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Dave Eckrich Takes $6,000 Bud Shootout Win At Dubuque Speedway July 7, 2002
The Holiday Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout swing wrapped up on Sunday, July 7th with racing action at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds Speedway. A first time winner took the checkers in the 50 lap main event, Dave Eckrich drove his Grove powered Precision Performance late model to the win.
Eckrich qualified for the outside front row by taking second to Brian Birkhofer in the Hollywood Graphics fast dash. Eckrich put his car on the top side of the high banked 3/8 mile track and fought off the constant challenges of Birkhofer the entire 50 laps. Birkhofer took the lead on the 40th lap but his move was erased due to a caution. The last ten laps was a real nail biter as Eckrich and Birkhofer circled the track practically glued together. Neither driver was able to gain any advantage, the margin of victory was less than ˝ a car length at the checkers. Eckrich said in victory lane” we were running so close that at times you couldn’t have put a piece of paper between us, but Brian is a professional racer and he raced me clean the entire way.” While the battle for the lead went on several other battles for position went on throughout the field. Local favorite Darren Mish won a heated battle for third coming from an 8th position start to cross under the checkers ahead of a very strong Darren Miller. Ray Guss Jr. rounded out the top five. Miller, Duane Coulson and Gary Webb won the Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation qualifying heats. The Hollywood Graphics fast dash went to Birkhofer. The consolation race was won by Jeff Laue.
Modified point leader Jason Schueller advanced form a sixth row start to win his second feature of the season at the Dubuque Speedway. Schueller fought off several late race charges by Ron Barker in scoring the win. Ryan Dolan took third ahead of Mark Schulte.
The NASCAR Pro Stock feature had a first time winner make his way to victory lane, Jeff Reinert won his first ever main event since moving up from the hobby Stock division. Reinert won the late race battle with Bobby Moyer in taking his rookie season Pro Stock win. Jeff Tharp followed Moyer across the line in third.
The Hobby Stock feature win went to Steve Dunkel driving a car owned by Jeff Reinert. Dunkel took the checkers by a few feet over Jerry Merkes. The two drivers swapped the lead back and forth on the white flag lap with Dunkel winning the race off of turn four to the checkers. Larry Benn crossed the line in third.
Brad Klaas won his first ever Farley Flyer feature topping a 20 car starting field. Klaas held off Joe Sarazin at the checkers for the win and the beautiful trophy that went with the win.
The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge will be back in action on Sunday, July 14th with race time set for 6:30 p.m. a the Dubuque County Fairgrounds Speedway.
Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout Race Results 7/7/02
Farley Flyers Feature
Top 12 in Track Points Did Not Run Qualifying Heats
NASCAR Hobby Stocks
Feature
NASCAR Pro Stocks
Feature
NASCAR Modifieds
Feature
Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout
Heat 1
Heat 2
Heat 3
Consolation
Hollywood Graphics Fast Dash 1. 15 Birkhofer 2. 58 Eckrich 3. 56 Webb
50 Lap Bud Shootout
Feature
Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway 7/7/02 By: Jerry Mackey |
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