CRESCO, Iowa (June 21, 2001) – For the fourth straight year the Mighty Howard County Fair and the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure teamed up for an exciting night of racing action for a great cause, and Thursday night saw both Tour features come right down to the wire. Todd Ihde of Decorah held on for the Modified checkers while Kevin Donlan found the Hobby Stock victory lane.

Ihde started from the pole of the twenty-five lap NKF Tour Modified feature and immediately assumed the lead at the drop of the green. Defending Tour champion, Ron Barker, quickly moved from his third row starting spot in to challenge and on lap eight Barker was able to make the high groove stick for the advantage. As Barker pulled away Ihde had his hands full with Brad Rain and Bruce Hanford, plus Darin Duffy was coming to the front after starting eighth. Barker appeared to have things well in hand until a caution appeared on lap nineteen. While the field was idling around the track, Barker’s #37B stalled with distributor cap woes ending his night. Ihde reassumed the lead on the restart and was able to put a couple of car-lengths on his challengers as they jockeyed for position behind him. Duffy moved into second with four to go and set his sights on Ihde, while Hanford slipped by Rain and appeared to have the low line coming to him. On the final lap the leaders went to a staggered three-wide formation with Ihde up top, Duffy in the middle and Hanford down low. At the checkers it was Ihde by about a foot over Duffy who had Hanford’s nose under him for a close third. Rain was right behind the lead trio for fourth while Tim Heins completed the top five.

The twenty-lap Hobby Stock headliner was equally exciting with Dan Christopher pacing the field for the first four circuits. Kevin Donlan took over on lap five while most eyes were focused on the quick progress being made by the sixth row starters Tory Reicks and Steve Holthaus. Reicks had worked the cushion all the way up to second on lap sixth, but on the following lap his right rear axle broke in turn three sending him into a spin that collected Holthaus and sent the rest of the field scrambling. Both cars were eliminated in the mishap. On the restart Jeremy Moellers picked up the chase of Donlan while Jeff Larson, who had started thirteenth, was now on the march. Coming to the white flag Moellers went to the top groove while Larson was digging on the inside and the three brought the crowd to their feet as they stayed in that formation for the entire final lap. Donlan kept his cool and held his line to earn the win by a car-length while Moellers edged out Larson by inches for the runner-up spot. Kyle Schissel and Adam Speicher completed the top five.

The Modifieds have an exciting week ahead on the NKF Tour as they will run for $1,000-to-win on Tuesday night, June 26th, at Hawkeye Raceway in Blue Grass, then it is off to Missouri for a $3,000-to-win show at Callaway Raceway on Thursday and Friday, June 28th & 29th, and $1,500-to-win on Saturday night, June 30th, at the Wheatland Raceway. The Tuesday show at Blue Grass will also include the NKF Tour Hobby Stocks in the first of two events for the Hawkeyeland Bonus.

RESULTS

HEARTLAND TOUR MODIFIEDS

1st Heat – 1. Todd Ihde, Decorah 2. Vern Jackson, Waterloo 3. Bruce Hanford, Davenport 4. Darin Duffy, Hazleton

2nd Heat – 1. Dan Bohr, Decorah 2. Kurt George, Charles City 3. Tim Heins, Elkader 4. Brian Schrage, Cresco

3rd Heat – 1. Ron Barker, Dubuque 2. Randy Geisler, St. Charles MN 3. Brad Rain, Lanesboro MN 4. Curt Carey, Ionia

A-Main – 1. Ihde 2. Duffy 3. Hanford 4. Rain 5. Heins 6. Jackson 7. Todd Schaufenbuel, New Hampton 8. Todd Suhr, New Hampton 9. Kerry Ledebuhr, Winona MN 10. Larry Grube, Cresco 11. Ryan York, Racine MN 12. Carey 13. Kevin Hoehne, Westgate 14. John Grube, Cresco 15. Bohr 16. Barker 17. Jerry King, Waterloo 18. Kyle Chiglo, Rushford MN 19. George 20. Dick Brummond, New Hampton 21. Schrage

HEARTLAND TOUR HOBBY STOCKS

1st Heat – 1. Tory Reicks, Waucoma 2. Brad Darling, Decorah 3. Dan Christopher, Decorah 4. Jeremy Moellers, Elma

2nd Heat – 1. Kevin Donlan, Mabel MN 2. Kyle Schissel, Calmar 3. Justin Humpal, New Hampton 4. Tim Gebel, New Hampton

3rd Heat – 1. Steve Holthaus, Cresco 2. Mel Tieskotter, Decorah 3. Adam Speicher, Fredericksburg 4. Bob Praska, Hawkeye

A-Main – 1. Donlan 2. Moellers 3. Jeff Larson, New Hampton 4. Schissel 5. Speicher 6. Tieskotter 7. Humpal 8. Gebel 9. Brian Losen, Ridgeway 10. Darling 11. Tracy Quigley, Fredericksburg 12. Rod Stuckey, Austin MN 13. Bobby Owen, Lime Springs 14. Christopher 15. Holthaus 16. Reicks 17. Praska