West Liberty Raceway
Birky bounces back with $10,000 home-track win
WEST LIBERTY, Iowa (Aug. 7) — Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, used a repeat victory at his home track to bounce back from a disappointing USA Nationals weekend.
Topping a pair of Moyers and a pair of Simpsons in the unsanctioned special, Birkhofer led the second half of Tuesday night’s 50-lap feature at West Liberty Speedway for a $10,000 victory in the half-mile oval’s Tornado Tuesday event.
The mid-week victory was a nice rebound for Birkhofer, who was disappointed after finishing 17th in Saturday’s $50,000-to-win USA Nationals main event at Cedar Lake Speedway in New Richmond, Wis.
“We didn’t have the weekend we wanted, but to come back and win here close to home is always special,” said Birkhofer who also won the unsanctioned event in 2011. “I saw a lot of Birkhofer shirts up in the stands; it’s always good to win in front of your fans.”
The polesitting Birkhofer moved by fellow front-row starter Don O’Neal of Martinsville, Ind., just before halfway and led the remaining distance for his fourth overall victory of the season.
Competing in his part-time ride with Morning Motorsports, O’Neal ran second until an electrical problem sent him to the pits late in the race.
That handed the second spot to Chad Simpson of Mount Vernon, Iowa, who held off 11th-starting Billy Moyer of Batesville, Ark., for the runner-up finish.
Chris Simpson, the runner-up’s younger brother was fourth with Billy Moyer Jr. rounding out the top five.
Notes: Birkhofer's MB Customs chassis has a Pro Power engine and sponsorship from J&J Steel, Zens Flooring, Baileigh Industrial, ASI and Port City Racing. … All four of Birkhofer’s 2012 victories have come since June 29. His most recent victory was a $26,000 triumph in the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series-sanctioned Silver Dollar Nationals at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Neb. … Both Simpson brothers earned top-five finishes in the event for the second straight year.
Tornado Tuesday: (1) Brian Birkhofer, (2) Chad Simpson, (3) Billy Moyer, (4) Chris Simpson, (5) Billy Moyer Jr., (6) Denny Eckrich, (7) Dave Eckrich, (8) Jason Utter, (9) Jeff Larson, (10) Don O'Neal (complete results unavailable). Dash winner: Birkhofer. Heat race winners (among 22 cars): Chad Simpson, Moyer Jr., Dave Eckrich.
