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Birkhofer Adds “Yankee” Title to his Dream SeasonThe 25th anniversary “Yankee Dirt Track Classic” championship finals were run on Saturday night September 14th. The Farley Speedway played host to the annual four day event that saw 332 different drivers take their shot at the championship trophies.
When the final checkered flag of the night flew on Saturday night it was Brian Birkhofer standing in victory lane. Birkhofer had earned the pole position start for the 100 lap “Yankee” by winning the JE Pistons/Hollywood Graphics fast dash. The race had the makings for a runaway win for the Muscatine, Iowa driver. That certainly was not the case as the first yellow flag of the feature was for Birkhofer. It appeared that Birkhofer was going to be out of the race after breaking his left rear axle. The crew was able to replace the axle in a couple of minutes which is highly unusual. Birkhofer came back out and realigned at the tail of the 30 car field. Birkhofer steadily worked his way back to the front taking the lead on lap 57. Birkhofer went on to lead the remainder of the race which had seen several drivers take their turns at the point the first half of the race. Early leaders included Terry Neal, Josh McGowan and Ray Guss Jr. Birkhofer’s win was his first in the fall classic and continued what has been a terrific season for the 30 year old driver.
74 Budweiser Open Late Model drivers took part in qualifying heats on Friday night.
The Auto Acres Non-Qualifiers race for the open late Models was also held on Saturday night. The 25 lap feature win went to Jeff Bair. Bair had the option of taking the $1,000 dollar payday or moving into the 100 lap “Yankee”. Bair opted to take the Money and call it a good night. Second place finisher Duane Coulson opted to give up his pay and move into the big show. Bill Tuckwell and Dennis Erb rounded out the top four in the Auto Acres race.
The Modifieds ran their championship feature on Saturday night with 27 drivers qualifying out of the 62 entries. Larry Herring scored his first “Yankee” title by leading the 25 lap race flag to flag. Herring held off a very determined Kevin Pittman throughout the race. Herring drove a perfect race and could not afford to make any mistakes as Pittman was running a very close second. Scott Nesteby took third ahead of Ron Barker and Bob Dominacki.
The Pro Stock feature was the last race run on Friday night. Andy Eckrich added the “Yankee” title to his resume. Andy Eckrich is planning on making the move into the Late Model division next year, that makes the Pro Stock “Yankee” win much sweeter knowing that he is moving out of the Pro Stock class as a “Yankee” champion. Eckrich scored the 20 lap win by beating Jeff Tharp to the checkers. John Maher ran a very strong third ahead of Ty Kleiner.
Larry Benn took the Hobby Stock “Yankee” championship title race win on Thursday night. Benn has sold his car and will be campaigning a late model next year. The new owners allowed Benn to race the car at the “Yankee” and Benn responded by leading the 15 lap championship race flag to flag. Larry took the checkers ahead of his younger brother Randy Benn.
Thursday nights action also included the Deery Brothers Summer Series IMCA Late Models. The 50 lap feature took to the track with 26 drivers taking the initial green flag. 54 drivers entered the race looking to take the $2,000 win. Ray Guss Jr. took the win driving a car owned by Brad Coin. Guss was able to make a late race move coming off of turn four and passed Lavern Carey to score the win. Guss made the move on lap 45 of the 50 lap feature. Carey crossed the line in second ahead of Rob Toland and Todd Cooney.
The Farley Speedway will bring the 2002 season to a close on Saturday, October 5th with the running of the second annual Fall Classic. The racing action will feature Pro Stocks, Hobby Stocks and Flyers.
Yankee Dirt Track Classic Feature Results
IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series Late Models
50 Lap Feature Thursday, September 12
Hobby Stocks Thursday, September 12
Feature
1. 13 Larry Benn-Dyersville 2. 7B Randy Benn-Dyersville 3. 7 Chad Hallahan-Dubuque 4. 33 Jim Turpin-Shullsburg, WI 5. 98 Jason Rauen-Farley 6. 61 Scott Reichers-Belmont, WI 7. 59 Mike Hughes-Galena, IL 8. 28 Ed McIntyre-Delhi 9. 97 Steve Dunkel-Worthington 10. 44S B.J. Schmidt-Dubuque 11. 6 Jed Frieberger-Dubuque 12. 80 Rick Runde-Platteville, WI 13. 81 K.C. Ansel-Dubuque 14. 3b Doug Alt-Benton, WI 15. 44 Kory Haverly-Anamosa 16. 33j Joe Huenfeld-Freeport, IL 17. 73l Jason Laue-Freeport, IL 18. 5 Norb Ahlers-Earlville 19. 72 Doug Yates-Monticello 20. 20 Dan Albright-Hiawatha 21. 08 Rod Staats-Columbus Junction 22. 0 Stan O’Brien-Muscatine 23. 98x Duane Ahmann-Epworth 24. 23 Dennis Etten-Wyoming
Pro Stocks Friday, September 13
Feature
1. 56 Andy Eckrich-Cosgrove 2. 12 Jeff Tharp-Dubuque 3. 69 John Maher-West Branch 4. 20 Ty Kleiner-Potosi, WI 5. 37 Roger Ciesielski-Waterloo 6. 7 Larry Johnson-Shannon, IL 7. 91 Rich Picha-Prairie Du Chein, WI 8. 32 Chris Simpson-Marion 9. 25S Chad Simpson-Marion 10. 16 Dan Shelliam-Hazel Green, WI 11. 0B Matt Bodman-Muscatine 12. 80 Jerry Dedrick-Vinton 13. 3D Dan Lange-Rochester 14. 25 Bob Moyer-Dubuque 15. 77 Darren Plett-Donahue 16. 2k Jeff Kennedy-Dubuque 17. S1 Steve Hunter-Hopkinton 18. 71 Kevin Schroeder-Low Moor 19. 29 Matt Rodebaugh-Orangeville, IL 20. 74 Tony Meyer-Guttenberg 21. 17 Jim Rymerz-Praire Du Chein, WI 22. 35 Jim Brokus-Dubuque 23. 97 Jeff Reinert-Dyersville 24. 22 Jeff Valentine-Dubuque
Quarter Master Modifieds
Heat Winners
Heat 1-3 Jason Schueller-Dubuque Heat 2-5D Bob Dominacki-Bettendorf Heat 3-37 B Ron Barker-Dubuque Heat 4-26P Kevin Pittman-Waterloo Heat 5- 74 Scott Nesteby-Dubuque Heat 6-96 Larry Herring-Lone Tree Fast Dash-96 Larry Herring Consolation #1-2h Rick Hixson-Orion, IL Consolation #2-27 Mark Schulte-Delhi Consolation #3-64 Vern Jackson-Waterloo Last Chance #1-M50 Jim Sandusky-Coal Valley, IL Last Chance #2- D55 Scott Lemke-Davis Junction, IL
Feature Saturday, September 14
1. 96 Herring 2. 26P Pittman 3. 74 Nesteby 4. 37b Barker 5. 5D Dominacki 6. 3 Schueller 7. 2h Hixson 8. 10 Jed Hurst-Hazel Green, WI 9. 60 Rob Verbeck-Anawan, IL 10. M50 Sandusky 11. 14W Jason Walrack-Mineral Point, Wi 12. 16 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon 13. 64 Jackson 14. G1 Mike Garland-Morrison, IL 15. 66 Dan Bohr-Decorah 16. 01M Mitch Way-Davenport 17. 15 Sean Rupp-Dubuque 18. 69 Roger Donahue-Dubuque 19. B3 Russ Olson-Cedar Rapids 20. 27 Schulte 21. 08 Mike Miller-Leaf River, IL 22. D55 Lemke 23. 51 Harry Wethington-Tipton 24. 11 Mike Burbridge-Delhi 25. 86 David Mclean-Potosi, WI 26. 111 Scott Holbert-Freeport, IL 27. 24 Randy Less-Hopkinton
Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models
Heat Winners
Heat 1-15b Brian Birkhofer-Muscatine Heat 2-56 Gary Webb-Blue Grass Heat 3-39 Rob Toland-Hillsdale, IL Heat 4-12n Terry Neal-Ely Heat 5-50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin Heat 6-18Z Rusty Zook-Riverside Heat 7-12 Ray Guss Jr.-Milan, IL Consolation #1-S9 Dan Schlieper-Pewaukee, WI Consolation #2-3T Todd Davis-Iowa City Consolation #3-77 Jeff Aikey-Cedar Falls Fast Dash- 15b Birkhofer Last Chance-45 Jeff Laue-Burlington
Auto Acres 25 Lap Feature Saturday, September 14
100 Lap “Yankee Dirt Track Classic”
Farley Speedway 9-15-02 By: Jerry Mackey |
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