Large Fields Expected For Both Events This Weekend
By Tom Lathen
(Gilman City, MO) After a successful season opener last Saturday night at I80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, the stars of the WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series travel to eastern Iowa for a pair of series events this weekend.
Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa will host the first of three series appearances this Friday, April 8, before the series makes the first of four 2005 appearances at West Liberty Raceway the following evening.
“We are looking forward to both of these shows this weekend,” commented Jim Wilson, founder and director of the PolyDome Late Model Series.
“If history tells us anything, we should have a great field of cars both at Davenport and West Liberty,” he added. “Last year our spring shows at these two tracks brought in over 70 Late Models and I would expect we would see similar numbers this year.”
Last year’s April 3 show at West Liberty Raceway produced what, at the time, was a series record car count of 76 cars. That record was eclipsed later last season when 77 cars signed in at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas in early October. 71 cars went through technical inspection at Davenport last April.
Brian Birkhofer, who is the all-time leader in series wins at both facilities, is expected to be on hand for both events this weekend. The Muscatine, Iowa driver won both WDRL events at Davenport Speedway in 2004 and grabbed series wins on April 3 and May 31 at West Liberty. The driver of the Daufeldt Transport/Simon Trucking Chevrolet Monte Carlo finished second at last weekend’s series opener in Nebraska.
Brady Smith, the reigning WDRL champion is also expected to be in the field both nights. Smith, who won series events at Freeport, Illinois, Arcadia, Wisconsin, and Kansas City, Kansas a year ago, watched most of last Saturday’s season opener from the infield, due to an opening lap crash, after winning his qualifying race and finishing second in the Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash.
Other series regulars expected to be on hand at Davenport and West Liberty include 2002 and 2003 series champion Kyle Berck of Marquette, Nebraska, brothers Dave and Denny Eckrich of Cosgrove and Tiffin, Iowa, respectively, Joe Kosiski and John Anderson, both of Omaha, Nebraska, Steve Kosiski of Papillion, Nebraska, Brian Harris of Davenport, Iowa, Gary Webb of Blue Grass, Iowa, Matt Furman of Iowa City, Iowa, Sonny Findling of Kirksville, Missouri, and Ace Ihm of Hazel Green, Wisconsin.
A strong contingent of WDRL “Northern Invaders” are also expected to be on hand including Minnesota drivers Keith Foss (Winona), Justin Fegers (Mound), and John Henkemeyer (Sauk Rapids), Brad Seng of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Pittsville, Wisconsin hot shoe Eric Pember. Pember, who drives the Pro Craft Racing Engines/Hay Creek Pallet Company Monte Carlo, finished sixth in the final series point standings a year ago.
Colorado driver Kelly Boen, who held off Brian Birkhofer to win last weekend’s WDRL opener is also expected to participate in both events, along with Ray Guss, Jr. of Milan, Illinois, Steve Boley of West Liberty, Iowa, Skip Frey of Ely, Iowa, Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Missouri, and Jay and Johnny Johnson of West Burlington, Iowa. Both events get underway with qualifying races at 6:30.
For more information go to www.worldraceleague.com
By Tom Lathen
(Gilman City, MO) After a successful season opener last Saturday night at I80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, the stars of the WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series travel to eastern Iowa for a pair of series events this weekend.
Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa will host the first of three series appearances this Friday, April 8, before the series makes the first of four 2005 appearances at West Liberty Raceway the following evening.
“We are looking forward to both of these shows this weekend,” commented Jim Wilson, founder and director of the PolyDome Late Model Series.
“If history tells us anything, we should have a great field of cars both at Davenport and West Liberty,” he added. “Last year our spring shows at these two tracks brought in over 70 Late Models and I would expect we would see similar numbers this year.”
Last year’s April 3 show at West Liberty Raceway produced what, at the time, was a series record car count of 76 cars. That record was eclipsed later last season when 77 cars signed in at Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas in early October. 71 cars went through technical inspection at Davenport last April.
Brian Birkhofer, who is the all-time leader in series wins at both facilities, is expected to be on hand for both events this weekend. The Muscatine, Iowa driver won both WDRL events at Davenport Speedway in 2004 and grabbed series wins on April 3 and May 31 at West Liberty. The driver of the Daufeldt Transport/Simon Trucking Chevrolet Monte Carlo finished second at last weekend’s series opener in Nebraska.
Brady Smith, the reigning WDRL champion is also expected to be in the field both nights. Smith, who won series events at Freeport, Illinois, Arcadia, Wisconsin, and Kansas City, Kansas a year ago, watched most of last Saturday’s season opener from the infield, due to an opening lap crash, after winning his qualifying race and finishing second in the Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash.
Other series regulars expected to be on hand at Davenport and West Liberty include 2002 and 2003 series champion Kyle Berck of Marquette, Nebraska, brothers Dave and Denny Eckrich of Cosgrove and Tiffin, Iowa, respectively, Joe Kosiski and John Anderson, both of Omaha, Nebraska, Steve Kosiski of Papillion, Nebraska, Brian Harris of Davenport, Iowa, Gary Webb of Blue Grass, Iowa, Matt Furman of Iowa City, Iowa, Sonny Findling of Kirksville, Missouri, and Ace Ihm of Hazel Green, Wisconsin.
A strong contingent of WDRL “Northern Invaders” are also expected to be on hand including Minnesota drivers Keith Foss (Winona), Justin Fegers (Mound), and John Henkemeyer (Sauk Rapids), Brad Seng of Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Pittsville, Wisconsin hot shoe Eric Pember. Pember, who drives the Pro Craft Racing Engines/Hay Creek Pallet Company Monte Carlo, finished sixth in the final series point standings a year ago.
Colorado driver Kelly Boen, who held off Brian Birkhofer to win last weekend’s WDRL opener is also expected to participate in both events, along with Ray Guss, Jr. of Milan, Illinois, Steve Boley of West Liberty, Iowa, Skip Frey of Ely, Iowa, Chris Smyser of Lancaster, Missouri, and Jay and Johnny Johnson of West Burlington, Iowa. Both events get underway with qualifying races at 6:30.
For more information go to www.worldraceleague.com
