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DENNIS ERB TAKES WDRL WIN AT QUAD CITY RACEWAY But he had lots of traffic on his back bumper By Bucky Doren WORLD Dirt Racing League EAST MOLINE, ILL. (April 21) - Dennis Erb of Carpentersville, Ill., outlasted the field as he drove to the WORLD Dirt Racing League win Sunday night here at the Quad City Raceway. Despite a series of caution flags and heavy lapped traffic, Erb was able to hold off the pack for the checkered flag. Frank Heckenast Jr. of Orland Park, Ill., and Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa brought the 24-car field to the green flag. The pair then battled for the lead for several laps, and both would run in the top five through the early stages of the feature. Erb quickly stuck his nose into the battle for the lead and eventually took it. A series of yellow flags and heavy lapped traffic kept the field on his back bumper. "I was just lucky getting through the lapped cars," Erb said from Victory Lane. "I saw two- and three-wide (battles) in front of me, but by the time I got up to them, I found an opening to get by." Heckenast's night ended early when he was collected in an accident. With nowhere to go, he crashed into the pile, and his car suffered race-ending damage. Simpson's night also ended early due to a mechanical failure. Darren Miller of Chadwick, Ill., who won the WDRL season opener at Davenport (Iowa) Speedway on April 16, started fourth and raced in the top five through the entire main event. Miller eventual;y found himself on Erb's back bumper, but he was unable to get by and settled for second. Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill., had an impressive run to the front. After starting 18th, Steidinger put himself into the top five by mid race, and he was battling for the lead just past the halfway point. Steidinger finished third. Another driver who fought his way from the back of the pack to the front was Steve Lance of Cuba, Ill. Starting 20th, Lance quietly worked his way through the field to finish fourth. Brian Harris of Davenport, Iowa, rounded out the top five. Next up for the WDRL Late Model Series is a stop at the Freeport (Ill.) Raceway Park on Saturday, April 26. This race was originally scheduled for this past Saturday night, but Mother Nature had other plans for race fans in northwest Illinois and forced WDRL officials to postpone the event. For more information on the WORLD Dirt Racing League or the latest WDRL Late Model Series schedule, check out the WORLD Dirt Racing League's Web site, www.worldraceleague.com. RACE REPORT QUAD CITY RACEWAY EAST MOLINE, ILL. SUNDAY, APRIL 20, 2008 44-LAP FEATURE*: 1. Dennis Erb, 2. Darren Miller, 3. Wes Steidinger, 4. Steve Lance, 5. Brian Harris, 6. Matt Furman, 7. Tim Lance, 8. John Kaanta, 9. Ace Ihm, 10. Chad Simpson, 11. Frank Heckenast Jr., 12. Denny Eckrich, 13. Dave Eckrich, 14. Eric Pember, 15. Jeremy Grady, 16. Curt Martin, 17. Chris Simpson, 18. Ryan Unzicker, 19. Andrew McKay, 20. Tony Izzo, 21. Kevin Weaver, 22. Rick Hanested, 23. Jason Utter, 24. Derek Chandler. *Scheduled for 50 laps but shortened due to the city noise curfew. HEAT RACE 1: 1. Frank Heckenast Jr., 2. Eric Pember, 3. Curt Martin, 4. Rick Hanested, 5. Wes Steidinger, 6. Steve Lance, 7. Rob Moss, 8. Adam Oppendike, 9. Tommy Elston. HEAT RACE 2: 1. Jason Utter, 2. Tony Izzo, 3. Matt Furman, 4. Brian Harris, 5. Ace Ihm, 6. Mike Stadel, 7. Tim Insenberg, 8. Chris Carlson. HEAT RACE 3: 1. Dennis Erb, 2. Andrew McKay, 3. Darren Miller, 4. Denny Eckrich, 5. Kevin Weaver, 6. Dereck Chandler, 7. Chris Simpson, 8. Ryan Dauber. HEAT RACE 4: 1. Chad Simpson, 2. Tim Lance, 3. Jeremy Grady, 4. John Kaanta, 5. Ryan Unzicker, 6. Jeff Larson, 7. Nate Bueseling, 8. Dave Eckrich. KSE B-MAIN: 1. Kevin Weaver, 2. Steve Lance, 3. Ace Ihm, 4. Dereck Chandler, 5. Jeff Larson, 6. Ryan Dauber, 7. Rob Moss, 8. Tim Isenberg, 9. Tommy Elston, 10. Chris Carlson, 11. Mike Stadel. IOWA-ILLINOIS TAYLOR INSULATION POLE DASH: 1. Frank Heckenast Jr., 2. Chad Simpson, 3. Dennis Erb, 4. Jason Utter, 5. Tony Izzo, 6. Tim Lance, 7. Darren Miller, 8. Eric Pember. WDRL AWARDS: QA-1 Motorsports: Jason Utter Brake Man: Darren Miller Champ Pans: Brian Harris Performance Bodies: Matt Furman Design 500: Tim Lance Design 500 (feature non-qualifier): Mike Stadel BSB Manufacturing: John Kaanta Fast Shafts: Chad Simpson Hooker Harness: Frank Heckenast Jr. KSE Racing Products: Kevin Weaver WDRL Provisionals: Denny Eckrich and Chris Simpson Chase Graphics Rookie of the Race: Frank Heckenast Jr. Chassis Builders of the Race: MasterSbilt and Rocket UMP Modifieds Heat 1:
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