EHDE, ROSS
AMONG HAWKEYE DOWNS WINNERS
By Brad Grupe
(Cedar Rapids,
IA 071301)—KHAK-FM presented the “2nd
Annual KHAK Free Night At the Races” on Friday night and a crowd estimated at
8500 crammed and jammed their way into Hawkeye Downs to watch racing in six
divisions plus a go-kart racing exhibition.
The four regular divisions of the
ASA Racing/Hawk Performance/Papa johns Cup Championship Series were in action
along with the Barron Motor Supply Thunderstocks and the Coca-Cola Women On
Wheels.
Mike Ehde, Prarie Du Chien, WI; won
the first of two “Powerade 25” features for Aggregates Late Models. Ehde, who started
fifth, passed Jeff King on lap five to secure the lead and was never challenged
for the balance of the race. The Wisconsin driver has been strong all season
and currently sits third in the point standings, 57 point behind leader Curt
Martin. Dave Naylor posted another
strong finish finishing second with Larry Kelley recording one of his strongest
finishes of the season in finishing third.
The second “Powerade 25” saw Jim
Ross of Cedar Rapids edge out Dudley Fleck and point leader Curt Martin for the
win. Ross emerged as the leader as he and Fleck battled through the first
couple laps and stayed out front the rest of the way. The trio raced nearly nose to tail at times but despite having
lost power steering Ross was able to hold off Fleck and Martin. Ross dedicated
the win to his late father, Ron “Boss” Ross in victory lane.
Curt VanDerWal of Oskaloosa
thoroughly dominated the Budweiser Sportsmen feature, showing why he is the
current point leader in that division. VanDerWal snagged the lead with just six
laps gone after starting in the second row. His point average over the past
couple weeks put him higher up in the starting grid after suffering some
problems in the last couple outings.
Ross Kurth, who is a rookie in the
Sportsmen division, finished a distant second but the Waukon driver posted his
strongest performance of the season with that finish. Andy Duggan was scored
third after the on-track third place finisher didn’t pass technical inspection.
Mike Schulte continued his winning
ways in the Miller Time Open Wheel Modifieds but he didn’t take the point until
there were just three laps of the twenty-five lapper remaining. Schulte and
Larry Clausen raced side-by-side for several laps before Schulte finally got
the lead for good. Scott Wennermark finished third after starting in the third
row, The three top finishers are also at the top of the point standing for the
division with Schulte currently holding a 51 point cushion over Clausen.
The Barron Motor Supply Super Stock
feature was won in dominating fashion by Cedar Rapids driver Aric Becker. He
took the lead on lap 8 and avoided a series of incidents throughout the race to
secure the win. Becker, who started in row two, finished ahead of Kurt Bohnsack
of Coralville. Bob Ahrendsen, who competes in this division as well as
Sportsmen, finished in third.
The Barron Motor Supply
Thunderstocks were also in action running a pair of 20-lap features. Atkins’
Ron Jarrett won the first race, with Kevin Sanborn chasing him the entire way.
The best battle on the track was for third with Chad Vozenilek edging out Bobby
Grandstaff for the spot.
The second Thunderstock feature went
to Jeff Selfridge of Marion. Selfridge wrestled the lead from Steve Snyder on lap
five, held off a later challenge from Snyder and then outran Mike Walsh for the
win. Walsh finished second with Frank Auen crossing the stripe in third.
Deb Mefford held off a hard-charging
Gwen Christensen to secure her second win in a row in the Coca-Cola Women on
Wheels feature event. Christensen pulled up on Mefford’s bumper several times
during the 20 lap race and came up a bit short in a last ditch effort to take
the lead on the final lap. Sandra Sheldon finished third.
Hawkeye Downs
Speedway-Cedar Rapids, IA
Results for
071301
AGGREGATES LATE
MODELS
Feature #2
BUDWEISER SPORTSMEN
Feature
MILLER TIME MODIFIEDS
Feature
BARRON MOTOR SUPPLY SUPER
STOCKS
Feature
BARRON MOTOR SUPPLY
THUNDERSTOCKS
Feature #1
Feature #2
COCA-COLA WOMEN ON WHEELS
Feature