2005freeport

WDRL DRIVERS SET FOR THIRD 2005 RUN AT FREEPORT RACEWAY PARK
Annual “Pretzel City Showdown” set for August 11 at Illinois Track
Rained Out....makeup date will be announced soon

(Gilman City, MO) The cars and stars of the WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series are set to make their final appearance of the 2005 season at Freeport Raceway Park on Thursday, August 11.

The third annual “Pretzel City Showdown,” promoted by DB Promotions, will pay $5,000 to the winner of Thursday night’s 50-lap feature event. Thursday night’s action will close out a four-night swing through the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois for WDRL drivers.

“We always look forward to racing at Freeport Raceway Park,” noted series founder and President Jim Wilson. “Dave Brobst and the entire staff of DB Promotions always do a great job of making not only the drivers feel welcome, but also the entire WDRL staff.”

“The passing point system we use has always created plenty of excitement and drama during the qualifying races at Freeport,” he added. “And the nice thing about it is that we have always had a great race track come feature race time, which has allowed for a lot of passing throughout the field.”

“There is no doubt race fans will be in for a great night of racing on Thursday night.”

Heading up the contingent of WORLD Dirt Racing League drivers competing at Freeport Raceway Park is current series points leader Denny Eckrich. Eckrich, of Tiffin, Iowa, currently leads Kyle Berck in the PolyDome Late Model Series point standings by 122 markers. The pilot of “The Flyin’ 50” has series wins at Outlaw Motor Speedway in Muskogee, Oklahoma on May 21 and at I-35 Speedway in Mason City, Iowa on July 19.

Berck meanwhile, ended a 26-race winless drought last month by grabbing the top prize in the $6,000-to-win Pump and Pantry Late Model Nationals at Mid-Nebraska Speedway in Doniphan, Nebraska. The popular Marquette, Nebraska driver, who is the winningest driver in WDRL history, followed up that performance with a win less than a week later at Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, Iowa.

Top series rookie contender Justin “The Jet” Fegers will also be in the field Thursday night at Freeport. Fegers out-muscled national travelers Matt Miller and Earl Pearson, Jr. before a partisan crowd at Superior Speedway in Superior, Wisconsin in mid-June to win to grab his first-ever WDRL victory. The 25-year old driver from Mound, Minnesota, who currently is third in the PolyDome Late Model Series point standings, also has a series win at Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa to his credit this season.

Other series regulars expected to be in attendance at Freeport Raceway Park include Dave Eckrich of Cosgrove, Iowa, Eric Pember of Pittsville, Wisconsin, Keith Foss of Winona, Minnesota, Mark Wyman of Papillion, Nebraska, Billy Koons of Omaha, Nebraska, Matt Furman of Iowa City, Caley Emerson of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and John Hampel of Nodaway, Iowa.

“The Kentucky Colonel,” Steve Francis is also expected to be in Thursday night’s field. Francis, of Ashland, Kentucky, won the inaugural “Pretzel City Showdown” in 2003 and also took the checkers in this year’s June 14 series stop at Freeport.

Chadwick, Illinois hot shoe Darren “The Thriller” Miller, who has series wins at Davenport, Iowa, West Liberty, Iowa, and Greenwood, Nebraska this season, is also expected to be in attendance. Miller, a former Freeport Raceway Park track champion, has garnered two PolyDome Late Model Series wins at the northwest Illinois speed plant. Miller won this year’s April series event at Freeport after grabbing the “Pretzel City Showdown” win in 2004.

Second-generation Missouri driver Chris Smyser is also expected along with 33-year racing veteran Gary Webb of Blue Grass, Iowa and exciting southwest Wisconsin driver Ace Ihm.

Heading up the list of local drivers anticipated in the field is five-time Freeport Raceway Park points champion Craig Jacobs. After winning four Freeport points titles in the 1990’s, Jacobs retired from racing after the 1997 season, but returned three years later and grabbed his fifth Raceway Park title in 2004.

2003 track champion Mike Miller is also expected, along with 2002 track titlist Jeff Larson, current Bureau County Speedway points leader Jeff “Bone” Larson, local driver Mike Fryer, Hazel Green, Wisconsin’s Dan Shellium, and Scott Lemke of Rockford, Illinois.

Complimenting the WORLD Dirt Racing League competitors this Thursday night will be the Freeport Raceway Park open-wheeled modifieds.

15. 53 Joe Kosiski (Omaha, NE) 1231

The World Dirt Racing League’s PolyDome Late Model Series will make its third and final stop of the 2005 season in Freeport, IL on Thursday August 11^th. The Gilman City, MO based series will invade Freeport Raceway Park for the “3^rd Annual Pretzel City Showdown” . The highlight of the evening will be the “Jumpin Joe’s/Hooker Harness 40” paying $5,000 to the winner. Also on the card that night will be the open wheeled modifieds competing in a $600 to win 20 lap main event.

Previous winners of this event are Steve Francis of Ashland, KY who took the checkers in the 2003 running of the event over Darren Miller of nearby Chadwick, IL. The two nationally known drivers traded positions in the 2004 version of the event with Miller holding off Francis in a hotly contested battle on the half-mile oval.

A strong field of super late models is expected as the WDRL historically brings a strong presence to the Northwest Illinois facility to do battle with the Freeport Raceway Park regulars. Current WDRL point leader Denny Eckrich of Tiffin, IA will lead a host of top competitors from throughout the Midwest in the series’ fan–friendly passing point qualifying system. Joining Eckrich will be two-time series champion Kyle Berck of Marquette, NE and rookie sensation Justin Fegers, of Mound, MN. Recent Freeport Raceway Park track champions Craig Jacobs, Mike Miller and Jeff Larson are expected to be on hand to defend their home turf.

Racing will get underway at 7:00PM on August 11^th for the “3^rd Annual Pretzel City Showdown” with hot laps taking to the track at 6:30PM. Spectator gate will open at 5:00PM and the pits will open at 2:00PM. Admission prices for the evening are $20 for adults, $18 for Srs. and students (13-18), $5 for kids (6-12) and children 5 and under are free. For more information, go to www.dbpromoinc.com or call 815-541-3460.

July 18....Freeport, IL....$10,000 UMP Summernationals
thanks to Marcus for the pictures....click here
thanks to SMASH....Shannon Babb has won the points championship
thanks to DirtRacingWorld

Dash:
15Francis
18Babb
3sShirley
15bBirky
32dMiller
28mMars

27 cars

Qualifying results
1. 15 Francis
2. 28 Mars
3. 3s Shirley
4. 15B Birkhoffer
5. 18 Babb
6. 32d Miller
7. 27 Melvin
8. 55 Jeep

Heat 1:
55Jeep
28eErb
50sMorgan
2B.Smith
27
48x
48

Heat 2:
B1Jeff Bone Larson
21jJacobs
5mFreir
10pParker
72
99
21b

Heat 3:
9zZanker
27mMelvin
23sSheltra
19jGregJohnson
12b
31j
111

Feature

1. 15B Brian Birkhofer
2. 3s Brian Shirley
3. 18 Shannon Babb
4. 15 Steve Francis
5. 28E Jimmy Mars
6. 32D Darren Miller
7. 55 Jeep VanWormer
8. 21j Jacobs
9. 2 Brady Smith
10. 19 Greg Johnson

FREEPORT RACEWAY PARK WDRL EVENT RESCHEDULED FOR JUNE 14
Event Placed In Front Of Superior and New Richmond, Wisconsin Series Events

By Tom Lathen

(Gilman City, MO) This past weekend’s washed out WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series event at Freeport Raceway Park in Freeport, Illinois has been rescheduled for Tuesday night, June 14.

In a joint statement by Jim Wilson, founder and director of the WDRL and Dave Brobst, president of DB Promotions, it was announced that the event has been strategically scheduled to be run as a lead up to series events later this month at Superior Speedway in Superior, Wisconsin and Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wisconsin.

“As we looked at possible dates to reschedule the Freeport race, the one that made the most sense was the June 14 date,” commented Wilson.

“We certainly wanted to take advantage of the cars that would be coming in for our Wisconsin races,” he added. “With the drive from Freeport to Superior being somewhere between seven and eight hours, we felt that placing the Freeport race on Tuesday night would leave a travel day for our race teams and series officials.”

The race at Superior Speedway on Thursday, June 16 sets the table for the prestigious two-day Masters at Cedar Lake Speedway on Friday and Saturday, June 17 and 18. The Superior event will be pay $5,000 to the winner, with both nights of the Masters, which will be co-sanctioned with the Lucas Oil NARA Dirt Car Series, providing lucrative $10,000 pay days for the winner.

A strong contingent of WDRL drivers is expected for the rescheduled Freeport event including current series points leader Denny Eckrich of Tiffin, Iowa and two-time series champion Kyle Berck of Marquette, Nebraska. Among other series drivers expected to be in attendance are John Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska, who is currently second in the PolyDome Late Model Series point standings, Dave Eckrich of Cosgrove, Iowa, who is currently third in the series points chase, and current WDRL rookie points leader Justin Fegers of Mound, Minnesota.

Also expected in the field is area favorite Darren Miller, who has won the last two WDRL events at Freeport Raceway Park. The Chadwick, Illinois driver held off Jimmy Mars of Elk Mound, Wisconsin in the series event on April 16 at the northwest Illinois ½ mile facility.

Heading up the list of local drivers anticipated in the field is five-time Freeport Raceway Park points champion Craig Jacobs. 2003 track champion Mike Miller is also expected, along with 2002 track titlist Jeff Larson.

With the timing of the rescheduled event, a number of traveling drivers are also expected to be in the field.

According to Wilson, pits will open at Freeport Raceway Park at 3:00 p.m., with racing scheduled to get underway at 7:00 p.m.

The thrilling action of the World Dirt Racing League’s PolyDome Late Model Series will make its second of three visits to Freeport Raceway Park on Saturday June 4th. The Northwestern Illinois speed plant will host the Fox 39 Summer Classic which will be highlighted by the “J.H. Barkau & Sons/Hooker Harness 40” paying $5,000 to the late model victor. The Logan’s Bar and Grill modifieds will also be in competition that night with the winner of their 20 lap main event picking up a $600 paycheck..

At this past spring’s event, a packed house witnessed Darren “the Thriller” Miller from nearby Chadwick, IL pull off a popular victory. Miller withstood persisent challenges from Brain Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA throughout the 40 lap feature. He also had to fend off a late race charge from Elk Mound, WI’s Jimmy Mars.

“I was really looking forward to coming back to Freeport to race. It’s always good to be able to win here.”, Miller stated in victory lane. “You couldn’t ask for a better track than we had tonight.”

Fans can expect another action packed evening at the historic half-mile clay oval. This spring 40 of the finest late model drivers in the Midwest checked in to do compete with 7 states represented. Miller is expected to return in an attempt to continue is streak of success which began with a victory in last August’s “Pretzel City Showdown”.

Looking to wrestle the top spot away from the 1998 track champion will be a host of top gun’s from the WDRL series including brothers Dave and Denny Eckrich of Iowa, Davenport, Iowa’s Brian Harris, and two-time WDRL champion Kyle Berck of Nebraska. Also expected to compete are Iowa City, Iowa’s Matt Furman and Omaha, Nebraska’s John Anderson.

The Wissota invasion will continue as Minnesota hot shoes Justin Fegers, Caley Emerson, and Keith Foss along with Eric Pember of Pittsville, Wisconsin are all anticipated to be in attendence. A strong field of Freeport Raceway Park regulars will be on-hand to defend their home turf including reigning track champion Craig Jacobs and former track champions Mike Miller and Jeff Larson.

Spectator gates will open at 4:30, practice at 6:00 and racing action is set to get underway at 6:30. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for Sr.’s and Students (13-18), and just $5 for Kids(6-12). Kids 5 and under are free. Pit passes are $30 for the evening. For more information call 815-541-3460 or email [email protected]. You can also logon to www.dbpromoinc.com for more details.

April 16....MILLER HOLDS ON FOR WDRL WIN AT FREEPORT RACEWAY PARK, LEMKE TAKES MODIFIED VICTORY

Illinois driver nips Jimmy Mars at the line for the win

By Tom Lathen

(Freeport, IL) Darren “The Thriller” Miller held off a fast-finishing Jimmy Mars Saturday night to win the Champion Auto Glass/Hooker Harness 40, a WORLD Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series sanctioned event here at Freeport Raceway Park.

Miller, who took the lead from defending WDRL champion Brady Smith on the 12th circuit, survived a brief tangle with the wall near the race’s mid-point and a furious battle with Brian Birkhofer, before keeping Mars at bay through turns three and four on the final circuit to secure the win.

“I was really looking forward to coming back to Freeport to race and it’s always good to be able to win here,” commented Miller following the win. “When I started out racing, I raced here at Freeport and I probably have more experience here than at any other race track.”

“You couldn’t ask for a better race track than we had tonight,” added Miller, who won his first Late Model track championship at Freeport in 1998. “Other than that hole that got me into a little trouble, this race track was beautiful.”

Miller came from an outside front row starting position and wheeled into the number three position at the drop of the green flag as Brady Smith and Brian Birkhofer battled for the lead down the back straightaway on the opening circuit.

Racing the bottom of the race track, Miller roared underneath Birkhofer on lap nine to grab second, and a lap later, closed the gap on the front-running Smith to just a hand full of car lengths. After attempting the pass on lap 10, Miller’s Seubert Calf Ranches/NAPA Auto Parts entry powered off the bottom coming out of turn two a pair of laps later and snatched the lead as the pair raced down the back straightaway and into turn three.

The caution flag flew on lap 20 when two-time series champion Kyle Berck lost power heading into turn three, but when racing resumed, Miller again darted to the advantage, with Birkhofer now running second. As the leaders raced through traffic, Birkhofer made numerous runs on Miller to no avail, but at the finish, it was Jimmy Mars applying strong pressure.

Miller protected the bottom through turns three and four and held off Mars by less than a car length at the finish. The win was his second WDRL triumph at Freeport Raceway Park in as many tries.

“I knew if I could get through the lapped traffic clean and not get messed up, I would be alright,” noted Miller.

“Even though he hasn’t been over here before, I knew Birky (Birkhofer) would be good,” he added. “I never saw Jimmy (Mars) coming, though. I knew Brian was there, but until the checkered flag came out and I saw it on the scoreboard, I didn’t even realize he was in second.”

Steve Francis, driving the Moring Motorsports car number-15, finished fourth, followed closely by Denny Eckrich, who came from 16th in the field to finish fifth. Sullivan, Wisconsin’s Dan Schlieper raced to a sixth place finish, just ahead of Brady Smith.

The modified portion of the event saw Scott Lemke of Rockford, IL and Mark Verbeck of Annawan, IL wage a tight battle the entire 20 laps. Lemke jumped out to an early lead over the first 11 laps with Verbeck on his tail. Verbeck took the lead from Lemke on the 12^th lap only to relinquish it coming out of turn 4 on the last lap.

Lemke gave credit to his rival as the raced cleanly side by side over the final four laps. "Racing with Mark is fun as hell," Lemke said. "You give him room and he'll give you his room."

Rounding out the top 5 was Casey Schram of Sterling, IL in 3^rd, Bob Silaggi of Freeport in 4^th and Andy Dinges of Monroe, WI in 5^th.

The WDRL will return to Freeport Raceway Park on June 4^th.

RESULTS:

First PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Darren Miller (Chadwick, IL), 2. Matt Furman (Iowa City, Iowa), 3. Jimmy Mars (Elk Mound, WI), 4. Dan Schlieper (Sullivan, WI), 5. Mike Miller (Leaf River, IL).
Second PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Steve Kosiski (Papillion, NE), 2. Brian Birkhofer (Muscatine, IA), 3. Brady Smith (Solon Springs, WI), 4. Denny Eckrich (Tiffin, IA), 5. Brian Harris (Davenport, IA).
Third PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Steve Francis (Ashland, KY), 2. Jeff Larson (Freeport, IL), 3. Ace Ihm (Hazel Green, WI), 4. Sonny Findling (Kirksville, MO), 5. Dave Eckrich (Cosgrove, IA).
Fourth PolyDome Qualifier: 1. Keith Foss (Winona, MN), 2. Justin Fegers (Mound, MN), 3. Ray Guss, Jr. (Milan, IL), 4. Eric Pember (Pittsville, WI), 5. Steve Morgan (Orangeville, IL).
KSE Racing Products Consolation: 1. Kyle Berck (Marquette, NE), 2. John Vendenberg (Oskaloosa, IA), 3. Caley Emerson (Grand Rapids, MN), 4. Dan Shelliam (Hazel Green, WI), 5. Tommy Elston (Keokuk, IA).
Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash: 1. Birkhofer, 2. Smith, 3. Mars, 4. Miller, 5. Steve Kosiski, 6. Francis, 7. Foss, 8. Fegers.
Champion Auto Glass/Hooker Harness 40: 1. Darren Miller, 2. Mars, 3. Birkhofer, 4. Francis, 5. Denny Eckrich, 6. Schlieper, 7. Smith, 8. Fegers, 9. Foss, 10. Harris, 11. Mike Miller, 12. Furman, 13. Guss, 14. John Anderson (Omaha, NE), 15. Pember, 16. Findling, 17. Joe Kosiski (Omaha, NE), 18. Shelliam, 19. Morgan, 20. Larson, 21. Steve Kosiski, 22. Ihm, 23. Berck, 24. Emerson, 25. Vandenberg, 26. Dave Eckrich.

Heat 1 - 1. Casey Schram 2. Mark Verbeck 3. Marty Thompson 4. Mike Garland 5. Bob Silaggi

Heat 2 - 1. Steve Johnson 2. Scott Lemke 3. Micheal Baker 4. Tim Maurer 5. Randy Nieman

A-Main 1. Lemke 2. Verbeck 3. Schram 4. Silaggi 5. Andy Dinges 6. Rodney Vautsmeier 7. Reed Withers 8. Mike Schnerla 9. Terry Pfeiffer 10. Baker 11. Maurer 12. Matt Rodenbugh 13. Nieman 14. Joe Huenefeld 15. Steve Johnson 16. Thompson 17. Garland 18. Josh Vinnedge

The stars and cars of the World Dirt Racing League’s PolyDome Late Model Series will make their first of 3 visits to Freeport Raceway Park on Saturday April 16th. The Northwestern Illinois speed plant will host the 2nd Annual Fox 39 Spring Nationals highlighted by the “Champion Auto Glass/Hooker Harness 40” paying $5,000 to the late model victor. The Logan’s Bar and Grill modifieds will also be in competition that night with the winner of their 20 lap main event picking up a $600 paycheck..

Last year a packed house witnessed Solon Spring, WI’s Brady Smith begin his march to the WDRL season championship with a hard fought victory over former Nascar National Champion Steve Kosiski of Papillion, NE. Smith’s victory marked the first win in series history by a rookie.

Smith and Kosiski battled throughout the evening’s 40 lap feature. "I love this place; it's awesome," exclaimed a jubilant Smith following this dramatic duel. "You can't ask for a smoother race track," he added. "That's the first thing you have to have is a smooth track to race on, and there were definitely some good grooves out there. I hope the fans loved it because we sure did."

Fans can expect another action packed evening at the historic half-mile clay oval. Last year 45 of the finest late model drivers in the Midwest checked in to do compete with 7 states represented. Smith and Kosiski are both expected to return to renew their battle from 2004. Joining them will be a host of top gun’s from the WDRL series including brothers Dave and Denny Eckrich of Iowa Wissota stars Eric Pember and Keith Foss of Wisconsin and two-time WDRL champion Kyle Berck of Nebraska.

Tentatively scheduled to join the field will be 2004 Knoxville Nationals Late Model Champion Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, IA and national star Darren “the Thriller” Miller from Milledgeville, IL. A strong field of Freeport Raceway Park regulars will be on-hand to defend their home turf including reigning track champion Craig Jacobs and former track champions Mike Miller and Jeff Larson.

2005 special events schedule
Sat. April 16 - 2nd Annual "Spring Nationals" featuring WDRL PolyDome Super Series Late Models plus modifieds - Freeport Raceway Park, Freeport, IL

Sat. June 4 - WDRL plus modifieds - Freeport Raceway Park, Freeport, IL

Mon. July 18 - UMP Summernationals $10,000 to win Late Models plus modifieds

Thurs. Aug 11 - 3rd Annual "Pretzel City Showdown" featuring WDRL PolyDome

Special Events Planned for Freeport Raceway Park

(Freeport,IL) The list of special events held at Freeport Raceway continues to grow from year to year. After two successful events in the 2004 season, the stars and cars of the World Dirt Racing League’s PolyDome Super Series will make three appearances at the Northwest Illinois speed plant in the 2005 season.

The Missouri based series will make its first appearance for 2005 on Saturday April 16^th for the 2^nd Annual Spring Nationals. The evening will be highlighted by the “Champion Auto Glass/Hooker Harness 40” paying $5,000 to the winner. Last year’s Spring Nationals saw Solon Spring, WI’s Brady Smith begin his march to the 2004 WDRL championship. Smith made history by becoming the first rookie to ever win a main event in series history.

"I love this place; it's awesome," exclaimed a jubilant Smith following his dramatic duel with runner-up Steve Kosiski of Papillion, NE. "You can't ask for a smoother race track," he added. "That's the first thing you have to have is a smooth track to race on, and there were definitely some good grooves out there. I hope the fans loved it because we sure did."

The WDRL will make their second appearance in Freeport, IL on Saturday June 4^th. Their final appearance for 2005 at the ½ mile clay oval will be the 3^rd Annual Pretzel City Showdown on Thursday Aug 11^th . Last year’s event saw another hotly contested battle between national stars Darren Miller of Chadwick, IL and Steve Francis of Ashland, KY. Miller outlasted Francis to take home the $5,000 victory in the “Jumpin Joes/Hooker Harness 40”. Both WDRL appearances in Freeport drew 40+ late models last season.

Making a return to the fast, racey half mile oval after over a decade’s absence will be the United Midwestern Promoters Summernatonals. The July 18^th event will off the largest single night payout in track history with $10,000 going to the winner of the “Culver’s/Floor to Ceiling 40”.

The UMP event is expected to draw a stellar field of super late model drivers as 6 tracks are tentatively scheduled to hold $10,000 to win events over 6 straight nights throughout the Illinois, Iowa and Michigan area. Scott Bloomquist of Mooresburg, TN took the victory in the series’ previous stop in Freeport, IL.

All four events will be promoted by DB Promotions, Inc. based in Freeport, IL. Times and ticket prices will be announced as each race date approaches. For more information email DB Promotions, Inc at [email protected], call (815) 541-3460, or check out their website at www.dbpromoinc.com.