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ECKRICH REPEATS IN DUBUQUEDUBUQUE SPEEDWAY Denny Eckrich picked up his second straight NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Late Model feature win at the Dubuque Speedway. The win ties defending track Champion Gary Webb with four checkers each for the season and tightens the battle between the two in the season long points battle. Starting the race tenth, Eckrich benefited from two early cautions that kept leader Brian Webb in sight while fighting through traffic. When racing resumed after the second caution on lap two, Eckrich rocketed from fifth place into third, running down the leader two laps later. Quickly disposing of Brian Webb, Eckrich set sail on the topside of the racetrack as all eyes turned to Gary Webb’s charge through the field. Unable to mount the same attack, Gary settled in by picking cars off one at a time from twelfth, but got hung up on lap eight when he encountered Terry Neal in fourth place. Gary struggled with Neal, looking high and low for a chance to pass, until the 21st circuit when he found an opening on the bottom of the racetrack. Without a caution after the second lap, Eckrich checked out on the field, opening up as much as a quarter lap lead on the second place car of Mark Merfeld before encountering lapped traffic late in the race. The slower cars did little to change the outcome as Eckrich crossed the line ahead of Merfeld, Gary Webb, Neal and Darren Mish. Ryan Dolan broke his recent streak of second place finishes by taking home the top honors in the Modified main event. The points leader started the race in the twelfth position and quickly worked his way to the front, aided by contact and a spin by the second and third place cars of Scott Nesteby and Rich Smith. Lining up third, behind leader Mike Burbridge and alongside the second place car of Josh Brestrup, Dolan first challenged for the lead on the restart, but was only able to stay in Burbridge’s shadow until lap thirteen, when he slid underneath and into the lead. Unchallenged for the remainder of the 20 lap event, Dolan led Jason Schueller and Burbridge across the stripe. Ron Barker finished fourth after borrowing Jason Walrack’s car for the feature event and starting on the rear of the field. Brian Culberston parlayed his pole position into a Pro Stock feature win. Culbertson was aided by heavy attrition during the fifteen lap event, but was never challenged for the top spot. Dan Shelliam crossed underneath the checkers second ahead of Jeff Tharp and Jeff Kennedy, while Jeff Valentine inherited fifth place when Kevin Duerr’s car was disqualified in post race inspection for having an illegal carburetor. Duane Ahmann topped a slam bang Hobby Stock feature after taking the lead away from Jarvis Eastlick ina three way slugfest for the lead with Larry Benn on the sixth lap. Benn held on for second ahead of Jerry Miles, Terry Merkes and TJ Leslein. Brad Strang topped brother Brian for the Fun Car feature win, ahead of Chad Hallahan and Ray Fawcett. Race fans get a double dose of action at the Dubuque Speedway this week as the 48th Annual Dubuque County Fair plays host to NASCAR Weekly Racing Series action on both Wednesday July 25th and Sunday July 29th. Both events will start one half hour later than the usual time, with hot laps taking the track at 6:30 and racing action at 7 pm. Highlights from all SPI promoted events are shown on the Race Report on Fox 28/40 Sunday mornings at 10:30 am. For more information, contact Simmons Promotions at 563-744-3620 or online at www.simmonspromotionsinc.com LATE MODELS MODIFIEDS DNS PRO STOCKS DNS DQ BOMBERS DQ FUN CARS |
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