(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
August 22, 2003
Ballenger Blasts 'em at Rapid Speedway
By Shawn Neisteadt
(August 22, 2003-Rock Rapids, IA) As the green flag fell on the 18 lap 360 sprint feature it was Brent Vonk taking the lead, but Mike Sandvig made the move to the top spot as they came off the first set of turns. The yellow flag waved as one lap was counted when Brian Baker got out of shape in turn three and looped his #25. On the restart, Randy Droescher took fourth place. On the next lap, Dusty Ballenger went on a terror using the high side of the track as he rocketed into fifth and then by Droescher for fourth. On the third lap Ballenger took third place from Shawn Van Wyhe. The caution waved again on lap four when Gordy Vogelaar slowed on the speedway.
On the resulting restart Ballenger continued to move as he passed Vonk for second and then on lap five Ballenger took the #2d into the lead as he drove by Sandvig in turn two. Butch Hanssen was also charging from the rear as he took fourth on lap nine. Ballenger and the rest of the leaders drove into lap traffic on the tenth lap of the race. Hanssen continued to move as he took third from Vonk on lap 12 as they entered turn one. The white flag was in the air as the caution came out for the final time as Brad Buysse slowed on the speedway. That set the race up for a two lap shootout to the finish.
Ballenger was too strong as Sandvig mounted a charge but fell short. Ballenger took home his third win of the year with Sandvig second and Hanssen third. Brent Vonk finished fourth and Dusty Zomer came from tenth to fifth. "The car was on a rail right around the top" said Ballenger after the win. "It was really a thin line so there weren't many cars up there."
Darrin Korthals took the lead of the Late Model Stock Car feature only three laps into the 15 lap event and looked to be well on his way to the win. However, the rest of the field was not going to give up as Chad Overgaard caught the leader and began to challenge for the top spot on lap seven. The yellow came out on lap nine when Heath Warntjes slowed on the speedway. On the restart, Mark Van Voorst busted the right front wheel and slammed into the turn four wall. The car was retired for the night but Van Voorst walked away. Justin Glaser had similar trouble on the restart as he slammed into the turn one wall. Glaser's car was done but he walked away unscratched.
Korthals was challenged several times, but would take home the trophy for the sixth time this season. Chad Overgaard was second. Mark DeBoer came from tenth to take third. Scott Overgaard was fourth and fifth went to Mark Henry.
It was another good night in the Sportsmen class for Nick Beyenhof. Beyenhof, a 16-year-old rookie, led all 12 laps of the sportsmen feature to take his second career win. Greg Roeman finished second with Evan DeHaan third. Anthony Mann was fourth and fifth went to Don Gerritsen Jr.
The first lap of the Hobby Stock collected several cars together in the third turn. After they were sorted out the field came to a complete restart. Kelly Doeden took the lead of the race and held that top spot until Mark VandenTop drove into the lead on lap nine. VandenTop held on and drove to his third win of the year. Doeden settled for second and third went to Denton Potter. Chris DeHaan was fourth and Troy Woelber took fifth.
Rapid Speedway races again this Friday night.
NMRA 360 Sprints
Heat #1: 1. Gordy Vogelaar, Worthington, Minn.; 2. Shawn VanWyhe, Lester; 3. Brent Vonk, Hudson, S.D.; 4. John Kaiser, Lake Norden, S.D.; 5. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 6. Lyle Howey III, Brookings, S.D.; 7. Tim Krueger, Brandon, S.D..
Heat #2: 1. Mike Sandvig, Spencer; 2. Dusty Zomer, Brandon, S.D.; 3. Brian Baker, Rock Rapids; 4. Randy Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 5. Robert Danielson, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 6. Mitch Coburn, Garretson, S.D..
Heat #3: 1. Casey Abbas, Parker, S.D.; 2. Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 3. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 4. Randy Droescher, Larchwood; 5. Brad Buysse, Luverne, Minn.; 6. Steve Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D..
A Feature: 1. Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 2. Mike Sandvig, Spencer; 3. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 4. Brent Vonk, Hudson, S.D.; 5. Dusty Zomer, Brandon, S.D.; 6. Shawn VanWyhe, Lester; 7. Randy Droescher, Larchwood; 8. Casey Abbas, Parker, S.D.; 9. Randy Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 10. Gordy Vogelaar, Worthington, Minn.; 11. Brian Baker, Rock Rapids; 12. Lyle Howey III, Brookings, S.D.; 13. John Kaiser, Lake Norden, S.D.; 14. Mitch Coburn, Garretson, S.D.; 15. Brad Buysse, Luverne, Minn.; 16. Robert Danielson, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 17. Steve Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 18. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 19. Tim Krueger, Brandon, S.D..
NMRA Late Model Stock Cars
Heat #1: 1. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids; 2. David Kruger, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 3. John De Groot, Sioux Center; 4. Scott Overgaard, Ellsworth, Minn.; 5. Mark Van Voorst, Sioux Center; 6. Jason De Boer, Sioux Center; 7. Justin Glaser, Sioux Falls, S.D..
Heat #2: 1. Mark Henry, Rock Rapids; 2. Doug Brinkhous, Rock Rapids; 3. Chad Overgaard, Luverne, Minn.; 4. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 5. Howard Baartman, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 6. Heath Warntjes, Boyden.
A Feature: 1. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids; 2. Chad Overgaard, Luverne, Minn.; 3. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 4. Scott Overgaard, Ellsworth, Minn.; 5. Mark Henry, Rock Rapids; 6. David Kruger, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 7. Jason De Boer, Sioux Center; 8. Howard Baartman, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 9. Heath Warntjes, Boyden; 10. John De Groot, Sioux Center; 11. Doug Brinkhous, Rock Rapids; 12. Justin Glaser, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 13. Mark Van Voorst, Sioux Center.
NMRA Sportsmen
Heat #1: 1. Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, Minn.; 2. Jeff Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids; 3. Anthony Mann, Brandon, S.D.; 4. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids; 5. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 6. Travis Schueller, Primghar; 7. Pete Kracht, Steen, Minn..
Heat #2: 1. Evan DeHaan, Alton; 2. Kevin Broesder, George; 3. Nick Beyenhof, Rock Rapids; 4. Donald Gerritsen Jr, Rock Rapids; 5. Thomas Doeden, Sibley; 6. Mel Elsberry, Orange City.
A Feature: 1. Nick Beyenhof, Rock Rapids; 2. Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, Minn.; 3. Evan DeHaan, Alton; 4. Anthony Mann, Brandon, S.D.; 5. Donald Gerritsen Jr, Rock Rapids; 6. Mel Elsberry, Orange City; 7. Kevin Broesder, George; 8. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids; 9. Thomas Doeden, Sibley; 10. Pete Kracht, Steen, Minn.; 11. Travis Schueller, Primghar; 12. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 13. Jeff Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids.
NMRA Hobby Stocks
Heat #1: 1. Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 2. Mike Buss, Luverne, Minn.; 3. Larry Kracht, Magnolia, Minn.; 4. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock; 5. Bobbi Kracht;; 6. Chris Tiesler, Ellsworth, Minn..
Heat #2: 1. Billy/Brad Cowell, Steen, Minn.; 2. Dereck VanDerBrink, Rock Rapids; 3. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 4. Kelly Doeden, Sibley; 5. Jared VanEngen, Melvin.
Heat #3: 1. Chris DeHaan, Alton; 2. Troy Woelber, Hull; 3. Denton Potter, Larchwood; 4. Bob DeBoer, Little Rock; 5. Rodney VandenTop, Rock Rapids.
A Feature: 1. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 2. Kelly Doeden, Sibley; 3. Denton Potter, Larchwood; 4. Chris DeHaan, Alton; 5. Troy Woelber, Hull; 6. Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 7. Bob DeBoer, Little Rock; 8. Billy/Brad Cowell, Steen, Minn.; 9. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock; 10. Mike Buss, Luverne, Minn.; 11. Chris Tiesler, Ellsworth, Minn.; 12. Rodney VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 13. Bobbi Kracht;; 14. Dereck VanDerBrink, Rock Rapids; 15. Jared VanEngen, Melvin; 16. Larry Kracht, Magnolia, Minn..