CHRIS SIMPSON GRABS EXCITING WIN IN WDRL CORNHUSKER CLASSIC AT I80 SPEEDWAY
22-year old Marion, Iowa, driver scores first-ever PolyDome Late Model Series victory
By Tom Lathen
WORLD Dirt Racing League

GREENWOOD, NE. (Oct. 8, 2006) - Chris Simpson grabbed the lead from race leader Kelly Boen on lap 35 Sunday night and went on to win the Cornhusker Classic 50, a WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series-sanctioned event, here at I-80 Speedway.

The exciting win was the first-ever WDRL victory for the 22-year old Marion, Iowa, driver, after a pair of near-miss, second-place finishes, the first at Alexandria, Minn., in early August and the second one a week ago at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kans.

"This feels awesome," Simpson said with a smile in AMSOIL Victory Lane. "We've been doing awesome throughout the year, we've had top fives about every week.

"It feels good to pop one off and hopefully the next one comes a little easier."

Simpson watched from his outside second-row starting position as Kelly Boen outran polesitter Dave Eckrich into turn one to grab the advantage on the opening circuit.

With the leaders riding the top of the dry-slick racing surface, Boen and Eckrich began to pull away from the remainder of the field before the first caution flag waved on lap 12 when John Nicholson slowed to a halt with a flat tire.

On the ensuing restart, Simpson powered around Eckrich to grab second, with Boen continuing to run at the front of the field in his Roadrunner Fabrication/Rocket/Jay Dickens Pontiac Grand Prix. By lap 20, the Henderson, Colo., hot-shoe had nearly a full straightaway advantage on the runner-up Simpson before a second caution flag slowed the field when Todd Bell coasted to a stop in turn two.

Boen again darted to the advantage on the restart, but Simpson remained close as the front-runners encountered slower traffic on lap 28. With Boen fighting his way through congestion, Simpson pulled near his back bumper as the leaders raced down the back straightaway and into turn three on lap 31.

A pair of laps later, the top three drivers -- Boen, Simpson and Dave Eckrich -- were running nose-to-tail in traffic, before Simpson's Five Star Shop Service/Barry Wright/Automotive Engine and Machine Pontiac Grand Prix roared to the inside of Boen, racing through turns three and four to grab the advantage as the leaders passed in front of the grandstands on lap 35.

"Kelly (Boen) got behind a lapped car and got a little tight across the center and got into the marbles, and I just took advantage of it," said Simpson of the pass. "I knew that was one of my points where I could take it, and I just took it and it worked out."

Two final caution flags both waved on lap 36. The second one came when Davenport, Iowa's Brian Harris, who is currently second in the series point standings, slowed with a flat tire. But Simspon proved to be the fastest car in the field when racing resumed, streaking to a half-straightaway advantage by lap 40.

Boen was able to close the gap in lapped traffic over the final few circuits, but Simpson was able to hold on for the hard fought victory.

"I didn't think it was going to rubber (down)’ and we had the wrong right rear on," commented Simpson. "I was kind of worried there the last few laps when I was trying to get those lapped cars."

Brothers Dave and Denny Eckrich crossed the stripe in third and fourth place, respectively, with Delbert Smith finishing ahead of Steve Kosiski, John Anderson and Alonzo Grosse for fifth.

Harris, who had closed the gap to a mere eight points in the PolyDome Late Model Series point standings, fell to 37 markers behind the front-running Denny Eckrich after battling to a 15th-place finish following his lap 36 tire change. Harris had to go to his back up car after experiencing engine problems during his qualifying race.

The 2006 PolyDome Late Model Series season concludes on Oct. 20 and 21 when it returns to Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa.

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
I-80 SPEEDWAY
GREENWOOD, NEB.
SUNDAY, OCT. 8, 2006

First PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Chris Simpson; Marion, IA (73.08), 2. Joe Kosiski; Omaha, NE (60.28), 3. John Nicholson; Beaver Lake, NE (51.0), 4. John Anderson; Omaha, NE (54.04), 5. David Jorgenson; Omaha, NE (46.52), 6. Todd Bell; Omaha, NE (39.0), 7. Mike Nanfito; Omaha, NE (35.0), 8. Tony Gregg; Hastings, NE (31.0), 9. Mike Wallace; Omaha, NE (27.0), 10. Jason Utter; Columbus Junction, IA (23.0).

Second PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Chad Simpson; Mount Vernon, IA (59.0), 2. Brian Harris; Davenport, IA (58.52), 3. Delbert Smith; Wichita, KS (56.28), 4. Denny Eckrich; Tiffin, IA (57.56), 5. Eddie Moore; Milford, NE (48.28), 6. Scot Daly; Elkhorn, NE (40.76), 7. Jeremy Houck; Corning, IA (35.0), 8. Bill Koons; Omaha, NE (32.76), 9. Steve Kempt; Shelton, NE (27.0), 10. John Hampel; Union, NE (23.0).

Third PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Trent Follmer; Elk River, MN (62.52), 2. Dave Eckrich; Cosgrove, IA (60.28), 3. Kelly Boen; Henderson, CO (61.56), 4. Kyle Berck; Marquette, NE (52.28), 5. Chris Spieker; Massena, IA (43.0), 6. Alonzo Grosse; Council Bluffs, IA (39.0), 7. Clint Benson; Papillion, NE (35.0), 8. Kenny Edwards; Columbia, MO (36.28), 9. Greg Larson; Plattsmouth, NE (28.76), 10. Tony Daly; Aberdeen, SD (23.0), 11. Mike Danburg; Council Bluffs, IA (19.0).

Fourth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Steve Kosiski; Papillion, NE (59.0), 2. Craig Preble; Yutan, NE (56.76), 3. Jerry Warner; LaVista, NE (51.0), 4. Davey Nall; Phillips, NE (55.8), 5. Brian Kenkel; Elkhorn, NE (43.0), 6. Bill Leighton, Jr.; Omaha, NE (42.52), 7. Ed Kosiski; Ralston, NE (35.0), 8. Alan Vaughn; Belton, MO (34.52), 9. Jeff Tilley; Glenwood, IA (27.0), 10. Troy Daly; Omaha, NE (23.0).

First KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Leighton, Jr., 2. Spieker, 3. Scott Daly, 4. Edwards, 5. Houck, 6. Ed Kosiski, 7. Utter, 8. Danburg, 9. Larson, 10. Wallace, 11. Gregg.

Second KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Bell, 2. Grosse, 3. Vaughn, 4. Benson, 5. Kenkel, 6. Kempt, 7. Tilley, 8. Troy Daly, 9. Nanfito.

Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash: 1. Dave Eckrich, 2. Boen, 3. Joe Kosiski, 4. Chris Simpson, 5. Chad Simpson, 6. Denny Eckrich, 7. Steve Kosiski.

Cornhusker Classic 50-Lap Feature : 1. Chris Simpson, 2. Boen, 3. Dave Eckrich, 4. Denny Eckrich, 5. Smith, 6. Steve Kosiski, 7. Anderson, 8. Grosse, 9. Joe Kosiski, 10. Moore, 11. Scott Daly, 12. Preble, 13. Nall, 14. Berck, 15. Harris, 16. Spieker, 17. Chad Simpson, 18. Leighton, Jr., 19. Jorgenson, 20. Nicholson, 21. Bell, 22. Utter, 23. Warner, 24. Vaughn, 25. Koons, 26. Follmer.

Additional Information of Interest:

Number of Entrants: 39
Lap Leaders: Boen (1-34), Chris Simpson (35-50)
Time of Race: 33:02
Margin of Victory: 1.810
Caution Flags: 4 (Laps 12, 20, 36, 36)
Red Flags: None
Fastest Lap: Chris Simpson (18.467)
Series Provisionals: Koons,Follmer
Rookie-of-the-Race: Utter
Hard Luck Driver: Harris
Contingency Award Winners:
Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation: Dave Eckrich, Boen, Joe Kosiski
QA1 Motorsports: Chris Simpson
The Brake Man: Chris Simpson
Champ Pans: Boen
Joie of Seating: Dave Eckrich
Performance Bodies: Denny Eckrich
Design 500 Racewear: Delbert Smith
V-Performance Batteries: Steve Kosiski
Fast Shafts: Anderson
Hooker Harness: Joe Kosiski
Weld Wheels: Daly
Scott Performance Wire: Preble
Design 500 Racewear (non-qualifier):
KSE Racing Products: Spieker, Vaughn
Chase Race Decals: Harris