Iowa State Fair Speedway Winners – Cooney, Inman, Hill, Moyer, Bonnett, Stock, & Lundy

By David Wilkinson

DES MOINES, IA (July 21, 2006) -  Two weeks of hot weather broke Friday at the Iowa State Fair Speedway on the 14^th night of racing with temperatures in the high 70s and low 80s and a few showers. It was a night for great racing and some big crashes.

Tony Moro took the lead from Al Johnson on the third lap of the 18-lap IMCA late model feature and looked like the winner. By halfway through the race, Moro started to feel the heat from Craig Roberts, Terry Neal and Todd Cooney as they caught up with the leader. By the 15^th lap, Cooney managed to pass Moro using the high side with Moro trying to regain the lead. Two laps later, coming out of the turn four Moro had edged passed Cooney, but bobbled allowing Cooney to take first with Moro second, Neal third, and Roberts fourth. Darrell DeFrance entered the evening in the points lead and finished fifth. Next Friday is Season Championships for the late models.

Glen Gladson took the early lead in the IMCA modified feature with Todd Inman passing him one-third through the race. Inman gradually and steadily built a huge lead and won this race won without a caution. Bill Davis Jr. finished second, Pat Graham third, and Dave Farren Jr. fourth.

The IMCA stock car main had a surprise ending. Greg Shepherd took the lead at the start of the race. Steve Hill passed him on the third lap and then Danny Hill took the lead on the following lap and opened a substantial lead. The finish to the checkers was Danny Hill, Steve Hill, Mike Todd, Jeff Johnson and Gary Bass. During post-race inspections, Danny Hill was disqualified for an illegal tire, making Steve Hill the winner and moving everyone else up a spot. In a heat race, Don Killen was involved in an accident and required medical attention at the track.

Rex Bonnett, using the high side, passed Carl Knight halfway through the first IMCA hobby stock feature. On the next lap, the race was stopped due to an accident involving Adam Bonnett and John Allison. Allison’s car was upside down. A light rain started falling at the time and continued throughout the race. The finishing order was Rex Bonnett first, Knight second, Justin Maschke third, and John Yaw Sr. fourth. After the race, Brandon Behle claimed the engine of Rex Bonnett.

The second hobby main had two leaders, Kevin Hay at the beginning and Ray Stock Jr. for the remainder of the race. The race was stopped on the seventh lap with Matt Inman spinning with his car was on fire. The race ended with Stock winning, Hay second, Rob Allison third, and Bruce Wolfe fourth. After the race, Terry Hurly claimed Hay’s engine.

The Cookies BBQ dirt truck series race was exciting and scary. Lou Sipolt took the lead at the beginning, but it was not long before Carl Moyer had worked his way to challenge Sipolt. On lap four, Moyer passed Sipolt and opened a small lead. A caution halfway through the race tightened the field and Sipolt kept trying to regain the lead. On the last lap, a major crash on the backstretch involving Rick Clark and Brian Murray brought out the red flag. Sheet metal was flying in every which direction from this violent crash. It took a while to extricate Murray, who was conscious and transported to a local hospital. The finishing order was based on the previous lap - Moyer, Sipolt, Tony Moro, and John Cochran.

The IMCA SportMod main had Kyle Wahlert taking the lead with Rick Gladson and Ryan Lundy challenging him at various times during the race. On the last lap, Lundy roared passed Wahlert using the high line in turns three and four and took the checkered first followed by Wahlert, Gladson, and Jacob Murray.

Racing continues next Friday evening with the IMCA late model season championship, and a regular program of IMCA modifieds, hobby stocks, SportMods, and Cookies BBQ Truck Series. Hot laps are scheduled for 6:00 PM with racing following.

Results

IMCA Late Models

Heat Winners

1.         Terry Neal, Ely

2.         Todd Cooney, Des Moines

3.         Craig Roberts, Des Moines

Feature

IMCA Modifieds

Heat Winners

1.         Greg Cox, Altoona

2.         Todd Inman, Runnells

Feature

IMCA SportMods

Heat Winners

1.         Ryan Lundy, Knoxville

Feature

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat Winners

1.         Carl Yaw Jr., Des Moines

2.         Steve Hill, Des Moines

3.         Gary Bass, Des Moines

Feature

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat Winners

1.         Justin Maschke, Des Moines

2.         John Yaw Sr., Des Moines

3.         John Allison, Des Moines

4.         Bruce Wolfe, Des Moines

5.         Cody Cleghorn, Des Moines

6.         Greg Hower, Des Moines

Feature # 1

Feature #2

Cookies BBQ Truck Series

Heat Winners

1.         Carl Moyer, Ankeny

2.         Pat Fagen, Des Moines

Feature