IMCA CLASSES SEE EXPERIENCED DRIVERS TAKE THE CHECKERED FLAGS
by Jessica Errett

HARLAN, IA (June 24, 2006) – Experience paved the way for the drivers at the Shelby County Speedway. The perfect racing evening sponsored by Swanson Automotive observed strong repeat winners Todd Cooney, Jeff Stephens, David Smith, Matt McAtee, Donovan Smith, and Andrew Hicks travel to victory lane.

Don Beckstrom saw the early lead in the 20 lap IMCA Late Model A-Feature, but not for long as Vance Tonack slid under him to steal it the next lap with Todd Mason following his lead. During the second lap, hard-charging Todd Cooney began slickly progressing through the top runners and grabbed the front spot on the backstretch of lap 4. Two laps later, Robert See broke into the top four. As Cooney lengthened his dominating lead, See carefully worked his way to the front taking second position with seven laps to go. No one would catch Point leader Cooney, and he took the checkered flags followed by See, Tonack, and Mason.

Jeff Stephens sprinted out to the front spot on the first lap of the IMCA Modified A-main leaving Brad Madsen, Dave Hulsebus, and Tim Plowman in a close race for second. By lap 3, positions sorted out, and the front drivers were Stephens, Hulsebus, Madsen, and Craig Reetz. As Stephens stretched his lead to a full straightaway, Plowman made his move to claim fourth place on lap 10 and third position the next lap. Using the outside line, Plowman then picked up second place with six laps to go. The caution flag waved with only a few laps remaining bringing the field back together. A tight battle for second allowed Reetz to snag second place and Hulsebus third, but Stephens blew them all away with the win.

The 15 lap IMCA Stock Car Feature was led out of the gate by Dave Plowman, Rick Christensen, and Tim Bengard. On the second lap, Bengard moved into the second spot in turn two. A couple laps later, David Smith shifted up to third, while Bengard and Plowman raced side by side for the front position, swapping it several times. As soon as Bengard took control of first, Smith stole it and led the race to the finish. The white flag lap ended wildly putting Mike Nichols in second with Bengard and Keith Knop behind him.

Ryan Branz led the Pro-Am A-Feature followed by Mike Brown, Denny Berghahn Jr., and Matt McAtee. Four laps into the race, Brown, Branz, and McAtee ran three-wide for first across the front stretch. Point leader McAtee took the lead the next lap and did not let go of it. On lap 5, Galen Grabill, working the outside line, cracked into the fourth spot and two laps later into the third seat. McAtee took the win at the Shelby County Speedway, proving that he is the man to beat in the Pro-Ams.

The exciting 12 lap IMCA Hobby Stock A-Main began with a bang as Michael Murphy and Jim Lampe battled side by side for the top position with Joe Wollenhaupt, Jay Hansen and Heath Kasperbaur following. While Lampe pulled into first, Wollenhauput slid into second on the backstretch of lap 3, and Kasperbaur captured third, only to drop out of the race the next lap. Donovan Smith took the opportunity to claim third and then the second seat a few laps later, leaving a long road ahead to catch front runner Lampe. With three laps to go, Dustin Smith moved from fifth position to third in one lap. Donovan caught Lampe with only two laps left and made a daring move coming out of turn two to capture first and hold on for the race win, strengthening his point lead.

Daniel Mefferd led the first lap of the Hornet Feature leading a three-way battle for second between Andrew Hicks, Matt Steffens, and Willy Muhr. A collision on the next lap took out our leader, leaving Hicks in front and Muhr in spot number two. Brian Nevins made his move on lap 3 to steal fourth place and then third place with two to go. While Hicks grabbed the win at the Shelby County Speedway, Nevins seized a close second place finish coming out of turn four of the final lap.

Next Saturday will be The Big House Sports Bar and Grill night with gates opening at 5:00 pm, hot laps at 6:30 pm, and racing immediately following.

I.M.C.A. Late Models

A-Feature: 1. 30 Todd Cooney, Des Moines; 2. 30C Robert See, Altoona; 3. 1T Vance Tonack, Omaha; 4. 11 Todd Mason, Omaha; 5. 17M Phil Miller, Mo. Valley; 6. 1 Dave Jorgensen, Omaha; 7. 10 Jay Stewart, Blair, NE; 8. 33 Don Beckstrom, Carroll; 9. 5S Jeff Segebart, Westside; 10. 45 Barry Sorensen, Avoca; 11. 11F Randy Faux, Earlham; 12. 9 Mark Plowman, Elkhorn; 13. 2V Vic Lovejoy, Harlan; 14. 25 Frank Jorgensen, Carroll

1st Heat: Sorensen, Miller, Tonack, Plowman
2nd Heat: Stewart, Cooney, Mason, Jorgensen



I.M.C.A. Modifieds

A-Feature: 1. 92 Jeff Stephens, Arion; 2. 1R Craig Reetz, Dunlap; 3. 1 Dave Hulsebus, Tennant; 4. 17P Tim Plowman, Woodbine; 5. Z62 Dan McKeighan, Carter Lake; 6. 6C Eric Meents, Denison; 7. 54 Brad Madsen, Kimballton; 8. 3L Bub LeRette, C.B.; 9. 62 Greg Cox, Altoona; 10. 28 Chase Mewhirter, Atlantic; 11. 73 Travis Mewhirter, Atlantic; 12. 19J Jeff Jones, C.B.; 13. 2R Dale Ransom, Denison; 14. 12 Bill Osbahr, Avoca; 15. 2K Chad Preul, Westside; 16. 77 Dustin Jarillo

1st Heat: LeRette, Stephens, Reetz, Plowman
2nd Heat: McKeighan, Osbahr, Cox, Hulsebus


ProAms

A-Feature: 1. 6M Matt McAtee, Crescent; 2. 2 Mike Brown, Glenwood; 3. 4 Galen Grabill, Harlan; 4. 11K Kerry Kierscht, Denison; 5. 40 Charles Grabill, Harlan; 6. 96 Matt Smith; 7. 10 Ryan Brans; 8. 12 Ray Knipe, Glenwood; 9. 81 Dwain Pelzer, Malvern; 10. 6X Denny Berghahn, Omaha; 11. 7ET Sheldon Thompson, Glidden; 12. 6 Denny Berghahn, Jr., Omaha; 13. 71 Bill Hargens, Omaha

1st Heat: Galen Grabill, Pelzer, Charles Grabill, Brans
2nd Heat: McAtee, Kierscht, Brown, Hargens



I.M.C.A. Stock Cars

A-Feature: 1. 8 David Smith, Lake City; 2. 63 Mike Nichols, Harlan; 3. 19B Tim Bengard, Exira; 4. 10X Keith Knop, Avoca; 5. 92B Brian Blessington, Breda; 6. P42 Dave Plowman, Gretna; 7. 96 Jason Rold, Hancock; 8. 37X Rick Christensen, Audubon; 9. 76 Trent Partridge, Elk Horn; 10. 26 Bill Reetz, Carroll; 11. 23 Scott Sturm, Templeton; 12. 90 Andy Miller, Carson; 13. 23A Jeremy Gettler, Adair; 14. 29 Tanner Partridge, Walnut; 15. 56G Kevin Godwin, Earlham; 16. 1 Steve Curtis, Grimes; 17. 24B Randy Biederman, Dallas Center; 18. 69X Shane Nielsen, Panora

1st Heat: Knop, Plowman, Blessington, Reetz
2nd Heat: Smith, Bengard, Nichols, Christensen



I.M.C.A. Hobby Stocks

A-Feature: 1. 35 Donovan Smith, Lake City; 2. 22 Jim Lampe, Carroll; 3. 85 Dustin Smith, Lake City; 4. 4W Joe Wollenhaupt; 5. 3S Brian Snell, Coon Rapids; 6. 25M Michael Murphy, Jefferson; 7. 68+1 Blaine Petersen, Essex; 8. 25X Trent Murphy, Jefferson; 9. 55 Jason Fusselman, Shelby; 10. 20 Luke Wanninger, Jefferson; 11. 60 Tanner Powers, Exira; 12. 2X Chuck Madden Jr., Avoca; 13. 5G Tyler Griffen; 14. 14 Jay Hansen, Audubon; 15. 74N Jason Nielsen, Underwood; 16. 83 Mike Harris, Avoca; 17. 5D Brent Daringer, Persia; 18. 14K Kenny Hansen; 19. 121 Robert Tippery, C.B.; 20. 7W Willie Ransom, Irwin; 21. 77J Jerry Chapman, Avoca; 22. 1K Heath Kasperbaur; 23. 13 Louie Ring, Shelby; 24. 15 Dale Towne, Avoca; 25. 98 Derrick Rohe

1st Heat: Snell, Ring, Dustin Smith, Michael Murphy
2nd Heat: Wanninger, Jay Hansen, Lampe, Fusselman
3rd Heat: Donovan Smith, Kasperbaur, Madden Jr., Wollenhaupt



Hornets

A-Feature: 1. 26 Andrew Hicks, Dunlap; 2. 11N Bryan Nevins Jr, Des Moines; 3. 84 Willy Muhr, Exira; 4. 63x Matt Steffens, Atlantic; 5. 3 Joseph Mefferd, Dunlap; 6. 22 Shannon Mahlberg, Dunlap; 7. 38SS Scott Watts, Council Bluffs; 8. 35 Daniel Smith, Lake City; 9. 68 Daniel Mefferd, Dunlap

Heat: Hicks, Daniel Mefferd, Joseph Mefferd, Muhr