Denny Eckrich Takes Opening Night NASCAR Win At Farley Speedway - Barker, Moyer, Benn, Massey & Brink Winners

Farley, Iowa :  The 2003 Dodge NASCAR Weekly Racing Series got underway on Friday, April 18^th at the high banked ½ mile dirt track Farley Speedway on a cold blustery night. The fans who braved the chilly conditions were treated to a very entertaining night of racing action. The track has been widened for the 2003 season and the surface was in great racing shape providing plenty of three and four wide racing in all classes.

Opening night format included the top twelve heat race qualifiers in each division redrawing for their respective features. The Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Model feature saw outside front row starter Denny Eckrich put his “Flyin 50” out front and race to a flag to flag feature win. Eckrich got away from the pack early and led the caution free race all the way in route to an impressive win. The battle for second was fast and furious with several drivers taking a shot at the runner-up paycheck. Matt Furman was able to out race Farley hot shoe Jeff Aikey and secure a very strong finish in taking second. Luke Merfeld followed Aikey across the line in fourth. Pro Stock graduate Dan Shelliam turned in an outstanding opening night run in taking fifth after running the entire race in the top five.

 Ron Barker opened the 2003 season as defending champion in the Modified division, Barker started 2003 in fine fashion with a very impressive win. Barker set sail from his outside front row starting spot and led the entire 20 laps in route to the win.  The cagy veteran Scott Nesteby advanced all the way from his 12^th position start to run second to Barker. Young Mark Schulte drove a great race in following the veterans across the line in third. Johnny Spaw drove his #1 to a fourth place finish ahead of Jerry Miles.

 Bobby Moyer opened 2003 by scoring the NASCAR Pro Stock feature win. Moyer was pressured the last half of the 15 lap main by Ty Kleiner but was up to the challenge in scoring the victory. Jeff Kennedy followed Kleiner across the finish line in taking third.

 Randy Benn drove his flagship #7 Hobby Stock to the opening win and the win was the Dyersville native’s first ever feature win at his home track. Benn led the main flag to flag in scoring the win over Jim Turpin and Doug Yates.

 The new class at the Farley Speedway for 2003 is the B-Modified division. Mark Massey registered his name in the record books as the first ever feature winner in the new B-Mod class. Massey outraced Rory Becker to the checkers.

 Al Brink made the long tow from Waukon to win the opening night Farley Flyers feature. Brink bested the 21 car starting field. Brian Kammerude took second ahead of Steve Stackis.

 The Dodge NASCAR Weekly Racing Series season will continue on Friday nights all summer long with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing to follow at the Farley Speedway.    

4/18/03 Farley Speedway Race Results

Farley Flyers

Heat 1

1. 19 Al Brink-Waukon
2. 71 Adam Wills-Hazel Green, WI
3. 7H Phil Holtz

Heat 2

1. 55 Brian Kammerude-Hazel Green, WI
2. 1k Tim Koppes-Cascade
3. 68 Steve Stackis-Dubuque

Feature

1. 19 Brink
2. 55 Kammerude
3. 68 Stackis
4. 38S Rob Kramer-Peosta
5. 00 John Flury-Peosta
6. 15 Loras Feldmann-Dyersville
7. 01 Damien Miller-Dubuque
8. 7K Travis Kaiser-Dyersville
9. 71 Wills
10. 7H Holtz
11. 50Z Joe Zrostlik-Long Grove
12. 69 Becky Roth-Cuba City, WI
13. 38 R.J. Simon-Farley
14. 1 Koppes
15. 83 Jeff Willis-Farley
16. 04 Jacob Reiff-Farley
17. 21k Danny Kennedy-Dubuque
18. 46 Anthony Petty
19. 48J Jena Barthelmes-Cedar Rapids
20. 31 Jason Roth-Hazel Green, WI
21. 97 Russ Their-Dyersville

B-Modifieds

Heat

1. 30 Mark Massey-Farley
2. 4 Rory Becker-Bernard
3. 9 Leon Wilson-Hopkinton

Feature

1. 30 Massey
2. 4 Becker
3. 9 Wilson
4. 21I Todd Ihde-Garnivillo
5. 7J Jacob Seegmiller-Dubuque

Hobby Stocks

Heat 1

1. 7B Randy Benn-Dyersville
2. 97 Steve Dunkel-Worthington
3. 98 Jason Rauen-Farley

Heat 2

1. 33 Jim Turpin-Shullsburg, WI
2. 89 Kelly Welter-St. Donatus
3. 81 K.C. Ansel-Dubuque

Feature

1. 7B Benn
2. 33 Turpin
3. 72 Doug Yates-Monticello
4. 98 Rauen
5. 59 Mike Hughes-Galena
6. 97 Dunkel
7. 89 Welter
8. 28 Ed McIntyre-Delhi
9. 23 Dennis Etten-Wyoming
10. 81 Ansel
11. 44 B.J. Schmidt-Dubuque
12. 12 Matt Dunkel-Martelle
13. 13 Laura Kramer-Dyersville

Pro Stocks

Heat 1

1. 20 Ty Kleiner-Potosi, WI
2. 2k Jeff Kennedy-Dubuque
3. 25X Chad Simpson-Marion

Heat 2

1. 25 Bob Moyer-Dubuque
2. 97 Jeff Reinert-Dyersville
3. 32 Chris Simpson-Marion

Feature

1. 25 Moyer
2. 20 Kleiner
3. 2K Kennedy
4. 1 Dave Fieber-Platteville, WI
5. 97 Reinert
6. 25x Simpson
7. 32 Simpson
8. 22 Jeff Valentine-Dubuque
9. 0 Matt Bodman-Muscatine
10. 14 Levi Benn-Dyersville

Modifieds

Heat 1

1. 37B Ron Barker-Dubuque
2. 74 Scott Nesteby-Asbury
3. 4 Jerry Miles-Dubuque

Heat 2

1. 27 Mark Schulte-Delhi
2. 33W Steve Wetter-Platteville, WI
3. 3 Jason Schueller-Dubuque

Feature

1. 37 B Barker
2. 74 Nesteby
3. 27 Schulte
4. 1 Johnny Spaw-Cedar Rapids
5. 4 Miles
6. 1D Mel Saffran-Dubuque
7. 15 Sean Rupp-Dubuque
8. 66 Dan Bohr-Decorah
9. 00 Josh Vinnedge-Forreston, IL
10. 20 Kory Burmeister-Glen Haven, WI
11. 17 Pat Flannagan-Cedar Rapids
12. 23 Jason Udelhofen-Platteville, WI
13. 24M Jan Messer-Manchester
14. 11B Mike Burbridge-Delhi
15. 33 John Burbridge-Delhi
16. 24 Randy Less-Hopkinton
17. 3 Schueller
18. 33W Wetter
19. 8 Rich Smith-Davenport
20. 39 Bob Bollon-Freeport, IL

Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation NASCAR Late Models

Heat 1

1. 51 Matt Furman-Iowa City
2. 45 Curt Martin-Independence
3. 77 Jeff Aikey-Cedar Falls

Heat 2

1. 3t Todd Davis-Iowa City
2. 50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin
3. 61R Jon Rogers-German Valley, IL

Feature

1. 50 Eckrich
2. 51 Furman
3. 77 Aikey
4. 21 Luke Merfeld-Dubuque
5. 27 Dan Shelliam-Hazel Green, WI
6. 61R Rogers
7. 3t Davis
8. 26 Steve Boley-West Liberty
9. 45 Martin
10. 12t Jeff Tharp-Dubuque
11. 79 Darren Mish-Cassville
12. 56E Andy Eckrich-Cosgrove
13. 3 Josh McGowan-Vinton
14. 9 Bobby Hansen-Dike
15. 11 Steve Ihm-Kieler, WI
16. 145 Dale Hackwell-Waterloo
17. 95 Ed Sanger-Postville
18. 1M Rob Moss-Iowa City
19. 57 Ryan Naab-Dubuque

Farley Speedway

Farley, Iowa

4/18/03

By: Jerry Mackey