BRITT, Iowa (May 28, 2001) – A quick motor change and a late pass for the lead was just what Ron Pope needed to shake off the sour luck that had latched on to him during the first two months of the 2001 season as the Mason City driver took the Modified feature win at the Hancock County Speedway Monday night. In Hobby Stock action, Dan Haugland inherited the victory when apparent winner Jeff Zehr refused a claim during the annual Memorial Day appearance by the National Kidney Foundation Heartland Tour for a Cure.

Ron Pope knew after hot laps that his Modified #45 did not have the power to compete so his crew jumped into action and completed a motor change just in time for their driver to finish fourth in the second heat race. A good re-draw put Pope on the outside of row one for the twenty-five lap main event, but it was pole-sitter Jon Wood who sprinted out to the early lead. Kevin Stoa, who is always tough to beat at HCS, was on the move from his third row start and actually snared the lead from Wood during the twelfth lap only to have a caution wipe it out. On the restart Stoa continued his assault on the lead, but a lap later he suddenly slowed and exited the track. Pope was right there to pick up the chase and made a nifty move on the outside of Wood in turn one for the lead and the win ten laps later. In victory lane Pope stated how significant it was for him to win a NKF Tour event as he lives and competes with just one kidney. Brad Bakken edged out Wood for second with Scott Olson and Rod Scheuermann completing the top five.

A huge field of thirty-six Hobby Stocks was pared down to twenty-four A-Main starters with Jeff Zehr pacing the field for the entire fifteen-lap distance. During post-race ceremonies local driver Tony Smidt claimed Zehr’s engine and when Zehr refused to sell he was relegated to last place. That put Dan Haugland into victory lane for his first career NKF Tour win with Shane Monson, Ben Hoesing, Rod Miller and Dan Hanselman completing the top five. It was the first engine claim in the four year history of the NKF Hobby Stock Tour.

The Audubon Speedway in Audubon, Iowa, is next up for the NKF Tour as both divisions visit the lightning fast high-banked oval for the first time on Tuesday night, June 5th.

RESULTS

HEARTLAND TOUR MODIFIEDS

1st Heat – 1. Brad Bakken, Forest City 2. Rod Scheuermann, Jefferson 3. Ross Wyatt, Britt 4. Scott Badker, Klemme

2nd Heat – 1. Keith Schmitz, Swaledale 2. Kevin Stoa, Polk City 3. Scott Anderson, Mason City 4. Ron Pope, Mason City

Dash – 1. Stoa 2. Bakken 3. Scheuermann 4. Anderson

A-Main – 1. Pope 2. Bakken 3. Jon Wood, Woden 4. Scott Olson, Ellsworth 5. Scheuermann 6. Schmitz 7. Troy Cordes, Dewar 8. Mike Hackenmiller, Ventura 9. Joe Hiscocks, Britt 10. Bill Cook, Algona 11. Wyatt 12. Matt Assink, Kanawha 13. Kevin Opheim, Mason City 14. Stoa 15. Rick Schuller, Burt 16. Badker 17. Ryan Hiscocks, Britt 18. Matt Donald, Pleasant Hill 19. Anderson

HEARTLAND TOUR HOBBY STOCKS

1st Heat – 1. Kit Hovey, Fort Dodge 2. Chad Palmer, Renwick 3. Ben Hoesing, Perry 4. Brent Hanson, Mason City

2nd Heat – 1. Jeff Zehr, Manson 2. Earl Wbner, Garner 3. Todd Wilson, Eagle Grove 4. Toby Boothroyd, Britt

3rd Heat – 1. Jared Dirks, Belmond 2. Randy Hadacek, Britt 3. Dan Hanselman, Algona 4. Jerry Dixon, Webster City

4th Heat – 1. Shane Monson, Clear Lake 2. Rod Miller, Eldon 3. Dan Haugland, Forest City 4. Mike Grantham, Clarksville

1st B-Main – 1. Jeff Lodin, Kanawha 2. John Madson, Britt 3. Roger Kofron, Leland 4. Tony Smidt, Britt 5. Chad Doyle, Buffalo Center 6. Justin Burmester, Dumont 7. Allen Dixon, Webster City

2nd B-Main – 1. Dan Stromer, Klemme 2. Doug McCollough, Webster City 3. Craig Florea, Wesley 4. Dan Jimenez, Mason City 5. Chris Evenson, Algona 6. Remington Hill, Wesley 7. Steve Ruter, Kanawha

A-Main – 1. Haugland 2. Monson 3. Hoesing 4. Miller 5. Hanselman 6. Hovey 7. Wilson 8. Webner 9. J. Dixon 10. Boothroyd 11. Palmer 12. Stromer 13. Grantham 14. Madson 15. Smidt 16. Kofron 17. McCollough 18. Florea 19. Hanson 20. Dirks 21. Jimenez 22. Lodin 23. Hadacek 24. Zehr