The 6th annual “Liberty
100’ got underway on Friday, September 20th with an excellent field
of 53 Budweiser open Late Models looking to qualify for the big show on Saturday
night. Rain left the West Liberty Raceway very soft and made for a hard pulling
surface on Friday night. Qualifying heats were run in all four divisions along
with consolations setting the program for Saturday night. Saturday’s program
will include fast dashes in all four classes which will set the lineups for the
first three rows of the features and a last chance race will be held in the
Modifieds and Late Model classes. The features will be a 12 lap Hobby Stock, 20
lap Pro Stock, 25 lap Modified and the “Liberty 100” for the Late Models.
The final race run on Friday night
was the Race of Champions for the open Late Models.
Ten drivers took to the speedway for
the race that is patterned after the Winston Open. The field was comprised of
drivers who had won Bud Shootouts in 2001 and 2002 plus the top four in points
earned through the qualifying heats not already qualified earlier in the
evening. The drivers drew for starting positions and ran ten laps then stopped
for a competition yellow allowing the crews ten minutes to make any changes that
they wanted to on their machines. Then a number was drawn for invert and 15 laps
more were run with the winner taking home a $2,000 paycheck. The first ten lap
segment was led by Kevin Kile with Brian Birkhofer running a close second. All
crews made changes during the ten minute break and when the race resumed the
number 8 was drawn for the invert sending the leaders to the tail. Brian
Birkhofer quickly worked through the field taking the lead from Dave Eckrich
with approximately 15 laps to go. Birkhofer went on to score another impressive
win establishing himself as a favorite to repeat as “Liberty 100” champion all
though he will have to come from a start outside of the first three rows. Dave
Eckrich earned $1,000 for his second place finish, Jeff Aikey took third ahead
of Denny Eckrich and Rob Toland.
Saturday’ action will get underway at
6:30 p.m. with hot laps and racing will follow at 7 p.m. Saturday nights program
will bring the season to a close a the West Liberty Raceway for 2002.
Race Results 9-20-02 West
Liberty Raceway 6th annual “Liberty 100”
Budweiser Open Late Model Shootout
Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation
Late Models
Heat 1
1.
26 Steve Boley-West Liberty
2.
50 Denny Eckrich-Tiffin
3.
58 Dave Eckrich-Oxford
Heat 2
1.
8 Sonny Findling-Kirksville, MO
2.
74 Ron Boyse-Kalona
3.
12 Ray Guss Jr.-Milan, IL
Heat 3
1.
15 Brian Birkhofer-Muscatine
2.
32D Darren Miller-Chadwick, IL
3.
88 Kevin Kile-West Liberty
Heat 4
1.
28 Jeff Bair-Solon
2.
45 Michael Klinkhammer-West Branch
3.
3 Josh McGowan-Vinton
Heat 5
1.
37 Mike Smith-Jewell
2.
39 Rob Toland-Hillsdale, IL
3.
M32 Marty Beckler-Hills
Consolation 1
1.
3T Todd Davis-Iowa City
2.
5 Jay Johnson-W. Burlington
Consolation 2
1.
33 Nick Marolf-Moscow
2.
2h John Hampel-Nodaway
25 lap Race of Champions
1. 15 Birkhofer
2.. 58 Eckrich
3. 77 Jeff Aikey-Cedar Falls
4. 50 Eckrich
5. 39 Toland
6. 12 GussJr.
7. 88 Kile
8. 8 Findling
9. 74 Ron Boyse
10. 26 Boley
Miller Time Modifieds
Heat 1
1.
2 Jim Vest-Wellman
2.
22 Darrell Brick-West Branch
3.
96 Larry Herring-Lone Tree
Heat 2
1.
37 Todd Stoolman-West Branch
2.
M50 Jim Sandusky-Moline, IL
3.
7 Mike Thomas- West Branch
Heat 3
1.
12 Terry Walker-Riverside
2.
19Terry Lawson-New Liberty
3.
42 John Brumley-Riverside
Consolation
1.
36 Leroy Brenner-Aledo, IL
2.
23 Marty Leik-Iowa City
3.
45 Steve Kohli-Iowa City
4. 44 Wade
Lee-Muscatine
DADCO Corp./Parker Stores Pro
Stocks
Heat 1
1.
29 Jason Gingerich-West Liberty
2.
12 Jeff Tharp-Dubuque
3.
69 John Maher-West Branch
Heat 2
1.
56 Andy Eckrich-Cosgrove
2.
25 Chad Simpson-Marion
3.
1 Matt Gichrist-Grandview
Heat 3
1.
32 Chris Simpson-Marion
2.
26 Paul Hallett-Muscatine
3.
36 Justin Gingerich-West Liberty
NASCAR Hobby Stocks
Heat 1
1.
57 Jeff Wellington-Columbus Junction
2.
57J JeremieThompson-Ainsworth
3.
59 Mike Hughes-Galena, IL
Heat 2
1.
S9 Ron Schreurs-Fruitland
2.
20 Dan Albright-Hiawatha
3.
15 Jared Collins-West Liberty
West Liberty Raceway
9-21-02
By: Jerry Mackey
