Hard charging Lewerke tops
‘Night of 1,000 Stars’ special

BRITT, Iowa (Aug. 9) – After making the field by winning his “B” race, Rich Lewerke took his “A” game into the IMCA Modified main at Hancock County Speedway’s ‘Night of 1,000 Stars’ special on Thursday night.

As a result, the hard charger from Garner will take a check for $2,500 to the bank Friday morning, From his 20th starting spot, Lewerke found the fast inside line and
worked his way past Jeff Feaster for the lead on the 23rd of 30 laps, then held onto the front spot the rest of the way in topping the 13th annual event.

Feaster chased Lewerke to the finish. Keith Schmitz, Rob Hughes and Troy Cordes completed the top five.

Lewerke’s share of the purse included $2,000 for the victory, $400 in lap money and another $100 for leading the 25th circuit. The win also puts him on the ballot for the Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational during next year’s IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals.

Jared Siefert ran in front the first eight times around the track,
with Nate Caruth close behind and Feaster a strong third.

Feaster caught both for the lead on lap nine. Jeremy Mills, another
“B” qualifier, bulleted around the top of the oval into third before
midway and was in second by lap 17.

Still locked in the lower groove, Lewerke took over second when Mills
jumped the cushion a couple laps later and then tracked down Feaster.

Both Mills and fourth running Caruth broke with six to go, with
Caruth collecting Jay Noteboom in the process. The front five ran
unchanged to the checkers.

Forty-eight Modifieds were in the pits at Britt. The top three in
each of six heats and two “B” features comprised the starting grid
for the headline race.

Jared Dirks of Eldora led flag to flag in the evening’s IMCA Sunoco
Stock Car feature, pocketing $400 for his efforts.

The only caution of the contest brought the field back together in
the late running, but Dirks stayed in front to score the win ahead of
Chad Palmer and David Smith.

Modified Feature Results –
1. Rich Lewerke, Garner;
2. Jeff Feaster, Dakota City;
3. Keith Schmitz, Swaledale;
4. Rob Hughes, Humboldt;
5. Troy Cordes, Raymond;
6. Jerry Wren, Howard Lake, Minn.;
7. Chris Mills, Sioux City;
8. Stacey Mills, Webb;
9. Nate Caruth, Ames;
10. Jay Noteboom, Hinton;
11. Jeremy Mills, Garner;
12. Skeeter Paris, Boone;
13. Jared Siefert, Green Bay, Wis.;
14. Greg Elliott, Webster City;
15. Todd Shute, Des Moines;
16. Shane Monson, Clear Lake;
17. Eric Dailey, Armstrong;
18. Mike Wedelstadt, Fremont, Wis.;
19. Oliver Kollofski, Fairmont, Minn.;
20. Gary Pesicka, Burt;
21. Adam Bolin, Waterloo;
22. Brett Ladehoff, Marshalltown;
23. Jeff Stephens, Arion;
24. Mike Bosma, Harris.
1st heat (top three) – 1. Bolin; 2. Siefert; 3. Paris. 2nd heat – 1.
Bosma; 2. Monson; 3. Wren. 3rd heat – 1. Cordes; 2. Pesicka; 3.
Stephens. 4th heat – 1. Feaster; 2. Caruth; 3. Schmitz. 5th heat – 1.
Wedelstadt; 2. Shute; 3. Hughes. 6th heat – 1. Elliott; 2. Dailey; 3.
Ladehoff. 1st “B” feature (top three) – 1. Stacey Mills; 2. Jeremy
Mills; 3. Noteboom. 2nd “B” – 1. Lewerke; 2. Chris Mills; 3. Kollofski.