FURMAN GOES WIRE TO WIRE TO WIN WDRL PRETZEL CITY SHOWDOWN
Eastern Iowa driver becomes second first-time series winner in as many nights
By Tom Lathen
WORLD Dirt Racing League

Freeport, Ill. (Aug. 11, 2006) -- Matt Furman was not to be outdone. After Brian Harris had picked up his first-ever WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series win a night before in Arcadia, Wis., Furman, of Iowa City, surprised a large crowd at Freeport Raceway Park here Thursday night by scoring a wire-to-wire win over veteran Late Model driver Steve Francis in the fourth annual Pretzel City Showdown.

"Now I think I know what (Brian) Harris must have felt like last night," said Furman with a smile in AMSOIL Victory Lane. "This is really unbelievable. We just haven't really had any good luck in the last year or two and we’ve really struggled with this car this year," he added. "But tonight, this car was just awesome. It was good from the get-go."

Coming from his outside front-row starting position, Furman bolted into the lead at the drop of the green flag, outrunning polesitter Jeff Larson up the front straightaway and into turn one.

When the field came in front of the grandstands to put the first lap in the books, Furman held a narrow advantage over Larson, with Francis, of Ashland, Ky., running just ahead of series points leader Denny Eckrich and Hazel Green, Wis., driver Dan Shelliam for third.

By the eighth circuit, the 28-year old design engineer had begun to encounter slower traffic while racing to a nearly a dozen car-length advantage over Francis, who was now running second. The gap had closed to a handful of car lengths as the pair ran in congestion before the only caution flag of the night appeared on lap 22, when Larson stopped in turn two.

Furman's Dr. Keith Stanley DDS/Rocket/Wegner Automotive Research Pontiac Grand Prix blasted out of turn four and up the front chute on the ensuing restart and over the next few laps had again roared to a sizeable advantage over the second-place Francis, with Eckrich running a close third a short distance ahead of 2004 Pretzel City Showdown winner Darren Miller.

By lap 30, Francis had again closed the gap on the race leader. But with a half dozen laps remaining, Furman had again separated from the Blue Grass State driver by nearly 15 car lengths.

Francis staged a late-race rally, slicing into the frontrunner's advantage with each trip in front of the grandstands, and on the checkered flag lap, as Furman skated through turns one and two, the talented national traveler stormed to the inside to challenge for the lead.

"I'm glad I didn't know Francis was as close as he was," said Furman of the last-lap challenge. "I got in a little too high and bobbled a little, and I guess he got in there pretty close."

Added the winner, "I'm glad he didn't show me a nose or it would have made me a little more nervous."

Furman fended off the challenge, and won the race to the checkered flag to secure his first-ever series win.

"I've had some close calls in big races, but I'd have to say this is my biggest win," noted the winner. "This is my highest-paying win, and with it being a WDRL series race with a lot of great racers here, this one is really big."

Eckrich followed Furman and Francis to the line for third, with Wisconsin driver Brady Smith finishing fourth. Shelliam finished fifth, followed by Brian Harris, Dave Eckrich, Eric Pember and Chris Simpson.

For more information on WDRL or the latest PolyDome Late Model Series schedule, check out the WORLD Dirt Racing League's Web site, www.worldraceleague.com.

RACE REPORT
FREEPORT RACEWAY PARK
FREEPORT, ILL.
THURSDAY, AUG. 10, 2006

Qualifying: 1. Chad Simpson; Mount Vernon, IA (20.408), 2. Brady Smith; Solon Springs, WI (20.458), 3. Steve Francis; Ashland, KY (20.524), 4. Kyle Berck; Marquette, NE (20.686, 5. Darren Miller; Milledgeville, IL (20.740), 6. Dan Shellia; Hazel Green, WI (20.806), 7. Steve Boley; West Liberty, IA (20.828), 8. Dave Eckrich; Cosgrove, IA (20.871), 9. Denny Eckrich; Tiffin, IA (20.882), 10. Trent Follmer; Elk River, MN (20.941), 11. Matt Furman; Iowa City, IA (21.063), 12. Ray Guss Jr.; Milan, IL (21.094), 13. Brian Harris; Davenport, IA (21.113), 14. Gary Webb; Blue Grass, IA (21.176), 15. Scott Lemke; Rockford, IL (21.214), 16. Tim Lance; Mapleton, IL (21.218), 17. Chris Simpson; Marion, IA (21.249), 18. Jason Utter; Columbus Junction, IA (21.288), 19. Eric Pember; Pittsville, WI (21.311), 20. Lyle Zanker; Ingleside, IL (21.314), 21. Jeff Larson; Freeport, IL (21.408), 22. Craig Jacobs; Freeport, IL (21.551), 23. Mike Fryer; Freeport, IL (21.796), 24. Rob Moss; Iowa City, IA (22.320), 25. Jason Widdes; Chicago, IL (22.348), 26. Matt Rodebaugh; Orangeville, IL (22.422), 27. Greg Wagner; Polo, IL (22.460), 28. Randy Manos; Rockford, IL (22.625), 29. Pat Gillespie; Pecatonica, IL (23.104).

First PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Denny Eckrich, 2. Francis, 3. Shelliam, 4. Lemke, 5. Pember, 6. Jacobs, 7. Widdes, 8. Manos (scratch), 9. Lance (scratch), 10. Guss Jr. (scratch).

Second PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Furman, 2. Miller, 3. Dave Eckrich, 4. Smith, 5. Chris Simpson, 6. Zanker, 7. Fryer, 8. Rodebaugh, 9. Gillespie, 10. Webb (scratch).

Third PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Harris, 2. Boley, 3. Larson, 4. Follmer, 5. Moss, 6. Wagner, 7. Chad Simpson, 8. Berck, 9. Utter.

KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Webb, 2. Guss, Jr., 3. Fryer, 4. Lance, 5. Widdes, 6. Rodebaugh, 7. Gillespie, 8. Manos, 9. Berck.

Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash: 1. Larson, 2. Furman, 3. Denny Eckrich, 4. Francis, 5. Harris, 6. Shelliam, 7. Boley, 8. Miller.

Out-Pace Racing Products Pretzel City Showdown: 1. Furman, 2. Francis, 3. Denny Eckrich, 4. Miller, 5. Smith, 6. Shelliam, 7. Harris, 8. Dave Eckrich, 9. Pember, 10. Lemke, 11. Chris Simpson, 12. Guss, Jr., 13. Utter, 14. Larson, 15. Follmer, 16. Webb, 17. Jacobs, 18. Widdes, 19. Fryer, 20. Moss, 21. Rodebaugh, 22. Boley, 23. Wagner, 24. Zanker, 25. Lance.

Additional Information of Interest:

Number of Entrants: 29
Lap Leaders: Furman (1-50)
Time of Race: 20:45
Margin of Victory: .215
Caution Flags: 1 (Lap 22)
Red Flags: None
Fastest Lap: Furman (21.452)
Series Provisionals: Jason Utter
Rookie-of-the-Race: Utter
Hard Luck Driver: Berck

Contingency Award Winners:

Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation: Furman, Denny Eckrich, Harris
QA1 Motorsports: Denny Eckrich
The Brake Man: Furman
Champ Pans: Denny Eckrich
Joie of Seating: Miller
Performance Bodies: Smith
Design 500 Racewear: Shelliam
V-Performance Batteries: Harris
Fast Shafts: Dave Eckrich
Hooker Harness: Pember
Weld Wheels: Lemke
Scott Performance Wire: Chris Simpson
Design 500 Racewear (non-qualifier): none
KSE Racing Products: Webb
Chase Race Decals: Berck

2006 WORLD Dirt Racing League sponsors include PolyDome Products, AMSOIL, Hoosier Racing Tires, Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation, Lincoln Electric Company, Chase Race Decals, Wyman's Ford, Gatorade, QA1 Motorsports, The Brake Man, Champ Pans, The Joie of Seating, Performance Bodies, Design 500 Racewear, V-Performance Batteries, Fast Shafts, Hooker Harness, Weld Wheels, Scott Performance Wire, KSE Racing Products, MasterSbilt Race Cars, Rocket Chassis, GRT Race Cars, and Swartz Xtreme Race Cars.