(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
June 29, 2001
By Shawn Neisteadt
Rock Rapids, IA--"Awesome. That's all I can say is awesome." Those were the words of Jeremy Fey moments after he claimed his first ever sprint car victory. It's hard to believe, but the young LeMars driver didn't want to race. After a disappointing first ever run at Huset's Speedway the previous week, Fey wanted to throw in the towel. He didn't though, and his reward was taking the checkered flags of Rapid Speedway. Before one lap of the 360 Sprint feature had been completed, Shawn Van Whye had a birthday present he would have rather not received. Van Whye flipped violently while entering turn three and had the throttle of the car stick wide open. Van Whye walked away, but the Folken Brothers Trucking car was badly damaged. When the field came to the start for the second time, Dan Goosmann jumped into the top spot, but would soon be passed by Fey. Goosmann's car slowed dramatically and brought out the caution. Fey held the restart lead, but Paul Veen had made his way into second and wanted more. Fey and Veen were continuing to run up front when they ran into traffic on the eighth revolution. The slower traffic allowed Dusty Ballenger to close in on the top two, but the red flag would wave again. This time Brent Vande Weerd had somersaulted his car in turn two. Tom Platt was also collected, as he had nowhere to go. Both drivers were uninjured, but their evening had ended. On the caution laps before the restart, Ballenger would lose a bolt off the radius rod. Ballenger had to pull his #2d to the infield for repairs, and give up his third place position. Fey would hold on for the remaining four laps to put the Reuter Flooring car into victory lane. Veen finished second. Todd Wessels came to the line third. Mike McMahan and Chris Wasmund rounded out the top five. "It's been a long time coming," added Fey. Ballenger, Veen, and McMahan won the heat races
When the green flag dropped on the Late Model Stock Car feature, Rapid Speedway's all time winningest driver, David Kruger, claimed the top spot and would never relinquish it. The race was clean and green for its entire duration. Dale Furby finished a close second after starting eighth. Darrin Korthals started ninth and worked his way up to third. Doug Brinkhous came in a strong fourth with Chad Overgaard following. John DeGroot and Brinkhous claimed heat race wins.
Scott Overgaard claimed the lead of the Sportsmen main event on the third lap, and continued to hold the top spot until Brad Haas overtook the position on lap eight. The only caution of the event had waved for Rick Goth, who had the rear axle of the Century 21 car break. Haas claimed his first win of the season with Overgaard following in second. Evan DeHaan finished third. Mel Elsberry started seventh and finished fourth with Greg Roemen finishing fifth. Heat race wins went to Overgaard and Rick Vander Weide.
Steve Eliason claimed the early lead of the NMRA Hobby Stock feature, but would suffer a flat tire on lap two. The misfortunate break for Elaison, was just the break Jason Vande Vegte was looking for as he inherited the lead. Vande Vegte led all of the remaining laps to put his car into victory lane for the first time this season. Chris DeHann finished second. Bob DeBoer finished third. Larry Kracht and James Brower rounded out the top five. The "B" feature went to James Slawson. Kevin Frodermann, Chris DeHaan, and Tammy Kracht claimed heat race wins.
NMRA 360 Sprints
Heat #1: 1. 2D Dusty Ballenger; 2. 8 Jeremy Fey; 3. 99 Shawn Van Whye; 4. 28W Todd Wessels; 5. 17B Ryan Bickett
Heat #2: 1. 48 Paul Veen; 2. 29G Dan Goosmann; 3. 25X Tom Platt; 4. 5w Chris Wasmund; 5. 8X Jim Tiesler; 6. 25 Brian Baker
Heat #3: 1. R19 Mike Mc Mahan; 2. 24 Randy Droescher; 3. 4 Brett Stegenga; 4. 47 Brent VandeWeerd; 5. 33 Jim Smith; 6. 20 Joe Peterson; 7. 17v Jim Tunge
A Feature: 1. 8 Jeremy Fey; 2. 48 Paul Veen; 3. 28W Todd Wessels; 4. R19 Mike Mc Mahan; 5. 5w Chris Wasmund; 6. 25 Brian Baker; 7. 2D Dusty Ballenger; 8. 4 Brett Stegenga; 9. 17v Jim Tunge; 10. 33 Jim Smith; 11. 8X Jim Tiesler; 12. 17B Ryan Bickett; 13. 25X Tom Platt; 14. 20 Joe Peterson; 15. 47 Brent VandeWeerd; 16. 24 Randy Droescher; 17. 29G Dan Goosmann; 18. 99 Shawn Van Whye
NMRA Late Model Street Stocks
Heat #1: 1. 35 John De Groot; 2. 97 David Kruger; 3. 42 Chad Overgaard; 4. 10 Dale Furby; 5. 23 Mark De Boer; 6. 44 Jason De Boer
Heat #2: 1. 17 Doug Brinkhous; 2. 43 Mark Henry Rock; 3. 11K Darrin Korthals; 4. 27 Randy Brands; 5. 7 Steve DeKam; 6. 22W Heath Warntjes
A Feature: 1. 97 David Kruger; 2. 10 Dale Furby; 3. 11K Darrin Korthals; 4. 17 Doug Brinkhous; 5. 42 Chad Overgaard; 6. 23 Mark De Boer; 7. 27 Randy Brands; 8. 35 John De Groot; 9. 43 Mark Henry; 10. 44 Jason De Boer; 11. 7 Steve DeKam; 12. 22W Heath Warntjes
NMRA Sportsmen
Heat #1: 1. 6 Rick Vander Weide; 2. 45K Brad Klaassen; 3. 72 Brad Haas; 4. 5 Mel Elsberry; 5. 21 Don Grems; 6. 36 Glenn Wynia; 7. 66 Marty Halouska
Heat #2: 1. 40 Scott Overgaard; 2. 7x Evan DeHaan; 3. 8 Randy Vander Weide; 4. 90 Rick Goth; 5. 27B Billy Sprock; 6. 76 Greg Roemen
A Feature: 1. 72 Brad Haas; 2. 40 Scott Overgaard; 3. 7x Evan DeHaan; 4. 5 Mel Elsberry; 5. 76 Greg Roemen; 6. 21 Don Grems; 7. 36 Glenn Wynia; 8. 66 Marty Halouska; 9. 8 Randy Vander Weide; 10. 45K Brad Klaassen; 11. 6 Rick Vander Weide; 12. 90 Rick Goth; 13. 27B Billy Sprock
NMRA Hobby Stocks
Heat #1: 1. 99 Kevin Frodermann; 2. 4 Travis Jansma; 3. 42 Steve Eliason; 4. 81 Mark VandenTop; 5. 17S James Slawson; 6. 8 Broc Yesda; 7. 31x Jeremy Franken
Heat #2: 1. 7x Chris DeHaan; 2. 18 Jason Vande Vegte; 3. 45 Darwin Klaassen; 4. 9B Bob DeBoer; 5. 2 Dereck Van Der Brink; 6. 24 Randall Kurth; 7. 5 Colter Deutsch
Heat #3: 1. 15 Tammy Kracht; 2. 91 Jeff Hoogendoorn; 3. 80 James Brower; 4. 21 Larry Kracht; 5. 20 Anthony Mann; 6. 21X Mike Deutsch
B Feature: 1. 17S James Slawson; 2. 21X Mike Deutsch; 3. 20 Anthony Mann; 4. 31x Jeremy Franken; 5. 5 Colter Deutsch; 6. 24 Randall Kurth; 7. 2 Dereck Van Der Brink; 8. 8 Broc Yesda
A Feature: 1. 18 Jason Vande Vegte; 2. 7x Chris DeHaan; 3. 9B Bob DeBoer; 4. 21 Larry Kracht; 5. 80 James Brower; 6. 17S James Slawson; 7. 15 Tammy Kracht; 8. 45 Darwin Klaassen; 9. 21X Mike Deutsch; 10. 81 Mark VandenTop; 11. 99 Kevin Frodermann; 12. 4 Travis Jansma; 13. 91 Jeff Hoogendoorn; 14. 42 Steve Eliason