Iowa
State Fair Wins to Wallace, Borts & Hunnell
by David Wilkinson
(Des Moines, Iowa) (April 5, 2002) For the first time in recent years, the Iowa State Fair Speedway was able to race on the scheduled opening night. Nearly 150 cars were in attendance on a clear, cold evening.
The IMCA stock car feature was the first one on the track and it took four times to finish the first lap as the accidents stopped the race. Each time, John Hunnell took the lead. Once the race did get started, Hunnell led every lap and widened it. He finished ahead of Brian Blessington and Steve Jackson.
Danny Wallace dominated the IMCA modified feature as he also led every lap and was leading by over one-third of a lap by the end of the race. He finished ahead of Bill Davis Jr., Josh Truman, and Chris Wilkie. Brian Efkamp walked away after his car flipped on the first lap.
In a non-points race for IMCA late models, Randy Faux used the outside lane of turn four to pass first Craig Jacobs on the second lap. Faux extended his lead for several laps, until Steve Borts started to catch him. With five laps to go Borts passed Faux and finished the race ahead of Todd Cooney, Faux, and Jacobs.
In the NDTR dirt truck feature, Brad Moyer moved into the lead from his front row starting spot and looked like the eventual winner until Sean Allen moved through the field and passed Moyer with three laps to go. Allen took the checkered followed by Moyer, Jim Phillipsen, and Al Thayer.
In the first of three IMCA hobby stock features, John Thoren passed Bill Bonnett on the second lap for the front spot. Three laps later, Frank Grove, who started thirteenth, made a strong move to pass Thoren and lead the race to the checkered. Finishing behind Grove were Rob Allison, Thoren, and Gene Behle. After the race, Thoren was disqualified for an illegal carburetor.
In the second IMCA hobby stock feature Ryan Lundy led green to checkered for the win with Bob Green and Bill Richards finishing behind him.
In the third IMCA hobby stock feature, Mark Chance led start to finish for the victory. Rick Gladson was second, Adam Hagen third, and Danny Watson fourth.
Racing continues next Friday with the line-up of IMCA late models, modifieds, stock cars, and hobby stocks, along with NDTR dirt trucks. Hot laps begin at 6:00 pm and will be followed by racing.