse.
Rules
We expect to have some drivers try to attend every race on the Tour, however we want each event to feature the local drivers racing within the rules that they compete under each week. One of the primary goals of the NKF is to spread their message in every town, so we want to make these events as “friendly” to the local racers as possible. This way the local drivers and their fans will attend these races as well as the drivers who are following the Tour. Therefore, the rules are up to you. If you want to have more travelers show up then you may have to open up your rules a bit, but once again it is your choice.
Sanction
If your track is sanctioned (IMCA, NASCAR, UMP or WISSOTA) it is again your choice on whether or not you would like to sanction the NKF Tour event at your track. If you do sanction the race, all drivers participating will be required to have or purchase memberships or licenses with the sanctioning body to participate. Please note that any refusals of motor claims will be treated by the NKF Tour as a disqualification for that event only and will not result in the loss of points already earned on the Tour. Drivers who refuse motor claims will, however, be subject to all applicable penalties from the sanctioning body.
The NKF Tour Point System
While we expect to have several drivers attempt to attend every race on the NKF Tour, it may become difficult for them to achieve that goal for three primary reasons.
1. Rules: Especially for the
Hobby Stocks, the rules vary from track to track throughout the Midwest. A
driver may not be able to make his or her car legal for every event.
2. Sanctions: Some drivers may
not want to run events which are IMCA, WISSOTA, UMP or NASCAR sanctioned due to
rules or membership fees.
3. Work Schedules and Travel:
Primarily these are not drivers who race for a living. Some events may be too
far away from home or conflict with a work schedule.
As
the NKF Tour expands and grows, a change will be made in the way that the
points will be calculated in order to encourage more drivers to actively pursue
the points. If twenty or more events are scheduled, a driver’s best twelve
finishes at Tour events will be used to determine his or her point total. All
of the drivers that we have consulted on this issue feel that this change will
make it more likely that they will actively pursue the Tour’s point
championship.
What Does The NKF Tour Want At An Event?
Entry Fee
The track holding an event on the NKF Tour is required to pay the Tour a fee based upon the number of cars competing in the division(s) participating in the NKF Tour. The fee is $15 for each Modified car and $10 for each Hobby Stock car. The track has the option of passing this fee on to the drivers in the form of an Entry Fee, payable either to the track or directly to the NKF Tour.
Line-Ups
All line-ups for the NKF Tour divisions must be done using a “draw, re-draw” method. The promoter may award track points for the event, however an “average point” method of figuring line-ups may not be used due to the fact that it would penalize any Tour drivers making their first appearance at the track.
Minimum Payout to Non-Qualifiers
While we are not requiring a minimum purse structure for each event, we do request that the non-qualifiers receive an amount equal to or greater than the combination of their pit pass and any entry fee. For example, if you are charging $15 for a pit pass, and the Modified drivers are paying a $15 Entry Fee, the Modified non-qualifiers should be paid at least $30. The same formula would apply for the Hobby Stocks.
Provisional Starters
The number of cars starting the feature event is your choice, however we do require that the starting field include two provisional starters. These starters will be the two drivers highest in the NKF Tour points who did not qualify for the feature after running at least one competitive lap in both a heat race and last chance (semi-main) race.
A Forum For NKF Representatives
The National Kidney Foundation staff people will be organizing volunteers in the area of each event to publicize the race, raise awareness of the NKF’s mission, and raise funds for the achievement of their goals. Fund raising efforts may include t-shirt and sweatshirt sales, 50-50 raffles, etc., but at no time will the NKF be “passing the hat” or asking for handouts. You will need to provide the volunteers with a table to help them perform their duties.
Fifty-Fifty Raffle
One of the primary ways that the NKF Tour raises money is through the Fifty-Fifty Raffle held at its events. As a non-profit organization, the National Kidney Foundation is legal to conduct these raffles and pay out half of the money taken in to the winning ticket holder, no matter what that amount is. Usually the NKF Tour provides volunteers from a local Dialysis Unit to conduct the Raffle. These funds will then directly benefit that Dialysis Unit. You are not required to allow the NKF Tour to conduct a Fifty-Fifty Raffle at any event that you may schedule, however the ability to conduct this important “revenue source” may effect any scheduling decisions.
What Will The NKF Tour Do
For You?
A Special Event For Modifieds and, or Hobby Stocks
Whether you run the Tour as a support class to another special event, or if you run it as the headliner, the NKF Tour will give your Modified and Hobby Stock drivers something special to compete for. Not only is there a guaranteed point fund, but we will also be awarding prizes from contingency sponsors at each event.
The Most Established Modified Series In The Upper Midwest and the Only Hobby Stock Series (Anywhere?)
These two classes feature more competitors in our area than any other divisions. Your participation in the NKF Tour will show them your appreciation for their support.
Positive Public Relations
By participating in the NKF Tour, your track will be supporting one of the most prominent charitable organizations in the United States. It is likely that the media coverage of each event will be more extensive than most races and you will likely get some new people in your area involved in our sport who may become frequent customers in the future.
Publicity Generated By Pre and Post-Race Efforts of NKF Personnel
The NKF staff and volunteers will be ready to assist you in publicizing your event. Staff members will contact you for a list of area media outlets, the NKF staff will then contact these outlets to request Public Service Announcements to publicize your race. A volunteer coordinator will also be available for the promoter to send promotional flyers to for distribution around the area. The NKF staff and volunteers want to fill the grandstand for this event as much as you do so that they may maximize their goals of education and fund-raising for the Foundation. It will likely be the best advertising you never pay for!
A summary of the 1999 Tour is enclosed. We are hoping to build upon the success of the 1999 Tour. We have been told by several drivers that they plan to follow the Tour on a regular basis in 2000, we have increased our point funds by over 20% from last year and we look forward to having more racing-related business involved as contingency sponsors. Now we need to expand to additional tracks in 2000, and we hope that you may be interested in scheduling an event at your facility.
Please call me at (800) 541-6024 with any questions you may have, or if you would like to schedule an event.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey
P. Broeg
NKF
Tour Director
National
Kidney Foundation of Iowa
Heartland Tour
for a Cure
2000 Point
Funds
Modifieds Hobby
Stock
1.
$2,600 1. $1,250
2.
$1,825 2. $1,000
3.
$1,350 3. $700
4.
$1,000 4. $600
5.
$900 5. $450
6.
$800 6. $350
7.
$700 7. $300
8.
$600 8. $250
9.
$500 9. $200
10. $400 10.
$175
11. $350 11.
$165
12. $300 12.
$155
13. $250 13.
$145
14. $225 14.
$135
15. $200 15. $125
In that letter you see that we talk about "NKF staff and volunteers" being ready to assist with pre-race publicity and it was always my hope that the the people at the NKF affiliates would become more involved in this process. But perhaps it was my fault for hogging those opportunities to do radio shows and interviews during the first two years because I wanted to make sure that the racing aspect was covered properly during the interview. I would always make sure to have an expert from the NKF, or the local Dialysis Unit join me to discuss the details of the NKF's mission, but I was always the one organizing the publicity.
So with all of these added events, plus the work that went on around them, being the NKF Tour Director had now become a full-time job and as I had mentioned during the recap of the 1999 Tour, I found it amazing that I was actually busier during the offseason with all of the planning, scheduling and promoting than I was once the racing finally started. My Volunteer Coordinator Chad Menke was finishing up at college and would not be able to make every event in 2000 so again I had to find that perfect person take that position and I was fortunate that I was able to find her in my own house.
My daughter Ashley Wick had worked with Chad on a couple of nights during the 1999 Tour, so she was up to speed on how things were to be done and I knew that she would do a great job. Even though she was still in high school, Ashley was mature, smart, confident and out-going, all of the traits needed to train and work with a new set of volunteers each race night on the important job of educating the fans about kidney disease and to raise money for the local Dialysis Unit to help those who were dealing with it.
There was one other big "plus" in having Ashley work with me on the Tour for the next two years and that was the opportunity to spend all of that windshield time with her traveling to and from races. How many Dads get the opportunity to do that with their teenage daughters? The experience was the cornerstone of my speech during her wedding reception in 2017 and I will always cherish the memories that we created traveling from race to race. I am so proud of the woman that she has become and all of the things that she has accomplished in her career.
So let's get on to the racing in NKF Tour 2000 and once again the Tour would try to take the green flag at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City and promoter Al Uhrhammer even went one step further to try to make it actually happen in 2020.
The
National Kidney Foundation’s Heartland Tour for a Cure racing series for dirt
track Modifieds and Hobby Stocks has completed two successful seasons of
increasing the public’s awareness of kidney disease and raising funds to assist
those affected by the disease, while producing some exciting on-track action.
In both of those seasons, the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa, was scheduled to be the opening event for the Tour. In 1998, a late March snowstorm made the half-mile oval a quagmire and pushed the event back into the month of May. Last year, a seventy-degree day greeted drivers as they lined up outside of the pit gate on the first Saturday of April. But, just before the gate was opened, an isolated thunderstorm developed just southwest of the track and proceeded to dump over an inch of rain on the speedway as it tracked on to the northeast, washing out the event for good.
When the original schedule for the 2000 edition of the NKF Tour was released two weeks ago, the Hamilton County Speedway once again topped the list with the opener set for Saturday, April 1st. Just as was planned the past two years, the Modifieds and Hobby Stocks will support the season opener for the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models on that date.
This week, however, Hamilton County Speedway promoter Al Uhrhammer decided to improve his odds in the battle with Mother Nature to host the 2000 NKF Tour opener. Saturday, March 25th, has been added to the schedule as the first event for the Tour where Modifieds are aiming at a $12,000 point fund and Hobby Stocks will look toward a $6,000 fund. “Mr. Uhrhammer has been a tremendous supporter of the Tour,” stated NKF Tour director Jeff Broeg. “We have some specific interest with the National Kidney Foundation in the Webster City racing community and we hope that the weather will allow us to run these two events back-to-back.” Both events will use the next day, Sunday, as a make-up date if needed.
The newly scheduled opener lifts the number of NKF Tour events to thirty-eight Modified shows and twenty-four Hobby Stock events in 2000. Drivers in both divisions will see their best twelve finishes in Tour events count toward the final championship point standings.
And the plan worked as even though the show had to be pushed back one day due to soft, wet grounds, the NKF Tour was finally able to run an opener at Webster City. I can still remember how odd it was to be driving to the races and still seeing snow drifts in the ditches!
Chapman and Mitchell Prevail In NKF Tour 2000 Opener
Webster City, Iowa – Dan Chapman of Clarence warded off the challenges of two drivers and Jim Mitchell of Webster City held back a late charge from Jim Lampe as the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure kicked off its 2000 season at the Hamilton County Speedway. Despite sunny skies and warm conditions on Saturday, the event was forced back to Sunday evening due to soft track conditions. Fifty-one Modifieds and thirty-nine Hobby Stocks were among the field of 131 race cars that entertained a large crowd on a cool and breezy night.
Joe Schmit moved to the lead quickly in the Modified main event only to have a right front tire go flat on him during the second lap. Chapman assumed the lead on the restart and spent the next several laps with Rick Gustin pulling alongside of him in the turns. Gustin appeared poised to make a final charge in the closing laps, but he soon had to deal with the third place car of Kevin Pittman. With Gustin and Pittman swapping the runner-up position a couple of times in the last two laps Chapman was able to take the win by a couple of car lengths. Pittman wound up second with Gustin close behind in third. Rich Lewerke came from seventeenth to finish fourth while John Logue completed the top five.
Despite finishing third on the 1999 NKF Hobby Stock Tour, Jim Mitchell was still looking for his first Tour victory and after drawing the pole position for the twelve-lap main, and opening up a solid margin during the early laps, things were looking pretty good. As the laps wound down Jim Lampe, who had started in the fifth row, shot from the pack and quickly reeled in the leader. As the white flag flew Lampe pulled even with Mitchell through one and two and the two raced side-by-side until turn four when Mitchell found the better traction up high and forged a half-car-length victory. Damon Murty was closing fast in third while Terry Shaffer and Phil Hauge completed the top five.
The NKF Heartland Tour for a Cure Modifieds and Hobby Stocks return to the Hamilton County Speedway this Saturday, April 1st, as Car Quest presents the opening race for the 2000 Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models.
Results
NKF Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Ron Barker, Dubuque 2. Danny Wallace, Des Moines 3. Al Hejna, Ventura
4. Russ Byriel, Ankeny
2nd
Heat – 1. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 2. Joe Schmit, Britt 3. Adam Larson, Ames
4. Troy Hale, Grand Meadow MN
3rd
Heat – 1. Max Dunlap, Zearing 2. Kevin Pittman, Waterloo 3. Scott Megonigle,
Cedar Rapids 4. Robbie Verbeck, Annawan IL
4th
Heat – 1. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown 2. Troy Cordes, Cedar Falls 3. Jamie Aikey,
Cedar Falls 4. Jason Toppenberg, Ames
5th
Heat – 1. John Logue, Boone 2. Dan Bohr, Decorah 3. Rich Lewerke, Garner 4.
Jason Thoennes, Brandon MN
6th
Heat – 1. Dan Chapman, Clarence 2. Jeff Gorman, Ogden 3. Jon Wood, Woden 4.
Scott Olson, Ellsworth
1st
B-Main – 1. Hale 2. Dwayne Pihulak, Fort Frances ONT 3. Dann Olson, Braham MN
4. Darin Duffy, Hazelton 5. Donnie Bown, Clemons 6. Dennis Prochaska, Iowa
Falls 7. Joe McBirnie, Boone 8. Scott Baker, Boone 9. Shawn Plymesser, Forest
City 10. Rod Clement, Rhodes
2nd
B-Main – 1. Olson 2. Greg Elliott, Webster City 3. Jordan Steier, Rochester MN
4. Scott Boles, Mt. Pleasant 5. Greg Roorda, Polk City 6. Toppenberg 7. Tim
Fobian, Cedar Falls 8. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 9. Darin Thye, Burlington
A-Main
– 1. Chapman 2. Pittman 3. Gustin 4. Lewerke 5. Logue 6. Wallace 7. Bohr 8.
Aikey 9. Schmit 10. Dunlap 11. Hale 12. Thye 13. Elliott 14. Barker 15. Gorman
16. Hanford 17. Hejna 18. Wood 19. Megonigle 20. Olson 21. Dripps 22. Larson
23. Cordes 24. Pihulak
NKF Hobby Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Bryce Sommerfeld, Fort Dodge 2. Brian Stein, Woolstock 3. Kerry
Hartwig, Colo 4. Tom Alexander, Webster City
2nd
Heat – 1. Jim Mitchell, Webster City 2. Joe Lampe, Carroll 3. Terry Shaffer,
State Center 4. Jerry Dixon, Webster City
3rd
Heat – 1. Randy Embrey, Granger 2. Ryan Griffith, Webster City 3. Dan
Hanselman, Algona 4. Steve Jones, Ames
4th
Heat – 1. Jim Lampe, Carroll 2. Damon Murty, Chelsea 3. Allen Dixon, Webster
City 4. Phil Hauge, Manson
1st
B-Main – 1. Larry Embrey, Granger 2. Ben Hoesing, Perry 3. Richie Gustin,
Marshalltown 4. Mark McNeece, Albion 5. Travis Weuve, State Center 6. Jason
Murray, Hartford 7. Ronald Stein, Woolstock 8. Karol Moore, Boone
2nd
B-Main – 1. Doug McCollough, Webster City 2. Jeremy Moellers, Elma 3. Tim
Gebel, New Hampton 4. Chris Meyer, Granada MN 5. Jason Riegel, Birmingham 6.
Randy DeGoey, Knoxville 7. Tim Murty, Chelsea 8. Eric Stanton, Hartford 9. Pete
McWherter, Iowa Falls 10. Gerald Gatewood, Webster City
A-Main – 1. Mitchell 2. Jim Lampe 3. D. Murty 4. Shaffer 5. Hauge 6. Griffith 7. Sommerfeld 8. J. Dixon 9. B. Stein 10. Hanselman 11. McCollough 12. R. Embrey 13. Moellers 14. L. Embrey 15. A. Dixon 16. Alexander 17. Hartwig 18. Hoesing 19. Riegel 20. Gebel 21. Jones 22. McNeece 23. Gustin 24. Joe Lampe
 |
| Dan Chapman in victory lane with flagman Grant Oskvig |
The jinx had definitely been broken as not only were we finally able to run a Tour opener at Webster City, we were able to race again there just six nights later.
Kevin Stoa and Dan Haneslman No Fools At Webster City NKF Tour Event
Webster City, Iowa – No April Fools joke here, as there was racing in north central Iowa on April 1st with Kevin Stoa of Kasson, Minnesota, and Dan Hanselman of Algona taking feature wins on the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure at the Hamilton County Speedway. Stoa was the cream of the crop of a forty-nine car Modified field while Hanselman captured his second career NKF Tour victory over a solid field of thirty-one Hobby Stocks.
Ron Barker scooted to the lead from the front row in the twenty-lap Modified feature. The race was red-flagged on lap three for a devastating crash on the frontstretch that saw heavy contact between NKF Tour regulars Dennis Fink and Max Dunlap. Both cars were destroyed with Dunlap’s ending up on its roof, but fortunately both drivers were able to walk away uninjured. After the restart Stoa, the pole-sitter, began to apply the pressure to Barker and at the mid-race point he was able to slip past off the bottom of turn four for the lead. Tommy Myer moved past Barker a few laps later and mounted a late charge on Stoa that came up just short as he settled for second. Barker wound up third followed by Corey Dripps who came from eighteenth to just edge out Scott Megonigle for fourth.
Jerry Dixon took off like a rocket from the pole position in the fifteen-lap Hobby Stock headliner and looked as if he would cruise to an easy victory. A caution flag on lap seven bunched up the field and Dan Hanselman was able to get around Dixon on the restart and a lap later the early leader retired to the infield with mechanical woes. There was no catching Hanselman from there as he cruised to comfortable victory. Jeff Zehr charged from the twelfth starting spot to nip Richie Gustin at the line for second, while Allen Dixon and Brian Stein completed the top five.
The NKF Tour Modifieds have a double-header weekend coming up on Saturday night, April 8th, at 34 Raceway in Burlington and then on Sunday the Tour travels up the road to the East Moline Speedway. The NKF Tour Hobby Stocks next action is on April 19th at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa.
Results
NKF Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Steve Wetzstein, West Concord MN 2. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 3. Jon
Wood, Woden 4. Scott Hogan, Vinton
2nd
Heat – 1. Troy Cordes, Cedar Falls 2. Dennis Fink, Fairbank 3. Scott Olson,
Ellsworth 4. Joe McBirnie, Boone
3rd
Heat – 1. Kevin Stoa, Kasson MN 2. Ron Barker, Dubuque 3. Tommy Myer, Blooming
Prairie MN 4. Rich Lewerke, Garner
4th
Heat – 1. Scott Megonigle, Cedar Rapids 2. Kevin Pittman, Waterloo 3. Jeff
Maasch, Vesta MN 4. Rod Clement, Rhodes
1st
B-Main – 1. Russ Byriel, Ankeny 2. Dan Bohr, Decorah 3. Jason Toppenberg, Ames
4. Martin Bennett, Des Moines 5. Mike O’Lear, Marshalltown 6. Mike Bennett, Des
Moines 7. Al Hejna, Ventura 8. Larry Schmidt, New Hampton 9. Greg Elliott,
Webster City 10. Tim Fobian, Cedar Falls 11. Max Dunlap, Zearing 12. Jim
Richert, Cornfrey MN 13. Mike Schuster, Delavan MN
2nd
B-Main – 1. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 2. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown 3. Bryan
Behning, Davenport 4. Mike Hejna, Ventura 5. Donnie Bown, Clemons 6. Todd
Stinehart, Waseca MN 7. Tim Anderson, Long Grove 8. George Gilliland, Lehigh 9.
Tim McBride, Evansdale 10. Paul Burger, Belle Plaine MN 11. Jason Thoennes,
Brandon MN 12. Jamie Aikey, Cedar Falls
A-Main
– 1. Stoa 2. Myer 3. Barker 4. Dripps 5. Megonigle 6. Pittman 7. Lewerke 8.
Gustin 9. Hanford 10. Olson 11. Bohr 12. McBirnie 13. Wetzstein 14. Hogan 15.
Maasch 16. Toppenberg 17. Behning 18. Clement 19. Wood 20. Cordes 21. Aikey 22.
Fink 23. Dunlap 24. Byriel
NKF Hobby Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Phil Hauge, Manson 2. Jeff Zehr, Manson 3. Dan Hanselman, Algona 4.
Pete McWherter, Iowa Falls 5. Tory Reicks, Waucoma 6. Kit Hovey, Fort Dodge
2nd
Heat – 1. Blaire Benzing, Waterville 2. Tom Alexander, Webster City 3. Jason
Minnehan, Churdan 4. Ben Hoesing, Perry 5. Doug McCollough, Webster City 6.
Karol Moore, Boone
3rd
Heat – 1. Brian Stein, Woolstock 2. Richie Gustin, Marshalltown 3. Jerry Dixon,
Webster City 4. Allen Dixon, Webster City 5. Rodney Slagle, Eagle Grove 6. Ryan
Griffith, Webster City
B-Main
– 1. Damon Murty, Chelsea 2. Mark McNeece, Albion 3. Kerry Hartwig, Colo 4.
David Smith, Lake City 5. Curt Hook, Ackley 6. Tim Gebel, New Hampton 7. Tim
Entner, Clear Lake 8. Jeremy Moellers, Elma
A-Main – 1. Hanselman 2. Zehr 3. Gustin 4. A. Dixon 5. Stein 6. Benzing 7. McWherter 8. Murty 9. McCollough 10. Griffith 11. Hoesing 12. Hauge 13. Alexander 14. Minnehan 15. Hovey 16. Hartwig 17. Smith 18. Moellers 19. Moore 20. McNeece 21. Reicks 22. Gebel 23. J. Dixon 24. Slagle
Here is what I had to say about these two races on the Back Stretch in Hawkeye Racing News
Hard
to believe that I have already taken in three events here in the upper Midwest
as of April 2nd. Sure it has been a bit on the chilly side, but we
have seen some big car counts and some fantastic early season racing at Webster
City and East Moline. Now we need to work a deal with Mother Nature to supply
us with some much need moisture during the week while giving us clear skies and
warmer temps on the weekend. Of course when Oskaloosa opens on April 19th
we’ll have to amend that agreement to include Wednesdays on the “warm and
sunny” list.
The NKF Tour got off to a great start, albeit one day later than planned, at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City March 26th. Promoter Al Uhrhammer took some shots on our friend the internet for postponing the event when Saturday was clear and in the sixties, but the drivers who were already in town and saw how soft the track was, and how hard Uhrhammer worked on it to be ready for Sunday will tell you that it was the right thing to do. Fifty-one Modifieds, thirty-nine Hobby Stocks and thirty IMCA Stock Cars helped fill the pits for an exciting night of action. The Flyin’ Embalmer, Dan Chapman, held off Rick Gustin and Kevin Pittman for the Modified win and Mark Elliott made a nifty last lap pass of Jeff Anderson to take the Stock Car main. In the Hobby Stocks NKF Tour regular captured his first win on the Tour and then noted that he would miss the following week’s event due to the fact that he had tickets to the Winston Cup weekend in Texas. No worry, I’m sure that Mitchell will be back to challenge for the top spot in the Tour points that he held after the first race.
The Tour returned to Webster City on April 1st to run in support of the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late models opener. Rob Toland was the class of the forty-two car field fighting off several challenges from Jeff Aikey. When Aikey made one last run to the bottom of turns three and four on the final lap, Mike Smith kept his foot to the floor and zipped around the outside of Aikey to steal away second at the finish. Smith is behind the wheel of the Scott McAllister owned car #1 this season with an interesting title sponsor: Scott’s Quality Seeds “The Seed With Speed”. McAllister, who hails from Mt. Pleasant, is a former tractor puller who, reportedly, will also climb behind the wheel this year from time-to-time. I was also impressed with the performance of Brian Harris. The Davenport driver has made the move from the Legend Cars to Late Models and qualified for the main event in a very tough field. In the Modifieds it was Minnesota drivers one-two with Kevin Stoa and Tommy Myer topping a great mix of drivers from all around the area. Dan Hanselman picked up the win in the Hobby Stocks and is now the NKF Tour’s point leader after the first two races in Webster City. Not a bad comeback considering that he rolled the car hard at the same track to end the 1999 season.
In the first year of the Tour we had a few Hobby Stock Only events, but no standalone Modified races. On NKF Tour 2000 there fourteen Modified Only events on the schedule as it was hard to translate the rules for the Hobby Stocks once we started booking into other states and the next two events were to be Mod Only shows in support of the Deery Brothers Summer Series at 34 Raceway and East Moline. The race at Burlington fell to weather so Sunday would be the Tour's first time ever at the East Moline Speedway. The show ran long and our feature had to be shortened to thirteen laps due to the curfew with local driver Bryan Behning taking the win.
Bryan Behning Cruises To NKF Tour Victory at East Moline
East Moline, Illinois – There was plenty of action going on behind him, but Bryan Behning of Davenport, Iowa, didn’t even notice as he was on a Sunday cruise in his Modified during the first-ever visit by the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure to the East Moline Speedway.
Behning drew the pole position for the scheduled twenty-lap main event and immediately pulled out to a five-car-length advantage over the rest of the field. There was plenty of racing action going on behind the leader with three and four-wide racing on the high-banked quarter-mile. After a slow start Rick Gustin fought his way back to the front and edged out Donovan Lodge for the runner-up honors, a finish that propels the Marshalltown, Iowa, driver into the top spot of the NKF Tour point standings. Lodge finished in the third spot just ahead of a hard-charging Corey Dripps. Dripps worked every inch of the East Moline Speedway to race his way forward from the twelfth starting spot. John Bull came from the tenth starting spot to finish fifth in the event that was stopped after thirteen laps due to the city’s curfew.
The NKF Tour Modifieds have an exciting weekend coming up on April 14th and 15th. On Friday night the Tour Modifieds will run in support of the Frieden Inc. Open Late Model Special at the Davenport Speedway. Then on Saturday night the NKF Tour will make its first-ever trip into Missouri with a show at the Adrian Speedway.
Results
NKF Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. John Bull, Rock Island 2. Marty Thompson, Mineral 3. Scott Boles, Mt.
Pleasant IA 4. Bruce Hanford, Davenport
2nd
Heat – 1. Mike Garland, Morrison 2. Jeff Walker, Davenport IA 3. Rick Gustin,
Marshalltown IA 4. Casey Schram, Sterling
3rd
Heat – 1. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls IA 2. Donovan Lodge, Andover 3. Virgil
Paul, Reynolds 4. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington IA
4th
Heat – 1. Bryan Behning, Davenport IA 2. Kevin Goben, Sherrard 3. Tom Goble,
Burlington IA 4. Jim Burbridge, Delhi IA
1st
B-Main – 1. LaVeine 2. Doug Lenth, Colona 3. Quinton Waterman, Silvis 4.
Hanford 5. Troy Emerick, Geneseo 6. Rob Connors, Pleasant Valley IA 7. Dewayne
Stropes, Aledo 8. Mike Smith, Silvis 9. George Hubbard, Silvis 10. Mike
Kulhavy, Rock Island
2nd
B-Main – 1. Schram 2. Jason Veloz, Colona 3. Jerry Bailey, East Moline 4.
Burbridge 5. Jerame Mowery, Rock Island 6. Greg Purvis, East Moline 7. Tim
Heyvaert, Erie 8. Kevin Blum, East Moline
A-Main – 1. Behning 2. Gustin 3. Lodge 4. Dripps 5. Bull 6. Goben 7. Goble 8. Schram 9. LaVeine 10. Garland 11. Thompson 12. Hanford 13. Lenth 14. Paul 15. Veloz 16. Bailey 17. Walker 18. Waterman 19. Burbridge 20. Boles
 |
| I wish I had a photo on file of Bryan Behning's car when he was running the Tour as it was immaculate. Here he is racing to the outside of John Durbin at Blue Grass in the early 90's |
Remember when I said that I wanted to put together a schedule that was sensible from a scheduling standpoint? Well obviously that didn't apply to the next weekend when the Modifieds were set to run on the half-mile at Davenport on Friday night and then make the long trip down to the Adrian Speedway, straight south of Kansas City.
Barker Snares Davenport NKF Modified Main
Davenport, Iowa – When Dan Chapman’s car slowed with mechanical problems Ron Barker of Dubuque was in the right place to inherit the lead and the victory as the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Modifieds visited the Davenport Speedway for the first time.
Chapman, who won the 2000 NKF Tour opener three weeks ago, looked a sure bet to take his second victory of the young season as he bolted to a large lead in the Modified main event from his front row start. However, at the mid-race point Chapman’s car sputtered and he pulled to the infield handing the lead over to Ron Barker. Defending NKF Tour champion Bruce Hanford made a late run on Barker, but came up a car-length short as the checkered flags waved.
Rich Smith came home in the third spot followed by Robbie Verbeck and Doug Lenth on a night where $650 was raised for the Dialysis Unit at Genesis Medical Center in Davenport. The NKF Tour Modifieds next travel to Adrian, Missouri, on April 15th, and then on Wednesday, April 19th, both the NKF Mods and the Tour Hobby Stocks help to open the season at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa.
Results
NKF Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Scott Hogan, Vinton 2. Mark Curwen, Hazel Green WI 3. Ryan Dolan,
Lisbon 4. Bruce Hanford, Davenport
2nd
Heat – 1. Dan Chapman, Clarence 2. Mike Zogg, Clarence 3. Doug Lenth, Colona IL
4. Steve Kohli, Iowa City
3rd
Heat – 1. Ron Barker, Dubuque 2. Robbie Verbeck, Annawan IL 3. John Bull, Rock
Island IL 4. Rich Smith, Davenport
A-Main – 1. Barker 2. Hanford 3. Smith 4. Verbeck 5. Lenth 6. Dolan 7. Bull 8. Bryan Behning, Davenport 9. Hogan 10. Curwen 11. Zogg 12. Bret Frieden, Walford 13. Kohli 14. Wade Lee, Muscatine 15. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown 16. Donovan Lodge, Andover IL 17. Kevin Goben, Sherrard IL 18. Chapman 19. Jason Veloz, Colona IL 20. Scott Barten, Maquoketa 21. Casey Schram, Sterling IL 22. Dewayne Stropes, Aledo IL
 |
| Ron Barker about six years prior to the birth of the NKF Tour |
Now to be fair to myself the trip to Adrian was the first of an experiment to see if we should form a separate Missouri Tour in 2001 as you will see in the press release that follows, so I really wasn't expecting any of the drivers to also make that Davenport to Adrian drive. For me it was a treat to get to know Adrian Speedway owner/promoter Glenn Portzen, a slow talking track prep wizard who later went on to be the Kansas City area's "Dirt Doctor".
Two NKF Tour Missouri Events Could Lead To More In 2001
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa – The National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure is looking at expansion possibilities for the future and two events coming up in the state of Missouri may be a determining factor in those plans.
This Saturday, April 15th, the NKF Tour Modified Tour will hold its first-ever event in the state of Missouri at the Adrian Speedway. The Tour will then return to the “Show-Me” state two weeks later for an appearance at Missouri’s I-35 Speedway near Cameron. Drivers at both of these events will earn points toward the $12,000 point fund for the 2000 NKF Tour that boasts forty events in five states, most of them in the state of Iowa.
The Tour, now in its third season, combines dirt track racing with a mission to raise money for Dialysis Units while reminding the general community to watch for the early signs of kidney disease. “The growth of the Tour in Iowa has been phenomenal,” stated NKF Tour Director Jeff Broeg. “We would love to develop the same concept in Missouri, so these two events at Adrian and Cameron will help us to determine if the Modified drivers of Missouri are interested in having their own Tour in 2001.”
The track promoters at both of the upcoming Missouri events are excited about bringing the NKF Tour to their state. In fact, both Glen Portzen of the Adrian Speedway and Larry Kaster of Missouri’s I-35 Speedway have agreed to pay the $15 NKF Tour entry for all Modified drivers who compete in the NKF Tour events at their track from their own pocket. “With support like that from the promoters,” said Broeg, “how can we go wrong?”
It was pretty cool though to have Iowa drivers Bryan Behning and Rich Lewerke make the tow and, after the way his day started, it was nice to be there for Danny Scrogham's first career Modified feature win.
First NKF Tour Visit To Missouri Equals First Career Win For Scrogham
Adrian, Missouri – Saturday was a day of extremes for Danny Scrogham of Peculiar, Missouri. When he woke up and went to his garage to prepare his Modified for action at the Adrian Speedway he found that someone had broken in and stolen all of his spare wheels and tires. After rounding up some new equipment he loaded up and headed to the speedway to compete in the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure, a Tour that was making its first trip ever into the state of Missouri. When the checkered flag flew later in the evening, Scrogham’s day went from bad to good as he captured his first career feature victory.
Jim Wooton started on the pole position and paced the field for the first few laps. Scrogham started on the inside of row three and quickly found a bite on the inside propelling him to the lead on lap four. From there the young driver was never seriously challenged as the battled waged on behind him. Eddie Bray Jr. was able to hold off Brad Page to take the runner-up honors, but it was the battle for fourth that drew the most attention. Iowa visitors Rich Lewerke and Bryan Behning mixed it up with Adrian hotshoes Larry Stevenson and Darren Roberts running three-wide on several occasions. In the end it was Stevenson taking home fourth followed by Behning and Roberts with Lewerke retiring late with a flat tire.
The NKF Tour Modifieds and Hobby Stocks return to action Wednesday night, April 19th, at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Then, on Saturday April 29th, the NKF Modifieds return to Missouri for a date at Missouri’s I-35 Speedway near Cameron.
Results
NKF Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Jim Wooton, Belton 2. Kevin Darling, Garden City 3. Darren Roberts,
Harrisonville 4. Mitch Jurgeson, Freeman
2nd
Heat – 1. Eddie Bray Jr., Archie 2. Danny Scrogham, Peculiar 3. Rich Lewerke,
Garner IA 4. Charlie Laizure, Urich
3rd
Heat – 1. Brad Page, Butler 2. Adam Portzen, Adrian 3. Larry Stevenson,
Peculiar 4. Will McKinney, Raymore
A-Main – 1. Scrogham 2. Bray Jr. 3. Page 4. Stevenson 5. Bryan Behning, Davenport IA 6. Roberts 7. Dennis Walrath, Clinton 8. Wooton 9. Darling 10. McKinney 11. Jurgeson 12. Lewerke 13. Portzen 14. Dan Nasalroad, Lacygne KS 15. Mike McCleary, Linwood KS 16. Laizure 17. Charlie Ebert, Redbrush
The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa was up next and heavy rains on April 19th pushed the show back a week. You get some bonus coverage of the IMCA Stock Cars in this report as well.
Lynch Doubles Up With NKF Tour and Aaron Brown Classic Victories at Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Opening night for the 2000 season at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa is one that Jim Lynch will not soon forget. The Bloomfield, Iowa, driver snared two feature wins on the evening winning both the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified feature and the IMCA Stock Car Aaron Brown Classic main event. Rick VanDusseldorp was the only other driver who found victory lane on the evening as he captured the NKF Tour Hobby Stock main event.
The lead was not the place to be early in the Modified feature. John VanDenBerg paced lap one before falling out with mechanical problems and Troy Folkerts also suffered mechanical woes after leading lap two. Todd Holman inherited the lead from there and held it for a couple of laps before Jim Lynch flew by on the highside. Holman fought back and pulled even with Lynch on two occasions, but could not regain the lead as Lynch raced to victory. Mark Mundell came on strong late to take second followed by Holman, Ken Bryant and Mark Widmar.
The Aaron Brown Classic was your typical IMCA Stock Car feature race at the Southern Iowa Speedway with plenty of side-by-side and three-wide action and numerous lead changes. Howard Gordon Jr. and Lynch swapped the lead back and forth several times before Lynch prevailed for his second win of the night. Gordon was the runner-up with Brant Fuhs, Brian Edel and Mark Smyser completing the top five.
The NKF Tour Hobby Stock main event put the wraps on a busy night of racing that saw 113 cars participate in the three divisions. Rod Miller paced the first two circuits before yielding to Bobby Greene for laps three and four. Rick VanDusseldorp gained the lead from there and never looked back as he cruised to victory over Scott Buehneman, Brad Tursic, Kris Walker and Miller.
The NKF Tour Modifieds return to action Saturday night, April 29th, at Missouri’s I-35 Speedway near Cameron.
Results
IMCA/NKF Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Ron VerBeek, Oskaloosa 2. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown 3. Ken Bryant,
Ottumwa 4. Todd Holman, Ottumwa
2nd
Heat – 1. John VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa 2. Greg Elliott, Webster City 3. Mark
Mundell, Ottumwa 4. Roger Baxter, Oskaloosa
3rd
Heat – 1. Troy Folkerts, Albia 2. Mark Macomber, Lancaster MO 3. Jim Lynch,
Bloomfield 4. Chris Eggers, Lancaster MO
A-Main
– 1. Lynch 2. Mundell 3. Holman 4. Bryant 5. Mark Widmar, Ottumwa 6. Danny
Wallace, Des Moines 7. Ron Barker, Dubuque 8. Eggers 9. Baxter 10. Greg Cox,
Altoona 11. Bob Bowman, Winterset 12. Brian Freel, Pleasantville 13. Dan Bunn,
Newton 14. Mike Kaller, Ottumwa 15. Tim Gannon, Des Moines 16. Chad McKay,
Oskaloosa 17. VerBeek 18. Casey Lancaster, Oskaloosa 19. VanDenBerg 20.
Folkerts 21. Macomber 22. Elliott
IMCA Stock Cars
Aaron Brown Classic
1st
Heat – 1. Brant Fuhs, Eldon 2. Ron VerBeek, Oskaloosa 3. Travis Hansacker,
Melcher 4. Bill Redlinger, Richland
2nd
Heat – 1. Brad Pinkerton, New Sharon 2. Corey Stout, Oskaloosa 3. Jim Brown,
Fremont 4. Don Sanders, Ottumwa
3rd
Heat – 1. Howard Gordon Jr., New Sharon 2. Wade Francis, Eddyville 3. Brian
Edel, Oskaloosa 4. Kenny Johnson, Douds
4th
Heat – 1. Mark Smyser, Lancaster MO 2. Jim Lynch, Bloomfield 3. Bob Crouse, New
Sharon 4. Bobby Greiner Jr., Ottumwa
1st
B-Main – 1. Jeremy Miller, Batavia 2. Kevin Booy, Oskaloosa 3. Jeff Anderson,
Atlantic 4. Cliff McNeal, Ottumwa
2nd
B-Main – 1. Michael McClure, Bloomfield 2. Brad Steel, New Sharon 3. Eric
Snyder, Eldon 4. Dave Blankenship, Brooklyn
A-Main
– 1. Lynch 2. Gordon Jr. 3. Fuhs 4. Edel 5. Smyser 6. Stout 7. Miller 8.
Johnson 9. Snyder 10. Crouse 11. VerBeek 12. Booy 13. Francis 14. Blankenship
15. Anderson 16. Steel 17. Greiner Jr. 18. Sanders 19. Brown 20. Hansacker 21.
McNeal 22. Pinkerton 23. Redlinger 24. McClure
NKF Hobby Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Paul Underwood, Ottumwa 2. Rick VanDusseldorp, New Sharon 3. Larry
Sample, Ottumwa 4. Mike Shelton, Ottumwa
2nd
Heat – 1. Scott Buehneman, Keswick 2. Bobby Greene, Tracy 3. Brad Stephens,
Bussey 4. Jared Curry, Fremont
3rd
Heat – 1. Rod Miller, Eldon 2. Doug Gordon Jr., Ottumwa 3. Steve Shepard,
Fremont 4. Michael Schmidt, Knoxville
4th
Heat – 1. Brad Tursic, Ottumwa 2. Kris Walker, Oskaloosa 3. Nicky Whitt,
Oskaloosa 4. Doug McCollough, Webster City
1st
B-Main – 1. Dan Hanselman, Algona 2. Jason Reed, Melcher 3. T.J. Criss,
Oskaloosa 4. Phil Hamilton, Oskaloosa
2nd
B-Main – 1. Jeff Zehr, Manson 2. Todd Phillips, Ollie 3. Mark Wirth, Chariton
4.Brock Welch, Oskaloosa
A-Main – 1. VanDusseldorp 2. Buehneman 3. Tursic 4. Walker 5. Miller 6. Underwood 7. Shelton 8. McCollough 9. Gordon Jr. 10. Zehr 11. Criss 12. Sample 13. Ryan Griffith, Webster City 14. Reed 15. Wirth 16. Whitt 17. Phillips 18. Curry 19. Mark McNeece, Albion 20. Schmidt 21. Shepard 22. Hanselman 23. Green 24. Stephens
Next it was back to Missouri for the Tour's first appearance at Larry Kaster's I-35 Speedway. I thought that we might have some Tour chasers make the trip down, but with the regular season getting underway at most Saturday night tracks, and with the drivers having the ability to use their best twelve finishes to go toward the Tour points, they all stayed at their home tracks. Lesson learned. Still it was a fantastic finish featuring two of the track's favorites. Also I want to mention that two friends from the Mt. Pleasant area, Ed and Karyn Malcolm served as our volunteers that night producing a 50/50 raffle of over $300 that went to the Cameron, Missouri Dialysis Unit.
Claxton Nips Wray For Missouri’s I-35 NKF Tour Modified Win
Winston, MO – Gene Claxton and Dean Wray crossed the finish line side-by-side under the checkers Saturday night as the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure visited Missouri’s I-35 Speedway for the first time Saturday night. As the capacity crowd cheered and wondered who had captured the victory, all three scorekeepers agreed that Claxton had nipped Wray by inches for the win.
Eddie Schwope Jr. paced the field from his pole position for the first ten laps of the main event before Claxton, using the high-groove on the 3/8th-mile oval, swept past on lap eleven. Wray, who had to qualify for the feature by winning the B-Main after suffering mechanical difficulties in the heat race, moved in to challenge for the lead using the low groove, but Claxton maintained the advantage until a late caution flag. On the restart the top two contenders switched grooves and with the checkers waiting Wray made his charge on the high-side that came up just short at the finish. Schwope came home third followed by Jim Peeler and Todd Wilson.
The next action for the NKF Tour Modifieds will be on Tuesday, May 9th, as they run in support of a Freiden Inc. Open Late Model Shootout event at the Farley Speedway.
Results
IMCA/NKF Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Todd Wilson, Spickard 2. Gene Claxton, Kansas City 3. Brad Whitney,
Trenton 4. Johnny McGinnis, Hardin
2nd
Heat – 1. Mark Dotson, Cameron 2. Jim Peeler, Milan 3. Barry Duncan, Excelsior
Springs 4. Russell Sanders, Orrick
3rd
Heat – 1. Truman Asher, St. Joseph 2. Jeff Proffitt, Trenton 3. Donnie Wray,
Trenton 4. Kevin Kohler, King City
4th
Heat – 1. Eddie Schwope Jr., St. Joseph 2. Chad Huston, Jamesport 3. Yancy
Shepard, Gladstone 4. Casey Lancaster, Oskaloosa IA
1st
B-Main – 1. Sanders 2. McGinnis 3. Tom Cordray, Browning 4. Greg Querry,
Bethany 5. Terry VanTrump, Richmond 6. Tim Powell, Lansing KS 7. Leroy Cameron,
Cameron 8. Mike McCoy, Hamilton 9. Jim Adkins, Kansas City 10. Chad Frewaldt,
Gladstone
2nd
B-Main – 1. Dean Wray, Trenton 2. Jerry White, Kansas City 3. Kohler 4. Lonnie
Hibner, Chillicothe 5. Eddie Schwope III, St. Joseph 6. Shawn Swindler,
Hamilton 7. Darrell Morgan, Lathrop 8. Lancaster
A-Main
– 1. Claxton 2. Dean Wray 3. Schwope Jr. 4. Peeler 5. Wilson 6. Cordray 7.
McGinnis 8. Huston 9. Proffitt 10. Asher 11. Whitney 12. Shepard 13. Donnie
Wray 14. Sanders 15. Duncan 16. Lancaster 17. Dotson 18. Kohler 19. White
Based upon the sequence of my Word.doc files it looks as though the 2000 schedule was "finalized" on May 5th
National
Kidney Foundation
Heartland Tour
for a Cure
2000 Schedule
Day Date Location Divisions
Sat March 25th Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City IA Mods, HS
Sat April 1st Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City
IA Mods, HS
Sat April 8th 34 Raceway,
Burlington IA Mods
Sun April 9th East Moline
Speedway, East Moline IL Mods
Fri April 14th Davenport Speedway,
Davenport IA Mods
Sat April 15th Adrian Speedway,
Adrian MO Mods
Wed April 19th Southern Iowa
Speedway, Oskaloosa IA Mods, HS
Sat April 29th Missouri’s I-35
Speedway, Cameron MO Mods
Tues May 9th Farley Speedway,
Farley IA Mods
Tues May 23rd Hawkeye Raceway, Blue
Grass IA Mods,
HS
Sun May 28th 34 Raceway,
Burlington IA Mods
Mon May 29th Hancock County Speedway,
Britt IA Mods,
HS
Tues June 6th Nordic Speedway,
Decorah IA Mods,
HS
Fri June 9th Park Jefferson
Speedway, Jefferson SD Mods
Tues June 13th Dubuque Fairgrounds
Speedway, Dubuque IA Mods
Thurs June 15th Eldon Raceway, Eldon IA Mods, HS
Tues June 20th Independence Motor
Speedway, Independence IA Mods,
HS
Thurs June 22nd Cresco Speedway, Cresco
IA Mods,
HS
Wed June 28th 34 Raceway,
Burlington IA Mods
Thurs June 29th Benton County Speedway, Vinton IA Mods
Mon July 3rd CJ Raceway,
Columbus Jct., IA Mods,
HS
Sun July 9th Davenport
Speedway, Davenport IA Mods
Mon July 10th Farley Speedway,
Farley IA Mods
Tues July 11th Knoxville Raceway,
Knoxville IA Mods
Thurs July 13th Stuart Speedway,
Stuart IA HS
Wed July 19th Crawford County
Speedway, Denison IA Mods,
HS
Thurs July 20th Buena Vista Raceway,
Alta IA Mods,
HS
Sun July 23rd Greenbelt Speedway,
Eldora IA Mods,
HS
Tues July 25th Echo Valley Speedway,
West Union IA Mods,
HS
Thurs July 27th Hamilton County
Speedway, Webster City IA Mods,
HS
Sat July 29th Hamilton County
Speedway, Webster City IA Mods,
HS
Sat August 5th Algona Raceway, Algona
IA Mods,
HS
Sun August 6th I-35 Speedway, Mason
City IA Mods,
HS
Mon August 7th Lee County Speedway, Donnellson IA HS
Qualify
Tues August 8th Lee County Speedway, Donnellson IA Mods, HS
Sat&Sun Sept 2nd
& 3rd 34
Raceway, Burlington IA Mods
Fri September 8th Fairmont Raceway, Fairmont
MN Mods,
HS
Sun September 10th East Moline Speedway, East
Moline IL Mods
Sat September 23rd Independence Motor Speedway,
Independence IA Mods,
HS
Sat September 30th Tipton Speedway, Tipton IA Mods,
HS
Sun October 8th Hawkeye Raceway, Blue
Grass IA Mods,
HS
Sat October 21st Lee County Speedway,
Donnellson IA Mods,
HS
More to come in Part Two on NKF Tour 2000
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