Steve Johnson Scores First NASCAR Win Of 2002 At Dubuque County Fair

The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge provided the grandstand entertainment for the Dubuque County Fair goers on Wednesday, July 24^th. All five classes of competitors were in action on a very pleasant night for racing.

Steve Johnson scored his first win of the season in leading the 25 lap Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Model main event from flag to flag. Johnson has had a terrible season up until this point; he has been unable to race much as he has been sidelined with motor problems. Johnson returned to the Dubuque Speedway last Sunday and ran a very strong second and then backed that finish up with a win on Wednesday night. Johnson held off a very strong Darren Mish in the closing laps. Mish was very pleased with the second place finish in considering that he beat Denny Eckrich to the checkers. Bobby Hansen ran up front the entire race and settled for fourth ahead of Gary Webb.

The hottest driver in Eastern Iowa remained hot on Wednesday night. Ron Barker won his 26^th feature of the season in taking the win in the 20 lap NASCAR Modified main event. Barker steadily worked to the front from his 12^th position start. The win was not easy for Barker as he was challenged by Scott Nesteby. Barker made a very rare bobble on lap 15 which allowed Nesteby to shoot into the lead, Barker was able to regain the lead on lap 17 and hold off Nesteby for the win. Jed Hurst crossed under the checkers in third ahead of Mark Schulte.

Jeff Tharp won his second feature in a row in the NASCAR Pro Stock division. Tharp used the low side of the track in advancing to the front from his sixth row start. A three car battle for the lead was waged for much of the15 lap main event. Tharp, Ty Kleiner and Dan Shelliam raced in a tight pack before Tharp was able to break away for the win. Kleiner ran second ahead of Shelliam with Jim Brokus rounding out the top four.

The NASCAR Hobby Stock feature win went to Jim Turpin on Wednesday night. Turpin has enjoyed a great season at the SPI promoted tracks with several wins in the very tough Hobby Stock division. Turpin took the win ahead of Steve Dunkel and Jason Rauen.

27 Farley Flyers took the green for their 10 lap feature on Wednesday night. The race was red flagged for a multi car pileup before one lap could be completed. Several cars were sidelined, when the race was restarted a 4 car breakaway developed for the lead. Keith Kiernan emerged from the pack and drove his #23 to his first feature win of the season. Brian Kammerude took the checkers in second ahead of Jason Roth.

Racing will wrap up the Dubuque County Fair on Sunday, July 28^th with hot laps slated for 6:30 p.m.

Race Results 7/24/02

Farley Flyers

Heat 1

1.      17 Randy Leehan-Apple River, IL

2.      55 Brian Kammerude-Hazel Green, WI

3.      38S R.J. Simon-Farley

Heat 2

1.      69 Becky Roth-Cuba City, WI

2.      66 Tony Brimeyer-Dubuque

3.      45 Jeff Jorgensen-Mineral Point, WI

Feature 

1. 23 Keith Kiernan-Dubuque

2. 55 Kammerude

3. 31 Jason Roth-Hazel Green, WI

4. 17 Leehan

5. 8x Randy Warne

6. 3X Brad Klaas-Lancaster, WI

7. 99. 3 Mark Jaeger-Dyersville

8. 68 Steve Stackis-Dubuque

9. 97 Russ Their

10. 07 Joel Steinman-Brodhead, WI

11. 57 Don Marcov Jr.-Dubuque

12. 69 Becky Roth

13. 21K Danny Kennedy-Dubuque

14. 8 Joe Sarazin-Dubuque

15. 79 Cliff Schanbeck-Delaware

16. 15 Loras Feldmann-Dyersville

17. 7 Joe Pluemer

18. 66 Brimeyer

19. 75 Chad Naderman-Farley

20. 45 Jorgensen

21. 38S Simon

22. 14 Levi Benn-Dyersville

23. 35 Joe Krantz

24. 25 Brian Kelly

25. 01 Damien Miller-Dubuque

26. 1T Mark Thul-Dubuque

27. 38X Bryan Melocarro-Dubuque

NASCAR Hobby Stocks

 Heat 1

1. 59 Mike Hughes-Galena, IL

2. 8K Jerry Merkes-Farley

3. 89 Kelly Welter-Dubuque

 Heat 2

1. 98X Duane Ahmann-Epworth

2. 44X Mike Lynch-Platteville, WI

3. 44 B.J. Schmidt-Dubuque

 Feature

1. 33 Jim Turpin-Shullsburg, WI

2. 97Steve Dunkel- Worthington

3. 98 Jason Rauen-Farley

4. 98X Ahmann

5. 13 Larry Benn-Dyersville

6. 59 Hughes

7. 28 Ed McIntyre-Delhi

8. 8K Merkes

9. 89 Welter

10. 81 K.C. Ansel-Dubuque

11. 5 Norb Ahlers-Earlville

12. 44 Schmidt

13. 44x Lynch

14. 83 Rob Petsche-Centralia

15. 6 Jed Frieberger-Dubuque

NASCAR Pro Stocks

Heat 1  

1. 35 Jim Brokus-Dubuque

2. 2K Jeff Kennedy-Dubuque

3. 20 Ty Kleiner-Potosi, WI

 Heat 2

1. 18 Skip Culbertson-Dubuque

2. 22 Jeff Valentine-Dubuque

3. 97 Jeff Reinert-Dyersville

Feature

1. 12 Jeff Tharp-Dubuque

2. 20 Kleiner

3. 16 Dan Shelliam-Hazel Green, WI

4. 35 Brokus

5. 97 Reinert

6. 71 Kevin Schroeder-Low Moor

7. 1 John Walker-Cedar Rapids

8. 18 Culbertson

9. 25 Bobby Moyer-Dubuque

10. 99 Ken Martelle-LaMotte

11. 23 Jim Amos-Peosta

12. 22 Valentine

13. 2k Kennedy

NASCAR Modifieds 

Heat 1

1. 4 Jerry Miles-Dubuque

2. 19 Jim Allen-Dubuque

3. 69 Roger Donahue-Dubuque

Heat 2

1. 37b Ron Barker-Dubuque

2. 89 Tom Pestka-Delhi

3. 74 Scott Nesteby-Dubuque

Feature

1. 37b Barker

2. 74 Nesteby

3. 10 Jed Hurst-Hazel Green, WI

4. 27 Mark Schulte-Delhi

5. 69 Donahue

6. 16 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon

7. 39 Bob Bollon-Freeport, IL

8. 33 John Burbridge-Delhi

9. 71 Robert Schumaker

10. 89 Pestka

11. 11 Mike Burbridge-Delhi

12. 3 Jason Schuller-Dubuque

13. 4 Miles

14. 24m Jan Messer-Manchester

15. 19 Allen

16. 15 Sean Rupp-Dubuque

17. S19 Rich Smith-Davenport

18. 20 Cory Burmeister-Glen Haven, WI

19. 1D Mel Saffran-Dubuque

Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models

Heat 1

1. 8 Mark Merfeld-Dubuque

2. 21 Luke Merfeld-Dubuque

3. 77J Steve Johnson-Camanche  

Heat 2

1. 61r Jon Rogers-German Valley, IL

2. 79 Darren Mish-Cassville, WI

3. 54 Mark Curwen-Hazel Green, WI

Feature

1. 77J Johnson

2. 79 Mish

3. 50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin

4. 98.1 Bobby Hansen-Dike

5. 56 Gary Webb-Blue Grass

6. 8 Merfeld

7. 21 Merfeld

8. 61r Rogers

9. 11 Steve Ihm-Kieler, WI

10. 54 Curwen

11. 1m Rob Moss-Iowa City

12. 5 Wade Halverson-Elgin

13. 51 Mel Abels-Freeport, IL

14. 95 Ed Sanger-Postville

Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway

7/24/02

By: Jerry Mackey