JUSTIN DIERCKS, JOHNNY MUDD, AND LARRY CLAUSEN CARRY HOME HARDWARE ON GAZETTE OPENING NIGHT AT HAWKEYE DOWNS
(Cedar Rapids, IA
042503)—A great crowd took advantage of a picture perfect Spring evening
and filed into Hawkeye Downs Speedway as The Gazette presented the
season opener for the 2003 season.
In
addition to the four regular divisions of the ASA Papa Johns Cup Iowa Wireless
Stock Car Championships the Duffy’s Collectible Cars Legends were on hand. Also
on the track were a group running exhibition races for the Bandelero cars.
Justin
Diercks of Davenport repeated his opening night fete of last season by winning
the 30-lap Performance Concepts Late Model Feature. Diercks also won a heat
earlier and finished ahead of Dudley
Fleck, Johnny Spaw, Brad Osborn, and Randy Coghlan.
Jeff
King of Cedar Rapids won the Cedar Rapids Dodge Fast Dash in the late Model
division.
The
familiar #83 Wendy’s sponsored car of Johnny Mudd posted the win in the renamed
Budweiser Late Model Sportsmen division feature. The 30-lap affair saw Mudd
edge out John Henecke for the checkers. Finishing behind them were any Andy
Duggan, Tom Burke, and Scott Wennermark.
The
30-lap miller Time Modified feature became a race of attrition as multiple
crashes pared the field significantly during the course of the race. When the
checkers finally flew Larry Clausen was at the head of the pack. According to
Alliant Energy Timing and Scoring, he was followed to the stripe by Brian
Allen, Max Corporon, Chad Willett, and rookie Shawn Stinger. Stinger and
Corporon were involved in an accident earlier but both were able to continue
and work through the field to post strong finishes.
Bob
Ahrendsen got off to a good start on the season by winning the Barron Motor
Supply Super Stocks 30-lap feature. Ahrendsen, who is one of a handful of
drivers that compete in more than one division, finished ahead of Randy
Filling, Kurt Bohnsack, Jim Hanson, and
Doug Simon.
Newcomer
Larry Will took the checkers in the Duffy’s Collectible Cars Legends feature.
Finishing behind Will in the 20-lap race were Tom Frady, Garrett Will, Eric
Appleget, and Crystal Horn. The Legends will be appearing periodically
throughout the season.
Next
Friday, May 2, KHAK and Hochststeler Towing present the Mid-American Super
Trucks along with the regular divisions of the ASA Papa Johns Cup Iowa Wireless
Stock Car Championships.
Results for
4/26/03
Heat- Max Corporon
FEATURE (30 laps)
Heat
#1- Paul Walder
Heat
#2- Jim Hanson
FEATURE
FEATURE
Heat-
Justin Diercks
FEATURE