Merfeld, Aikey share victory lane in Farley
FARLEY, Iowa
(June 8, 2001)
A packed grandstand and nine feature events greeted NASCAR Winston Cup star
Sterling Marlin during Coors Light/Sterling Marlin Night at the Farley Speedway
on Friday June 8th. Four of those features were run first, to make up the events
cancelled on Friday May 25th. Luke Merfeld and Jeff Aikey shared victories in
the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model action while Jason Schueller and Jed
Hurst topped the Modifieds. Brian Culbertson and Jeff Tharp topped the Pro
Stocks while TJ Leslein swept both Hobby Stock features. Brian Strang took home
the Fun Car honors in the only division to compete in only one feature event.
Darren Mish took off to the early lead in the make-up Late Model feature
race, only to succumb to the hard charge of Merfeld following a lap fifteen
caution period. Merfeld had his car hooked up on the cushion of the racetrack to
post the easy win ahead of Terry Neal, Duane Coulson, Aikey and Rick Wendling.
Merfeld appeared to be cruising to a sweep of the evening’s events early in
the regular feature, taking the lead ahead of Tom Cannon at the drop of the
green. A lap five caution involving Cannon and several other top runners bunched
the field up and gave Aikey the break he was looking for. Restarting the race in
the second position, Aikey wasted no time in disposing of Merfeld for the lead.
Terry Neal helped Aikey’s cause by engaging Merfeld in a battle for second
during the midpoint of the race, with Neal and Wendling both getting past
Merfeld before the checkers flew.
Schueller took advantage of an early restart to shoot past early leader Greg
Chapman during the postponed Modified feature, using the cushion to stretch out
his lead and to fend off an attack at his lead following a late race caution.
Dan Chapman looked underneath Schueller several times but was unable to complete
the pass before falling behind as Schueller kept his momentum up on the
straights. Chapman finished the race a close second ahead of Hurst, Russ Olson
and Rich Smith. Hurst swapped the lead with pole sitter Gus Hughes several times
before snagging his first feature win of the season in the regularly scheduled
feature event. Eventually taking control of the race following a lap five
restart, Hurst was able to stretch out his lead when Hughes was forced to defend
the second position from Ron Barker on the restart. Several mid-race restarts
shuffled the running order, but it was Hughes in second at the checkers ahead of
Ryan Dolan, Barker and Chapman.
Tharp appeared to be destined for second in the make-up Pro Stock feature
before Tharp found some extra traction on the top of the racetrack late in the
race. Overcoming a several car length deficit on leader Jeff Kennedy on the
twelfth lap, Tharp took the lead and survived a late race dive to the bottom to
take the win ahead of Kennedy, Dan Shelliam, Jeff Valentine and Bobby Moyer.
Culbertson capitalized on Kennedy’s mechanical failure in the regular feature
race to inherit the lead and survive a marathon race that saw heavy carnage and
only six cars running at the end. John Maher finished second in that race ahead
of Moyer, Steve Hunter and Kevin Duerr.
Leslein lead every lap of the make-up Bomber feature but was forced to defend
his position on the last corner of the race when Duane Ahmann waited patiently
in the shadows to take a last lap shot at the win. Ahmann’s efforts failed as
he came home second ahead of Jeff Reinert, Jerry Merkes and Larry Benn. The
second feature event was easier for Leslein, leading every single lap
unchallenged. Post race tech saw Ahmann disqualified out of second, giving the
runner-up spot to Benn, ahead of Mark Massey, Jeff Reinert and Bill Butteris.
Brian Strang took home the Fun Car honors ahead of Ray Fawcett, Brad Strang and
Gary Hughes.
Regular racing action continues this Friday, June 15th at the “Palace of
Speed”. Hot laps are scheduled for 7 pm with racing to follow. For more
information contact Simmons Promotions at 563-744-3620 or online at www.simmonspromotionsinc.com.
For raceday updates and quick results afterwards, call your local McLeod USA
InTouch Directory, category 3740 and 3741.
RESULTS
LATE MODELS
Make-up Feature (postponed from May 25):
1. 21 Luke Merfeld Dubuque
2. 12n Terry Neal Ely
3. 44 Duane Coulson East Dubuque IL
4. 77 Jeff Aikey Cedar Falls
5. 78 Rick Wendling Hazelton
6. 3 Josh McGowan Vinton
7. 79 Darren Mish Cassville WI
8. 95 Ed Sanger Postville
9. 51 Matt Furman Iowa City
10. 27 Ed McGuire Monroe WI
11. 98.1 Bobby Hansen Dike
12. 32c Chad Holladay Wilton
13. 8m Chuck Mayerhofer Dixon IL
14. 8 Mark Merfeld Dubuque
15. 15 Cam Granger West Union
16. 07 Scott Heeren Forreston IL
17. 32 Tom Cannon Iowa City
18. 41j Jeremiah Hurst Dubuque
19. 70 Brandon Hennick Central City
20. 69 Todd Hormel West Liberty
21. 77j Steve Johnson Camanche
DNS - 87 Clint Hines Taylor Ridge IL
DNS - 7 Andy Nezworski Davenport
DNS - 66 Fred Remely Blue Grass
Feature:
1. 77 Jeff Aikey Cedar Falls
2. 12n Terry Neal Ely
3. 78 Rick Wendling Hazelton
4. 21 Luke Merfeld Dubuque
5. 37b Troy Bruder Rock Falls IL
6. 51 Matt Furman Iowa City
7. 79 Darren Mish Cassville WI
8. 58 Dave Eckrich Coralville
9. 41j Jeremiah Hurst Dubuque
10. 32c Chad Holladay Wilton
11. 8m Chuck Mayerhofer Dixon IL
12. 11 Ace Ihm Hazel Green WI
13. 95 Ed Sanger Postville
14. 8 Mark Merfeld Dubuque
15. 70 Brandon Hennick Central City
16. 98.1 Bobby Hansen Dike
17. h2o Paul Watters Waterloo
18. 27 Ed McGuire Monroe WI
19. 32 Tom Cannon Iowa City
20. 44 Duane Coulson East Dubuque IL
21. 69 Todd Hormel West Liberty
22. 3 Josh McGowan Vinton
23. 07 Scott Heeren Forreston IL
DNS - 15 Cam Granger West Union
DNS - 77j Steve Johnson Camanche
MODIFIEDS
Make-up Feature (postponed from May 25):
3 Jason Schueller Dubuque
1 Dan Chapman Clarence
10 Jed Hurst Hazel Green WI
b3 Russ Olson Cedar Rapids
d1 Rich Smith Bettendorf
16 Ryan Dolan Lisbon
37b Ron Barker Dubuque
74 Scott Nesteby Asbury
00 Josh Vinnedge Forreston IL
33 Steve Wetter Platteville WI
b1 Jeff Larson Freeport IL
f7 Patrick Flannagan Cedar Rapids
1d Mel Saffran Dubuque
50 Jim Burbridge Delhi
08 Mike Miller Freeport IL
20 John Fellman Blue Grass
96 Larry Herring Lone Tree
76 Matt Mish Blue Grass
24 Randy Less Hopkinton
2c Greg Chapman Dubuque
d55 Scott Lemke Davis Junction IL
27 Mark Schulte Delhi
Feature:
10 Jed Hurst Hazel Green WI
30 Gus Hughes Monticello
16 Ryan Dolan Lisbon
37b Ron Barker Dubuque
1 Dan Chapman Clarence
b3 Russ Olson Cedar Rapids
96 Larry Herring Lone Tree
d1 Rich Smith Bettendorf
3 Jason Schueller Dubuque
33x John Burbridge Delhi
9 Richard Steadman Hiawatha
11 Mike Burbridge Delhi
33 Steve Wetter Platteville WI
00 Josh Vinnedge Forreston IL
20 John Fellman Blue Grass
b1 Jeff Larson Freeport IL
27 Mark Schulte Delhi
57 Dennis Betzer Central City
14w Jason Walrack
f7 Patrick Flannagan Cedar Rapids
d55 Scott Lemke Davis Junction IL
18 Randy Leehan
54 Doug Picray Monticello
74 Scott Nesteby Asbury
50 Jim Burbridge Delhi
DNS - 76 Matt Mish Blue Grass
DNS - 24 Randy Less Hopkinton
DNS - 1d Mel Saffran Dubuque
DNS - 2c Greg Chapman Dubuque
DNS - 08 Mike Miller Freeport IL
PRO STOCK
Make-up Feature (postponed from May 25):
1. 12 Jeff Tharp Dubuque
2. 2k Jeff Kennedy Dubuque
3. 16 Dan Shelliam Hazel Green WI
4. 22 Jeff Valentine Dubuque
5. 25 Bobby Moyer Dubuque
6. 69 John Maher West Branch
7. 18 Brian Culbertson Dubuque
8. 4 Kevin Duerr Dubuque
9. 71 Kevin Schroeder Low Moor
10. s1 Steve Hunter Hopkinton
11. 23 Jim Amos Peosta
12. 35 Jim Brokus Dubuque
13. 03 Don Hughes Monticello
Feature:
1. 18 Brian Culbertson Dubuque
2. 69 John Maher West Branch
3. 25 Bobby Moyer Dubuque
4. s1 Steve Hunter Hopkinton
5. 4 Kevin Duerr Dubuque
6. 71 Kevin Schroeder Low Moor
7. 22 Jeff Valentine Dubuque
8. 56 Jamie Pfeiffer Freeport IL
9. 12 Jeff Tharp Dubuque
10. 35 Jim Brokus Dubuque
11. 90 Bo Rickard Platteville WI
12. 89 John Irwin Lost Nation
13. 16 Dan Shelliam Hazel Green WI
14. 20 Ty Kleiner Potosi WI
15. 33 Randy Franzen Marion
16. 2k Jeff Kennedy Dubuque
DNS - 23 Jim Amos Peosta
DNS - 03 Don Hughes Monticello
DNS - 17s Dana Servoy Marion
BOMBER
Make-up Feature (postponed from May 25):
1. 38 TJ Leslein Dubuque
2. 98 Duane Ahmann Epworth
3. 97 Jeff Rienert Farley
4. 8k Jerry Merkes Farley
5. 13 Larry Benn Dyersville
6. 2b Bill Butteris Lisbon
7. 28 Ed McIntyre Delhi
8. 20 Dan Albright Lisbon
9. 30 Mark Massey Farley
10. 22 Cory Bauer Monticello
11. 83 Rob Petsche Asbury
12. 72 Doug Yates Monticello
13. p7 Paul Beckman Monticello
Feature:
1. 38 TJ Leslein Dubuque
2. 13 Larry Benn Dyersville
3. 30 Mark Massey Farley
4. 97 Jeff Rienert Farley
5. 2b Bill Butteris Lisbon
6. 61 Scott Reichers Belmont WI
7. 8k Jerry Merkes Farley
8. 20 Dan Albright Lisbon
9. 1 Tom Boyes Dubuque
10. 22 Cory Bauer Monticello
11. 72 Doug Yates Monticello
12. 28 Ed McIntyre Delhi
DQ - 98 Duane Ahmann Epworth
DNS - 83 Rob Petsche Asbury
FUN CARS
Feature:
1. 26 Brian Strang Dubuque
2. 64 Ray Fawcett Benton WI
3. 66 Brad Strang Dubuque
4. 30 Gary Hughes Monticello
5. 89 Kelly Welter Farley
6. 7 Chad Hallahan Dubuque
7. 44 BJ Schmitt Dubuque
8. 6 Todd Moore Dubuque
9. b4 Brian Diercks Anamosa
10. 6c Chris Hinrichs Monticello
11. 33 Nick McElmeel
June 8-10, 2001 Speedshots of The Week |