Oliver takes two at 34 Raceway
By Dana Royer/34 Raceway


WEST BURLINGTON, IA (May 3, 2006) ­ Points races continued at 34 Raceway last Saturday on Richard Realty Night with four of the five classes seeing repeat winners. Boone McLaughlin (IMCA Late Models), Mediapolis, Josh Foster (IMCA Modifieds), Montrose, Adam Davis (B-Mods), Washington and John Oliver, Jr. (Hobby Stocks), Danville all got repeat wins for the year while Oliver, although not unfamiliar with winning, got his first win the IMCA Stock Car division.

Point leaders after June 3 include, Tom Darbyshire (late models), Bill Roberts, Jr. (modifieds), Jerry Bliesener, Jr. (B-Mods), and John Oliver, Jr. leading both stock cars and hobby stocks.

Boone McLaughlin held off the current IMCA National Points leader, Tom Darbyshire in one of the closest finishes of the season to win his second IMCA Late Model feature this year. McLaughlin took the third lead change of the race on lap five of the twenty five lap feature following Brian Hetzler and Sam Halstead. McLaughlin led the next fifteen laps before Gary Russell took advantage of a caution on lap twenty one to become the fourth leader of the race. His lead would be short-lived when he got too high in turn two and McLaughlin went under to lead the field again. Another caution with two laps to go would make for a green, white, checkered finish. With Darbyshire now in the second spot it would be a race to the finish. Coming out of turn four the two raced side by side coming down the front stretch. McLaughlin, driving the car previously driven by Brent Slocum, would edge out Darbyshire at the wire by 1/2 car length. McLaughlin allowed he might have had a little help from above to get the win. Darbyshire had to settle for second, while Jay Johnson moved up to finish third.

Josh Foster raced to his second IMCA Modified feature win of the year defeating a field of seventeen cars. Foster took the lead from Brandon Rothzen on lap seven of the twenty lap race and never looked back getting a nearly 1/2 track lead over the field. Darin Thye held off a fast moving Bill Roberts, Jr. to finish second.

After struggling the last couple weeks with cautions, the B-Mods took to the track for a twelve lap feature, but this week would be different. Scott Boles took the early lead but would give it up on lap seven to Adam Davis. Davis, liking the top side, would go on to take the checkered flag for the second time this year in a one caution race.

The IMCA Stock Car feature saw a new winner to the class when John Oliver, Jr. took the checkered flag for the first time this year. Adam Vantiger took the early lead from his second row start followed by Travis Plummer. Plummer then took lead number two on the next lap, but it to would be short lived when Oliver took over on lap three. Oliver continued to lead for the next nine laps. Moving into the second spot would be Jeff Mueller. Mueller would take advantage of restart on lap thirteen and get past Oliver for the lead with three laps to go. With the two racing bumper to bumper and side by side, Oliver would make one last move and get by Mueller for the lead on the final lap. Mueller would settle for second and Boe McLaughlin would take third.

After already getting one win under his belt for the evening in the IMCA Stock Car division, John Oliver, Jr. returned to win the hobby stock feature. Oliver took the lead from Matt Gavin on lap eight following a caution. With Oliver out in front, Todd Holsteen had moved up to the second spot. As Oliver took the checkered flag, Gavin was able to get past Holsteen to finish second. Coming up

The Ideal Ready Mix Sprint Invaders will return to 34 Raceway on Saturday, June 10. Along with the sprints will be point races for IMCA Modifieds, B-Mods, IMCA Stock Cars and Hobby Stocks. The late models will be off that night.

Results from 6/3/06
B-Modifieds
A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Adam Davis, Washington, Iowa; 2. Scott Boles, New London, Iowa; 3. Jerry Bliesener, Jr., Burlington, Iowa; 4. Kevin Hetrick, Gladstone, Ill.; 5. Phillip Beard, Crawfordsville, Iowa; 6. Frankie Wellman, Quincy, Ill.; 7. Bob Jennings, Mt Pleasant, Iowa; 8. Billy Brickley;; 9. Dave Cloke, Burlington, Iowa; 10. Chris Beaston;; 11. Chad Sovern, West Burlington, Iowa; 12. Mitch Higdon, Wever, Iowa. HEAT WINNERS: Boles, Beard. Hobby Stocks

A-Main 01 ‹ 1. John Oliver, Jr., Danville, Iowa; 2. Matt Gavin, Monmouth, Ill.; 3. Todd Holsteen, Burlington, Iowa; 4. Chris Webb, Biggsville, Ill.; 5. Jake Wenig, W. Burlington, Iowa; 6. Randy Wachter, Burlington, Iowa; 7. Luke McLaughlin, Mediapolis, Iowa; 8. Brodie Dopler, Wapello, Iowa; 9. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, Iowa; 10. Dan Wenig, Middletown, Iowa; 11. Jason Gerdes, Lomax, Ill.; 12. Keith Diffie;; 13. Mitch(Stacey) Jennings, Mt Pleasant, Iowa; 14. Eric Rowley, Burlington, Iowa; 15. Allen Johnston;; 16. Sky Griffith, Wapello, Iowa; 17. Joe Gerdes, Burlington, Iowa; 18. Ray Raker, Danville, Iowa; 19. Ray Tedrow, New London, Iowa; 20. Cale Samberg, Burlington, Iowa; 21. Roger Krieger, Burlington, Iowa; 22. John Brockway, Morning Sun, Iowa; 23. Chuck Underwood, Burlington, Iowa; 24. Tanner Thomann, W. Burlington, Iowa; 25. Craig Beck, Burlington, Iowa; 26. Kent Rhum, Burlington, Iowa. HEAT WINNERS: Holsteen, Oliver, Jr., Underwood.

IMCA Late Models
A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis, Iowa; 2. Tom Darbyshire, Morning Sun, Iowa; 3. Gary Russell, Biggsville, Ill.; 4. Jay Johnson, W. Burlington, Iowa; 5. Sam Halstead, New London, Iowa; 6. Jeff Laue, Burlington, Iowa; 7. Tom Goble, Burlington, Iowa; 8. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun, Iowa; 9. Brian Hetzler, Walcott, Iowa; 10. Matt Strassheim, Burlington, Iowa; 11. Ron Elbe, Augusta, Ill.; 12. Dennis Woodworth, Mendon, Ill.; 13. Billy Genenbacher, Camp Point, Ill.; 14. Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 15. Robert Toland, Hillsdale, Iowa; 16. Adam Helmick, Fort Madison, Iowa; 17. Matt Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 18. Cory Richards, Burlington, Iowa; 19. L. Gall, Biggsville, Ill.; 20. Tom Bowling, Jr., Danville, Iowa; 21. Rob Toland, Hillsdale, Ill.; 22. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington, Iowa; 23. Darin Lambert, Augusta, Ill.. HEAT WINNERS: Laue, Springsteen, Russell.

IMCA Modifieds
A-Main 01 ‹ 1. Josh Foster, Montrose, Iowa; 2. Darin Thye, Burlington, Iowa; 3. Bill Roberts, Jr., Burlington, Iowa; 4. Adam Davis, Washington, Iowa; 5. Sean Wyett, Danville, Iowa; 6. Phillip Cossel, Montrose, Iowa; 7. Brandon Rothzen, Media, Ill.; 8. Dennis LaVeine, Burlington, Iowa; 9. Andy Krieger, West Burlington, Iowa; 10. Adam Carson,Colchester, Ill.; 11. Jack Matthews, Colchester, Ill.; 12. Bill Parks, Colchester, Ill.; 13. Brad Carson;; 14. Kyle Kaestner, Burlington, Iowa; 15. Elmer Arnold, Sperry, Iowa; 16. Chad Goff, Monmouth, Ill.; 17. Shane Lewis, LaHarpe, Ill.. HEAT
WINNERS: Davis, Arnold.

IMCA Stock Cars
A-Main 01 ‹ 1. John Oliver, Jr., Danville, Iowa; 2. Jeff Mueller, New London, Iowa; 3. Boe McLaughlin, Mediapolis, Iowa; 4. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello, Iowa; 5. Adam Vantiger, Yarmouth, Iowa; 6. Rod Staats, Columbus Jct., Iowa; 7. Dennis Harwood;West Point; 8. Shane Richardson, Morning Sun, Iowa; 9. Travis Plummer, Burlington, Iowa; 10. Shawn Whiting, West Burlington, Iowa; 11. Tim Breuer, Burlington, Iowa; 12. Lz Coleman, New London, Iowa; 13. Patrick Mincer;; 14. Travis Finke;; 15. Chad Witte, Burlington, Iowa; 16. Cole Simmons, Morning Sun, Iowa; 17. Derek Coleman, New London, Iowa; 18. Di¹Anna Chamberlin, Ft. Madison, Iowa. HEAT WINNERS: Harwood, Mueller, Oliver, Jr.