We pick up the story of the second season of the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure with a July 1st event at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton. Unless you attended races at Vinton some twenty years ago you probably would not know that the President of IMCA, Brett Root was a pretty darn good Modified driver, especially at his home track and on this night he came up just a half car length short of taking the feature win.
Jackson Fights Off Root; Rohde Holds Back Temeyer For NKF Tour Wins At Vinton
Vinton, Iowa – A tacky multi-grooved race track provided for plenty of action as the Toyota National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure visited the Benton County Speedway here Thursday night. Vern Jackson of Waterloo fought off a variety of challenges over the final laps to win his first career NKF Tour Modified feature, while Jason Rohde of Fayette captured the win in the Hobby Stock headliner.
Jackson fought a miss in his engine all night long, but a second place run in his heat and a great redraw put him on the front row of the twenty-lap main event. Jackson grabbed the early lead with Brett Root in hot pursuit. While Root was looking for a clear path to pass the leader, several drivers made valiant charges to the front. First it was Arlo Becker who started twelfth and was quickly up to third before blowing a tire just a few laps shy of the finish. Next it was Tim Folkerts who came from sixteenth to get under Root for second with just two laps to go before his motor let go. On the final lap, the seventeenth starter, Bruce Hanford, joined the battle for the lead working the inside groove while Root made one last charge on the high side. At the checkers it was Jackson by a half car length over Root who was only a few feet ahead of Hanford. Randy Trefz and Jack Mitchell completed the top five of this action-filled event.
The Hobby Stock fifteen-lap feature did not go well for most of the NKF Tour regulars. Blaire Benzing hooked bumpers with early leader Mike Hiller sending both of them to the rear, while point contenders Rod Miller and Jeff Larson tangled in turn three on lap six with Miller taking a roll with Larson jumping over top of him. One traveler did have a good night though as Jason Rohde fought off a late challenge from Todd Temeyer to take the win. Temeyer took the runner-up spot followed by Chris Schares in third. Jerry Dedrick came from deep in the pack to finish fourth while Laverne Schutterle rounded out the top five.
Results
Toyota NKF
Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Arlo Becker, Atkins 2. Russ Olson, Cedar Rapids 3. Brett Root,
Waterloo 4. Timm Jensen, Dunkerton
2nd
Heat – 1. Jack Mitchell, Cedar Falls 2. Vern Jackson, Waterloo 3. Doug Firgard,
Hudson 4. Jan Messer, Manchester
3rd
Heat – 1. David Brown, Kellogg 2. Randy Trefz, Vinton 3. Tim McBride, Evansdale
4. Duane Peterson, Beaman
A-Main
– 1. Jackson 2. Root 3. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 4. Trefz 5. Mitchell 6.
McBride 7. Olson 8. Firgard 9. Tim Folkerts, Albia 10. Becker 11. Brown 12.
Messer 13. Peterson 14. Ed Thomas, Waterloo 15. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 16.
Dick Covington, Vinton 17. Jensen
Toyota NKF Hobby Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Chris Schares, Jesup 2. Todd Temeyer, Independence 3. Frankie Dulin,
Vinton 4. Jason Rohde, Fayette
2nd
Heat – 1. Stoney Leonard, Ladora 2. Rod Miller, Eldon 3. Jeff Larson, New
Hampton 4. Terry Dulin, Vinton
3rd
Heat – 1. Mike Hiller, Dunkerton 2. Blaire Benzing, Waterville 3. Tim Swope
Jr., Evansdale 4. Heath Evens, Independence
B-Main
– 1. Brad Forbes, Waterloo 2. Jim Aschenbrenner, Waterloo 3. Laverne
Schutterle, Ladora 4. Jerry Dedrick, Vinton 5. Jay Schwamann, Ft. Atkinson 6.
Steve Kesl, Elberon 7. Larry Franken, Washburn 8. Rob Olson, Cedar Rapids 9.
Ryan Higdon, Vinton 10. Dave Kincaid, Cedar Rapids 11. Guy Stacy, Rowley
A-Main – 1. Rohde 2. Temeyer 3. Schares 4. Dedrick 5. Schutterle 6. T. Dulin 7. Franken 8. Olson 9. Aschenbrenner 10. Benzing 11. Larson 12. Kesl 13. Hiller 14. Evens 15. F. Dulin 16. Miller 17. Schwamann 18. Leonard 19. Swope Jr. 20. Forbes
 |
| I don't have one of his Modified on file, but here is a shot of Vern Jackson winning Pro Stock races in the early 1990's |
Next up for the NKF Tour Modifieds were two nights of racing as the support class for the UMP Summer Nationals at Farley and Knoxville. It was an opportunity for us to not only race on a "big stage", but also to communicate the non-racing mission of the Tour to large crowds. The story and results for Farley follows and for whatever reason I do not have the story from Knoxville saved, but the results from the Knoxville Raceway website are copied below.
Chapman Stops Dripps For First Toyota NKF Tour Victory At Farley
Farley, Iowa – Dan Chapman used the inside groove of the Farley Speedway to perfection Monday night to earn his first career National Kidney Foundation of Iowa Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified feature win. The Tour ran in support of the UMP Late Model Summer Nationals event that saw Billy Moyer earn his tenth victory.
Defending NKF Tour champion Corey Dripps snared the lead from his front row start in the twenty-lap Modified headliner with Robbie Verbeck in hot pursuit. Chapman, who had started seventh, quickly worked his way into second using the low groove on the high speed racetrack. After making a couple of unsuccessful bids for the lead, Chapman was able to shut the door on Dripps on lap eleven for the top spot. Verbeck showed some late strength after getting by Dripps for second and showed his nose to Chapman on the outside. The leader then made a wise decision and moved back to the cushion for the final two circuits to hold off Verbeck for the win. Dripps came home third followed by Bob Dominacki and Ron Barker.
Results
Toyota NKF
Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Bob Dominacki, Bettendorf 2. Ron Barker, Dubuque 3. Dan Chapman,
Clarence 4. Jack Mitchell, Cedar Falls
2nd
Heat – 1. Robbie Verbeck, Annawan IL 2. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 3. Kevin
Pittman, Waterloo 4. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls
3rd
Heat – 1. Darin Thye, Burlington 2. Scott Nesteby, Asbury 3. John Bull, Rock
Island IL 4. Jamie Aikey, Cedar Falls
B-Main
– 1. Jed Hurst, Dubuque 2. Casey Schram, Sterling IL 3. Rick Johnson,
Independence 4. David Boyd, Columbus Jct. 5. Timm Jensen, Dunkerton 6. Brett
Root, Waterloo 7. Vern Jackson, Waterloo
A-Main
– 1. Chapman 2. Verbeck 3. Dripps 4. Dominacki 5. Barker 6. Aikey 7. Pittman 8.
Dan Bohr, Decorah 9. Hurst 10. Nesteby 11. Tim Folkerts, Albia 12. Bull 13.
Todd Ihde, Decorah 14. Russ Olson, Cedar Rapids 15. Schram 16. Johnson 17.
David Brown, Kellogg 18. Jackson 19. Mitchell 20. Boyd 21. Hanford 22. Jensen
23. Thye 24. Max Dunlap, Zearing
NKF Tour Modified Results from the Knoxville Raceway
Modifieds Heat one: 1. 74, Mark Noble 2. M2, Scott Megonigle 3. 10m, Jeremy Mills / 4. 11D, Darin Thye
Heat two: 1. 31, Corey Dripps 2. T28, Todd Ihde 3. 19, Rick Gustin / 4. 77, Dean Wray
Heat three: 1. JD1, John Krajicek 2. 18K, Joe Kosiski 3. 69, Kenny Schrader / 4. 42, Mark Wyman
Heat four: 1. 3D, Tim Donlinger 2. 35, Eric Lundstrom 3. 41, Danny Wallace / 4. 312, Mike Collins
Heat five: 1. 96, Johnny Saathoff 2. 10, John VanDenBerg 3. 3x, Kevin Cale / 4. 1+, Bill Davis
Heat six: 1. 92s, Jeff Stephens 2. B3, Russ Olson 3. 7II, Mike Hejna / 4. 12, Eric Fullenkamp
B Main one: 1. 21x, John Anderson / 2. Darin Thye 3. Bill Davis 4. 5m, Jack Mitchell
B Main two: 1. 1, Dan Chapman / 2. Dean Wray 3. Eric Fullenkamp 4. 18, Tim Folkerts
B Main three: 1. 3, Kelly Shryock / 2. Mark Wyman 3. 03, Jeff Gorman 4. 61, Bruce Hanford 5. 2m, Mike Meyer 6. Al Hejna
B Main four: 1. Mike Collins / 2. 27, John Bull 3. D1D, Brad Dubil 4. 2G, Gordy Grubb 5. 18J, Jon Schwartz 6. 2R, Rod Monson
A Main: 1. Scott Megonigle 2. Mark Noble 3. Tim Donlinger 4. Russ Olson 5. Johnny Saathoff 6. John Krajicek 7. John VanDenBerg 8. Jeff Stephens 9. John Anderson 10. Kenny Schrader 11. Kelly Shryock 12. Corey Dripps 13. Tim Folkerts 14. Todd Ihde 15. Mike Collins 16. Jeremy Mills 17. Rick Gustin 18. Mike Hejna 19. Danny Wallace 20. Bruce Hanford 21. Eric Lundstrom 22. Dan Chapman 23. Joe Kosiski 24. Kevin Cale. Lap Leaders: Noble 1-8; Megonigle 9-20
After spending Monday and Tuesday night with the Modifieds, Chad and I loaded up and headed for Alta on Thursday where once again just the Hobby Stocks would be on the card at BVR.
Schmitt Survives Wild Final Laps To Win Toyota NKF Tour Race At Alta
Alta, Iowa – There was plenty of action to witness Thursday night as the Toyota National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Hobby Stocks made their annual visit to the Buena Vista County Fair, especially in the final laps of the twenty-lap race.
Rod Miller, who had made the five hour tow from Eldon, jumped out to the lead of the main event with Rod McClurg and Phil Hauge in hot pursuit. On lap nine, Dan Hanselman put his car into second and began to challenge Miller for the lead, but a flat tire sidelined the Algona driver on lap twelve. On the restart Hauge was able to slide by Miller for the top spot on the fourteenth circuit and it looked as if he would cruise the rest of the way for the victory. As the leader came out of turn four to pick up the white flag, his right rear tire blew. Brian Schmitt and Mark Hill, who had been waging quite a battle for the second spot, were now racing for the lead. Schmitt was able to nose ahead of Hill on the final lap for the win just before the tenth place car of Jeff Larson ended the race with a red flag after crashing through the cement barrier on the backstretch. With the official finish reverting back to the white flag lap for those drivers who had not yet crossed the finish line, it was a break for Hauge who placed third with McClurg fourth and Miller fifth.
The NKF Tour Hobby Stocks have a doubleheader up next on the schedule as they will be at the Crawford County Speedway in Denison on Wednesday, July 21st, and the following night, July 22nd, the Hobby Stocks will be at the Greenbelt Speedway in Eldora.
Results
Toyota NKF Hobby
Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Rod Miller, Eldon 2. Mike Albertson, Audubon 3. Kim Law, Carnavan 4.
Jeff Danielson, Duncombe
2nd
Heat – 1. Rod McClurg, Pocahontas 2. Phil Hauge, Manson 3. Jeff Zehr, Manson 4.
Brian Schmitt, Wall Lake
3rd
Heat – 1. Jeff Richardson, Laurens 2. Randy Andreason, Lytton 3. Ron Jensen,
Jackson NE 4. Doug Barglof, Sioux Rapids
4th
Heat – 1. Dan Hanselman, Algona 2. Mark Hill, Cherokee 3. Jason Mickelson,
Storm Lake 4. Jim Mitchell, Webster City
B-Main
– 1. Roger Tripp, Marathon 2. Jeff Larson, New Hampton 3. Robert Norem,
Ocheydan 4. Terry Duitsman, Sioux City 5. John Briggs, Sutherland 6. Randy Lawrey,
Marcus 7. Doug Ockerman, Cherokee 8. Jerry Plagman, Alta
A-Main – 1. Schmitt 2. Hill 3. Hauge 4. McClurg 5. Miller 6. Danielson 7. Tripp 8. Jensen 9. Lawrey 10. Larson 11. Richardson 12. Duitsman 13. Mickelson 14. Zehr 15. Ockerman 16. Barglof 17. Law 18. Briggs 19. Hanselman 20. Albertson 21. Plagman 22. Mitchell 23. Andreason 24. Norem
The next event on the schedule would be a unique one as the NKF Tour would run a "co-sanctioned" event with Todd Staley's United States Modified Touring Series, or the USMTS at the Crawford County Speedway. Now keep in mind that in 1999, while the USMTS featured the best Modified drivers in the country as they do today, the rules were pretty similar to the weekly rules that were being run around the Midwest. A pairing like this would not really work here in 2021, but on this night Bruce Hanford was the best of the Tour regulars while Rick Gustin and Tim Folkerts also cracked the top twelve. This was also back when the track in Denison was a big, fast half-mile.
Jones Fights Off Many Challengers; Ziegman Tops Hobby Stocks At Denison
Denison, Iowa – Ron Jones of Zimmerman, Minnesota, started up front and stayed there throughout the entire thirty-lap Modfied feature as the Toyota National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure raced in conjunction with the United States Modified Touring Series at the Crawford County Speedway Wednesday night. Odeboldt’s Joel Ziegman also went flag-to-flag to win the NKF Tour Hobby Stock event in front of a large crowd.
Jones started on the outside of row one and jumped to the lead at the drop of the green. Tim Donlinger was the first to apply the pressure on the leader, pulling alongside Jones on several occasions. Steve Kosiski soon joined the battle for the lead along with Ken Schrader who was at the wheel of John Logue’s #69. The race for the top spot really got interesting when Mark Noble, who started in the twenty-third position moved into fourth on lap fifteen. Noble’s amazing charge ended soon after that with mechanical woes and a few laps later Donlinger suffered the same fate. That left Kosiski and Schrader to hound Jones over the final laps with the Minnesota Modified star successfully holding off the challengers for the win. Kosiski was the runner-up followed by Schrader, Bruce Hanford and John Krajicek.
There was no touching Joel Ziegman in the NKF Hobby Stock main event as the talented young driver drew the pole position and kept the second place car of Nick King a safe distance back the entire event. Dan Hanselman finished in the third spot with Jim Mitchell and Mike Grantham rounding out the top five.
Results
Toyota NKF Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Ken Schrader, Concord NC 2. John Anderson, Omaha NE 3. John Krajicek,
Denison 4. Kelly Shryock, Story City
2nd
Heat – 1. Ron Jones, Zimmerman MN 2. Tim Donlinger, Rochester MN 3. Marty
Thompson, Mineral IL 4. Dann Olson, Braham MN
3rd
Heat – 1. Darin Thye, Burlington 2. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 3. Jon Schwartz,
Omaha NE 4. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown
4th
Heat – 1. Jeremy Mills, Marathon 2. Aaron Larson, Hubbard 3. Gary March, Sioux
City 4. Dan Mueller, Griswold
5th
Heat – 1. Steve Kosiski, Omaha NE 2. Jerry Warner, LaVista NE 3. Tommy Myer,
Blooming Prairie MN 4. Don Doeblin, Omaha NE
1st
B-Main – 1. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 2. Mark Dotson, Cameron MO 3. Schwartz 4.
Red Monson, Harlan 5. Jeff Stephens, Arion 6. Lonn Schluetter, Atlantic 7. Doug
Hillson, Blooming Prairie MN 8. Mike Collins, Omaha NE 9. March
2nd
B-Main – 1. Shryock 2. Myer 3. Wally Wagner, Sioux City 4. Craig Reetz, Dunlap
5. Olson 6. Mueller 7. Damian Smith, Osceola NE 8. John Nicholson, Omaha NE 9.
Mike Johnson, Council Bluffs 10. David Brown, Kellogg
A-Main
– 1. Jones 2. Kosiski 3. Schrader 4. Hanford 5. Krajicek 6. Shryock 7. Warner
8. Gustin 9. Anderson 10. Myer 11. Stephens 12. Tim Folkerts, Albia 13. Mills
14. Donlinger 15. Wagner 16. Dripps 17. Dotson 18. Reetz 19. Noble 20. Olson
21. Thompson 22. Schwartz 23. Thye 24. Monson 25. Larson 26. Max Dunlap,
Zearing
Toyota NKF Hobby Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Rod Miller, Eldon 2. Dan Hanselman, Algona 3. Jason Blunk, Vail 4,
Joel Ziegman, Odeboldt 5. Adam Ulrich, Deloit
2nd
Heat – 1. Mike Grantham, Clarksville 2. Jim Lampe, Carroll 3. Jim Mitchell,
Webster City 4. Blaire Benzing, Waterville 5. Nick King, Kiron
A-Main – 1. Joel Ziegman 2. King 3. Hanselman 4. Mitchell 5. Grantham 6. Blunk 7. Benzing 8. Miller 9. Jason Minnehan, Churdan 10. Donovan Smith, Lake City 11. Craig Daringer, Persia 12. Jon Ziegman, Odeboldt 13. Denny Mohr, Denison 14. Jim Lampe 15. Dennis Plain, Sac City 16. Larry Stark, Webster City 17. Doug Daringer, Harlan 18. Ulrich 19. Joe Lampe, Carroll
After fighting rainy weather through the first half of the season, the temperatures were now on the rise in late July as the NKF Tour Hobby Stocks returned to the Greenbelt Speedway in Eldora. It was quite an inspiring night and an emotional victory lane as Jerry Dixon scored the win.
Dixon Sizzles In NKF Tour Visit To Eldora
Eldora, Iowa – The temperature, and the racing, was red hot at the Greenbelt Speedway Thursday night as Jerry Dixon of Webster City captured the Hobby Stock feature win during the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure event presented by Toyota.
Blaire Benzing and Dan Hanselman started on the front row of the main event with Hanselman snaring the lead at the drop of the green. Benzing applied the pressure early, but Hanselman began to slowly pull away until mid-race mechanical problems forced him to slow and retire to the pit area. Benzing took over the top spot from there, but Jerry Dixon was not to be denied as he darted to the inside of Benzing two laps later to take the lead and the win.
It was Dixon’s first NKF Tour victory and it was very special to him and his family. Afterwards, Jerry donated a $50 bonus from Pig Daddy’s Sports Bar in Buckeye, Iowa, right back to the Foundation to continue research and assistance programs for individuals and families, like his own, that have been affected by kidney disease. Econo Stock feature winner Greg Hanson also donated his $50 bonus to the National Kidney Foundation of Iowa.
The Toyota NKF Heartland Tour for a Cure continues on Thursday night, July 29th, at the Hamilton County Fair in Webster City with both the Modifieds and the Hobby Stocks in action.
Results
Toyota NKF Hobby
Stocks
1st Heat – 1. Mike Henely, Fort Dodge 2. Jeff
Danielson, Duncombe 3. Jerry Dixon, Webster City 4. Dan Hanselman, Algona 5.
Bryce Sommerfeld, Fort Dodge
2nd Heat – 1. Ryan Griffith, Webster City 2. Rod
Miller, Eldon 3. Blaire Benzing, Waterville 4. Jim Mitchell, Webster City 5.
Mike Grantham, Clarksville
During the first season of the NKF Tour we had two championships that were decided well before the final race on the schedule. At this point during the sophomore season Tim Folkerts held just a six point lead over Bruce Hanford in the Modifieds and in the Hobby Stocks we had a tie for the lead between Rod Miller and Blaire Benzing with a Thursday Fair date at the Hamilton County Speedway next on the schedule.
Logue Shakes Off Gustin; Hanselman Breaks Jinx For Toyota NKF Tour Wins At Webster City
Webster City, Iowa – John Logue of Boone and Rick Gustin of Marshalltown put on an entertaining battle in front of a sweltering crowd at the Hamilton County Fair Thursday night during the Toyota National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure Modified feature with Logue prevailing for the $1,000 victory. The NKF Tour Hobby Stock feature saw Dan Hanselman of Algona race away for his first career Tour victory.
Temperatures near one hundred made it a tough night for drivers and spectators alike, but once the sun faded away behind the trees the racing action heated up. Gustin started on the outside of the front row for the twenty-lap Modified headliner and moved to the lead at the drop of the green. Logue quickly moved to second and began to challenge for the lead using the low groove of the tacky half-mile speedway. Logue nosed his car into the lead at the stripe on lap five, but Gustin fought back to pace the field the next lap. Logue again found the bite down low and tookover the lead for good on lap seven. Gustin mounted one last challenge with five laps to go, pulling even with the leader down the frontstretch, but when he jumped the cushion in turn three, that was all the room Logue needed to take the win. Gustin held off Rich Lewerke for second with new NKF Tour point leader Bruce Hanford fourth, and Jason Toppenberg fifth.
Dan Hanselman has been running near the front of several NKF Tour events recently only to have the bad luck gremlins jump up and bite him with either mechanical woes or flat tires. On this night, those gremlins could not take the heat and stayed home as Hanselman lead from the drop of the green to the checkers for the victory. Jim Mitchell chased him all the way for a second place run while Ryan Griffith made a last lap pass of Doug McCollough to finish third. Roger Caquelin completed the top five.
The Toyota NKF Tour Hobby Stocks return to the Hamilton County Speedway on Thursday night, August 26th, in support of the NAPA Winner Series race for IMCA Stock Cars.
Results
Toyota NKF Modifieds
1st
Heat – 1. Jason Toppenberg, Ames 2. Max Dunlap, Zearing 3. Greg Subbert, Britt
4. Bruce Hanford, Davenport
2nd
Heat – 1. John Logue, Boone 2. Jeremy Mills, Marathon 3. Rick Gustin,
Marshalltown 4. Terry Buenting, Fort Dodge
3rd
Heat – 1. Rich Lewerke, Garner 2. Carl Allbee, Grand Junction 3. Jamie Aikey,
Cedar Falls 4. Timm Jensen, Dunkerton
A-Main
– 1. Logue 2. Gustin 3. Lewerke 4. Hanford 5. Toppenberg 6. Aikey 7. Tim
Folkerts, Albia 8. John Nielsen, Coon Rapids 9. Corey Dripps, Cedar Falls 10.
Jack Mitchell, Cedar Falls 11. Buenting 12. Todd Suhr, New Hampton 13. Allbee
14. Scott Olson, Ellsworth 15. Jim Clavin, Fort Dodge 16. Dick Manske, Algona
17. Al Tordoff, Alden 18. George Gilliland, Lehigh 19. Dunlap 20. Mills 21.
Greg Elliott, Webster City 22. Subbert 23. Mike Korte, Palmer 24. Jensen 25.
David Brown, Kellogg
Toyota NKF Hobby Stocks
1st
Heat – 1. Ryan Griffith, Webster City 2. Bryce Sommerfeld, Fort Dodge 3. Dan
Hanselman, Algona 4. Grant Moline, Manson
2nd
Heat – 1. Jerry Dixon, Webster City 2. Jim Mitchell, Webster City 3. Roger
Caquelin, Dows 4. Kit Hovey, Fort Dodge
3rd
Heat – 1. Allen Dixon, Webster City 2. Tom Alexander, Webster City 3. Jeff
Danielson, Duncombe 4. Gerald Gatewood, Webster City
4th
Heat – 1. Michael Henely, Fort Dodge 2. Dog McCollough, Webster City 3. Dennis
Plain, Sac City 4. Rodney Slagle, Eagle Grove
A-Main – 1. Hanselman 2. Mitchell 3. Griffith 4. McCollough 5. Caquelin 6. Sommerfeld 7. Alexander 8. Danielson 9. A. Dixon 10. J. Dixon 11. Hovey 12. Slagle 13. Brian Stein, Woolstock 14. Dean Flaws Jr., Carlisle 15. David Smith, Lake City 16. Buck Plain, Webster City 17. Rod Miller, Eldon 18. Denny Dixon, Webster City 19. Brett Smith, Madrid 20. Rick Speck, LeGrand 21. Gatewood 22. Bobby Schaffer, Clarion 23. Moline 24. Jason Mallicoat, Boone 25. Henely 26. D. Plain 27. Andy Bryant, Clemons 28. Jamie Odor, Fort Dodge
The 3rd Annual Budweiser Hobby Stock Nationals were up next at the Lee County Speedway and once again this would be a two night show with Qualifying and heat races on Monday night, and Last Chance races and the $1,000-to-win main event on Tuesday. In 1998 the NKF Tour Modifieds ran a full program on Tuesday night only, but this year promoters Terry and Jenni Hoenig made it a two night format for the Mods as well paying them $900 to win in order to keep the Hobby Stocks as the featured division. One hundred and two cars in the two divisions signed in and let's just say that the title sponsor of the event had plenty of its product consumed during the post-race party on Monday night!
Meyer Takes $1,000; Cale Prevails At Lee County’s Budweiser Nationals
Donnellson,
Iowa – Have you ever been to a dirt track race where the winner leads every
lap? Well that definitely was not the case at the Lee County Speedway Tuesday
night as the lead swapped hands like a hot potato in both main events. In the
Hobby Stocks, Ryan Meyer of Mount Pleasant kept the big money close to home by
winning the $1,000 top prize for the Budweiser Hobby Stock National title and
it was hometown driver Kevin Cale holding off a host of challengers to win the
Modified main event. Both races were a part of the National Kidney Foundation
Heartland Tour for a Cure presented by Toyota.
Seventy-one Hobby Stocks turned out Monday night to begin the qualifying process that narrowed the field to twenty-four for the forty-lap main event. Pole-sitter Dan Jones paced the first five laps before Meyer, who is the current track point leader at Donnellson, tookover the top spot on lap six. Jones came back to lead laps nine through twelve before Meyer re-established himself as the front runner on lap thirteen. While the top two cars diced back and forth John Richardson and Rick Metcalf were right behind them looking for racing room. Metcalf held a narrow lead on lap sixteen, while Richardson moved to the point for lap eighteen. Meyer came back to lead the next two laps before Richardson re-gained the top spot for the next ten laps. It would be the most laps lead for the entire race. Metcalf moved past Richardson on lap thirty and looked like he might be able to put some distance on his challengers, but Meyer came right back to take the point for laps 35 and 36. Metcalf had it by a nose on the 37th circuit, but Meyer moved back to the front and shut the door for the final three laps for the thrilling victory in a race that saw eleven lead changes among four drivers.
“We’ve been doing this (the Budweiser Hobby Stock Nationals) for three years now, and those northern guys kept coming down to kick us,” Meyer told the excited crowd. “We weren’t going to have that happen this year.” Metcalf finished a car-length back in second followed by quick qualifier Tim Bradley in third. David Vass finished in the fourth spot with Roger Krieger completing the top five. Jones and Richardson both saw their top five runs go by the wayside with flat tires.
The NKF Tour Modified feature set the tone for the Hobby Stock thriller as John Bull of Rock Island, Illinois, and Donnellson’s own Kevin Cale waged an entertaining battle switching the lead back and forth six times in the first twelve laps. Right behind them you had Russ Olson, Tony Fraise, Tim Folkerts and Mark Burgtorf all looking for racing room making for a very exciting race. As the laps wound down Burgtorf moved into the second spot and really put the pressure on Cale for the lead. Burgtorf was able to pull alongside the leader three times in the final four laps, but Cale was able to hold him off for the $900 victory. Burgtorf was right behind in second followed by Bull, Folkerts and Vance Wilson.
The Toyota NKF Tour Modifieds and Hobby Stocks have two more stops scheduled for Donnellson. The first one will be on Saturday, September 11th, as they run with the Deery Brothers IMCA Late Model Summer Series, and the second one will be the 1999 Tour finale on Saturday, October 23rd.
3rd Annual Budweiser Hobby Stock
Nationals Results
Toyota NKF Modifieds
Qualifying
– 1. Eddie Strickland, Galesburg IL 18.615 2. Kevin Cale, Donnellson 18.766 3.
Matt Stalder, Washington 18.814 4. John Bull, Rock Island IL 18.853 5. Russ
Olson, Cedar Rapids 18.960 6. Tony Fraise, Montrose 18.992 7. Jason Krigbaum,
Hannibal MO 19.010 8. Steve Grotz, Quincy IL 19.025 9. Tom Goble, Burlington
19.082 10. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 19.084 11. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy IL 19.111
12. John VanDenBerg, Oskaloosa 19.111 13. Darin Thye, Burlington 19.276 14.
Bruce Thuleen, Denmark 19.287 15. Max Dunlap, Zearing 19.332 16. Lynn Monroe,
Memphis MO 19.350 17. Tim Folkerts, Albia 19.437 18. Vance Wilson, Bowling
Green MO 19.466 19. Paul Lawson, Fort Madison 19.483 20. Jeff Gerhardt, Niota
IL 19.493 21. Jim Roach, Kahoka MO 19.563 22. Denny Banks, Washington 19.564
23. Brad Ford, Mount Pleasant 19.667 24. Casey Schram, Sterling IL 19.747 25.
Jeff Richards, Hamilton IL 19.762 26. Terry Meyers, Quincy IL 19.851 27. Mark
Widmar, Ottumwa 19.879 28. Andy Krieger, Burlington 20.264 29. Bill Vantiger,
Yarmouth 20.344 30. L.Z. Coleman, New London No Time 31. Todd Holman, Ottumwa
No Time
1st
Heat – 1. Krigbaum 2. Thye 3. Monroe 4. Hanford 2nd Heat – 1. Folkerts 2. Burgtorf
3. Gerhardt 4. Thuleen 3rd
Heat – 1. Roach 2. Wilson 3. Goble 4. Dunlap
B-Main – 1. Holman 2. Hanford 3. Lawson 4. Banks 5. Ford 6. Thuleen 7.
Schram 8. Coleman 9. Meyers 10. Vantiger
A-Main
– 1. Cale 2. Burgtorf 3. Bull 4. Folkerts 5. Wilson 6. Fraise 7. Holman 8.
Hanford 9. Monroe 10. Banks 11. Goble 12. Stalder 13. Roach 14. Ford 15.
Gerhardt 16. Coleman 17. Dunlap 18. Schram 19. Thuleen 20. Olson 21. Strickland
22. Lawson 23. Krigbaum 24. Thye
Toyota NKF Hobby Stocks
Qualifying
– 1. Tim Bradley, Montrose 20.136 2. Dan Jones, Waterville 20.269 3. Curtis
Faul, Dallas City IL 20.439 4. Jason Rohde, Fayette 20.464 5. Ryan Meyer, Mount
Pleasant 20.478 6. Rick Metcalf, Selma 20.627 7. Russell Fett, Montrose 20.725
8. Junior Boyer, St. Lucas 20.730 9. Jim Mitchell, Webster City 20.731 10.
Blaire Benzing, Waterville 20.752 11. Paul Lawson, Fort Madison 20.828 12. John
Richardson, Fort Madison 20.832 13. Jason Buck, Danville 20.851 14. Dean
Kratzer, Fort Madison 20.855 15. Louis Lynch, Lancaster MO 20.880 16. Jody
Dodson, Fort Madison 20.882 17. Jerry Bliesener, Burlington 20.883 18. Harley
Hill, Wayland MO 20.886 19. Ross Buffington, Winfield 20.886 20. Brandon Derry,
New Hampton 20.905 21. Lynn Panos, Protivin 20.915 22. David Vass, Eldon 20.923
23. Mike Jones, Waukon 20.952 24. Cory Richards, Burlington 20.959 25. Jason
Fleer, Quincy IL 20.984 26. John Oliver, Burlington 20.998 27. Scott Buehneman,
Keswick 21.030 28. Rod Miller, Eldon 21.041 29. Jason Wenke, Donnellson 21.067
30. Eddie Dieker, Plainville IL 21.088 31. Shawn Whiting, Burlington 21.093 32.
Tony Happs, Alexandria MO 21.094 33. Ryan Griffith, Webster City 21.151 34.
J.R. Miller, Keosaqua 21.156 35. Mike Grantham, Clarksville 21.197 36. Roger
Krieger, Burlington 21.209 37. Andy Davis, Douds 21.212 38. Jeff Larson, New
Hampton 21.216 39. Scott Donlan, Burlington 21.220 40. Michael Casey, Keokuk
21.235 41. Rodger Dresden, Keokuk 21.264 42. Chris Webb, Biggsville IL 21.310
43. Paul Underwood, Ottumwa 21.311 44. Lorne Parks, Ottumwa 21.322 45. Jeff
Wellington, Columbus Jct. 21.337 46. Tim Gebel, New Hampton 21.339 47. Brandon
Bandstra, New Sharon 21.380 48. Tory Reicks, Waucoma 21.406 49. Tim Tucker,
Lomax IL 21.520 50. Tony Becerra, Carthage IL 21.550 51. Bill Crowell,
Alexandria MO 21.574 52. Dave Breuer, Burlington 21.602 53. Jim Oliver Jr.,
West Burlington 21.609 54. Darrow Lillie, Burlington 21.667 55. Bill Shaffer,
Burlington 21.669 56. Doak Allen Jr., Burlington 21.677 57. Curtis Doyle,
Danville 21.784 58. Michael Marks, Morning Sun 21.860 59. Scott Peitz, Mount
Pleasant 22.000 60. Rick Coats, LaGrange MO 22.024 61. Jim Gillenwater, Keokuk
22.056 62. Josh Walker, Mystic 22.076 63. Richard Wagy, Quincy IL 22.109 64.
Eric Flander, What Cheer 22.163 65. David Cloke, Burlington 22.345 66. Dave White,
Burlington 22.520 67. Fred Hemmie, Donnellson 24.127 68. Dan Wilson, Burlington
24.925 69. Andy Krieger, Burlington No Time 70. Kurt Burmeister, New London No
Time 71. Jack Broeg, Burlington No Time
1st
Heat – 1. Richardson 2. Vass 3. Bliesener 4. Bandstra 2nd Heat – 1. Boyer 2. M. Jones 3.
Griffith 4. R. Miller 3rd
Heat – 1. J.R. Miller 2. Mitchell 3. Parks 4. Wenke 4th Heat – 1. Derry 2. Benzing 3.
Lynch 4. Dieker 5th Heat – 1.
John Oliver 2. R. Krieger 3. Gebel 4. Panos
Quick Six Dash – 1. D. Jones 2. Rohde 3. Meyer 4. Metcalf 5. Bradley 6.
Faul 1st B-Main – 1.
Bliesener 2. Bandstra 3. Reicks 4. Donlan
2nd B-Main – 1. Griffith 2. R. Miller 3. Gillenwater 4.
Happs 3rd B-Main – 1. Breuer
2. A. Krieger 3. Wenke 4. Larson 4th
B-Main – 1. Gebel 2. Webb 3. Whiting 4. Dieker
1st Last Chance – 1. A. Krieger 2. Donlan 3. Larson 4. Wenke
5. Hill 6. Crowell 7. Cloke 8. Marks 9. Panos 10. Reicks 2nd Last Chance – 1. R. Miller 2.
Whiting 3. Webb 4. Dieker 5. Oliver Jr. 6. Flander 7. White 8. Peitz 9. Walker
10. Hemmie
A-Main – 1. Meyer 2. Metcalf 3. Bradley 4. Vass 5. R. Krieger 6. Derry 7. M. Jones 8. A. Krieger 9. Benzing 10. Faul 11. Breuer 12. Bliesener 13. R. Miller 14. Rohde 15. Larson 16. Mitchell 17. J.R. Miller 18. Panos 19. Richardson 20. D. Jones 21. Boyer 22. Griffith 23. John Oliver 24. Gebel
Here is a snippet from the Back Stretch following this event
The 3rd Annual Hobby Stock Nationals at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson was quite a show. The Modified feature saw six lead changes in thirty laps with Kevin Cale prevailing, while the $1,000-to-win Hobby Stock feature saw eleven lead changes in forty laps with Ryan Meyer taking the win. An adult ticket for the show was eight dollars, which translates to just forty-seven cents per lead change
We were coming down the home stretch of the second season for the NKF Tour and since we had some early season rainouts there were a couple of events that were added to the schedule for late in the season, including one that continues to this day as well as our first race outside of the state of Iowa.
National Kidney Foundation of Iowa
Heartland Tour
for a Cure
Presented by
Toyota
1999 Remaining Schedule
Day Date Location Divisions
Thurs Aug 5 Algona Raceway, Algona Mods, HS
Thurs Aug 26 Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City HS Only
Sun Aug 29 Mercer County Speedway, Aledo IL Mods, HS
Sat Sept 4 34 Raceway, Burlington HS
Sun Sept 5 34 Raceway, Burlington Mods
Sat Sept 11 Lee
County Speedway, Donnellson Mods,
HS
Sat Oct 2 Tipton
Speedway, Tipton Mods,
HS
Sun
Oct 3 Hawkeye Raceway,
Blue Grass Mods,
HS
Sat
Oct 23 Millenium Finale,
Donnellson Mods,
HS
We will wrap up the Sophomore Season of the NKF Tour in Part Three, coming soon here on the Back Stretch.
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