jdearing
09-30-2005, 03:13 PM
By Bob Wilson
KNOXVILLE, Iowa -- Rick Eckert drove as if he owned the joint while capturing the opening night of the Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals. The win was worth $6,000 to the York, Pa., driver.
In a race which saw five caution periods, Eckert nearly dominated each of the 25 circuits, losing only the opening two laps to row-1 starter Denny Eckrich. It was the first caution on lap 3 which enabled Eckert to drive by Eckrich on the restart as they sailed through turns one and two and Eckert poked the nose of his machine below the leader. As they exited turn 2, Eckert had the lead and began extending it after he got by.
Yet another yellow early in the race on lap six closed the field of 24 cars and as they circled the big half mile the scoreboard showed Eckert leading Matt Miller, Justin Fegers, Eckrich and Billy Moyer.
When the race resumed, all the front runners drove to the bottom, a spot on the track which seemed to be fast all night long. In fact, the track was so fast that 12 drivers dove below the existing track record of 18.401 seconds set last year at this event by Earl Pearson Jr. It was Justin Fegers who was fastest as he smashed Pearson's mark with a lap of 17.673 in qualifying time trials thus gaining the Ringers Gloves "Fast Time" Award.
When the field restarted on lap 6, Scott Bloomquist roared into third and Moyer took over fourth. Eckert continued to pull away from this stellar field and at the 10-lap mark he had steered his machine to nearly a full straightaway lead. That too was the lap in which he began to encounter lapped traffic. The question was whether the slower cars would impede his progress.
Just as Eckert had taken care of the stragglers at the back and had entered a mob a backmarkers, the yellow again flew for debris on the track. With one lapped car between himself and second running Miller, Eckert resumed the race and immediately dove to the bottom. Miller followed but it was obvious that he would not be the man to keep pace with the front runner on this night.
With Eckert again pulling away from the his challengers, all eyes began to focus on Moyer who was making gains on third-running Bloomquist. Moyer began to work the Tennessee driver who could count over 400 wins in his career. An Iowa native who now calls Batesville, Ark., home, Moyer finally made the pass on lap 20. One lap later he took the runner-up position away from Miller.
Only a handful of laps now remained in this opening round qualifier to this second annual Lucas Oil event and Moyer was gaining ground fast on the leader. Debris on the track forced a single-file restart with Moyer right on the tail of Eckert.
On the restart, both frontrunners dove low but Eckert was able to power away from the Moyer challenge and had built a six car-length advantage when the final slow-down flag flew as two cars struck the tall fences in turn 4. Both managed to continue.
The final restart again found Eckert on the bottom but Moyer flew to the top with the hopes of finding a new bite in the surface. It was not there and the Keystone State driver ran the final two laps unchallenged to the finish line. Moyer took the hard-fought runner-up spot and $3,000. Miller held for third and Steve Francis managed a pass of fifth-finishing Bloomquist on the final lap to take fourth. Rounding out the top-10 finishers were Fegers, Eckrich, Mike Marlar, Pearson Jr. (a sixth-row starter) and Kerry Hansen.
RESULTS
TIME TRIALS -- 1. Justin Fegers, Mound MN, 17.673 seconds (new track record, old track record 18.401 by Earl Pearson Jr., Oct. 14, 2004); 2. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA, 18.006; 3. Rick Eckert, York PA, 18.02; 4. Billy Drake, Bloomington IL, 18.045; 5. Matt Miller, Arlington OH, 18.129; 6. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR, 18.131; 7. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN, 18.186; 8. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN, 18.325; 9. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning MI, 18.326; 10. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI, 18.351; 11. Terry Phillips, Springfield MO, 18.358; 12. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville FL, 18.382; 13. Steve Francis, Ashland KY, 18.523; 14. Eddie Carrier Jr, Salt Rock WV, 18.559; 15. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI, 18.758; 16. Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge AR, 18.979; 17. Brian Harris, Davenport IA, 19.004; 18. Caley Emerson, Grand Rapids MN, 19.074; 19. Larry Clawson, Kansas City KS, 19.078; 20. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL, 19.185; 21. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington IA, 19.365; 22. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction IA, 19.459; 23. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis IA, 19.48; 24. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA, 19.555; 25. Scott James, Lawrenceburg IN, 19.572; 26. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL, 19.623; 27. Tom Darbyshire, Yarmouth IA, 19.894; 28. Jeff French, Waukee IA, 20.143; 29. Richard Foster, Holts Summit MO, 20.417; 30. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH, 20.675.
HEAT 1 (10 laps) -- 1. Steve Francis, Ashland KY; 2. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN; 3. Billy Drake, Bloomington IL; 4. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI; 5. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction IA; 6. Justin Fegers, Mound MN; 7. Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge AR; 8. Larry Clawson, Kansas City KS; 9. Scott James, Lawrenceburg IN.
HEAT 2 (10 laps) -- 1. Richard Foster, Holts Summit MO; 2. Tom Darbyshire, Yarmouth IA; 3. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis IA; 4. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL; 5. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 6. Eddie Carrier Jr, Salt Rock WV; 7. Terry Phillips, Springfield MO; 8. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN; 9. Matt Miller, Arlington OH; 10. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA.
HEAT 3 (10 laps) -- 1. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville FL; 2. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH; 3. Rick Eckert, York PA; 4. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning MI; 5. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR; 6. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI; 7. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA; 8. Caley Emerson, Grand Rapids MN; 9. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL; 10. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington IA.
B FEATURE (15 laps) -- 1. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 2. Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge AR; 3. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA; 4. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL; 5. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL; 6. Larry Clawson, Kansas City KS; 7. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington IA; 8. Richard Foster, Holts Summit MO; 9. Jeff French, Waukee IA.
A FEATURE (25 laps) -- 1. Rick Eckert, York PA; 2. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR; 3. Matt Miller, Arlington OH; 4. Steve Francis, Ashland KY; 5. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN; 6. Justin Fegers, Mound MN; 7. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA; 8. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN; 9. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville FL; 10. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI; 11. Billy Drake, Bloomington IL; 12. Eddie Carrier Jr, Salt Rock WV; 13. Terry Phillips, Springfield MO; 14. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis IA; 15. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA; 16. Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge AR; 17. Larry Clawson, Kansas City KS; 18. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI; 19. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning MI; 20. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 21. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL; 22. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL; 23. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction IA; 24. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH.
Lap Leaders: Eckrich 1-2, Eckert 3-25.
KNOXVILLE, Iowa -- Rick Eckert drove as if he owned the joint while capturing the opening night of the Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals. The win was worth $6,000 to the York, Pa., driver.
In a race which saw five caution periods, Eckert nearly dominated each of the 25 circuits, losing only the opening two laps to row-1 starter Denny Eckrich. It was the first caution on lap 3 which enabled Eckert to drive by Eckrich on the restart as they sailed through turns one and two and Eckert poked the nose of his machine below the leader. As they exited turn 2, Eckert had the lead and began extending it after he got by.
Yet another yellow early in the race on lap six closed the field of 24 cars and as they circled the big half mile the scoreboard showed Eckert leading Matt Miller, Justin Fegers, Eckrich and Billy Moyer.
When the race resumed, all the front runners drove to the bottom, a spot on the track which seemed to be fast all night long. In fact, the track was so fast that 12 drivers dove below the existing track record of 18.401 seconds set last year at this event by Earl Pearson Jr. It was Justin Fegers who was fastest as he smashed Pearson's mark with a lap of 17.673 in qualifying time trials thus gaining the Ringers Gloves "Fast Time" Award.
When the field restarted on lap 6, Scott Bloomquist roared into third and Moyer took over fourth. Eckert continued to pull away from this stellar field and at the 10-lap mark he had steered his machine to nearly a full straightaway lead. That too was the lap in which he began to encounter lapped traffic. The question was whether the slower cars would impede his progress.
Just as Eckert had taken care of the stragglers at the back and had entered a mob a backmarkers, the yellow again flew for debris on the track. With one lapped car between himself and second running Miller, Eckert resumed the race and immediately dove to the bottom. Miller followed but it was obvious that he would not be the man to keep pace with the front runner on this night.
With Eckert again pulling away from the his challengers, all eyes began to focus on Moyer who was making gains on third-running Bloomquist. Moyer began to work the Tennessee driver who could count over 400 wins in his career. An Iowa native who now calls Batesville, Ark., home, Moyer finally made the pass on lap 20. One lap later he took the runner-up position away from Miller.
Only a handful of laps now remained in this opening round qualifier to this second annual Lucas Oil event and Moyer was gaining ground fast on the leader. Debris on the track forced a single-file restart with Moyer right on the tail of Eckert.
On the restart, both frontrunners dove low but Eckert was able to power away from the Moyer challenge and had built a six car-length advantage when the final slow-down flag flew as two cars struck the tall fences in turn 4. Both managed to continue.
The final restart again found Eckert on the bottom but Moyer flew to the top with the hopes of finding a new bite in the surface. It was not there and the Keystone State driver ran the final two laps unchallenged to the finish line. Moyer took the hard-fought runner-up spot and $3,000. Miller held for third and Steve Francis managed a pass of fifth-finishing Bloomquist on the final lap to take fourth. Rounding out the top-10 finishers were Fegers, Eckrich, Mike Marlar, Pearson Jr. (a sixth-row starter) and Kerry Hansen.
RESULTS
TIME TRIALS -- 1. Justin Fegers, Mound MN, 17.673 seconds (new track record, old track record 18.401 by Earl Pearson Jr., Oct. 14, 2004); 2. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA, 18.006; 3. Rick Eckert, York PA, 18.02; 4. Billy Drake, Bloomington IL, 18.045; 5. Matt Miller, Arlington OH, 18.129; 6. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR, 18.131; 7. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN, 18.186; 8. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN, 18.325; 9. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning MI, 18.326; 10. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI, 18.351; 11. Terry Phillips, Springfield MO, 18.358; 12. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville FL, 18.382; 13. Steve Francis, Ashland KY, 18.523; 14. Eddie Carrier Jr, Salt Rock WV, 18.559; 15. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI, 18.758; 16. Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge AR, 18.979; 17. Brian Harris, Davenport IA, 19.004; 18. Caley Emerson, Grand Rapids MN, 19.074; 19. Larry Clawson, Kansas City KS, 19.078; 20. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL, 19.185; 21. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington IA, 19.365; 22. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction IA, 19.459; 23. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis IA, 19.48; 24. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA, 19.555; 25. Scott James, Lawrenceburg IN, 19.572; 26. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL, 19.623; 27. Tom Darbyshire, Yarmouth IA, 19.894; 28. Jeff French, Waukee IA, 20.143; 29. Richard Foster, Holts Summit MO, 20.417; 30. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH, 20.675.
HEAT 1 (10 laps) -- 1. Steve Francis, Ashland KY; 2. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN; 3. Billy Drake, Bloomington IL; 4. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI; 5. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction IA; 6. Justin Fegers, Mound MN; 7. Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge AR; 8. Larry Clawson, Kansas City KS; 9. Scott James, Lawrenceburg IN.
HEAT 2 (10 laps) -- 1. Richard Foster, Holts Summit MO; 2. Tom Darbyshire, Yarmouth IA; 3. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis IA; 4. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL; 5. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 6. Eddie Carrier Jr, Salt Rock WV; 7. Terry Phillips, Springfield MO; 8. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN; 9. Matt Miller, Arlington OH; 10. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA.
HEAT 3 (10 laps) -- 1. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville FL; 2. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH; 3. Rick Eckert, York PA; 4. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning MI; 5. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR; 6. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI; 7. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA; 8. Caley Emerson, Grand Rapids MN; 9. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL; 10. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington IA.
B FEATURE (15 laps) -- 1. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 2. Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge AR; 3. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA; 4. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL; 5. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL; 6. Larry Clawson, Kansas City KS; 7. Johnny Johnson, West Burlington IA; 8. Richard Foster, Holts Summit MO; 9. Jeff French, Waukee IA.
A FEATURE (25 laps) -- 1. Rick Eckert, York PA; 2. Billy Moyer, Batesville AR; 3. Matt Miller, Arlington OH; 4. Steve Francis, Ashland KY; 5. Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg TN; 6. Justin Fegers, Mound MN; 7. Denny Eckrich, Oxford IA; 8. Mike Marlar, Winfield TN; 9. Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville FL; 10. Kerry Hansen, Spencer WI; 11. Billy Drake, Bloomington IL; 12. Eddie Carrier Jr, Salt Rock WV; 13. Terry Phillips, Springfield MO; 14. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis IA; 15. Nick Marolf, Moscow IA; 16. Johnny Bone Jr., Pea Ridge AR; 17. Larry Clawson, Kansas City KS; 18. Brady Smith, Solon Springs WI; 19. Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning MI; 20. Brian Harris, Davenport IA; 21. Justin Allgaier, Springfield IL; 22. Rich Bell, Sheffield IL; 23. Jason Utter, Columbus Junction IA; 24. Rick Aukland, Zanesville OH.
Lap Leaders: Eckrich 1-2, Eckert 3-25.