SHREFFLER,
THINNES TOP UMARA MIDGETS AT HAWKEYE DOWNS
THOUSANDS
RAISED IN BENEFIT TO SUPPORT EAST CENTRAL IOWA ARC
(CEDAR RAPIDS,IA 081801)—HandiMart, KCRG and Hawkeye Downs teamed up to host a night of racing on August 18 which featured the Sportsman and National Divisions of UMARA Midgets, Barron Motor Supply Thunder Stocks, Coca-Cola Women On Wheels, FIRA Formula Indys, NAMRA Formula Indys and Nostalgia Stocks.
Several thousand dollars were raised for the East Central Iowa Association for Retarded Citizens using ticket proceeds along with donations from other sponsors such as Barron Motor Supply and the Cedar Rapids Corvette Club, as well as donations from the racers participating in the event.
Despite several rain showers and some great work by the track crews the program started nearly on time with time trials the only victim of the rain.
Bob Shreffler of Joliet, IL won the 25-lap UMARA Sportsman Division Midget race after taking the lead at the halfway point. He was chased to the stripe by Doug Orseske, Loran Chritchett, Joe Knipple and Reed Ceponis. The Sportsman division runs a unique format that awards points based on their finish but the drivers all run for the same amount of money. The Sportsman division raced on the quarter-mile
The 25-lap feature for the National division of the UMARA Midgets, which was a half-mile event, went to Steve Thinnes of Wheaton, IL. David Gough had the race well in hand when something broke with 7 laps remaining and Thinnes took over the point. John Meyers of Oakbrook, IL took second. Brandon Hartsell, David Ward, and David Thompson were the rest of the top five.
Jeff Selfridge took home top honors in the Barron Motor Supply Thunderstock feature finishing well ahead of Mike Walsh in a feature originally slated for 50 laps. Officials shortened the race due to an excessive number of cautions with the checkers waving at the conclusion of lap 28. Chip Kohl finished in third while Ron Dighton and Mike DeSotel finished out the top of the order.
Sandra Sheldon posted a nice win in the Coca-Cola Women On Wheels Feature finishing ahead of Gwen Christensen. Sheldon led the event from start to finish and saw a challenge from Dana Scott evaporate when Scott lost control and exited the track. Deb Mefford, Jodi Cranston and Jenn Harrington rounded out the top five.
The FIRA/NAMRA Formula Indy Cars ran a combined event as they did a couple of weeks ago with three different winners in that feature. Scott Miller of Kendallville, IN won the NAMRA portion of the feature after thoroughly dominating the field. The FIRA Pro division was won by Tom Cormack of Chicago, IL and the FIRA Pro-Am win went to Chris Julian of St Charles, IL.
Also on the card were a touring group of “Nostalgia Stocks” which are stock cars of the 1940’s and 50’s. Ironically that event was won by a newer generation Hawkeye Downs driver, Craig Stepanek.
HAWKEYE DOWNS SPEEDWAY-Cedar Rapids, IA
Results for August 18, 2001
UMARA Midgets
(Sportsman Division)
Heat #1- Loran
Chritchett
Heat #2- Sue Spencer
FEATURE
1. Bob Shreffler, Joliet, IL
2. Doug Orseskem Frankfort, IL
3. Loran Chritchett,
Alsip, IL
4. Joe Knipple, Mokena, IL
5. Reed Caponis
6. Sue Spencer, Joliet, IL
7. Dave Thompson, Minooka, IL
8. Sean Murphy, Joliet, IL
9. David Polson, Joliet, IL
10. Mike Smith, Joliet, IL
11. Basil Hicks, Joliet, IL
12. Adam Phillips, Lockport, IL
UMARA Midgets(
National Division)
Heat #1- David
Thompson
Heat #2- David Gough
FEATURE
1. Steve Thinnes, Wheaton, IL
2. John Meyers, Oakbrook, IL
3. Brandon Hartsell, Joliet, IL
4. David Ward
5. David Thompson, Minooka, IL
6. Rich Corson, Markham, IL
7. Mike Heiss,
8. David Byrne,
9. Nick Fox, Plainfield, IL
10. David Gough, Machesney Park, IL
11. Patrick Wilda, Minooka, IL
12. Klaus Wever, Minooka, IL
13. Chris Hettinger
BARRON MOTOR SUPLY
THUNDERSTOCKS
Qualifying Race -
Marty Sea
B Feature- Larry
Weston
FEATURE
1. Jeff Selfridge, Marion
2. Mike Walsh,
Cedar Rapids
3. Chip Kohl, Marion
4. Ron Dighton, Cedar Rapids
5. Mike Desotel, Cedar Rapids
6. Marty Sea, Cedar Rapids
7. Steve Snyder, Cedar Rapids
8. Bobby Grandstaff, Carlisle
9. Chad Vozenilek, Marion
10. Cory Houdek, Anamosa
11. Dave Gleason, Cedar Rapids
12. Dean Michel, Cedar Rapids
13. John McDaniel, Cedar Rapids
14. Greg Hentrich, Hiawatha
15. James Sheldon, Cedar Rapids
16. Scott Strauss, Cedar Rapids
17. Travis Doudney, Cedar Rapids
18. Frank Auen, Garrison
19. Jeremy Meyer, Cedar Rapids
20. Shawn Carnahan, Cedar Rapids
21. Lisa Dumond, Cedar Rapids
22. Greg Long
23. Ron Jarrett, Atkins
COCA-COLA WOMEN ON
WHEELS
FEATURE
1. Sandra Sheldon, Cedar Rapids
2. Gwen Christensen, Stanwood
3. Deb Mefford, Marion
4. Jodi Cranston, Cedar Rapids
5. Jenn Harrington, Cedar Rapids
6. Linn Hite, Urbana
7. Candace Jarrett, Atkins
8. Wendy Carnahan, Cedar Rapids
9. Amber Wisted, Cedar Rapids
10. Dana Scott, Cedar Rapids
11. Amanda Oakley, Cedar Rapids
12. Danielle Auen, Garrison