Russell gets IMCA Late Model after DQ
by: Dana Royer/34 Raceway

WEST BURLINGTON, IA (May 6, 2006) After a week off from racing action because of rain the previous week it was back to the track at 34 Raceway Saturday, May 6. With nearly 90 cars in the pits the fans were treated to some great racing action. Winners in the third week of racing at 34 were, Gary Russell, Biggsville, Il., (IMCA Late Models), Chris Larson, Keokuk (IMCA Modifieds), Phillip Beard, Crawfordsville (B-Mods), Jeff Mueller, New London (IMCA Stock Cars) and John Oliver, Jr., Danville (Hobby Stocks). The first points race of the season for the IMCA Late Models was held last Saturday with Gary Russell declared the winner. Twenty six late models competed for the twenty four spot feature with Russell and Matt Ryan on the front row. Russell took the early lead in the twenty five lap feature. Ten laps into the race Rob Toland took his turn leading the and steadily pulled away. Russell continued to hold on to his second place spot with Lonnie Bailey and Jay Johnson not far behind. A caution, the second for the race, came out on lap twenty one and gave Russell a chance to catch the leader. But it wouldn¹t be as Toland would again pull away slightly and go on to take the checkered flag. Although Toland took the checkered flag his win would later be taken away during inspections following the race. Officials found Toland in violation of IMCA rules with three non IMCA legal tires on his car. After calls to IMCA, officials had to tell Toland he would be disqualified and the win given to Russell who finished second. Lonnie Bailey, Jay Johnson, Tom Darbyshire and Matt Strassheim would round out the top five Yet another disqualification would take away a win in the IMCA Modified feature. Josh Foster would take his first checkered flag at 34 Raceway only to have it stripped following inspection after the feature. Foster led the fourteen car field from start to finish winning by several car lengths over Chris . Following the feature race, track officials found Foster to not have 40 pounds of weight in front of the bell housing when running aluminum heads on his engine and were forced to disqualify him. The win then went to Larson who finished second. Bill Roberts, Jr., Dennis LaVeine, Lonnie Heap and Brandon Rothzen finished out the top five. Phillip Beard, Crawfordsville, won his first B-Modified feature at 34 Raceway last Saturday. Beard took the lead, the third of the race, from Jerry Bliesener, Jr., on lap eight of the scheduled fifteen lap race. With several cautions officials had to call the race on a time limit and Beard collected the checkered flag by several car lengths. Kevin Hetrick , Kevin Londrie, Jim Kuhlmier and Jerry Bliesener would round out the top five. Jeff Mueller came back this week to win the IMCA Stock Car feature. Raceway. Mueller took the lead from his front row start in the fourteen car field followed by Shane Richardson of Morning Sun. By lap two Mueller still had the lead but John Oliver, Jr. would take over the second spot giving chase to Mueller. Mueller and Oliver went back and forth for the lead several times. Not only was Oliver being a challenge to Mueller, Rod Staats would challenge Oliver to get the second place spot. As the race went on Mueller would begin to pull away from the field with a battle going on behind him for second between Oliver and Staats. Mueller took the checkered by several car lengths and Oliver won the battle for second. Staats, Rod Smith and Shane Richardson would round at the top five. Twenty two hobby stocks took to the track for their fifteen lap feature with Sky Griffith and Luke McLaughlin on the front row. A caution on the first lap brought out by Griffith changed the line up for the restart putting McLaughlin and Joe Gerdes on the front row. McLaughlin took the early lead followed by Todd Holsteen and Jake Wenig. It was a tight race in the top four positions and by lap six Holsteen had taken over the lead. John Oliver, Jr. moved into the second spot by lap seven and challenged Holsteen for the remainder of the race. With three laps to go Oliver got by Holsteen and went on to take the checkered flag, his second straight. Rounding out the top five were Holsteen, Dan Wenig, Randy Wachter and Brodie Dopler. COMING UP
Coming up Saturday, May 13 will be Fleck Sales ­ Miller Lite Night as well as Daly Construction Night with point races in all five classes. Results from Sat., May 6, 2006 IMCA LATE MODELS FEATURE: 1. Gary Russell, Biggsville, Il., 2. Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Il., 3. Jay Johnson, West Burlington, 4. Tom Darbyshire, Yarmouth, 5. Matt Strassheim, Burlington, 6. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington, 7. Tom Bowling, Jr., Danville, 8. Tom Goble, Burlington, 9. Jeff Laue, Burlington, 10. Cory Richards, Burlington, 11. Ned Palmer, Blandinsville, Il., 12. Jeff Gerhardt, Niota, Il., 13. Matt Bailey, Quincy, Il., 14. Robby Warner, Quincy, Il., 15. Brian Hetzler,Walcott, 16. Nick Ingalls, Liberty, Il., 17. Matt Ryan, Davenport, 18. L.D. Gall, Biggsville, Il., 19. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun, 20. Jason Masengarb, Colona, Il., 21. Robert Toland, Hillsdale, 22. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis, 23. Sam Halstead, New London, 24. Rob Toland, Hillsdale, Il., HEAT WINNERS: Russell, Rob Toland, Strassheim, IMCA MODIFIEDS FEATURE: 1. Chris Larson, Keokuk, 2. Bill Roberts, Jr., Burlington, 3. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington, 4. Lonnie Heap, Media, Il., 5. Brandon Rothzen, Media, Il., 6. Chad Sovern, West Burlington, 7. Kyle Kaestner, Burlington, 8. Phillip Cossel, Montrose, , 9. Elmer Arnold, Sperry, 10. Brad Carson, 11. Adam Carson, Colchester, Il., 12. Andy Krieger, West Burlington, 13. Sean Wyett, Danville, 14. Josh Foster, Montrose. HEAT
WINNERS: Larson, Foster.
B-MODS FEATURE: 1. Phillip Beard, Crawfordsville, . Kevin Hetrick, Gladstone, Il., 3. Kevin Londrie, Keookuk, 4. Jim Kuhlmeier, Ft. Madison, 5. Jerry Bliesener, Jr., Burlington, 6. Frankie Wellman, Quincy, Il., 7. John Oliver, Sr., West Burlington, 8. Billy Brockley, 9. Dave Cloke, Burlington, 10. Josh Larson, 11. Mitch Higdon, Wever, 12. Adam Davis, Washington. HEAT
WINNERS: Bliesener, Davis.
IMCA STOCK CARS FEATURE: 1. Jeff Mueller, New London, 2. John Oliver, Jr., Danville, 3. Rod Staats, Columbus Jct., 4. Rod Smith, Galesburg, Il., 5. Shane Richardson, Morning Sun, 6. Boe McLaughlin, Mediapolis, 7. Derek Coleman, New London, 8. Chad Witte, Burlington, 9. Shawn Whiting, West Burlington, 10. Tim Breuer, Burlington, 11. LZ Coleman, New London, 12. Travis Plummer, Burlington, 13. Cole Simmons, Morning Sun, 14. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello. HEAT WINNERS: Mueller, Staats HOBBY STOCKS FEATURE: 1. John Oliver, Jr., Danville, 2. Todd Holsteen, Burlington, 3. Dan Wenig, Middletown, 4. Randy Wachter, Burlington, 5. Brodie Dopler, Wapello, 6. Luke McLaughlin, Mediapolis, 7. Joe Gerdes, Burlington, 8. Matt Gavin, Monmouth, Il., 9. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, 10.Russell Passmore, Burlington, 11. Jason Gerdes, Lomax, Il., 12. Keith Diffie, 13. Chuck Underwood., Burlington, 14. Tanner Thomann, West Burlington, 15. Randy Samberg, Burlington, 16. Ray Tedrow, New London, 17. Eric Rowley, Burlington,1 8. Allen Johnston, 19. Jake Wenig, West Burlington, 20.Sky Griffity, Wapello, 21. Craig Beck, Burlington, 22. Roger Krieger, Burlington. HEAT WINNERS: Luke McLaughlin, J. Wenig, Holsteen, www.34raceway.com