WDRL’S SEASON-ENDING EVENTS AT DAVENPORT SPEEDWAY CANCELLED
By Tom Lathen
WORLD Dirt Racing League

GILMAN City, MO. (Oct. 11, 2006) - The WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series has announced that it’s season ending events at Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa have been cancelled.

The events were originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, October 20 and 21 on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds half-mile.

According to Jim Wilson, founder and President of the WDRL, the two events are being cancelled because of the extremely grave illness of Joyce Roberts, the wife of Dennis Roberts, who co-promotes series events at Davenport Speedway.

“We were very much looking forward to two great nights of racing at Davenport Speedway to end what has been a fantastic season for the series,” said Wilson. “But with Joyce’s physical condition and her surgery next Thursday, there is no way Dennis could get away, nor should he.”

Added Wilson, “We know there are a lot of great people who follow and support the WDRL and we are asking those who know Dennis and Joyce and certainly friends and fans of the series to be praying for Joyce’s condition.”

With the cancellation of the two events at Davenport, defending series champion Denny Eckrich will be awarded his second PolyDome Late Model Series driver’s championship. In spite of a broken wrist, suffered three weeks ago at I80 Speedway near Greenwood, Nebraska, Eckrich was able to hold off a determined effort from Brian Harris to secure the 2006 series title. Eckrich, of Tiffin, Iowa, completed the 26-race schedule with 3682 points, just 37-points better than the runner-up Harris.

Dave Eckrich meanwhile, finished third in the final series tally, 166-markers back of the leader, followed by Chris Simpson and two-time WDRL champion Kyle Berck. The remainder of the top-10 included Jason Utter, Trent Follmer, Chad Simpson, Eric Pember, and Rob Moss.

Utter, of Columbus Junction, Iowa will be awarded the 2006 WDRL Rookie-of-the-Year title. Utter’s 470 rookie points, was just 12 better than Follmer, who finished second. Moss finished third, 92-points off the pace.

The 2006 WDRL Champions Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, November 4 at Terrible’s Casino in Osceola, Iowa. The social hour will begin at 5:30, with dinner set for 6:30 and the awards presentations to follow.