Denny Eckrich & Keith Kiernan Score Opening Night Wins At “Yankee Dirt Track Classic”

The silver anniversary “Yankee Dirt Track Classic” got underway on Wednesday, September 11^th . 103 drivers signed in to take part in night number one of the four day classic at the Farley Speedway. The three classes of cars in competition included the Farley Flyers, Hobby Stocks and the first time ever for the NASCAR VS IMCA Late Model Challenge.

The 30 lap Late Model feature saw 26 drivers take the green, the main event turned out to be a family affair with defending “Yankee” champion Denny Eckrich scoring the win over his older brother David Eckrich. The track was very wide providing lots of wheel to wheel action throughout the entire 30 laps. David Eckrich and Darren Miller battled for the lead early before Miller was able to take the lead. David Eckrich overtook Miller and drove his Barry Wright chassis into the lead. Denny Eckrich chased down his brother and garnered the lead as the halfway mark was reached. The brothers battled each other as they worked through lapped traffic. 2002 Farley Speedway track champion, Josh McGowan became part of the lead pack just past the halfway mark and ended up taking third at the checkers. Miller took fourth ahead of Todd Davis.

The Farley Flyers ran their complete show on Wednesday night. 29 drivers signed in looking to qualify for the 24 starting positions in the main event. Despite an overheating problem Keith Kiernan was able to drive his 4 cylinder Mitsubishi to the “Yankee” championship win. Kiernan led the entire 12 laps and survived a couple of yellow flags on his way to the win. R.J. Simon advanced all the way from the seventh row to take second at the finish line. John Flury took third ahead of Kyle Gansen and Danny Kennedy. 3 separate rollover incidents slowed the racing action in the Flyer division. Fortunately no drivers were injured in the incidents.

The Hobby Stocks were also in action on Wednesday night. 3 heats and a consolation were run setting the stage for Thursday nights fast dash and main event. Heat wins went to Larry Benn, Steve Dunkel and Dan Albright, the consolation event was won by Stan O’Brien.

The  “Ynakee” will continue on Thursday, September 12^th with action in the Hobby Stocks, Pro Stocks and the IMCA Late Model divisions. Friday night the Modifieds and Bud Open Late Models will be in action setting the stage for Saturday nights main events.      

Race Results 9-11-02

Farley Flyers

Heat 1 

1. 01 Damien Miller-Dubuque

2. 69 Becky Roth-Cuba City, WI

3. 17 Allen Hammer-Apple River, IL

Heat 2

1. 21 Randy Madigan-Dubuque

2. 00 John Flury-Epworth

3. 91 Jim Thompson-Delhi

Heat 3

1.      21k Danny Kennedy-Dubuque

2.      23 Keith Kiernan-Dubuque

3.      75 Chad Naderman-Farley

Consolation

1.      19 Al Brink-Waukon

2.       14 Levi Benn-Dyersville

3.      14X Chad Dugan-Garber

Fast Dash

1.      69 Roth

2.      21k Kennedy

3.      23 Kiernan

Feature

1.      23 Kiernan

2.      38S R.J. Simon-Farley

3.      00 Flury

4.      38g Kyle Gansen-Epworth

5.      21K Kennedy

6.      47 Hammer

7.      15 Matt Cahoon-Monona

8.      14 Benn

9.      14X Dugan

10.  69 Roth

11.  68 Steve Stackis-Dubuque

12.  71 Adam Wills-Hazel Green, WI

13.  79 Cliff Schanbeck-Delaware

14.  01 Miller

15.  17 Randy Leehan-Apple River, IL

16.  99.3 Mark Jaeger-Dyersville

17.  75 Naderman

18.  8 Joe Sarazin-Dubuque

19.  5 Andy Breitsprecher-Elkader

20.  97 Russ Their-Dyersville

21.  77 Adam Ewing-Monona

22.  55 Brian Kammerude-Hazel Green, WI

23.  50E Doug Eberle-Freeport, IL

24.  19 Brink

25.  31 Jason Roth-Hazel Green, WI

Hobby Stocks

Heat 1

1.      13 Larry Benn-Dyersville

2.      98X Duane Ahmann-Epworth

3.      61 Scott Riechers-Belmont, WI

Heat 2

1.      97 Steve Dunkel-Worthington

2.      33 Jim Turpin-Shullsburg, WI

3.      7 Chad Hallahan-Dubuque

Heat 3

1.      20 Dan Albright-Hiawatha

2.      44 Kory Haverly-Anamosa

3.      5 Norb Ahlers-Earlville

Consolation

1.      0 Stan O’Brien-Muscatine

2.      59 Mike Hughes-Galena, IL

3.      7B Randy Benn-Dyersville

Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Late Models

Heat 1

1. 77  Jeff Aikey-Cedar Falls

2. 58 David Eckrich-Oxford

3. 70 Brandon Hennick-Central City

 Heat 2

1. 32D Darren Miller-Chadwick, IL

2. 20 Ty Kleiner-Potosi, WI

3. 79 Darren Mish-Cassville, WI

Heat 3

1. 3 Josh McGowan-Vinton

2. 20 Ron Gustaf-Moline, IL

3. 3t Todd Davis-Iowa City

Heat 4

1. 50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin

2. 85 Lavern Carey-Ionia

3. 90 Dan Galant-Clinton

Consolation

1. 18Z Rusty Zook-Riverside

2. 44 Duane Coulson-East Dubuque

3. 98.1 Bobby Hansen-Center Point

Fast Dash

1. 58 Eckrich

2. 32D Miller

3. 77 Aikey

Feature

1. 50 Eckrich

2. 58 Eckrich

3. 3 McGowan

4. 32D Miller

5. 3t Davis

6. 11 Steve Ihm-Kieler, WI

7. 90 Galant

8. 77 Aikey

9. 30 Gus Hughes-Monticello

10. 39 Rob Toland-Hillsdale

11. 26 Steve Boley-West Liberty

12. 61r Jon Rogers-German Valley, IL

13. 85 Carey

14. 20 Kleiner

15. 18Z Zook

16. 98.1 Hansen

17. 33 Nick Marolf-Moscow

18. 44 Coulson

19. 8 Chuck Mayerhofer-Dixon

20. 70 Hennick

21. 78x Dale Stolte-Springville

22. 95 Ed Sanger-Postville

23. 78 Rick Wendling-Hazelton

24. 15 Cam Granger-West Union

25. 79 Mish

26. 20 Gustaf

Farley Speedway

9-11-02

By: Jerry Mackey