(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
July 30, 2004
Ballenger, Brinkhous, Potter repeat wins, Huisman with first of year at Rapid Speedway
By Shawn Neisteadt
(Rock Rapids, IA—July 30, 2004) On a great night of racing at Rapid Speedway, three drivers picked up repeat wins while another got his first of the year.
Dusty Ballenger led every lap of the sprint car feature to claim his third win of the year. Ballenger ran into a streak of bad luck over the last few weeks which has sidelined the 2000 track champion. However Ballenger was in fine form as he led all 18 laps for the win. Butch Hanssen charged through the field. Hanssen started ninth and made his way into the top five in the first circuit. One lap was counted when Hanssen drove into fourth as he passed Terry Chester. On the fifth lap, Hanssen drove into third as he passed Brent Vonk. Hanssen made his final pass in the final corner as he inched out Ryan Bickett at the line for second place. Bickett ran second in the event from the drop of the green to the final corner. After challenging for the lead several times, Bickett finished third. Brent Vonk and Mike Sandvig followed to round out the top five. The only stop of the event came on lap 15 when Steve Ballenger stopped just off turn four. Steve had bumped into a lap car, breaking the steering in his Latham Racing #3. The sprint car heat races were won by Sandvig and Kevin Flowers.
Doug Brinkhous and Darrin Korthals were side by side racing for the lead for several laps of the Late Model Stock Car feature. Brinkhous took the early lead while Korthals, the defending champion fell into second and had to charge forward. Brinkhous used the lead to his advantage so he could choose his groove into the courners. Brinkhous used the high side to keep the momentum while Korthals had to try to make the pass on the bottom. The momentum on top was enough for Brinkhous to take his second win of the year. Korthals, the defending track champion, was second. Third went to Mark DeBoer, who started eighth. Jesse Akkerman came back from a flat tire on the first lap to take fourth with Mark Van Voorst in fifth. The heat races were won by Brinkhous and DeBoer.
The Super Modified division seems to be picking up as there were 5 of the cars in competition. They were given an eight lap feature and it was an exciting one in which nearly every car led for a portion. At the finish is was Gary Zitterich with the win. Mike Koepke was second with third going to Bill Smith. Danny Harmon and Leon DeBoer rounded out the field.
Chris Huisman took the lead of the Sportsmen feature four laps into the 12 lap event. Don Gerritsen followed on that lap and those two raced bumper to bumper out front. Gerritsen made his move on the last lap as the top two raced door to door to the finish. Huisman held on for his first win of the year with Gerritsen second. Billy Sprock led the opening four laps and finished third, Mel Elsberry finished fourth with fifth going to Greg Roeman.
The red flag waved on the seventh lap of the Sportsmen feature when the #20 of Anthony Mann flipped coming off turn four. The car rolled three times, turning it from a beautiful racing machine to a mangled mess of machinery. Most importantly, Mann was uninjured. Huisman and Sprock won the heat races.
Denton Potter started sixth in the Hobby Stock feature and drove his way to the lead on lap 8. Potter led from that point to the finish for his second win of the year. Colter Deutsch started tenth and charged his way to second. Troy Woelber led the opening 8 laps and finished third. Kevin Joachim finished third as he edged Justin Arends at the finish. Rob Carlson was filling in for Mike Deutch with the #21x and won the “B” feature. Josh Klay, Colter Deutsch and Arends won the heat races.
Rapid Speedway races again this Friday night.
NMRA 360 Sprints
Heat #1: 1. Kevin Flowers, Hartford, S.D.; 2. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 3. Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 4. Robert Danielson, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 5. Brent Vonk, Hudson, S.D.; 6. Brian Baker, Rock Rapids; 7. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids.
Heat #2: 1. Mike Sandvig, Spencer; 2. Randy Droescher, Larchwood; 3. Ryan Bickett, Ramona, S.D.; 4. Steve Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 5. Terry Chester, Parker, S.D.; 6. Dusty Wasmund, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 7. Randy Rosenboom, Rock Rapids.
A Feature: 1. Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 2. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 3. Ryan Bickett, Ramona, S.D.; 4. Brent Vonk, Hudson, S.D.; 5. Mike Sandvig, Spencer; 6. Robert Danielson, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 7. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 8. Dusty Wasmund, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 9. Kevin Flowers, Hartford, S.D.; 10. Randy Droescher, Larchwood; 11. Randy Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 12. Brian Baker, Rock Rapids; 13. Steve Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 14. Terry Chester, Parker, S.D..
NMRA Late Model Stock Cars
Heat #1: 1. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 2. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids; 3. Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, Minn.; 4. Mark Van Voorst, Sioux Center; 5. Heath Warntjes, Boyden.
Heat #2: 1. Doug Brinkhous, Rock Rapids; 2. Brad Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.; 3. Scott Overgaard, LuVerne, Minn.; 4. Justin Glaser, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 5. Mat Pulford, Madison, S.D..
A Feature: 1. Doug Brinkhous, Rock Rapids; 2. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids; 3. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 4. Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, Minn.; 5. Mark Van Voorst, Sioux Center; 6. Brad Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.; 7. Heath Warntjes, Boyden; 8. Scott Overgaard, LuVerne, Minn.; 9. Mat Pulford, Madison, S.D.; 10. Justin Glaser, Sioux Falls, S.D..
NMRA Sportsmen
Heat #1: 1. Billy Sprock, George; 2. Mel Elsberry, Orange City; 3. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 4. Donald Gerritsen Jr, Rock Rapids; 5. Travis Schueller, Primghar; 6. Nick Beyenhof, Rock Rapids; 7. Bob Dafoe, Sioux Falls, S.D..
Heat #2: 1. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids; 2. Anthony Mann, Brandon, S.D.; 3. Jeff Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids; 4. Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, Minn.; 5. Kevin Broesder, George; 6. Marty Halouska, Worthing, S.D..
A Feature: 1. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids; 2. Donald Gerritsen Jr, Rock Rapids; 3. Billy Sprock, George; 4. Mel Elsberry, Orange City; 5. Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, Minn.; 6. Kevin Broesder, George; 7. Nick Beyenhof, Rock Rapids; 8. Travis Schueller, Primghar; 9. Anthony Mann, Brandon, S.D.; 10. Jeff Hoogendoorn, Rock Rapids; 11. Bob Dafoe, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 12. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 13. Marty Halouska, Worthing, S.D..
NMRA Hobby Stocks
Heat #1: 1. Josh Klay, Magnolia, Minn.; 2. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 3. Larry Kracht, Magnolia, Minn.; 4. Denton Potter, Larchwood; 5. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock; 6. Alicia Ahrendt, Inwood.
Heat #2: 1. Justin Arends, Little Rock; 2. Troy Woelber, Hull; 3. Seth Stegenga, LuVerne, Minn.; 4. Kevin Joachim, Larchwood; 5. Mike Deutsch, Ellsworth, Minn.; 6. John Wagenaar, George.
Heat #3: 1. Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 2. Dereck VanDerBrink, Rock Rapids; 3. Travis Jansma, Hudson, S.D.; 4. Tony Guischer, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 5. Anthony DeHaan, Alton; 6. Bobbi Kracht, Magnolia, Minn..
B Feature: 1. Mike Deutsch, Ellsworth, Minn.; 2. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock; 3. Anthony DeHaan, Alton; 4. Alicia Ahrendt, Inwood; 5. John Wagenaar, George; 6. Bobbi Kracht, Magnolia, Minn..
A Feature: 1. Denton Potter, Larchwood; 2. Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 3. Troy Woelber, Hull; 4. Kevin Joachim, Larchwood; 5. Justin Arends, Little Rock; 6. Seth Stegenga, LuVerne, Minn.; 7. Tony Guischer, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 8. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 9. Dereck VanDerBrink, Rock Rapids; 10. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock; 11. Larry Kracht, Magnolia, Minn.; 12. Mike Deutsch, Ellsworth, Minn.; 13. Travis Jansma, Hudson, S.D.; 14. Josh Klay, Magnolia, Minn..