(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
June 1, 2001
By Shawn Neisteadt
Rock Rapids, IA--After missing the first weeks of racing action because he was planting crops, Tom Platt scored his first victory of the season to open the month of June. Platt started from the outside pole position and took control of the NMRA 360 sprint feature at the start. Jeremy Fey took the second position away from pole sitter Dave Becker on lap two. Platt, who now had a corner lead over Fey, charged into lap traffic on lap four. The leaders continued to maneuver in the slower traffic until the yellow flag flew on lap ten for Mike McMahan's spun car. Platt once again pulled away on the restart. It looked as if Buck Wilson was going to use the extreme high line to move up from the fourth position, but he went a little too high and slipped off the track and lost several positions. The leaders reentered lap traffic on the thirteenth revolution. The slower vehicles allowed Brent Vande Weerd to overtake Fey for the second position. The lappers didn't hold up the Dave's Repair #25x of Platt as he crossed the line first. Vande Weerd finished second and took over the point lead. Fey, Dusty Ballenger and Brian Baker rounded out the top five. Ballenger, Wilson and Platt each scored a heat race victory.
Doug Brinhous took the early lead of the NMRA Street Stock feature, but as proven over and over this season, the street stock features are unpredictable and very exciting. Brinkhous continued the lead as the field restarted after a lap five caution, but would drive into the corner too high allowing Randy Brands to claim the lead position. Dale Furby was attempting to make a move on Brands, when Brands handed the lead to Furby by going too high in the corner. Furby held on to claim his first Rapid Speedway victory of the year. Darrin Korthals came from starting position eight to finish second. Point leader, Mark DeBoer finished third followed by Mark Henry and Jason DeBoer. John DeGroot and Korhtals claimed heat race wins.
Scott Overgaard and Jeff Wittrock, driving Rick Tarbox's car, came off the front row and were battling side by side for the lead when Wittrock spun out and almost flipped the car when introducing it to the inside burm of Rapid Speedway's turn four. Brad Klaassen claimed the lead after the restart, but Rick Goth was in hot pursuit. Racing was again slowed as Mel Elsberry, who was running third, looped his car around. One lap after the restart, Goth took the lead and drove to the win. Klaassen held on for a second place finish. Rick Vander Weide charged back to third after being involved with Wittrock's spin. Overgaard and Elsberry rounded out the top of the order. Klaassen and Vander Weide won heat races.
Darwin Klaassen took the lead of the NMRA Hobby Stock feature from Kevin Frodermann on lap two and held on to claim his third victory in a row. Dereck Van Der Brink finish second followed by Chris DeHaan. Anthony Mann and Larry Kracht went home with fourth and fifth place honors. Van Der Brink, Kracht and Hoogendoorn won the heat races.
NMRA 360 Sprints
Heat #1: 1. 2D Dusty Ballenger; 2. R19 Mike Mc Mahan; 3. 99 Shawn Van Whye; 4. 7 Dave Becker; 5. 25 Brian Baker
Heat #2: 1. 3b Buck Wilson; 2. 8 Jeremy Fey; 3. 14 Bill Fredin; 4. 70 Blaine Foreman; 5. 20 Joe Peterson; 6. Y4 David Beman Jr.
Heat #3: 1. 25X Tom Platt; 2. 47 Brent Vande Weerd; 3. 3A Rick Adams; 4. 24 Kevin Droll; 5. 28J Mike Jensen; 6. 17B Ryan Bickett
A Feature: 1. 25X Tom Platt; 2. 47 Brent Vande Weerd; 3. 8 Jeremy Fey; 4. 2D Dusty allenger; 5. 25 Brian Baker; 6. 3A Rick Adams; 7. 3b Buck Wilson; 8. 14 Bill Fredin; 9. 99 Shawn Van Whye; 10. R19 Mike Mc Mahan; 11. 7 Dave Becker; 12. 24 Kevin Droll; 13. 70 Blaine Foreman; 14. 28J Mike Jensen; 15. 17B Ryan Bickett; 16. Y4 David Beman Jr.; 17. 20 Joe Peterson; 18. 29G Dan Goosmann
NMRA Late Model Street Stocks
Heat #1: 1. 35 John De Groot; 2. 17G Gus Clark; 3. 10 Dale Furby; 4. 43 Mark Henry; 5. 17 Doug Brinkhous; 6. 23 Mark De Boer; 7. 01 Greg Mulder
Heat #2: 1. 11K Darrin Korthals; 2. 42 Chad Overgaard; 3. 7 Steve DeKam; 4. 27 Randy Brands; 5. 44 Jason De Boer; 6. 98 Curt Van Beek
A Feature: 1. 10 Dale Furby; 2. 11K Darrin Korthals; 3. 23 Mark De Boer; 4. 43 Mark Henry; 5. 44 Jason De Boer; 6. 35 John De Groot; 7. 17G Gus Clark; 8. 27 Randy Brands; 9. 17 Doug Brinkhous; 10. 98 Curt Van Beek; 11. 7 Steve DeKam; 12. 01 Greg Mulder; 13. 42 Chad Overgaard
NMRA Sportsmen
Heat #1: 1. 45K Brad Klaassen; 2. 25 Jeff Wittrock; 3. 5 Mel Elsberry; 4. 90 Rick Goth; 5. 27B Billy Sprock
Heat #2: 1. 6 Rick Vander Weide; 2. 40 Scott Overgaard; 3. 72 Brad Haas; 4. 66 Marty Halouska; 5. 36 Glenn Wynia
A Feature: 1. 90 Rick Goth; 2. 45K Brad Klaassen; 3. 6 Rick Vander Weide; 4. 40 Scott Overgaard; 5. 5 Mel Elsberry; 6. 72 Brad Haas; 7. 66 Marty Halouska; 8. 27B Billy Sprock; 9. 36 Glenn Wynia; 10. 25 Jeff Wittrock
NMRA Hobby Stocks
Heat #1: 1. 2 Dereck Van Der Brink; 2. 18 Jason Vande Vegte; 3. 9B Bob DeBoer; 4. 80 James Brower; 5. 31x Jeremy Franken; 6. 17S James Slawson
Heat #2: 1. 21 Larry Kracht; 2. 81 Mark VandenTop; 3. 20 Anthony Mann; 4. 99 Kevin Frodermann; 5. 20x Joe Schueller
Heat #3: 1. 91 Jeff Hoogendoorn; 2. 45 Darwin Klaassen; 3. 7x Chris DeHaan; 4. 21X Mike Deutsch; 5. 28 Denton Potter
A Feature: 1. 45 Darwin Klaassen; 2. 2 Dereck Van Der Brink; 3. 7x Chris DeHaan; 4. 20 Anthony Mann; 5. 21 Larry Kracht; 6. 91 Jeff Hoogendoorn; 7. 21X Mike Deutsch; 8. 81 Mark VandenTop; 9. 80 James Brower; 10. 31x Jeremy Franken; 11. 18 Jason Vande Vegte; 12. 99 Kevin Frodermann; 13. 9B Bob DeBoer; 14. 28 Denton Potter; 15. 17S James Slawson; 16. 20x Joe Schueller