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Birkhofer Sails To Bud Shootout Win At Dubuque Speedway $6,000 Win
Round three of the Budweiser Open Late Model Shootouts was held on Sunday night May, 26th at the high banked 3/8 mile dirt track Dubuque County Fairgrounds Speedway.
Mother Nature provided a near perfect night for racing and the fans responded in big numbers.
The racing action in the Budweiser Open Late Model division was nothing short of spectacular. 43 Late Model drivers were vying for the starting positions in the 50 lap main event. 4 heats 2 consolations and the Hollywood Graphics fast dash were run prior to the feature taking to the speedway. Darren Mish won the six lap fast dash earning the pole position with Steve Boley on the outside front row. Boley shot into the lead at the dropping of the green and went on to lead the first 36 caution free laps. Boley was hounded by defending track champion Gary Webb, the two veteran racers were knifing through lapped traffic when a caution was waved on lap 36. The restart had Boley out front with Webb in second ahead of Darren Miller and Denny Eckrich. Brian Birkhofer started the feature in 22nd after having to qualify by winning the second consolation. Oil filter problems forced Birkhofer out of his heat, on the lap 36 restart Birkhofer had worked up to the seventh position. The caution waved once again on lap 38 for a minor caution. Birkhofer had advanced 2 more spots but still had Boley, Webb, Miller, and Eckrich to deal with. The final 12 laps were as exciting racing action as ever witnessed at the high banked 3/8 mile dirt track. Birkhofer took the lead on lap 45 as the leaders were racing three wide. Birkhofer took the checkers ahead of Webb, Miller, Eckrich and Boley. The final ten laps saw Boley, Miller, Webb and finally Birkhofer all lead the race.
Bobby Hansen picked up the win in the 10 lap Non-Qualifiers feature for the Budweiser Open Late Models. Hansen shot to the front using the extreme low side of the speedway coming from the inside third row to take the win over Rusty Zook and Steve “Ace” Ihm.
Scott Megonigle led the 20 lap Modified feature for less than one lap but it was the white flag lap. Megonigle, who was making his first visit of the year to the Dubuque Speedway started 16h. Megonigle used top side of the track to chase down race leader Jason Schuller and set up his last lap heroics. Schuller settled for a very close second ahead of Scott Nesteby.
Andy Eckrich took advantage of a front row start and went on to lead the Pro Stock feature flag to flag. Eckrich was not able to shake Dubuque Speedway strong competitors Dan Shelliam and Jeff Tharp. Shelliam finished very strong in taking second just ahead of Tharp.
The Hobby Stock feature was decided at the scales on Sunday night. Apparent race winner Jim Turpin failed to make weight which handed the win over to Steve Dunkel. Larry Benn advanced to second with the disqualification.
Brian Kammerude won his second consecutive feature win in the all new Farley Flyer division. Kammerude won the ten lap feature over a field of 18 drivers. Randy Madigan came from a 16th position start to take second.
NASCAR Weekly Racing Series action presented by Dodge will be back on center stage on Sunday, June 2nd at the Dubuque Speedway. It will be 50’s night with a cruiser car show being held from 3-6 p.m. prior to the races. Prizes will be awarded to best 50’s attire and an Elvis look alike contest will also be held.
Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout Race Results 5/26/02
Farley Flyers Feature
Top 12 in track Points Did not Run qualifying Heats
NASCAR Hobby Stocks
Feature
NASCAR Pro Stocks
Feature
NASCAR Modifieds
Heat 1 1. 27 Mark Schulte-Delhi 2. 39 Bob Bollon-Freeport, IL 3. 63 Scott Olson-Preston
Heat 2 1. 16 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon 2. M2 Scott Megonigle-Cedar Rapids 3. S19 Rich Smith-Davenport
Feature
Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout
Heat 1
Heat 2
Heat 3
Heat 4
Consolation 1
Consolation 2
1. 15 Brian Birkhofer-Muscatine 2. 39 Rob Toland-Hillsdale, IL 3. 8F Sonny Findling-Kirksville, MO
Hollywood Graphics Fast Dash 1. 79 Mish 2. 26 Boley 3. 56 Webb
50 Lap Bud Shootout Feature
10 Lap Non-Qualifiers Feature
Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway 5/26/02 By: Jerry Mackey |
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