Illinois Driver Survives Late Race Mechanical Woes
By Tom Lathen
(Freeport, IL) Darren Miller held off the late charge of Steve Francis Thursday night to win the Jumpin’ Joe’s/Hooker Harness 40, a WORLD Dirt Racing League sanctioned event, at Freeport Raceway Park in Freeport, Illinois.
The Chadwick, Illinois driver survived a late race caution flag and some unexpected mechanical problems to pick up the win in front of the large “Pretzel City Showdown” crowd at the northwest Illinois facility.
“It was a good race for us and we had a good car early in the race to let us get the lead when we needed it,” said Miller.
“We had some problems there the last 15 laps,” he added. “I had a four-link rod break or a bolt came out or something and the car wasn’t very good at the end but we were able to hold on.”
After securing the pole starting position with a win in the Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation pole dash, Miller fell behind outside front row starter Brady Smith on the opening circuit, as Smith’s Kapus-Erickson Chrysler/Big Red Motorsports entry darted into the lead as the field raced out of turn two.
Miller followed the early leader for the opening five laps, before pulling along side of Smith as the pair raced down the back straightaway on lap six.
On the next go-around, Miller placed his car number 32D on the bottom through turns three four and outran Smith out of the corner to grab the advantage.
The race’s first caution flag was waved on lap 25 when Steve Kosiski’s car number 52 slowed to a halt in turn two, with the second caution coming out directly following the restart when series points leader Kyle Berck also slowed in turn two with mechanical problems.
When racing resumed, Francis roared into second in his Larry Moring owned entry, and on lap 28 the Ashland, Kentucky driver showed a front fender to the race leader as the pair raced out of turn two and headed down the back straightaway.
Miller was able to regain control however, and prior to the final caution flag, two laps from the finish, had moved out to a five-car length advantage over Francis.
With Francis in tow, Miller won the two lap sprint to the finish, with Smith wheeling his car number 2 to a third place finish.
“The way the car was I sure didn’t need those cautions towards the end,” commented Miller.
“After I ran a few laps, I could get it kind of smoothed out, but on those restarts, it was a hand full. We managed though, and that’s the important thing.”
Smith’s third place finish pulled the Solon Springs, Wisconsin series rookie to within 47 points of Berck in the WDRL point standings.
RACE SUMMARY:
First PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Jeff Bair (Solon, IA), 2. Dan Shelliam (Hazel Green, WI), 3. Steve Morgan (Orangeville, IL), 4. Steve Boley (West Liberty, IA), 5. Denny Eckrich (Tiffin, IA).
Second PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Darren Miller (Chadwick, IL), 2. Chris Carlson (Greenfield, WI), 3. Mark Teske (Spring Valley, MN), 4. Kyle Berck (Marquette, NE), 5. Dave Eckrich (Cosgrove, IA).
Third PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Brady Smith (Solon Springs, WI), 2. Ray Guss, Jr. (Milan, IL), 3. Keith Foss (Winona, MN), 4. Matt Furman (Iowa City, IA), 5. Eric Pember (Pittsfield, WI).
Fourth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY), 2. Joe Kosiski (Omaha, NE), 3. John Hampel (Nodaway, IA), 4. Jeff Larson (Freeport, IL), 5. Pete Parker (Kaukauna, WI).
First KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Steve Kosiski (Papillion, NE), 2. Parker, 3. Skip Frey (Ely, IA), 4. Craig Jacobs (Freeport, IL), 5. Steve Isenberg (Marshfield, WI).
Second KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Tommy Elston (Keokuk, IA), 2. Dave Eckrich, 3. Mike Miller (Leaf River, IL), 4. Mark Curwen (Hazel Green, WI), 5. Darrell DeFrance (Marshalltown, IA).
Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash: 1. Miller, 2. Smith, 3. Bair, 4. Francis, 5. Foss, 6. Guss.
Jumpin’ Joe’s/Hooker Harness 40: 1. Miller, 2. Francis, 3. Smith, 4. Guss, 5. Foss, 6. Bair, 7. Denny Eckrich, 8. Joe Kosiski, 9. Elston, 10. Larson, 11. Carlson, 12. Dave Eckrich, 13. Teske, 14. Furman, 15. Isenberg, 16. Ace Ihm (Hazel Green, WI), 17. Pember, 18. Morgan, 19. Berck, 20. Miller, 21. Shelliam, 22. Steve Kosiski, 23. Frey, 24. Boley, 25. Parker, 26. Hampel.
QA1 Shocks Passing Points: Francis (64.28)
Billet Proof Lap Leaders: Smith (1-7), Miller (8-40)
Seubert Calf Ranches Rookie-of-the-Race: Smith
Chase Race Decals Hard Luck Driver: Berck
Contingency Award Winners:
Oval Craft Racing Aluminum Designs: Miller, Francis, Smith
MSD Ignition: Guss
Performance Bodies: Foss
Peterson Fluid Systems: Denny Eckrich
Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange: Joe Kosiski
Hooker Harness: Elston
Weld Wheels: Carlson
Diamond Oil/Sunoco Race Fuels: Dave Eckrich
By Tom Lathen
(Freeport, IL) Darren Miller held off the late charge of Steve Francis Thursday night to win the Jumpin’ Joe’s/Hooker Harness 40, a WORLD Dirt Racing League sanctioned event, at Freeport Raceway Park in Freeport, Illinois.
The Chadwick, Illinois driver survived a late race caution flag and some unexpected mechanical problems to pick up the win in front of the large “Pretzel City Showdown” crowd at the northwest Illinois facility.
“It was a good race for us and we had a good car early in the race to let us get the lead when we needed it,” said Miller.
“We had some problems there the last 15 laps,” he added. “I had a four-link rod break or a bolt came out or something and the car wasn’t very good at the end but we were able to hold on.”
After securing the pole starting position with a win in the Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation pole dash, Miller fell behind outside front row starter Brady Smith on the opening circuit, as Smith’s Kapus-Erickson Chrysler/Big Red Motorsports entry darted into the lead as the field raced out of turn two.
Miller followed the early leader for the opening five laps, before pulling along side of Smith as the pair raced down the back straightaway on lap six.
On the next go-around, Miller placed his car number 32D on the bottom through turns three four and outran Smith out of the corner to grab the advantage.
The race’s first caution flag was waved on lap 25 when Steve Kosiski’s car number 52 slowed to a halt in turn two, with the second caution coming out directly following the restart when series points leader Kyle Berck also slowed in turn two with mechanical problems.
When racing resumed, Francis roared into second in his Larry Moring owned entry, and on lap 28 the Ashland, Kentucky driver showed a front fender to the race leader as the pair raced out of turn two and headed down the back straightaway.
Miller was able to regain control however, and prior to the final caution flag, two laps from the finish, had moved out to a five-car length advantage over Francis.
With Francis in tow, Miller won the two lap sprint to the finish, with Smith wheeling his car number 2 to a third place finish.
“The way the car was I sure didn’t need those cautions towards the end,” commented Miller.
“After I ran a few laps, I could get it kind of smoothed out, but on those restarts, it was a hand full. We managed though, and that’s the important thing.”
Smith’s third place finish pulled the Solon Springs, Wisconsin series rookie to within 47 points of Berck in the WDRL point standings.
RACE SUMMARY:
First PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Jeff Bair (Solon, IA), 2. Dan Shelliam (Hazel Green, WI), 3. Steve Morgan (Orangeville, IL), 4. Steve Boley (West Liberty, IA), 5. Denny Eckrich (Tiffin, IA).
Second PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Darren Miller (Chadwick, IL), 2. Chris Carlson (Greenfield, WI), 3. Mark Teske (Spring Valley, MN), 4. Kyle Berck (Marquette, NE), 5. Dave Eckrich (Cosgrove, IA).
Third PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Brady Smith (Solon Springs, WI), 2. Ray Guss, Jr. (Milan, IL), 3. Keith Foss (Winona, MN), 4. Matt Furman (Iowa City, IA), 5. Eric Pember (Pittsfield, WI).
Fourth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY), 2. Joe Kosiski (Omaha, NE), 3. John Hampel (Nodaway, IA), 4. Jeff Larson (Freeport, IL), 5. Pete Parker (Kaukauna, WI).
First KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Steve Kosiski (Papillion, NE), 2. Parker, 3. Skip Frey (Ely, IA), 4. Craig Jacobs (Freeport, IL), 5. Steve Isenberg (Marshfield, WI).
Second KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Tommy Elston (Keokuk, IA), 2. Dave Eckrich, 3. Mike Miller (Leaf River, IL), 4. Mark Curwen (Hazel Green, WI), 5. Darrell DeFrance (Marshalltown, IA).
Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash: 1. Miller, 2. Smith, 3. Bair, 4. Francis, 5. Foss, 6. Guss.
Jumpin’ Joe’s/Hooker Harness 40: 1. Miller, 2. Francis, 3. Smith, 4. Guss, 5. Foss, 6. Bair, 7. Denny Eckrich, 8. Joe Kosiski, 9. Elston, 10. Larson, 11. Carlson, 12. Dave Eckrich, 13. Teske, 14. Furman, 15. Isenberg, 16. Ace Ihm (Hazel Green, WI), 17. Pember, 18. Morgan, 19. Berck, 20. Miller, 21. Shelliam, 22. Steve Kosiski, 23. Frey, 24. Boley, 25. Parker, 26. Hampel.
QA1 Shocks Passing Points: Francis (64.28)
Billet Proof Lap Leaders: Smith (1-7), Miller (8-40)
Seubert Calf Ranches Rookie-of-the-Race: Smith
Chase Race Decals Hard Luck Driver: Berck
Contingency Award Winners:
Oval Craft Racing Aluminum Designs: Miller, Francis, Smith
MSD Ignition: Guss
Performance Bodies: Foss
Peterson Fluid Systems: Denny Eckrich
Fast Shafts by Axle Exchange: Joe Kosiski
Hooker Harness: Elston
Weld Wheels: Carlson
Diamond Oil/Sunoco Race Fuels: Dave Eckrich
