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CHAD SIMPSON ROCKETS TO WDRL FIREWORKS WIN AT CLAY COUNTY Iowa driver grabs the lead on the first circuit By Bucky Doren WORLD Dirt Racing League SPENCER, IA (July 4) - Chad Simpson made his own fireworks, in a manner of speaking, as he drove to the WORLD Dirt Racing League Late Model Series win here last night at Clay County Speedway. Simpson, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, led all 50 laps despite a series of caution flags that kept the field close. Simpson started on the outside front row and had the lead as he and polesitter Denny Eckrich, of Tiffin, Iowa, came off of turn two. Simpson then rode the top shelf to the win. "My little brother (Chris) said, 'I suppose you're going to run the cushion'" the older Simpson recalled in Victory Lane. "I like to run there, but it's more about running where the track is fast, and tonight it was going to be tough to pass anyone on the bottom. "I have got to thank my crew," Simpson went on to say following the last of three races in a WDRL holiday week swing. "It's been a great three days for us. This car is awesome! They've worked their butts off setting this car up, and it paid off big tonight." The win at Clay County Speedway was Simpson's first of 2008 and his first WDRL career win. Going into the action, Simpson was hoping to gain ground on WDRL Late Model Series point leader John Kaanta, of Elk Mound, Wis. He did with the victory, but only by the slimmest of margins. That's because Kaanta ran toward the front all night and took home second. But Kaanta really had to work for the runner-up spot. He was forced to battle with Denny Eckrich and Jason Utter, of Columbus Junction, Iowa, through the second half of the main event. Eventually Eckrich and Utter, while fighting for the same piece of racing real estate, collected each other on turn two. Both were done for the night. Chris Simpson drove to a third-place finish. That wasn't easy as mud had packed into his right rear wheel and made his car a handful to keep under control. Eric Pember, of Pittsville, Wis., and Chris Spieker, of Messena, Iowa, rounded out the top five, respectively. The WORLD Dirt Racing League wishes to thank these series sponsors: Hoosier Racing Tires, Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation, CrashedToys.com, Chase Signs and Graphics, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Hooker Harness, Fast Shafts, Lincoln Electric, Performance Bodies, QA-1 Motorsports, The Brake Man and Wyman Ford. For more information on the WORLD Dirt Racing League or the latest WDRL Late Model Series schedule, check out the WORLD Dirt Racing League's Web site, www.worldraceleague.com. RACE REPORT CLAY COUNTY SPEEDWAY SPENCER, IOWA FRIDAY, JULY 4, 2008 WDRL / CRASHEDTOYS.COM QUALIFYIER 1: 10 Laps 1. Denny Eckrich, 2. Eric Pember, 3. John Kanta, 4. Matt Furman, 5. Skip Frey, 6. Rick Hanestad, 7. Gary Webb. WDRL / CRASHEDTOYS.COM QUALIFYIER 2: 10 Laps 1. Andrew McKay, 2. Chad Simpson, 3. Chris Simpson, 4. Chris Spieker, 5.Dave Eckrich, 6. Dennis Hillson, 7. Randy Rosenbloom. WDRL / CRASHEDTOYS.COM QUALIFYIER 3: 10 Laps 1. Curt Martin, 2. Jeremy Grady, 3. Rob Moss, 4. Jason Utter, 5. Jason O'Brien, 6. Alonzo Grosse, 7. Frank Heckenast Jr. IOWA-ILLINOIS TAYLOR INSULATION POLE DASH: 6 Laps (determined starting position for the feature) 1. Denny Eckrich, 2. Chad Simpson, 3. Curt Martin, 4. Andrew McKay, 5.John Kaanta, 6. Jeremy Grady, 7. Rob Moss, 8. Eric Pember. WDRL FEATURE: 50 Laps 1. Chad Simpson, 2. John Kaanta, 3. Chris Simpson, 4. Eric Pember, 5. Chris Spieker, 6. Rick Hanestad, 7. Dave Eckrich, 8. Matt Furman, 9. Dennis Hillson, 10. Jeremy Grady, 11. Curt Martin, 12. Randy Rosenbloom, 13. Gary Webb, 14. Alonzo Grosse, 15. Andrew McKay, 16. Jason O'Brien, 17. Denny Eckrich, 18. Jason Utter, 19. Frank Heckenast Jr., 20. Rob Moss, 21. Skip Frey. WDRL CONTINGENCY AWARDS: IOWA-ILLINOIS TAYLOR INSULATION POLE DASH: Denny Eckrich, Chad Simpson, Curt Martin QA-1 MOTORSPORTS PASSING POINTS: Curt Martin CHASE HARD LUCK AWARD: Frank Heckenast Jr. DESIGN 500: Eric Pember BRAKE MAN: Chad Simpson CHAMP PANS: John Kaanta PERFORMANCE BODIES: Chris Simpson BSB MANUFACTORING: Rick Hanestad FAST SHAFTS: Dave Eckrich HOOKER HARNESS: Matt Furman WDRL PROVISIONALS: N/A CHASE SIGNS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Jeremy Grady, Frank Heckenast Jr. CHASSIS: MasterSbilt |