Iowa State Fair Speedway
DeFrance Wins Thriller on Last Lap

by David Wilkinson

(Des Moines, Iowa) (July 19, 2002) Darrell DeFrance made a heroic last lap pass of the top two cars to win the IMCA late model feature Friday night at the Iowa State Fair Speedway. Bill Davis Jr. ran away from the field as he picked up the IMCA modified win and Steve Jackson was able to work the low side on his way to the IMCA stock car victory. For the third time this season, Mark Fee crossed the finish line first in the Karl Chevrolet NDTRA dirt trucks. IMCA hobby stock feature wins went to Jason Murray, Randy Bradshaw, and John Watson.

Todd Inman took the early lead of the IMCA late model feature and was just barely managing to hold off Kelly Tapper. He looked like the wire-to-wire winner. Inman and Tapper had pulled away from the field by midway in the race. As they contested for first, Darrell DeFrance, who started ninth, closed on the leaders. On the last lap, in turns three and four, he passed both Inman and Tapper and held on for the victory. Inman was second, Tapper third, and Todd Cooney was fourth.

In IMCA modified competition, it was a hot night for the Davis family. Bill Davis Jr. smoked the competition in the main, winning by a half lap over John Davis, Kevin Lovell, and Davey Farren. He was never challenged. In a mod heat, his father, Bill Davis Sr. returned to action for the first time this season with a different kind of smoke. A mechanical failure caused his car to hit the turn one retaining wall, causing a break in the fuel line. A fire started. Davis was helped from the car and appeared to be okay. Despite repeated efforts from the track fire crew, it took several minutes to fully and finally douse the fire. Then track workers brought out the grader and other equipment to repair the track surface.

Matt Pinegar jumped into the lead from his front row starting spot in the IMCA stock car feature and led the first 12 laps of the 15-lap feature. Steve Jackson, who started tenth, worked his way through the field of this accident-marred race and was able to pass Pinegar on lap 13 and captured the victory. Don Killen, who spun twice and was penalized two positions for jumping a restart, roared back to finish second ahead of Carl Yaw Jr. and Josh Daniels.

In the Karl Chevrolet NDTRA dirt truck main, Mark Fee inherited the lead from Sean Allen on lap four and was able to withstand challenges by Brett Moyer and Randy Strong and just beat them to the checkered. The finishing order was Fee, Moyer, Strong, and Pat Fagen.

In the first of three IMCA hobby stock features, Jason Murray passed leader Leland Mitchell halfway through the race. Brad Stephens, making his first appearance of the year, had moved into second and pulled aside the leader in turn three of the last lap and finished one-half of a car length behind the winner Murray. Mitchell was third and Ray Stock Jr. fourth. After the race, Bill Bonnett claimed Stephen's engine.

In the second hobby main, Randy Bradshaw passed Darcy Hoch early in the race and easily won in a race that ended under a yellow-checkered. Ryan Lundy was second, Don Wear third, and Gene Behle fourth. After the race, Mark Chance claimed Bradshaw's engine.

John Watson moved into the lead early in the final IMCA hobby race and won easily. Finishing behind him were Troy Hudson, John Thoren, and Rick Gladson.

The two-person cruiser feature went to the duo of Chad Martens and Nic Runyon.

Season championships highlight the conclusion of the regular season next Friday. Dwarf cars will make a special appearance. No other heats will be run and the IMCA modifieds, stock cars, hobby stocks, late models and NDTR dirt trucks will run season championship features. Line-ups based on season points with a straight-up start. Promoter Mick Trier plans to offer an opportunity to those scheduled to start in front to move to the back of the field and receive double the purse in they win. Hot laps begin at 6:00 pm and will be followed by racing.

Two special races will be held during the Iowa State Fair. On Saturday morning, August 10th, a non-sanctioned show featuring modifieds, stock cars, and hobby stocks will start with hot laps at 9:00 am with races to follow. On Tuesday, August 13th, the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA late models returns to the track with a supporting program featuring modifieds, stock cars, dirt trucks, and dwarf cars. Hot laps at 5:30 PM with races scheduled for 6:30 PM

IMCA Late Models

Heat Winners
1. Rick Gustin, Marshalltown
2. Todd Inman, DM
3. Darrell DeFrance, Marshalltown

Feature
1 Darrell DeFrance, Marshalltown
2 Todd Inman, Des Moines
3 Kelly Tapper, Boone
4 Todd Cooney, Des Moines
5 Rick Gustin, Marshalltown
6 Steve Borts, Ames
7 Ryan Griffith, Webster City
8 Craig Jacobs, Des Moines
9 Nick Houseman, Earlham
10 Randy Faux, Earlham
11 J. J. Scott, Dallas Center
12 Ronnie Binning, Grand River
13 Gordy Grubb, Oskaloosa
14 Eric Lundstrum, Berwick
15 Tony Moro, Ankeny
16 Chris Fontana, Pella
17 Todd Johnson, Mitchellville
18 David Schrader, Monroe
19 Croy
20 Joe Jones, West Des Moines
21 Jeremy Grady,

IMCA Modified

Heat Winners
1. Russ Gladson, DM
2. Ron VerBeek, Oskaloosa

Feature

1 Bill Davis Jr., Des Moines
2 John Davis, Altoona
3 Kevin Lovell, Des Moines
4 Davey Farren, Des Moines
5 Ron VerBeek, Oskaloosa
6 Russ Gladson, Des Moines
7 Chance Patrick, Des Moines
8 Buck (Vern) Killen, Des Moines
9 Greg Cox, Altoona
10 Rick Huff, Jasper
11 Danny Wallace, Des Moines
12 Dave Farren, Des Moines
13 Keith Williamson, Bondurant
14 Ernest Green,
15 Richie Gustin, Marshalltown
16 Bill Davis Sr., Des Moines

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat Winners
1. Travis Hansaker, Knoxville
2. Steve Jackson, Des Moines
3. Matt Pinegar, Des Moines

Feature
1 Steve Jackson, Des Moines
2 Don Killen, Des Moines
3 Carl Yaw Jr., Des Moines
4 Josh Daniels, Des Moines
5 Kent Knopf, Granger
6 Jeff Hovick, Truro
7 Matt Pinegar, Des Moines
8 Travis Hansaker, Knoxville
9 Greg Shepherd, Des Moines
10 Danny Hill, Des Moines
11 David Mongar,
12 Josh Newell
13 Jeff Pederson, Altoona
14 Paul Anderson Jr., Des Moines
15 John Hunnell, Des Moines
16 Craig Roberts, Des Moines
17 Mike Goff, Lacona
18 Maynard Davis III, Des Moines
19 Tony Bass, Des Moines
20 Travis DeWitt, Indianola
21 Todd Daniels, Des Moines
22 Randy Killen, Des Moines
23 Matt Lein, Des Moines

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat Winners
1. Adam Hagen, WDM
2. Rick Gladson, DM
3. Jason Murray, Hartford
4. Brad Stephens, Bussy
5. David Prymek, Johnston
6. Randy Bradshaw, DM

1st Feature
1 Jason Murray, Hartford
2 Brad Stephens, Bussy
3 Leland Mitchell, Bondurant
4 Ray Stock Jr., Des Moines
5 Bill Bonnett, Knoxville
6 Melissa Johnson, Alleman
7 Gary Stajcar, Bondurant
8 Frank Grove, Des Moines
9 P. J. Veenstra, Bussy
10 Karen Cash, DM
11 Curtis Glover, Altoona
12 Justin Maschke, Des Moines
14 Mike Meyer, Norwalk
15 Bob Green, Tracy
16 Carl Knight, Des Moines
17 Rex Bonnett
18 Bruce Wolfe, Des Moines
19 Michael Thomas, Des Moines

2nd Feature
1 Randy Bradshaw, Des Moines
2 Ryan Lundy, Knoxville
3 Don Wear, Des Moines
4 Gene Behle, Des Moines
5 Robert Webb, Des Moines
6 Matt Inman, Des Moines
7 Adam Hagen, WDM
8 Darcy Hoch, Milo
9 Jeff Featherstone, Altoona
10 Danny Watson, Des Moines
11 Mark Chance, Des Moines
12 Ray Hay, Des Moines
13 Tom Prymek, Des Moines
14 Debbie Gladson, Des Moines
15 Bob Allison, Des Moines
16 John Thompson, Runnells
17 Brandon Gavin, Indianola

3rd Feature
1 John Watson, Des Moines
2 Troy Hudson, Altoona
3 John Thoren, Ankeny
4 Rick Gladson, Des Moines
5 David Prymek, Johnston
6 Randy Casner,
7 Matthew Sheets, Des Moines
8 Scott Powell, Indianola
9 Bryan White,
10 Ted Hill, Des Moines
11 Robert Koeneman, Des Moines
12 Cory Adams, West Des Moines
13 Tim Gannon, Des Moines
14 Bill Dawson, Des Moines
15 Paul Wheeler, Des Moines
16 Craig Hower, Des Moines
17 Mark Daughenbaugh,
18 Curt Reed, Des Moines

NDTR Trucks

Heat Winners
1. Matt Waugh, Des Moines
2. Mark Fee, Knoxville

Feature
1 Mark Fee, Knoxville
2 Brett Moyer, Polk City
3 Randy Strong, Ankeny
4 Pat Fagen, Des Moines
5 Lou Sipolt, Altoona
6 Jeff Luke, Earlham
7 Al Thayer, Indianola
8 Roger Schlenker, Des Moines
9 Tom Losee, Winterset
10 Bugs Vincent, Nevada
11 Kyle Leonard, Polk City
12 Jim Phillipsen, Des Moines
13 Carl Moyer, Ankeny
14 Matt Waugh, Des Moines
15 Ben Nading, Ankeny
16 Sean Allen, Des Moines

Two-Person Cruisers

Heat Winners
1. Chad Martens and Nic Runyon
2. Shane Oakley and Corky Boucher

Feature
1 Chad Martens and Nic Runyon
2 Jared Vanderlinden and Blake Henry
3 Scott Peterson and Rocco Post
4 John Cochran and Kim Wunker
5 Don Shelley
6 Jesse Coaley and
7 James Blackburn and Josh Crook
8 Matt Phillips and Ben Alascock
9 Casey McKasson and Wade Snuth
10 Joe Johnson and Travis Saner
11 Brenda Wickett and Sheila Lepley
12 Shane Oakley and Corky Boucher

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