WEST BURLINGTON, IA (Sept 29) - 34 Raceway results for September 29
Photos by Dana Royer/34 Raceway
113 cars entered in the three classes that also included 4 cylinders

 

Hobby Stocks: 40 cars entered Winner of 30 lap 25 car feature: John Oliver, Jr., Danville

IMCA Stock Cars: 40 cars entered Winner of 35 lap 25 car feature: Jeff Mueller, New London

Mueller, Oliver take home the big checks at 34 Raceway¹s 1st annul Stock Car and Hobby Stock Nationals
By Dana Royer/34 Raceway

BURLINGTON, IA (Sept 29) ­ 34 Raceway capped off its 2007 season under new ownership with the 1st annual IMCA Stock Car and Hobby Stock Nationals on Saturday, Sept. 29 and the Laue¹s were pleased with the number of cars that turned out for their first ³big² stock car and hobby stock show. A total of 113 cars were on hand in the three classes of racing that included 40 stock cars, 40 hobby stocks and 33 4 cylinders. Local racers Jeff Meuller and John Oliver, Jr. were the first to claim the ³Nationals² championships in the stock car and hobby stock divisions. Mueller¹s win in the stock car feature netted him a $1200 prize while Oliver, who also competed in the stock cars class took home $1000 for his win in the hobby stock feature. Once again the 4 cylinders turned out with Tyler Schulte getting the win.

Along with many of 34 Raceway¹s regulars were drivers from Newton, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Waukon, and Grundy Center in Iowa to name a few. Others came from Minnesota, Missouri and Illinois. Heats, B-feature and fast car dashes set the field for the feature races. Time trials, favored by many of the drivers, might be considered for next year¹s show by the Laue¹s but no decision will be made till then.

Jeff Mueller, New London, took the checkered flag in the first annual Stock Car Nationals at 34 Raceway Sept. 29. Following four 10 car heat races and 2
B- features the field was set for the 35 lap feature that paid $1200 to the winner. Sitting on the front row were Mueller, of New London, and Mike Vangenderen coming all the way from Newton, Iowa. Vangenderen took the early lead before local racer, Mueller, got by on lap five for the lead. The first of two cautions came out on lap eighteen but Mueller would hold on to his. A battle for second would rage behind him between Chris Wibbel, Ryan Cook, Ryan Cook and Brian Blessington. With just two laps to go the second caution would come out and Ran Cook pulled in to the pits with a flat tire. Wibbel tried to get by Mueller on the restart but was unable to get it done as Mueller went on to take the checkered flag by two car lengths for the win. Wibbel finished second to take home $600 and was followed by Blessington and Vangenderen.

There was trouble in river city for the hobby stock feature. Twenty five cars out of the 40 entered started the feature event with Rob Wilsey and Tanner Thomann leading the field. Wilsey led the first four laps before the first of thirteen yellow flags would stop the action for various reasons. On lap five Dean Kratzer would get the second lead of the race but only for one lap as Wilsey would gain it back. Wilsey continued to lead the field through lap eleven, and again Kratzer would get by for the fourth lead change of the race. Kratzer took the lead for good from Wilsey on lap twelve but then had to deal with John Oliver, Jr. who was closing in on Kratzer by lap . On lap twenty five, Oliver made his move and took lead for the fifth lead change of the race and went on to take the checkered flag on lap thirty. Kratzer settled for second, Doug Fenton took third and Luke McLaughlin, the 2007 hobby stock track champion, moved up from his ninth row start to finish fourth.

4 cylinders cars were added to the SC & HS Nationals show and the turnout was great while also providing plenty of thrills and spills for the fans. 33 cars entered to compete for the twenty four spot feature that paid $250 win. This was the third time these cars have been at 34 this year. Tyler Westercamp and Jeff Miller led the field around turn four for the start of the 15 lap feature. Then trouble began. It took three tries to get the first lap in after 3 red flags were brought out for various rolls, flips and pile ups. Once they got going, following yet another red on lap two, Dennis Schulte took command and held on for the next eight laps. The final red flag came out on lap nine when Wapello¹s Amanda Tipps hit the back stretch wall sending her flipping. She was ok and racing resumed with Tyler Schulte taking over the lead after the restar. Schulte then led the field around the 3/8 mile for the remaining four laps to get the win. Following Tyler would be Dennis Schulte and Michael Grossman to round out the top three.


34 Raceway Sept. 29 results

IMCA Stock Cars FEATURE: 1. Jeff Mueller, New London, Ia., 2. Chris Wibbell, Dallas City, Il., 3. Brian Blessington, Breda, Ia., 4. Mike Vangenderen, Newton, Ia., 5. Abe Huls., Carthage, Il., 6. Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, Ia., 7. Kirk Kinsley, Wapello, Ia., 8. John Oliver, Jr., Danville, Ia., 9. Chris Webb., Biggsville, Il., 10. Tim Breuer, Burlington, Ia., 11. Clayton Deppe, Kellogg, Ia., 12. Brandon Rothzen, Media, Il., 13. Shawn Hoskins, Marshalltown, Ia., 14. Greg Johnson, Burlington, Ia., 15. Doug Huls, Carthage, Il., 16. Brad Ewart, Wapello, Ia., 17. Nick Fenton, Mt. Pleasant, Ia., 19. Scooter Dulin, Cedar Rapids, Ia., 20. Patty Fosaaen, Waukon, Ia., 21. Jake Wenig, Burlington, Ia., 22. Steve Meyer, Grundy Center, Ia., 23. Eric Flander, Barns City, Ia., 24. Rod Staats, Columbus Jct., Ia., 25. Shane Watts, Burlington, Ia.,

HEAT WINNERS (top 4): Heat 1: Brian Blessington, Mike Vangenderen, Ryan Cook, Mt. Pleasant, Scooter Dulin. Heat 2: Doug Huls, Carthage, Il., Nick Fenton, Chris Wibbell, Greg Johnson. Heat 3: Steve Meyer, Grundy Center, Ia., Brad Ewart, Wapello, Jason Cook, Kirk Kinsley, Heat 4: Jeff Mueller, Jake Wenig, John Oliver, Jr., Eric Flander. B-Feature 2: Brandon Rothzen, Shawn Hoskins, Tim Breuer, Patty Fosaaen. B-Feature 1: Rod Staats, Shane Watts, Abe Huls, Deppe.

IMCA Stock Car Fast Dash: Mike Vangenderen

HOBBY STOCKS FEATURE: 1. John Oliver, Jr., Danville, Ia., 2. Dean Kratzer, Montrose, Ia.., 3. Doug Fenton, Burlington, Ia., 4. Luke McLaughlin, Mediapolis, Ia., 5. Roger Dresden, Keokuk, Ia.., 6. Rob Wilsey, Keokuk, Ia., 7. Neil Thesins, Oakdale, Mn., 8. John Richardson, Morning Sun, Ia., 9. Jim Lynch, Donnellson, Ia., 10. Alex Buffington, Wapello, Ia., 11. Chuck Underwood, Burlington, Ia.., 12. Matt Gavin, Kirkwood, Il., 13. Chris Hovden, Cresco, Ia., 14., Jason Gerdes, Lomax, Il., 15. Keith Reed, Fowler, Il., 16. Chris Rees, Payson, Il., 17. Brian Holmes, Wapello, Ia., 18. Brad Weber, Donnellson, Ia., 19. Tanner Thomann, West Burlington, Ia., 20. Blaine Dopler, Wapello, Ia., 21. Chad Koch, Marshalltown, Ia., 22. Cale Samberg, Burlington, Ia., 23. Brodie Dopler, Wapello, Ia., 24. Eric Rowley, Burlington, Ia., 25. Steve Christopher, Decorah, Ia.,

HEAT WINNER: Heat 1 (top 4): Wilsey, Kratzer, Rowley, Hovden. Heat 2: Richardson, Thomann, Holmes, oliver. Heat 3: Fenton, Gerdes, Lynch, Reed. Heat 4: Christopher, Gavin, Samberg, Rees. B-feature 1: Koch, Dresden, Thesins, Underwood, B-feature 2: McLaughlin, Buffington, Weber, Dopler.

Hobby Stock Fast Dash: John Richardson.

4 CYLINDERS FEATURE; 1. Tyler Schulte, Montrose, Ia., 2. Dennis Schulte, Keokuk, Ia., 3. Michael Grossman, Keokuk, Ia., 4. Gabe Harrison, Warsaw, Il., 5. Geoffrey Theobald, Wapello, Ia., 6. Steve Shull, Mt. Pleasant, Ia., 7. Luke Davidson, Argyle, Ia., 8. Randy Foor, Morning Sun, Ia., 9. Amanda Tipps, Wapello, Ia., 10. Darin Smith, Wapello, Ia., 11. Travis Yakle, Wapello, Ia., 12. Brock Sammons, Rome, Ia., 13. Bryan Keltner, Wapello, Ia., 14. Tyler Westercamp, Rome, Ia., 15. Jena Barthelmes, Marion, Ia., 16. Dane Fenton, Burlington, Ia., 17. Lew Aikman, Hannibal, Mo., 18. Wayne Noble, Wapello, Ia., 19. Jim Powell, Hannibal, Mo., 20. Bill Whalen, Jr., Riverside, Ia., 21. Ross Hammel, Hamilton, Il., 22. Tyler Whalen, Riverside, Ia., 23. Jeff Miller, Wellman, Ia., 24. Dan Keltner, Wapello, Ia.,

HEAT WINNERS: (Top four), Heat 1. Yakle, T. Shulte, Davidson, Harrison. Heat 2: D. Schulte, Grossman, Theobald, T. Whalen. Heat 3: T. Westercamp, Stevie Shull, B. Whalen, Jr., Aikman. Heat 4: Hammel, Barthelmes, Miller, Tipps. B-Feature: D. Keltner, Foor, Noble, Keltner.