YELEY SWEEPS MIDGET AND SPRINT FEATURES AT HAWKEYE DOWNS
By Brad Grupe
(Cedar Rapids, IA 050302)—You could call it a rather complete night for USAC Sprint Car and Midget Car driver J.J. Yeley of Phoenix, AZ. Yeley started the night by setting fast time and a new track record in qualifying action for the USAC National Midget Car Series. Yeley tripped the clock at 17.619 seconds.
The “Advance Auto Parts Open Wheel Classic” is the first time the Sprints and Midgets have been together on pavement in the state of Iowa.
With a great crowd on hand, including Tony George of the Indy Racing League and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Yeley used a pass on the high side to take the lead from Teddy Beach of Donnelson, Ohio following a restart on lap 8. Teammates Bobby East and Dave Darland fell in line behind Yeley as the trio posted a on-two-three finish for the Lewis/Ford team. The race was red-flagged briefly on lap 14 when Tracy Hines popped the soft wall in turn two.
In the USAC Stoops Freightliner Sprint Car Series Yeley led all thirty laps of the feature but not without heavy pressure from Jason McCord, Tracy Hines and Eric Gordon. The race, which was slowed by a couple cautions, saw furious action up front in the waning laps as McCord and Hines fought for the second place slot while looking for the lead at the same time. Yeley held off McCord and Hines who posted a near photo finish for the second slot.
In earlier qualifying action, Bobby East turned the Hawkeye Downs half-mile in 17.544 seconds. Jay Drake, Jason McCord, and J.J. Yeley all posted heat wins prior to the 30-lap feature.
The USAC action was taped by ESPN2 and will be broadcast on May 16.
Two of the classes in the ASA Racing/Papa Johns Championship Series were in action also as the Miller Time Modifieds and Budweiser Sportsmen were on hand to battle the half-mile.
Larry Clausen, Cedar Rapids, recorded a strong effort in the Miller Time Modifieds, taking the lead from Keith Gogel on lap six. Clausen used a high-side pass exiting the fourth turn to secure the point and quickly distanced himself from the field. Ross was the third winner of the season in as many races.
Brian Allen, closed the gap in the final laps after a caution with six laps remaining, but couldn’t mount a serious run for the lead and settled for second after starting in row three.
Trent Ross finished third after taking the green from the fourth row. Defending champ Mike Schulte was fourth and Jim Williams fifth.
Tom Burke led a 21 car field to the green flag in the Budweiser Sportsmen feature and held the lead in the early laps until caution came out for the car of Bob Ahrendsen on lap six. Brian Franks of Central City was quickest on the throttle on the restart as Burke didn’t come up to speed and Franks scooted into the lead with Curt Van Der Wal close behind.
Van Der Wal couldn’t draw close enough to mount a serious challenge and had his hands full himself as John Henecke was on his bumper from that point on. Those two lead what would amount to a four-car breakaway for the majority of the race although Johnny Mudd joined the pack late after starting back in the seventh row.
Finishing behind race winner Brian Franks were Van Der Wal, Henecke, Martin Ballard and Mudd.
Racing action resumes Friday, May 10 with all five divisions in the ASA Racing/ Papa Johns Cup in action. The Performance Concepts Late Model ‘50’ tops the card for the evening.
Hawkeye Downs Speedway-Cedar Rapids, IA
Results for 050302
USAC NATIONAL MIDGET SERIES
Second
Heat- Ron Gregory
Third
Heat- Dave Darland
FEATURE—1. JJ Yeley, 2. Bobby East, 3. Dave Darland, 4. Aaron Fike, 5. Michael Lewis, 6. Dave Steele, 7. Teddy Beach, 8. A.J. Fike, 9. James Chesson, 10. Steve Paden, 11. Brad Kuhn, 12. John Nervo, 13. Ron Gregory, 14. A.J. Davis, 15. Brian Paulus, 16. Mike Heiss, 17. Chris Gabehart, 18. Justin Overfelt, 19. Brandon Petty, 20. Chris Hettinger, 21. Danny Ebberts, 22. Richey Jacobs, 23. Tracy Hines, 24. Bobby Guess, NT
USAC STOOPS FREIGHTLINER SPRINT CARS
First
Heat- Jay Drake
Second
Heat- Jason McCord
Third
Heat- JJ Yeley
FEATURE—1.
JJ Yeley, 2. Jason McCord, 3. Tracy Hines, 4. Eric Gordon, 5. Derek Davidson,
6. Bobby East, 7. Bud Kaeding, 8. Ed Carpenter, 9. A.J. Fike, 10. Kevin Feeney,
11. Levi Jones, 12. Jay Drake, 13. Aaron Fike, 14. Eric Butze, 15. Dave
Darland, 16. Brandon Petty, 17. Marc Jessup, 18. Dickie Gaines, 19. Mike Heiss,
20. John Nelson, 21. Jonathon Vennard, NT
MILLER TIME MODIFIEDS
FEATURE- 1. Larry Clausen, Cedar Rapids; 2. Brian Allen, Hiawatha; 3. Trent Ross, Cedar Rapids; 4. Mike Schulte, Norway; 5. Jim Williams, Atkins; 6. Bob Gase, Cedar Rapids; 7. Mike Thomas, Cedar Rapids; 8. Keith Gogel, Solon; 9. Arlo Becker, Atkins; 10. Sonny Parker, Cedar Rapids; 11. James Lamphier, Urbana; 12. Chad Willett, Cedar Rapids; 13. Pat Flannagan, Cedar Rapids; 14. Dave Novotny, Solon; 15. Eric Lamphier, Urbana
BUDWEISER SPORTSMAN
FEATURE-
1. Brian Franks, Central City; 2. Curt Van Der Wal, Ankeny; 3. John Henecke,
Hiawatha; 4. Martin Ballard, Marengo; 5. Johnny Mudd, Cedar Rapids; 6. JJ
Meyer, Cedar Rapids; 7. Andy Duggan, Marion; 8. Tom Burke, Nevada; 9. Kevin
Lee, Cedar Rapids; 10. Steve Kibort, Milan, IL; 11. Lyle Williams, Center
Point; 12. Mel Schappert, Cedar Rapids; 13. Ron Fisher, Shellsburg; 14. Paul
Walder, Cedar Rapids; 15. Jason Vincent, Nevada; 16. Bruce Scheff, Swisher; 17.
Kim Schlitter, Cedar Rapids; 18. Jake Ludeking, Decorah; 19. Craig Bender,
Cedar Rapids;20. Bob Ahrendsen, Cedar Rapids; 21. Matt VanGelder, Oskaloosa