Des Moines, Iowa

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May 2, 2003

by David Wilkinson

(Des Moines, Iowa) (May 2, 2003) It was a night of dicing and slicing on the track Friday at the Iowa State Fair Speedway. For the second week in a row, Mike Smith won the IMCA late model feature. Rick Gladson and Ryan Lundy each won their third straight IMCA hobby stock feature and had their engines claimed after the race. The third hobby main went to sixteen-year old rookie Jacob Murray as he won the first race he ever finished at the fairgrounds. Tony Hofbauer captured the IMCA modified event, Don Killen the IMCA stock main, and Brett Moyer took the Karl Chevrolet dirt truck feature.

Craig Jacobs led the first laps of the IMCA late model feature staying ahead of Kelly Tapper. By lap seven, Mike Smith had moved into second and a furious race between Jacobs and Smith started. For the next seven laps, Smith tried to pass Jacobs on the low side. Time and time again, Smith would move aside and sometimes just ahead of Jacobs, but by the time they passed the flagman, Jacobs had the lead. As they dueled, Darrell DeFrance joined them and once passed Smith for second. On lap 14, Smith finally passed Jacobs and held on for the win. Jacobs nosed out DeFrance for second and Steve Borts finished fourth.

Just like a week ago, Tony Hofbauer took the early lead in the IMCA modified main, except this week his car held together and he led all 15 laps of the race for the victory. At times Hofbauer seemed to have it easy, but as the end of the race neared, he was able to hold off the charge of Danny Wallace and Todd Shute. Shute made several bold attempts to pass low in the turns, and was able to edge by Wallace on the last lap for second. Matt Donald finished fourth.

Kent Knopf used his front row starting position to his advantage as jumped into the lead of the IMCA stock car main. Knopf had his car hooked up and was in the fast groove as he fended off Maynard Davis III early in the race. Don Killen, who started in the sixth row, sailed through the field by running the low line in the turns and then started to challenge Knopf. On lap 12, Knopf only led Killen by two feet and Killen was finally able to pass Knopf on the next lap. Killen picked up his second win of the season with Knopf, Davis III, and Steve Jackson finishing behind him.

In the Karl Chevrolet dirt truck feature, Matt Waugh led the first lap and Brett Moyer led the final 14 laps. Moyer took the checkered ahead of Randy Strong, Pat Fagen and Steve Jackson.

The first IMCA hobby stock feature saw rookie Jacob Murray lead from green to checkered in winning his first feature. Don Wear made a late race challenge and finished second followed by Chad Cooney and Troy Hudson. The second hobby main looked like a repeat of the first as Jacob Murray’s brother Jason Murray vaulted into the lead. But on the eighth lap, Rick Gladson passed Murray in turn one for the lead. Gladson was followed to the checkered by Murray, Randy Bradshaw, and Justin Maschke. After the race, Kevin Hay claimed Gladson’s engine.

In the final hobby feature, Kirk Brown led the first lap and then Randy Casner passed him. On the sixth lap, Ryan Lundy grabbed the lead and held on for victory. Casner finished second, Frank Grove third, and Gerald Snyder fourth. After the race, Jamie Daughenbaugh claimed Lundy’s engine.

Racing continues next Friday evening with IMCA late models, modifieds, stock cars, and hobby stocks as well as Karl Chevrolet dirt trucks competing. Hot laps are at 6:15 PM with racing following.

Heat Winners

1. Steve Borts, Ames

2. Craig Jacobs, DM

3. Darrell DeFrance

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Russ Gladson, Des Moines

2. Chris Wilke, Polk City

3. Danny Wallace, DM

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Steve Jackson, Des Moines

2. Travis DeWitt, Indianola

3. Maynard Davis III, Des Moines

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Gene Behle, Des Moines

2. Gary Stajcar, Bondurant

3. Bob Green, Tracy

4. Rick Gladson, Des Moines

5. Randy Casner, Milo

6. Bill Bonnett, Knoxville

Feature # 1

Feature # 2

Feature # 3

Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks

Heat Winners

1. Brett Moyer, Polk City

2. Sean Allen, Des Moines

Feature

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