DeFrance wins Championship at Iowa State Fair Speedway

By

David Wilkinson

DES MOINES, IA (July 28, 2006) - You can tell it’s the end regular racing season at the Iowa State Fair Speedway when you arrive at the track and see two huge carnival rides set up in the middle of pits. The pits serve as the midway during the fair. Friday night was as hot as opening night was cold, with temperatures in the low 90s on this program that the headline event was season championships for the IMCA late models.

Todd Cooney entered the IMCA late model race five points ahead of Darrell DeFrance as the cars lined up by points for the championship race. In order to win the championship, DeFrance needed to finish at least six positions ahead of Cooney. Promoter Mick Trier offered drivers in the first two rows, the JJAM challenge, and the opportunity to start from the rear for a chance to win a double purse if they win. They were no takers.

At the start of the 18-lap race, DeFrance shot into the lead with Cooney second. After several laps, DeFrance managed to distance himself from Cooney who continued to run second well ahead of third-place driver Mike Smith. On lap 11, Cooney’s left-rear tire went flat and he left the race two laps later. DeFrance kept the lead and as he approached the checkered smoke burst out of his car. After the race, he indicated he could not have continued another lap. Robert See ran second, Smith third and Craig Roberts fourth. Unofficially, the final standings show DeFrance with 468 points, Cooney with 460 and Craig Jacobs with 426.

There were two leaders in the IMCA modified main, Glen Gladson for the first half and Todd Inman for the second half. At one point when Inman led, he was closely followed by Josh Gilman, Dave Farren Jr. and Greg Cox. The final order of finish was Inman, Farren Jr., Gilman and Cox. The victory was the third in a row for Inman at the Speedway.

Ty Hill passed Terry McDowell for the lead on the third lap of the IMCA stock car feature. Hill was never alone with Greg Shepherd, Todd Fisher, and Josh Daniels chasing him at various times. On the last lap several cars passed Hill with Fisher and Daniels exiting turn four banging door-to-door competing for the lead. Both drivers were able to keep their cars pointed to the finish line with Fisher finishing first, Daniels second, Shepherd third, Steve Hill fourth, and Gary Bass fifth. After the race, Bob Daniels claimed the engine of Steve Hill, who refused to sell. Hill forfeited all winnings from the race and all IMCA points earned during the year.  Fisher’s victory was his first at the Speedway in the stock car division.

In the first IMCA hobby stock main, Troy Oliver took the early lead. On lap five several cars passed Oliver with Ron Prymek leading the group. On the next lap, Justin Maschke beat Prymek to the scoring line, but Prymek regained the lead on the next lap and held on to the checkered. Maschke finished second, Adam Hagen third, and Rob Allison fourth.

Steve Clair led all ten laps of the caution-marred second hobby feature. John Yaw Sr. was near Clair during much of the race and beside him in many turns. The top four at the checkered were Clair, Yaw, Ray Stock Jr. and Kevin Fee. After the race, Todd Bass claimed Clair’s engine.

In the Cookies BBQ truck series feature, Lou Sipolt was the leader from the start. Hungry for a victory, Sipolt worked to keep ahead of Mike Hoffman. Finally on the eighth lap of the 12-lap feature, Hoffman passed Sipolt. Hoffman held off Sipolt’s late race challenge to claim the victory. Sipolt finished second, Matt Waugh third, and Carl Moyer fourth.

In the IMCA SportMod feature, Chad Malone took the lead from his pole starting position. By lap four, Jacob Murray worked through the field to take second and begin to challenge Malone. Murray powered past Malone coming out of turn four on lap six. Murray won with Malone second, Kyle Wahlert third, and Rick Gladson fourth.

The dwarf cars made their fourth appearance of the season and Mike Morrill won with Andy Henniger second, Fred Schimmels third, and Jimmy May fourth.

This concludes regular Friday night racing for 2006. Next racing is Saturday morning August 12 during the Iowa State Fair. The Iowa State Fair Championships will include IMCA modifieds, stock cars, and hobby stocks with hot laps at 9:00 AM and racing starting around 10:00 AM. On Monday, August 16 the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models compete with hot laps at 5:30 PM and racing around 6:30 PM.

Season championships will be held Friday evening September 1 for IMCA modified stock cars, hobby stocks, SportMods, and Cookies BBQ truck series. Hot laps scheduled for 6:00 AM followed by racing.

Results

IMCA Late Models

Season Championship

IMCA Modifieds

Heat Winners

1.         John Davis, Altoona

2.         Todd Inman, Runnells

3.         Josh Gilman, Stuart

Feature

IMCA SportMods

Heat Winners

1.         Chad Malone, Monroe

2.         Jacob Murray, Hartford

Feature

IMCA Stock Cars

Heat Winners

1.         Steve Hill, Des Moines

2.         Gary Bass, Des Moines

3.         Don Killen, Des Moines

Feature

IMCA Hobby Stocks

Heat Winners

1.         Bruce Wolfe, Des Moines

2.         Kenny Hay, Des Moines

3.         Steve Clair, Des Moines

4.         John Yaw Sr., Des Moines

5.         Ron Prymek, Indianola

6.         Ray Scott Jr., Ankeny

Feature # 1

Feature #2

Cookies BBQ Truck Series

Heat Winners

1.         Bob Murray, Urbandale

2.         Bret Moyers, Polk City

Feature

Dwarf Cars

Heat Winners

1.         Mike Morrill, Altoona

2.         Jimmy May, DeSoto

Feature