WORLD DIRT RACING LEAGUE SET TO KICK-OFF 2007 SEASON
Events at Farley Speedway and West Liberty Raceway on tap this weekend
By Tom Lathen
WORLD Dirt Racing League

GILMAN CITY, Mo. (April 17, 2007) - Following a two-week delay due to inclement weather, the WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series kicks off its 2007 season this weekend with a pair of eastern Iowa events at Farley Speedway and West Liberty Raceway on Friday and Saturday night, respectively.

Friday night’s 50-lap, $5,000-to-win event at Farley Speedway represents a change of venue for series drivers. The first-ever series event on the prestigious northeast Iowa half-mile was originally to be held at Davenport Speedway, but was moved to Farley because of a re-scheduling conflict when unfavorable weather conditions forced its postponement on April 6.


"We're very excited about getting the 2007 season underway," commented WDRL's Jim Wilson. "After two weeks of bad weather, the forecast looks absolutely
fantastic for this weekend, and I know our fans and race teams are really looking forward to getting things started.

"From everything we hear, we should have great fields of cars at both race tracks," he added. "We have an outstanding group of drivers, including a number of
newcomers, following our series again this year, and with the weekly fields at both Farley and West Liberty being so strong, race fans can expect to see some very competitive racing this weekend."

Among the list of drivers expected for this weekend's season openers are eastern Iowa racing brothers Dave, Denny and Andy Eckrich.

Dave, of Cosgrove, Iowa, the oldest of the popular trio, finished third in last year's PolyDome Late Model Series point standings, picking up series wins at Corning, Iowa, and West Liberty Raceway among his 17 top-10 finishes.

Denny, of Tiffin, Iowa, picked up his second consecutive series title in 2006 when he raced to a lone series win at Boone County Speedway in Albion, Neb., in late July to go along with his 13 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes in 26 WDRL events.

Twenty-four-year-old Andy, of Iowa City, the youngest of the three, raced to 13 weekly feature race wins a year ago, while winning the track championship at Farley Speedway and finishing in the top 10 in NASCAR's final Division II Weekly Racing Series point standings.

Most of last year's WDRL top-10 drivers are also expected to be in the field, including 2006 series runner-up Brian Harris. Harris, of Davenport, secured his first-ever PolyDome Late Model Series win last August at Fox Ridge Speedway in Arcadia, Wis., and raced to a series-high 20 top-10 finishes.

Eastern Iowa brothers Chad and Chris Simpson, who finished eighth and fourth, respectively, in last year's final WDRL tally are also expected, along with last year's Rookie-of-the-Year, Jason Utter of Columbus Junction, Iowa; perennial top-10 finisher Eric Pember of Pittsville, Wis.; and Iowa City's Rob Moss, who finished 10th in the final 2007 series standings.

The 2005 WDRL Rookie-of-the-Year, Justin "The Jet" Fegers of Mound, Minn., is expected to chase series points again this year and will also be in the field at both Farley and West Liberty, along with veteran Elk Mound, Wis., driver John Kaanta. Kaanta, who will be competing for the 2007 series rookie-of-the-year crown, is a two-time WISSOTA national champion and a two-time WISSOTA Challenge Series champion.

Other series drivers expected to participate include former NASCAR All-Star Series champion Ray Guss Jr. of Milan, Ill.; "Mr. Excitement" Terry Casey of New
London, Wis.; 38-year racing veteran Sonny Findling of Kirksville, Mo.; Iowa City, Iowa, hot-shoe Matt Furman; Tommy Elston of Keokuk, Iowa; and Rookie-of-the-year contenders Andrew McKay of Edina, Minn.; Tim Isenberg of Marshfield, Wis.; and Jill George of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

National traveler Matt Miller of Waterville, Ohio, is also expected to be in the field at both Farley and West Liberty. "The Buckeye Bandit," as he is called, who is driving for Larry Moring Motorsports this season, was the winner of the 2005 "Dream 100" at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio.

The field both nights is expected to be dotted with a number of talented weekly and regional Late Model competitors, including 36-year racing veteran Gary Webb of Blue Grass, Iowa; 2006 Dubuque Speedway and Freeport Raceway Park Late Model champion Dan Shelliam of Hazel Green, Wis.; strong contender Ace Ihm, also
of Hazel Green; five-time IMCA Deery Series champion Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls, Iowa; 2005 Dubuque Speedway Late Model champion Ron Barker of Dubuque, Iowa; brothers Kurt and Kevin Kile of Nichols and West Liberty, Iowa, respectively; Luke Merfeld of Dubuque, Iowa; Nick Marolf of Moscow, Iowa; and veteran
Spencer, Wis.; driver Kerry Hansen.

Action on both Friday and Saturday gets underway with group qualifying at 6:30 pm, with racing action set to start at 7. The open-wheel Modifieds will also be on the card both nights.

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.