SMITH CRUISES TO WDRL WIN AT ECHO VALLEY SPEEDWAY
Former series champ outruns Chad Simpson on lap 14 to grab win
By Tom Lathen - WORLD Dirt Racing League

WEST UNION, IA (July 1, 2006) - Brady Smith grabbed the lead from polesitter Chad Simpson on lap 14 Saturday night and cruised to a comfortable win in the Echo Valley 50, a WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series event, here at Echo Valley Speedway.

The event, which had been delayed for more than two hours after high winds and rain swept through the area, netted the former series champion a top prize of $5,000.

"It's nice to get the AMSOIL/Big Red Motorsports car in Victory Lane," commented Smith in AMSOIL Victory Lane. "We've had kind of a tough first half of the season, and we finally have our car going good.

"The crew did a great job tonight, and the race track couldn't have been any better." He added, "I've been here twice and both times it's rained. They worked their tails off tonight getting this track packed in, just like they did in 2004 when we were here, and as racers, we really appreciate that."

After a runner-up finish in the Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash, Smith started the 50-lapper on the outside front row and settled into the runner-up position as polesitter Chad Simpson darted to the advantage at the drop of the green flag.

The two frontrunners ran wheel to wheel over the first dozen circuits with Simpson placing his Five-Star Shop Service-sponsored car number 25 at the top side of the half-mile northeast Iowa speed plant and Smith trying to sneak by on the bottom.

After numerous attempts to grab the lead, Smith outran the race leader as the duo raced out of turn two and down the back straightaway on lap 14 to secure the point.

"Chad had a real good car, and he got the jump on me and got to the preferred line," noted Smith. "The car was working pretty good down there, but it wasn't really where we wanted to be."

Added the winner: "We got a real strong run on him on the bottom out of (turn) four, got under him down the front straightaway and got up into the preferred line and took off from there."

With the leaders working through slower traffic, the caution flag flew on lap 32 when central Nebraska veteran Al Humphrey slowed halfway down the back straightaway. Before racing resumed, the two series point leaders, Brian Harris and Denny Eckrich, both made pit stops to change flat tires.

When racing resumed, Smith placed his AMSOIL/MasterSbilt/Pro Power Chevrolet Monte Carlo at the top of the race track and weaved his way through slower traffic without incident to seal the victory.

"I was glad to see that caution come out," noted Smith. "I don't know if I was pushing it a little too hard, but our tires actually were getting a little warm.

"When the caution came out, the tires cooled back down and the car was much better."

Simpson held on for a second-place finish, with Harris rocketing back through the field after his lap-32 pit stop to finish third. Chris Simpson held off Spencer, Wisconsin's Kerry Hansen to finish fourth followed by Steve Boley, Jeff Aikey and Gary Webb.

For more information on WDRL or the latest PolyDome Late Model Series schedule, check out the WORLD Dirt Racing League's Web site, www.worldraceleague.com.

RACE REPORT
ECHO VALLEY SPEEDWAY
WEST UNION, IOWA
SATURDAY, JULY 1, 2006

First PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Brady Smith; Solon Springs, WI (59.0), 2. Jeff Tharp; Sherrill, IA (62.04), 3. Eric Pember; Pittsville, WI (51.0), 4. Jeff Aikey; Cedar Falls, IA (48.76), 5. Jason Utter; Columbus Junction, IA (48.28), 6. Matt Furman; Iowa City, IA (39.0), 7. Trent Follmer; Elk River, MN (35.0), 8. Ed Sanger; Postville, IA (31.0).

Second PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Chad Simpson; Mount Vernon, IA (59.0), 2. Gary Webb; Blue Grass, IA (58.52), 3. Scott Cramer; Random Lake, WI (51.0), 4. Kerry Hansen; Spencer, WI (48.76), 5. Tommy Elston; Keokuk, IA (43.0), 6. Chris Smyser; Lancaster, MO (40.76), 7. Robb Moss; Iowa City, IA (35.0).

Third PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Steve Boley; West Liberty, IA (62.52), 2. Denny Eckrich; Tiffin, IA (55.0), 3. Chris Simpson; Marion, IA (58.04), 4. Brian Harris; Davenport, IA (48.76), 5. Dave Eckrich; Cosgrove, IA (44.76), 6. Kyle Berck; Marquette, NE (42.52), 7. John Anderson; Omaha, NE (35.0), 8. Al Humphrey, Giltner, NE (31.0).

Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash: 1. Chad Simpson, 2. Smith, 3. Boley, 4. Webb, 5. Denny Eckrich, 6. Chris Simpson, 7. Pember, 8. Tharp.

Echo Valley 50: 1. Smith, 2. Chad Simpson, 3. Harris, 4. Chris Simpson, 5. Hansen, 6. Boley, 7. Aikey, 8. Webb, 9. Dave Eckrich, 10. Pember, 11. Smyser, 12. Denny Eckrich, 13. Elston, 14. Utter, 15. Berck, 16. Follmer, 17. Cramer, 18. Moss, 19. Tharp, 20. Sanger, 21. Anderson, 22. Furman, 23. Humphrey.

Additional Information of Interest:

* Number of Entrants: 24
* Lap Leaders: Chad Simpson (1-13), Smith (14-50)
* Time of Race: 30 minutes 58 seconds
* Margin of Victory: 3.441 seconds
* Caution Flags: 1 (Lap 32)
* Red Flags: None
* Fastest Lap: Smith (18.917 seconds)
* Series Provisionals: None
* Rookie-of-the-Race: Utter
* Hard Luck Driver: Elston

Contingency award winners:

* Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation: Chad Simpson, Smith, Boley
* QA1 Motorsports: Boley
* The Brake Man: Smith
* Champ Pans: Chad Simpson
* Joie of Seating: Harris
* Performance Bodies: Chris Simpson
* Design 500 Racewear: Hansen
* V-Performance Batteries: Boley
* Fast Shafts: Aikey
* Hooker Harness: Webb
* Weld Wheels: Dave Eckrich
* Scott Performance Wire: Pember
* Design 500 Racewear (non-qualifier): None
* KSE Racing Products: None
* Chase Race Decals: Elston