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Bill Martin
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (August 5) - Jeff Aikey proved again that he's just as fast on asphalt as he is on dirt.
Aikey led the last 31 times around the half-mile oval in winning Wednesday's "Dirt At The Downs" Deery Brothers Summer Series feature at Hawkeye Downs Speedway.
The victory, his third of the season, career fourth at Cedar Rapids and IMCA Late Model tour 51st, paid $2,000.
Jason Frankel, second behind Aikey in the series point standings, ran in the runner-up spot most of the way. Terry Neal, Ray Guss Jr. and Rob Toland rounded out the top five.
Neal, piloting Rick Dralle's car after his own ride expired early in the evening, drew the pole start but Aikey made his move from outside row two and was at the front of the field when the fourth lap was scored.
He was pulling away before catching up with the back of the pack on the 11th circuit. Frankel made up most of the distance as the two ran in lapped traffic, trying unsuccessfully high and low to make his way into first.
The front pair continued to negotiate their way through backrunners as the race ran caution-free. Johnny Spaw passed nine cars and finished sixth.
The 23rd annual series returns to dirt for a midweek doubleheader, on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway in Des Moines and Wednesday, Aug. 19 at Marshalltown Speedway.
In the driver's seat to capture a career sixth Deery championship, Aikey takes a 37 point advantage over Frankel to Des Moines. Guss remains in third, another 10 points off the pace.
Feature results -
1. Jeff Aikey, Waterloo;
2. Jason Frankel, Quincy, Ill.;
3. Terry Neal, Ely;
4. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.;
5. Rob Toland, Davenport;
6. Johnny Spaw, Cedar Rapids;
7. Tyler Bruening, Decorah;
8. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown;
9. Bobby Hansen, Center Point;
10. Dale Stolte, Springville;
11. Charlie McKenna, Clear Lake;
12. T.J. Criss, Oskaloosa;
13. Greg Kastli, Waterloo;
14. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove;
15. Rob Petsche, Peosta;
16. Justin Kay, Wheatland.
1st heat (top four) - 1. Aikey; 2. Neal; 3. McKenna; 4. Bruening.
2nd heat - 1. Toland; 2. Guss; 3. Frankel; 4. Stolte.
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