GUTKNECHT BAGS MID-AM STOCK CAR WIN AT HAWKEYE DOWNS
JIRIK SCORES TOP HONORS IN
SUPER TRUCKS
(Cedar
Rapids, IA 050704)—Despite a dismal
forecast and very cool temperatures Hawkeye Downs Speedway was able to open the
2004 season on Friday night with the Yellowbook Mid-American Stock Cars and
Super Trucks teaming up with Hawkeye Downs ASA Late Models, Modifieds, Super
Stocks, and IMCA Hobby Stocks.
A record field of 33 Mid-AM Stock
Cars signed in, with Curt Van Der Wal of Oskaloosa turning the fastest lap
during qualifying. VanDerWal broke the previous track record for the division
touring the ‘Downs half-mile in 19. 647 seconds. The previous record was 19.868
set by Jesse Wilcox in 2000.
Sixteen cars advanced to the 40 lap
feature event with six advancing from a fifteen lap last chance race and two
more earning a spot based on 2003 series points.
Bobby Gutknecht, Oak Creek, WI started outside the front row and shot into
the lead as the green flag dropped and held off a very persistent Jonathon
Eilen throughout the course of the race. Another pesky driver was Peter
Hernandez, no stranger to Victory Lane at the Cedar Rapids speedplant himself.
George Shultz finished fourth while Bill Prietzel crossed the stripe in fifth.
The highest finishing Hawkeye Downs
Sportsmen Driver, who were able to run with the Stock Cars, was Curt Van Der
Wal.
Lonsdale, MN driver Andy Jirik
started deep in the field for the forty lap Super Truck feature before the
collecting the checkers in that event. Jirik moved to the outside groove as the
green waved and was able to motor past the majority of the field in his quest
for the checkers. Jirik nabbed the lead from Bill Prietzel on lap 27 and then
survived a couple late cautions before securing the trip to Coca-Cola Victory
Lane.
Finishing behind Jirik, was fellow
Minnesota driver Jamie Farrell of New Prague and Hawkeye Downs driver Kevin
Korsmo, who also started deep in the field. Korsmo is piloting a truck that he
will be running on most Friday nights with the Hawkeye Downs Sportsmen.
Brad Osborn took advantage of Dudley
Fleck’s misfortune in the Late Model feature, taking the lead on a restart with
seven laps to go. Fleck pulled in to the pits with problems on the restart
opening the door to victory lane for Osborn. Jeff King scored a second crossing
the stripe .388 seconds behind Osborn. Denny Osborn nabbed third with rookie
Landon Cassill finishing fourth and Chris Sevey was fifth.
Max Corporon bested Arlo Becker in
the 20-lap Miller Time Modifieds feature
in a car owned by Jody Lana. Landon Cassill backed up his good finish in the
Late Models with a third place finish in this race. Larry Clausen was fourth
with Tim Plummer scoring fifth.
In the inaugural feature for the Marines.com IMCA Hobby Stocks Matt Poduska of Cedar Rapids topped
the 22 car field holding off Jeff
Selfridge and Aaron Meyer for the win. Bryce Mitchell and Griffin McGrath
finished out the top of the order. The division, which runs rules administered
by IMCA, is expected to draw competitors from both dirt and asphalt throughout
the season.
Bob Ahrendsen held off Dave McCalla
to earn the trip to victory lane in the Barron Motor Supply Super Stocks 20-lap
feature. Ahrendsen started outside row
one and took command of the race on the restart with Randy Filling also in the
mix. Filling finished third with Paul Walder and Jim Hanson rounding out the
top five.
1. Bobby Gutknecht, Oak Creek, WI
2. Jonathon Eilen, Hampton, MN
3. Peter Hernandez, Mokena, IL
4. George Schultz, Park City, IL
5. Bill Prietzel, Franklin, WI
6. Curt Van Der Wal, Oskaloosa
7. Ron Weyer, Jackson, WI
8. Mike Skaja, New Prague, MN
9. Brett Piontek, Green Bay, WI
10. Jeremy Miller, Rockton, IL
1.
Andy Jirik, Lonsdale, MN
2.
Jamie Farrell, New Prague, MN
3.
Kevin Korsmo, Cedar Rapids, IA
4.
Bill Prietzel, Franklin, WI
5.
Vince Wilkinson, Sandwich, IL
6.
Tony Holm, Prior Lake, MN
7.
Anthony Brewer, Shakopee, MN
8.
John Froelich, Chippewa Falls, MN
9.
Kyle Bauknecht, Reedsville, WI
10.
John Vig, Jr., Shakopee, MN
1.
Matt Poduska, Cedar Rapids
2.
Jeff Selfridge, Marion
3.
Aaron Meyer, Cedar Rapids
4.
Bryce Mitchell, Cedar Rapids
5.
Griffin McGrath, Cedar Rapids
6.
Scott Strauss, Cedar Rapids
7.
Roland Bohnsack, Clutier
8.
Rodney Grother, Cedar Rapids
9.
Dave Gleason, Atkins
10.
Brandon Herb, Marion
11.
Steve Snyder, Cedar Rapids
12.
Ron Dighton, Cedar Rapids
13.
Mike Desotel, Cedar Rapids
14.
Deb Mefford, Marion
15.
Jerry Hinton,
16.
Eric Hood, Marion
17.
Mark Hauder, Dubuque
18.
Perry Thomsen, Cedar Rapids
19.
Gabe Phillips, Cedar Rapids
20.
Bill Koepke, Cedar Rapids
21.
Matt Lacoursierre, Cedar Rapids
22.
Terry Shaffer, State Center
1.
Brad Osborn, Janesville
2.
Jeff King, Cedar Rapids
3.
Denny Osborn, Janesville
4.
Landon Cassill, Fairfax
5.
Chris Sevey, Waterloo
6.
Lyle Williams, Center Point
7.
Dean Slater. Schaumburg, IL
8.
Dudley Fleck, Cedar Rapids
9.
Kyle Hinrichs, Swisher
10.
Johnny Spaw, Cedar Rapids
11.
Rick carver, Grand View, MO
12.
Scott Delsing, Cedar Rapids
1.
Max Corporon, Marion
2.
Arlo Becker, Atkins
3.
Landon Cassill, Fairfax
4.
Larry Clausen, Cedar Rapids
5.
Tim Plummer, Norway
6.
Chad Willett, Cedar Rapids
7.
Bob Gase, Cedar Rapids
8.
Rodney Rocarek, Cedar Rapids
9.
Shawn Stinger, Palo
10.
Darrell Long, Cedar Rapids
11.
Aric Becker, Cedar Rapids
12.
Steve Lindell, Marion
13.
Brian Allen, Hiawatha
1.
Bob Ahrendsen, Cedar Rapids
2.
Dave McCalla, Cedar Rapids
3.
Randy Filling, Toddville
4.
Paul Walder, Cedar Rapids
5.
Jim Hanson, Cedar Rapids
6.
Brad Dvorak, Cedar Rapids
7.
Norman Chesmore, Rowley
8.
Kevin Franks, Cedar Rapids
9.
Cory Houdek, Cedar Rapids
10.
Greg Hentrich, Hiawatha
11.
Terry Clayton, Brooklyn
12.
Wendy Carnahan, Cedar Rapids
13.
Jayson, Scott, Cedar Rapids
14.
Scott Grady, Walker
15.
Kurt Bohnsack, Iowa City