Burlington, IA (July 25, 2009) - It was a beautiful night for racing on Christmas in July at 34 Raceway, with five classes racing for feature wins and points. Taking home trophies on the night were Gary Russell (IMCA Late Models), Bobby Mincer (305 Sprints), Bill Roberts (IMCA Modifieds), Kirk Kinsley (IMCA Stock Cars) and Derek St. Clair (Hobby Stocks).
The first feature on the night was the 20 lap IMCA Modifieds, with Levi Smith and Dustin Crear on the front row. Smith would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1, with Crear close behind in second. Crear's run would end on lap 3, when he slowed to a stop on the front stretch. On the restart Smith had to work to hold off Jeremy Harris, before another caution came out on lap 4 for a spin in four by Adam Swanson. The restart brought out another caution, when Andy Krieger spun in turn three and collected Scott Hogan, Dusty Kraklio, Kevin Goben, Allen Johnston and Swanson. All drivers were able to continue, except for Swanson as he had damaged to the front end of his car. On the restart, Josh Foster who started12th, jumped to the outside of the track and went from fourth to the lead. But Foster made a rare mistake on the next lap, as he drove of turn two and fell back to sixth. Bill Roberts would inherit the lead from Foster's mistake. Foster would work his way back to second by lap 15 and was going for the lead on lap 16, when Roberts made contact with Foster's left rear. Roberts would get the lead back, with Foster slowing for a flat tire. Roberts would go on to hold off a charging Hogan to claim his first win of 2009. Harris was would hold on for third, Krieger was fourth, with Lonnie Heap coming home in fifth.
Bill Roberts of Burlington, IA won his first IMCA Modified feature of 2009 at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA on Saturday, July 25, 2009. Photo by Dana Royer.
Up next was the 20 lap 305 Sprint feature, with Destini Clark and Tim Rose leading the field to the drop of the green. Clark would hold off Jayson Dittsworth, who started 10th, at the line to lead lap 1. Ditsworth would jump to the outside of Clark on the next lap to grab the top spot and looked to be pulling away when the caution came out on lap 7. On the restart, Ditsworth moved back out front but now had Bobby Mincer and Kevin Hetrick, who started 9th, battling him for the lead. Mincer would work under Ditsworth on lap 14 to take over the lead, with the caution coming out on the completion of the lap to set up a great finish. Mincer jumped out into the lead on the restart, with Ditsworth close behind. Mincer then held off Ditsworth over the final 6 laps to claim another win. Hetrick was third, Matt Krieger was fourth, with John Draper rounding out the top five.
The 305 Sprint feature at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA on Saturday, July 25, 2009 went to Bobby Mincer of Burlington, IA. Photo by Dana Royer.
John Brockway and Brett Timmerman were on the front row for the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, but it was fourth place starter Kirk Kinsley grabbing the lead on lap 1. The first of three yellows came out on lap 4, when Brian Holmes slowed to a stop on the front stretch. On the restart Kinsley moved out front, with Corey Strothman and Cale Samberg, who started 7th, close behind. Another yellow would wave over the track on lap 6, as Nick Fenton spun in turn two and was hit head on by Travis Finke. Fenton was able to continue, but Finke had heavy damage on the front of his car ending his night. Kinsley once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Strothman and Abe Huls, who started 10th, following. The final caution of the event came out on lap 12, when Timmerman spun in turn one. Kinsley now had to work to hold off Huls on the restart. Huls would try several times to get by Kinlsey, but Kinsley would hold on to claim his first win of 2009 at 34 Raceway. Samberg was third, Strothman fourth, with Chris Webb coming home in fifth.
Kirk Kinsley of Wapello, IA won his first IMCA Stock Car feature of 2009 at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA on Saturday, July 25, 2009. Photo by Dan Royer.
Up next was the 25 lap IMCA Late Model feature, with Jay Chenoweth and Gary Russell leading the field to the green. Russell would take advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1. Russell would work the first half of the feature to hold off Sam Halstead. But Keith Pratt would get by Halstead on lap 17 and then worked his way up to challenge Russell for the lead. But Russell would hold of Pratt on the final lap to pick up his first win of 2009, in a caution free race. Halstead held on for third, Tom Darbyshire was fourth, with Matt Strassheim coming home in fifth.
The IMCA Late Model feature on Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA was won by Biggsville, Illinos' Gary Russell. It was Russell's first win of 2009. Photo by Dana Royer.
The final feature of the night was the 15 lap Hobby Stocks, with Roger Krieger, who was suppose to start on the pole electing to go to the tail, putting Jake Wenig and Chad Krogmeier on the front row. Wenig would grab the lead on the drop of the green, with a caution coming out on the completion of the lap for a spin by Dane Fenton. Also involved was the cars of Johnnie Smith and Heather Wilsey, with Smith's the only car unable to continue. Four more caution would come out before lap 2 could be completed, the first was by a spin in turn two for Dugan Thye, with the second coming out for Thye again in turn two ending his night with two solo spins. Krogmeier would bring out the third caution as he slowed to a stop on the front stretch, with the fourth and final caution coming out when a right rear tire came off of Kent Rhum's car. On the restart Wenig once again jumped out front, with Derek St. Clair, who started 11th, charging to the front. St. Clair would slip under Wenig on lap 9 and then pulled away over the final 6 laps to claim his 5th win of 2009 at Burlington. Wenig came home second, Victor Hastings was third, Lane Kauffman was fourth, with Jason Gerdes rounding out the top five.
Derek St. Clair of Donnellson, IA won his fifth Hobby Stock feature of 2009 at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA on Saturday, July 25, 2009. Photo by Dana Royer.Notes from 34: Hogan recovered from a flat tire on lap 4 of the Modified feature to charge back up to a close second place finish....Krieger came from the rear after a spin on lap 4 to come home in fourth....Foster limped his car around the track on a flat left rear tire over the final three laps to take home a 10th place finish, after challenging for the lead......Jeff Mueller had troubles in his heat and started the Stock Car feature in 17th. He had worked his way up to fifth by lap 15, when he pulled off the track with troubles once again......Fenton who spun on lap 1 of the Hobby Stock and went to the rear, charged back up to take home a 7th place finish.
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