300 Raceway
Andy Eckrich captures Deery opener at Farley
Andy Eckrich battles during Friday's prelims at Farley Speedway. (Paul Misner)
FARLEY, Iowa (April 6) — The third time was a charm for Andy Eckrich and the Deery Brothers Summer Series. The Iowa City, Iowa, driver won the twice-rescheduled IMCA Late Model tour opener Friday night at Farley Speedway, earning $2,000 for his career fifth series victory. | Slideshow
Polesitter Jeff Aikey of Cedar Falls, Iowa, led most of the first half of the 35-lapper and pressed Eckrich to the finish before slowing with a broken rear end coming out of the last turn. Tyler Bruening of Decorah, Ohio, Mike Murphy Jr. of Colona, Ill., Jay Johnson of West Burlington, Iowa, and Joel Callahan of Dubuque, Iowa, took advantage of Aikey's misfortune. Aikey coasted across the stripe in sixth.
Aikey drew the pole and went back and forth on the Farley half-mile oval with Bruening before the third-starting Eckrich took the lead on lap 17.
Aikey nearly returned the favor but a lap 22 yellow erased his pass for the front spot. The final caution came with four laps left but Eckrich, the 2011 series runner-up, stayed fastest to the checkers.
Notes: Andy Eckrich's Barry Wright Race Car is sponsored by Precision Performance, Schell Industries and Noel's Tree & Crane Service. ... Eckrich has five career series victories. ... Fourth-finishing Jay Johnson advanced 11 positions after qualifying through a consolation race. ... Two-time reigning series champ Ray Guss Jr. of Milan, Ill., exited early with mechanical problems during a late caution and was scored 19th. ... Travis Denning won the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing. ... Among drivers failing to make the Late Model lineup: Luke Pestka, Mike Klinkkammer, Dale Hackwell Jr., Dan Shelliam and Jeff Mitrisin. ... Ron Barker topped the IMCA modified main event. ... Inclement weather and the resulting wet track conditions had forced postponement of the Deery opener at Farley from March 31 and then from April 1. ... Deery Series drivers are on the track again Saturday for the $3,000-to-win Slocum 50 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa; Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:15 p.m.
Deery Brothers @ Farley: (1) Andy Eckrich, (2) Tyler Bruening, (3) Mike Murphy Jr., (4) Jay Johnson, (5) Joel Callahan, (6) Jeff Aikey, (7) Denny Eckrich, (8) Dean Wagner II, (9) Darrel DeFrance, (10) Jason Hahne, (11) Colby Springsteen, (12) Luke Goedert, (13) Justin Kay, (14) Charlie McKenna, (15) Ron Klein, (16) Nick Marolf, (17) Joe Ross, (18) Mike Garland, (19) Ray Guss Jr., (20) Tom Darbyshire, (21) Travis Denning, (22) Tommy Elston, (23) Jim Brokus, (24) Gary Webb. Heat race winners (among 32 cars): Denny Eckrich, Callahan, Marolf, Klein. Consolation winners: Darbyshire, Goedert.
