Griffith, Evans, Coleman all get first wins at 34 Raceway
by Dana Royer/34 Raceway

WEST BURLINGTON, IA (8/12/06) -With the end of the 2006 racing season in sight, three of the five classes saw drivers getting their first wins ever at 34 Raceway. Getting wins on Fun City Night at the races on Saturday, August 12 were Boone McLaughlin (IMCA late models), Mediapolis; Josh Foster (IMCA modifieds), Montrose; Jack Evans, Jr., (B-Mods), Keokuk; Derek Coleman (IMCA Stock Cars), New London; and Sky Griffith (hobby stocks), Wapello. Six nights of racing action remain for the 2006 season with points championships on the line. The IMCA Late Models will hold their season championship night on Saturday, August 26 while the remaining classes will finalize their points races on Sept. 2. The 2006 season will end on Saturday, Sept. 16 with the Pepsi USA Late Model Nationals. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis, won his fourth IMCA Late Model feature this year topping the twenty-six car field. Colby Springsteen took the early lead as he pulled away from the field. But a caution on lap twelve of the twenty-five lap race gave McLaughlin the opportunity he needed. McLaughlin went high in turns three and four and shot down in front of Springsteen for the lead and went on to take the checkered flag by a large margin. Springsteen finished second and Tom Darbyshire, Yarmouth moved up to finish third. With just one more point race for the late models remaining Gary Russell, Biggsville, Il. holds a narrow five point lead over Jay Johnson, West Burlington. Johnson, who was unable to make the heat race because of engine work, was able to make the feature starting from the twelfth row and finishing seventh to Russells tenth place finish. Josh Foster, Montrose, won his fourth IMCA Modified feature this year at 34 Raceway last Saturday. Foster took the third lead of the race from Tyler Cale on lap sixteen of the twenty lap feature. With three laps to go Kevin Cale moved into the second spot with his sights set on the leader. Racing side by side on the back stretch, Foster was able to hold on for to win by three car lengths over Cale. In the points race for the IMCA Modified season championship, Bill Roberts, Jr., Burlington holds at narrow six point lead over Dennis LaVeine. LaVeine closed the point gap this week with his third place finish compared to Robert¹s fifth place. Jack Evans, Jr., Keokuk, won his first ever feature at 34 Raceway when he took the checkered flag in the B-Mod main event. Evans took the lead from Phillip Beard on lap two of the twelve lap feature and went on to take the checkered flag by a large margin. The battle for second was won by by Jordan Schram, Sterling, Il.. and Phillip Beard finished third. With three points races remaining, Jerry Bliesener, Jr., Burlington, holds a commanding 59 point lead over Mitch Higdon, Wever. Once again the IMCA Stock Car feature went down to the wire in a side by side, bumper to bumper battle between Derek Coleman, New London, and John Oliver, Jr., Danville. Coleman took the early lead pulling away from the field. A caution with three laps to go gave Oliver the opening he needed. Racing bumper to bumper the final three laps Coleman held on to take the checkered flag, his first at 34 Raceway. Oliver holds a 12 point lead over Kirk Kinsley with three points races remaining. Twenty one hobby stocks took to the track for their feature race with Roger Krieger and Jason Gerdes on the front row. Sky Griffith took the early lead following a restart on the first lap after several cars were involved in a pile up. Working the high side of the track Griffith, in search of his first win, was able to hold off Dan Wenig and Doug Fenton in bumper to bumper racing action. Griffith took the checkered flag while Wenig held off Fenton to finish second. John Oliver, Jr., who finished eighth, following two pit stops, leads the hobby stock points by 24 points over Todd Holsteen. Candy Dash The kids were treated to back to school supplies and a $1200 candy dash courtesy of local racers and fans. 745 lbs of wrapped candy lined the front stretch and with sacks in hand the track was picked clean a few minutes later.

Coming Up The Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders return to 34 Raceway this Saturday, August 19. Also running will be IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, B-Mods and Hobby Stocks.

8/12/2006 - 34 Raceway Results...
B-Modifieds
A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Jack Evans, Jr., Keokuk; 2. Jordon Schram, Sterling, Ill.; 3. Phillip Beard, Crawfordsville; 4. Scott Boles, New London; 5. Jerry Bliesener, Jr., Burlington; 6. Bob Jennings, Mt Pleasant; 7. Dave Cloke, Burlington; 8. Kevin Londrie;; 9. Chad Sovern, West Burlington; 10. Mitch Higdon, Wever; 11. Ryan Atkinson, Mt Pleasant. Heat 01 ‹ 1. Phillip Beard, Crawfordsville; 2. Jack Evans, Jr., Keokuk; 3. Jerry Bliesener, Jr., Burlington; 4. Bob Jennings, Mt Pleasant; 5. Mitch Higdon, Wever; 6. Ryan Atkinson, Mt Pleasant. Heat 02 ‹ 1. Jordon Schram, Strerling, Ill.; 2. Chad Sovern, West Burlington; 3. Scott Boles, New London; 4. Dave Cloke, Burlington; 5. Kevin Londrie; Keokuk

Hobby Stocks
A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Sky Griffith, Wapello; 2. Dan Wenig, Middletown; 3. Doug Fenton, Burlington; 4. Luke McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 5. Todd Holsteen, Burlington; 6. Jake Wenig, W. Burlington; 7. Randy Wachter, Burlington; 8. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 9. Chuck Underwood, Burlington; 10. Ray Raker, Danville; 11. Jason Gerdes, Lomax, Ill.; 12. John Brockway, Morning Sun; 13. Roger Krieger, Burlington; 14. Allen Johnston, Burlington; 15. Jamie Smith, Monmouth, Ill.; 16. Mitch(Stacey) Jennings, Mt Pleasant; 17. Brodie Dopler, Wapello; 18. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington; 19. Matt Gavin, Monmouth, Ill.; 20. Joe Gerdes, Burlington; 21. Tanner Thomann, W. Burlington. Heat 01 ‹ 1. Dan Wenig, Middletown; 2. Roger Krieger, Burlington; 3. Sky Griffith, Wapello; 4. Todd Holsteen, Burlington; 5. Mitch(Stacey) Jennings, Mt Pleasant; 6. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington. Heat 02 ‹ 1. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 2. Doug Fenton, Burlington; 3. Brodie Dopler, Wapello; 4. Matt Gavin, Monmouth, Ill.; 5. Joe Gerdes, Burlington; 6. John Brockway, Morning Sun; 7. Allen Johnston, Burlington; 8. Jamie Smith, Monmouth, Ill.. Heat 03 ‹ 1. Luke McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 2. Jason Gerdes, Lomax, Ill.; 3. Chuck Underwood, Burlington; 4. Randy Wachter, Burlington; 5. Ray Raker, Danville; 6. Tanner Thomann, W. Burlington; 7. Jake Wenig, W. Burlington.

IMCA Late Models
A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 2. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun; 3. Tom Darbyshire, Morning Sun; 4. Andy Nezworski;; 5. Rob Toland, Hillsdale, Ill.; 6. Matt Ryan, Davenport; 7. Jay Johnson, W. Burlington; 8. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington; 9. Jeff Laue, Burlington; 10. Gary Russell, Biggsville, Ill.; 11. Chris Richard, Mt. Pleasant; 12. Jason Masengarb, Colona, Ill.; 13. Tom Bowling, Jr., Danville; 14. L. Gall, Biggsville, Ill.; 15. Sam Halstead, New London; 16. Cory Richards, Burlington; 17. Adam Helmick, Fort Madison; 18. Jeremy Gustaf, East Moline, Ill.; 19. Tom Goble, Burlington; 20. Larry Palmer, Fountain Green, Ill.; 21. Matt Strassheim, Burlington; 22. Jeff Gerhardt, Niota, Ill.; 23. Matt Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 24. Keith Pratt, Mendon, Ill.; 25. Mike Dyche, Frederick, Ill.; 26. Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill.. Heat 01 ‹ 1. Jeff Gerhardt, Niota, Ill.; 2. Matt Ryan, Davenport; 3. Tom Darbyshire, Morning Sun; 4. Tom Goble, Burlington; 5. Jason Masengarb, Colona, Ill.; 6. Sam Halstead, New London; 7. Gary Russell, Biggsville, Ill.; 8. Mike Dyche, Frederick, Ill.; 9. Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill.. Heat 02 ‹ 1. Rob Toland, Hillsdale, Ill.; 2. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington; 3. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun; 4. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 5. Matt Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 6. L. Gall, Biggsville, Ill.; 7. Keith Pratt, Mendon, Ill.; 8. Jeremy Gustaf, East Moline, Ill.; 9. Larry Palmer, Fountain Green, Ill.. Heat 03 ‹ 1. Matt Strassheim, Burlington; 2. Andy Nezworski;; 3. Jeff Laue, Burlington; 4. Chris Richard, Mt. Pleasant; 5. Adam Helmick, Fort Madison; 6. Tom Bowling, Jr., Danville; 7. Cory Richards, Burlington; 8. Jay Johnson, W. Burlington.

IMCA Modifieds
A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Josh Foster, Montrose; 2. Kevin Cale, Donnellson; 3. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington; 4. Tyler Cale, Donnellson; 5. Bill Roberts, Jr., Burlington; 6. Dean McGee Sr., Galesburg, Ill.; 7. Chris Larson, Keokuk; 8. Sean Wyett, Danville; 9. Adam Carson, Colchester, Ill.; 10. Bill Parks, Colchester, Ill.; 11. Kyle Kaestner, Burlington; 12. Adam Mitchell, Cameron, Ill.; 13. Brad Carson, Colchester, Ill.; 14. Phillip Cossel, Montrose. Heat 01 ‹ 1. Tyler Cale, Donnellson; 2. Brad Carson, Colchester, Ill.; 3. Chris Larson, Keokuk; 4. Bill Roberts, Jr., Burlington; 5. Dean McGee Sr., Galesburg, Ill.; 6. Bill Parks, Colchester, Ill.. Heat 02 ‹ 1. Kevin Cale, Donnellson; 2. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington; 3. Adam Carson, Colchester, Ill.; 4. Josh Foster, Montrose; 5. Phillip Cossel, Montrose; 6. Kyle Kaestner, Burlington; 7. Adam Mitchell, Cameron, Ill..

IMCA Stock Cars
A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Derek Coleman, New London; 2. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 3. Abe Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 4. Boe McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 5. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello; 6. Shawn Whiting, West Burlington; 7. Rod Staats, Columbus Jct.; 8. Donnie Steward, Burlington; 9. Adam Vantiger, Yarmouth; 10. Cole Simmons, Morning Sun; 11. Travis Plummer, Burlington; 12. Tim Breuer, Burlington; 13. Jeff Mueller, New London. Heat 01 ‹ 1. Abe Huls, Carthage, Ill.; 2. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello; 3. Adam Vantiger, Yarmouth; 4. Rod Staats, Columbus Jct.; 5. Travis Plummer, Burlington; 6. Cole Simmons, Morning Sun; 7. Donnie Steward, Burlington. Heat 02 ‹ 1. Tim Breuer, Burlington; 2. John Oliver, Jr., Danville; 3. Derek Coleman, New London; 4. Boe McLaughlin, Mediapolis; 5. Shawn Whiting, West Burlington; 6. Jeff Mueller, New London