Freeport Raceway Park
Elston, Miller grab WDRL victories during Rebel weekend
From series reports
Darren Miller earned $7,500 in Freeport, Ill. (Craig Dusing)
FREEPORT, Ill. (Sept. 7-8) — Darren Miller of Chadwick, Ill., captured the finale of the Rebel weekend at Freeport Raceway Park to earn his first victory since a mid-season layoff caused by a thyroid condition.
Miller earned $7,500 for the World Dirt Racing League PolyDome Late Model Series victory while Tommy Elston of Keokuk, Iowa, picked up $2,500 for winning the weekend opener.
In the finale, Miller used a late-race pass around Denny Eckrich to retake the lead. Brian Harris and Miller started on the front row with Miller grabbing the lead at the drop of the green flag while Eckrich and Harris battled for second right behind him.�Eckrich found a way around Miller to take the lead on lap 45.
Eckrich led the trio through lapped traffic until Miller saw an opening and worked around the high side of Eckrich to regain the lead. Miller crossed the finish line ahead of Eckrich, Harris, Dave Eckrich and Justin Fegers.
In the opener, Elston was fast from the time he unloaded his car and won his heat race and the Iowa Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash. He started on the pole of the main event, but the action was a hot and heavy for the lead.
On the second lap, Harris worked his No. 21H underneath Elston and took the lead.�Harris appeared to have the field covered with a tight battle going on for second between Elston and Miller. A yellow tightened the field with just 11 laps remaining. On the restart, Harris went to the bottom and Elston passed him on the high side going into turn one and held on for the victory.
Miller made his way to second with Harris, Chris Simpson and Nick Anvelink rounding out the top five.
The Rebel (Sept. 7): (1) Tommy Elston, (2) Darren Miller,�(3) Brian Harris, (4) Chris Simpson, (5) Nick Anvelink, (6) Dave Eckrich, (7) Steve Ihm, (8) Justin Fegers, (9) Adam Hensel, (10) Eric Pember, (11) Denny Eckrich, (12) Matt Furman, (13) Curt Martin, (14) John Kaanta, (15) Andrew McKay, (16) Mike Fryer, (17) Craig Jacobs, (18) Scott Lemke, (19) Justin Mitchell, (20) Tim Isneberg, (21) Dan Shelliam, (22) Darren Mish, (23) Lyle Zanker, (24) Rick Hanestad.
The Rebel (Sept. 8): (1) Darren Miller, (2) Denny Eckrich, (3) Brian Harris, (4) Dave Eckrich, (5) Justin Fegers, (6) Steve Ihm, (7) Adam Hensel, (8) Chris Simpson, (9) John Kaanta, (10) Rick Hanestad, (11) Eric Pember, (12) Nick Anvelink, (13) Craig Jacobs, (14) Dan Shelliam, (15) Scott Lemke, (16) Tim Isenberg, (17) Jody Metzger, (18) Matt Furman, (19) Justin Mitchell, (20) Mike Fryer, (21) Andrew McKay, (22) Curt Martin, (23) Jerry Pitts, (24) Rob Moss.
