Des Moines, Iowa

JJAM Racing Promotions

Mick Trier

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June 4, 2004

by David Wilkinson

(Des Moines, Iowa) (June 4, 2004) Friday night was a gorgeous night for the Mid-Season Championships at the Iowa State Fair Speedway. Todd Cooney (IMCA late model), Chris Wilke (IMCA modified), and Bret Moyer (Karl Chevrolet dirt trucks) repeated their victories from last week. John Hunnell won the IMCA stock car feature and Justin Maschke captured the IMCA hobby stock main. Mike Morrill won the special race for dwarf cars.

Todd Cooney led all 18 laps of the IMCA late model feature to secure his third win of the season. He maintained a huge lead over Craig Jacobs, who finished second, third-place finisher Darrell DeFrance, and Ryan Griffith who ran fourth. The race was run without a caution period.

In the IMCA modified feature, Chris Wilke grabbed the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back. Halfway through the race, the car of John Davis caught on fire and he left the race. He had been running third up to that point. The finishing order was Wilke, Kevin Lovell, Pat Graham, and Greg Cox.

The IMCA stock car race had an interesting twist. The defending co-champions from last season, Steve Jackson and Don Killen are tied for first in the point standings. The two of them accepted the JJAM Challenge to start in the rear, rather than on the front row and then raced for a double purse. The race was extended to 18 laps. The contest was run without any cautions and Jackson finished sixth and Killen tenth.

As they raced from the back, there was a great race up front. Kent Knopf took the lead at the drop of the green. Greg Shepherd and John Hunnell were racing for second and Hunnell finally passed Shepherd on the 11^th lap. Hunnell set his sights on Knopf and started to close the distance between them. Hunnell pulled aside Knopf a couple of times, but could not get past him. On lap 15, Knopf bobbled as he came off turn four and Hunnell shot by. The final finish was Hunnell, Knopf, Mike Todd, and Maynard Davis III.

The fans heard a surprising announcement at the start of the Karl Chevrolet dirt truck main. As announcer Tim Trier introduced the drivers, Lou Sipolt help up the gloves he was wearing. Trier informed everyone that they were from Iraq sent by former speedway competitor Bruce Cronk, who is part of the US forces assigned there. Once the race started, Bret Moyer took the lead with his father Carl Moyer right behind. As the race progressed, Brett widened his lead. A caution flag brought the field together. On the restart, Carl Moyer ran hard and attempted to catch Bret Moyer. Twice, Carl almost lost it as his truck came loose in turn two. The final finish was Bret Moyer, Carl Moyer, Ben Nading, and Sipolt.

Usually, the IMCA hobby stocks run three separate features. But on mid-season championship night, the top twelve in points are locked into the feature. The other hobby stocks race in one of three b-features with the top four finishers from each qualifying for the feature. The A-feature was restarted after front row starter John Watson become loose on the backstretch and turned sideways right in front of the oncoming field. On the restart, Justin Maschke shot into the lead and was later the first to take the checkered. Don Wear finished second; Steve Curtis was third, and Bill Bonnett fourth. After the race, Terry Warburton claimed the Bonnett’s engine.

The dwarf cars joined the competition tonight. Mike Kennedy took the early lead in the feature. Mike Morrill, who started tenth, moved through the field and was able to pass Kennedy on the fifth lap. He drew away from the others and the order of finish was Morrill, Kennedy, Fred Schimmels, and James May.

Four two-person cruizers took the track for the last race of the night. The team of Howell and Bushnell won the race.

No racing next week on June 11 as the Pork Expo occupies the fairgrounds. Racing continues Friday June 18 featuring Sam’s Riverside Night with IMCA late models, 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.

Feature

Feature

Feature

B-Feature # 1

B-Feature # 2

A-Feature

Feature

Heat Winners

1. Mike Morrill, Altoona

2. Jimmy May, DeSoto

Feature

Feature

1. Howell and Bushnell, Madrid

2. Unknown

3. Fuller and Burt, Urbandale

4. Gene Prigge, WDM and Partner

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