Mark Burgtorf gets $800 for late model win at 34 Raceway; Gavin gets first win
Photos and Story By Dana Royer/34 Raceway

BURLINGTON, IA (July 28) ­ It was Christmas in July night at 34 Raceway on Saturday, July 28. The decorations were hung and Santa made a special appearance at the 3/8 mile. Five classes of cars competed for points with a special late model extravaganza featuring $800 to the winner of the 25 lap feature. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Illinois went home with the $800 after taking the checkered flag . Darin Thye, (modifieds), Burlington, Jayson Ditsworth (sprints), Gladstone, Il., and Jeff Mueller (stock cars), New London, all got repeat wins for the year. In just his third time out this year, Matt Gavin, Kirkwood, Il, took the checkered flag in the hobby stock feature. With just three points races remaining for the late models and sprints and four for the stock cars, hobby stocks and modifieds, its serious business as they compete for the coveted track championship.

Coming up this week at 34 Raceway will be Burlington Bank & Trust Night. Wear your favorite race car drivers t-shirt and receive a free fountain pop to the first 500 fans! Don¹t miss out at intermission as your class point leaders race each other on bikes. The bikes will then be given away to Jr. Fan Club winners after the race sponsored by Sebastian Sandblasting, Olson Brothers Custom Shop, Family Motors, Roberts Tire Center & Samberg Racing. Burlington Bank & Trust Clients, bring your checkbook or bank card and receive $1 off general grandstand admission!

A special Late Model extravaganza was added to this week¹s action with $800 going to the winner of the 25 lap main event. Twenty six cars competed for the 24 spots through three heat races and a B feature. Leading the field would be Matt Ryan and Sam Halstead with their front row starts. Halstead took and early but brief lead before giving it up to Mark Burgtorf by lap two. Although, not a regular competitor at 34 Raceway, Burgtorf is not unfamiliar with 34 winning the Pepsi Late Model Nationals twice and a race earlier this year. With Burgtorf in the lead, fellow Quincy, Illinois racer, Lonnie Bailey, had his sights on the leader. Bailey got by Sam Halstead on lap seven but would not be able to catch the leader. The only caution of the race would come out on lap twelve giving Bailey the possible chance he needed. But it would not be the night for Bailey as Burgtorf again pulled away and took the checkered flag. Bailey finished second and moving up to take third from his fifth row start would be Jay Johnson. Bailey extended his point lead by 13 with his second place finish over Tom Bowling Jr. who finished fourth.

In just his third week of competition at 34 Raceway, Kirkwood, Illinois¹ Matt Gavin topped the twenty seven car field for his first win. Gavin took the lead from his second row start on the first lap. With Gavin out in front the battle for second would go on behind him between Randy Wachter, Alex Buffington, Doug Fenton and Jim Lynch. The four would exchange positions several times throughout the fifteen lap race with Wachter winning the battle to finish second. Following a restart on the first lap the only caution of the race would come out on lap two. In the points race, Tanner Thomann is tied with Luke McLaughlin, each with 457 points while Jake Wenig follows closely with 450.

Eighteen IMCA modifieds took to the track with Dave Anderson on the front row. Anderson took the early lead followed by last week¹s winner, Dennis LaVeine and Darin Thye. LaVeine took advantage of a bobble by Anderson in turns one and two to get the second lead of the race. But one lap later on lap six, Darin Thye would take his turn. Thye got by LaVeine and Anderson for the final lead change of the race. Following a caution with three laps to go of the twenty lap feature Thye would have to work to hold of LaVeine and Bill Roberts. Roberts would take over second on lap nineteen but couldn¹t catch Thye as he took the checkered flag for the third time this year. Rich Smith continues to hold a comfortable points lead with 511 points followed by Roberts with 485.

Jeff Mueller, New London, won his third IMCA Stock Car feature this year topping the twenty one car field. Cole Simmons and Rod Staats battled for the lead early before Mueller and John Oliver joined the group. Mueller got by Staats on lap eight working to hold off Oliver. The two raced side by side , bumper to bumper . With one lap to go, Oliver pulled along side of the leader on the bask stretch but couldn¹t catch Mueller as Mueller took the checkered flag by 1 1/2 car lengths. In the points race, Todd Holsteen continues his lead with 469 followed by Oliver with 454. Gladstone, Illinois¹ Jayson Ditsworth won his second Zaiser Fabrication 305 sprint feature in three weeks at 34 Raceway. Ditsworth took the lead from Donnie Steward on lap four of the fifteen lap feature. By the end of the race, Ditsworth had gained a nearly 4 second lead for Steward working the high side of the track. Steward finished second and Justin Newberry took third. Ditsworth holds a narrow eight point lead over Steward 453 to 445 followed by Newberry with 438 Season championship for late models and sprints will be Saturday, August 25. Season championship for modifieds, stock cars and hobby stocks will be Sept. 1


34 Raceway Results from Saturday, July 28

J & J STEEL/IDEAL READY MIX IMCA LATE MODELS

FEATURE: 1. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Il., 2. Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Il., 3. Jay Johnson, West Burlington, Ia., 4. Tom Bowling, Danville, Ia, 5. Matt Ryan, Davenport, Ia., 6. Rob Tolland, Bettendorf, I., 7. Brian Harris, Davenport, Ia., 8. Gary Russell, Biggsville, Il., 9. Matt Strassheim, Burlington, Ia., 10. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Ia., 11.11. Ron Elbe, Augusta, Il., 12. Keith Pratt, Mendon, Il., 13. Jeremy Grady, Story City, Ia., 14. Kevin Tomlinson, New London, Mo., 15. Tom Goble, Burlington, Ia., 16. Matt Bailey, Il., 17. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun, Ia., 18. Hershel Roberts, East Moline, Il., 19. Joey Gower, Quincy, Il., 20. Ben Nading, Ankeny, Ia., 21. Jason Bahrs, 22. Sam Halstead, New London, Ia., 23. Boone McLaughlin, Ia., 24. Johnny Johnson, Burlington, Ia., HEAT WINNERS: Elbe, Johnson, L. Bailey, B-Feature: Goble.


MILLER LITE MODIFIEDS

FEATURE; 1. Darin Thye, Burlington, Ia., 2. Bill Roberts, Jr, Burlington, 3. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington, Ia., 4. Mike Weikert, Jr., Muscatine, Ia., 5. Mitch Higdon, Fort Madison, Ia., 6. Rich Smith, Davenport, Ia., 7. Chris Larson, Keokuk, Ia., 8. Bill Parks, Colchester, Il., 9. Tyler Cale, Donnellson, Ia., 10. Dean McGee, Galesburg, Il., 11. Elmer Arnold, Sperry, Ia., 12. Andy Krieger, West Burlington, 13. Dave Anderson, Burlington, I a., 14. Norm Brakeville, Monmouth, Il., 15. Adam Swanson, Burlington, Ia., 16. Phillip Cossel, Montrose, Ia., 17. Jared Schlipman, Mendon, Il., 18. David Goble, Burlington, Ia. HEAT WINNERS: LaVeine, Smith, Anderson.

IMCA STOCK CARS

FEATURE: 1. Jeff Mueller, New London, Ia., 2. John Oliver, Jr., Danville, Ia., 3. Rod Staats, Columbus Jct., Ia., 4. Cole Simmons, Morning Sun, Ia., 5. Chris Wibbell, Dallas City, Il., 6. Todd Holsteen, Burlington, Ia., 7. Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, Ia., 8. Abe Huls, Carthage, Il., 9. Darin Thye, Burlington, Ia., 10. Derek Goble, Burlington, Ia., 11. Nick Fenton, Mt. Pleasant, Ia., 12. Greg Johnson, Burlington, Ia., 13. Chris Webb, Biggsville, Il., 14. Tim Breuer, Burlington, Ia., 15. Derek Coleman, New London, I., 16. Shawn Whiting, West Burlington, Ia., 17. Patrick Mincer, Columbus Junction, Ia., 18. John Brockway, Morning Sun, Ia., 19. Shane Watts, Burlington, Ia., 20. Corey Strothman, New London, Ia., 21. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello, Ia., HEAT WINNERS: Webb, Kinsley, Staats.

ZAISER FABRICATION 305 SPRINTS

FEATURE: 1. Jayson Ditsworth, Gladstone, Il., 2. Donnie Steward, West Burlington, Ia., 3. Justin Newberry, West Burlington, Ia., 4. Mark Ellerfritz, Carthage, Il., 5. Brian Hetrick, Stronghurst, Il., 6. Kevin Hetrick, Gladstone, Il., 7. Seth Wilke Burlington, Ia., 8. Scott Boles, New London, Ia., 9. Dustin Whiting, Burlington, 10. Monte Hill, Fairfield, Ia., 11. Gary Bonar, Burlington, Ia. HEAT WINNERS: B. Hetrick, Steward.

PEPSI HOBBY STOCKS

FEATURE: 1. Matt Gavin, Kirkwood, Il., 2. Randy Wachter, Burlington, Ia., 3. Alex Buffington, Wapello, Ia., 4. Doug Fenton, Burlington, Ia., 5. Jim Lynch, Donnellson, Ia., 6. Jake Wenig, Burlington, Ia., 7. Tanner Thomann, West Burlington, Ia., 8. Luke McLaughlin, Mediapolis, Ia., 9. Blaine Dopler, Wapello, Ia., 10. Jason Gerdes, Lomax, Il., 11. Dan Wenig, West Burlington, Ia., 12. Chuck Underwood, Burlington, Ia., 13. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, Ia., 14. Brodie Dopler, Wapello, Ia., 15. Keith Reed, Fowler, Il., 16. Jamie Smith, Monmouth, Il., 17. Sky Griffith, Wapello, Ia., 18. Ed Sammons, Rome, Ia., 19. Chuck Fullencamp, Ft. Madison, Ia.,. 20. Cale Samberg, Burlington, Ia., 21. Brandon Peitz, Burlington, Ia., 22. Chad Witte, Burlington, Ia., 23. David Tedrow, Salem, Ia., 24. Shawn Whiting, West Burlington, Ia., 25. Ray Raker, Danville, Ia., 26. Russell Passmore, Burlington. HEAT WINNERS: Reed, Lynch, Gavin.