TWO-DAY CORNHUSKER CLASSIC NEXT ON SCHEDULE FOR WDRL
Full programs planned for Sept. 22 and 23 at eastern Nebraska facility
By Tom Lathen
WORLD Dirt Racing League

GILMAN CITY, MO. (Sept. 17, 2006) - The two-day Cornhusker Classic at I-80 Speedway near Greenwood, Neb., is next on the schedule for the cars and stars of the WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series.

The event at the popular 4/10-mile, semi-banked eastern Nebraska speed plant is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22 and 23.

Both nights will feature full WDRL programs, with the opening night 25-lap main event paying $2,500 to the winning driver and the winner of Saturday night¹s big 50-lap feature race receiving a $5,000 paycheck.

When series combatants pull their rigs into the infield for this year's annual Classic, less than 160 markers will separate the top three drivers in the current WORLD Dirt Racing League point standings. Defending series champion Denny Eckrich of Tiffin, Iowa, who has led throughout much of the 2006 season, holds a slim 18-point advantage over Davenport, Iowa's Brian Harris, with Dave Eckrich of Cosgrove, Iowa, remaining within striking distance, only 158 points back.

Denny Eckrich, the younger of the two eastern Iowa racing brothers, picked up his lone 2006 WDRL victory in late July at Boone County Raceway in Albion, Neb., with Harris scoring a series win on Aug. 9 at Fox Ridge Speedway in Arcadia, Wis., and Dave Eckrich grabbing his only PolyDome Late Model Series victory of the season on July 20 at Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa.

In addition to his win at Boone County Raceway, Denny Eckrich also has runner-up finishes at Mid-Nebraska Speedway in Doniphan and Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa, a third-place finish at West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa, and fifth-place finishes earlier this season at I-80 Speedway; Adams County Speedway in Corning, Iowa; and Superior Speedway in Superior, Wis. Harris, meanwhile, has a pair of runner-up finishes and a lone third-place finish, while Dave Eckrich has raced to one third-place finish and two fifth-place finishes.

Rising WDRL star Chris Simpson of Marion, Iowa, is currently fourth in the PolyDome Late Model Series point standings, followed closely by two-time series champion Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb. Simpson's best run of the season is a second-place finish last month at Viking Speedway in Alexandria, Minn., while Berck's 2006 resume includes a series victory at Mid-Nebraska Speedway near Doniphan, Neb.

Other series competitors expected to be in the field for this year's Cornhusker Classic include rookie-of-the-year contenders Jason Utter of Columbus Junction, Iowa; Trent Follmer of Elk River, Minn.; and Rob Moss of Iowa City, Iowa. Thirty-four year old central Nebraska racing veteran Al Humphrey of Giltner is also expected, along with former NASCAR Weekly Racing Series national champion Gary Webb of Blue Grass, Iowa; former NASCAR All-Star Series champion Steve Boley of West Liberty, Iowa; five-time Adams County Speedway Late Model champion Chris Spieker of Massena, Iowa; and two-time Freeport Rebel winner Matt Furman of Iowa City, Iowa.

Among other series regulars expected to participate are Pittsville, Wisconsin's Eric Pember, who has finished in the top 10 in the final WDRL point standings each of the last two seasons; Mount Vernon, Iowa's Chad Simpson; John Anderson of Omaha, Neb.; Tommy Elston of Keokuk, Iowa; and Union, Neb., veteran John Hampel.

2005 WDRL Rookie-of-the-Year Justin Fegers of Mound, Minn., is also expected in the field, along with 2004 series champion Brady Smith of Solon Springs, Wis.; Steve Kosiski of Papillion, Neb., the winner of this year's Alphabet Soup Race at I-80 Speedway; current NASCAR Weekly Racing Series Division II and national points leader Joe Kosiski of Omaha, Neb.; and four-time Western Dirt Racing Association (WDRA) champion Kelly Boen of Henderson, Colo.

A host of weekly racers are also expected to participate. including 17-year-old Late Model sensation Bryant Goldsmith of Corning, Iowa; veteran Ed Kosiski of Ralston, Neb.; central Nebraska hot shoes Davey Nall of Phillips, Mike Wiarda of Aurora, Billy "The Kid" Murphy of Kearney and Steve Kempt of Shelton; and eastern Nebraska competitors Greg Larson of Plattsmouth, Al and Corey Zeitner, both of Bellevue; Leon Zeitner of LaVista; Ben Schaller of Norfolk; Craig Preble of Yutan; and Eddie Moore of Milford.

In the nine previous series appearances at I-80 Speedway, central Nebraska driver Kyle Berck leads all WDRL competitors with three feature race wins. John Hampel and Darren Miller have each scored two I-80 Speedway WDRL wins, with Kelly Boen and Steve Kosiski having a single victory apiece.

In all, six divisions will be in action at this year's Cornhusker Classic, with more than $80,000 in prize money up for grabs. Because of time considerations, WDRL group qualifying will not be held on Friday night, with qualifying race action set to get underway at 7 p.m. On Saturday night, group qualifying is scheduled for 6, with racing action set to get underway
at 6:30.

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 .