(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
May 24, 2002
By Shawn Neisteadt
(Rock Rapids, IA-May 24, 2002) With three races in the books for the Rapid Speedway 2002 racing season, Clint Garner was still pulling a perfect record. Fans and drivers all filed to the Rapid Speedway to see if Garner's streak would remain, or if another driver would be able to take the trophy home.
Johnn Cressman and Chase Wilson led the NMRA Sprint Cars to the drop of the green flag, but the yellow hanky waved before one lap was completed. Wilson slipped off turn one and looped his machine to bring out the caution.
Wilson's spin gave to pole to Mike Sandvig. Sandvig made the most of the restart and claimed the lead as the pack entered the first turn. Three laps had been counted when Wilson's ill handling #3c spun again, bringing out the caution.
On the resulting restart, Shawn Van Whye overtook Mike McMahan for the third position. Two laps later, Gordy Vogelaar piloted the Summer Racing Group #75 by McMahon for the fourth spot. The man to beat, Clint Garner entered the top five on lap eight. As the field crossed the halfway point, Van Whye rocketed from third to first entering turn one, but the front tires caught the inside of the speedway, sending Van Whye's #99 off the speedway and causing it to spin. Van Whye would be able to restart, but instead of holding the lead, he was now at the other end of the field.
Sandvig led the field to the restart with Vogelaar, who had picked off Cressman one lap previous to the caution, in second. When racing resumed, Garner shot into third. On lap 11, as Sandvig entered turn one, Vogelaar dove to the bottom and laid claim to the lead. Garner took second on the following lap. The two lead cars pulled from the rest of the field over the remaining six laps. As the checkereds flew, it was Vogelaar claiming his first win of the season. Garner finished second. Cressman finished third followed by Sandvig and McMahon.
"It feels good to win. It's always nice to win one in May," said Vogelaar after the victory.
During heat race competition, the sprint cars were put to a radar gun and clocked at speeds of 108 mph. The wins of the heat races went to Cressman and Van Whye.
Randy Brands took the lead of the Short Track Stock Car feature on the lap five restart. Brands held the lead as the cars battled two and three wide behind him over the next six laps. The next challenge for the lead came on the restart 11 laps into the race. Darrin Korthals had charged from ninth to second and was looking for more. Brands and Korthals ran door to door over the final four laps. As the pair made the final turn, Brands was able to hook up and drive to the win. Korthals took second. Jason DeBoer, who led the opening laps, finished third with John DeGroot beating Doug Brinkhous by inched for fourth.
The Short Track Stock Car heat race wins went to DeBoer and Howard Baartman.
Eight laps into the Sportsmen Stock Car feature, Mel Elsberry took the lead from pole starter Glen Wynia. Elsberry never relinquished the lead over the remaining four laps to put his #5 into victory lane for the first time this season. Scott Overgaard finished second with Evan DeHaan taking third. Wynia finished fourth with Rick Vander Weide taking fifth. The heat races were won by Overgaard, Wynia, and Jeff Hoogendoorn. The "B" feature was won by Daryl Reverts.
James Brower took the lead of the Hobby Stock main event five laps into it en route to the victory. Clint Potter charged from the last starting position to finish second. Darwin Klaassen, Colter Deutsch, and Larry Kracht rounded out the top five. Deutsch, Kracht, and Nick Bahr won the heat races. The "B" went to Mark VandenTop.
NMRA 360 Sprints
Heat #1: 1. 56 Johnn Cressman; 2. 3b Buck Wilson; 3. 7 Mike Sandvig; 4. R19 Mike Mc Mahan; 5. 11 Joe Riedel; 6. 76 Butch Evink; 7. 17B Ryan Bickett
Heat #2: 1. 99 Shawn Van Whye; 2. 17V Clint Garner; 3. 24 Randy Droescher; 4. 75 Gordy Vogelaar; 5. 3c Chase Wilson; 6. 70 Blaine Foreman; 7. 25 Brian Baker
A Feature: 1. 75 Gordy Vogelaar; 2. 17V Clint Garner; 3. 56 Johnn Cressman; 4. 7 Mike Sandvig; 5. R19 Mike Mc Mahan; 6. 24 Randy Droescher; 7. 3b Buck Wilson; 8. 11 Joe Riedel; 9. 70 Blaine Foreman; 10. 76 Butch Evink; 11. 99 Shawn Van Whye; 12. 3c Chase Wilson; 13. 25 Brian Baker; 14. 17B Ryan Bickett
NMRA Short Track Stock Cars
Heat #1: 1. 44 Jason De Boer; 2. 35 John De Groot; 3. 43 Mark Henry; 4. 11K Darrin Korthals; 5. 8 Randy Vander Weide; 6. 7 Steve DeKam; 7. 28 Mark Van Voorst
Heat #2: 1. 82 Howard Baartman; 2. 27 Randy Brands; 3. 22W Heath Warntjes; 4. 42 Chad Overgaard; 5. 17 Doug Brinkhous; 6. 4 Kevin Larson
A Feature: 1. 27 Randy Brands; 2. 11K Darrin Korthals; 3. 44 Jason De Boer; 4. 35 John De Groot; 5. 17 Doug Brinkhous; 6. 22W Heath Warntjes; 7. 43 Mark Henry; 8. 8 Randy Vander Weide; 9. 7 Steve DeKam; 10. 4 Kevin Larson; 11. 42 Chad Overgaard; 12. 28 Mark Van Voorst; 13. 82 Howard Baartman
NMRA Sportsmen
Heat #1: 1. 36 Glenn Wynia; 2. 5 Mel Elsberry; 3. 45K Brad Klaassen; 4. 21 Don Grems; 5. 7 Daryl Reverts; 6. 63 Todd Huisman
Heat #2: 1. 91 Jeff Hoogendoorn; 2. 6 Rick Vander Weide; 3. 20 Anthony Mann; 4. 00 Gary Mulder; 5. C4 Casey Hurney; 6. 86 Marty Halouska
Heat #3: 1. 40 Scott Overgaard; 2. 72 Brad Haas; 3. 7x Evan DeHaan; 4. 3J Jeremiah Jordahl; 5. 13 Chuck Harming; 6. 58 Perry Klosterbuer
B Feature: 1. 7 Daryl Reverts; 2. 63 Todd Huisman; 3. 58 Perry Klosterbuer; 4. C4 Casey Hurney; 5. 13 Chuck Harming; 6. 86 Marty Halouska
A Feature: 1. 5 Mel Elsberry; 2. 40 Scott Overgaard; 3. 7x Evan DeHaan; 4. 36 Glenn Wynia; 5. 6 Rick Vander Weide; 6. 63 Todd Huisman; 7. 45K Brad Klaassen; 8. 72 Brad Haas; 9. 91 Jeff Hoogendoorn; 10. 00 Gary Mulder; 11. 7 Daryl Reverts; 12. 20 Anthony Mann; 13. 3J Jeremiah Jordahl; 14. 21 Don Grems
NMRA Hobby Stocks
Heat #1: 1. 5 Colter Deutsch; 2. 28x Josh Klay; 3. 7x Chris DeHaan; 4. 19 Kevin Frodermann; 5. 17 Jason Wohlford; 6. 3 Walter Kiggins
Heat #2: 1. 33 Nick Bahr; 2. 28 Denton Potter; 3. 9B Bob DeBoer; 4. 89 Gary Dieren; 5. 81 Mark VandenTop; 6. 16J Jon De Boer; 7. 2J Shaun Jurrens
Heat #3: 1. 21 Larry Kracht; 2. 45 Darwin Klaassen; 3. 2 Dereck Van Der Brink; 4. 80 James Brower; 5. 72J Clint Potter; 6. 55t Terry Penning; 7. 27 Donald Garritsen Jr.
B Feature: 1. 81 Mark VandenTop; 2. 72J Clint Potter; 3. 3 Walter Kiggins; 4. 55t Terry Penning; 5. 17 Jason Wohlford; 6. 16J Jon De Boer; 7. 27 Donald Garritsen Jr; 8. 2J Shaun Jurrens
A Feature: 1. 80 James Brower; 2. 72J Clint Potter; 3. 45 Darwin Klaassen; 4. 5 Colter Deutsch; 5. 21 Larry Kracht; 6. 89 Gary Dieren; 7. 28x Josh Klay; 8. 9B Bob DeBoer; 9. 7x Chris DeHaan; 10. 28 Denton Potter; 11. 81 Mark VandenTop; 12. 33 Nick Bahr; 13. 2 Dereck Van Der Brink; 14. 19 Kevin Frodermann