Denny Eckrich “Flyin 50” Takes Dubuque Speedway Opener

The third time proved to be a charm for the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series presented by Dodge at the Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway. Following two consecutive rainouts the much anticipated season opener was finally run on Sunday, May 5^th.

The Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Model feature was the headliner of the program, with a stellar field lined up to take the green in the 25 lap main event. The lineup included a front row of Darren Miller and Steve Boley,  Gary Webb, and Terry Neal were in the second  row, the starting field also included heavy hitters Jeff Aikey, Brian Harris and Denny Eckrich. The “Flyin 50’ of Denny Eckrich started in the sixth row but Eckrich  was not about to let the heavy hitters up front  get away with the top prize on this night. Eckrich quickly moved to the front to set up a great four car race for the lead. The foursome included Miller, Boley, Webb and Eckrich. The fans were treated to an outstanding race amongst four of the very best NASCAR Late Model drivers. Eckrich secured the race lead for good on the 15^th lap and went to score the opening night win. Miller took the checkers in second ahead of Webb and Boley.

Eastern Iowa’s hottest NASCAR Modified driver is Ron Barker, win number 4 of the early season was notched at the Dubuque Speedway season opener by the Dubuque driver. Barker worked to the front from his third row start and raced with leader Mike Miller under the flag stand on lap ten. Barker led the final ten laps in scoring the impressive win. Miller finished second ahead of Scott Nesteby and Jason Schuller.

Dan Shelliam scored his second SPI Pro Stock season opener on Sunday night. Shelliam won the season opener at the Farley Speedway on April 19^th. The Dubuque opener saw Shelliam race the low line to the front from his third row start. Shelliam out raced Jim Brokus to the checkers in the 15 lap feature. Jeff Kennedy crossed the finish line in third.

The NASCAR Hobby Stock feature was won by Galena, Illinois’ Mike Hughes. The win was the first at the Dubuque Speedway in ten years of competition for Hughes. Jerry Merkes followed Hughes across the line in second ahead of T.J. Leslein.

14 year old Levi Benn scored  the feature win in the Farley Flyer division. Benn drove his Ford Probe 4 cylinder to the win over Mark Jaeger and Randy Leehan. The ten lap feature was decided at the checkers with the top three finishers crossing the stripe with less than a car length separating the three cars.

Sunday, May 12^th the Dubuque County Fairgrounds Speedway will feature twin 25 lap feature events for the Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models. In addition a full program of racing will be held in the other four divisions. Racing will get underway at 6:30 p.m.

Farley Flyers Feature

1. 14 Levi Benn-Dyersville

2. 99.3 Mark Jaeger-Dyersville

3. 17 Randy Leehan-Apple River, IL

4. 31 Jason Roth-Hazel Green, WI

5. 69 Becky Roth-Cuba City, WI

6. 3 Steve Driscoll Jr. –Asbury

7. 66 Tony Brimeyer-Dubuque

8. 79 Cliff Schanbeck-Delaware

9. 55 Brian Kammerude-Hazel Green, WI

10. 38 Bryan Melocard-Dubuque

11. 38x Tom Schemmel-Farley

12. 1T Mark Thul-Dubuque

13. 21M Robbey Munter-Hazel Green, WI

NASCAR Hobby Stocks

Heat 1

1. 38 T.J. Leslein-Durango

2. 59 Mike Hughes-Galena, IL

3. 28 Ed McIntyre-Delhi

Heat 2

1. 8K Jerry Merkes-Farley

2. 33 Jim Turpin-Shullsburg, WI

3. 22 Cory Bauer-Monticello

Feature

1. 59 Hughes

2. 8K Merkes

3. 38 Leslein

4. 33 Turpin

5. 97 Steve Dunkel-Worthington

6. 7 Chad Hallahan-Dubuque

7. 13 Larry Benn-Dyersville

8. 28 McIntyre

9. 89 Kelly Welter-Dubuque

10. 22 Bauer

11. 81 K.C. Ansel-Dubuque

12. 11M Jason Brimeyer-Dubuque

13. 83 Rob Petsche-Centralia

NASCAR Pro Stocks

Heat 1

1. 29 Matt Rodebaugh-Orangeville, IL

2. 22 Jeff Valentine-Dubuque

3. 12 Jeff Tharp-Dubuque

 Heat 2

1. 2K Jeff Kennedy-Dubuque

2. 25 Bob Moyer-Dubuque

3. 16 Dan Shelliam-Hazel Green, WI

Feature

1. 16 Shelliam

2. 35 Jim Brokus-Dubuque

3. 2K Kennedy

4. 25 Moyer

5. 22 Valentine

6. 12 Tharp

7. 29 Rodebaugh

8. 97 Jeff reinsert-Dyersville

9. 18 Skip Culbertson-Dubuque

10. 23 Jim Amos-Peosta

11. 20 Ty Kleiner-Potosi, WI

12. 75X Mike Welsh-Davenport

NASCAR Modifieds

Heat 1

1. 3 Jason Schuller-Dubuque

2. 37 B Ron Barker-Dubuque

3. 10 Jed Hurst-Hazel Green, WI

 Heat 2

1. 27 Mark Schulte-Delhi

2. 74 Scott Nesteby-Dubuque

3. 15 Sean Rupp-Dubuque

 Heat 3

1. 08 Mike Miller-Leaf River, IL

2. 16 Ryan Dolan-Lisbon

3. 39 Bob Bollon-Freeport, Il

 Feature

1. 37B Barker

2. 08 Miller

3. 74 Nesteby

4. 3 Schuller

5. 10 Hurst

6. 15 Rupp

7. 5D Bob Dominacki-Bettendorf

8. 4 Jerry Miles-Dubuque

9. 16 Dolan

10. 75 Bob Silaggi-Freeport, IL

11. 20 Korey Burmeister-Glen Haven, WI

12. 11 Mike Burbridge, Delhi

13. 24M Jan Messer-Manchester

14. 39 Bollon

15. 69 Roger Donahue-Dubuque

16. 27 Schulte

17. 0 Jeremy English-Bernard

18. 19 Jim Allen-Dubuque

19. 57 Ryan Nabb-Dubuque

Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models

Heat 1

1. 50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin

2. 44 Duane Coulson-East Dubuque, Il

3. 26 Steve Boley-West Liberty

Heat 2

1. 32D Darren Miller-Chadwick, IL

2. 56 Gary Webb-Blue Grass

3. 21 Luke Merfeld-Dubuque

 Feature

1. 50 Eckrich

2. 32D Miller

3. 56 Webb

4. 26 Boley

5. 12N Terry Neal-Ely

6. 21 Luke Merfeld

7. 79 Darren Mish-Cassville, WI

8. 11 Steve Ihm-Kieler, WI

9. 98.1 Bobby Hansen-Dike

10. 44 Coulson

11. 8 Mark Merfeld-Dubuque

12. 95 Ed Sanger-Postville

13. 77J Steve Johnson-Camanche

14. 77 Jeff Aikey-Cedar Falls

15. 27 B Bob Silaggi-Freeport, IL

16. 54 Mark Curwen-Hazel Green, WI

17. 21h Brian Harris-Davenport

18. 27 Ed McGuire-Monroe, WI

19. 32 Tom Cannon-Iowa City   

Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway

5/5/02

By: Jerry Mackey