Bailey, Ditsworth, Hogan, Huls and St. Clair Crowned 2009 Track Champions at 34 Raceway

Burlington, IA (August 29, 2009) - Its hard to believe it is season championship time of the year for the 2009 racing season, as 34 Raceway hosted there final points race of the season. Taking home feature wins on the night were Tom Darbyshire (IMCA Late Models), Kevin Hetrick (305 Sprints), Scott Hogan (IMCA Modifieds), Abe Huls (IMCA Stock Cars) and Dean Kratzer (Hobby Stocks). While Lonnie Bailey (IMCA Late Models), Jayson Ditsworth (305 Sprints), Scott Hogan (IMCA Modifieds), Abe Huls (IMCA Stock Cars) and Derek St. Clair (Hobby Stocks) were crowned 2009 Track Champions in there classes.

The first feature on the night was the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Scott Hogan and Josh Foster on the ront row. Hogan would get the jump on the start to grab the lead on lap 1 by inches over Foster. The first caution of the event would come out on lap 2, as Dean McGee slowed to a stop in turn four with motor troubles, he was running 7th at the time. On the restart Hogan again moved out front, with Foster pressuring him. Another caution would appear on lap 3, as Kevin Goben spun on the backstretch. Hogan again grabbed the lead on the restart and worked to hold off Foster, when another caution on lap 8 for a spin by Derek Hamm in turn three slowed the event. Once again Hogan moved out front on the restart, but again was slowed on lap 10 for Elmer Arnold, who stopped in turn four with rear end troubles. Hogan again fought off Foster on the restart, only to be slowed again on lap 12 for Rich Smith, who stopped in turn four with rear end troubles. Once again Hogan got the jump on Foster on the restart, with the battle being slowed for the final time on lap 15 for a second solo spin by Derek Hamm in turn two. On the restart Hogan held off Foster and would go on to take the win. His win would give him his first track championship at 34 Raceway. Foster held on for second, Michael Long charged from 21st to come home a close third, Dusty Kraklio was fourth, with Andy Krieger coming from 9th to round out the top five.

Scott Hogan of Vinton, IA won the IMCA Modified feature and Track Championship on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA. Photo by Dana Royer.

Up next was the 20 lap 305 Sprint feature, with Jayson Ditsworth and Matt Krieger leading the field to the green. Ditsworth would power out into the lead on the start and was lapping up to 13th when his motor let go on lap 8. Kevin Hetrick would inherit the lead on the restart and then held it until lap 14, when the caution came out for a spin in four by Dave Anderson, who was running sixth. Ketrick would move out front on the restart and then held off a final lap challenge from Krieger to claim the win. Justin Newberry was third, Patrick Moore came from 15th to finish in fourth, with Jarrod Schneiderman coming home fifth.

The 305 Sprint feature at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA on Saturday, August 29, 2009 was won by Kevin Hetrick of Gladstone, IL. Photo by Dana Royer.

Abe Huls and Darin Thye made up the front row for the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Huls grabbing the lead on the start. Huls would work to hold off Thye, when the first caution came out on lap 6, for Cale Samberg who spun off turn one while running sixth. On the restart Huls again moved out front, with Thye and Kirk Kinsley battling for second. The second caution of the race would appear on lap 9, when Jeff Mueller, who started 12th, spun in turn four while running sixth. Once again Huls got the jump on Thye on the restart and then held it until the final caution came out on lap 13, for a spin in turn two by Samberg and Shane Watts. Huls again moved out into the lead on the restart and then held on for the win and the 2009 Track Championship. Thye held on for second, Mueller recovered from his spin to finish in third, John Oliver Jr. was fourth, with Corey Strothman rounding out the top five.

Carthage, Illinois' Abe Huls won the IMCA Stock Car feature and Track Championhip at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA on Saturday, August 29, 2009. Photo by Dana Royer.

Up next was the 25 lap IMCA Late Model feature, with Lonnie Bailey and Tom Darbyshire on the front row for the event. Darbyshire would jump out into the lead on lap 1, with Bailey close behind in second. Darbyshire would hold off several challenges from Bailey throughout the entire 25 lap race to pick up the win. The feature would go caution free! Matt Strassheim would finish in third, Colby Springsteen was fourth, with Mark Burgtorf coming home in fifth.

The IMCA Late Model feature on Saturday, August 29, 2009 at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA was won by Tom Darbyshire of Morning Sun, IA. Photo by Dana Royer.

The final feature of the night was the 15 lap Hobby Stocks, with Derek St. Clair and Tanner Thomann leading the field to the drop of the green. St. Clair would get the jump on the start to lead lap 1 and then held it until a caution on lap 9 for Jim Lynch who stopped in turn four with front end troubles. On the restart St. Clair grabbed the lead, with Dean Kratzer now close behind in second. Kratzer would jump to the outside of St. Clair on lap 11 to take over the top spot, and then held it until the final caution came out on lap 13 for a spin by Lane Kauffman and Dan Wenig in turn four. Kratzer would move out into the lead on the restart and then held off St. Clair over the final two laps to claim the win. Thomann held on for third, Jarod Conrad came home in fourth, with Ray Raker rounding out the top five.

Dean Kratzer of Ft. Madison, IA won the Hobby Stock feature at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA on Saturday, August 29, 2009. Photo by Dana Royer.

Notes from 34: Brandon Savage started the Modified feature in 19th and passed 11 cars to finish in 8th....Kevin Cale piloted his son Tyler's car on the night, but had to start 25th in the feature. He would pass 16 cars to take home a 9th place finish....Jacob McVey started the event in 24th and passed 11 cars to finish in 13th....Dennis LaVeine, who started 15th, worked his way to 7th by lap 8, but would pull into the pits on the yellow with troubles to end his run......Ditsworth had a big win going in the 305 Sprint feature, when his motor let go on lap 8 to give him a 16th place finish. Krieger would race Hetrick for the win, but settled for second. Ditsworth's 16th place finish and Krieger's 2nd place finish would create a tie for the 2009 Track Championship, but the tie breaker would go to Ditsworth who had more wins on the year....Hetrick would finish just one point back in third......Lonnie Bailey would finish the Late Model feature in second, but took home the 2009 Track Championship......St. Clair claimed his second Hobby Stock Track Championship of 2009, as he finished second in the feature to give him the title at 34 Raceway and Lee County Speedway....Jeremy Pundt came from the Hobby Stock B-Main to start the feature in 25th. He would pass 17 cars to take home a 8th place finish....Derek Kirkland made the pull to 34 Raceway with his 9:1 Hobby Stock and took 2nd in the B-Main to start 26th in the feature. He would pass 15 cars and took home an 11th place run....30 Hobby Stocks turned out for the final points night, with the top 24 cars in points being locked into the feature, then two cars would come out of the B-Main to set the field.