Bristol Motor Speedway
Mars races to $5,000 WDRL victory at Freeport
By Michael Rigsby
Jimmy Mars (28) outran Darren Miller (32D). (mikerueferphotos.photoreflect.com)
FREEPORT, Ill. (June 21) — Reversing the finishing order from the previous night against Darren Miller, Jimmy Mars of Menomonie, Wis., started on the pole at Freeport Raceway Park and raced to his second straight victory on the World Dirt Race League. Mars deftly handled heavy lapped traffic on the egg-shaped half-mile track to maintain the top spot against Miller, the Milledgeville, Ill., driver who outran Mars in a UMP DIRTcar Summernationals event June 20 in Farmer City, Ill. | Slideshow
"I have to thank my brother Chris," Mars said in victory lane. "He really has been able to put some great setups under the car. It was a little hairy at times (in traffic), and thankfully the car would go were I need it to go."
Miller challenged Mars early in the 40-lapper until Mars was able to put lapped cars between them. Miller settled for second with Brian Birkhofer of Muscatine, Iowa, finishing a quiet third. Chris Simpson, Denny Eckrich, Eric Pember and series rookie Frank Heckenast Jr battled for fourth in the stages amid traffic. Simpson took fourth ahead of Eckrich, Pember and Heckenast.
WDRL @ Freeport: (1) Jimmy Mars, (2) Darren Miller, (3) Brian Birkhofer, (4) Chris Simpson, (5) Denny Eckrich, (6) Eric Pember, (7) Frank Heckenast Jr, (8) Chad Simpson, (9) Brady Smith, (10) Dave Eckrich, (11) John Kaanta, (12) Jason Utter, (13) Rob Moss, (14) Rick Hanestad, (15) Jeremy Grady, (16) Mike Fryer, (17) Curt Martin, (18) Jeff Larson, (19) Tim Isenberg, (20) Skip Frey, (21) Andrew McKay, (22) Matt Furman, (23) Steve Morgan, (24) Lyle Zanker. Fast qualifier (among 28 cars): Miller, 22.440 seconds. Heat race winners: Mars, Birkhofer, Miller. Consolation winner: Fryer. Dash winner: Mars.
