DENNY ECKRICH TAKES HOME HARDWARE AT WDRL CHAMPIONS' BANQUET
Tiffin, Iowa, driver honored for second consecutive PolyDome Late Model Series title

OSCEOLA, IA  (Nov. 6, 2006) - Denny Eckrich walked away with nearly $25,000 in cash and contingency awards Saturday night at the fifth-annual WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series Champions Banquet held here at Terrible's Lakeside Casino Hotel.

The Tiffin, Iowa, driver, who wrapped up his second consecutive WDRL driver's championship less than a month ago, was honored in front of more than 100 fellow competitors, sponsors, track and series officials and a number of well-wishers.

Following the invocation and buffet-style meal, Nancy Wilson, vice president and co-owner of the WDRL, offered a special recognition to the wives and girlfriends of series drivers and crew members, as well as WDRL officials. Noting the sacrifices often made by the spouses and girlfriends of those involved in grass roots auto racing, Mrs. Wilson thanked each of them for their tireless support before inviting team members and officials to come to the stage to pick up a rose and present it to their supporting significant-other.

Series president Jim Wilson thanked those in attendance for making the 2006 season one of the best in the five-year history of the popular regional series.

"The racing this year was fantastic, and we are very thankful for the tremendous support we received from both our race teams and our fans," he said.

Wilson congratulated both Eckrich and series runner-up Brian Harris, who this season staged the closest and most competitive points battle in series history.

He also congratulated the other drivers in attendance, stating, "You are all great competitors and each of you are champions as far as we're concerned."

After introducing a number of honored guests in attendance, Wilson presented recognition plaques to the series sponsors in attendance, including Dan and Pam Johanneck of PolyDome Products of Litchfield, Minn.

Other sponsors in attendance and receiving plaques included Jim and Julie Groves of Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation, Lee Havlick and Josh Anderson of Chase Race Decals, Mike Bennet of Fast Shafts and Roger Lovejoy of Design 500 Racewear.

Prior to the awards presentation, series announcer and master of ceremonies Tom Lathen recapped the 2006 PolyDome Late Model Series season, noting that a total of 277 drivers from 27 states and Canada had competed in the 26 WDRL events. According to Lathen, an average of 44.1 drivers participated series events this year, which was the second highest in series history.

The largest share of the nearly $75,000 in cash and contingency awards was presented to series champion, Denny Eckrich. The 33-year old Tiffin, Iowa, driver, who drove to 19 top-10 finishes, including a lone feature race win in late July at Boone County Raceway in Albion, Neb., received a $20,000 PolyDome point fund check in addition to nearly $5,000 in contingency awards.

In addressing the crowd, Eckrich thanked his family, his crew members and his sponsors for making it possible to repeat as the WDRL series champion.

"Dick Flogel at Grove Automotive provided us with good, reliable horsepower," noted the champion. "We always had enough horsepower under our hood at any given time, the motors were always there and fresh and we always had a spare bullet in the trailer if we needed it."

Eckrich also thanked sponsors Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation and Precision Performance for their support.

"With their help, we were able to get down the road and keep good equipment," he said. "We didn't have any major breakdowns and were able to finish every race and that is what helped us win the championship."

Eckrich also had plenty of congratulatory remarks for his fellow WDRL competitors, including runner-up Brian Harris

"Brian Harris gave us a heck of a run this year, and next year there is no doubt he is going to be one of the cars to be beat," said Eckrich. "If he can keep his team together, Brian has a lot of bright years ahead of him."

Harris, who trailed the eventual champion by only eight-points going into what would be the final series event of the season on Oct. 8 in Greenwood, Neb., received more than $11,000 in cash and contingency awards. The Davenport, Iowa, driver raced to a series-high 20 top-10 finishes and grabbed his first-ever PolyDome Late Model Series feature race win on Aug. 9 at Fox Ridge Speedway in Arcadia, Wis.

Cosgrove, Iowa's Dave Eckrich, who raced to two WDRL feature race wins this season, finished third in the final PolyDome Late Model Series point standings, followed by Marion, Iowa's Chris Simpson and two-time series champion Kyle Berck of Marquette, Neb.

The remainder of the top-ten included Jason Utter of Columbus Junction, Iowa; Trent Follmer of Elk River, Minn.; Chad Simpson of Marion, Iowa; Pittsville, Wisconsin's Eric Pember and Rob Moss of Iowa City, Iowa.

Utter also was honored as the 2006 PolyDome Late Model Series Rookie-of-the-Year. Included among the 26-year old eastern Iowa driver's 2006 accomplishments were 13 Rookie-of-the-Race awards, eight top-10 feature race finishes and two qualifying race wins. In addition to his point fund earnings, Utter also received a $2,500 Rookie-of-the-Year check along with a number of contingency awards.

Trent Follmer finished a close second in the 2006 Rookie-of-the-Year standings, with Rob Moss finishing third.

Dave Eckrich was honored as both the 2006 QA1 Motorsports Passing Points champion and the Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash Champion.

MasterSbilt Race Cars received the award as the 2006 WDRL Chassis Builders Champion. The Crothersville, Ind., company presented a 2007 chassis certificate to Brian Harris, who was the highest finishing series driver who used MasterSbilt equipment during the 2006 season.

At the conclusion of the awards presentation, Joe Pate, president of The Short Track Network, updated those in attendance on the series television agreement with Vision Sports Entertainment Network (VSEN-TV). According to Pate, three series events are scheduled for rebroadcast over the next few weeks on VSEN-TV, with plans for around 20 broadcast events in 2007.

For more information on WDRL, check out the WORLD Dirt Racing League's Web site, www.worldraceleague.com .