Two for Thye at 34 Raceway
By Dana Royer/34 Raceway

WEST BURLINGTON, IA (July 29, 2006) ­ The $1.50 admission price in celebration of 34 Raceway¹s 40th Birthday brought the fans to the 3/8 mile track in the extreme heat where they saw some of the best feature racing this year. One of the largest, if not thee largest, crowd in recent years saw Boone McLaughlin get his third IMCA Late Model win this season. Darin Thye won both IMCA Stock Car and IMCA Modified features, while Doug Fenton and Chad Sovern also got repeat wins. Along with its special $1.50 admission price the track observed its 40th birthday with free birthday cake, free gifts for the fans, displays of memorabilia from the early years and cars from 1966, 67 and 68.

A special ceremony during intermission was held with track promoter Terry Hoenig introducing 34 Raceway employees, special guests and track owner Johnny Johnson. Johnson was presented several gifts in recognition of his dedication to racing and 34 Raceway.

The first feature of the evening set the pace for for what was to come when Darin Thye made a last lap pass getting by Dennis LaVeine to take the checkered flag. LaVeine took the lead from Sean Wyett on lap five of the fifteen lap race before giving it up to Thye on the final lap.

The B-Mods took to the track next with Chad Sovern pulling out another win, his third straight and fifth for the year. Sovern took the lead from Scott Boles following a caution on lap eight and went on to take the checkered by several car lengths. The race for second ensued behind Sovern between Scott Boles, Don Merten, Phillip Beard and Kevin Hetrick. Boles won the battle to finish second. In maybe the best race of the season, Burlington¹s Darin Thye won a three way battle for the lead and got his first IMCA Stock Car feature win this year. Thye took the early lead with Kirk Kinsley, Jeff Mueller and John Oliver, Jr. on his tail. It was side by side, bumper to bumper racing for the top four. With Thye in the lead on lap fourteen, Oliver pulled up along side followed by Mueller and Kinsley. As they come out of turn four on the final lap it was three wide going for the checkered between Thye, Mueller and Oliver. Thye took the checkered by 1/2 a car length over Mueller and Oliver for the win.

Twenty one IMCA Late Models took to the track for their 25 lap feature with Boone McLaughlin taking the lead by lap two. McLaughlin looked to be pulling away but a caution on lap nineteen closed the gap. Matt Bailey moved up to second followed by Gary Russell. The two would close in on the leader. Another caution with two laps to go made it green, white, checkered for the finish. A four way battle ensued between McLaughlin, Bailey, Russell and joining the group, Lonnie Bailey. McLaughlin was able to hold off the challenges taking the checkered by two car lengths over Matt Bailey. This was a special victory for the Mediapolis driver whose father in-law Dick McClure won the first ever feature at 34 Raceway back in 1966.

The final race of the evening saw twenty six hobby stocks line up for their feature race with Cale Samberg and Jason Gerdes on the front row. Gerdes took the early lead leading for the first three laps before Sky Griffith made a pass following a caution. Griffith then led for the next three laps before Doug Fenton took the third lead of the race. Fenton went on to take the checkered flag by a car length holding off John Oliver, Jr. who finished second Despite the extreme heat the fans were awesome, the racing was awesome and the birthday party was a success.

Hope to see you all back this week on Burlington Bank and Trust Night.

7/29/2006 - 34 Raceway Results...

B-Modifieds
A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Chad Sovern, West Burlington; 2. Scott Boles, New London; 3. Don Merten, Geneseo, Ill.; 4. Phillip Beard, Crawfordsville; 5. Kevin Hetrick, Gladstone, Ill.; 6. Jerry Bliesener, Jr., Burlington; 7. Jim Kuhlmeier, Ft. Madison; 8. Dave Cloke, Burlington; 9. Kevin Londrie;; 10. Mitch Higdon, Wever; 11. Ryan Atkinson, Mt Pleasant; 12. Billy Brickley, Galesburg, Ill..

Heat 01 ‹ 1. Kevin Hetrick, Gladstone, Ill.; 2. Chad Sovern, West Burlington; 3. Jim Kuhlmeier, Ft. Madison; 4. Scott Boles, New London; 5. Mitch Higdon, Wever; 6. Ryan Atkinson, Mt Pleasant.

Heat 02 ‹ 1. Jerry Bliesener, Jr., Burlington; 2. Phillip Beard, Crawfordsville; 3. Don Merten, Geneseo, Ill.; 4. Kevin Londrie;; 5. Billy Brickley, Galesburg, Ill.; 6. Dave Cloke, Burlington.

Hobby Stocks A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Doug Fenton, Burlington; 2. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 3. Dan Wenig, Middletown; 4. Matt Gavin, Monmouth, Ill.; 5. Randy Wachter, Burlington; 6. Todd Holsteen, Burlington; 7. Tony Witte, Danville; 8. Luke McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 9. Sky Griffith, Wapello; 10. Brodie Dopler, Wapello; 11. Tanner Thomann, W. Burlington; 12. Jason Gerdes, Lomax, Ill.; 13. John Brockway, Morning Sun; 14. Cale Samberg, Burlington; 15. Eric Rowley, Burlington; 16. Jeff Shelledy, Burlington; 17. Chuck Underwood, Burlington; 18. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington; 19. Kent Rhum, Burlington; 20. Jamie Smith, Monmouth, Ill.; 21. Ray Raker, Danville; 22. Boyd Bramer, Tennesee, Ill.; 23. Jayson Ditsworth, Gladstone, Ill.; 24. Ray Tedrow, New London; 25. Roger Krieger, Burlington; 26. Mitch(Stacey) Jennings, Mt Pleasant.

Heat 01 -- 1. Luke McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 2. Chuck Underwood, Burlington; 3. Cale Samberg, Burlington; 4. Brodie Dopler, Wapello; 5. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 6. Jayson Ditsworth, Gladstone, Ill.; 7. Eric Rowley, Burlington; 8. Kent Rhum, Burlington; 9. Tony Witte, Danville.

Heat 02 ‹ 1. Sky Griffith, Wapello; 2. Randy Wachter, Burlington; 3. Roger Krieger, Burlington; 4. Jason Gerdes, Lomax, Ill.; 5. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington; 6. Boyd Bramer, Tennesee, Ill.; 7. Ray Raker, Danville; 8. Dan Wenig, Middletown; 9. Jamie Smith, Monmouth, Ill..

Heat 03 ‹ 1. Matt Gavin, Monmouth, Ill.; 2. Doug Fenton, Burlington; 3. Todd Holsteen, Burlington; 4. Tanner Thomann, W. Burlington; 5. John Brockway, Morning Sun; 6. Mitch(Stacey) Jennings, Mt Pleasant; 7. Jeff Shelledy, Burlington; 8. Ray Tedrow, New London.



IMCA Late Models A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 2. Matt Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 3. Gary Russell, Biggsville, Ill.; 4. Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 5. Rob Toland, Hillsdale, Ill.; 6. Matt Strassheim, Burlington; 7. Jay Johnson, W. Burlington; 8. Dennis Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.; 9. Tom Bowling, Jr., Danville; 10. Keith Pratt, Mendon, Ill.; 11. Tom Goble, Burlington; 12. L. Gall, Biggsville, Ill.; 13. Sam Halstead, New London; 14. Cory Richards, Burlington; 15. Terry White, Fowler, Ill.; 16. Ned Palmer, Blandinsville, Ill.; 17. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington; 18. Matt Ryan, Davenport; 19. Jeff Laue, Burlington; 20. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun.

Heat 01 ‹ 1. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington; 2. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun; 3. Tom Bowling, Jr., Danville; 4. Ned Palmer, Blandinsville, Ill.; 5. Cory Richards, Burlington; 6. Keith Pratt, Mendon, Ill.; 7. Jay Johnson, W. Burlington.

Heat 02 ‹ 1. Matt Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 2. Rob Toland, Hillsdale, Ill.; 3. Matt Strassheim, Burlington; 4. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 5. Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 6. L. Gall, Biggsville, Ill..

Heat 03 ‹ 1. Gary Russell, Biggsville, Ill.; 2. Jeff Laue, Burlington; 3. Tom Goble, Burlington; 4. Dennis Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.; 5. Sam Halstead, New London; 6. Matt Ryan, Davenport; 7. Terry White, Fowler, Ill..



IMCA Modifieds A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Darin Thye, Burlington; 2. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington; 3. Kevin Cale, Donnellson; 4. Phillip Cossel, Montrose; 5. Sean Wyett, Danville; 6. Tyler Cale, Donnellson; 7. Bill Parks, Colchester, Ill.; 8. Elmer Arnold, Sperry; 9. Chad Goff, Monmouth, Ill.; 10. Shane Lewis, LaHarpe, Ill.; 11. Kyle Kaestner, Burlington; 12. Brad Carson, Colchester, Ill.; 13. Bill Roberts, Jr., Burlington; 14. Andy Krieger, West Burlington.

Heat 01 ‹ 1. Sean Wyett, Danville; 2. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington; 3. Shane Lewis, LaHarpe, Ill.; 4. Brad Carson, Colchester, Ill.; 5. Andy Krieger, West Burlington; 6. Bill Roberts, Jr., Burlington; 7. Tyler Cale, Donnellson.

Heat 02 ‹ 1. Darin Thye, Burlington; 2. Kevin Cale, Donnellson; 3. Kyle Kaestner, Burlington; 4. Bill Parks, Colchester, Ill.; 5. Chad Goff, Monmouth, Ill.; 6. Phillip Cossel, Montrose; 7. Elmer Arnold, Sperry.



IMCA Stock Cars A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Darin Thye, Burlington; 2. Jeff Mueller, New London; 3. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 4. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello; 5. Adam Vantiger, Yarmouth; 6. Boe McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 7. Derek Coleman, New London; 8. Cole Simmons, Morning Sun; 9. Rod Staats, Columbus Jct.; 10. Brandon Rothzen, Media, Ill.; 11. Travis Finke, Columbus Jct.; 12. Chad Witte, Burlington; 13. Patrick Mincer, Columbus Jct; 14. Chris Webb, Biggsville, Ill.; 15. Travis Plummer, Burlington; 16. Tim Breuer, Burlington; 17. Shelly Mizell, Muscatine; 18. Paul Lawson, West Point; 19. Shawn Whiting, West Burlington.

Heat 01 ‹ 1. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 2. Rod Staats, Columbus Jct.; 3. Chris Webb, Biggsville, Ill.; 4. Travis Finke, Columbus Jct.; 5. Travis Plummer, Burlington; 6. Patrick Mincer, Columbus Jct; 7. Chad Witte, Burlington.

Heat 02 ‹ 1. Jeff Mueller, New London; 2. Adam Vantiger, Yarmouth; 3. Derek Coleman, New London; 4. Cole Simmons, Morning Sun; 5. Shawn Whiting, West Burlington; 6. Paul Lawson, West Point.Heat 03 ‹ 1. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello; 2. Darin Thye, Burlington; 3. Tim Breuer, Burlington; 4. Brandon Rothzen, Media, Ill.; 5. Boe McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 6. Shelly Mizell, Muscatine.