ZEVENBERGEN AND MONTANGE BRING THE CROWD TO THEIR FEET AT PARK JEFFERSON
LeRoy Beck
(06/28/09)
A perfect night for racing set the stage for an incredible night of action as Midwest Honda Suzuki Kubota presented the NASCAR Whelen All American Series Midseason Championships. As the checkers flew, feature winners were: Rusty Montagne, Zach Johnson, Jay Noteboom, Rich Headid, and Eli Zevenbergren.
Jay Noteboom has been stricken with bad luck as of late in the VerHoef Automotive NASCAR Whelen All American Series Modified division. By virtue of another sub standard finish, Noteboom would start on the front row for the third consecutive week. On this night, the bad luck would not come as Noteboom would hold off all challenges and dominate the feature action to pick up his second win on the season. Reese Coffee would work his way up to the second spot ahead of Chris Abelson, Denny Johnson, and Bo Lundquist.
The B&B Salvage Stock Cars would continue the great racing as Eli Zevenbergren and Jason Ward would battle for the top spot lap after lap. Zevenbergren would hold down the top side of the speedway while Ward would work the bottom side. Zevenbergren would pass the line as the leader, but never had more than a car length advantage over Ward. As the laps wound down, Ward continued to apply constant pressure, but the Z Machine would hold on and pick up a win that had the crowd on their feet. After the top two a returning Mitch Dowhower would take third with Glenn Wynia and Curt VanBeek would round out the top five.
Many drivers have a chance to pick up the win each week in the Motor Parts Central 360Bmods. Entering the nights action there hadnt been a repeat winner in nearly a month. Rich Headid had been searching for that elusive win for quite a while and as Todd Saunders lead the field Headid was reeling in the leader. Saunders would put up a valiant fight as Headid would work high and low to get the win. Saunders would get high in the corner and lose the top spot falling to third. A late restart would bring Karl Brewer right to the rear of the Headid machine, but would not be able to capitalize as Headid would pick up the win ahead of Brewer, Saunders, Harvey VandeWeerd, and Kirk Beatty.
Paul Menard dominated the Yankton Automotive Machine Hobby Stock feature. Menard would lead thirteen circuits around the speedway building a nearly full straightaway advantage. Coming to the white flag Menard appeared to be cruising to another feature win, until his right rear tire gave way opening the door for a thrilling finish. As Menard slowed on the front stretch at the drop of the white flag, Rusty Montagne was about to make a run to the checkered. Montagne was fourth in turn four, taking an ambitious line through the corners, Montagne would find himself second down the backstretch. Bill Woehler lead the field into turn three and Montagne took the bottom line of the speedway, and somehow made it stick. A drag race down the front stretch lead to Montagne being first to the checkered by a few feet over Woehler. Jake McClure, John Cain, and Justin Regnerus follow the top two.
Zach Johnson came into the evening hoping to gain on his experience early in his racing career in the Steves Roofing Hornet division. Johnson, however, would do more than that as he would hold off all challenges to pick up the win ahead of Zack Ankrum, Chuck Rose, Kyle Davis, and Luke Jackson.
Friday Night Patrick M Pinney Contracting presents the MLRA vs. NCRA late models as a part of the Midwest Trifecta. Admission for adults is $20. Over 60 of the best late model drivers in the Midwest are expected with a huge fireworks display after the races. As an added attraction, NHRA Funny Car World Champion Cruz Pedregon will be on hand as well racing his late model and signing autographs for the fans.
Then, next Saturday Night SignMasters presents the 2009 NASCAR Whelen All American Series 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
