Des Moines, Iowa

JJAM Racing Promotions

Mick Trier

(515) 201-jjam

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July 25, 2003

by David Wilkinson

(Des Moines, Iowa) (July 25, 2003) It was beautiful on the 14^th and final Friday night of weekly racing at the Iowa State Fair Speedway. Mike Smith captured the championship for IMCA late models for his fifth win of the season. The championships in the other classes will be held on August 29. Feature winners were: Pat Graham, IMCA modifieds; John Hunnell, IMCA stock cars; and Mike Stark, Karl Chevrolet dirt trucks. IMCA hobby stock winners were Rick Gladson, Randy Embrey, and Bill Bonnett.

It was season championship night for IMCA late models. Promoter Mick Trier offered the JJAM challenge to the top four points leaders – Mike Smith, Todd Cooney, Craig Jacobs, and Steve Borts. One of them could give up his starting spot and start from the rear for the feature. If they win, the payoff is doubled. All declined. Todd Cooney led the first lap with Smith passing him on the next lap and leading the rest of the 18-lap race. The top four finishers were Smith, Cooney, Borts, and Jacobs. Smith won the points championship by 22 points over Cooney.

In the IMCA modified main, rookie Melissa Johnson led lap one and veteran Dave Farren passed her on a restart of lap two. Pat Graham caught Farren and ran beside him in the turns for three laps, then Farren bobbled ever so slightly and Graham used the opportunity to move to the front. Farren and Johnson chased Graham for the rest of the race, but could not catch him. Graham finished first, Farren second, Johnson third, and Dave Farren Jr. Fourth.

John Hunnell led the entire IMCA stock car feature, but he was never alone up front. Three drivers were on his tail at different times during the race – Travis DeWitt, Tony Bass, and Mike Todd. The finish was Hunnell, Todd, Bass, and David Foster.

The Karl Chevrolet dirt truck feature saw Jeff Luke lead the first lap. On lap two, Mike Stark powered past him and the rest of the field. Never challenged, Stark took the checkered first with Carl Moyer in second, Pat Fagen third, and Al Thayer fourth.

In the first of three IMCA hobby stock mains, Rick Gladson passed Bob Allison on the second lap and won the ten-lap feature. Allison was second, Jacob Murray third, and Larry Embrey fourth.

Keith Williamson jumped into the lead at the start of the second hobby main. Gary Stajcar chased him and took advantage of a restart on lap eight to pass Williamson. On the following lap, Stajcar was loose and Randy Embrey maneuvered past. The top finishers were Embrey, Ryan Lundy, Stajcar, and Mike Meyer. After the race, William claimed Meyer’s engine.

It looked as if Chad Cooney was going to win his second hobby feature in a row. He led the entire race going into the last lap. In turn three, Rob Allison tapped Cooney’s rear bumper and Allison and Bill Bonnett passed him. Coming out of turn four, Allison and Bonnett trade sheet metal. At the checkers it was Bonnett first followed by Allison, Justin Maschke, and Cooney. After the race, Tony Knapp claimed Bonnett’s engine.

The regular season ends on August 29 with season championships for the other classes. Racing will be held during the Iowa State Fair in the morning and afternoon of August 9 and the evening of August 12.

Season Championships

Heat Winners

1. Dave Farren, Des Moines

2. Kevin Danielson, Grimes

3. Bill Davis Jr., Des Moines

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Tony Bass, Des Moines

2. John Hunnell, Des Moines

3. Mike Todd, Altoona

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Bob Allison, Des Moines

2. Jason Murray, Hartford

3. Randy Casner, Milo

4. John Thoren, Ankeny

5. Bill Bonnett, Knoxville

6. Chad Cooney, Des Moines

Feature # 1

Feature # 2

Feature # 3

Heat Winners

1. Carl Moyer, Ankeny

2. Mike Stark, Des Moines

Feature