BAKKEN, PETER, KUNKLE, HARE, JONES CAPTURE CRESCO CHECKERS
by: Jeff Nun

CRESCO, Ia (June 4, 2006) - The USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series continued at the Cresco Speedway on Sunday with exciting finishes, spectacular door-to-door action and a hearty crowd on hand to witness it all.

The USRA Modified feature was extremely fast as the top cushion was great, the middle was smooth and the bottom was fast, providing great action throughout the pack. When the green flag dropped to start the USRA Modified main event, Brad Bakken of Garner took off and left everyone in his wake. Decorah's Dan Bohr started on the pole and gave chase, but was no match for Bakken on this night. Kevin Pittman of Waterloo finished third after starting 10th, Todd Ihde of Decorah was fourth and opening night winner Darrin Walch of Postville finished fifth after starting in the 17th spot.

Ron Konkel of Caledonia, Minn., accepted the Bud Challenge and started 18th, but with just one caution to slow the pace of the feature, could only muster an eighth-place finish -- the final position not lapped by the blazing Bakken.

With a superb racing surface, the racing action was great again Sunday night with both the USRA Stock Car and Outlaw Hobby main events coming down to a last-lap last-corner pass for the win.

The Stock Cars alone continue to provide a show worthy of the price of admission. Scott Bauer looked to have things under control and on his way to his first win of the season until a broken tie rod going into turn 1 on the last lap crippled the "Riceville Rocket" as he hung on for a runner-up finish behind a fast Shawn Peter of Mabel, Minn. Both drivers raced side by side for several laps with Peter high on the cushion and Bauer fast on the low groove before Peter inched away for the win in the final turn coming for the checkers.

Defending track champion Tom Schmitt of Independence finished third after starting 10th on the grid, while Tom Hovey of Decorah and Cresco's Shay Curtin rounded out the top-5 finishers.

The Outlaw Hobby feature was equally competitive with the top-5 running together and battling two- and three-wide for most of the race. Matt Jones and Dillon Anderson led the way, with Jones getting the win. Josh Ludeking of Decorah, Patty Fosaaen of Waukon and Ben Moudry of Protivin completed the first five across the finish line.

Brandon Hare of Elma came out on top of a competitive USRA Hobby Stock main event, followed by Kyle Buxengard of Spring Grove, Minn., Andy Kelly of Lanesboro, Minn., Nick Schwebach of Caledonia, Minn. and Bernie Adams of Stacyville.

The growing class of USRA B-Mods saw Brian Kunkle of Oelwein repeat his opening night feat as he beat Greg Simmons of Clarion to the checkered flag. Junior Boyer of Calmar claimed third, Elgin's Jeremy LaPlant finished fourth and Lorin Kurth of Waukon garnered a fifth-place paycheck.

Next Sunday, June 11, the USRA Casey's General Stores Weekly Racing Series continues at the Cresco Speedway featuring USRA Modifieds, Stock Cars, B-Mods, Hobby Stocks and Outlaw Hobbies. Gates will open at 4 p.m., with hot laps at 6:15 and racing at 6:30. General admission adult tickets are $9, Juniors (ages 13-18) & Seniors (62 and older) are $7, with kids 12 and under admitted FREE each night.

The Cresco Speedway is located 0.2 miles north of SR 9 on SW 7th (at the Howard County Fairgrounds). For more information call the track hotline at (563) 547-3400.



USRA B-MODIFIEDS

Heat 1:

1 20 - Brian Kunkle -- Oelwein, IA (6)
2 47j - Jeremy LaPlant -- Elgin, IA (2)
3 96 - Raymond Lundry -- Maynard, IA (5)
4 01x - Kyle Jumbeck -- Houston, MN (3)
5 88x - Jimmy Broszeit -- Postville, IA (4)
6 32 - Jeremy Schaufenbuel -- New Hampton, IA (1)

Heat 2:

1 82x - Chris Fretheim -- Decorah, IA (1)
2 42 - Junior Boyer -- Calmar, IA (4)
3 21g - Greg Simmons -- Clarion, IA (5)
4 99 - Josh Angst -- Winona, MN (6)
5 44 - Lorin Kurth -- Waukon, IA (2)
6 14 - Brian Schrage -- Cresco, IA (3)


A Main:

1 20 - Brian Kunkle -- Oelwein, IA (1)
2 21g - Greg Simmons -- Clarion, IA (5)
3 42 - Junior Boyer -- Calmar, IA (2)
4 47j - Jeremy LaPlant -- Elgin, IA (8)
5 44 - Lorin Kurth -- Waukon, IA (10)
6 14 - Brian Schrage -- Cresco, IA (12)
7 88x - Jimmy Broszeit -- Postville, IA (9)
8 01x - Kyle Jumbeck -- Houston, MN (7)
9 99 - Josh Angst -- Winona, MN (6)
10 32 - Jeremy Schaufenbuel -- New Hampton, IA (11)
11 82x - Chris Fretheim -- Decorah, IA (4)
12 96 - Raymond Lundry -- Maynard, IA (3)


USRA HOBBY STOCKS

Heat:

1 15 - Mitch Hovden -- Decorah, IA (2)
2 101 - Bernie Adams -- Stacyville, IA (1)
3 56h - Brandon Hare -- Elma, IA (6)
4 27k - Andy Kelly -- Lanesboro, MN (3)
5 83 - David Lickteig -- Cresco, IA (7)
6 70 - Chris Hovden -- Cresco, IA (5)
7 72 - Kyle Buxengard -- Spring Grove, MN (8)
8 38 - Nick Schwebach -- Caledonia, MN (9)
9 7k - Andy Stinson -- Ridgeway, IA (4)

A Main:

1 56h - Brandon Hare -- Elma, IA (4)
2 72 - Kyle Buxengard -- Spring Grove, MN (7)
3 27k - Andy Kelly -- Lanesboro, MN (1)
4 38 - Nick Schwebach -- Caledonia, MN (8)
5 101 - Bernie Adams -- Stacyville, IA (3)
6 15 - Mitch Hovden -- Decorah, IA (6)
7 7k - Andy Stinson -- Ridgeway, IA (9)
8 83 - David Lickteig -- Cresco, IA (2)
9 70 - Chris Hovden -- Cresco, IA (5)


USRA MODIFIEDS

Heat 1:

1 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (1)
2 41p - Keith Pittman -- Waterloo, IA (2)
3 10 - Todd Hanson -- Clear Lake, IA (3)
4 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (5)
5 00t - Travis Chapman -- Waverly, IA (4)
6 7 - Mike Liddle -- Plainfield, IA (6)

Heat 2:

1 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (4)
2 26p - Kevin Pittman -- Waterloo, IA (2)
3 11 - Kerry Ledebuhr -- Winona, MN (6)
4 1m - Josh Mattick -- Lyle, MN (5)
5 75 - Garry Hall -- Rochester, MN (1)
6 55 - Larry Gene Hall -- Rochester, MN (3)


Heat 3:

1 35 - Ron Konkel -- Caledonia, MN (2)
2 55M - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (4)
3 28t - Todd Ihde -- Decorah, IA (5)
4 7m - Michael Darnall -- West Union, IA (6)
5 32 - Larry Schmidt -- New Hampton, IA (1)
6 5w - Darrin Walch -- Postville, IA (3


A Main:

1 50 - Brad Bakken -- Garner, IA (2)
2 66 - Dan Bohr -- Decorah, IA (1)
3 26p - Kevin Pittman -- Waterloo, IA (10)
4 28t - Todd Ihde -- Decorah, IA (5)
5 5w - Darrin Walch -- Postville, IA (17)
6 11 - Kerry Ledebuhr -- Winona, MN (4)
7 10 - Todd Hanson -- Clear Lake, IA (7)
8 35 - Ron Konkel -- Caledonia, MN (11)
9 7m - Michael Darnall -- West Union, IA (6)
10 02 - Jacob Dahle -- Morristown, MN (3)
11 32 - Larry Schmidt -- New Hampton, IA (12)
12 41p - Keith Pittman -- Waterloo, IA (8)
13 00t - Travis Chapman -- Waverly, IA (11)
14 55 - Larry Gene Hall -- Rochester, MN (16)
15 75 - Garry Hall -- Rochester, MN (15)
16 7 - Mike Liddle -- Plainfield, IA (13)
17 55M - Alan Mondus -- Lakeville, MN (9)
18 1m - Josh Mattick -- Lyle, MN (14)



OUTLAW HOBBIES



Heat 1:

1 23 - Matt Jones -- Waukon, IA (6)
2 85 - Ben Moudry -- Protivin, IA (2)
3 40 - Austin Curtin -- Waukon, IA (1)
4 44 - Dillon Anderson -- Decorah, IA (7)
5 34 - Shane Kappmeyer -- Fayette, IA (3)
6 15m - Bryan Webb -- Decorah, IA (5)
7 60h - Denise Krauskopf -- Decorah, IA (4)



Heat 2:

1 60 - Kurt Krauskopf -- Decorah, IA (1)
2 81 - Josh Ludeking -- Decorah, IA (3)
3 9 - Patty Fosaaen -- Waukon, IA (6)
4 37 - Carl Colsch -- Eitzen, MN (4)
5 83b - Brady Halverson -- Ridgeway, IA (2)
6 41 - Carissa Wagner -- Monona, IA (5)
7 82j - Jason Borsheim -- Mabel, MN (7)

A Main:

1 23 - Matt Jones -- Waukon, IA (5)
2 44 - Dillon Anderson -- Decorah, IA (1)
3 81 - Josh Ludeking -- Decorah, IA (3)
4 9 - Patty Fosaaen -- Waukon, IA (10)
5 85 - Ben Moudry -- Protivin, IA (8)
6 40 - Austin Curtin -- Waukon, IA (4)
7 37 - Carl Colsch -- Eitzen, MN (6)
8 15m - Bryan Webb -- Decorah, IA (11)
9 82j - Jason Borsheim -- Mabel, MN (14)
10 83b - Brady Halverson -- Ridgeway, IA (9)
11 41 - Carissa Wagner -- Monona, IA (12)
12 60h - Denise Krauskopf -- Decorah, IA (13)
13 34 - Shane Kappmeyer -- Fayette, IA (7)
14 60 - Kurt Krauskopf -- Decorah, IA (2)


USRA STOCK CARS

Heat 1:

1 23 - Brian Gjere -- Mabel, MN (4)
2 29 - Scott Bauer -- Riceville, IA (3)
3 40 - Shay Curtin -- Cresco, IA (2)
4 97 - Lynn Panos -- Protivin, IA (6)
5 69 - Jake Ludeking -- Decorah, IA (5)
6 41 - Darin Balk -- Waucoma, IA (8)
7 62 - Kevin Bidne -- Decorah, IA (7)
8 99 - Rodney Necker -- Sumner, IA (1)


Heat 2:

1 18 - Tom Schmitt -- Independence, IA (6)
2 27p - Shawn Peter -- Mabel, MN (3)
3 03 - Jeremy Moellers -- Cresco, IA (1)
4 6 - Tom Hovey -- Decorah, IA (5)
5 8 - Mike Kelly -- Lanesboro, MN (4)
6 27t - Tory Reicks -- Waucoma, IA (8)
7 20 - Gary Rotenberger -- Calmar, IA (2)
8 12 - Shawn Bangs -- Canton, MN (7)
9 8p - Dave Panos -- Decorah, IA (9)



A Main:

1 27p - Shawn Peter -- Mabel, MN (1)
2 29 - Scott Bauer -- Riceville, IA (3)
3 18 - Tom Schmitt -- Independence, IA (10)
4 6 - Tom Hovey -- Decorah, IA (4)
5 40 - Shay Curtin -- Cresco, IA (5)
6 23 - Brian Gjere -- Mabel, MN (9)
7 8 - Mike Kelly -- Lanesboro, MN (6)
8 12 - Shawn Bangs -- Canton, MN (16)
9 97 - Lynn Panos -- Protivin, IA (2)
10 41 - Darin Balk -- Waucoma, IA (11)
11 03 - Jeremy Moellers -- Cresco, IA (8)
12 69 - Jake Ludeking -- Decorah, IA (7)
13 62 - Kevin Bidne -- Decorah, IA (13)
14 27t - Tory Reicks -- Waucoma, IA (12)
15 99 - Rodney Necker -- Sumner, IA (15)
16 8p - Dave Panos -- Decorah, IA (17)
17 20 - Gary Rotenberger -- Calmar, IA (14)