(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
April 23, 2004
By Shawn Neisteadt
(April 23, 2004-Rock Rapids, IA) The 2004 season kicked off at Rapid Speedway on Friday night April 23rd. The excitement that kept the crowd coming in the 2003 season carried over the winter, and the first night of the new season was thrilling.
Brent Vonk jumped to the lead at the start of the NMRA 360 sprint feature. Terry Reilly and Steve Ballenger both started on the second row and battled wheel to wheel for a lap until Ballenger grabbed third place. The red flag waved with two laps counted when the #42 of Kevin Flowers spun to the apron of turn two before turning over. Flowers walked away unharmed. The car had minimal damage, but was unable to continue.
Butch Hanssen was the man on the move as he had started ninth, but just one lap past the restart Hanssen when past Reilly for fourth place. On the sixth lap Hanssen moved up another position as he overtook Mike Sandvig. Just two laps later Hanssen went by Steve Ballenger for second place. Ryan Bickett started moving forward in the second half of the event when he discovered the high groove.
Vonk was still leading on the twelfth lap when he entered lap traffic. The traffic allowed Hanssen to catch Vonk and the battle for the lead heated up with five laps remaining in the 18 lap event. The two drove into the third turn and Hanssen grabbed the lead. Hanssen led the rest of the way to give the defending champion the opening night win. Vonk settled for second and third went to Steve Ballenger. Bickett took fourth and Sandvig crossed the line fifth.
"Lap traffic helped us out a lot. That gave us an advantage," said Hanssen after the win. "It felt real good with the new car. To come out and be that competitive is exceptional."
The Late Model Stock Car feature was just as exciting. Mark DeBoer took the initial lead of the event. Just behind DeBoer, Brad Klaassen and Mark Van Voorst swapped second with Van Voorst taking the second spot to complete the first lap. However, Klaassen would battle back and took second on lap three. On the fifth lap, Don Bickett was on the move and took third from Van Voorst.
With five laps remaining Klaassen has caught DeBoer and Klaassen took the lead off the fourth turn. The yellow waved on lap 12 when Bickett's #17 went up in smoke and slowed on the track. By this time, Darrin Korthals had suffered two flat tires and the defending champion has also went pit side.
The green soon replaced the yellow and Klaassen drove his #45k to the victory. DeBoer took second followed by Van Voorst. Scott Overgaard took fourth and Justin Glaser was credited with fifth.
With three laps remaining in the sportsmen feature there was a four car battle for the top spot. Mel Elsberry had the lead and was running the bottom side with Nick Beyenhof to his outside. Anthony Mann and Rick Vander Weide were running just behind them making their bids for the lead. The battle took a different shape when Beyenhof looped his #11 in turn two collecting Mann and Vander Weide. That put Mann and Vander Weide to the rear of the field and Beyenhof to the infield with damage to his car.
Elsberry led the rest of the way to grab the win just ahead of Kevin Broesder. Don Gerritsen, Jr. came from eleventh to third with Chris Huismann in fourth. Billy Sprock rounded out the top five.
Mark Vanden Top challenged Denton Potter several times for the lead of the Hobby Stock feature, but at the checkered it was Potter taking the top spot. Vanden Top was second with Jon DeBoer third. Colter Deutsch was fourth with Mike Deutsch rounded out the top five. One car in the top four was disqualified for not making the minimum weight.
Rapid Speedway races again this Friday night with Hobby Stocks, Sportsmen, Late Model Stock Cars and Sprint Cars at 8 pm sharp.
NMRA 360 Sprints
Heat #1: 1. Shawn VanWyhe, Lester; 2. Terry Reilly, Watertown, S.D.; 3. Randy Droescher, Larchwood; 4. Brent Vonk, Hudson, S.D.; 5. Kevin Flowers, Hartford, S.D.; 6. Bill Fredin, Windom, Minn.; 7. Ben VanVooren, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 8. Mitch Coburn, Garretson, S.D..
Heat #2: 1. Eric McGillivray, Canton, S.D.; 2. Steve Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 3. Chuck McGillivray, Madison, S.D.; 4. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 5. Justin Jacobsma, Hull; 6. Mitch Runge, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 7. Robert Danielson, Sioux Falls, S.D..
Heat #3: 1. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 2. Ryan Bickett, Ramona, S.D.; 3. Mike Sandvig, Spencer; 4. Jordan Martens, Harrisburg, S.D.; 5. Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 6. Doug Martens, Ward, S.D.; 7. Josh Holt, Webster, S.D..
B Feature: 1. Bill Fredin, Windom, Minn.; 2. Robert Danielson, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 3. Mitch Runge, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 4. Doug Martens, Ward, S.D.; 5. Ben VanVooren, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 6. Justin Jacobsma, Hull; 7. Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 8. Josh Holt, Webster, S.D.; 9. Mitch Coburn, Garretson, S.D..
A Feature: 1. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 2. Brent Vonk, Hudson, S.D.; 3. Steve Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 4. Ryan Bickett, Ramona, S.D.; 5. Mike Sandvig, Spencer; 6. Terry Reilly, Watertown, S.D.; 7. Chuck McGillivray, Madison, S.D.; 8. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 9. Jordan Martens, Harrisburg, S.D.; 10. Randy Droescher, Larchwood; 11. Shawn VanWyhe, Lester; 12. Bill Fredin, Windom, Minn.; 13. Mitch Runge, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 14. Robert Danielson, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 15. Eric McGillivray, Canton, S.D.; 16. Kevin Flowers, Hartford, S.D..
NMRA Late Model Stock Cars
Heat #1: 1. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids; 2. Don Bickett, Ramona, S.D.; 3. Doug Brinkhous, Rock Rapids; 4. Justin Glaser, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 5. Scott Overgaard, LuVerne, Minn..
Heat #2: 1. Brad Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.; 2. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 3. Heath Warntjes, Boyden; 4. Mark Van Voorst, Sioux Center.
A-Main 01 -- 1. Brad Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.; 2. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 3. Mark Van Voorst, Sioux Center; 4. Scott Overgaard, LuVerne, Minn.; 5. Justin Glaser, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 6. Don Bickett, Ramona, S.D.; 7. Doug Brinkhous, Rock Rapids; 8. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids; 9. Heath Warntjes, Boyden.
NMRA Sportsmen
Heat #1: 1. Jamie Tieszen, Marion, S.D.; 2. Mel Elsberry, Orange City; 3. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids; 4. Donald Gerritsen Jr, Rock Rapids; 5. Jeff Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids; 6. Travis Schueller, Primghar.
Heat #2: 1. Anthony Mann, Brandon, S.D.; 2. Kevin Broesder, George; 3. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 4. Nick Beyenhof, Rock Rapids; 5. Billy Sprock, George.
A Feature: 1. Mel Elsberry, Orange City; 2. Kevin Broesder, George; 3. Donald Gerritsen Jr, Rock Rapids; 4. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids; 5. Billy Sprock, George; 6. Anthony Mann, Brandon, S.D.; 7. Jamie Tieszen, Marion, S.D.; 8. Jeff Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids; 9. Travis Schueller, Primghar; 10. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 11. Nick Beyenhof, Rock Rapids.
NMRA Hobby Stocks
Heat #1: 1. Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 2. Thomas Doeden, Sibley; 3. Seth Stegenga, LuVerne, Minn.; 4. Dereck VanDerBrink, Rock Rapids; 5. Justin Arends, Little Rock.
Heat #2: 1. Marlo De Jager, Doon; 2. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 3. Mike Deutsch, Ellsworth, Minn.; 4. Kevin Joachim, Larchwood; 5. Anthony DeHaan, Alton.
Heat #3: 1. Denton Potter, Larchwood; 2. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock; 3. Travis Jansma, Hudson, S.D.; 4. Alicia Ahrendt, Inwood; 5. Josh Klay, Magnolia, Minn..
A Feature: 1. Denton Potter, Larchwood; 2. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 3. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock; 4. Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 5. Mike Deutsch, Ellsworth, Minn.; 6. Thomas Doeden, Sibley; 7. Seth Stegenga, LuVerne, Minn.; 8. Anthony DeHaan, Alton; 9. Travis Jansma, Hudson, S.D.; 10. Justin Arends, Little Rock; 11. Marlo De Jager, Doon; 12. Kevin Joachim, Larchwood; 13. Dereck VanDerBrink, Rock Rapids; 14. Alicia Ahrendt, Inwood; 15. Josh Klay, Magnolia, Minn..