EIGHTEEN DRIVERS LOCK IN POSITIONS FOR WDRL RUMBLE BY THE RIVER 100
Brian Harris, Dave Eckrich secure front-row starting positions for pole dash
By Tom Lathen
WORLD Dirt Racing League

DUBUQUE, Iowa (May 28) - A total of 18 drivers locked in starting positions Sunday night for the annual "Rumble By The River 100," a WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series-sanctioned event set for tonight, Memorial Day, here at Dubuque Speedway.

With the top four in Passing Points inverted for the start of tonight's six-lap Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash, eastern Iowa series competitors Brian Harris and Dave Eckrich earned front-row starting positions, with brothers Chris and Chad Simpson set to start side by side on row two.

Wisconsin drivers Darren Mish and Russ Scheffler also secured pole dash starting positions, as did Iowa City, Iowa's Rob Moss and two-time defending series champion Denny Eckrich of Tiffin, Iowa.

Other drivers who locked in starting positions for tonight's "Rumble By The River 100" include Dubuque's Jeremiah Hurst; Jason Rauen of Farley, Iowa; Hazel Green, Wisconsin's Ace Ihm; Andy Eckrich of Iowa City, Iowa; Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Mo.; Rick Scheffler of Pewaukee, Wis.; fellow Wisconsin driver Eric Pember; Craig Jacobs of Freeport, Ill.; Curt Martin of Independence, Iowa; and Chadwick, Ill., driver Darren Miller.

In Sunday night's 25-lap non-points Race of Champions, Chad Simpson bolted from an inside second-row starting position at the drop of the green flag for the second segment of the two-segment event and went on to claim the $2,000 top prize. Brian Harris held off Chris Simpson for second, followed by Denny Eckrich and Jason Raun.

Ten drivers competed into the event, which was divided into a 10-lap segment and a 15-lap segment. The elder Simpson raced from eighth to fourth in the opening segment, before a draw was held to decide the invert for the final 15-lap segment.

Hot laps tonight get underway at 5:30 p.m., with consolation races set to roll off at 6.


RACE REPORT
DUBUQUE SPEEDWAY
DUBUQUE, IOWA
SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2007


Group Qualifying: 1. Chad Simpson; Mount Vernon, IA (15.206), 2. Darren Miller; Chadwick, IL (15.470), 3. Dan Shelliam; Hazel Green, WI (15.491), 4. Chris Simpson; Oxford, IA (15.556), 5. Jeff Tharp; Sherril, IA (15.623), 6. Dave Eckrich; Cosgrove, IA (15.632), 7. Brian Harris; Davenport, IA (15.660), 8. Andy Eckrich; Iowa City, IA (15.676), 9. Eric Pember; Pittsville, WI (15.697), 10. Rick Scheffler; Waukesha, WI (15.700), 11. John Kaanta; Elk Mound, WI (15.701), 12. Tim Lance; Kickapoo, IL (15.725), 13. Denny Eckrich; Tiffin, IA (15.749), 14. Jeremiah Hurst; Dubuque, IA (15.771), 15. Jason Rauen; Farley, IA (15.804), 16. Ace Ihm; Hazel Green, WI (15.835), 17. Justin Fegers; Mound, MN (15.853), 18. Brian Birkhofer; Muscatine, IA (5.853), 19. Ray Guss, Jr.; Milan, IL (15.920), 20. Craig Jacobs; Freeport, IL (15.938), 21. Curt Martin; Independence, IA (15.942), 22. Andrew McKay; Edina, MN (15.962), 23. Chris Smyser; Lancaster, MO (15.964), 24. Russ Scheffler; Pewaukee, WI (15.970), 25. Rob Moss; Iowa City, IA (15.986), 26. Jason Utter; Columbus Junction, IA (16.067), 27. Darren Mish; Hazel Green, WI (16.146), 28. Bobby Moyer; Dubuque, IA (16.221), 29. Matt Furman; Iowa City, IA (16.320), 30. Darin Duffy; Hazelton, IA (16.333), 31. Jeff Aikey; Cedar Falls, IA (16.486), 32. Jeff Larson; Freeport, IL (16.545), 33. Tommy Elston; Keokuk, IA (16.745), 34. Tim Isenberg; Marshfield, WI (17.001), 35. Charley Hess; Peoria, IL (17.036), 36. Jill George; Cedar Falls, IA (17.213), 37. Joe Callahan; Dubuque, IA (17.772), 38. Brian Lillie; Independence (no time).

First PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Chris Simpson (68.0), 2. Ihm (55.5), 3. Andy Eckrich (54.25), 4. Jacobs (48.5), 5. Martin (47.25), 6. Duffy (46.0), 7. Lance (38.0), 8. Utter (34.5), 9. Elston (31.0), 10. Callahan (27.5).

Second PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Harris (66.75), 2. Rauen (55.5), 3. Mish (61.0), 4. Moss (57.5), 5. Kaanta (45.0), 6. Guss, Jr. (41.5), 7. McKay (38.0), 8. Shellaim (34.5), 9. Isenberg (31.0), 10. Lillie (27.5).

Third PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Dave Eckrich (66.75), 2. Hurst (55.5), 3. Rick Scheffler (52.0), 4. Smyser (53.0), 5. Miller (45.0), 6. Birkhofer (41.5), 7. Aikey (40.25), 8. Moyer (34.5), 9. Hess (31.0).

Fourth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Chad Simpson (68.0), 2. Denny Eckrich (55.5), 3. Russ Scheffler (58.75), 4. Pember (48.5), 5. Tharp (45.0), 6. Larson (46.0), 7. George (42.5), 8. Furman (34.5), 9. Fegers (31.0).

Race of Champions (non-points): 1. Chad Simpson, 2. Harris, 3. Chris Simpson, 4. Denny Eckrich, 5. Rauen, 6. Andy Eckrich, 7. Dave Eckrich, 8. Russ Scheffler, 9. Hurst, 10. Mish.

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 .