Iowa State Fair Mid-Season Championships to Toland, Farren, Johnson, Moyer, Hagen and Murray

By David Wilkinson

DES MOINES, Ia  (June 2, 2006) -  Mid-season championships were held Friday night at the Iowa State Fair Speedway. Two first-time winners this season took the checkered first – Dave Farren Jr. in the IMCA modifieds and Jeff Johnson in the IMCA stock cars. Repeat winners were Rob Toland, IMCA late models; Adam Hagen, IMCA hobby stocks; Jacob Murray, IMCA SportMods, and Carl Moyer, Cookies BBQ truck series.

Promoter Mick Trier continued to offer drivers in the front two rows the JJAM Challenge – start in the back and collect a double purse if you win the race. Some drivers accepted the challenge and added to the racing excitement.

Rob Toland started the IMCA late model on the outside of the front row and led all 18 laps. At times, he left the second place car of Darrell DeFrance a third of a lap behind. At the finish it was Toland, De France, Todd Cooney, and Craig Jacobs. After the race, DeFrance continues to lead Toland by two points.

The IMCA modified feature also had the outside front row driver led all the laps. Dave Farren Jr. had a tough race as Greg Cox chased him for several laps and tried to sneak under him in the corners, but couldn’t finish the pass. On the sixth lap, Cox drifted high in turn three allowing Todd Inman by. Inman set his sights on Farren Jr, got close, but could not pass as Farren drove a smooth race. Inman finished second, Pat Graham third, and Todd Shute fourth. The season point’s leader is Farren Jr. by one point over Cox after the race. Cox finished in 13^th position.

The pattern continued in the IMCA stock car main with the outside the pole car taking the early lead. Bob Daniels led the first laps with Jeff Johnson right on his back bumper. Then for several laps, Johnson was able to position his car beside Daniels, but not complete the pass. Finally on lap 11 of the 15-lap race, Johnson steered by Daniels and led the field to the checkered flag followed by Daniels, Mike Todd, and Steve Jackson. Johnson increased his points lead over Daniels to eight points.

The IMCA SportMod feature saw three different leaders in a very competitive race. Ryan Lundy took the early lead from pole sitter Jacob Murray whose car bobbled in the first turn of the first lap. Lundy opened a nice lead over Kyle Wahlert who slowly and steadily closed the gap. By lap six of the ten lap race, Wahlert was nearby and two laps later passed Lundy. On the ninth lap, Wahlert’s car hit the wall in the middle of turn three and four and a caution was thrown on the final lap, causing a yellow-checkered finish. The winner was Jacob Murray with Bugs Vincent second, Rick Gladson third, and Lundy fourth. Murray increased his points lead over Gladson and Lundy to eight and nine points respectively.

The IMCA hobby stock feature was a thriller with point’s leader Bill Bonnett accepting the JJAM challenge and started in back of the 24 car field. Ray Stock Jr. took the early lead with Adam Hagen right on his tail. Bonnett started immediately moving through the field. He continually entered turn one low and fast, and was able to make that line work for him. By the ninth lap he had moved to third and was running near Stock, Hagen and followed by his nephew Adam Bonnett. On lap 10, Bill Bonnett and another car of the bunch collided and Bonnett went flying into the inside retaining wall at the start of turn three bringing out a caution and ending his race. Hagen passed Stock during this time and held on for the victory with Stock second, Bill Dawson third and Adam Bonnett fourth. This race changed the point’s race as Bill Bonnett entered 11 points ahead of Dawson. After the race, the new leader was Ray Stock Jr (292), followed by Dawson (291), Adam Hagen (290) and Bill Bonnett (287). After the race, Rex Bonnett claimed the engine of Stock Jr.

In the Cookies BBQ truck series race, point leader Matt Waugh accepted the JJAM Challenge. Rick Clark took the lead with Carl Moyer either right behind or beside him for several laps. The two trucks came together coming down the front stretch on the fifth lap and each driver was able to control the vehicle and hold their position. Two laps later, Moyer took the lead and opened a small lead first ahead of Clark and then ahead of Pat Fagen. Moyer won the race with Fagen second, Bret Moyer third, and Mike Hoffman fourth. Waugh found it tough going as he worked through the field. He managed to finish sixth. Moyer switched with Waugh as the points leader as a result of the race.

On championship nights, the dwarf cars join the card and run a full program. Mike Morrill has dominated the competition winning every dwarf car feature at the track in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The dwarf cars were offered a version of the JJAM challenge as the winners of the two heats, Morrill and Troy Hudson, were offered an increased purse for starting in the back and wining. Both drivers accepted.

Jimmy May took the lead at the drop of the green with Randy Bryan in second. Hudson and Morrill started moving easily through the pack. By lap four, Hudson was leading with Bryan still in second. Morrill exited the track with mechanical problems. Hudson opened a large lead and won easily. Bryan in second, May third, and Fred Schimmels was fourth.

There will be no racing next Friday June 9^th as the Fairgrounds hosts the annual Pork Expo. Racing continues Friday June 16th featuring IMCA late models, modifieds, hobby stocks, SportMods, and Cookies BBQ Truck Series. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:00 PM with racing following.

Results

IMCA Late Models

Mid-Season Championships

IMCA Modifieds

Mid-Season Championships

IMCA SportMods

Mid-Season Championships

IMCA Stock Cars

Mid-Season Championships

IMCA Hobby Stocks

B-Feature Winners

1.         Mike Johnston, Des Moines

2.         Paul Wheeler, Des Moines

Mid-Season Championships

Cookies BBQ Truck Series

Mid-Season Championships

Dwarf Cars

Heat Winners

1.         Troy Hudson

2.         Mike Morrill, Altoona

Feature