|
Matthees And Shryock Win Labor Day Dual
By Bill Nelson
Spring Valley MN - September 2nd - With storms threatening to the west mother
nature was nice to the drivers and fans at Deer Creek by slowing the movement
of the storms until after all racing activities were concluded on this Labor
day. Temperatures were perfect and sunny skies during the day allowed
excellent track conditions for the Polydome World Dirt Racing League event and
the O’Reilly Auto Parts United States Modified Touring Series events.
Fourth One USMTS modifieds checked into the back gate for a night of racing
action. Mark Noble led from the start of the green flag with three and
four wide racing for the first couple laps as the drivers jockeyed for
positions. Dean Mahlstead took control of second while Al Hejna and Mike
Sorensen battled for third. The first caution flew on completion of lap
two with a five car pileup in turn one. Hejna took advantage of the
restart and moved into second on the drop of the green with Kelly Shryock
racing with Sorensen and Mahlstead for third. The battle for third
stayed three wide for two laps until Shryock took over the spot and set his
sights on Hejna in second. The top and bottom grooves were both
excellent with a few drivers making the middle of the track work. A
caution with twenty three to go for debri set up another restart.
Shryock pulled alongside of noble on lap twenty two as they ran side by side
with Noble continuing to hold the advantage on the high side of the
track. Jason Krohn worked into the fourth position with nineteen to go
as the duo up front continued their battle. With fifteen to go the race
up front ended as Shryock finally gained control of the race. Krohn now
battling with Hejna for third was joined by Tommy Myer. Ten to go and
Krohn and Myer were still racing for the third spot. Mahlstead then
joined the duo with eight to go for a three wide battle as Myer spins in turn
two with Krohn receiving the black flag for rough driving. Tim Donlinger
and Mahlstead used the restart to battle for third behind Noble.
Donlinger took the spot as he pressured Noble. The final restart with
four to go saw Ryan Ruter move past Mahlstead for fourth and with three to go
was racing with Donlinger for third. Ruter took over the third spot from
Donlinger on the last lap with Shryock continuing on with the win followed by
Noble.
Dave Eckrich took the lead on lap one of the World Dirt Racing League event
paying $5,000 to the winner. Denny Eckrich took over second as Lance
Matthees and Chris Simpson raced for third. Matthees then started to
work on Scott Cramer for third with two down. Barry Underdahl and Mark
Teske was up a groove higher than the rest of the field early on with Teske
moving quickly through the field. With ten completed the Eckrich
brothers had checked out on the field and were starting to work lapped
traffic. They ran nose to tail through traffic and side by side at times
over the next six laps until Dave lost the handle on his machine spinning in
turn three and going tail-end on the restart. By the restart twenty
first starting Teske had moved into tenth. Denny took control of the
race on the restart with now second place running Cramer and Matthees in
third. On lap twenty one Cramer slowed quickly bringing out another
caution and restart. On the restart Matthees was now second and Justin
Fegers into the fourth position behind Chris Simpson. Ron Schreiner and
Barry Underdahl were side by side for fifth at this time. Twenty seven to go
and Eckrich is now showing smoke out the rear of his car. Brian Harris
worked under Schreiner for sixth and two laps later past Underdahl for
fifth. Sixteen to go and Eckrich slows with a flat tire as Matthees
accepts the top spot at the speedway. After running in the top ten for
most of the race Nick Herrick spun in turn three with three to go to bring out
the final caution of the event. During the caution period Chris Simpson
pulled off with a flat tire. On the restart Matthees pulled away from
Fegers who now sat in second. Harris finished third with Underdahl and
Schreiner in fourth and fifth as Matthees took home his first even WDRL
feature win.
Racing action will resume at the speedway on Sept. 20 through the 23rd with
the 8th annual Featherlite Fall Jamboree.
Don’t forget about the upcoming PRCA Rodeo on the 9th and 10th of September.
|
|
|
