REESE COFFEE ONCE AGAIN GRABS THE BIG CHECK AT PARK JEFFERSON
LeRoy Beck
(04/25/09)
Reese Coffee continued his domination of the big money racing at Park Jefferson Speedway by picking up the $1500.00 check at the Spring Thaw. Delayed seven days by rain 94 cars packed the pits to get their share of the nearly $20,000 in prize money. Other features winners on the night were: Randy Cass, Harvey VandeWeerd, John Cain, and Jason Ward.
Mike Hansen has been the car to beat during the 2009 Spring Thaw. Hansen dominated his qualifier, the preliminary feature, as well as the $1000.00 to win Razor Rumble by the River. Starting from the pole Hansen would check out and run away from the field; sometimes building a lead as much as a full straightaway. As the VerHoef Automotive NASCAR Modified feature became a battle of attrition, Hansen would find his own trouble. Hansen would have a steering malfunction and would have to pull into the infield, giving the lead to Reese Coffee. Coffee would hold off all challengers through the remaining cautions and take home the lions share of the money. Following Coffee were Matt Bonine, Jonah Chinn, Jay Goosman, and Denny Johnson.
The Motor Parts Central 360 Mods featured some of the premier drivers in this division around the Midwest . Harvey VandeWeerd finished 2008 on a tremendous hot streak including winning the IMCA SuperNationals SportMod feature in Boone , IA. VandeWeerd would also be able to take advantage of another drivers misfortune as he would inherit the lead when Nick Lakes would have trouble with a handful of laps remaining. VandeWeerd would stave off the challenges of a hard charging Jeff Brunssen and Dan VanBruggen for the win. Darrin Korthals, and Kirk Beatty would follow the top three to the line.
Tony Arnold wanted to be the highlight of the B&B Salvage Stock Car feature. Arnold will definitely be remembered after Friday nights action after surviving a horrific wreck on the front stretch. The battle for the race lead had been a fierce one since the drop of the green flag with as many as six drivers battling for the top spot. Jeff Joldersma had held the point for the majority of the race, but with three to go Jason Ward was able to get by on a restart and run away from the field. Behind the top two cars, Mitch Dowhower, Tony Ritterbush, and Aaron Cain would battle for the third spot. Coming to the checkered flag, Cain would make contact with the rear of the Dowhower machine, sending it up the track. Dowhower would try to regain control, but would collect Ryan Harris; both cars would slide down the track, leaving Arnold with no where to go. Arnold would roll four times on the front stretch, completely removing the body panels from his machine. Arnold would walk away from the accident slightly shaken but ok. Ward would get the win followed by Joldersma, Dowhower, Ritterbush, and Curt VanBeek. Aaron Cain would be moved to the back of the field for rough driving.
One of Park Jefferson Speedways greatest rivalries would take only one night to be brought to the forefront. John Cain and Rusty Montagne have been the two most dominant drivers in the Yankton Automotive Machine Hobby Stock division. This night began the rivalry for 2009. Cain would take advantage of a front row starting spot and move to the point at the drop of the green. Montagne would work his way to the front of the field as the race wore on. A late caution bunched the field together. As the field raced through turns three and four for the final time, Cain would push up the speedway allowing Montagne to race to the bottom of the speedway in a last ditch effort to get the win. Cain would get back on the gas and hold off Montagne at the line by two feet. Cain was met with thunderous applause from the grandstands as the fans congratulated both drivers. Behind the battle for the win were Bill Woehler, Nelson Vollbrecht, and Justin Regnerus.
The Steves Roofing Hornet division was an all family affair as Randy Cass would run away from the field for the feature win. The best racing on the speedway was with Randys son Tim battling to hold on to the second spot over various challengers. At the drop of the checkered Randy Cass would lead Tim Cass, Zach Ankrum, Jeff Goodier, and the defending Hornet point champion Marlis Boggs.
The 2009 NASCAR Whelen All American Series point season begins Saturday Night at Park Jefferson Speedway. For more information on Park Jefferson Speedway visit http://www.parkjeffersonspeedway.com or visit the NASCAR Home Tracks page at http://localracing.nascar.com/tracks
