(Racing Every Friday Night)
By Rob Ristesund
After suffering through two consecutive rain-outs following the season opener, race fans filled the grandstands to near-capacity on a beautiful Friday evening to witness an exciting night of racing action on Papik Motors night at Rapid Speedway.
In the Pam Oil/Valvoline/AC Delco/Pepsi/Lewis sprint car feature, Chad Meyer was the class of the field as he ran away with the win. Pole-sitter Randy Droescher took the lead at the start of the eighteen lap event and led the fifteen car field until the red flag flew on the second circuit for two separate incidents. Doug Martens initially brought out the red when his car flipped off the second turn. As the rest of the field slowed on the front straightaway, Mark Slendy’s car hopped the wheel of another machine sending him flipping in front of the grandstand. Both drivers walked away uninjured but were finished competing for the evening. On the ensuing restart, Meyers took the lead from Droescher and was never seriously challenged the remainder of the event as he went on to take the win. Brian Baker came from the third row to take second while opening night winner Butch Hanssen and Micah Schliemann battled side-by-side the final circuit with Hanssen edging Schliemann for third.
Mike Grevengoed made his first visit to victory lane at the track in three years in winning the late model stock car feature. Front row starter Pat Connell led the first seven laps of the fifteen lap event before both Grevengoed and Kelly Harmelink both slipped by him on lap eight. Harmelink made several challenges for the lead, but Grevengoed overcame his charges along with two caution periods to take the win by three car lengths over Harmelink at the finish. Connell finished third while Dale Furby, who was forced to the rear of the fifteen car field on the fifth lap due to a flat tire, charge his way back towards the front and just edged Mike Noteboom for fourth.
J.J. Zebell became the track’s first repeat winner in the young season as he took home the win in the sportsman feature. Jeff Wittrock led the first four laps of the event before pulling into the infield during a caution on lap five, giving the lead to Zebell, who had already worked his way up from the seventh starting spot to second. It was a lead that Zebell would not relinquish, despite being chased the rest of the twelve lap event by eventual runner-up and fellow Parker, S.D. driver Jeff Hertel. Jason DeBoer took third ahead of Brad Klaassen and Mark Henry.
Jeff Hoogendorn snatched the lead from Roger Verdorn five laps into the lap hobby stock “A” feature and then held off Verdorn and Larry Kracht the final seven circuits for the win. Opening night winner Chris Huisman was fourth followed by Kirk Maasdam.
SPRINT CARS
FIRST HEAT: 1. Clint Garner, Renner; 2. Brent VandeWeerd, Rock Rapids, Iowa; 3. Micah Schliemann, Sioux Falls; 4. Shawn Van Wyhe, Lester, Iowa
SECOND HEAT: 1. Randy Droescher, Larchwood, Iowa; 2. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls; 3. Chuck McGillivray, Madison; 4. Jay Cronin, Sioux Falls
THIRD HEAT: 1. Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls; 2. Brian Baker, Rock Rapids, Iowa; 3. Bill Fredin, Windom, Minn.; 4. Buck Wilson, Sioux Falls
FEATURE: 1. Meyer; 2. Baker; 3. Hanssen; 4. Schliemann; 5. Garner; 6. Droescher; 7. VandeWeerd; 8. Paul Veen, Sibley, Iowa; 9. Cronin; 10. Wilson; 11. McGillivray; 12. Fredin; 13. VanWyhe; 14. Mark Slendy, Sioux Falls; 15. Doug Martens, Wentworth
STOCK CARS
FIRST HEAT: 1. Mike Noteboom, Orange City, Iowa; 2. Pat Connell, Sioux Falls; 3. Curt Van Beek, Sioux Center, Iowa; 4. Kevin Kremin, Lismore, Minn.
SECOND HEAT: 1. Mike Grevengoed, Hull, Iowa; 2. Dale Furby, Sioux Falls; 3. Kelly Harmelink, Brookings; 4. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids, Iowa
THIRD HEAT: 1. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls; 2. Gus Clark, Sioux Falls; 3. Wayne Kruger, Steen, Minn; 4. Terry Cahoun, Laurens, Iowa
FEATURE: 1. Grevengoed; 2. Harmelink; 3. Connell; 4. Furby; 5. Noteboom; 6. Vander Weide; 7. Clark; 8. Van Beek; 9. Terry Dieren, Brandon; 10. Cahoun; 11. Kruger; 12. Kremin; 13. Korthals; 14. David Mulder, Doon, Iowa; 15. Mark DeBoer, Adrian; Minn.
SPORTSMAN
FIRST HEAT: 1. Jeff Wittrock, Sioux Falls; 2. Bob Dafoe, Sioux Falls; 3. Jason DeBoer, Sioux Center, Iowa; 4. Kenny Berens, Parker
SECOND HEAT: 1. Brad Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.; 2. Chad Overgard, Luverne, Minn.; 3. Jeff Hertel, Parker; 4. Darrin Duffy, Dell Rapids
FEATURE: 1. J.J. Zebell, Parker; 2. Hertel; 3. DeBoer; 4. Klaassen; 5. Mark Henry, Rock Rapids, Iowa; 6. Duffy; 7. Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, Minn.; 8. Mike Koepke, Hartford; 9. Overgard; 10. Berens; 11. Don Brady, Sioux Falls; 12. Wittrock; 13. Dafoe
I.M.C.A. HOBBY STOCKS
FIRST HEAT: 1. Tammy Kracht, Steen, Minn.; 2. Steve Folkens, Lester, Iowa; 3. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids, Iowa; 4. Justin Selken, Hartford
SECOND HEAT: 1. Larry Kracht, Magnolia, Minn.; 2. Randy Vander Weide, Sioux Center, Iowa; 3. Doug Brinkhaus, Doon, Iowa; 4. Shawn Jurrens, Little Rock, Iowa
THIRD HEAT: 1. Kirk Maasdam, Orange City, Iowa; 2. Heath Warntjes, Boyden, Iowa; 3. Ken Roemen, Rock Rapids, Iowa; 4. Clint Potter, Larchwood, Iowa
FOURTH HEAT: 1. Jeff Hoogendorn, Rock Rapids, Iowa 2. Roger Verdoorn, Sibley, Iowa; 3. Randy Van Engen, Doon, Iowa
FIRST B FEATURE: 1. Jurrens
SECOND B FEATURE: 1. Darwin Klaassen, Little Rock, Iowa
A FEATURE: 1. Hoogendorn; 2. Verdoorn; 3. Kracht; 4. Huisman; 5. Maasdam; 6. Roemen; 7. Folkens; 8. Warntjes; 9. Vander Weide; 10. Klaassen; 11. Brinkhaus; 12. Van Engen; 13. Kracht; 14. Jurrens