BICKETT TAKES OVER 360 POINTS LEAD

by Steve Zwemke

HARTFORD, S.D. — Four first time winners, 96 cars and a shakeup at the top of the Hard Core Speed Shop 360 Sprint Car Standings highlighted an exciting night of racing Saturday at I-90 Speedway.

Ryan Bickett raced to his fifth 360 Sprint Car win and, in doing so, became the division’s new points leader.  Troy Schreurs was in full command of the event early.  He looked as if somebody had shot his 12T ride out of a cannon when he passed pole sitter Jordan Opdahl on the second lap.  Schreurs had a huge advantage when the leaders caught slower traffic.  He began to fade though after making contact with Isaac Schreurs while putting him a lap down.  Ryan Bickett eventually reeled in Schreurs on the 15th lap while the leaders continued to work slower traffic.  Bickett led the final six laps.  At the same time Brock Dump was working hard to pass Schreurs, Opdahl and Justin Glaser.  Dump finished second after starting 10th.

Three-time defending track champion Dusty Ballenger didn’t fare near as well.  After bailing early in his heat race, Ballenger placed 18th in the feature.  It opened the door for Bickett who now has a 24-point lead over John Lambertz and a 33-point lead over Ballenger.  Bickett had trailed Ballenger by 17-points before Saturday’s show.

Kipp De Groot of Platte was one of four drivers who captured his first career I-90 Speedway win.  De Groot led all 20 laps of the Little Guy Nationals race which had been postponed the previous week.  De Groot spent several of the opening laps with Don Bickett nipping away at his bumper.  Gary Brown Jr., came all the way from 12th and was a serious challenger to De Groot’s lead when a caution created a green/white/checker finish.  Brown tried to get around De Groot a couple of times over the last two laps but De Groot held his line and won in a close finish.  De Groot said, “I knew Gary was coming.  I knew if I kept it on the bottom he couldn’t get around me up top.”

The Express Copy and Printing Late Model Street Stock division raced with top wings in the second running of the Little Guy Nationals and the feature paid $700 to win.

Anthony Van Everdingen of Mitchell was also part of the first-time winners club Saturday.  Van Everdingen looked like a veteran racer as he led all 15 laps of the USRA B-Modified feature.  Tyler Tesch, Tim Dann and Tracy Johnson were racing each other pretty hard behind Van Everdingen which was to his benefit.  It was only Van Everdingen’s sixth start at I-90 Speedway.  His best feature finish before Saturday was seventh.  24 cars gave the USRA B-Mods bragging rights by having the most in I-90 Speedway’s five classes.

In the Hobby Stocks Jordan Kott of Platte also won his first career feature at I-90 Speedway, albeit in roundabout fashion.  Brad Hallem led the first 10 laps.  His only serious challenge was from Mike Chaney.  At one point, Chaney got into Hallem’s car coming out of turn four and Chaney was sent to the rear.  Hallem, however, experienced mechanical problems and Mike Kiggins inherited the lead.  Hallem brought out a caution and a green/white/checker finish came down to a faceoff between Kiggins and Tim Waltner.  Kiggins edged Waltner at the finish line but later both drivers were disqualified.  Kiggins’ disqualification was for illegal heads.  Kott, who had crossed third, was awarded the win

Hobby Stock drivers will race for $500 to win in next Saturday’s Hobby Stock Nationals at I-90 Speedway.  Dylan Fitzpatrick won last year’s special.

Michael Pechous was able to enjoy his first win in victory lane.  The Hartford driver led all 10 laps of the Fast Auto Wash Super Chargers A-Main.  It wasn’t a walk in the park for Pechous though as four-time winner Joe Blake made numerous attempts for the lead.

RESULTS

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2012

360 SPRINT CARS

A Feature:  1. Ryan Bickett, 2. Brock Dump, 3. Justin Glaser, 4. Jordan Opdahl, 5. Troy Schreurs, 6. Matt Juhl, 7. John Lambertz, 8. Mike Young, 9. Isaac Schreurs, 10. Kevin Flowers, 11. Matt Ziebarth, 12. Jordan Martens, 13. Tommy Barber, 14. Ryan Jones, 15. Jared Riedel, 16. Randy Droescher, 17. Brandt O’Banion, 18. Dusty Ballenger, 19. Jerimiah Jordahl, 20. Brett Van Der Brink, 21. Terry Chester

Heat Winners:  John Lambertz, Jordan Opdahl, Brock Dump

LATE MODEL STREET STOCKS

A Feature:  1. Kipp De Groot, 2. Gary Brown Jr., 3. Don Bickett, 4. Scott Borkowski, 5. Jim Hoing, 6. Dale Furby, 7. Craig Hanisch, 8. John Hoing, 9. Fred Konechne, 10. Zach Van Voorst, 11. Howard Baartman, 12. David Kuchta, 13. Lee Schlumbohm, 14. Terry Prouty, 15. Billy Prouty, 16. Cory Yeigh, 17. Dan Jensen, 18. Brylee Gough

Heat Winners:  Brylee Gough, Howard Baartman, Gary Brown Jr.

USRA B-MODIFIEDS

A Feature:  1. Anthony Van Everdingen, 2. Tyler Tesch, 3. Tim Dann, 4. Tracy Johnson, 5. Dustin Kruse, 6. Jeremiah Christensen, 7. Kenny Scholten, 8. Dave Kennedy, 9. Harvey Vande Weerd, 10. Jeremy Roozeboom, 11. Danny Harmon, 12. Jared Nytroe, 13. Chris Goetz, 14. Tyler Johnson, 15. Marty Myers, 16. Craig Hanisch, 17. Greg Roemen, 18. Cory Gronewold, 19. Alan Vanden Brink, 20. Dylan Fitzpatrick

B Feature:  1. Marty Myers, 2. Jeremy Roozeboom, 3. Danny Harmon, 4. Harvey Vande Weerd, 5. Alan Vanden Brink

Heat Winners:  Anthony Van Everdingen, Craig Hanisch, Dave Kennedy

HOBBY STOCKS

A Feature:  1. Jordan Kott, 2. Zach Olivier, 3. Dustin Gulbrandson, 4. Derrick Scott, 5. Travis Schreurs, 6. Dusty Van Der Brink, 7. Steve Henle, 8. Paul Hartley, 9. Justin Smith, 10. Mike Chaney, 11. Tony Morehead, 12. Brian Hoing, 13. Logan Fitzpatrick, 14. Brad Hallem, 15. Travis Vanden Top, 16. Don Brady Jr., 17. Scott Borstad, 18. Brad Van Voorst, 19. Derek Baartman, 20. Mike Kiggins, 21. Tim Waltner

Heat Winners:  Don Brady Jr., Travis Vanden Top, Brad Hallem

SUPER CHARGERS

A Feature:  1. Michael Pechous, 2. Joe Blake, 3. Keith Johnson, 4. Connor Vande Weerd, 5. Matt Hanten, 6. Justin Voeitz, 7. Charlie Koepp, 8. Laura Ebbesen, 9. Tammy Lingen, 10. Pam Rose, 11. Nathan Visker, 12. Chad Carpenter

Heat Winners:  Laura Ebbesen, Michael Pechous