(Racing Every Friday Night)
Race Results
April 29, 2005
By Shawn Neisteadt
April 29, 2005 - Rock Rapids, IA -- As the checkered flags fell at the end of the first night of the 2005 racing season at Rapids Speedway, temperatures fell to the freezing mark. The cold conditions would not put a chill on Dusty Ballenger, Darrin Korthals, Greg Roemen, Jason DeBoer, or Derrick Nordstrom as they each started the season with a win in their division.
Dusty Ballenger drew the pole position pill and made the most of the favored starting spot as he led all 18 laps to the victory, but there was plenty of action behind him. Casey Abbas moved into the Verhey Enterprises #17V for the season and moved from seventh to finish second. Abbas started the event and dropped several positions, but after a restart with eleven laps to go, Abbas went to the high line and became the fastest car on the speedway. Abbas drove into the top five on lap eleven as he passed Jody Rosenboom. Abbas then took on Mike Sandvig on lap 13 and took the third place entering the third turn. On the final lap of the event, Abbas continued to rim ride as he passed Butch Hanssen and Shawn Van Wyhe.
Ballenger held on for the win with Abbas second. Van Wyhe, Hanssen and Sandvig rounded out the top five.
It was two seasons ago when Darrin Korthals was last claimed champion of Rapid Speedway in the Late Model Stock Cars. If the opening night is any indication, Korthals could be well on his was to reclaiming that title as he dominated the 15 lap event in the #11K. Chad Overgaard made several attempts at the top spot, but Korthals was able to stretch his lead out after each battle. Chad Overgaard finished second edging out his brother, Scott Overgaard, who finished third. Rick VanderWeide drove from thirteenth to take fourth followed by Doug Brinkhous.
The sportsmen feature was all Greg Roemen as the ford took home the trophy. Jamie Tieszen and Chris Huisman ran second and third respectively. Billy Sprock claimed fourth with Travis Schueller in fifth.
In a rare event with the NMRA Hobby Stocks, the final lead change of the event took place after the checkered flags. Justin Arends appeared to have the victory, but the car came across the scales shy of the minimum weight. The result was disqualification. Jason DeBoer was the benefactor as he then was proclaimed the feature winner. DeBoer led laps three and four of the 12 lap event. DeBoer backslid to third before coming back to second with three laps to go. That pass for second turned out to be the pass for the win. Marlo DeJager was second with Mark VandenTop third. Dereck VanDerBrink and Kevin Joachim rounded out the top five.
The factory stock feature was perhaps the most exciting event of the night as Derrick Nordstrom and Jared Nytroe waged a six lap, door to door war. At the finish it was Nordstrom with the win edging Nytroe by just a few feet.
Rapid Speedway races again this Friday night in Rock Rapids, IA. Racing action starts at 8 PM.
NMRA 360 Sprints
Heat #1: 1. Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 2. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 3. Casey Abbas, Parker, S.D.; 4. Steve Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 5. Mitch Runge, Sioux Falls, S.D..
Heat #2: 1. Shawn VanWyhe, Rock Rapids; 2. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 3. Gordy Vogelaar, Worthington, Minn.; 4. Jesse Drost, Worthington, Minn.; 5. Ryan Bickett, Ramona, S.D.; 6. Casey Heser, Jackson, Minn..
Heat #3: 1. Mike Sandvig, Spencer; 2. Robert Danielson, Harrisburg, S.D.; 3. Brent Vonk, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 4. Randy Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 5. Troy Vink, Tea, S.D.; 6. Randy Droescher, Larchwood.
A Feature: 1. Dusty Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 2. Casey Abbas, Parker, S.D.; 3. Shawn VanWyhe, Rock Rapids; 4. Butch Hanssen, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 5. Mike Sandvig, Spencer; 6. Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 7. Steve Ballenger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 8. Randy Rosenboom, Rock Rapids; 9. Randy Droescher, Larchwood; 10. Jesse Drost, Worthington, Minn.; 11. Gordy Vogelaar, Worthington, Minn.; 12. Troy Vink, Tea, S.D.; 13. Robert Danielson, Harrisburg, S.D.; 14. Ryan Bickett, Ramona, S.D.; 15. Brent Vonk, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 16. Casey Heser, Jackson, Minn.; 17. Mitch Runge, Sioux Falls, S.D..
NMRA Late Model Stock Cars
Heat #1: 1. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids; 2. Brad Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.; 3. Chad Overgaard, Luverne, Minn.; 4. Jeff Kroger, Canton, S.D.; 5. Nick Beyenhof, Rock Rapids; 6. Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, Minn.; 7. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D..
Heat #2: 1. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 2. Doug Brinkhous, Rock Rapids; 3. Scott Overgaard, LuVerne, Minn.; 4. Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 5. Mat Pulford, Madison, S.D.; 6. Ryan Van Emmerick, Salem, S.D.; 7. Don Grems, Lester; 8. Jesse Kroger, Harrisburg, S.D..
A Feature: 1. Darrin Korthals, Rock Rapids; 2. Chad Overgaard, Luverne, Minn.; 3. Scott Overgaard, LuVerne, Minn.; 4. Rick Vander Weide, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 5. Doug Brinkhous, Rock Rapids; 6. Brad Klaassen, Adrian, Minn.; 7. Jeff Kroger, Canton, S.D.; 8. Jesse Akkerman, Luverne, Minn.; 9. Colter Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 10. Donald Gerritsen Jr, Rock Rapids; 11. Mat Pulford, Madison, S.D.; 12. Mark DeBoer, Adrian, Minn.; 13. Nick Beyenhof, Rock Rapids; 14. Jesse Kroger, Harrisburg, S.D.; 15. Ryan Van Emmerick, Salem, S.D.; 16. Don Grems, Lester.
NMRA Sportsmen
Heat #1: 1. Kevin Broesder, George; 2. Billy Sprock, George; 3. Jamie Tieszen, Marion, S.D.; 4. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids; 5. Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, Minn.; 6. Mel Elsberry, Orange City; 7. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock.
A Feature: 1. Greg Roemen, Ellsworth, Minn.; 2. Jamie Tieszen, Marion, S.D.; 3. Chris Huisman, Rock Rapids; 4. Billy Sprock, George; 5. Mel Elsberry, Orange City; 6. Jon DeBoer, Little Rock; 7. Kevin Broesder, George.
NMRA Hobby Stocks
Heat #1: 1. Kevin Joachim, Larchwood; 2. Dereck VanDerBrink, Rock Rapids; 3. Alicia Ahrendt, Inwood; 4. Doug Folkens, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 5. Ryan Woelber, Sheldon; 6. Greg Brandt, LuVerne, Minn.; 7. Joe Bergheim, Madison, S.D..
Heat #2: 1. Jason De Boer, Sioux Center; 2. Justin Arends, Little Rock; 3. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 4. Marlo De Jager, Doon; 5. Amanda Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 6. Lane Brenden, Mitchell, S.D..
A Feature: 1. Jason De Boer, Sioux Center; 2. Marlo De Jager, Doon; 3. Mark VandenTop, Rock Rapids; 4. Dereck VanDerBrink, Rock Rapids; 5. Kevin Joachim, Larchwood; 6. Alicia Ahrendt, Inwood; 7. Doug Folkens, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 8. Joe Bergheim, Madison, S.D.; 9. Ryan Woelber, Sheldon; 10. Justin Arends, Little Rock; 11. Lane Brenden, Mitchell, S.D.; 12. Greg Brandt, LuVerne, Minn.; 13. Amanda Deutsch, Kanaranzi, Minn.; 14. Mike Buss, Luverne, Minn..
Factory Stocks
Heat #1: 1. Derrick Nordstrom, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 2. Adam Jenniges, Ellsworth, Minn.; 3. Jared Nytroe, Brandon, S.D..
A Feature: 1. Derrick Nordstrom, Sioux Falls, S.D.; 2. Jared Nytroe, Brandon, S.D.; 3. Adam Jenniges, Ellsworth, Minn..