(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
June 7, 2002
By Shawn Neisteadt
(June 7, 2002-Rock Rapids, IA) Mother Nature would not be able to stop Rapid Speedway's racing program Friday night. Rain passed the speedway hours before race time and threatened to return all night long, but efficiency would allow the program to be completed before the weather could claim victory.
Brian Baker jumped from outside the front row to claim the lead of the NMRA 360 sprint feature at the drop of the green. Dusty Ballenger took the second spot from pole-sitter, Joe Riedel, on the second trip around the track. Four laps were in the books when the yellow flag flew for Johnn Cressman. Cressman jumped the right rear tire of Shawn Van Whye and spun off the speedway. Cressman was able to restart.
On the restart, Joe Riedel's motor stumbled allowing several drivers to advance in position. Mike Sandvig moved up to third followed by Van Whye and Gordy Vogelaar. On the seventh circuit of the 18 lap affair, Ballenger used the high groove to pass Baker for the lead. Less than a lap after taking the top spot, Ballenger's engine expired sending his hopes for a win up in flames.
Baker held the restart lead and ran the final 11 laps uncontested for the win. Second went to Sandvig with Vogelaar taking third. Buck Wilson had a strong second half of the race and charged forward to finish forth with Van Whye rounding out the top five.
"It's been three years since the last win," said Baker, driver of the Turf Pros #25, after the victory. "There's nothing like getting the monkey off your back." Baker and Cressman won the heat races.
Darrin Korthals charged from the fifth row to take the win of the Short Track Stock Car feature. Korthals passed five cars in the opening three laps of the race to move into the top five. On lap six, Korthals made it a three wide race and rocketed from fifth to second. Heath Warntjes had held the lead since the drop of the green, but Korthals overtook the top spot on lap seven and never looked back. Korthals was followed by Jason DeBoer and Randy Brands to the finish. Doug Brinkhous took fourth with Mark DeBoer fifth. Heat race wins went to Jason DeBoer and Korthals.
With the white flag in the air, Jeremiah Jordahl, Mel Elsberry and Rick Vander Weide battled three wide for the lead of the Sportsmen feature. The cars tangled entering the third turn bringing out the caution. Vander Weide and Jordahl were unable to restart due to damage to their cars. Elsberry was able to restart at the rear of the field. The incident gave the lead to Todd Huisman. Huisman held on for the two lap shootout to take the win. Jeff Hoogendoorn finished second with Brad Klaassen in third. Scott Overgaard finished fourth followed by Gary Mulder. Huisman, Vander Weide and Pete Kracht took wins in heat race action.
In NMRA Hobby Stock action, the red flag waved five laps into the feature for Bob DeBoer. DeBoer lost and oil line igniting a large oil fire under the hood of his #9B. DeBoer was unharmed in the fire. Shaun Jurrens led the opening seven laps until Dereck Van Der Brink claimed the position on lap seven. Van Der Brink's lead was short lived as Darwin Klaassen took the lead on lap eight. Klaassen led the final four laps to take the win. Van Der Brink scored second and Jurrens held on for third. Colter Deutsch and Mark Vanden Top rounded out the top five. Klaassen and Jurrens won the heat races.
NMRA 360 Sprints
Heat #1: 1. 25 Brian Baker; 2. 24 Randy Droescher; 3. 3b Buck Wilson; 4. 7 Mike Sandvig; 5. R19 Mike Mc Mahan; 6. 3c Chase Wilson
Heat #2: 1. 56 Johnn Cressman; 2. 2D Dusty Ballenger; 3. 11 Joe Riedel; 4. 75 Gordy Vogelaar; 5. 99 Shawn Van Whye
A Feature: 1. 25 Brian Baker; 2. 7 Mike Sandvig; 3. 75 Gordy Vogelaar; 4. 3b Buck Wilson; 5. 99 Shawn Van Whye; 6. 56 Johnn Cressman; 7. R19 Mike Mc Mahan; 8. 11 Joe Riedel; 9. 2D Dusty Ballenger; 10. 24 Randy Droescher; 11. 3c Chase Wilson
NMRA Short Track Stock Cars
Heat #1: 1. 11K Darrin Korthals; 2. 35 John De Groot; 3. 27 Randy Brands; 4. 82 Howard Baartman; 5. 28 Mark Van Voorst; 6. 43 Mark Henry
Heat #2: 1. 44 Jason De Boer; 2. 42 Chad Overgaard; 3. 23 Mark De Boer; 4. 22W Heath Warntjes; 5. 17 Doug Brinkhous; 6. 45K Brad Klaassen
A Feature: 1. 11K Darrin Korthals; 2. 44 Jason De Boer; 3. 27 Randy Brands; 4. 17 Doug Brinkhous; 5. 23 Mark De Boer; 6. 82 Howard Baartman; 7. 22W Heath Warntjes; 8. 43 Mark Henry Rock; 9. 35 John De Groot; 10. 28 Mark Van Voorst; 11. 42 Chad Overgaard; 12. 45K Brad Klaassen
NMRA Sportsmen
Heat #1: 1. 15 Pete Kracht; 2. 00 Gary Mulder; 3. 72 Brad Haas; 4. 40 Scott Overgaard; 5. 20 Anthony Mann
Heat #2: 1. 6 Rick Vander Weide; 2. 91 Jeff Hoogendoorn; 3. C4 Casey Hurney; 4. 21 Don Grems; 5. 7x Evan DeHaan
Heat #3: 1. 63 Todd Huisman; 2. 5 Mel Elsberry; 3. 45K Brad Klaassen; 4. 3J Jeremiah Jordahl; 5. 86 Marty Halouska
A Feature: 1. 63 Todd Huisman; 2. 91 Jeff Hoogendoorn; 3. 45K Brad Klaassen; 4. 40 Scott Overgaard; 5. 00 Gary Mulder; 6. 5 Mel Elsberry; 7. 7x Evan DeHaan; 8. 72 Brad Haas; 9. C4 Casey Hurney; 10. 6 Rick Vander Weide; 11. 3J Jeremiah Jordahl; 12. 86 Marty Halouska; 13. 20 Anthony Mann; 14. 15 Pete Kracht; 15. 21 Don Grems
NMRA Hobby Stocks
Heat #1: 1. 45 Darwin Klaassen; 2. 2 Dereck Van Der Brink; 3. 16J Jon De Boer; 4. 9B Bob DeBoer; 5. 5 Colter Deutsch; 6. 27 Donald Gerritsen Jr; 7. 28 Denton Potter
Heat #2: 1. 2J Shaun Jurrens; 2. 7x Chris DeHaan; 3. 81 Mark VandenTop; 4. 28x Josh Klay; 5. 80 James Brower; 6. 18 Michael LaRock; 7. 21 Larry Kracht
A Feature: 1. 45 Darwin Klaassen; 2. 2 Dereck Van Der Brink; 3. 2J Shaun Jurrens; 4. 5 Colter Deutsch; 5. 81 Mark VandenTop; 6. 28x Josh Klay; 7. 7x Chris DeHaan; 8. 16J Jon De Boer; 9. 27 Donald Gerritsen Jr; 10. 18 Michael LaRock; 11. 80 James Brower; 12. 9B Bob DeBoer; 13. 21 Larry Kracht; 14. 28 Denton Potter