Eckrich Stars in Hollywood Graphics Night at the West Liberty Raceway 

West Liberty, Iowa: Denny Eckrich made quick work of traffic to advance from his twelfth place starting position and post his fourth NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Late Model feature win at the West Liberty Raceway on Saturday June 21^st.  Overtaking pole sitter Dan Brockert before the fifth circuit was complete, Eckrich sailed to the easy win as the Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation 25 lap feature went caution free for the final 23 circuits.  Second place Matt Furman earned the Hard Charger award of the evening by starting 18^th and steadily picking his way through traffic, eventually rocketing around Brockert in turn four of the final lap.  Mike Klinkkhammer turned in a solid performance by parlaying his ninth place start into fourth at the checkers, ahead of tenth place starter Todd Davis.   

Terry Lawson posted his third Miller Time Modified feature trophy of the season in a dominating performance in the caution plagued 20 lap feature event.  Lawson started 10^th but quickly overtook early leader Rick Hixson following a lap 2 restart.  Lawson used the bottom of the racetrack to open up a huge lead several times during the race, eventually opening up a 15 car length advantage over the final three laps to cross underneath the checkers ahead of Hixson, points leader Ryan Dolan, last weeks winner Larry Herring and Rich Smith.  Chris Simpson overtook Bruce Miller in the final corner of the NASCAR Pro Stock feature to record his third victory of the season.  Miller appeared to be cruising to the easy win after taking the lead away from pole sitter Dan Lange on the opening lap but was forced to change his racing line late in the race in a futile attempt to hold back the charging Simpson.  Chad Simpson finished the race a distant third ahead of Matt Bodman and Brian VanDusen.   Scotty Pratt became a first time visitor to victory lane in NASCAR Hobby Stock action by parlaying his front row starting spot into the win.  Pratt appeared to be cruising to the easy win by keeping his car well ahead of the late race battle between Jim Schrier and Matt Greiner until a caution with 2 laps to go brought the field back to his rear bumper.  Schrier shook off Greiner on the restart and pulled alongside Pratt on the final lap, but was unable to complete the pass before the checkers.  Greiner held on for third ahead of Dave Wada and Jeff Murphy. 

NASCAR Dodge Weekly Racing Series action returns to the flat half mile West Liberty Raceway located on the Muscatine County Fairgrounds this Saturday June 28^th for Corner Tap Night.  Hot laps are scheduled for 6 pm with racing to follow.   

West Liberty Raceway Race Results 6-21-03

NASCAR Hobby Stocks

Heat 1

1. 7m  Jeff Murphy-Columbus Junction

2. 0 Stan O’Brien-Muscatine

3. 29 Matt Greiner-Washington

Heat 2

1. 25 Jim Schrier-Washington

2. 29w Dave Wadda-Muscatine

3. 12p Scotty Pratt-Tipton

Feature

1. 12p  Pratt

2. 25 Schrier

3. 29 Greiner

4. 29w Wada

5. 7m Murphy

6. 20 Dan Albright-Hiawatha

7. 15 Jared Collins-West Liberty

8. 0  O’Brien

9. 31 Rick Curtis-Muscatine

10. 9R Jeff Riggan-Muscatine

11. 100 Dave Schrier-Muscatine

12. 72 Doug Yates-Monticello

13. S9 Ron Schruers-Fruitland

14.  62 Jason Speers

15. 29d Scott Dierks-Clarence

NASCAR Pro Stocks 

Heat 1

1. 42v Derrin Voss-Wilton

2. 3d Dan Lange-Rochester

3. 21 Brian VanDusen-Atalissa

Heat 2

1. 0 Matt Bodman-Muscatine

2. 24 Monte Hayden-Wilton

3. 17 Gary Beuter-Tipton

Feature

1. 32 Chris Simpson-Marion

2. 29 Bruce Miller-West Liberty

3. 25 Chad Simpson-Marion

4.  0  Bodman

5. 21 VanDusen

6. 17 Beuter

7. 11 Troy Philpott-Muscatine

8. 75 Mike Welsh-Davenport

9. 24 Hayden

10.  36 Jason Gingerich-West Liberty

11.  7 Dale Franklin-Marion

12.  33 Randy Franzen-Maquoketa

13.  42v Voss

14. 77 Darren Plett-Donahue

15.  3d Lange

16.  9z Dan Werner-Muscatine

17. 60 Matt Brockert-Muscatine

18.  5m Larry McCall-Mechanicsville

19.   44s Tom Struve-Palo

20. 38 Skeet Smith-Wilton

Miller Time Modifieds

Heat 1

1. 01m Mitch Way-Davenport

2. 12 Terry Walker-Riverside

3. 23 Marty Leik-Iowa City

Heat 2

1. 42 John Brumley-Riverside

2. 51 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon

3. 17 Steve Stewart-Washington

Heat 3

1. 2h Rick Hixson-Orion, IL

2. m2 Scott Megonigle- Cedar Rapids

3. 19 Terry Lawson-New Liberty

Miller Time Modified Feature

1. 19 Lawson

2. 2h Hixson

3. 51 Dolan

4. 96  Larry Herring-Lone Tree

5. 8 Rich Smith-Davenport

6. 37 Todd Stoolman-West Branch

7. 60 Robbie Verbeck- Annawan IL

8. 42 Brumley

9. 1 Johnny Spaw-Cedar Rapids

10. 71Z Ray Partida-West Liberty

11. 44 Wade Lee-Muscatine

12. 64 Brett Frieden- Walford

13. 9z Mike Zogg-New Liberty

14. 21 Todd Hansen-Muscatine

15. 12 Walker

16. 45 Steve Kohli-Iowa City

17. 29d Brad Dierks-Clarence

18.  1k Kevin Kile-West Liberty

19. 34 Dave Hemsted-Lone Tree

20.  m2 Megonigle

21. 7 Mike Thomas-West Branch

22. 40 Clayton Jensen-Iowa City

23. 23 Leik

24. 68 Harry Wethington-Tipton

25. 01m Way

26. 2 Jim Vest-Wellman

27. D56 Mike Dains-Mechanicsville

28. 17 Stewart

Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models

Heat 1

1. 50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin

2. 33 Nick Marolf-Moscow

3. 56e Andy Eckrich-Cosgrove

Heat 2

1. 28 Jeff Bair-Solon

2. 3 Josh McGowan-Vinton

3. 57 Tom Christensen-West Liberty

Heat 3

1. 30 Dan Brockert-Muscatine

2. 3T Todd Davis-Iowa City

3. 43 Kurt Stewart-Ainsworth 

IITI  Late Model Feature

1.     50 Eckrich

2.      51 Matt Furman-Iowa City

3.   30 Brockert 

4.   45 Mike Klinkkhammer-West Branch      

5.      3t Davis

6.   57 Christensen      

7.   56e Eckrich      

8.      4 Bobby Sexton-West Branch

9.      77j Steve Johnson-Camanche

10.  66 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon

11.  74 Ron Boyse-Kalona

12.  43 Stewart  

13.   28 Bair

14.  88 Kevin Kile-West Liberty  

15.  77 Kurt Kile-West Liberty    

16.  m32 Marty Beckler-Hills

17   33 Marolf

18.  23D Dana Wells-Moscow

19.  31u Jason Utter-Columbus Junction

20.  3 McGowan

21.  69 Todd Hormel-West Liberty

22.  21h Brian Harris-Davenport

23.  5m Tim Marsden-Hillsdale, IL

24.  12 Ray Guss Jr.-Milan, IL

Saturday,  June 21

By: Jim Forby