KYLE BERCK DOMINATES ACTION AT PARK JEFFERSON 8-16-08
LeRoy Beck
(08/16/08)
Kyle Berck pulled double duty as Patrick M Pinney Contracting presented the racing action at Park Jefferson Speedway. Berck would run in both the IMCA modifieds as well as the SLMR late models in hopes of pulling off a rare double. Bercks run would come up short with the modifieds, but the late model race would be all Kyle Berck. Other feature winners on the night were Mike Hansen, Glenn Wynia, Chris Weatherton, Marlis Boggs, Austin Pinney, and Rusty Montagne.
The main event of the evening was the SLMR late models, but it was readily apparent that this night was going to be the Kyle Berck show. Berck would dominate his heat race and would jump to the lead from his fifth starting spot at lap four and never look back. At various points Berck would have an almost half lap advantage over second place. Late in the race, the fastest car on the track was Ed Kosiski. However, at that point, Kosiski was too far behind to make any kind of challenge. At the line, Berck would still have a full straightaway advantage over Joe Kosiski, Ed Kosiski, Mike Collins, and Craig Prebble.
Mark Gaskill definitely had the car to beat in the Arnold Motor Supply IMCA Modified feature. While Gaskill was dominating the feature action, Kyle Berck and Mike Hansen would battle continuously for the second spot. With five laps to go, Berck would try an unusual line through turns three and four, which would cost Berck multiple car lengths to the evenly matched Hansen. Gaskill meanwhile was over a full straightaway ahead, looking for his first win at Park Jefferson. Gaskill would have never ending trouble negotiating through lapped traffic, allowing Hansen to get by with two to go. Gaskill would not be able to regain the top spot has Hansen raced away to the checkered. Berck would wind up third with Ricky Stephan and Reese Coffee in tow.
One week ago, Glenn Wynia was airborne on the front stretch in the B&B Salvage Stock Car feature. On this night, Wynia was determined to pick up the win that slipped away one week ago. Wynia however would not go into that goodnight without a fight. Wynia did start from the pole, but from lap one Wynia was under constant barrage from Ryan Harris; and in later laps Tony Ritterbush and Mike Scharn. Each lap Harris would look low in one and two, and then high in three and four, never able to get the full run. Harris would get inside Wynia down the backstretch, but would not be able to complete the pass. Harris, Ritterbush, Scharn, and Randy Lawry would follow Wynia to the line.
Never let it be said racing is a sport without controversy. The Arnold Motor Supply hobby stock feature featured great action with Craig Clift, Jake McClure, Rusty Montagne, and Paul Menard all battling for the top spot. When the checkered flag flew, Clift would be the first to the line, and was very excited in his Victory Lane interview. That excitement would be short lived as Clift would be disqualified for failing post race inspection. McClure and Menard would also fail inspection leaving the feature win to Montage, with Justin Regnerus, Josh Grimsley, Bill Woehler, and Zach Bales ending up as the top five.
With the late models on the schedule, the racing would wrap up the Bmod/Sportmod challenge. Coming into the nights action, Harvey VandeWeerd would have a four point lead in the point standings, and looked to lock up the BMod/Sportmod Challenge championship. VandeWeerd would never challenge for the race win as Chris Weatherton would hold the top spot all night long. Running on the cushion, Weatherton was untouched all night long in his unsponsored machine. Behind Weatherton it was Dan Van Bruggen, Kirk Beatty, VandeWeerd, and Chad TenNapel. By virtue of his fourth place finish, VandeWeerd would lock up the bonus for the BMod/Sportmod championship.
A couple of team cars would control the front of the field in the Steves Roofing Hornets feature. Daniel Loggins and RJ Merchant would battle for the race lead in the early stages of the feature event. Marlis Boggs, however, would not let this boys club last. Boggs started in the back of the pack, and would work her way to the front, finally passing Merchant late in the race. Boggs would hold off the rest of the pack for the feature win in the pro hornet division. Austin Pinney would continue his hot streak and pick up the feature win in the novice division.
The Sioux City Journal presents the racing action at Park Jefferson Speedway. For latest results and information on upcoming events go to http://www.parkjeffersonspeedway.com
