(Racing Every Friday Night)
By Rob Ristesund
In spite of a late decision to move up the season opener at Rapid Speedway by one week, a full field of cars and a grandstand full of anxious fans were on hand for the exciting season opener Friday night at the track.
Butch Hanssen celebrated his return to regular competition at the track with a convincing win in the sprint car feature. Hanssen, a former weekly competitor at the track, sat out most of the ‘98 season after moving out of the area and selling his car. But a move back to Sioux Falls brought Hanssen back to the track and there was no evidence of the layoff as the veteran followed up his heat race win by leading the entire eighteen lap feature from his pole starting position. Hanssen was chased most of the distance by runner-up Dean Brown while Micah Schliemann, Buck Wilson and Chuck McGillivray rounded out the top five. The race was slowed for just one caution when Lee Goos caused a few anxious moments when his car caught fire on the front chute. Fortunately, Goos was able to quickly stop his machine and escape uninjured.
The stock car feature was a real thriller as Dale Furby held off Terry Dieren to take the win. Furby took advantage of a restart on the fourth lap to get by leader Wayne Kruger and quickly pulled away to a sizable lead over the field. Dieren, meanwhile, was forced to the back of the field on the restart due to a flat tire but it was quickly evident that his new car was hooked to the newly-configured racing surface as he quickly worked his way through the field. As Furby took the white flag, Dieren moved up to make a challenge for the lead and the pair entered the first turn of the final lap side-by-side. That was the way they remained until they made contact going down the backstretch and Dieren found himself slightly off the track, slowing him enough to allow Furby back into the lead and on to take the checkered. Dieren recovered to take the second ahead of Kruger, Darrin Korthals and Mike Noteboom.
J.J. Zebell proved that perseverance can pay off as he took the win in the sportsman feature. In spite of being forced to the rear of the field twice for flat tires, Zebell found himself in third place with two laps to go in the race when leaders Mark Henry and Mike Husman tangled, damaging both cars too extensively for them to continue. That put Zebell in first on the restart and he led the rest of the way, giving the Parker, S.D. driver his first win at the track. Chad Overgaard was second as the pair were the only two of the thirteen starters to survive the event.
Defending point champion Steve Folkens looked as if he would be tough to beat after he drew the pole starting spot for the hobby stock feature, but Folkens lead was short-lived as he dropped out with mechanical problems on the third lap of the twelve lap event. Chris Huisman was the beneficiary of Folkens woes as he inherited the lead and quickly pulled away from the field, running virtually unchallenged the rest of the way. With Huisman checked out on the field, the battle was for second and it was Randy VanderWeide holding off Ken Roemen and Darwin Klaasson for runner-up honors.
SPRINT CARS
FIRST HEAT: 1. Dean Brown, Springfield, Mn. 1. Micah Schliemann, Sioux Falls 2. Chuck McGillivray, Madison, S.D.
SECOND HEAT: 1. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls 2. Buck Wilson, Sioux Falls 3. Gary Johnson, Madison, S.D.
FEATURE: 1. Hanssen 2. Brown 3. Schliemann 4. Wilson 5. McGillivray 6. Johnson 7. Brian Baker, Rock Rapids 8. Mark Slendy, Sioux Falls 9. Shawn Van Wyhe, Lester
STOCK CARS
FIRST HEAT: 1. Terry Dieren, Brandon 2. Dale Furby, Sioux Falls 3. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids
SECOND HEAT: 1. Jay Noteboom, Orange City 2. Mike Noteboom, Orange City 3. Doug VandeVegte, Alton
THIRD HEAT: 1. David Mulder, Doon 2. Pat Connell, Sioux Falls 3. Gus Clark, Sioux Falls
FEATURE: 1. Furby 2. Dieren 3. Wayne Kruger, Steen, Mn. 4. Korthals 5. Mike Noteboom 6. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls 7. Kelly Harmelink, Brookings, S.D. 8. Jay Noteboom 9. Mulder 10. Clark 11. Galen Grevengoed, Rock Valley 12. Connell 13. Gary Bockonry, Sioux Falls
SPORTSMAN
FIRST HEAT: 1. Jeff Hertl, Parker, S.D. 2. Mark Henry, Rock Rapids 3. Jason DeBoer, Sioux Center
SECOND HEAT: 1. Randy Brands, Boyden 2. Mike Husman, Madison, S.D. 3. Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, Mn.
FEATURE: 1. J.J. Zebell, Parker, S.D. 2. Chad Overgaard, Luverne, Mn.
I.M.C.A. HOBBY STOCKS
FIRST HEAT: 1. Steve Folkens, Lester 2. Mike Kiggins, Sioux Falls 3. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids
SECOND HEAT: 1. David Bosma, Allendorf 2. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids 3. Tammy Kracht, Steen, Mn.
THIRD HEAT: 1. Randy VanderWeide, Sioux Center 2. Ken Roemen, Rock Rapids 3. Jeff Hoogendorn, Rock Rapids
B FEATURE: 1. Larry Kracht, Magnolia, Mn. 2. Doug Brinkhaus, Doon 3. Roger Ver Dorn, Sibley
A FEATURE: 1. Huisman 2. VanderWeide 3. Roemen 4. Darwin Klaasson, Little Rock 5.
Bosma 6. Hoogendorn 7. Heath Warntjes, Boyden 8. Brinkhaus