Marolf earns career first Deery Series win on opening night of Yankee Dirt Track Classic

Marolf started on the pole for Friday’s 50-lapper, ran in the top five most of the way before catch­ing Justin Kay with five laps to go, then drove to victory lane to collect a $3,000 check.

The 18th of 20 events on the 2012 schedule drew a season-high 56 entries from four states to Farley. Kay, Tyler Bruening, Andy Eckrich and Mark Burgtorf completed the top five finishers.

Kay started outside Marolf, took the lead on the initial green and restarted at the front after the sole caution of the race came out on lap two. He put some distance on the rest of the field while Mike Murphy Jr. ran in second and Marolf and Eckrich fought over third.

After catching up with the back of the pack, Murphy drove inside Kay to take the lead on lap 20. He was checking out before breaking and pulling into the infield.

Kay resumed the lead, holding the seventh starting Bruening at bay while Eckrich and Marolf got closer. Marolf shot from fourth to the lead, then drove away over the course of the final five cir­cuits for his career first Deery win.

Kay was the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing winner.

Qualifiers Kay, Eckrich, Joel Callahan, Jeff Aikey, Darrel DeFrance, Jay Johnson, Ray Guss Jr. and Murphy each earned $99 Ideal Ready Mix Ironman Challenge perfect attendance cash bo­nuses.

The winner of Saturday’s Deery feature at Farley earns $7,500, the top check on the tour this sea­son. A minimum of $500 will be paid to start and a number of new entries are expected.

Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow. Aikey remains the tour point leader, now by an 833-826 margin over Eckrich.

Davenport Speedway hosts the final event of the 26th annual series next Saturday, Sept. 22.

Feature results – 1. Nick Marolf, Moscow; 2. Justin Kay, Wheatland; 3. Tyler Bruening, Decorah; 4. Andy Eckrich, Oxford; 5. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.; 6. Joel Callahan, Dubuque; 7. Denny Eckrich, Tiffin; 8. Jeff Aikey, Waterloo; 9. Jeff Mitrisin, Oskaloosa; 10. Colby Springsteen, Wapello; 11. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown; 12. Jay Johnson, West Burlington; 13. Rick Dralle, Waterloo; 14. Luke Goedert, Guttenberg; 15. Greg Kastli, Waterloo; 16. Bruce Schmitz, Mineral Point, Wis.; 17. Jeremiah Hurst, Dubuque; 18. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.; 19. Mike Murphy Jr., Colona, Ill.; 20. Dan Shelliam, Hazel Green, Wis.; 21. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove; 22. Luke Merfeld, Dubuque; 23. Jason Rauen, Farley; 24. Brian Beaudry, Lost Nation.

1st heat (top two qualify) – 1. Burgtorf; 2. Dralle; 3. Rauen; 4. Travis Smock, Independence; 5. Jason Hahne, Webster City; 6. Jay Chenoweth, Wapello; 7. Ryan Griffith, Webster City; 8. Matt Strassheim, Morning Sun; 9. Kevin Kile, West Liberty; 10. Carey Umbarger, Garner.

2nd heat – 1. Mitrisin; 2. Hurst; 3. Mike Garland, Morrison, Ill.; 4. Shelliam; 5. Matt Ryan, Daven­port; 6. Schmitz; 7. Larry Harris, Muscoda, Wis.; 8. Sam Halstead, New London; 9. Todd Alexan­der, Milledgeville, Wis.; 10. Beaudry.

3rd heat – 1. Kay; 2. Zrostlik; 3. Denny Eckrich; 4. Kyle Hinrichs, Swisher; 5. Jason Utter, Colum­bus Junction; 6. Johnson; 7. Goedert; 8. Tommy Elston, Keokuk; 9. Jay Stewart, Blair, Neb.

4th heat – 1. Murphy; 2. Callahan; 3. Kastli; 4. Dean Wagner, Evansdale; 5. Springsteen; 6. Randy Foote, Stanton; 7. Mike Zemo Jr., Davenport; 8. Bobby Hansen, Center Point; 9. Scott Welsh, Marion.

5th heat – 1. Bruening; 2. Guss; 3. Luke Merfeld; 4. Aikey; 5. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo; 6. Curt Martin, Independence; 7. Kurt Kile, Nichols; 8. Doug Nigh, Maquoketa; 9. Mitch Current, Maquo­keta.

6th heat – 1. Andy Eckrich; 2. Marolf; 3. DeFrance; 4. Doug Yates, Monticello; 5. Darren Mish, Hazel Green, Wis.; 6. Dave Stichter, Shannon, Ill.; 7. Todd Hormel, Iowa City; 8. Jon Merfeld, Pe­osta; 9. Spencer Diercks, Davenport.

1st “B” feature (top three qualify) – 1. Rauen; 2. Shelliam; 3. Schmitz; 4. Smock; 5. Ryan; 6. Strassheim; 7. Chenoweth; 8. Griffith; 9. Beaudry; 10. Kevin Kile; 11. Hahne; 12. Alexander; 13. Halstead; 14. Umbarger; 15. Harris; 16. Garland.

2nd “B” feature – 1. Denny Eckrich; 2. Kastli; 3. Springsteen; 4. Hinrichs; 5. Zemo; 6. Goedert; 7. Wagner; 8. Foote; 9. Johnson; 10. Hansen; 11. Elston; 12. Stewart; 13. Utter; 14. Welsh.

3rd “B” feature – 1. Aikey; 2. Luke Merfeld; 3. DeFrance; 4. Nezworski; 5. Yates; 6. Jon Merfeld; 7. Mish; 8. Kurt Kile; 9. Stichter; 10. Hormel; 11. Diercks; 12. Current; 13. Nigh; 14. Martin.

Hard charger provisional – Beaudry. Point provisionals – Johnson and Goedert.