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CHAD SIMPSON TAKES WORLD DIRT RACING LEAGUE SEASON OPENER
Ray Guss Jr. scores accompanying Pro Modified win at Davenport (Iowa)
Speedway
By Mike McGuire
for WORLD Dirt Racing League
DAVENPORT, IA (April 5, 2009) - Despite windy conditions and chilly
temperatures here Saturday night at the half-mile Davenport Speedway, the
WORLD Dirt Racing League, a Midwest-based Late Model touring series,
recorded its first event of the 2009 season.
The races were promoted by Bob and Julie Wagener of Drt Trak Racing, which
also promotes weekly races on Davenport's quarter mile.
For defending WORLD Dirt Racing League champion Chad Simpson, last night's
event was like icing on the cake. Simpson, of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, clinched his
2008 series title at the Davenport track with a sixth-place finish in the
season finale last fall. Upon his return to the historic Davenport half-mile
last night, he led all 40 laps en route to victory.
Simpson started the feature on the pole after winning his heat and the dash.
Then, in a race that was slowed four times for cautions, Simpson was never
seriously challenged.
Behind Simpson, John Kaanta ran in second place until the races first
caution flag flew on lap seven. Following the restart, Denny Eckrich grabbed
the runner-up spot. Kaanta, though, would return the favor just past the
midway point of the race and ride in the second spot to the checkers.
Eckrich held on to finish third, with Rob Moss racing to a fourth-place
finish. Andy Eckrich completed the top five finishers.
In the supporting Pro Modified division, Ray Guss Jr. needed 17 laps of the
20 laps in the feature to track down and pass Thad Wilson for the lead. Guss
led the remaining laps, holding a several car-length lead at the checkers.
Wilson was second with Ryan Dolan third. Bob Dominacki and Chad Patch
finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Next up for the WDRL Late Models is a Sunday, April 19, appearance at
Quad-City Raceway in East Moline, Ill.
For more information on the WORLD Dirt Racing League or the latest WDRL Late
Model Series schedule, check out the WORLD Dirt Racing League's Web site,
www.worldraceleague.com.
RACE REPORT
DAVENPORT SPEEDWAY
DAVENPORT, IOWA
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009
WDRL Late Models
Qualifier 1: 1. Mike Murphy Jr.; 2. Rob Moss; 3. Jason Utter; 4. Jeremy
Grady; 5. Rich Bell.
Qualifier 2: 1. Denny Eckrich; 2. Andy Eckrich; 3. Al Purkey; 4. Brian
Harris; 5. Chad Mahder.
Qualifier 3: 1. John Kaanta; 2. Jeff Aikey; 3. Tommy Elston; 4. Jason Rauen;
5. Chris Simpson.
Qualifier 4: 1. Chad Simpson; 2. Tim Isenberg; 3. Dave Eckrich; 4. Curt
Martin; 5. Jeff Larson.
Semi-Feature: 1. Darin Burco; 2. Gordy Seegert; 3. Jay Johnson; 4. Eric
Pember; 5. Matt Furman.
Pole Dash: 1. Chad Simpson; 2. John Kaanta; 3. Denny Eckrich ; 4. Jeff Aikey;
5. Rob Moss.
40-Lap Feature: 1. Chad Simpson; 2. John Kaanta; 3. Denny Eckrich ; 4. Rob
Moss; 5. Andy Eckrich; 6. Al Purkey; 7. Tommy Elston; 8. Curt Martin; 9. Tim
Isenberg; 10. Dave Eckrich; 11. Brian Harris; 12. Darin Burco; 13. Eric
Pember; 14. Chad Madher; 15. Andrew McKay; 16. Jeremy Grady; 17. Gordy
Seegert; 18. Chris Simpson; 19. Jason Utter; 20. Jay Johnson; 21. Mike
Murphy Jr.; 22. Jason Rauen; 23. Jeff Aikey; 24, Frank Heckenast Jr.
Pro Modifieds
Heat 1: 1. Thad Wilson; 2. Ray Guss Jr.; 3. Bob Dominacki; 4. Mark Schulte;
5. Ray Cox Jr.
Heat 2: 1. Ryan Dolan; 2. Jeff Larson; 3. Chad Patch; 4. Donovan Lodge; 5.
Troy Emerick.
Feature: 1.Ray Guss Jr.; 2. Thad Wilson; 3. Ryan Dolan; 4. Dob Dominacki; 5.
Chad Patch; 6. Mark Schulte; 7. Donovan Lodge; 8. Kenny Kastenbader; 9. Joe
Ross; 10. Troy Emerick; 11. ;Jeff Larson 12. Ray Cox Jr.; 13. Bill Glawson;
14. John Abbott.
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