The Tour was headed into its final two months of existence and the only people that knew that was myself and a soon to be new employer of mine that I will reveal a little later on. XYZ was still telling me that there were some good leads for a corporate sponsor for s 2002 NKF Tour and we agreed that some of the surplus sponsorship money from the 1998 Tour would be used toward the payment of the 2001 point fund. So at least I knew that my financial responsibility would drop from over $18,000 to just under $9,000 to get the drivers paid for what had been promised on the assumption that a title sponsor would have been signed long ago.
Our next event was to be our first appearance at the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan and a fantastic field of fifty Modifieds signed in. Credit to Jim Brennan for the following story and results
( NICHOLSON & SMITH NKF TOUR FOR A CURE
FEATURE WINNERS AT SCS )
Jim Brennan
(Harlan, Iowa, 9/03/01) The National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a
Cure came to
Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa on Labor Day Budweiser Modified Madness
and
John Nicholson and Dustin Smith grabbed the feature wins in the Modified and
Hobby Stock
Feature events.
The NKF Modified 25 lap A-Feature saw Lonn Schlueter grab the early lead from
his
outside front row starting position. But on the back chute Nicholson made the
pass for
the lead as they completed the 1st lap. Jeff Stephens came up to challenge
Nicholson
on the high side of the track. But on lap 13 Stephens ducked low and took the
lead away
going back to the high side. Nicholson did everything he could to retake the
lead. But on
lap 18 Nicholson regained the lead as Stephens dropped out with mechanical
woes.
Nicholson then held off the last lap challenge of Craig Reetz to take the win
and the
$1,000 first prize. Danny McKeighan was the hard charger of the race going from
a
16th position start to a 4th place finish behind Brian Foote.
The NKF Hobby Stock 12 lap A-Feature belonged to the Smith brothers, Dustin
and David. Dustin grabbed the lead at the drop of the green from his pole
starting
position with Rick Christensen in 2nd and David Smith in 3rd. On lap 3 David
moved to
2nd and began to put pressure on Dustin. But Dustin was able to withstand the
challenge
and a last lap bobble by David to win going away. Christensen held on for 3rd
ahead
of Craig Daringer, Rod Hansen and Donovan Smith.
Results
NKF Hobby Stocks
A-Feature: 1. 85 Dustin Smith, Lake City, 2. 8 David Smith, Lake City, 3. 70
Rick Christensen, Audobon, 4. 4d Craig Daringer, Persia, 5. 42 Rod Hansen,
Audobon, 6. 3S Bryan Snell, Coon Raipds, 7. 27x Jim Lampe, Carroll,
8. 35 Donovan Smith, Lake City, 9. 89 Rob Shimer, Avoca, 10. 98 Darrick
Rohe, Audobon, 11. Kurt Mackie, Omaha, 12. Allen Embree, Massena,
13. Tony Pogeler, Alta, 14. Kevin Streck, Schleswig, 15. Dustin Olofson,
Minden, 16. Barry Sandeman, Creston, 17. Scot Willey, Persia, 18. Josh
Filmer, Lake City
1st Heat: 1. Donovon Smith, 2. Lampe, 3. Daringer, 4. Christensen, 5. Shimer
2nd Heat: 1. Dustin Smith, 2. David Smith, 3. Hansen, 4. Pogeler, 5. Willey
NKF Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. 63j John Nicholson, Plattsmouth, Ne., 2.1 Craig Reetz, Dunlap,
3. 43 Brian Foote, Essex, Ia., 4. z62 Danny McKeighan, Co. Bluffs, 5. 15jj
Lonn Schlueter, Atlantic, 6. 14 Matt Bonine, Onawa, 7. 2r Dale Ransom,
Denison, 8. 93 Rick Germar, Red Oak, 9. 22BW Pat Graham, Story City,
10. 43x Dan Mueller, Griswold, 11. Brad Madsen, Kimballton, 12. Dave
Hulsebus, Harlan, 13. Bart Schmidt, Harlan, 14. B. J. Bruck, Portsmouth,
15. Chris Hogan, Lenox, 16. Dan DeMey, Denison, 17. Jeff James, Stanton,
18. Adam Murdock, Co. Bluffs, 19. 2K Chad Preul, Harlan, 20. Rich Hesse,
Sioux City, 21. Brad McEwan, Alta, 22. Jeff Stephens, Arion, 23. Scott
Carlson, Co. Bluffs, 24. Don Doebelin Jr., Co. Bluffs, 25. Jon Schwartz,
Omaha, 26. Red Monson, Harlan
1st Heat: 1. Stephens, 2. Schwartz, 3. Schmidt
2nd Heat: 1. Ransom, 2. Germar, 3. Murdock
3rd Heat: 1. Bonine, Graham, 3. Schluetter
4th Heat: 1. Madsen, 2. Hogan, 3. McEwan
5th Heat: 1. Reetz, 2. Nicholson, 3. Foote
1st B-Feature: 1. McKeighan, 2. Bruck, 3. Preul
2nd B-Feature: 1. Monson, 2. Doebelin, 3. Hulsebus
3rd B-Feature: 1. Carlson, 2. Hesse, 3. DeMey
NKF Tour for a Cure Weekend Set for Knoxville
Knoxville IA – The National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Modifieds and Hobby Stocks will visit the world famous Knoxville Raceway on Friday and Saturday, September 21st and 22nd, for the Tour For a Cure Weekend At Knoxville.
The Heartland Tour for a Cure is winding down its fourth season of providing race fans with on-track action while raising money to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by kidney disease. Volunteers representing the Pella Hospital Dialysis Unit in Pella will be at the Knoxville Raceway to assist with the event with proceeds from the fifty/fifty raffle going directly to the unit for patient assistance. The Heartland Tour for a Cure has also been nationally recognized for its efforts to communicate the early signs of kidney disease and the importance of early detection.
The NKF Tour has visited the Knoxville Raceway each of the past two seasons, but this will be the first time that the Tour’s Modified and Hobby Stock divisions will be the featured event. “We are looking for drivers from throughout the Midwest to be on hand,” commented NKF Tour Director Jeff Broeg. “Not only do they get an opportunity to race at the premier dirt-track facility in the world, they get to do it for a purse that is solid from top to bottom.” Both divisions will run a full program of heat races, last-chance qualifiers and a feature event each night. On Friday night the Modifieds will run for $700-to-win and $100-to-start while the Hobby Stocks will see a purse that pays $400-to-win and $75-to-start. Saturday night, $1,000 will go to the Modified feature winner while it will pay $155-to-start, and in the Hobby Stocks the feature winner will collect $700 with all feature competitors making at least $115.
The pit gate will open at 3:00 p.m. with hot laps at 6:00 and racing at 6:45 both nights.
Before going to Knoxville though we had another great night of racing on tap at 34 Raceway west of Burlington
McLaughlin
and Kinsley Go The Distance For NKF Wins At 34 Raceway
Burlington,
Iowa (September 15) – Boone McLaughlin fought off a late charge by Tom Goble
and Kirk Kinsley kept a determined Jayson Ditsworth in his rear view mirror as
they earned feature victories during the National Kidney Foundation Heartland
Tour for a Cure event at 34 Raceway Saturday night.
McLaughlin and fellow front-row starter Donovan Lodge made contact on lap one of the Modified main event while racing down the backstretch with Lodge nearly climbing the retaining wall. This sent the field scrambling and while both McLaughlin and Lodge were able to continue, several drivers found themselves with broken racecars. On the restart McLaughlin assumed the lead and looked as if he would cruise throughout the twenty-lap distance. As the laps wound down however, Tom Goble closed in on the leader and during the final lap Goble was able to pull alongside McLaughlin on two occasions. Boone held his line though and had the momentum to take the checkers by a car length. John Bull, Cory Richards and current point leader Darin Thye completed the top five.
The fifteen-lap Hobby Stock main event ran non-stop and there was no stopping Kirk Kinsley either as he picked up his first feature win of the season. Jayson Ditsworth stayed close, but could not mount a serious challenge from second. Chris Webb, John Oliver Jr. and Phillip Beard filled out the top five.
Results
Heartland Tour
Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Donovan Lodge, Andover IL 2. Tim Tucker, Lomax IL 3. Boone
McLaughlin, Mediapolis 4. John Bull, Rock Island IL
2nd
Heat – 1. Tom Goble, Burlington 2. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington 3. Darin Duffy,
Hazelton 4. Bill Roberts, Burlington
3rd
Heat – 1. Cory Richards, Burlington 2. Dave Goble, Burlington 3. Joey Schaefer,
Waterloo 4. Bob Dale, Gorin MO
A-Main
– 1. McLaughlin 2. T. Goble 3. Bull 4. Richards 5. Darin Thye, Burlington 6.
LaVeine 7. Tucker 8. D. Goble 9. Scott Fridley, Mechanicsville 10. Jim
Kuhlmeier, Fort Madison 11. Rob Hillyer, Hills 12. Jerry Bliesener Jr.,
Burlington 13. Scott Boles, Mount Pleasant 14. Schaefer 15. Lodge 16. Duffy 17.
Roberts 18. Dale 19. Elmer Arnold, Mediapolis 20. Ed Hollenbeck, Burlington
Heartland Tour
Hobby Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Tony Becerra, Carthage IL 2. Phillip Beard, Winfield 3. Kirk Kinsley,
Wapello 4. Scott Donlan, Princeton IL
2nd
Heat – 1. John Oliver Jr., Burlington 2. Matt Strassheim, Sperry 3. Dave
Breuer, Burlington 4. Tim Staley, Muscatine
3rd
Heat – 1. Chris Webb, Biggsville IL 2. Jayson Ditsworth, Gladstone IL 3. Chad
Krogmeier, Burlington 4. Craig Beck, Burlington
A-Main
– 1. Kinsley 2. Ditsworth 3. Webb 4. Oliver Jr. 5. Beard 6. Strassheim 7. Beck
8. D. Breuer 9. Donlan 10. Staley 11. Tim Breuer, Burlington 12. Roger Krieger,
Burlington 13. Boe McLaughlin, Mediapolis 14. Krogmeier 15. Becerra 16. Kyle
Chriswell, Burlington 17. Brandon Symmonds, Keokuk 18. Matt Krieger, Burlington
The two day show at Knoxville was now upon us and I cannot tell you how grateful I was to Ralph Capitani and the Marion County Fair Board for giving us the opportunity to present this event at one of the most legendary dirt tracks in all the world. I know that I wanted to present the best racing possible, and the drivers in both divisions wanted to do so as well. Here is the procedure sheet that was passed out to all drivers as they checked in. I was especially proud of the claiming procedures and the final statement in that regard.
Qualifying Procedure For Both Nights
If
there are:
Three Heats: The top six in each heat will qualify for the A with the top four to re-draw. There will be one B-Main with the top four advancing to the A.
Four Heats: The top four from each heat will advance to the A with the top three to re-draw. There will be two B-Mains with the top three from each advancing to the A.
Six Heats: The top three from each heat will advance to the A with the top two to re-draw. There will be two B-Mains with the top two from each to advance to the A.
Eight Heats: The top two from each heat will advance to the A with the winners only to re-draw. If there are less than eighty total cars in the division there will be three B-Mains with the top two from each advancing to the A. If there are eighty or more cars in the division there will be six B-Mains with the winner only advancing to the A.
All cars who qualify must report to the tech area immediately following the qualifying event.
There will be two NKF Tour Provisionals added to the A-Main. These will be awarded to the two drivers who rank the highest in the NKF Tour point standings who did not qualify after competing in both a heat and B-Main. (Must take the green in both a heat and a B)
“One Yellow” Rule During Heats and B-Mains
If a driver causes one caution by stopping on the track
during the heats and B’s, that driver will be sent to the pits for that event.
During the A-Main a driver will be sent to the pits after being involved in two
cautions. Track officials will be more than ready to use the black flag for
rough driving.
Claiming Procedure
In the A-Main, the top four drivers are eligible to be claimed by a driver who is fifth on back and on the lead lap. The top four must report directly to the Claim area and the claiming driver must also report directly to the claim area with cash on hand. ($525 for Modifieds and $325 for Hobby Stocks). Remainder of the claim rules will follow the procedures set forth by the Lee County Speedway rules that will be posted near the line-up board.
Due to the fact that several of our competitors are far from home and would not be able to make arrangements to compete on Saturday night after losing a motor to a claim, we will proceed as follows on Friday night:
Any motor that has been claimed or exchanged will be “tagged” and must be used on Saturday night. At the conclusion of Saturday’s racing the motor(s) will be pulled, however if there is evidence of a “blown motor” for either the claimed motor or the motor to be exchanged, the claim or exchange will be null and void. If a driver who has been claimed does not return on Saturday night, then the claimer has only the satisfaction of eliminating that motor from competition on Saturday.
Please Note: If your primary purpose of being here is to claim a motor, please
return to the pit gate immediately for a full refund.
Thanks For Coming! Have Fun and Good Luck!
Chapman and Lampe Take Tour for a Cure Opener At Knoxville
Knoxville, Iowa (September 21) - When the world famous Knoxville Raceway opened
its gates to the Modifieds and Hobby Stocks of the National Kidney Foundation
Heartland Tour for a Cure Friday night there was plenty of drivers waiting to
get in. Seventy-two Modifieds and eighty-two Hobby Stocks filled the pits and
after a full night of action it was Dan Chapman of Clarence and Jim Lampe of
Carroll in victory lane.
Chapman started on the inside of row two for the twenty-lap Modified main
event, but it only took him one circuit to get by front-row starters Gary Clark
and Mark Widmar. As Chapman began to build his lead, defending NKF Tour
champion Ron Barker moved from sixth to second and tried to keep pace. As the
leaders continued to seperate themselves from the field there was plenty of
action behind them with Tim Folkerts and Mike Spaulding making impressive runs
to the front. At the checkers, Chapman enjoyed a solid lead over the runner-up
Barker, with Folkerts coming from the eleventh row to finish third. Spaulding
passed Tommy Myer in the final laps to finish fourth after starting ninteenth
while Myer completed the top five.
It was a wild night in the Hobby Stock ranks as Don Wear, Lee Fite and Brad
Schipper all took wild rides rolling their cars during the qualifying events.
In the fifteen-lap feature, Adam Speicher and Brad Stephens started on the
front row and on lap two, as they raced for the lead down the frontstretch,
they made contact sending Speicher into a spin that saw his car dig in and
execute a perfect ³Fosbury Flop² over the infield guardrail and into victory
lane where his car rested upside down. Behind them, Mike Grantham also ended up
on his lid during the scramble. All drivers walked away un-injured during the
evening¹s incidents. When the race resumed Jim Lampe acquired the lead with
Kevin Donlan and Rick VanDusseldorp in hot pursuit. The top three waged quite a
battle, but their positions remained the same to the finish. Jeremy Moellers
had to come from the ninth row of his B-Main just to qualify for the feature
and he then raced his way from eighteenth to fourth. Damon Murty completed the
top five.
Another full program of NKF Modifieds and Hobby Stocks is set for Saturday
night at the Knoxville Raceway.
Results
Heartland Tour Modifieds
1st Heat - 1. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie MN 2. John VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa
2nd Heat - 1. Mark Widmar, Ottumwa 2. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls
3rd Heat - 1. Ron Barker, Dubuque 2. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown
4th Heat - 1. Dan Chapman, Clarence 2. Denny Stoneburner, Boone
5th Heat - 1. Jim Moody, Odessa MO 2. Jerry Hoffman, Oranogo MO
6th Heat - 1. Gary Clark, Walker MO 2. Darin Duffy, Hazelton
7th Heat - 1. Mike Hughes, Rose Hill 2. Jeff Schroyer, Marshalltown
8th Heat - 1. Jerry Pilcher, Bloomfield 2. Joe McBirnie, Boone
1st B-Main - 1. Kevin Pittman, Waterloo 2. Mark Elliott, Webster City 3. Jeremy
Tibben, Red Oak 4. Troy Folkerts, Albia 5. David Brown, Kellogg 6. John
Fellman, Blue Grass
2nd B-Main - 1. Brad McEwan, Storm Lake 2. Tim Folkerts, Albia 3. Rod
Scheuermann, Jefferson 4. Mike VanGenderen, Newton 5. Danny Wallace, Des Moines
6. Shawn Ryan, Waterloo
3rd B-Main - 1. Mike Spaulding, Bemidji MN 2. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 3. Scott
Hogan, Vinton 4. Russ Olson, Cedar Rapids 5. Josh Truman, Indianola 6. Jon
Orwig, Chariton
A-Main - 1. Chapman 2. Barker 3. Tim Folkerts 4. Spaulding 5. Myers 6. Hughes
7. Pilcher 8. Clark 9. Gustin 10. Hanford 11. VanDenBerg 12. Dripps 13.
McBirnie 14. Elliott 15. Duffy 16. Scheuermann 17. Stoneburner 18. Dan DeMey,
Denison 19. Widmar 20. McEwan 21. Schroyer 22. Pittman 23. Moody 24. Hoffman
Heartland Tour Hobby Stocks
1st Heat - 1. Carl Knight, Des Moines 2. Randy Embrey, Granger
2nd Heat - 1. Kevin Donlan, Mabel MN 2. Jeff Larson, New Hampton
3rd Heat - 1. Damon Murty, Chelsea 2. Justin Maschke, Des Moines
4th Heat - 1. Brad Stephens, Bussey 2. Jeff Zehr, Manson
5th Heat - 1. Adam Speicher, Fredericksburg 2. Mike Grantham, Clarksville
6th Heat - 1. Jim Lampe, Carroll 2. Doug McCollough, Webster City
7th Heat - 1. Kris Walker, Oskaloosa 2. Mike Shelton, Ottumwa
8th Heat - 1. Rick VanDusseldorp, Oskaloosa 2. Jeff Featherstone, Des Moines
1st B-Main - 1. Ryan Lundy, Knoxville 2. Neil Follett, Conrad 3. Mike Robinson,
Moravia 4. Michael Schmidt, Knoxville 5. Bobby Greene, Tracy 6. Ben Hoesing,
Perry
2nd B-Main - 1. Jeremy Moellers, Elma 2. Dan Feltus, Allison 3. Doug Seidl,
Coon Rapids
4. Josh Reynolds, Stuart 5. Steve Landgrebe, Oskaloosa 6. Mike Thomas, Des
Moines
3rd B-Main - 1. Chris Webb, Biggsville IL 2. Adam Hagen, West Des Moines 3.
Craig Roberts, Des Moines 4. Roger Krieger, Burlington 5. Scott Donlan,
Princeton IL 6. John Thoren, Ankeny
A-Main - 1. Lampe 2. K. Donlan 3. VanDusseldorp 4. Moellers 5. Murty 6. Shelton
7. Matt Strassheim, Sperry 8. Stephens 9. McCollough 10. Lundy 11. Hagen 12.
Embrey 13. Rod Miller, Eldon 14. Knight 15. Feltus 16. Featherstone 17. Webb
18. Maschke 19. Larson 20. Speicher 21. Grantham 22. Zehr 23. Walker 24.
Follett
Barker and Donlan Take NKF Wins On Night Number Two At Knoxville
Knoxville, Iowa (September 22) – Ron Barker of Dubuque, Iowa, and Kevin
Donlan of Mabel, Minnesota, were the class of two solid fields of cars on night
number two of the NKF Tour for a Cure weekend at the Knoxville Raceway Saturday
night.
Barker, the defending Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified champion, was hooked up all night long winning the sixth heat race in convincing fashion. Drawing the pole position for the twenty-lap finale, Barker quickly jumped to a solid advantage with the remainder of the field trying to keep pace. Bruce Hanford, the 1999 NKF Tour champion, moved to second and, after a lap twelve caution, made a solid bid for the lead on the restart. Hanford nosed ahead briefly on the inside of turns one and two, but Barker rode the cushion to perfection and regained the lead down the backstretch. Hanford was able to stay within striking distance over the final laps, but there was no catching Barker as he collected the $1,000 top prize. Friday night’s winner, Dan Chapman, put on quite a show coming from the sixth row to finish third while Mike Spaulding came home fourth for the second night in a row. Tommy Myer completed the top five.
It was a much calmer night in the Hobby Stock ranks with only one major incident when Chris Webb took a hard ride in turn three during an early heat race. Rick VanDusseldorp came from the third starting hole to take the lead on lap one of the fifteen-lap main event, but he had plenty of company behind him. First it was John Oliver Jr. making the challenge, but only until Kevin Donlan was able to pick his way through the field after starting ninth. After racing door-to-door for a couple of laps, Donlan pulled to the front as VanDusseldorp slowed with a flat tire. With the laps slipping away Brad Stephens made one last charge that came up just short as Donlan earned the $700 winner’s check. Stephens came from row nine for the runner-up honors while Oliver, Jeff Zehr and Steve Holthaus came to the finish three-wide to finish third, fourth and fifth.
Not only was the Tour for a Cure weekend at the Knoxville Raceway full of racing action, the event also raised $2,251 for the Pella Hospital Dialysis Unit to use for patient assistance.
Results
Heartland Tour
Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown 2. Jeremy Tibben, Red Oak
2nd
Heat – 1. Shawn Ryan, Waterloo 2. Scott Hogan, Vinton
3rd
Heat – 1. Mike Spaulding, Bemidji MN 2. Dan Chapman, Clarence
4th
Heat – 1. Tommy Myer, Blooming Prairie MN 2. John VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa
5th
Heat – 1. Mike Hughes, Rose Hill 2. Mark Widmar, Ottumwa
6th
Heat – 1. Ron Barker, Dubuque 2. Kevin Pittman, Waterloo
7th
Heat – 1. Tim Folkerts, Albia 2. Lonn Schluetter, Atlantic
8th
Heat – 1. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 2. Jerry Pilcher, Bloomfield
1st
B-Main – 1. Brad Pinkerton, New Sharon 2. Troy Folkerts, Albia 3. Mark Elliott,
Webster City 4. Richard VonKrog, Toledo 5. Dennis Elliott, Mount Ayr 6. Jake
Durbin, Perry
2nd
B-Main – 1. Tim Donlinger, Rochester MN 2. David Brown, Kellogg 3. Rod
Scheuermann, Jefferson 4. Dave Elson, Springfield MO 5. Russ Olson, Cedar
Rapids 6. Jim Moody, Odessa MO
3rd
B-Main – 1. Gary Clark, Walker MO 2. Joe McBirnie, Boone 3. Corey Dripps, Cedar
Falls 4. Mike Vermillion, What Cheer 5. Howard Hall, Columbia MO 6. Denny
Stoneburner, Boone
A-Main
– 1. Barker 2. Hanford 3. Chapman 4. Spaulding 5. Myer 6. VanDenBerg 7. Tim
Folkerts 8. Pinkerton 9. Clark 10. Donlinger 11. Troy Folkerts 12. Gustin 13.
Pilcher 14. Darin Thye, Burlington 15. Hogan 16. Ryan 17. McBirnie 18. Widmar
19. Schluetter 20. Brown 21. Hughes 22. Pittman 23. Tibben 24. Darin Duffy,
Hazelton
Heartland Tour
Hobby Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Adam Speicher, Fredericksburg 2. Rick VanDusseldorp, New Sharon 3.
Mike Grantham, Clarksville
2nd
Heat – 1. Justin Humpal, New Hampton 2. Steve Adams, Chariton 3. Kevin Tanner,
Russell
3rd
Heat – 1. Roger Krieger, Burlington 2. Louis Lynch, Lancaster MO 3. Leland
Mitchell, Bondurant
4th
Heat – 1. Ben Hoesing, Perry 2. Damon Murty, Chelsea 3. Matt Strassheim, Sperry
5th
Heat – 1. John Oliver Jr., Burlington 2. Steve Holthaus, Cresco 3. Brad
Stephens, Bussey
6th
Heat – 1. Kevin Donlan, Mabel MN 2. Jeff Zehr, Manson 3. Adam Hagen, West Des
Moines
1st
B-Main – 1. Jim Lampe, Carroll 2. Jeff Larson, New Hampton 3. Mike Shelton,
Ottumwa 4. Travis Weuve, State Center 5. Bill Dawson, Des Moines 6. Dennis
Kimmel, Des Moines
2nd
B-Main – 1. Jeremy Moellers, Elma 2. Doug McCollough, Webster City 3. Kris
Walker, Oskaloosa 4. Mike Bunch, Des Moines 5. Michael Schmidt, Knoxville 6.
Randy Casner, Milo
A-Main – 1. Donlan 2. Stephens 3. Oliver Jr. 4. Zehr 5. Holthaus 6. Krieger 7. Lampe 8. Moellers 9. Speicher 10. Larson 11. Murty 12. Humpal 13. Hoesing 14. Tanner 15. Shelton 16. Hagen 17. Adams 18. Strassheim 19. Grantham 20. Mitchell 21. Derrick Rohe, Audubon 22. VanDusseldorp 23. McCollough 24. Lynch
Knoxville’s Tour For A Cure Weekend A Success
Knoxville IA – The
National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Weekend at the Knoxville
Raceway proved to be a success not only on the famous half-mile oval, but off
the track as well. Large fields of cars in both the Modifieds and the Hobby
Stocks provided plenty of action both Friday and Saturday night and, with the
support of the event’s sponsors and the fans in the stands, the Pella Hospital
Dialysis Unit will receive $2,242 for use in patient assistance.
The following sponsors helped to make the Tour for a Cure Weekend at Knoxville a success: R.W. Sound, KNIA/KRLS Radio, Red Carpet/Super 8 Motels, Hy-Vee, Pizza Hut, Radio Shack, Mike Zagar with Knoxville Insurance, Wells Fargo Bank, Don Croghan CPA, Darnell Oil, Candi’s Flowers, The National Sprint Car Hall of Fame and Museum, Medicap Pharmacy, Iowa State Bank, Mr. C’s Restaurant, Hometown Weekly and The Harenet.
The success of this inaugural event has set into motion plans for the 2nd Annual “Tour for a Cure Weekend” at the Knoxville Raceway to held in September of 2002.
It was a fantastic weekend at Knoxville and Ralph Capitani indicated that I should plan on including the weekend on the schedule for the 2002 Tour. At this point I knew that there would not be a 2002 NKF Tour, but the rush of this weekend started me thinking about another option and I will get to that later.
NKF Point Race Heats Up As Tour Heads To Echo Valley
Mt. Pleasant IA –
The 2001 National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure is down to its
final three events and when the Tour heads to the Echo Valley Speedway in West
Union this Saturday night, September 29th, there are still seven
drivers who are in the hunt for the Modified point championship.
Darin Thye has been on top of the Modified point sheet since early June and remains the man to beat for $2,500 point title, however, what may appear to be a solid lead for the Burlington driver is not quite as comfortable as it seems. The NKF Tour uses a driver’s best twelve finishes in Tour events to determine the driver’s point total and while Thye’s lead currently stands at fifty-nine points, he must finish ninth or better to add to his total. Dan Chapman of Clarence now ranks second after competing in his twelfth event last weekend at Knoxville and only needs to finish better than eighteenth to add to his point total. A win by Chapman at Echo Valley could put him within fourteen points of the lead. All three of the Tour’s former champions are still within striking distance as well with Bruce Hanford of Davenport in third, Ron Barker of Dubuque in sixth and Corey Dripps of Cedar Falls in seventh. Darin Duffy of Hazelton and John Bull of Rock Island, Illinois, are also very much in contention and all seven drivers are expected to be in action this Saturday night. They will be joined by a strong field of Modified drivers in search of the $1,000 feature winner’s check at the Echo Valley Speedway.
Rod Miller of Eldon has clinched the point championship for the NKF Tour Hobby Stocks and the $1,000 check that goes with it. However the $3,925 that will go to the remaining positions in the top ten in the final points is still up for grabs with several northeast Iowa drivers poised to crack the top ten. After his strong showing at Knoxville Kevin Donlan now ranks tenth and looks to move up the standings as will Jeremy Moellers, Jeff Larson, Tory Reicks, Adam Speicher, Steve Holthaus and Justin Humpal. Saturday night’s Hobby Stock feature will pay $300-to-win. The Pure Stocks and Cruisers will also be in action with hot laps scheduled for 5:30 and racing at 6:00.
Proceeds from the night’s fifty/fifty raffle will go to the Palmer Lutheran Health Center Dialysis Unit in West Union.
Here is an example of what we would pass out to the fans each race night. You would have thought that I would have kept at least one copy of the Yearbook, but we passed them all out before the end of the Tour.
Proceeds from tonight’s
50/50 Raffle will go to the Palmer Lutheran Health Center Dialysis Unit. Get
your tickets now! One ticket for $1.00 or six tickets for $5.00.
National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Souvenir T-Shirts are on sale tonight.
T-Shirts: $15
Also, pick up your free copy of the 2001 Heartland Tour for a Cure Yearbook tonight. Pictures, Tour History and the 2001 Schedule are all included. Get your copy at the NKF table.
Scott’s Quality Seeds of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, is the sponsor of all B-Main events, or Last Chance races on the 2001 NKF Heartland Tour for a Cure. Scott’s Quality Seeds is the farmer’s one-stop shop for corn, soybeans, alfalfa, small grains and turf products. For more information pick up a flyer at the NKF t-shirt table and find out why Scott’s Quality Seeds are “The Seed With Speed”
Tonight’s NKF Tour Modified Feature Winner will be eligible for the $1,000 Wal Mart Feature Winners Bonus drawing to be held at the conclusion of the 2001 NKF Heartland Tour. Find low prices everyday at your hometown Wal Mart store.
Do you know the six warning signs of kidney disease?
-
Puffiness around the eyes and swelling of the hands
and feet
-
Burning or difficulty during urination
-
More frequent urination
-
Blood in the urine
-
Pain in the small of the back, and
-
High blood pressure
If you have any of these
symptoms please contact your physician, remember that early detection saves
lives!
In less than two minutes
you could save a life. Make sure that you have a signed organ donor card and
you may be able to give someone the gift of life.
During your next regular checkup include tests for blood pressure, blood sugar, urine protein and kidney function. Early detection can save your life. For more information on kidney disease call the National Kidney Foundation at (800) 369-3619.
Former Champions Dripps And Holthaus Take Echo Valley NKF Tour Wins
West
Union, Iowa (September 29) – The inaugural season of the National Kidney
Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure was in 1998 and in that first year both
Corey Dripps of Cedar Falls and Steve Holthaus of Cresco were dominant in their
respective divisions on their way to the point championships. On Saturday
night, both drivers were again dominant as they raced their way to feature wins
at the Echo Valley Speedway.
Dripps started the twenty-five lap Modified main event alongside Darin Duffy on the front row and the two arced hard for the lead in the early laps. Dripps soon gained the advantage with Dan Chapman moving in to second and looking to challenge. During a couple of mid-race restarts Chapman was able to stick a nose under the leader, but each time Dripps was able to hold him off and as the race wound down he eased away for a comfortable victory. For Dripps it was the eleventh time that he has visited victory lane during the four years of the NKF Tour. Chapman came in as the runner-up followed by Kevin Pittman, Ron Barker and John Bull.
Holthaus started outside of row one and looked as if he would go the distance without challenge in the Hobby Stock feature. However, Justin O’Brien made a nice run through the field and was able to pull alongside the leader late in the race before settling for second. It NKF Tour career win number six for Holthaus who was followed by O’Brien, Jim Lampe, Dan Christopher and Jeremy Moellers.
The Heartland Tour continues this Saturday night, October 6th, at the Tipton Speedway for the 21st Annual Hawkeyeland Championships. The Modifieds will be running for $1,000-to-win with $500 going to the Hobby Stock feature winner.
Results
Heartland Tour
Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 2. Dan Bohr, Decorah 3. Darin Duffy,
Hazleton 4. Todd Suhr, New Hampton
2nd
Heat – 1. Ron Barker, Dubuque 2. Todd Ihde, Decorah 3. John Bull, Rock Island
IL 4. Kevin Schroeder, Elkport
3rd
Heat – 1. Kevin Pittman, Waterloo 2. Shawn Ryan, Waterloo 3. Darren Ackerman,
Waterloo 4. Larry Schmidt, New Hampton
4th
Heat – 1. Dan Chapman, Clarence 2. Randy Trefz, Vinton 3. Scott Hogan, Vinton
4. Dennis Dugan, Colesburg
Scott’s
Quality Seeds B-Main – 1. Chuck Stanton, New Hampton 2. Tony Trower, New
Hampton 3. Todd Kelley, Fredericksburg 4. Troy Cordes, Dewar 5. Robert Whalen,
Charles City 6. Larry Grube, Cresco 7. Mike Swarts, New Hartford 8. Adam
Martinson, Decorah 9. Patrick Flannagan, Marion 10. Rod Scheuermann, Jefferson
A-Main
– 1. Dripps 2. Chapman 3. Pittman 4. Barker 5. Bull 6. Duffy 7. Ryan 8. Ihde 9.
Schroeder 10. Hogan 11. Suhr 12. Bohr 13. Trefz 14. Scheuermann 15. Flannagan
16. Whalen 17. Dugan 18. Stanton 19. Ackerman 20. Cordes 21. Schmidt 22. Trower
23. Kelley 24. Grube
Heartland Tour
Hobby Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Justin O’Brien, Volga 2. Bob Praska, Hawkeye 3. Tracy Ayres, Waukon
4. Adam Speicher, Fredericksburg
2nd
Heat – 1. Jason Rohde, Fayette 2. Steve Holthaus, Cresco 3. Roger Krieger,
Burlington 4. Jeff Larson, New Hampton
3rd
Heat – 1. Dan Christopher, Decorah 2. Dean Vrba, Fort Atkinson 3. Joel Brasch,
Dunkerton 4. Mike Grantham, Clarksville
A-Main
– 1. Holthaus 2. O’Brien 3. Jim Lampe, Carroll 4. Christopher 5. Jeremy
Moellers, Elma 6. Larson 7. Brian Irvine, Oelwein 8. Grantham 9. Vrba 10.
Praska 11. Matt Strassheim, Sperry 12. Ayres 13. Tracy Quigley, Fredericksburg
14. Speicher 15. Troy Hansmeier, Waukon 16. Rohde 17. Jeremiah Boynton, Fayette
18. Chris Wilkins, Waukon 19. Chris Schares, Fairbank 20. Brady Moss, Des
Moines 21. Brasch 22. Krieger
The penultimate NKF Tour event would be the annual Hawkeyeland Championships at Tipton
Late Moves Net Hawkeyeland Wins For Bull and Schissel At Tipton
Tipton,
Iowa (October 6th) – There
are usually three things that you can expect to see when the annual Hawkeyeland
Championships are contested at the Tipton Speedway, cold weather, large car-counts
and feature races that go right down to the wire. All three occurred again
Saturday night as John Bull and Travis Schissel picked up feature wins on a
chilly evening in east central Iowa.
Fifty-two Modifieds signed in for the $1,000-to-win NKF Tour event with Terry Lawson and Jason Schueller earning the front row for the thirty lap finale. However it was second row starter John Bull who made the move to lead the field for lap one. Robbie Verbeck followed Bull to the front and kept the heat on the leader until defending Hawkeyeland winner Scott Megonigle mad his presence felt. Megonigle came from the eight starting spot to take the lead from Bull on lap seventeen and it looked as if he would pull away for a repeat victory. Bull fought back though and with only three laps remaining he made a bid for the lead that came up short. As the white flag flew, Bull again positioned himself for on last run and when Megonigle left an opening on the bottom Bull shot through it off turn four to take the win, his fourth of the season on the NKF Tour. Megonigle settled for second followed by Verbeck, Schueller and Bob Dominacki.
The forty-two car Hobby Stock field was whittled down to twenty-one qualifiers for the twenty-lap main event with father and son, Rod and Jeremy Miller starting on the front row. Jeremy said, “See ya Dad” at the drop of the green and opened up a solid lead early on. Dan Woods quickly moved toward the front from his fourth row start and was closing on the leader before a tire went down and then, during a lap ten caution, Miller was unable to keep the car fired and he retired to the pits. Richard Quail inherited the lead at that point, but Travis Schissel was a man on a mission after starting fourteenth on the grid. Schissel made the pass on Quail and then drove away over the final five laps for the $500 victory. Quail came home second followed by Rod Miller, Brian Bonney and Jim Lampe. Bonney came from row eight while Lampe started in row ten.
The 2001 NKF Heartland Tour for a Cure will come to an exciting close on Saturday, October 20th, during the 3rd Annual Shiverfest event at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson.
Results
Heartland Tour
Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Scott Megonigle, Cedar Rapids 2. Roy Pestka, Durant 3. John Bull,
Rock Island IL
2nd
Heat – 1. Mike Zogg, Clarence 2. Scott Fridley, Mechanicsville 3. Kyle Diercks,
Princeton
3rd
Heat – 1. Jason Schueller, Dubuque 2. Scott Lemke, Rockford IL 3. Thad Wilson,
Moline IL
4th
Heat – 1. Robbie Verbeck, Annawan IL 2. Terry Lawson, New Liberty 3. Tom Goble,
Burlington
Scott’s
Quality Seeds B-Mains:
1st
– 1. Todd Stoolman, West Branch 2. John Brumley, Riverside 3. Scott Hogan 4.
Jeff Baker, Maquoketa 5. Patrick Flannagan, Marion 6. Bart Miller, Clarence 7.
Dennis Betzer, Central City 8. Rod Scheuermann, Jefferson 9. Brad Huff, Marion
10. Larry Grube, Cresco 11. Tim Arp, Donahue 12. Donovan Lodge, Andover IL 13.
Mike Miller, Leaf River IL
2nd
– 1. Bob Dominacki, Bettendorf 2. Shawn Stinger, Palo 3. Dennis Diercks,
Princeton 4. Roger Donahue, Dubuque 5. Daron Oberbroeckling, Davenport 6.
Dennis LaVeine, Burlington 7. Mike Thomas, Cedar Valley 8. Dean McGee Jr.,
Galesburg IL 9. Randy Trefz, Vinton 10. Hal Sprague, Maquoketa 11. Royce
Gottschalck, Lowden 12. Jon Passick, Waterloo 13. Dean McGee Sr., Galesburg IL
14. Aric Becker, Cedar Rapids
A-Main
– 1. Bull 2. Megonigle 3. Verbeck 4. Schueller 5. Dominacki 6. Lawson 7.
Fridley 8. Wilson 9. Zogg 10. Stoolman 11. Ron Barker, Dubuque 12. Pestka 13.
Goble 14. Lemke 15. Miller 16. Hogan 17. D. Diercks 18. Stinger 19. K. Diercks
20. Brumley 21. Darin Thye, Burlington
Heartland Tour
Hobby Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Dan Woods, Colona IL 2. Chris Litscher, Stanwood 3. Brendan Driscoll,
Preston
2nd
Heat – 1. Jerry Pratt, New Liberty 2. Richard Quail, Waterloo 3. Jeff Morris,
Long Grove
3rd
Heat – 1. Jeremy Miller, Eldon 2. Craig Jones, Moline IL 3. Tolly Howell,
Maquoketa
4th
Heat – 1. Blaire Benzing, Waterville 2. Rod Miller, Eldon 3. Jeremy Erie, Mount
Vernon
Scott’s
Quality Seeds B-Mains:
1st
– 1. Bill Yeast, Knoxville IL 2. Brian Bonney, Lost Nation 3. Josh Hamann,
Eldridge 4. Jim Lampe, Carroll 5. Brad Sterling, Moline IL 6. Jeff Stevens,
Davenport 7. Lloyd Bacon, Cedar Falls 8. Curtis VonBerghe, New Liberty 9. Joe
Beal, Milan IL
2nd
– 1. Travis Schissel, Calmar 2. Mike Grantham, Clarksville 3. Cory Soppe,
Dubuque 4. Brad Tyler, Moscow 5. Chad Paup, Clarence 6. Tim Staley, Muscatine
7. Tory Ketelson, DeWitt 8. Dave Koob, Maquoketa 9. Mike Felske, Mechanicsville
10. Andy Hart, Lowden
A-Main – 1. Schissel 2. Quail 3. R. Miller 4. Bonney 5. Lampe 6. Soppe 7. Morris 8. Driscoll 9. Paup 10. Staley 11. Erie 12. Grantham 13. Pratt 14. Benzing 15. J. Miller 16. Howell 17. Jones 18. Woods 19. Yeast 20. Litscher 21. Hamann
 |
| John Bull in NKF Tour action - Barton Photography photo provided |
We were now down to the final race of the 2001 NKF Tour and as the co-promoter of Shiverfest with Terry and Jenni Hoenig, I wanted to make sure that we went out in style. Here are three pre-event Press Releases.
Hobby Stock Title Is Miller’s, Shiverfest To Decide NKF Tour Modified Champion
Donnellson IA –
After a runner-up finish in 1999 and a third-place run in 2000, Rod Miller of
Eldon has clinched the 2001 National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a
Cure Hobby Stock title heading into the Tour’s final event of the season. For
the Modifieds, the 3rd Annual Shiverfest to be held on Saturday
October 20th at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, will
determine who is crowned the NKF Tour champion with three drivers still in
contention for the championship.
The NKF Tour uses a driver’s best twelve finishes to determine his point total and since all three contenders have raced in more than twelve events already this season there are numerous scenarios that could develop during this final race. John Bull of Rock Island, Illinois, is currently third in the point standings and must run fourth or better at Donnellson to have a chance at the title. Dan Chapman of Clarence is currently second on the chart and must run sixth or better if he wants to collect the championship worth $2,500. Darin Thye of Burlington has been the point leader since early June and he can eliminate all of his challengers by running first or second during Shiverfest. Several other positions are up for grabs as the top ten Modified drivers earn a part of over $10,000 in point fund money.
Rod Miller knows that he will be called to the frontstretch at Donnellson to receive his Hobby Stock championship plaque and the $1,000 prize that goes with it. However, with many of the top ten positions in the final standings yet to be determined, the remaining $4,000 in point fund money is still up for grabs.
Shiverfest will once again benefit the Southeast Renal Dialysis Units in Mt. Pleasant, Keokuk and Burlington and this event is for the entire family with pre-race “Pit Hayrack Rides” and post-race Trick or Treating for the kids. Gates open at 1:30 p.m., with Hot Laps at 4:00 and racing at 4:45.
Northwest and Southern Bonus Money On The Line At Shiverfest
Donnellson IA – Regional bonus money is on the line when the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure concludes its 2001 schedule at the 3rd Annual Shiverfest. The event is scheduled for Saturday, October 20th, at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson.
The NKF Tour offered a $1,000 Southern Bonus to be presented to the driver that accumulated the most points at selected events on the 2001 schedule and several drivers are in a position to collect. Bruce Hanford of Davenport leads the list with 124 points, Randy Zimmerman of Fort Scott, Kansas, has 110 points and Burlington driver, Darin Thye, is third with 107 points. Hanford and Thye are likely to be at Shiverfest on a track where both drivers have had success in the past. Eight additional drivers are still mathematically eligible for the cash prize, but all eight drivers would need to win the race and have the top three contenders suffer bad luck to take home the cash prize. They are Johnny Bone Jr., Scott Drake, Jason Lakey, Curt Rackers, Adam Larson, Justin Boney, Joey Kates and Jeff Waggoner.
The $500 Northwest Bonus is basically a two-man race and both drivers have indicated that they will be on hand October 20th. Kevin Pospisil of Worthington, Minnesota, leads Dan DeMey of Denison, Iowa, by thirteen points going into this final event. Mike Bosma, Greg Peck, Brad McEwan and Chris Prussman could all still win the Bonus with a Shiverfest victory, but only if Pospisil decided not to attend.
Shiverfest will once again benefit the Southeast Renal Dialysis Units in Mt. Pleasant, Keokuk and Burlington and this event is for the entire family with pre-race “Pit Hayrack Rides” and post-race Trick or Treating for the kids. Gates open at 1:30 p.m., with Hot Laps at 4:00 and racing at 4:45.
Thirty-Four Drivers, Plus One More (?), Eligible For $1,000
Wal Mart Bonus
Donnellson IA –
Thirty-four Modified drivers, and possibly one more, will have a chance to earn
an extra $1,000 in cash during the 3rd Annual Shiverfest at the Lee
County Speedway, Saturday October 20th. The Wal Mart Feature Winners
Bonus recipient will be drawn out by a representative of the Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa, Wal Mart store at the conclusion of the National Kidney Foundation
Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified feature.
During each event of the 2001 NKF Tour, the Modified
feature winner has had his name put on a poker chip that has been deposited
into the Wal Mart Feature Winners Bonus bucket. Drivers who have won more than
one Tour event this season know that their odds of winning the $1,000, posted
by the Mt. Pleasant Wal Mart Store, are better than the rest. Three drivers
John Bull, Corey Dripps and Darin Duffy, come into the event with four chips
each in the bucket. Three more drivers, Ron Barker, Dan Chapman and Darin Thye,
each have two chips waiting to be drawn, while the following drivers hope that
all it takes is the one chip that they have deposited: Eddie Brannon, Mike
Bosma, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Darling, Doug Deterding, Ryan Dolan, Rick Gustin,
Todd Ihde, Mike Karhoff, Rich Lewerke, Brad McEwan, Boone McLaughlin, Jeremy
Mills, Brandon Monson, Dan Mueller, John Nicholson, Mark Noble, Jimmy Owens,
Greg Peck, Brad Pinkerton, Ron Pope, Chris Prussman, Craig Reetz, Kelly
Shryock, Ricky Stephan, Kevin Stoa, Darin Walker and Randy Zimmerman. One more
chip will be added, the winner of the Shiverfest Modified main event, just
before the drawing.
Shiverfest will once again benefit the Southeast Renal Dialysis Units in Mt. Pleasant, Keokuk and Burlington and this event is for the entire family with pre-race “Pit Hayrack Rides” and post-race Trick or Treating for the kids. Gates open at 1:30 p.m., with Hot Laps at 4:00 and racing at 4:45.
I will wrap up the 2001 NKF Tour with Shiverfest and give you more info on what I had considered doing in 2002 in the final segment of this story, to be posted soon here on the Back Stretch
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