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Bill Martin
ALGONA, Iowa (July 31) - Darrel DeFrance made it clear from the onset that the question wouldn't be who would win Thursday night's Deery Brothers Summer Series main event at Algona Raceway.
The question would be who would finish second.
DeFrance started on the pole and led the distance in the Kossuth County Fair feature for IMCA J & J Steel Late Models. Numerous cautions interrupted the 50-lapper, but DeFrance was never seriously challenged on the way to the $2,000 checkers. The win was the career 11th for DeFrance, who upped his perfect series attendance streak to 327 events, and came in the first Deery race held at Algona.
Todd Cooney took home runner-up points and Terry Neal charged back through the field for third. Completing the top five were Tom Darbyshire and point leader Boone McLaughlin.
DeFrance built advantages of 10 car lengths and more while the seventh starting Cooney worked his way into the second spot. The last yellow of the night put Cooney on the leader's back bumper for a green-white-checkered finish, but DeFrance pulled ahead to win by a comfortable margin.
Neal took the initial green flag from inside row two and was involved in an early caution. After re-starting 24th, he drove all the way back to third. Darbyshire started 21st and moved up 17 positions.
DeFrance became the 10th different winner in 12 series events so far this season.
Feature results -
1. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown;
2. Todd Cooney, Des Moines;
3. Terry Neal, Ely;
4. Tom Darbyshire, Morning Sun;
5. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis;
6. Adam Larson, Ames;
7. Jason Hahne, Webster City;
8. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo;
9. Clint Wendel, Mason City;
10. Ryan Griffith, Webster City;
11. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove;
12. Nick Pedersen, Rutland;
13. T.J. Criss, Oskaloosa;
14. Al Johnson, Story City;
15. Bobby Hansen, Center Point;
16. Stephan Kammerer, Blue Grass;
17. Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill.;
18. Mitch Current, Maquoketa;
19. Mike Pedersen, Rolfe;
20. Travis Smock, Independence;
21. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake;
22. Ben Nading, Ankeny;
23. Bryan Klein, Cedar Rapids;
24. Matt Strassheim, West Burlington;
25. Mike Garland, DeWitt.
1st heat (top four) - 1. Larson; 2. McKenna; 3. Hahne; 4. Reed.
2nd heat - 1. Neal; 2. Strassheim; 3. DeFrance; 4. Griffith.
3rd heat - 1. Cooney; 2. Nezworski; 3. Criss; 4. Klein.
Deery Brothers Late Model series
headlines 'Dirt At The Downs' show
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Aug. 1) - The Deery Brothers Summer Series takes top billing for the 'Dirt At The Downs' show next Wednesday at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.
IMCA J & J Steel Late Models will be joined by sanctioned Modifieds, Karl Chevrolet Northern SportMods, IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars and IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stocks on the Aug. 6 card at Cedar Rapids.
The Late Model feature pays $2,000 to win and will be run on the half-mile track. Modifieds run for a top prize of $500 and join the SportMods, Stocks and Hobbies on the quarter-mile.
Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 6 p.m. Hot laps are at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m.
Grandstand admission is $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $1 for kids 11 and under accompanying a paid adult. Pit passes are $25.
More information is available by calling 319 365-8656
Hawkeye Downs has hosted 15 previous series events for the Late Models. Jeff Aikey of Waterloo and Mike Smith of Jewell are both three-time winners there, while popular NASCAR visitor Ken Schrader owns a pair of victories.
Ten different drivers have made visits to victory lane through the first 12 Deery races this year. Point leader Boone McLaughlin of Mediapolis and Terry Neal of Ely are both two-time winners.
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