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Birkhofer 2 for 2 In Shootouts With West Liberty Win
The second of two 4th of July holiday Budweiser Open Late Model Shootouts was held on Saturday night at the West Liberty Raceway. 46 Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models took part in the program sponsored by Riggos Convenience Store of Muscatine, Iowa.
4 heats, two consolations and the Hollywood Graphics fast dash were run to set the 26 car starting field for the 50 lap main event. Dan Schlieper won the six last dash earning the pole position for the main event. Outside front row starter Brian Birkhofer took off at the dropping of the green and led the race flag to flag earning the $6,000 paycheck. Birkhofer closed in on the back of the pack by lap ten. A restart bunched the field with 17 laps completed and Birkhofer had already lapped up to the 11th place car. Birkhofer stated in victory lane “We were consistently running laps in the mid 18 seconds that is the fastest that I have ever run West Liberty.” The track was smooth and extremely fast on Saturday night.
Darren Miller started the 50 lap feature in sixth following earning the most points through the heat races. Miller was running third and was able to take second away from Jeff Bair on a restart but Miller was unable to catch Birkhofer. Lapped traffic closed the gap between the two leaders on more than one occasion but Miller was unable to mount a serious challenge on Birkhofer. At the checkers it was Birkhofer, Miller, and Ray Guss Jr., who advanced from his 7th position start. Dave Eckrich came all the way from 22nd to cross the line in fourth ahead of Jeff Aikey who started 13th.
The Auto Acres Non-Qualifiers race for the Bud Late Models pitted the next five finishers out of each consolation in a 10 lap race awarding the winner with $700. Skip Frey took the lead from early pace setter Ron Boyse and went on to record the win.
The Miller Time Modified 20 lap feature was won by Jim Vest. Vest was chasing race leader Larry Herring to the checkers when misfortune struck Herring. The drive shaft broke on Herring’s car as he exited turn four on his way to the win, Herring slowed just enough to allow Vest to shoot by and take the win by ˝ a car length. Todd Stoolman followed Herring across the line in third.
The Dadco Corp/Parker Stores Pro Stocks feature saw young Andy Eckrich turn in another outstanding performance. Eckrich steadily worked to the front from his sixth row start to take the lead at the midway point of the race and went on to record the win. Stormin Norman Bean took second ahead of Darren Plett.
The NASCAR Hobby Stocks ran their ten lap feature flag to flag caution free. Derrin Voss won his first ever feature one week ago, but it didn’t take him long to get his second win. Voss scored the win over Jeremie Thompson.
Racing will continue at the West Liberty Raceway on Saturday, July 13th with a full program of NASCAR Weekly Racing Series action presented by Dodge.
Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout
Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models
Heat 1 1. 9 Dan Schlieper-Pewaukee, WI 2. 45m Curt Martin-Independence 3. 12 Ray Guss Jr.-Milan, IL
Heat 2 1. 15 Brian Birkhofer-Muscatine 2. 50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin 3. 51 Matt Furman-Iowa City
Heat 3 1. 32D Darren Miller-Chadwick, IL 2. 28 Jeff Bair-Solon 3. 87 Clint Hines-Andalusia, IL
Heat 4 1. 45 Michael Klinkhammer-West Branch 2. 56 Gary Webb-Blue Grass 3. 77 Jeff Aikey-Cedar Falls
Consolation 1 1. 13k Denny Petersen-Tipton 2. 5 Jay Johnson-W. Burlington 3. 44 Duane Coulson-East Dubuque, IL
Consolation 2 1. 58 Dave Eckrich-Oxford 2. 8m Mark Ward-Muscatine 3. 32 Tom Cannon-Iowa City
Riggos Convenience Store Feature 1. 15 Birkhofer 2. 32D Miller 3. 12 Guss Jr 4. 58 Eckrich 5. 77A Aikey 6. 2 Monte Ohrt-West Branch 7. 51 Furman 8. 50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin 9. 45 M Martin 10. 56 Webb 11. 99 Johnny Johnson-West Burlington 12. 13k Petersen 13. 18Z Rusty Zook-Riverside 14. 8M Ward 15. 11 Steve Ihm-Kieler, WI 16. 30b Dan Brockert-Muscatine 17. 7 Mark Burgtorf-Quincy, IL 18. 23D Dana Wells-Moscow 19. 28 Bair 20. 32 Cannon 21. 45 Klinkhammer 22. 5 Jay Johnson-West Burlington 23. 9 Schlieper 24. 43 Kurt Stewart-Ainsworth 25. 87 Hines 26. 44 Duane Coulson-East Dubuque, IL
Auto Acres Non-Qualifiers Race 1. 3x Skip Frey-Ely 2. M32 Marty Beckler-Hills 3. 39 Rob Toland-Hillsdale, IL 4. 4 Bobby Sexton-West Branch 5. 21H Brian Harris-Davenport
Top 12 in Track Points did not run in heats in support classes
Miller Time Modifieds Heat 1 1. 1 Dan Chapman-Clarence 2. 19Terry Lawson-New Liberty 3. 01 Mitch Way-Davenport
Heat 2 1. 34 Dave Hemsted-Lone Tree 2. 45 Steve Kohli-Iowa City 3. D56 Mike Dains-Mechanicsville
Feature 1. 2 Jim Vest-Wellman 2. 96 Larry Herring-Lone Tree 3. 37 Todd Stoolman-West Branch 4. 36 Gerry Brick-West Branch 5. M2 Scott Megonigle-Cedar Rapids 6. 19 Lawson 7. 22 Darrell Brick-West Branch 8. 60 Robbie Verbeck-Annawan, IL 9. 64 Bret Frieden-Walford 10. 1 Chapman 11. 18 Matt Reuss-West Liberty 12. 17 Steve Stewart-Washington 13. 9Z Mike Zogg-New Liberty 14. 42 John Brumley-Riverside 15. 25 Dustin Lovell-Rochester 16. 7 Mike Thomas-West Branch 17. 38 Rob Hillyer-Nichols 18. 34 Hemsted 19. 45 Kohli 20. 10m Steve Marks-Muscatine 21. 54 Doug Picary-Monticello 22. 2h Rick Hixson-Orion, IL 23. 92Z Tim Zeman-Fruitland 24. D56 Mike Dains-Mechanicsville 25. 55 Scott Stecher-Muscatine 26. 71Z Raymond Partida-West Liberty 27. 6D Les Wood-Waterloo
DADCO Corp./Parker Stores Pro Stocks
Heat 1 1. 3D Dan Lange-Rochester 2. 1 Matt Gichrist-Grandview 3. 24 Monte Hayden-Wilton
Feature 1. 56 Andy Eckrich-Cosgrove 2. 62 Norman Bean-Muscatine 3. 77 Darren Plett-Donahue 4. 29 Bruce Miller-West Liberty 5. 7 Dale Franklin-Marion 6. 36 Jason Gingerich-West Liberty 7. 25 Chad Simpson-Marion 8. 32 Chris Simpson-Marion 9. 21 Brian VanDusen-Atalissa 10. 17 Gary Beuter-Tipton 11. 75 Mike Welsh-Davenport 12. 69 John Maher-West Branch 13. 31 Jeremy Honts-Muscatine 14. 24 Monte Hayden-Wilton 15. 2R Rusty Daufeldt-Blue Grass 16. 38 Skeet Smith-Wilton 17. 60 Matt Brockert-Muscatine 18. 0B Matt Bodman-Muscatine 19. 1 Gilchrist 20. 11 Troy Philpott-Muscatine 21. 3d Lange
NASCAR Hobby Stocks
Feature 1. 42V Darren Voss-Wilton 2. 57J JeremieThompson-Ainsworth 3. 20 Dan Albright-Hiawatha 4. S9 Ron Schreurs-Fruitland 5. 9 Davey Elliott-Moscow 6. 21 Todd Hansen-Muscatine 7. 25 Jim Schrier-Washington 8. 0 Stan O’Brien-Muscatine 9. 94 Jason Lange-Lisbon 10. 15 Jared Collins-West Liberty 11. 40 Jake Purdy-West Liberty 12. 100 Dave Schrier-Muscatine 13. 28 Ed McIntyre-Delhi 14. 66 Jason Erwin-Muscatine 15. 99 Jason Speers-Oxford 16. 55 Rod Perdue-West Liberty 17. D1 Matt Fulton-Muscatine 18. 2B Bill Butteris-Lisbon 19. 2W Roger Whitcomb-Letts
West Liberty Raceway 7/6/02 By: Jerry Mackey |
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