REETZ WINS KING OF THE HILL AT SHELBY COUNTY SPEEDWAY; COONEY AND McATEE ROLLING WITH THREE IN A ROW
by Bonnie Errett

HARLAN, Ia (July 1, 2006) – Todd Cooney and Matt McAtee are on a roll at Shelby County Speedway, each collecting their third win in a row for Big House Sports Bar and Grill night at Shelby County Speedway.

The Modified King of the Hill was run Saturday night with the top drivers from each heat race participating. Craig Reetz defeated Bub LeRette in the semi-final while Jeff Stephens held off Greg Cox to make it to the final two. Reetz inched ahead at the start of the finals with Stephens staying glued on his back end. Stephens pushed on the low side, making a last attempt in turn three, but Reetz victoriously held the lead to become the 2006 Modified King of the Hill winner.

Vic Lovejoy took the IMCA Late Models into their feature as Robert See shot into second right behind him. Jeff Segebart grabbed hold of third, and by the end of the first lap, Barry Sorensen had fourth. The second lap found See with the lead as Segebart followed into second. Five laps into the race, Todd Cooney, coming from a tenth starting position, captured third and one lap later had second. Cooney moved up to take on his teammate, See, for the lead, and at the halfway point, Cooney was out front as Sorensen took third. Cooney stretched out his lead while Jay Stewart looked for a way around Sorensen. On the final lap, Stewart took control and got around the low side of Sorensen for third. Cooney checked off win number four as he pulled into victory lane.

By turn four of the first lap of the IMCA Modified feature, Jeff Stephens was at the front of the pack. Through the middle of Mike Albertsen and Dale Ransom, Brad "Blackie" Madsen pushed up to second. Four laps in, Bub LeRette took the inside route into third and at nine to go, got around Madsen for second. Stephens maintained an untouchable lead throughout the race. Greg Cox took on Madsen on the final lap of the race, and coming off of turn four, Cox took the third spot before reaching the checkered flags. Leading the entire twenty lap caution-free race, Stephens acquired his fourth win at the track for the 2006 season.

At the end of the first lap of the ProAm feature, chaos down the front stretch knocked out five cars from the starting line-up. Denny Berghahn took charge at the restart ahead of Matt McAtee and Bill Hargens. Luke LeRette moved up to third on the second lap, and coming off turn four, McAtee stole the lead. As McAtee pulled away, Berghahn and LeRette battled for second, with LeRette hanging on to the position. Mike Brown made his move for third with six to go, and at two laps remaining, he took second in the outside of turn four. With a strong lead over second, McAtee drove to victory lane for his tenth time this season.

The IMCA Stock Cars were first led by Tanner Partridge, but he unfortunately spun on the second lap of the race, giving Dave Plowman first. One lap later, Brian Blessington, who started eighth, took second in turn two and had the lead by turn four. Down the backstretch, three contended for second with David Smith claiming the position ahead of Tim Bengard and Plowman. Smith moved up to challenge Blessington for first at nine to go and stole the front spot. Blessington stayed on Smith’s tail and with two remaining pulled along the low side of the leader. Smith powered forward and took the checkered flags for his fifth win at the speedway.

By the end of lap one of the IMCA Hobby Stock feature, Kenny Hansen had the front position ahead of Brent Daringer and Jay Hansen. The caution was thrown on the second lap of the race, after which Chuck Madden Jr. picked through the field to make it up to third. Donovan Smith was next to pave his way to the front, reaching second with six to go. Smith smoothly continued into the lead, but unluckily rolled his car over in turn four. The wreck took Daringer out of the race as well, leaving Madden Jr. our front and Hansen in second. With two to go, Heath Kasperbaur swept up second as Clay Christian joined the top four. Ecstatically pulling into victory lane was Madden Jr. with his first win of the season.

Bayley Nicholl was the first leader of the Hornet feature with Daniel Mefferd falling into second right behind. Andrew Hicks and Daniel Smith took Mefferd three-wide for second at the end of lap one with Smith prevailing and moving up to take the lead. Mefferd stayed close, taking second. At three to go, Chris Shanno picked up third in front of Matt Steffens, and Smith went on to collect his first feature win of the season.

Next Saturday gates open at 5:00 pm, with hot laps at 6:30 pm, and racing immediately following.

Results for 07/01/06

I.M.C.A. Late Models

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

1st Heat: Cooney, Stewart, Jorgensen, Segebart

2nd Heat: Miller, Sorensen, See, Mason

I.M.C.A. Modifieds

A-Feature: 1. 92 Jeff Stephens, Arion; 2. 3L Bub LeRette, C.B.; 3. 62 Greg Cox, Altoona; 4. 54 Brad Madsen, Kimballton; 5. 25 Ricky Stephan, S. Sioux City, NE; 6. 1 Dave Hulsebus, Tennant; 7. 17P Tim Plowman, Woodbine; 8. Z62 Dan McKeighan, Carter Lake; 9. 1R Craig Reetz, Dunlap; 10. 2L Adam Larson, Ames; 11. 91B B.J. Bruck, Westphalia; 12. 6C Eric Meents, Denison; 13. 28 Chase Mewhirter, Atlantic; 14. 73 Travis Mewhirter, Atlantic; 15. 77 Dustin Jarillo; 16. 11 Chad Dills, Shelby; 17. 2R Dale Ransom, Denison; 18. 3 Mike Albertsen, Audubon; 19. 12 Bill Osbahr, Avoca; 20. 2K Chad Preul, Westside

1st Heat: Reetz, LeRette, Albertsen, Plowman

2nd Heat: Stephens, Ransom, McKeighan, Stephan

3rd Heat: Madsen, Cox, Dills, Hulsebus

ProAms

A-Feature: 1. 6M Matt McAtee, Crescent; 2. 2 Mike Brown, Glenwood; 3. 4L Luke LeRette, C.B.; 4. 4 Galen Grabill, Harlan; 5. 6X Denny Berghahn, Omaha; 6. 6 Denny Berghahn, Jr., Omaha; 7. 7 Jim Kruse, Omaha; 8. 96 Matt Smith; 9. 7ET Sheldon Thompson, Glidden; 10. 71 Bill Hargens, Omaha; 11. 10 Ryan Brans; 12. 81 Dwain Pelzer, Malvern; 13. 40 Charles Grabill, Harlan; 14. 12 Ray Knipe, Glenwood; 15. 13 Louie Ring, Shelby

1st Heat: Berghahn, Jr., Brown, Berghahn, LeRette

2nd Heat: McAtee, Charles Grabill, Smith, Hargens

I.M.C.A. Stock Cars

A-Feature: 1. 8 David Smith, Lake City; 2. 92B Brian Blessington, Breda; 3. 76 Trent Partridge, Elk Horn; 4. P42 Dave Plowman, Gretna; 5. 01U Chirs Ullrich, Kiron; 6. 38 Josh Filmer, Lake City; 7. 37X Rick Christensen, Audubon; 8. 96 Jason Rold, Hancock; 9. 69X Shane Nielsen, Panora; 10. 19B Tim Bengard, Exira; 11. 29 Tanner Partridge, Walnut; 12. 63 Mike Nichols, Harlan; 13. 24B Randy Biederman, Dallas Center; 14. ZR1 Ryan Webb, Denison; 15. 4K Mick King, C.B.; 16. 10X Keith Knop, Avoca; 17. 23 Scott Sturm, Templeton; 18. 1 Steve Curtis, Grimes; 19. 56G Kevin Godwin, Earlham

1st Heat: Smith, Plowman, Webb, Filmer

2nd Heat: Bengard, Blessington, Curtis, King

I.M.C.A. Hobby Stocks

A-Feature: 1. 2X Chuck Madden Jr., Avoca; 2. 1K Heath Kasperbaur; 3. 14 Jay Hansen, Audubon; 4. 83C Clay Christian, Avoca; 5. 60 Tanner Powers, Exira; 6. 3S Brian Snell, Coon Rapids; 7. 55 Jason Fusselman, Shelby; 8. 4W Joe Wollenhaupt; 9. 5G Tyler Griffen; 10. 14K Kenny Hansen; 11. 25M Michael Murphy, Jefferson; 12. 7W Willie Ransom, Irwin; 13. 121 Robert Tippery, C.B.; 14. 14C Joseph Cartier, Ida Grove; 15. 17W Tim Wilcox, Ida Grove; 16. 35 Donovan Smith, Lake City; 17. 85 Dustin Smith, Lake City; 18. 32 Tyler Hunter, Jefferson; 19. 99 Jesse Sobbing, Glenwood; 20. 25X Trent Murphy, Jefferson; 21. 74N Jason Nielsen, Underwood; 22. 98 Derrick Rohe; 23. 68+1 Blaine Petersen, Essex; 24. 16X Charlie Bird; 25. 15 Dale Towne, Avoca; 26. 5D Brent Daringer, Persia

1st Heat: Murphy, Dustin Smith, Jay Hansen, Wollenhaupt

2nd Heat: Donovan Smith, Daringer, Madden Jr., Kenny Hansen

3rd Heat: Nielsen, Petersen, Powers, Griffen

Hornets

A-Feature: 1. 35 Daniel Smith, Lake City; 2. 68 Daniel Mefferd, Dunlap; 3. 38S Chris Shanno, Council Bluffs; 4. 63x Matt Steffens, Atlantic; 5. 26 Andrew Hicks, Dunlap; 6. 84 Willy Muhr, Exira; 7. 22 Shannon Mahlberg, Dunlap; 8. 3 Joseph Mefferd, Dunlap; 9. 2 Corey Madden, Avoca; 10. 00 Bayley Nicholl, Audubon; 11. 3C Cody Klein, Harlan

1st Heat: Hicks, Muhr, Joseph Mefferd, Mahlberg

2nd Heat: Daniel Mefferd, Steffens, Smith, Shanno