300 Raceway
First-timer wins Yankee tuneup at Farley
FARLEY, Iowa (Sept. 14) — The first night of a Deery Brothers Summer Series doubleheader during Farley Speedway’s Yankee Dirt Track Classic saw Nick Marolf win for the first time in his IMCA Late Model tour career.
Marolf started on the pole for Friday’s 50-lapper, ran in the top five most of the way before catching Justin Kay with five laps to go, then drove to victory lane to collect a $3,000 check.
The 18th of 20 events on the 2012 schedule drew a season-high 56 entries from four states to Farley. Kay, Tyler Bruening, Andy Eckrich and Mark Burgtorf completed the top five finishers.
Kay started outside Marolf, took the lead on the initial green and restarted at the front after the sole caution of the race came out on lap two. He put some distance on the rest of the field while Mike Murphy Jr. ran in second and Marolf and Eckrich fought over third.
After catching up with the back of the pack, Murphy drove inside Kay to take the lead on lap 20. He was checking out before breaking and pulling into the infield.
Kay resumed the lead, holding the seventh starting Bruening at bay while Eckrich and Marolf got closer. Marolf shot from fourth to the lead, then drove away over the course of the final five circuits for his career first Deery win.
Notes: Justin Kay was the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing winner. .... Kay, Andy Eckrich, Joel Callahan, Jeff Aikey, Darrel DeFrance, Jay Johnson, Ray Guss Jr. and Mike Murphy Jr. each earned $99 Ideal Ready Mix Ironman Challenge perfect attendance cash bonuses. ... The winner of Saturday’s Deery feature at Farley earns $7,500, the top check on the tour this season. A minimum of $500 will be paid to start and a number of new entries are expected. ... Pit gates open at 3:30 p.m. and the grandstand opens at 4:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow. Aikey remains the tour point leader, now by an 833-826 margin over Eckrich. ... Among drivers who failed to qualify for Friday’s feature: Travis Smock, Jason Hahne, Jay Chenoweth, Ryan Griffith, Matt Strassheim, Kevin Kile, Mike Garland, Matt Ryan, Larry Harris, Sam Halstead, Jason Utter, Tommy Elson, Mike Zemo Jr., Dean Wagner, Jon Merfeld, Andy Nezworski, Curt Martin, Kurt Kile, Doug Nigh, Darren Mish and Spencer Diercks.
Deery Brothers @ Farley: (1) Nick Marolf, (2) Justin Kay, (3) Tyler Bruening, (4) Andy Eckrich, (5) Mark Burgtorf, (6) Joel Callahan, (7) Denny Eckrich, (8) Jeff Aikey, (9) Jeff Mitrisin, (10) Colby Springsteen, (11) Darrel DeFrance, (12) Jay Johnson, (13) Rick Dralle, (14) Luke Goedert, (15) Greg Kastli, (16) Bruce Schmitz, (17) Jeremiah Hurst, (18) Ray Guss Jr., (19) Mike Murphy Jr., (20) Dan Shelliam, (21) Joe Zrostlik, (22) Luke Merfeld, (23) Jason Rauen, (24) Brian Beaudry. Heat race winners (among 56 cars): Burgtorf, Mitrisin, Kay, Murphy, Bruening, A. Eckrich. Consolation winners: Rauen, D. Eckrich, Aikey. Provisional starters: Beaudry, Johnson, Goedert.
Correction: Fixes car count.
