WENNERMARK GRABS FIRST LATE MODEL WIN AT HAWKEYE DOWNS

DUGGAN, K. FRANKS, DVORAK, BECKER, SHAFFAR, AND BALLARD VICTORS ALSO

 

(Cedar Rapids, IA 070105)—Hawkeye Downs Speedway celebrated its 80th Anniversary Friday night in spectacular fashion with an 80-lap Performance Concepts Late Model feature and fireworks as part of the action. There was racing in all six divisions as KRNA and Performance Concepts kicked off the 4th of July weekend.

 

            Denny Osborn of Janesville posted the best two-lap qualifying effort in the Performance Concepts Late Models turning a lap of 18.581 seconds according to Alliant Energy Transponder Timing and Scoring. Osborn then drew and “8” which placed him in the #8 starting slot.

 

            The field took the green under the direction of Starter John Huff and after Dan Lensing and Chris Sevey swapped the lead in the early going Dudley Fleck grabbed the point on lap 10. Fleck led until about lap 43 when mechanical problems forced him out of the race, putting Denny Osborn up front.

 

            Officials threw the Yellow Book Yellow flag on lap 45 for a scheduled “Competition Yellow” and then the field was reset using the restart cone.

 

            Osborn maintained the lead on the restart with Wennermark, Dan Lensing, Jeff King, and Kyle Hinrichs running at the top of the order. The race evolved into a two-man duel between Osborn and Wennermark although the front five cars were running very close together.

 

            Wennermark tried low and high moves lap after lap including some challenges that saw a little contact between the two. Each time Wennermark would pull alongside in the corner Osborn would either slam the door on the inside or out-power Wennermark on the outside.  With just over a lap remaining Wennermark executed a perfect “bump and run” move in turn three which gave him the lead.

 

            Wennermark, who is in his first year in a late model after racing everything from go-karts to a Sportsmen car, pulled away from Osborn a bit on the final lap posting a winning margin of .608 seconds. Osborn maintained second while visitor Dan Lensing nailed down third. Chris Sevey and Kyle Hinrichs both finished in the top five as well.

 

            Andy Duggan of Marion picked up his first Budweiser Late Model Sportsmen win of the season in the first of two 20-lap features for that division. Duggan grabbed the lead from Kevin Franks on lap four and then held off point leader Kevin Korsmo and Dave McCalla to take the checkers. Duggan and Korsmo traded the lead a couple times on a lap 6 restart before Duggan got the upper hand.

            Korsmo finished in second with McCalla, Martin Ballard, and Kevin Franks rounding out the top five.

 

            In the second Sportsmen feature, the same players ended up in the top five, but in a different order. Amy Woodward of Mason City started on the pole but quickly surrendered the lead to Kevin Lee. Lee held the lead until Kevin Franks entered the picture and took control of the race.

 

            Behind Franks, Ballard, McCalla, Korsmo, and Duggan fought tooth and nail for position with side-by-side and at times three wide racing highlighting the last few laps.

 

            Kevin Franks picked up his first career Sportsmen win beating Martin Ballard to the Lint Millwright Start Finish Line by .340 seconds. McCalla finished third, Korsmo fourth, and Duggan were fifth.

 

            The “ageless one,” Arlo Becker, racked up his third win of the season in the Miller Time Modifieds but he had his hand full with youngster and points leader Tim Plummer for much of the race. Plummer tried every way around Becker but the experienced veteran was able to thwart every attempt by Plummer to take the lead as the two raced side-by-side.

 

            Bob Gase entered the picture in the closing laps after catching the leaders and made a couple challenges for Plummers’ spot in the last few laps.  Plummer finished a mere .141 seconds behind Becker with Gase only .160 seconds behind the race winner, creating a near photo finish.  Jim Hanson finished a strong fourth while Shawn Stinger was fifth.

 

            Doug Simon of Marion led a good chunk of the Barron Motor Supply IMCA Stock Car feature before getting tangled up with two other cars that also wanted to lead the race. Simon, Bob Ahrendsen, and Logan Hale made contact on the front stretch with eight laps to go.

 

 That mishap put Brad Dvorak, who was also running up front but missed the wreck, in the front spot. Dvorak, who had five wins to his credit coming into Friday night, took the checkers with Chad Siems, Cory Houdek, Kurt Bohnsack and Hale filling out the first five slots.

 

            The Barron Motor Supply IMCA Hobby Stock feature also featured close-quarters racing in an entertaining race for the fans. Terry Shaffar of State Center picked up his sixth win of the 2005 campaign going to the front from the seventh starting slot. Rodney Grother, last weeks’ feature winner came from deep in the pack to finish in second while Kandi Floyd posted an impressive third place finish after leading a couple laps early in the race. Deb Mefford finished in fourth with Tim Dains fifth.

 

            The Marines.Com Hornets division continues to grow as the popularity of the starter division grows also with fans and drivers alike.

 

            Nathan Ballard of Marengo grabbed his third podium finish of the season on Friday night after a caution with three laps to go scrambled the field. Shawn Meyers of Ely finished second in a rather unique entry for the class, a Dodge Rampage. Rick Gallo was third followed to the stripe by Creston Williams and Connie Binder.

 

            Racing resumes Friday night July 8 when all six divisions will be action as Hochstetler Towing, “Official Towing Service Provider” of Hawkeye Downs presents a night of racing.

 

 

           

PERFORMANCE CONCEPTS LATE MODELS

FEATURE (80 laps)

  1. Scott Wennermark, Ely; 2. Denny Osborn, Janesville; 3. Dan Lensing, Roscoe, IL; 4. Chris Sevey, Waterloo; 5. Kyle Hinrichs, Swisher; 6. Jeff King, Cedar Rapids; 7. Jay Herbst, West Salem, WI; 8. Johnny Spaw, Cedar Rapids; 9. Brian Allen, Cedar Rapids; 10. Dudley Fleck, Cedar Rapids; 11. JJ Meyer, Cedar Rapids; 12. Lyle Williams, Center Point; DNS- Brad Osborn, Janesville

 

BUDWEISER LATE MODEL SPORTSMEN

FEATURE #1 (20 laps)

  1. Andy Duggan, Marion; 2. Kevin Korsmo, Atkins; 3. Dave McCalla, Cedar Rapids; 4. Martin Ballard, Marengo; 5. Kevin Franks, Cedar Rapids; 6. Mel Schappert, Cedar Rapids; 7. Amy Woodward, Mason City; 8. Craig bender, Cedar Rapids; 9. Brian Franks, Central City; 10. Mark Hauder, Dubuque; 11. Kevin Lee, Cedar Rapids

 

FEATURE #2 ( 20 laps)

  1. Kevin Franks, Cedar Rapids; 2. Martin Ballard, Marengo; 3. Dave McCalla, Cedar Rapids; 4. Kevin Korsmo, Atkins; 5. Andy Duggan, Marion; 6. Mel Schappert, Cedar Rapids; 7. Amy Woodward, Mason City; 8. Craig Bender, Cedar Rapids; 9. Mark Hauder, Dubuque; 10. Kevin Lee, Cedar Rapids; 11. Brian Franks, Central City

 

MILLER TIME IMCA ASPHALT MODIFIEDS

FEATURE (30 laps)

    1. Arlo Becker, Norway; 2. Tim Plummer, Norway; 3. Bob Gase, Cedar Rapids; 4. Jim Hanson, Cedar Rapids; 5. Shawn Stinger, Palo; 6. Chad Willett, Alburnett; 7. Larry Clausen, Cedar Rapids; 8. Griffin McGrath, Cedar Rapids; 9. Pat Flannagan, Cedar Rapids; 10. Scott Grady, Cedar Rapids; 11. Rodney Rocarek, Mt. Vernon; 12. Keith Siefken, Cedar Rapids; 13. Steve Lindell, Marion; 14. Scott Strauss, Cedar Rapids

 

BARRON MOTOR SUPPLY IMCA STOCK CARS

FEATURE (20 laps)

  1. Brad Dvorak, Cedar Rapids; 2. Chad Siems, Marion; 3. Cory Houdek, Marion; 4. Kurt Bohnsack, Iowa City; 5. Logan Hale, Cedar Rapids; 6. Randy Filling, Toddville; 7. Bob Ahrendsen, Cedar Rapids; 8. Mark Bolton, Cedar Rapids; 9. Greg Hentrich, Hiawatha; 10. Wendy Carnahan, Cedar Rapids; 11. Doug Simon, Marion

 

BARRON MOTOR SUPPLY IMCA HOBBY STOCKS

FEATURE (15 laps)

  1. Terry Shaffar, State Center; 2. Rodney Grother, Cedar Rapids; 3. Kandi Floyd, Cedar Rapids; 4. Deb Mefford, Cedar Rapids; 5. Tim Dains, Cedar Rapids; 6. Brandon Herb, Cedar Rapids; 7. Ron Dighton, Cedar Rapids; 8. Jeremy Meyer, Cedar Rapids; 9. Scott Siems, Cedar Rapids; 10. Matt Drottz, Ft. Worth, TX; 11. Chad Vozenilek, Fairfax; 12. Jared Timmerman, Norwalk; 13. Roger Lacoursiere, Cedar Rapids; DNS- Shawn Blauer

 

MARINES.COM HORNETS

FEATURE  (12 laps)

1. Nathan Ballard, Marengo; 2. Shawn Myers, Ely; 3. Rick Gallo, Cedar Rapids; 4.Creston Williams, Cedar Rapids; 5. Connie Binder, Clutier; 6. Jeff Ballard, Marengo; 7. Derrick Beadle, Hiawatha; 8. Clint Sheppard, Hiawatha; 9. Samantha Blumer, Manchester; 10. Dan Vincent, Solon; 11. Sara Desotel, Cedar Rapids