Seidler scores Big Dog Dakota Classic Tour victory at Dickinson

[rebelracewriter]

Five nights, five different winners: Seidler scores

Big Dog Dakota Classic Tour victory at Dickinson

 

DICKINSON, N.D. (July 10) – A home state driver took the Thursday

night checkers in the Big Dog Chassis Dakota Classic Tour feature for

IMCA Modifieds at Southwest Speedway.

 

As a result, Ben Seidler took home a $200 bonus along with $1,200 in

posted first-place money. The fifth differ ent winner in as many

series events also became the newest addition to the ballot for the

2009 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational.

 

Seidler regained the lead on the 24th of 30 laps. Five cautions came

out in the late stage of the contest be fore he sealed the win ahead

of Robby Haines, Devin Raynard and Dan Carl.

 

Sixth place finisher Will Brack and 13th place finisher Mike Hansen

are now tied atop the point standings for the 19th annual tour. Troy

Heupel is one point back and Hank Berry is three points off the pace

heading into Friday’s finale at Dacotah Speedway in Mandan.

 

Drivers’ five best finishes in the six-race series will be used in

determining the champion and top 10 point fund shares.

 

Three tries were needed to get the main event started at Dickinson

before pole starter Carl settled into the front spot. Haines motored

by on lap eight, with Seidler taking over second on the next lap.

 

Seidler caught Haines for the lead at midway, but lost the front spot

back on lap 18. Carl, Hansen, Shawn Strand and 16th starting Jay

Noteboom made up the foursome chasing Haines and Seidler before a lap

21 yellow that came after Wednesday winner Rich Lewerke spun.

 

The first of three lap 24 cautions flew for debris on the track.

Noteboom made his way to the front following the second re-start, but

contact with another car resulted in a broken tie rod and a trip

pitside.

 

Hansen was running third before getting turned around as part of an

eight-car fracas on lap 26. Fourth-run ning Drew Christianson was a

casualty of the same pile-up.

 

Seidler and Haynes ran 1-2 the rest of the way, with Reynard catching

Carl for third on the white flag lap.

“B” qualifiers Heupel and Jarrett Wold both advanced 12 positions to

finish fifth and eighth, respec tively. Stacey Wilhelm started last

in the field of 24 and ended in 11th.

 

A current series-best 57 Modifieds contended on night five. Seidler

became the first North Dakota driver to win a series event since July

13 of 2006.

 

Feature Results –

1. Ben Seidler, Underwood;

2. Robby Haines, Benkelman, Neb.;

3. Devin Raynard, Benson, Sask.;

4. Dan Carl, North Platte, Neb.;

5. Troy Heupel, Williston;

6. Will Brack, Mead, Colo.;

7. David Murray Jr., Oberlin, Kan.;

8. Jarrett Wold, Arnegard;

9. Les McLenehan, Estevan, Sask.;

10. Eric Folstad, Glenburn;

11. Stacey Wilhelm, Martell, Neb.;

12. Darrell Bauer, Mandan;

13. Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa;

14. Jeff Decker, Dickinson;

15. Pete Bradley, Williston;

16. Shawn Strand, Bismarck;

17. Troy Hollinger, Lefor;

18. Steven Kuntz, Bismarck;

19. Marlyn Seidler, Underwood;

20. Drew Christianson, Minot;

21. Jay Noteboom, Hinton, Iowa;

22. Mark Dahl, Bismarck;

23. Rich Lewerke, Garner, Iowa;

24. Jeff Hooker, Minot.

1st heat (top two) – 1. Carl; 2. Kuntz. 2nd heat – 1. Folstad; 2.

Hansen. 3rd heat – 1. Haines; 2. Hooker. 4th heat – 1. Brack; 2.

Strand. 5th heat – 1. Lewerke; 2. Bauer. 6th heat – 1. Ben Seidler;

2. Raynard.

1st “B” feature (top four) – 1. Marlyn Seidler; 2. Dahl; 3.

Hollinger; 4. Bradley. 2nd “B” – 1. Murray; 2. Heu pel; 3. Wold; 4.

Christianson. 3rd “B” – 1. Noteboom; 2. McLenehan; 3. Decker; 4.

Wilhelm.