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ECKRICH AND CANNON SHARE WEST LIBERTY VICTORY LANENASCAR WEEKLY RACING SERIES Dave Eckrich and Tom Cannon each found their way to victory at the West Liberty Raceway on April 21st in NASCAR Weekly Racing Series action held on the half mile. Eckrich topped the make-up feature that was rained out from the previous week, taking just thirteen laps to navigate from his ninth place starting spot to take the lead away from pole sitter Dave Englekens by working the low side of the racetrack. Englekens used the top of the fresh racetrack to fend off early pressure from Ace Ihm, but retired one lap later with mechanical difficulties. Englekens departure opened the door for Denny Eckrich to join the leaders. With leader Dave switching to the top of the racetrack and Ihm still on the bottom, Denny found a faster line by diamonding off the corners. Dispatching of Ihm on lap 16, Denny quickly closed in on his brother’s rear bumper. Looking underneath every corner, Denny wasn’t able to make the pass until lapped traffic moved up in front of Dave on the 21st circuit, leaving the bottom of the track open. That pass was quickly negated however when the event’s only caution flag flew, reverting the running order back to the previously completed lap. With a clear track in front of him the field lined up in double file formation behind, Dave rocketed away on the restart, leaving Denny to battle with Gary Webb for the runner up spot. Webb snuck past on the restart, with twelfth place starter Rick Wendling getting past one lap later. Denny held on for the fourth spot ahead of Ray Guss Jr. Starting third in the regular feature, Cannon placed himself behind outside front row starter Monte Ohrt for the first few laps before taking over the top spot on lap eight while Denny Eckrich joined the leaders, advancing from his tenth place starting position. Cannon cruised in the non-stop feature, building up enough of a lead to survive a late race challenge from Eckrich as the two cars raced through heavy lapped traffic. Finally clearing the slower traffic on lap 23, Cannon completed the final two laps without pressure, leading Eckrich, Ray Guss Jr, Matt Furman and Monte Ohrt across the line. Darrall Brick took home the Miller Time Modified honors after taking the lead away from Robbie Verbeck following a lap five restart and staying glued to the very top of the racetrack. Brick benefited from a torrid battle between Verbeck and Russ Olsen that saw the two exchange the runner-up position several times. Olsen and the top of the racetrack eventually prevailed with Scott Megonigle also getting around Verbeck before the checkered. Dan Chapman raced his way up from the twelfth position to claim the fifth spot. Matt Gilchrist backed up his Spring Championship victory in the Pro Stocks with a repeat performance in a race that saw at least four different leaders during the 15-lap event. Dale Franklin was the first to hold to point, getting the jump on pole sitter Jerome Gray before surrendering the lead to Chad Simpson on lap five. Simpson was able to stay ahead until getting loose following a lap eight restart. Rusty Daufeldt was in position to capitalize on Simpson’s miscue, with Gilchrist right on his tail. Gilchrist used the cushion of the racetrack to pull alongside on lap ten, with the two cars racing side-by-side until the white flag. Gilchrist eventually edged into the lead taking the victory ahead of Daufeldt, Norman Bean, last weeks victor Jason Gingrich and Andy Eckrich. Bub Irwin scored his first ever win in the Bombers, jumping out to the early lead ahead of pole sitter Matt Bodman. Bodman gave Irwin stiff competition on the bottom of the racetrack throughout the ten-lap event, but was unable to make the pass before Irwin moved his car down to protect his lead. Larry Benn and Todd Hansen had a great battle going for the third spot most of the race, with Benn finally able to clear Hansen and pass Bodman with the same move on the final lap to claim the runner up position. Bodman held on for third ahead of Hansen. Racing action in all four divisions of NASCAR stock cars continues this Saturday, April 28th at the West Liberty Raceway located on the Muscatine County Fairgrounds. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:30 pm with racing action to follow. For more information contact Simmons Promotions at 563-744-3620 or online at www.simmonspromotionsinc.com. For Raceday updates and quick results after the event is over, call your local McLeod USA InTouch Directory, category 3740. Late Models (make-up from 4-14) 58 Dave Eckrich Coralville DNS DNQ LATE MODELS (regular feature) 32 Tom Cannon Iowa City DNS DNQ MILLER TIME MODIFIEDS 1. 22 Darrall Brick West Branch DNQ PRO STOCKS DNS BOMBERS DQ d1 Matt Fulton Blue Grass DNS |
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