Denny Eckrich Uses Last Lap Pass To Win NASCAR Late Model Feature At West Liberty

West Liberty, Iowa: The NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series provided the fans with an exciting night of wheel to wheel racing on a perfectly prepared race track on Saturday night. The night was run with very few cautions and the final checkered flag of the night waved at 9 p.m.

Denny Eckrich used every inch of the track and every single lap to gain another very important win as he continues to chase the NASCAR Midwest Region Championship. The 25 lap feature took the green with Mike Klinkkammer taking command. “Klink” had built a nice lead when the caution flew on lap number 12. On the restart the front runners came under the flag on lap number 13 three wide for the lead, Klink, Ryan Dolan and Nick Marolf were all battling for the top spot with Denny Eckrich running in fourth. Nick Marolf was able to take the lead on lap number 15 and go on to hold the top spot until turn 2 of the final lap. Marolf ran the center groove allowing Eckrich to come off the bottom and gain the momentum he needed to make the pass on the back chute for the lead.  Marolf crossed the line in second ahead of Todd Davis, Klinkkammer and Dana Wells ran strong all race long in taking fifth.

Dan Chapman has been a part time competitor in the NASCAR Miller Time Modified division at the West Liberty Raceway in 2003. A new baby and tour racing has curtailed his schedule for the 2003 season. Chapman took the lead from his front row position on Saturday night and never looked back in route to the feature win. Chapman used the high line of the multi-grooved track to score the win over Ryan Dolan, Rick Hixson, Terry Walker and Bret Frieden.

Chris Simpson chased down race leader Matt “Bones” Bodman and took the lead on lap number 10 and went on to score his second Double D Performance Pro Stock feature win in two weeks.  Simpson’s impressive back to back wins were scored over a strong field of Pro Stock competitors. Chad Simpson followed Bones across the line in third ahead of Dale Franklin and Gary Beuter.

Jason Rauen started the 10 lap NASCAR Hobby Stock feature in 18^th following a disqualification in his heat race. Rauen raced to the front taking the lead on lap number 7 and going on to take the checkers ahead of Harold O’Brien and Dave Schrier.

Saturday, August 23^rd will be Kids Back To School Night sponsored by Midwest Frame & Axle and Noels Tree and Crane Service. The night will include lots of back to school prizes plus the huge $1,000 nickel scramble. Hot laps will take to the track at 6 p.m.   

West Liberty Raceway Race Results 8/16/03

NASCAR Hobby Stocks

Heat 1

1. 2W Roger Whitcomb-Letts

2. 31 Rick Curtis-Muscatine

3. 29 Matt Greiner-Washington

Heat 2

1. 12 Scotty Pratt-Tipton

2. 10 Harold O’Brien-Muscatine

3. 15 Jared Collins-West Liberty

Feature

1. 98 Jason Rauen-Farley

2. 10 O’Brien

3. 100 Dave Schrier-Muscatine

4. 12 Pratt

5. 29 Greiner

6. 29 W Dave Wadda-Muscatine

7. 31 Curtis

8. 0 Stan O’Brien-Muscatine

9. 25 Jim Schrier-Washington

10. 20 Dan Albright-Hiawatha

11. S9 Ron Schruers-Fruitland

12. 17M Marcus Ostofi-Davenport

13. 3b Brad Tyler-Moscow

14. 2W Whitcomb

15. 72 Doug Yates-Monticello

16. 11 Blake Chapman-Conesville

17. 15 Collins

NASCAR  Double D Performance Pro Stocks

Heat 1

1. 17 Gary Beuter-Tipton

2. 25 Chad Simpson-Marion

3. 0 Stan O’Brien-Muscatine

Heat 2

1. 0 Matt Bodman-Muscatine

2. 29 Bruce Miller-West Liberty

3. 7 Dale Franklin-Marion

Heat 3

1. 36 Jason Gingerich-West Liberty

2. 32 Chris Simpson-Marion

3. 24 Monte Hayden-Wilton

Double D Performance Pro Stock Feature

1. 32 Simpson

2. 0 Bodman

3. 25 Simpson

4. 7 Franklin

5. 17 Beuter

6. 36 Gingerich

7. 44S Tom Struve-Palo

8. 24 Hayden

9. 5m Larry McCall-Mechanicsville

10. 33 Randy Franzen-Maquoketa

11. 38 Skeet Smith-Wilton

12. 60 Matt Brockert-Muscatine

13. 0 O’Brien

14. 11 Troy Philpott-Muscatine

15. 29 Miller

16. 15 Curt Schroeder-Ames

17. 32W Mick Wiele-West Liberty

Miller Time Modifieds

Heat 1

1. 2H Rick Hixson-Orion, IL

2. 01M Mitch Way-Davenport

3. 60 Rob Verbeck-Anawan, IL

Heat 2

1. 12 Terry Walker-Riverside

2. 64 Brett Frieden-Walford

3. 96  Larry Herring-Lone Tree

Heat 3

1. 45 Steve Kohli-Iowa City

2. 19 Terry Lawson-New Liberty

3. 51 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon

Miller Time Modified Feature

1. 1 Dan Chapman-Clarence

2. 51 Dolan

3. 2H Hixson

4. 12 Walker

5. 64 Frieden

6. 96 Herring

7. 60 Verbeck

8. 37 Todd Stoolman-West Branch

9. 8 Rich Smith-Davenport

10. 45 Kohli

11. 19 Lawson

12. 1 Johnny Spaw-Cedar Rapids

13. 2 Jim Vest-Wellman

14. 7 Mike Thomas-West Branch

15. 44 Wade Lee-Muscatine

16. 21 Todd Hanson-Muscatine

17. 34 Dave Hemsted-Lone Tree

18. 03 Larry Kelly-Cedar Rapids

19. 17 Steve Stewart-Washington

20. 2b Bill Butteris-Lisbon

21. 23 Marty Leik-Iowa City

22. 18 Matt Ruess-West Liberty

23. 71Z Ray Partida-West Liberty

24. 40 Clayton Jensen-Iowa City

25. 42 John Brumley-Riverside

Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models

Heat 1

1. 26 Steve Boley-West Liberty

2. 66 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon

3. 74 Ron Boyse-Kalona

Heat 2

1. 66 Matt Gilchrist-Grandview

2. 50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin

3. 45 Mike Klinkkammer-West Branch

IITI  Feature

1.      50 Eckrich

2.      33 Nick Marolf-Moscow

3.      3t Todd Davis-Iowa City

4.      45 Klinkkammer

5.      23D Dana Wells-Moscow

6.      56E Andy Eckrich-Cosgrove

7.      66g Gilchrist

8.      66 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon

9.      51 Matt Furman-Iowa City

10.  57 Tom Christensen-West Liberty

11.  4 Bobby Sexton-West Branch

12.  74 Boyse

13.  16 Greg Bruening-Decorah

14.  20 Keith Bloomer-Columbus Junction

15.  28 Jeff Bair-Solon

16.  77J Steve Johnson-Camanche

17.  31u Jason Utter-Columbus Junction

18.  50X Rob Moss-Iowa City

19.  43 Kurt Stewart-Ainsworth

20.  26 Boley

West Liberty Raceway

8/16/03

By: Jerry Mackey