(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
August 25, 2000
By Rob Ristesund
Tom Platt was the class of the field as he roared to a convincing win in the 15-lap sprint car feature Friday night at Rapid Speedway. Platt took the lead at the start and quickly pulled away from the rest of the field to win his third feature of the year. In spite of several restarts, including one with four laps to go, Platt was never challenged as he took the win a straightaway’s length ahead of Jeremy Fey. Fey had a solid run to score his best finish ever at the track while Bill Fredin took third ahead of fifth row starter Micah Schliemann and Todd Wessels. With just one night of racing left in the points battle, Brent Vande Weerd missed a great opportunity to gain some much-needed ground on point leader Dusty Ballenger. Ballenger lost a motor on lap six but Vande Weerd was forced to the infield with suspension problems before the race went green, allowing Vande Weerd to gain just one point and leaving him 10 points back of Ballenger.
David Kruger came from row two to take the lead on the first lap and then held off Gus Clark to win his second late model stock car feature. Clark chased Kruger the entire way and pulled alongside Kruger at the checkered, finishing just half a car length back. Pat Connell was third followed by Doug Brinkhouse and Chad Overgaard. Point leader Mark DeBoer finished seventh and increased his advantage to six points over Darrin Korthals.
Jamie Tieszen notched his first-ever feature win as he topped the field in the sportsman feature. Tieszen’s win was well-earned as he fought off Rick Vander Weide late in the race for the victory. Vander Weide pulled alongside Tieszen several times, including on the final lap, but Tieszen held on to take the win. Bryan McKee was right behind in third followed by Brad Haas and Todd Huisman.
Point-leader Brad Klaassen only needs to show up at the track next week to lock up the points title. Dereck Vanderbrink was another driver to score his first-ever feature win as he outran the field to win the hobby stock feature. Vanderbrink held off a strong challenge by Craig Smith the final laps to take the win. Kirk Maasdam took third ahead of Anthony Mann and point-leader Darwin Klaassen. Klaassen will need to start the A feature next week to win the points title.
It was also announced tonight that a special race sponsored by Demco of Boyden will be held for the late model stock cars next week. Eight drivers will be eligible for the event, which is open to all drivers with perfect attendance at the track this year. The race will run 16 laps with a pit stop at the halfway mark. A $1500 purse ill be paid with $600 going to the winner, $400 for second and $300 for third. $200 will go to the crew with the fastest pit stop.
Late Model Stock Cars
First Heat: 1. David Kruger, Sioux Falls; 2. Mark Henry, Rock Rapids; 3. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids; 4. Chad Overgaard, Luverne, Minn.; 5. Pete Kracht, Steen, Minn.
Second Heat: 1. Dale Furby, Sioux Falls; 2. Gus Clark, Sioux Falls; 3. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 4. Pat Connell, Sioux Falls; 5. Doug Brinkhouse, Doon.
Feature: 1. Kruger; 2. Clark; 3. Connell; 4. Brinkhouse; 5. Overgaard; 6. Furby; 7. DeBoer; 8. Korthals; 9. Henry; 10. Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, Minn.; 11. Kracht; 12. Jim Petterson, Madison.
360 Sprints
First Heat: 1. Tom Platt, Ashton; 2. Troy Meyer, Sioux Falls; 3. Jeremy Fey, Lemars; 4. Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.
Second Heat: 1. Shawn Van Wyhe, Lester; 2. Micah Schliemann, Sioux Falls; 3. Kevin Burd, Sioux Center; 4. Brian Baker, Rock Rapids.
Third Heat: 1. Randy Droescher, Larchwood; 2. Todd Wessels, Ellsworth, Minn.; 3. Bill Fredin, Windom, Minn.; 4 Brent Vande Weerd, Rock Rapids.
Feature: 1. Platt; 2. Fey; 3. Fredin; 4. Schliemann; 5. Wessels; 6. Droescher; 7. Meyer; 8. Goos; 9. Baker; 10. Bob Gilliland; 11. Van Wyhe; 12. Vande Weerd; 13. Ballenger.
Sportsmen
First Heat: 1. Don Grems, Lester; 2. Brad Haas, Sioux Falls; 3. Todd Huisman, Rock Rapids; 4. Billy Sprock, George.
Second Heat: 1. Bryan McKee, Larchwood; 2. Jamie Tieszen, Parker, S.D.; 3. Larry Kracht, Magnolia, Minn.
Third Heat: 1. Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, Minn; 2. Randy Vander Weide, Sioux Falls; 3. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Center; 4. Perry Klosterbuer, Rock Rapids.
Feature: 1. Tieszen; 2. Rick Vander Weide; 3. McKee; 4. Haas; 5. Huisman; 6. Sprock; 7. Roemen; 8. Grems.
I.M.C.A. Hobby Stocks
First Heat: 1. Jeff Hoogendorn, Rock Rapids; 2. David Bosma, Allendorf; 3. Korey Woelber, Boyden; 4. Heath Warntjes, Boyden.
Second Heat: 1. Dereck Vanderbrink, Rock Rapids; 2. Kirk Maasdam, Orange City; 3. Glenn Wynia, Sioux Center; 4. Darwin Klaassen, Little Rock.
Third Heat: 1. Craig Smith, Sioux Falls; 2. Ken Roemen, Rock Rapids; 3. Anthony Mann, Luverne, Minn.; 4. Mike Deutsch, Ellworth, Minn.
Feature: 1. Vanderbrink; 2. Smith; 3. Maasdam; 4. Mann; 5. Klaassen; 6. Hoogendorn; 7. Bosma; 8. Steve Folkens, Lester; 9. Roemen; 10. Deutsch; 11. Wynia; 12. Woelber.