Iowa State Fair Speedway
Mid-Season Championships - Cooney, Davis III, Wallace, Gladson, and Moyer
by David Wilkinson
(Des Moines, Iowa) (June 14, 2002) It was Mid-Season Championship Night at the Iowa State Fair Speedway Friday and Todd Cooney picked up his six IMCA late model feature of the season. Maynard Davis III won for the fourth time in his IMCA stock car while Danny Wallace picked his third IMCA stock car main. John Davis won a make-up modified feature and Rick Gladson bested the field of 24 IMCA hobby stocks in the championship main. The NDTRA feature went to Brett Moyer while Leroy Clair won the dwarf car race.
Since it was Mid-Season championship night, cars were lined up by points with the drivers with the most points up front. The first two cars were given the opportunity to start the race from tail and win double the purse. The only one to accept the challenge was IMCA stock car driver Steve Jackson. His efforts are reported below.
As workers and drivers arrived at the track, it was learned that Promoter Mick Trier had been injured during track preparations in the afternoon. This is what is known as this story is filed. As he was working with the water truck, he suffered a deep gash to his left calf and underwent surgery Friday night. He was released from the hospital late Friday evening.
In the IMCA late model feature, Steve Borts jumped into the lead from his starting position on the front row outside of Todd Cooney. He developed a comfortable lead for the first half of the 18-lap race. Cooney started closing on Borts and as they both readied to lap the car of John Bagby, Cooney went low, Borts high and Cooney ended up in front. The race ended under a yellow-checker with the Cooney, Borts, Darrell DeFrance, and Ryan Griffith as the top finishers.
The opening race of the night was the completion of an IMCA modified feature from May 31st. Four laps had been completed of the 15-lap feature, when the race was stopped due an accident and the 10:30 PM curfew. The race resumed with John Davis in the lead followed by Chris Wilkie. On the 10th lap, engine problems forced Wilkie off the track. Davis held on for the victory with Brian George second, Ron VerBeek third, and Richie Gustin fourth.
In the championship mod feature, Danny Wallace led all 15 laps for the win, but it wasn't easy. He was chased for the first part of the race by Bill Davis Jr. who pulled ahead briefly once, but was not able to stay ahead. By the end of the race, Kevin Stoa, who started 15th, had moved into second and had Wallace in his sight. But when the checkered flew, it was Wallace followed by Stoa, Davis Jr. and Ron VerBeek.
In the IMCA stock car main, Steve Jackson, who holds a 40-point lead, decided to accept the challenge to start from the rear. Maynard Davis III, who is second in the points, took the early lead with Steve Campbell on his tail for the first several laps. After several cautions, Don Killen drove his car low and hard into turn one and was able to pass Campbell. Killen was working on finding a way around Davis III when the race ended on a yellow-checkered. The top finishers were Davis III, Killen, John Hunnell, and Steve Campbell. Jackson finished sixth.
The IMCA hobby stock feature was organized differently tonight. Usually the 60 plus hobby stocks are organized into six heats and then three A-features. In the spirit of Mid-Season championships, the top 12 cars in points automatically qualified for the feature. The rest of the field was divided into three b-mains with the top four finishers of each qualifying for a-feature. Rick Gladson started on the feature on the pole and led from green to checkered. Mark Chance finished second with Bill Bonnett third and Ryan Lundy fourth. After the race, Randy Castner claimed Chance's engine and Danny Watson claimed Lundy's engine.
The Karl Chevrolet NDTRA dirt truck feature was marred by a horrific accident. Brett Moyer was in the lead with Sean Allen right behind. On lap seven, Allen seemed to be looking for passing space on the high side as he came out of turn four. Down the straightaway, he clipped the outside wall, turned sideways, and then flipped violently. Mark Fee, who was in third, was able to dodge Allen's car, but took a hard hit on the guardrail right at the scorer's tower. Both drivers were able to walk away.
When the race resumed, Moyer continued to lead and was able to rebuff attempts by Randy Strong to pass him on the final laps. The final order of finish was Moyer, Strong, Al Thayer, and Ben Nading.
In the dwarf car feature, Leroy Clair all 10 laps for the victory with Todd Shute and Randy Bryan finishing second and third respectively. Mike Morrill was fourth.
The cruiser feature was won by the duo of Hodges and May.
Racing continues next Friday with the line-up of IMCA late models, modifieds, stock cars, and hobby stocks, along with NDTRA dirt trucks. Hot laps begin at 6:00 pm and will be followed by racing.
IMCA Late Models
Mid-Season Championship Feature
Finish Driver Hometown
1 Todd Cooney Des Moines
2 Steve Borts Ames
3 Darrell DeFrance Marshalltown
4 Ryan Griffith
5 Nick Houseman Earlham
6 Craig Jacobs Des Moines
7 Cale Sponsler Clive
8 Randy Faux Earlham
9 Kelly Tapper Webster City
10 Eric Lundstrum Des Moines
11 Randy Faux Earlham
12 Harold Schriner Guide Rock, Ne
13 Joe Jones West Des Moines
14 Jeremy Grady
15 Tony Moro Ankeny
16 Ron Binning Grand River
17 John Bagby Ankeny
18 Todd Johnson West Des Moines
19 Chris Fontana Pella
20 Dave Schrader Monroe
IMCA Modified
Make-Up Feature from May 31, 2002
Finish Driver Hometown
1 John Davis Altoona
2 Brian George Des Moines
3 Ron VerBeek Oskaloosa
4 Richie Gustin Jr. Marshalltown
5 Danny Wallace Des Moines
6 Denny Stoneburner Boone
7 Bill Davis Jr. Des Moines
8 Russ Gladson Des Moines
9 Keith Williamson Bondurant
10 Chance Patrick Des Moines
11 Bill Kimball Johnston
12 Chris Wilkie Polk City
13 Rod Scheuermann Scranton
14 Josh Truman Indianola
15 Kevin Lovell Des Moines
16 Rick Huff Monroe
17 Greg Cox Altoona
18 Kevin Stoa
19 John Yaw Sr. Des Moines
20 David Groenhoffer Jr. Des Moines
21 Ernest Green
22 Buck (Vern) Killen Des Moines
23 Doug Davis Des Moines
24 Kendall Sather Ankeny
25 Dave Farren Jr. Des Moines
26 Dave Farren Sr. Des Moines
27 Larry Grafton Des Moines
Mid-Season Championship Feature
1 Danny Wallace Des Moines
2 Kevin Stoa
3 Bill Davis Jr. Des Moines
4 Dave Farren Jr. Des Moines
5 Ron Ver Beek Oskaloosa
6 Rod Scheuermann Scranton
7 Greg Cox Altoona
8 John Davis Altoona
9 Kevin Lovell Des Moines
10 Richie Gustin Jr. Marshalltown
11 Dave Farren Sr. Des Moines
12 Brian George Des Moines
13 Josh Truman Indianola
14 Denny Stoneburner Boone
15 Russ Gladson Des Moines
16 Rick Huff Monroe
17 Chance Patrick Des Moines
18 Bill Kimball Johnston
19 Buck (Vern) Killen Des Moines
20 David Groenhofer Des Moines
21 Keith Williamson Bondurant
22 Ernest Green
23 Chris Wilkie Polk City
IMCA Stock Cars
Mid-Season Championship
Finish Driver Hometown
1 Maynard Davis III Runnells
2 Don Killen Des Moines
3 John Hunnell Des Moines
4 Steve Campbell Des Moines
5 Greg Shepherd Des Moines
6 Steve Jackson Des Moines
7 Paul Anderson Des Moines
8 Jeff Peterson Altoona
9 Todd Fisher Altoona
10 Josh Daniels Des Moines
11 Randy Killen Des Moines
12 Craig Roberts Des Moines
13 Matt Pinegar
14 Matt Lein Des Moines
15 Todd Daniels Des Moines
16 Dennis Kimmell
17 Danny Hill Des Moines
18 Kent Knopf Granger
19 Dave Monger
20 Dennis Parker Des Moines
21 Travis Hansaker Melcher
22 Burt McDaniel Eldon
23 Jeff Hovick Truro
24 Carl Yaw Jr. Des Moines
25 Tony Bass Des Moines
26 Monty Knode Des Moines
IMCA Hobby Stocks
1st B-Feature
Finish Driver Hometown
1 Melissa Johnson Alleman
2 Robert Allison Des Moines
3 Frank Grove Des Moines
4 Eric Stanton Hartford
5 Douglas Seidl Coon Rapids
6 John Thoren Ankeny
7 Carl Knight Des Moines
8 Craig Hower Des Moines
9 Randy Bradshaw
10 Robert Webb Des Moines
11 Curtis Glover Altoona
12 Debi Gladson Des Moines
13 John Allen
14 Ray Hay Des Moines
15 Henry Bunce Des Moines
16 Jamie Daughenbaugh Des Moines
2nd B-Feature
Finish Driver Hometown
1 Gene Behle Des Moines
2 Justin Maschke Des Moines
3 Jon Thompson Knoxville
4 Bruce Wolfe Des Moines
5 Ralph Jones
6 Tim Gannon Des Moines
7 Bob Allison Des Moines
8 Garrett Alexander Lucas
9 Leland Mitchell
10 Brandon Gavin Indianola
11 Tom Prymek Des Moines
12 Matthew Sheets Des Moines
13 Scott Powell Indianola
14 Richard Sales W.D.M.
15 Karen Cash
16 Dave Reed Des Moines
3rd B-feature
Finish Driver Hometown
1 Mark Daughenbaugh
2 Troy Hudson
3 Danny Watson Des Moines
4 Ray Stock Jr. Des Moines
5 Paul Wheeler Des Moines
6 Bryan White
7 John Gilbert
8 Ron Kaler
9 Brad Carl
10 Mike Egenberger Ankeny
11 Ted Hill
12 Robert Koeneman Des Moines
13 John Watson Des Moines
14 Jason Murray Hartford
15 Mark Reed
16 Chad Legere
Mid-Season Championship
Finish Driver Hometown
1 Rick Gladson Des Moines
2 Mark Chance Des Moines
3 Bill Bonnett Knoxville
4 Ryan Lundy Knoxville
5 Randy Castner
6 Don Wear Des Moines
7 Adam Hagan W.D.M.
8 Mike Meyer Norwalk
9 Mark Daughenbaugh
10 Melissa Johnson Alleman
11 Donavan Waters Des Moines
12 Gene Behle Des Moines
13 Robert Allison Des Moines
14 Troy Hudson
15 Jon Thompson Knoxville
16 Frank Grove Des Moines
17 Justin Maschke Des Moines
18 Eric Stanton Hartford
19 Bob Green Tracy
20 Danny Watson Des Moines
21 Bruce Wolfe Des Moines
22 Ray Stock Jr. Des Moines
23 Jeff Featherstone Altoona
24 Gary Stajcar Bondurant
NDTRA Trucks
Mid-Season Championships
Finish Driver Hometown
1 Brett Moyer Polk City
2 Randy Strong Ankeny
3 Al Thayer Indianola
4 Ben Nading Ankeny
5 Karl Moyer Ankeny
6 Mike Stark Des Moines
7 Pat Fagen Des Moines
8 Matt Waugh Des Moines
9 Jack "Bugs" Vincent Nevada
10 Kyle Leonard Polk City
11 Tom Losee Winterset
12 Sean Allen Des Moines
13 Mark Fee Knoxville
14 Brad Moyer Des Moines
15 Jim Philipsen Des Moines
16 Lou Sipolt Altoona
17 Mike Hoffman Adel
18 Roger Schlenker Des Moines
Dwarf Cars
Heat Winners
1. Todd Shute, Des Moines
2. Cliff Barber, Ames
Feature
1. Leroy Clair, Carlisle
2. Shute
3. Randy Bryan, Carlisle
4. Mike Morrill, Ankeny
5. Barber
6. Fred Schimmels, Van Meter
7. Mike Thomas
8. Jerry Schimmels, Van Meter
9. Doug Goforth, Ankeny
10. John Kimrey, Des Moines
11. Brent Detrick, Des Moines
12. Brian Miller
13. Steve First, Des Moines
14. Jim Lacey, Des Moines
Two-Person Cruisers
Heat Winners
1. Wiedmann and Harryman
2. Mason and Glenn
Feature
1. Hodges and May
2. Shelly and Estes
3. Harkin and Webb
4. 79x
5. Wiedmann and Harryman
6. Prigge and Haluska
7. Henry and Hohnek
8. Oakley and Boucher
9. Richards and Birkmire
10. Mason and Glenn
11. Bedwell and Murphy
12. Jones and Cochran
13. McKasson and Nelson