Des Moines, Iowa

JJAM Racing Promotions

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April 9, 2004

by David Wilkinson

(Des Moines, Iowa) (April 9, 2004) The 2004 racing season opened Friday night at the Iowa State Fair Speedway with a smooth track and fast cars in five divisions. Ricky Stephan made the long haul from South Sioux City NE worthwhile as won the IMCA modified main. Steve Jackson won the IMCA stock feature; Bret Moyer took the Karl Chevrolet dirt truck feature, Kevin Tanner won the 305-sprint car race, and IMCA hobby stock wins went to Colt Mather, Justin Maschke, and Frank Grove.

Ricky Stephan let all 15 laps of the IMCA modified feature. Chris Wilke chased him for much of the race and Greg Cox mounted a challenge near the end of the race. The finishing order was Stephan, Wilke, Cox and Doug Davis.

The IMCA stock car main started with Todd Fisher in the lead, but by the third lap, the race resembled last year’s point championship with Steve Jackson and Don Killen battling for the lead. Jackson captured the front spot from Fisher on lap three and Killen was right behind him. They ran, in that order, first and second for the remainder of the race with Kent Knopf finishing third and Mike Todd fourth.

The Karl Chevrolet dirt trucks ran the first feature of the night and it was battle in the Moyer family. Karl Moyer took the lead on the first lap, but Bret Moyer passed him on the third lap. Bret started to widen the lead, but not for long. On lap seven, Carl passed Brett in turn two but the caution flag was thrown before the lap was completed, thus the running order was reverted to the previous lap. Bret Moyer maintained the lead to the checkered and was followed by Carl Moyer, Lou Sipolt, and Ben Nading.

Colt Mather led all ten laps of the first IMCA hobby stock feature. At times, the second place finisher John Watson challenged him. Debbie Gladson finished third and Gary Stajcar was fourth. The second hobby feature was won by Justin Maschke who led from the waving of the green to the checkered. Matt Inman was second with Don Wear third, and Bruce Wolf fourth. The third hobby main had Frank Grove leading the first two laps and the last two laps. In between, Bill Bonnett was the leader, but on the ninth lap, he lost a wheel and tire coming off of turn two resulting in a caution. The final finish was Grove, Curtis Glover, Doug Seidl, and Adam Hagen.

Nine 305-sprint cars without wings took to the track for their special event. Mike Thomas led the first lap, but Jerry Crabb passed him on the following lap. For the next several laps, Bobby Thompson chased Crabb and Kevin Tanner joined them after a few laps. On lap eight, Tanner ran the high line of turns three and four and vaulted into the lead. On the next lap, Crabb spun out. The finishing order was Tanner followed closely by Thompson, and further back, Thomas and Van Haften.

Racing continues next Friday evening with a special for winged 305 sprint cars, IMCA modifieds, stock cars, and hobby stocks as well as Karl Chevrolet dirt trucks competing. Hot laps are at 6:00 PM with racing following around 7:00 PM.

Heat Winners

1. Russ Gladson, DM

2. Ricky Stephan, South Sioux City NE

3. Todd Shute, DM

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Kent Knopf, Granger

2. Don Killen, DM

3. Steve Jackson, DM

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Michael Davis, Des Moines

2. John Watson, Des Moines

3. Rick Gladson, Des Moines

4. Don Wear, Des Moines

5. Adam Hagen, Des Moines

6. Bill Bonnett, Knoxville

Feature # 1

Feature # 2

Feature # 3

Heat Winners

1. Carl Moyer, Ankeny

2. Ben Nading, Ankeny

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Kevin Tanner

Feature