Mark Merfeld Tops Dubuque County Fair NASCAR Late Models

The 2002 Dubuque County Fair came to a close with the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge on Sunday night in front of a huge crowd. The large crowd was treated to an outstanding night of racing action at the high banked 3/8 mile dirt track.

The 25 lap Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation NASCAR Late Model feature took to the track with pole sitter Duane Coulson taking the early lead. Coulson gave way to Steve Johnson at the 8 lap mark. Johnson was trying to score his second consecutive feature win at Dubuque. Johnson and Gary Webb were battling it out for the lead working the low side of the speedway when Mark Merfeld came on strong working the top side of the smooth track. Merfeld was able to take the lead on lap 23 and power on to his second win of the season. Johnson crossed the stripe in second ahead of Webb. Luke Merfeld and Darren Mish rounded out the top five.

Sunday nights Modified feature proved that some times luck does play a huge part in racing. Ron Barker scored his 27^th feature win of the 2002 season but he was the first to admit that this one involved a lucky break. Barker was closing in on the lead on lap 14 when he nearly spun out causing him to drift to the back of the pack. Before the lap could be completed the caution was thrown for another car. On the restart Barker was realigned in the position that he was running on the previous lap which was second. Barker used the good break and went on to record the feature win. Barker was able to out race Jason Schueller to the checkers.

Another first time winner made his way to victory lane in the NASCAR Pro Stock division on Sunday night. Brian Culbertson won his first feature of the 2002 season by running a very smooth race using the high side of the track. Culbertson took the lead early in the main event and held off a strong running Jeff Tharp late in the race. Tharp came from the sixth row to challenge late in the race for the win. Ty Kleiner took third at the checkers.

Duane Ahmann has become the Dubuque County Fair race perennial winner in the Hobby Stock division. Ahmann has won the last three Sunday Fair races in the very tough Hobby Stock class. Sunday’s win was extra special for Ahmann as he beat his teammate to the checkers. Jason Rauen took second making a one two sweep for the Rauen Precision Machine race team.

Steve Stackis drove his Mitsubishi to his first ever feature win in the Farley Flyer division. Stackis scored the win in only his sixth night of racing in the all new Farley Flyer division. Stackis took the win over Jason Roth and Randy Leehan.

Sunday, August 4^th will be Fan Appreciation night at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds Speedway with all grandstand admissions being cut to half price. Hot laps will get underway at 6 p.m. with racing to follow at 6:30 p.m.   

Sunday, July 28^th Race Results

Farley Flyers

Heat 1

1.      21K Danny Kennedy-Dubuque

2.      68 Steve Stackis-Dubuque

3.      3X Brad Klaas-Lancaster, WI

Heat 2

1.      23 Keith Kiernan-Dubuque

2.      45 Jeff Jorgensen-Mineral Point, WI

3.      17 Randy Leehan-Apple River, IL

Feature

1. 68 Stackis

2. 31 Jason Roth-Hazel Green, WI

3. 17 Leehan

4. 14 Levi Benn-Dyersville

5. 45 Jorgensen

6. 97 Russ Their-Dyersville

7. 3x Klaas

8. 21K Kennedy

9. 00 John Flury-Epworth

10. 69 Becky Roth-Cuba City, WI

11. 66 Tony Brimeyer-Dubuque

12. 38S R.J. Simon-Farley

13. 21m Robby Munter-Dubuque

14. 55 Brian Kammerude-Hazel Green, WI

15. 11 Casey Kohl-Dubuque

16. 75 Chad Naderman-Farley

17. 23 Keith Kiernan

NASCAR Hobby Stocks

Heat 1

1. 59 Mike Hughes-Galena, IL

2. 8K Jerry Merkes-Farley

3. 6 Jed Frieberger-Dubuque

 Heat 2

1. 98X Duane Ahmann-Epworth

2. 33 Jim Turpin-Shullsburg, WI

3. 89 Kelly Welter-Dubuque

 Feature

1. 98X Ahmann

2. 98 Jason Rauen-Farley

3. 8K Merkes

4. 59 Hughes

5. 33 Turpin

6. 89 Welter

7. 81 K.C. Ansel-Dubuque

8. 97Steve Dunkel- Worthington

9. 13 Larry Benn-Dyersville

10. 6 Frieberger

11. 73l Jason Laue-Freeport, IL

12. 44 B.J. Schmidt-Dubuque

13. 7 Chad Hallahan-Dubuque

14. 28 Ed McIntyre-Delhi

15. 39 Dave Humphrey-Hazel Green, WI

NASCAR Pro Stocks

Heat 1          

1. 71 Kevin Schroeder-Low Moor

2. 35 Jim Brokus-Dubuque

3. 22 Jeff Valentine-Dubuque

 Heat 2

1. 18 Skip Culbertson-Dubuque

2. 2K Jeff Kennedy-Dubuque

3. 99 Ken Martelle-LaMotte

Feature

1. 18 Culbertson

2. 12 Jeff Tharp-Dubuque

3. 20 Ty Kleiner-Potosi, WI

4. 22 Valentine

5. 35 Brokus

6. 71 Schroeder

7. 97 Jeff Reinert-Dyersville

8. 1 John Walker-Cedar Rapids

9. 99 Martelle

10. 21 Jason Robbins-Benton, WI

11. 37 Bruce Schmitz-Mineral Point, WI

12. 23 Jim Amos-Peosta

13. 2k Kennedy

14. 16 Dan Shelliam-Hazel Green, WI

15. 25 Bobby Moyer-Dubuque

16. 13 Dan Fortman-Dubuque

NASCAR Modifieds

Heat 1

1. 3 Jason Schuller-Dubuque

2. 1D Mel Saffran-Dubuque

3. 20 Cory Burmeister-Glen Haven, WI

 Heat 2

1. 33W Steve Wetter-Platteville, WI

2. 33 John Burbridge-Delhi

3. 24m Jan Messer-Manchester

 Feature

1. 37b Ron Barker-Dubuque

2. 3 Schueller

3. 74 Scott Nesteby-Dubuque

4. 16 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon

5. 4 Jerry Miles-Dubuque

6. 5D bob Dominacki-Bettendorf

7. 10 Jed Hurst-Hazel Green, WI

8. 15 Sean Rupp-Dubuque

9. 1D Saffran

10. 19 Jim Allen-Dubuque

11. 33 Burbridge

12. 20 Burmeister

13. 01m Mitch Way-Davenport

14. 27 Mark Schulte-Delhi

15. 24m Messer

16. 33W Wetter

Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models

 Heat 1

1. 51X Matt Furman-Iowa City

2. 21 Luke Merfeld-Dubuque

3. 79 Darren Mish-Cassville, WI

 Heat 2

1.      56 Gary Webb-Blue Grass

2.      8 Mark Merfeld-Dubuque

3.      1m Rob Moss-Iowa City

Heat 3

1.   Steve Ihm-Kieler, WI

2. 77J Steve Johnson-Camanche

3. 44 Duane Coulson-East Dubuque, IL

Feature

1. 8 Merfeld

2. 77J Johnson

3. 56 Webb

4. 21 Merfeld

5. 79 Mish

6. 90 Rob Toland-Hillsdale, IL

7. 1m Moss

8. 44 Coulson

9. 98.1 Bobby Hansen-Dike

10. 54 Mark Curwen-Hazel Green, WI

11. 50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin

12. 51X Furman

13. 95 Ed Sanger-Postville

14. 61r Jon Rogers-German Valley, IL

15. 27 Ed McGuire-Monroe, WI

16. 51 Mel Abels-Freeport, IL

17. 5 Wade Halverson-Elgin

18. S1 Steve Hunter-Hopkinton

19. 26 Steve Boley-West Liberty

20. 11 Ihm

21. 24 Bryan Behning-Davenport

Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway

7/28/02

By: Jerry Mackey