Andy Eckrich captures Deery Opener
by Mike McGuire
DAVENPORT, Ia. (April 11, 2014) – Andy Eckrich was the big winner at the Deery Brothers season opener, Friday night at the Davenport Speedway. Eckrich, who qualified through a B-Main, stole the lead from Matt Ryan just before mid-race and led the rest of the way to the checkered flag.
Andy started seventeenth and had moved all the way up to second by lap ten. Once in the lead, Eckrich would lead the rest of the way to the checkered flag and a $3,000 payday. The victory was his first Deery Brothers win at the Davenport Speedway.
Local favorite Ray Guss Jr. jumped out to the early race lead and had a full straightaway advantage when the caution flag flew on lap six. Under yellow, Guss’ car came to a halt and had to be push started. Ray was put to the back of the pack for the restart, but rallied to a ninth place finish.
Matt Ryan would lead for the next dozen laps, before yielding to Eckrich. Ryan would eventually finish third.
Justin Kay came on strong late in the race and was closing on the leader as they came to the checkers. Kay would finish second, followed Ryan, Colby Springsteen, and Tyler Bruening. Defending series champion, Brian Harris, was sixth.
Five heat races and two B-mains were needed to reduce the forty-one entries to the starting line-up.
Heat wins went to Andy Nezworski, Jon Poll, Ray Guss Jr., Jon Merfeld, and Milo Veloz. Andy Eckrich and Jeremy Grady captured the B-mains.
A strong field of Modifieds were on hand for the first race of the season. Jason Bahrs raced to the early lead and held the top spot until Bob Dominacki flew by on lap six. Dominacki led the rest of the way with Mitch Morris a couple car lengths behind. A good distance behind the lead duo, Brian Bushong took third, followed by Brandon Durbin and Scott Powell. Morris, Bahrs, and Matt Werner won the Modified heats.
Tim Current dominated the Street Stock main. Current started on the pole and scored the win over Steve Jackson who finished second. Kevin Dickey, Cary Brown, and Randy Lamar rounded out the top five.
Austin Moyer led flag to flag, taking the win in the SportMod feature. Half a dozen drivers held the second spot during the fifteen lap race, with Jake Montoya finishing in the runner-up position. Doug Burkhead finished third with Jake Morris and Jake Benischek fourth and fifth respectively.
Zach Dahl drove his brother’s car to a win in the 4-Stock main. Aaron Hitt finished second with Andy Wagener third. A hard fought battle for fourth went to Bob Taggart over Gage Neal.
Late Model stock car racing action continues at the Davenport Speedway, next Friday, April 18th, with the running of the Midwest Sanction Showdown. The open late model cars of the Cornbelt Clash Late Model Series and the MARS DirtCar Series will compete on the historic, half-mile oval. The late models will be joined on the track by the Modifieds and Street Stocks.
Davenport Speedway
Results – April 11, 2014
Deery Brothers Late Models
Heat 1: 1. Andy Nezworski; 2. Colby Springsteen; 3. Tommy Elston; 4. Darrell DeFance; 5. Brian Harris;
Heat 2: 1. Jon Poll; 2. Mike Cothron; 3. Ryan Dolan; 4. Tyler Bruening; 5. Brunson Behning;
Heat 3: 1. Ray Guss Jr.; 2. Matt Ryan; 3. Justin Kay; 4. Jeremy Grady; 5. Spencer Diercks;
Heat 4: 1. Jon Merfeld; 2. Todd Malmstrom; 3. Joel Callahan; 4. Andy Eckrich; 5. Denny Eckrich;
Heat 5: 1. Milo Veloz; 2. Mike Zemo Jr.; 3. Jason Rauen; 4. Jay Johnson; 5. Jeff Aikey;
B-Main #1: 1. Jeremy Grady; 2. Darrell DeFrance; 3. Denny Eckrich; 4. Luke Merfeld; 5. Jay Johnson;
B-Main #2: 1. Andy Eckrich; 2. Brian Harris; 3. Tyler Bruening; 4. Terry Neal; 5. Spencer Diercks;
Feature: 1. Andy Eckrich; 2. Justin Kay; 3. Matt Ryan; 4. Colby Springsteen; 5. Tyler Bruening; 6. Brian Harris; 7. Joel Callahan; 8. Ryan Dolan; 9. Ray Guss Jr.; 10. Denny Eckrich; 11. Andy Nezworski; 12. Tommy Elston; 13. Terry Neal; 14. Jason Rauen; 15. Darrell DeFrance; 16. Jeremy Grady; 17. Jon Poll; 18. Todd Malmstrom; 19. Milo Veloz; 20. Joe Ross; 21. Mike Cothron; 22. Mike Zemo Jr.; 23. Jon Merfeld;
IMCA Modifieds
Heat 1: 1. Matt Werner; 2. Jake Bowman; 3. Todd Reed; 4. Brandon Durbin; 5. BJ Jackson;
Heat 2: 1. Mitch Morris; 2. Tony VonDresky; 3. Tim Arp; 4. Scott Powell; 5. Sam Davis;
Heat 3: 1. Jason Bahrs; 2. Bob Dominacki; 3. Chris Zogg; 4. Brian Bushong; 5. Kacy Breecher;
Feature: 1. Bob Dominacki; 2. Mitch Morris; 3. Brian Bushong; 4. Brandon Durbin; 5. Scott Powell; 6. Tony VonDresky; 7. Tim Arp; 8. Matt Werner; 9. Chris Zogg; 10. Brad Tyler; 11. Jake Bowman; 12. Sam Davis; 13. Kacy Breecher; 14. Todd Reed; 15. Jason Bahrs;
Street Stocks
Heat 1: 1. Donnie Louck; 2. Tim Current; 3. Kevin Dickey; 4. Steve Jackson; 5. Randy Lamar;
Feature: 1. Tim Current; 2. Steve Jackson; 3. Kevin Dickey; 4. Cary Brown; 5. Randy Lamar; 6. Kile Vohringer; 7. Erick Turner; 8. Donnie Louck; 9. Chris Smith;
IMCA Sport Mods
Heat 1: 1. Bryce Garnhart; 2. Jake Montoya; 3. Jayson Wiggins; 4. ; 5. Mike McGarry;
Heat 2: 1. Austin Moyer; 2. Jake Morris; 3. Ryan Reed; 4. Doug Burkhead; 5. Andre Laporte;
Feature: 1. Austin Moyer; 2. Jake Montoya; 3. Doug Burkhead; 4. Jake Morris; 5. Bryce Garnhart; 6. Mike McGarry; 7. Joe Grant; 8. Andre Laporte; 9. Justin Conklin; 10. Jayson Wiggins;
4-Stock
Heat 1: 1. Aaron Hitt; 2. Gage Neal; 3. Zach Dahl; 4. Bob Taggart; 5. Andy Wagener;
Feature: 1. Zach Dahl; 2. Aaron Hitt; 3. Andy Wagener; 4. Bob Taggart; 5. Gage Neal; 6. Allen Morris; 7. Jake Benischek; 8. Brandon Setser; 9. Scott Blake; 10. Patrick Blake; 11. Brad Salisbury;
Category: Davenport Speedway, Iowa
