Welcome to the final night of racing at the Yankee. We have a lot of racing going on tonight so we’ll get on with the show.
Prior to the start of tonight’s activities they completed the fast dashes for the Hobby Stock, Sport Mod, Sport Compacts, and Stock Cars to set the first 3 rows of each respective feature. Brannen Bechen, Eric Pollard, Ricky Kay, and Tim Current won their respective fast dash races.
As is tradition at the Yankee all competitors brought their cars out on the front stretch. Once again we had an incredible group of cars and drivers from the Eastern Iowa region. I will try my hand at posting pictures sometime later this week.
I believe we had the following car counts for each class racing tonight. 50 Deery Series Late Models, 40 Hawkeye Dirt Tour Modifieds, 14 IMCA Hobby Stocks, 20 IMCA Sport Modifieds, 18 IMCA Sport Compacts, and 18 SPI Stock Cars,
The first feature tonight was the Yankee Non-Qualifiers Feature. 26 cars started the feature. The top 2 had the option to take the winners purse for this race or give it up to start at the tail of the Yankee Late Model feature. Larry Harris won the non-qualifiers race with Mike Garland finishing second. Both drivers opted to tag on to the back of the Yankee feature.
The next feature up was the IMCA Hobby Stocks. Outside front row starter Scott Pippert took the early lead and handily won the feature. Brannen Bechen, Brian Happel, Bill Bonnett and 8 were the unofficial top five.
Next up was the Deery Brothers Late Model feature which started around 10:30. Pole sitter Joe Zrostlik took the early lead from the pole, but it was short lived as Luke Goedert took control on lap 2. By lap 6 there was a great side-by-side battle between Goedert and Tyler Breuning which Breuning took over the lead on lap 7. On lap 8, Mike Garland headed to the pits. The top 5 on lap 10 was Breuning, Goedert, Colby Springsteen, Dan Shelliam, and Mark Burgtorf.
As the leaders were closing in on lap traffic, the caution flew on lap 14 as non-qualifier winner, Harris and 37 got together in turn 1. The top 5 at this time was Breuning, Sprintsteen, Goedert, Burgtorf, and Shelliam. Tough break for Goedert as during the restart his machine stopped in the bottom on turn 2 ending his night early.
Denny Eckrich was making his way towards the front as by lap 20 the top 5 were Breuning, Burgtorf, Shelliam, Eckrich, and Springsteen. On lap 23 Eckrich made his way by Shelliam for 3rd. The leaders were encountering lap traffic by lap 26.
The caution would fly for the stopped machine of Kurt Kile at the bottom of turn 4 on lap 32. On the ensuing restart Eckrich flew by Burgtorf and set his sights on the leader. Another caution would fly on lap 42 as Ray Guss Jr had a flat right rear. The top 5 at that time was Breuning, Eckrich, Burgtorf, Springsteen, and Shelliam. Four laps later the caution would fly again as this time Dan Shelliam had a flat tire. The top 5 at this time was Breuning, Eckrich, Burgtorf, Nick Marolf, and Andy Eckrich. The caution would fly again on lap 51 for the stopped machine of Harris. The final caution flew on lap 56 for Joe Zrostlik who spun in turn 2. On lap 60 the running order was Breuning, Eckrich, Mike Murphy, Jr, Justin Kay, and Burgtorf.
AS the checkers flew Tyler Breuning crossed the stripe first showing the crowd why he was track champion at Farley. Denny Eckrich finished second with Murphy, Jr, Kay, and Burgtorf the unofficial top 5. Murphy, Jr started in 17th and advanced 14 positions for unofficial hard charger. Congratulations to Tyler Breuning and his team as they capped off a great season at Farley Speedway. Heat races were won by Ray Guss, Jr, Breuning, Marolf, Zrostlik, and Shelliam. The “B” features were won by Jeff Aikey, Murphy Jr, and Ryan Griffith.
The IMCA Sport Modifieds were up next. 20 cars were scheduled to start the 25-lap A main. Austin Moyer took the early lead from the outside pole and was never contested throughout the 25 lap feature. Three cautions would keep the field close, but second running Eric Pollard had nothing for Moyer and Moyer took the checkers. Pollard finished second followed by Hope Schmerbach, 11, and Ben Chapman.
The IMCA Sport Compacts were next on the docket for their 20 lap feature. Ricky Kay took the early lead from the pole. Three cautions would not deter Kay from taking the flag-to-flag feature win. Kay was followed by Nathan Chandler, Brad Chandler, Merv Chandler, and Bryce Bailey.
Next up was the SPI Stock Cars for their 25 lap feature event. 18 cars were lined up for this event. Tim Current took the lead and as ws the case with the Sport Compact and Sport Mod features he also led flag-to-flag. Two cautions flew during the event. Tyler Soppe finished second with KC Ansel, Jarrett Franzen, and 37 the unofficial top 5.
The final event of the night was the Hawkeye Dirt Tour Modifieds 30 lap feature event. Jason Schueller took the early lead, but then blew a motor on lap four. The ensuing restart put Matt Crist and Ron Barker side by side. The top 5 at this time was Barker, Crist, Ryan Dolan, Mark Elliott, and Chris Horn. By lap 15 top HDT regulars Jay Noteboom and Jermey Mills were making their way towards the front. The top 5 at this time were Barker, Noteboom, Mills, Crist, and Horn.
Barker’s car appeared to be slowing a touch as Noteboom passed Barker for the lead on lap 16. Mills then made his way around Barker on lap 20. The top 5 at this time was Noteboom, Mills, Barker, Horn, and Elliott.
Noteboom took the checkers followed by Mills, Horn, Elliott, and Barker. The final checkers flew at 1:33am. Heat races were won by Schueller, Crist, Mills, Barker, and Dolan. The “B” mains were won by Mark Schulte, Mike VanGendren, and Troy Cordes.
Overall a late night but another great Yankee put on by Keith Simmons and his organization. I thought it was a great idea to bring Bucky Doren’s HDT Modifieds as part of the show. I also liked the fact that the regular classes were able to all showcase on the final night of racing. I also want to say the second track announcer, I think Doug Collins, was much better at not announcing while cars were on the front stretch.
As always, thanks for reading and next week I will be taking a little break from typical dirt track racing and visiting the Figure 8 Nationals in Brooklyn, IA. It’s a great show and always good for a change of pace.
