(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
May 25, 2001
By Shawn Neisteadt
Rock Rapids, IA-Shawn Van Whye was the first to claim two feature wins in the NMRA 360 sprint class by taking the checkereds in Friday night's main event.
Van Whye took the lead as the green flag fell and had opened up a sizeable lead on Dave Becker when the yellow came out for a spun car. The caution period allowed Becker to pull to the rear bumper of the Eagle Chassis driven by Van Whye. On the restart, Gordy Vogelaar took the fifth position from Brent Vande Weerd and soon took the fourth position from Jim Smith. Jermy Fey passed Becker on the eighth lap and set his eyes on Van Whye. Vogelaar continued his charge to the front by taking the third position at the halfway point. Fey was reeling in Van Whye, when, on lap fourteen, the steering broke on the Holiday Inn #8 sending Fey off turn four and onto the hooks of the wrecker, ending Fey's evening. Vogelaar now had a chance to challenge the Van Whye #99, but wasn't be able to overtake the top spot. Van Whye came to the checkereds first, followed by Vogelaar and Bill Fredin. National NMRA 360 sprint point leader, Dusty Ballenger, came to the line fourth and Vande Weerd came back for fifth. "I owe a lot to Jared 'Da' Ageson," commented Van Whye. "He handles all the set up. I drive it where he tells me to put it." Fey, Van Whye and Todd Wessels won the heat races.
John Degroot and Greg Mulder led the field of NMRA Late Model Stock Cars to the green flag and continued to run side by side for the opening laps of the main event. Degroot claimed the lead from Mulder as the field entered turn one on the third lap. Mark DeBoer and Chad Overgaard swapped the third and fourth positions several times on lap six and seven. As the cars came to the crossed flags, marking the mid point of the race, Dale Furby, who was now second, pulled door to door with Degroot. The close action of the two leaders allowed the cars just behind them to catch up in a hurry. DeBoer used this to his advantage as he was able to pass Overgaard and Furby and pull alongside of Degroot. Coming off turn two, DeGroot lost the handle on his #35 and spun out. DeBoer claimed the restart lead and was the beneficiary of DeGroot's misfortune. DeBoer, the point leader, held on to take the victory. Darrin Korthals, who now trails DeBoer by a meager three points, finished second. Mark Henry, Furby and Gus Clark rounded out the top five. DeBoer and Furby each claimed heat race victories.
Brad Klaasson had the early lead of the NMRA Sportsmen main event, but was being challenged by Brad Haas. The two continued to battle until Rick Goth, who had started seventh, passed both cars and took the lead at the halfway point. Goth, the 2000 Sportsmen of the year, held on to claim his second main event of the season. Haas finished in a strong second. Rick Vander Weide, now tied with Goth for the top position in the season point standings, finished third. Billy Sprock finished fourth and Jim Parsons, filling in for Gary Mulder, rounded out the top five. Klaason and Denton Potter won the heat races.
The first red flag of the Rapid Speedway season flew as James Slawson cut a tire on lap three of the NMRA Hobby Stock feature and flipped the car high in the air coming off turn two. Slawson walked away uninjured. As for the race, Darwin Klaasson took the lead on lap four and drove flawlessly to claim his second feature win in a row. Jeff Hoogendoorn finished second. Denton Potter, Mike Deutsch and Mark Vanden Top rounded out the top five. Hoogendoorn, Klaasson and Potter won the heat races.
NMRA 360 Sprints
Heat #1: 1. 28W Todd Wessels Ellsworth, MN; 2. 29G Ross Schenk Hull, IA; 3. 2D Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, SD; 4. 14 Bill Fredin Windom, MN; 5. 15 Tom Martens Sioux Falls, SD
Heat #2: 1. 8 Jeremy Fey LeMars, IA; 2. 7 Dave Becker Belle Plaine, MN; 3. 47 Brent Vande Weerd Rock Rapids, IA; 4. 28 Mitch Runge Sioux Falls, SD; 5. 24 Randy Droescher Larchwood, IA
Heat #3: 1. 99 Shawn Van Whye Lester, IA; 2. 75 Gordy Vogelaar Worthington, MN; 3. 25X Tom Platt Ashton IA, IA; 4. 33 Jim Smith Sheldon, IA; 5. R19 Mike Mc Mahan Tea, SD
A Feature: 1. 99 Shawn Van Whye Lester, IA; 2. 75 Gordy Vogelaar Worthington, MN; 3. 14 Bill Fredin Windom, MN; 4. 2D Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg, SD; 5. 47 Brent Vande Weerd Rock Rapids, IA; 6. 33 Jim Smith Sheldon, IA; 7. 28 Mitch Runge Sioux Falls, SD; 8. 7 Dave Becker Belle Plaine, MN; 9. R19 Mike Mc Mahan Tea, SD; 10. 25X Tom Platt Ashton, IA; 11. 15 Tom Martens Sioux Falls, SD; 12. 24 Randy Droescher Larchwood, IA; 13. 8 Jermy Fey LeMars, IA; 14. 29G Ross Schenk Hull, IA; 15. 28W Todd Wessels Ellsworth, MN
NMRA Late Model Street Stocks
Heat #1: 1. 23 Mark De Boer Adrian, MN; 2. 42 Chad Overgaard Luverne, MN; 3. 01 Greg Mulder Omaha, NE; 4. 17 Doug Brinkhous Rock Rapids, IA; 5. 44 Jason De Boer Sioux Center, IA; 6. 98 Curt Van Beek Sioux Center, IA; 7. 27 Randy Brands Boyden, IA
Heat #2: 1. 10 Dale Furby Sioux Falls, SD; 2. 35 John De Groot Sioux Center, IA; 3. 17G Gus Clark Sioux Falls, SD; 4. 11K Darrin Korthals Rock Rapids, IA; 5. 43 Mark Henry Rock Rapids, IA; 6. 7 Steve DeKam Rock Valley, IA
A Feature: 1. 23 Mark De Boer Adrian, MN; 2. 43 Mark Henry Rock Rapids, IA; 3. 11K Darrin Korthals Rock Rapids, IA; 4. 10 Dale Furby Sioux Falls, SD; 5. 42 Chad Overgaard Luverne, MN; 6. 17G Gus Clark Sioux Falls, SD; 7. 44 Jason De Boer Sioux Center, IA; 8. 17 Doug Brinkhous Rock Rapids, IA; 9. 27 Randy Brands Boyden, IA; 10. 7 Steve DeKam Rock Valley, IA; 11. 98 Curt Van Beek Sioux Center, IA; 12. 35 John De Groot Sioux Center, IA; 13. 01 Greg Mulder Omaha, NE
NMRA Sportsmen
Heat #1: 1. 45K Brad Klaassen Adrian, MN; 2. 6 Rick Vander Weide Sioux Falls, SD; 3. 72 Brad Haas Sioux Falls, SD; 4. 8 Randy Vander Weide Sioux Center, IA; 5. 63 Todd Huisman Rock Rapids, IA; 6. 25 Rick Tarbox Sioux Falls, SD; 7. 36 Glenn Wynia Sioux Center, IA
Heat #2: 1. 90 Rick Goth Madison, SD; 2. 00 Jim Parsons Canton, SD;3. 27B Billy Sprock George, IA; 4. 5 Mel Elsberry Orange City, IA; 5. 40 Scott Overgaard Ellsworth, MN; 6. 66 Marty Halouska Worthing, SD
A Feature: 1. 90 Rick Goth Madison, SD; 2. 72 Brad Haas Sioux Falls, SD; 3. 6 Rick Vander Weide Sioux Falls, SD; 4. 27B Billy Sprock George, IA; 5. 00 Jim Parsons Canton, SD; 6. 63 Todd Huisman Rock Rapids, IA; 7. 45K Brad Klaassen Adrian, MN; 8. 25 Rick Tarbox Sioux Falls, SD; 9. 36 Glenn Wynia Sioux Center, IA; 10. 66 Marty Halouska Worthing, SD; 11. 8 Randy Vander Weide Sioux Center, IA; 12. 40 Scott Overgaard Ellsworth, MN; 13. 5 Mel Elsberry Orange City, IA
NMRA Hobby Stocks
Heat #1: 1. 91 Jeff Hoogendoorn Rock Rapids, IA; 2. 20 Anthony Mann Luverne, MN; 3. 21X Mike Deutsch Ellsworth, MN; 4. 20x Joe Schueller Primghar, IA; 5. 12J Seth Jurrens Little Rock, IA; 6. 2 Dereck Van Der Brink Rock Rapids, IA
Heat #2: 1. 45 Darwin Klaassen Little Rock, IA; 2. 81 Mark Vanden Top Rock Rapids, IA; 3. 17S James Slawson Spencer, IA; 4. 31x Jeremy Franken Sioux Center, IA; 5. 99 Kevin Frodermann Magnolia, MN
Heat #3: 1. 28 Denton Potter Larchwood, IA; 2. 80 James Brower Sanborn, IA; 3. 7x Chris DeHaan Alton, IA; 4. 9B Bob DeBoer Little Rock, IA; 5. 21 Larry Kracht Magnolia, MN;
A Feature: 1. 45 Darwin Klaassen Little Rock, IA; 2. 91 Jeff Hoogendoorn Rock Rapids, IA; 3. 28 Denton Potter Larchwood, IA; 4. 21X Mike Deutsch Ellsworth, MN; 5. 81 Mark Vanden Top Rock Rapids, IA; 6. 20 Anthony Mann Luverne, MN; 7. 7x Chris DeHaan Alton, IA; 8. 21 Larry Kracht Magnolia, MN; 9. 9B Bob DeBoer Little Rock, IA; 10. 20x Joe Schueller Primghar, IA; 11. 99 Kevin Frodermann Magnolia, MN; 12. 12J Seth Jurrens Little Rock, IA; 13. 31x Jeremy Franken Sioux Center, IA; 14. 80 James Brower Sanborn, IA; 15. 2 Dereck Van Der Brink Rock Rapids, IA; 16. 17S James Slawson Spencer, IA