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Bill Martin
EAGLE, Neb. (April 5) - Todd Cooney proved up to the challenge in Saturday's opening night Deery Brothers Summer Series feature for IMCA J & J Steel Late Models at Eagle Raceway.
Cooney followed the top groove in catching leader Tom Darbyshire on the 15th circuit, then led to the finish of the 35-lapper for a $1,000 payday. The tour victory was his career fifth and headlined the first of two Ice Breaker Challenge programs at Eagle this weekend.
"B" qualifier Boone McLaughlin made his way through the 24-car field to finish second. Craig Roberts was third and Jason Frankel, another qualifier from the "B" mains, ended in fourth.
Rounding out the top five was Mike Klinkhammer.
Mike Garland drew the pole and led the opening lap before giving way to Darbyshire,
After a lap three caution, Darbyshire got settled into the fast lower line but couldn't shake Cooney, who found his way past on the high side.
The front pair got into lapped traffic before the second and last caution of the contest came on lap 19. Cooney stayed in command following the re-start and McLaughlin, Roberts, Frankel and Klinkhammer mo tored by Darbyshire.
McLaughlin would get the edge in the battle for second but couldn't challenge Cooney in the race to the checkers. He'd finish a plus 18 spots on the night while Frankel moved up 13 places from his original
starting position.
Top prize for the Sunday Deery feature is $2,000. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks and sprint cars round out the program. The Modified winner pockets $1,000 and joins the ballot for the 2008 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.
Pit gates open at 11 a.m., hot laps are at 2 p.m. and racing starts at 3 p.m.
Saturday's race was the first at Eagle in the series' 21-plus seasons.
Feature Results -
1. Todd Cooney, Des Moines, Iowa;
2. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis, Iowa;
3. Craig Roberts, Des Moines, Iowa;
4. Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill.;
5. Mike Klinkhammer, West Liberty, Iowa;
6. Tom Darbyshire, Morning Sun, Iowa;
7. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo, Iowa;
8. Terry Neal, Ely, Iowa;
9. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake, Iowa;
10. Mike Garland, Morrison, Ill.;
11. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown, Iowa;
12. T.J. Criss, Oskaloosa, Iowa;
13. Clint Wendel, Mason City, Iowa;
14. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove, Iowa;
15. Cory Goldbeck, Camanche, Iowa;
16. Jason Hahne, Webster City, Iowa;
17. Nate Beuseling, Silvis, Ill.;
18. Kyle Wahlert, Des Moines, Iowa;
19. Hershel Roberts, East Moline, Ill.;
20. Ben Nading, Ankeny, Iowa;
21. Bobby Hansen, Center Point, Iowa;
22. Jay Johnson, West Burlington, Iowa;
23. Al Johnson, Story City, Iowa;
24. Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill.
1st heat (top four) - 1. Criss; 2. Garland; 3. Zrostlik; 4. Wahlert.
2nd heat - 1. Klinkhammer; 2. Jay John son; 3. Nading; 4. McKenna.
3rd heat - 1. Darbyshire; 2. Reed; 3. Craig Roberts; 4. Al Johnson.
4th heat - 1. Wendel; 2. Nezworski; 3. Cooney; 4. Hahne.
1st "B" feature (top three) - 1. Frankel; 2. Hershel Roberts; 3. Goldbeck. 2nd "B" feature - 1. Neal; 2. McLaughlin; 3. Beuseling.
Brodix awards go to IMCA Late Model champions, top rookies
MENA, Ark. (April 5) - Brodix again rewards the on-track
accomplishments of drivers in the IMCA J & J Steel Late Model
division in 2008.
The Mena, Ark., manufacturer will give cylinder head sets to national
and Deery Brothers Summer Series champions, and to rookies of the
year in both the national and series points races.
All four awards will be presented during the national IMCA banquet in
November.
Drivers cannot have competed in more than four sanctioned events to
be considered rookies on either a na tional or series ba sis.
Rookie contenders also have an Aug. 1 deadline to return a reg istra
tion form, published in the points sec tion of the IMCA newsletter
and posted on the IMCA website, and must display two Brodix decals on
their race cars.
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