DeFrance pares point deficit with Deery Series win at Des Moines

DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 13) – The driver second in Deery Brothers Summer Series point standings got a lot closer to the top Monday night.

Darrel DeFrance caught Rob Toland for the front on the 18th of 35 laps, then led the rest of the way in win ning a caution-free IMCA Sunoco Late Model tour feature at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway. He’s now three points behind Jeremy Grady in the standings with three races to go.

Grady had a 14 point advantage over DeFrance going into the night but was forced to take a provisional start after failing to make the grid through his heat or “B” qualifier and finished 12th.

Toland lined up outside Boone McLaughlin on the front row and was quickly into the lead, with the sixth starting DeFrance close behind on the second circuit. The pair pulled away and into lapped traffic, run ning side by side before DeFrance slipped ahead on the higher line and started to sail through the back of the field.

Five-time and defending series champion Jeff Aikey made his charge from ninth, putting the pressure on Toland before taking over second with eight laps left, but ran out of time to make up enough ground and chal lenge DeFrance.

McLaughlin moved to fourth in the official finish when Terry Neal came up light on the post-race scales. Andy Nezworski was fifth and Tom Darbyshire sixth.

Darbyshire made the main by winning his heat race from the 10th and last starting spot. “B” qualifier Ed Kosiski advanced 12 positions to finish ninth.

The $2,000 win by DeFrance was his first of the season and career 10th. He’s competed at each of the 312 events held since the series started in 1987 and also topped Deery races at Des Moines in 1995 and 2000.

Doubleheader action is next on the series docket, with shows on Sunday, Sept. 2 at Quincy, Ill., Raceway and Monday, Sept. 3 at Boone Speedway on opening night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals.

Pit gates open at 4 p.m. at Quincy, with hot laps at 6 p.m. and racing at 6:30 p.m. Gates at Boone open at 10 a.m., hot laps are at 4 p.m. and racing begins at 5 p.m. The evening’s Deery winner will also become the first champion crowned at the silver anniversary Super Nationals.

The 21st annual tour concludes Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14-15 with the 100-lap, $10,000 to win Pepsi USA Nationals at 34 Raceway in West Burlington.

Feature Results –
1. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown;
2. Jeff Aikey, Waterloo;
3. Rob Toland, Bettendorf;
4. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis;
5. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo;
6. Tom Darbyshire, Morning Sun;
7. Craig Jacobs, Des Moines;
8. Kelly Tapper, Boone;
9. Ed Kosiski, Omaha, Neb.;
10. Jason Hahne, Webster City;
11. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun;
12. Jeremy Grady, Story City;
13. T.J. Criss, Oskaloosa;
14. Jon Merfeld, Peosta;
15. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake;
16. Kyle Wahlert, Des Moines;
17. Bobby Hansen, Center Point;
18. Todd Johnson, Mitchellville;
19. John Bagby, Des Moines;
20. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove;
21. Luke Goedert, Holy Cross;
22. Ryan Griffith, Webster City;
23. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.;
24. Terry Neal, Ely.

1st heat (top four ) – 1. McLaughlin; 2. Neal; 3. Tapper; 4. Hansen.
2nd heat – 1. Darbyshire; 2. De France; 3. Nezworski; 4. Jacobs.
3rd heat – 1. Aikey; 2. Toland; 3. Wahlert; 4. McKenna.
4th heat – 1. Spring steen; 2. Griffith; 3. Hahne; 4. Johnson.
1st “B” feature (top three) – 1. Guss; 2. Criss; 3. Kosiski.
2nd “B” – 1. Merfeld; 2. Zrostlik; 3. Bagby.