WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (Sept. 2) – Aikey wins historic Pepsi USA Late Model Nationals at 34 Raceway Sept. 2.
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Aikey wins historic Pepsi USA Late Model Nationals at 34 Raceway Sept. 2.
WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (Sept. 2) – Jeff Aikey made Deery Brothers Summer Series history Sunday, Sept. 2 on another history-making night at 34 Raceway. Twenty-five years ago, 34 Raceway hosted the first Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models. On April 11, 1987, West Burlington’s Jay Johnson won that race and took home the $10,000 check after winning the 100 lap feature.
The 2012 race had to be postponed to Sunday, Sept. 2 because of rain. Aikey, a six-time series champion and current point leader earned $5,000 and lap money for the victory Sunday night. His career total of 57 Deery feature wins now includes three Pepsi Nationals wins.
The 21st running of the Pepsi USA Late Models Nationals was cut from a 2 day program to one day this year. Three qualifying races, a B-Main and provisionals set the field for the 50 lapper. Mike Murphy and Andy Eckrich led the field around the first turn with Murphy leading the pack for the first nineteen laps before getting caught up in lap traffic. Aikey took advantage and would take over the lead. Jay Johnson stayed on Aikey’s back bumper through three restarts until Eckrich, running in third, was able to get by Johnson for second. Aikey would then hold off Eckrich at the checkered flag taking the win by three car lengths.
Darrel DeFrance was 10th in maintaining his perfect series attendance mark. Johnson won the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing. Murphy’s pole start netted him a set of heads from Brodix.
Also taking to the track were the Weikert Iron and Metal IMCA Sport Mods in a non point race event. Bobby Anders, Quincy, Il. went away with the win in the fifteen car field. Derek St. Clair led the field around the first three circuits before Sean Wyett would take the lead away. Wyett’s lead was short after being passed on lap five following a restart by Bobby Anders. Anders would stay in the lead for the rest of the fifteen lapper and took the checkered flag by several car lengths ahead of Joe Bliven.
Austen Becerra, Carthage, Il., picked up his second I-Wireless/Louisa Communications 4 Cylinder feature win at 34 Raceway. Becerra took the lead from Scott Smith on lap seven and went on to get the win. Mike Hornung would finish second and Chuck Fullenkamp took third in the seventeen car field.
Justin Parrish, Oquawka, Il., took the checkered flag in the twenty-five lap W.T. Gabeline and Sons Trucking 305 Sprint feature. Parrish took the lead on the first lap and never looked back. Daniel Berguist followed in second and Ryan Jamison took third.
Coming up next
Racing action will return to 34 Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 22 when the MOWA (Midwest Open Wheel Association) 410 Sprints will take on the 3/8 mile. Also on the program will be the 4 Cylinders, Sport Mods and Mod Lites. For more information go to www.34raceway.com
PEPSI USA LATE MODEL NATIONALS
Feature results – 1. Jeff Aikey, Waterloo; 2. Andy Eckrich, Oxford; 3. Jay Johnson, West Burlington; 4. Matt Strassheim, Morning Sun; 5. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.; 6. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction; 7. Colby Springsteen, Wapello; 8. Joel Callahan, Dubuque; 9. Tom Goble, Burlington; 10. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown; 11. Nate Beuseling, Silvis, Ill.; 12. Sam Halstead, New London; 13. Jay Chenoweth, Wapello; 14. Tyler Bruening, Decorah; 15. Justin Kay, Wheatland; 16. Mike Murphy Jr., Colona, Ill.; 17. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.; 18. Tom Bowling Jr., Danville; 19. Matt Ryan, Davenport; 20. Lonnie Bailey, Quincy, Ill.; 21. LeRoy Brenner, Aledo, Ill.; 22. Rob Toland, Colona, Ill.; 23. Kurt Kile, Nichols; 24. Kyle Hinrichs, Swisher.
1st heat (top five qualify) – 1. Bowling; 2. Guss; 3, Utter; 4. Strassheim; 5. Bruening; 6. Kay; 7. Brenner; 8. Toland; 9. Tom Darbyshire, Morning Sun.
2nd heat – 1. Eckrich; 2. Aikey; 3. Johnson; 4. Goble; 5. DeFrance; 6. Chenoweth; 7. Bailey; 8. Willie Gammill, Siloam Springs, Ark.; 9. Kile.
3rd heat – 1. Springsteen; 2. Murphy; 3. Beuseling; 4. Callahan; 5. Halstead; 6. Burgtorf; 7. Ryan; 8. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo; 9. Hinrichs.
“B” feature (top six qualify) – 1. Burgtorf; 2. Kay; 3. Ryan; 4. Toland; 5. Bailey; 6. Brenner; 7. Chenoweth; 8. Nezworski; 9. Hinrichs; 10. Kile; 11. Gammill; 12. Darbyshire.
Point provisionals – Chenoweth, Kile and Hinrichs.
WEIKERT IRON AND METAL IMCA SPORT MODS
FEATURE: 1. Bobby Anders, Quincy, Il., 2. M. Joe Bliven, Quincy, Il., 3. Derek St. Clair, Donnellson, 4. Sean Wyett, Danville, 5. Dean Kratzer, Fort Madison, 6. Miles Shelman, Ames, 7. Nathan Anders, Quincy, Il., 8 Derek Coleman, New London, 9. Scott Boles, New London, 10. Wm. Jay Kirchner, Donnellson, 11. Phillip Cossell, Montrose, 12. Levi Smith, Donnellson 13. Chris Larson, Keokuk,1 4. Charles Vanzandt, Camp Point, Il., 15. Scott Van Buskirk, Herick. HEAT WINNERS: Larson, Shelman.
I-WIRELESS/LOUISA COMMUNICATIONS 4 CYLINDERS
FEATURE: 1. Austen Becerra, Carthage, Il., 2. Mike Hornung, Keokuk, 3. Chuck Fullenkamp, 4. Dustin Ravelin, Burlington, 5. Casey Lambert, Carthage, Il., 6. Travis Smith, LaHarpe, Il., 7. Seith Woodruff, Hamilton, Il., 8. Scott Smith, Alexandria, Mo., 9. Bucky Gollaher, Hannibal, Mo., 10. Rick Hurlbut, Lone Tree, 11. Troy Wonders, Washington, 12. Brian Mehaffy, Danville, 13. Rachael Reger, Burlington,1 4. Sean Baker, 15. Kyle Hamilton, Keokuk, 16. Kevin Mortimer, Biggsville, Il., 17. Brendan Mehaffy, New London. HEAT WINNERS: Hurlbut, Hornung, Lambert.
W.T. GABELINE AND SONS TRUCKING 305 SPRINTS
FEATURE: 1. Justin Parrish, Oquawka, Il., 2. Daniel Bergquist, Burlington, 3. Ryan Jamison, Mediapolis, 4. Matt Krieger, Fort Dodge, 5. Corey Timmerman, Carman, Il., 6. Brandyn Martin, Eldon, 7. Jacob Glasgow, West Burlington, 8. Chase Wanner, Agency, 9. Cody Wehrle, Burlington, 10. Harold Pohren, New London, 11. Gary Bonar, Burlington, 12. John Schulz, West Burlington, 13. Tony Bundy, Monmouth, Il., 14. Shawn Whiting, West Burlington. HEAT WINNERS: Jamison, Bergquist.
Category: 34 Raceway, Iowa, News
