(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
July 16, 2004
Ballenger Smokes Rapids Speedway Sprints
By Shawn Neisteadt
(July 16, 2004—Rock Rapids, IA) It was another great night of action this past Friday night at the Rapid Speedway.
Randy Droescher drove into the early race lead of the sprint car feature, but it was Steve Ballenger charging as he drove from the fourth row into third. Jordan Martens also looked to be having a great night as he settled in behind Droescher in second. Butch Hanssen was also on the move as he drove past Mitch Coburn into fourth place just one lap into the race.
On the second lap, Hanssen drove past Ballenger and into third, but Ballenger battled back as the drove off turn four and back into third. Ballenger then set his sights on Martens and took second from Martens as they raced off turn two on the third lap. On the fourth lap, Jody Rosenboom drove into the top five as he overtook Coburn. Hanssen also advanced as he passed Martens for third.
The race had a new leader on lap five when Ballenger continued to use the outside of the track and took the top spot from Droescher as they came off turn four. Rosenboom and Martens battled on lap eight with Rosenboom taking fourth.
Out front, it was all Ballenger as he rim-rode to his second win of the season at Rapid Speedway. Droescher held on for second with Hanssen charging from tenth to third. Rosenboom was fourth with ninth place starter, Brent Vonk, rounding out the top five. Ballenger and Droescher won the heat races.
Fifteen laps was the distance of the Late Model Stock Car feature, but at the finish line it was a matter of six inches. For the entire duration of the event it was Jesse Akkerman and Mark DeBoer battleing out front. Akkerman took the initial lead and was using the high line with DeBoer attempting to take his sixth win of the year. It was a door to door battle down to the last moment. On the final lap Akkerman inched his way ahead of DeBoer, but as they raced off the final turn it was a drag race. Akkerman took the win by six inches for his first ever Late Model Stock Car win at Rapid Speedway. DeBoer took second with third going to Brad Klaassen. Darwin Klaassen was fourth with Mark Van Voorst in fifth. DeBoer and Darrin Korthals took the wins in the heat races.
It was the first win of the season for Kevin Broesder as he took the win in the sportsmen feature. Broesder drove from the second row to the lead on the second lap of the event. Rick Vander Weide made several shots at the lead, but settled for second. Third went to Anthony Mann with Nick Beyenhof charging from twelfth to fourth. Mel Elsberry drove from the fifth row to fifth place. Broesder and Vander Weide were victorious in the heat races.
Alicia Ahrendt led the first nine laps of the Hobby Stock feature before Colter Deutsch drove into the lead. Those two had battled back and fourth out front for several laps. Deutsch took his fourth win of the season. Ahrendt was cheered on by the crowd to a second place finish, the best of her career. Mark VandenTop drove from tenth to third with Kevin Joachim in fourth. Seth Stegenga rounded out the top five.
Rapid Speedway races each Friday night.
NMRA 360 Sprints
Heat #1: 1. Steve Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 2. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 3. Terry Chester, Parker, S.D.; 4. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 5. Jordan Martens, Harrisburg, S.D.; 6. Mitch Coburn, Garretson, S.D.; 7. Eric McGillivray, Canton, S.D..
Heat #2: 1. Randy Droescher, Larchwood; 2. Casey Abbas, Parker, S.D.; 3. Brian Baker, Rock Rapids; 4. Brent Vonk, Hudson, S.D.; 5. Robert Danielson, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 6. Daryl Reverts, Humboldt, S.D..
A Feature: 1. Steve Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 2. Randy Droescher, Larchwood; 3. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 4. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 5. Brent Vonk, Hudson, S.D.; 6. Brian Baker, Rock Rapids; 7. Jordan Martens, Harrisburg, S.D.; 8. Casey Abbas, Parker, S.D.; 9. Robert Danielson, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 10. Terry Chester, Parker, S.D.; 11. Eric McGillivray, Canton, S.D.; 12. Mitch Coburn, Garretson, S.D.; 13. Daryl Reverts, Humboldt, S.D..
NMRA Late Model Stock Cars
Heat #1: 1. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 2. Scott Overgaard, LuVerne, Minn.; 3. Doug Brinkhous, Rock Rapids; 4. Mark Van Voorst, Sioux Center; 5. Darwin Klaassen, Little Rock; 6. Max Pulford, Madison, S.D..
Heat #2: 1. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids; 2. Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, Minn.; 3. Brad Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.; 4. Heath Warntjes, Boyden; 5. Justin Glaser, Sioux Falls, S.D..
A Feature: 1. Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, Minn.; 2. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 3. Brad Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.; 4. Darwin Klaassen, Little Rock; 5. Mark Van Voorst, Sioux Center; 6. Justin Glaser, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 7. Max Pulford, Madison, S.D.; 8. Heath Warntjes, Boyden; 9. Scott Overgaard, LuVerne, Minn.; 10. Doug Brinkhous, Rock Rapids; 11. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids.
NMRA Sportsmen
Heat #1: 1. Kevin Broesder, George; 2. Anthony Mann, Brandon, S.D.; 3. Donald Gerritsen Jr, Rock Rapids; 4. Mel Elsberry, Orange City; 5. Marty Halouska, Worthing, S.D.; 6. Nick Beyenhof, Rock Rapids.
Heat #2: 1. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 2. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids; 3. Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, Minn.; 4. Travis Schueller, Primghar; 5. Jeff Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids; 6. Billy Sprock, George.
A Feature: 1. Kevin Broesder, George; 2. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 3. Anthony Mann, Brandon, S.D.; 4. Nick Beyenhof, Rock Rapids; 5. Mel Elsberry, Orange City; 6. Donald Gerritsen Jr, Rock Rapids; 7. Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, Minn.; 8. Jeff Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids; 9. Billy Sprock, George; 10. Travis Schueller, Primghar; 11. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids; 12. Marty Halouska, Worthing, S.D..
NMRA Hobby Stocks
Heat #1: 1. Justin Arends, Little Rock; 2. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock; 3. Travis Jansma, Hudson, S.D.; 4. Denton Potter, Larchwood; 5. Robert Carlson, LuVerne, Minn.; 6. Josh Klay, Magnolia, Minn..
Heat #2: 1. Dereck VanDerBrink, Rock Rapids; 2. Alicia Ahrendt, Inwood; 3. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 4. Anthony DeHaan, Alton; 5. John Wagenaar, George; 6. Ryan Woelber, Sheldon.
Heat #3: 1. Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 2. Mike Deutsch, Ellsworth, Minn.; 3. Kevin Joachim, Larchwood; 4. Seth Stegenga, LuVerne, Minn.; 5. Bobbi Kracht, Magnolia, Minn..
A Feature: 1. Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 2. Alicia Ahrendt, Inwood; 3. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 4. Kevin Joachim, Larchwood; 5. Seth Stegenga, LuVerne, Minn.; 6. Robert Carlson, LuVerne, Minn.; 7. Mike Deutsch, Ellsworth, Minn.; 8. Travis Jansma, Hudson, S.D.; 9. Dereck VanDerBrink, Rock Rapids; 10. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock; 11. Justin Arends, Little Rock; 12. Bobbi Kracht, Magnolia, Minn.; 13. Ryan Woelber, Sheldon; 14. Denton Potter, Larchwood; 15. Anthony DeHaan, Alton; 16. John Wagenaar, George; 17. Josh Klay, Magnolia, Minn..