Denny Eckrich Scores Win On Artic Cat Night At West Liberty Raceway

Race Fans Raise $2,750 For Mark Ward

West Liberty, Iowa: Saturday, May 24^th was Artic Cat night at the West Liberty Raceway as the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series was in action.

Before we talk racing I would like to express a great bit of gratitude to the West Liberty Raceway fans on behalf of the Mark Ward family.

Mark, a NASCAR Late Model driver at the West Liberty Raceway has recently been diagnosed as having Leukemia, and he is in for the struggle of his life. Mark is currently hospitalized at the U of I Hospitals in Iowa City and will remain there for the next four to six weeks then will face an 18 month schedule of chemotherapy. Saturday night several of Mark’s fellow competitors went into the grandstand with there helmets to take donations for the Mark Ward family. Our fans poured out there hearts and a grand total of $2,750 was raised through donations and an auction of a poster photo of  Mark Ward racing at speed in his #8 NASCAR late Model. Our entire racing family extends best wishes to Mark Ward and we hope to have Mark back at the track before the season is over.   

The on track action was highlighted by the 25 lap Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation NASCAR late Model feature. The feature was run caution free with Rob Moss leading the first seven circuits before Steve Boley was able to take the top spot. Boley led the race until lap number 22 when Denny Eckrich was able to move underneath the 26 of Boley. Eckrich moved away from Boley to capture the win. Eckrich came from the 11^th position to take the win ahead of Boley. Jeff Bair made a late race charge to take third ahead of Brian Harris and Moss.

The 20 lap Miller Time Modified feature was slowed by a caution on lap 2 then the drivers ran the final 18 laps caution free. Rob Verbeck led the first 16 laps before Mitch Way was able to catch the leaders and use the middle groove of the wide track to take the lead and cruise on to his third win of the 2003 season. Way started the race in the 15^th position and steadily worked his way to the front using several different lines around the track.  Way took the checkers ahead of Dan Chapman, Rob Verbeck and Larry Herring.

The 15 lap NASCAR Pro Stock feature turned out to be a family affair with the Simpson brothers taking the first two positions. Chris Simpson went home with bragging rights in taking the win over his brother Chad. Chris took the lead from Skeet Smith on lap nine and went on to hold off his brother Chad for the win. Randy Franzen ran a very good race in taking third ahead of Smith.

NASCAR Hobby Stock point leader Stan O’Brien battled to the front from his sixth row start and took over the top spot on lap number 6 in route to the win. Dave Schrier passed Doug Yates to take second coming to the checkers.

 NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series action will continue on Saturday, May 31^st with hot laps at 6 p.m. at the West Liberty Raceway.     

West Liberty Raceway Race Results 5/24/03

NASCAR Hobby Stocks

      Heat 1

1. 20 Dan Albright-Hiawatha
2. 15 Jared Collins-West Liberty
3. 29 W Dave Wadda-Muscatine

Heat 2

1. 72 Doug Yates-Monticello
2. 94 Jason Lange-Lisbon
3. S9 Ron Schruers-Fruitland

Feature

1. 0 Stan O’Brien-Muscatine
2. 100 Dave Schrier-Muscatine
3. 72 Yates
4. 12 Scotty Pratt-Tipton
5. 29W Wada
6. 29 Matt Greiner-Washington
7. 28 Zach Sobaski-Washington
8. 25 Jim Schrier-Washington
9. 15 Collins
10. 31 Rick Curtis-Muscatine
11. 12 Matt Dunkel-Martelle
12. S9 Schruers
13. 20 Albright
14. 23 Dennis Etten-Wyoming
15. 2W Roger Whitcomb-Letts
16. 92 Adam Bell-Kalona
17. 94 Lange
18. 17 Marcus Ostofi-Davenport
19. 40 James Rock-West Liberty
20. 9R Jeff Riggan-Muscatine
21. 29D Scott Dierks-Clarence

NASCAR Pro Stocks

Heat 1

1. 3D Dan Lange-Rochester
2. 38 Skeet Smith-Wilton
3. 7 Dale Franklin-Marion

Heat 2

1. 75 Mike Welsh-Davenport
2. 21 Brian VanDusen-Atalissa
3. 25 Chad Simpson-Marion

Heat 3

1. 9Z Dan Werner-Muscatine
2. 26 Paul Hallett-Muscatine
3. 17 Gary Beuter-Tipton

Feature

1. 32 Chris Simpson-Marion
2. 25 Simpson
3. 33 Randy Franzen-Maquoketa
4. 38 Smith
5. 17 Beuter
6. 75 Welsh
7. 9Z Werner
8. 7 Franklin
9. 77 Darren Plett-Donahue
10. 21 VanDusen
11. 9 Davey Elliott-Moscow
12. 15 Curt Schroeder-Ames
13. 60 Matt Brockert-Muscatine
14. 36 Jason Gingerich-West Liberty
15. 86 Jeremy Gustaf-East Moline, IL
16. 26 Hallett
17. 3D Lange
18. 42V Darren Voss-Wilton
19. 29 Bruce Miller-West Liberty
20. 11 Troy Philpott-Muscatine
21. 31 Jeremy Honts-Muscatine
22. 0 Matt Bodman-Muscatine
23. 24 Monte Hayden-Wilton

Miller Time Modifieds

Heat 1

1. 42 John Brumley-Riverside
2. 8 Rich Smith-Davenport
3. 37 Todd Stoolman-West Branch

Heat 2

1. 51 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon
2. 7 Mike Thomas-West Branch
3. 44 Wade Lee- Muscatine

Heat 3

1. 01m Mitch Way-Davenport
2. 2H Rick Hixson-Orion, IL
3. 45 Steve Kohli-Iowa City

Miller Time Modified Feature

1. 01M Way

2. 1 Dan Chapman-Clarence

3. 60 Rob Verbeck-Anawan, IL

4. 96  Larry Herring-Lone Tree

5. Matt Ruess-West Liberty

6. 42 Brumley

7. 7 Thomas

8. 37 Stoolman

9. 2H Hixson

10. 17 Steve Stewart-Washington

11. 1 Johnny Spaw-Cedar Rapids

12. 51 Dolan

13. 2 Jim Vest-Wellman

14. 19 Terry Lawson-New Liberty

15. 45 Kohli

16. 71Z Ray Partida-West Liberty

17. 21 Todd Hansen-Muscatine

18. 44 Lee

19. 34 Dave Hemsted-Lone Tree

20. 20 John Fellman-Blue Grass

21. 8 Smith

22. 29D Brad Dierks-Clarence

23. 1k Kevin Kile-West Liberty

24. 12 Terry Walker-Riverside

Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models

Heat 1

1. 51 Matt Furman-Iowa City
2. 88 Kevin Kile-West Liberty
3. 28 Jeff Bair-Solon

Heat 2

1. 50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin
2. 21h Brian Harris-Davenport
3. 57 Tom Christensen-West Liberty

Heat 3

1. 66 Matt Gilchrist-Grandview
2. 45 Mike Klinkhammer-West Branch
3. 31u Jason Utter-Columbus Junction

IITI  Feature

1.      50 Eckrich

2.      26 Steve Boley-West Liberty

3.      28 Bair

4.      21h Harris

5.      1M Rob Moss-Iowa City

6.      45 Klinkhammer

7.      18Z Rusty Zook-Riverside

8.      57 Christensen

9.      3T Todd Davis-Iowa City

10.  56E Andy Eckrich-Cosgrove

11.  88 Kile

12.  31u Utter

13.  51 Furman

14.  4 Bobby Sexton-West Branch

15.  43 Kurt Stewart-Ainsworth

16.  33 Nick Marolf-Moscow

17.  30 Dan Brockert-Muscatine

18.  77 Kurt Kile-West Liberty

19.  66 Gilchrist

20.  2R Rusty Daufeldt-Blue Grass

21.  69 Todd Hormel-West Liberty

22.  5 Tim Marsden-Hillsdale, IL

23.  3 Josh McGowan-Vinton

West Liberty Raceway

Saturday,  May 24

By: Jerry Mackey