Berry wins IMCA Modified series finale, Dakota Tour championship

[rebelracewriter]

Berry wins IMCA Modified series finale,

Big Dog Chassis Dakota Tour championship

 

MANDAN, N.D. (July 11) – Everything that needed to happen for Hank

Berry to win the Big Dog Chassis Da kota Classic Tour championship did.

 

Berry led Friday’s 30-lap IMCA Modified feature at Dacotah Speedway

from start to finish, adding a bookend trophy – and another $1,200 –

to the hardware he got by winning the Sunday opener at Nodak Speedway.

 

Fourth in the standings going into the Mandan show, Berry’s first-

place points in the finale more than made up the deficit be hind co-

leaders Will Brack and Mike Hansen, and Troy Heupel. Brack was

running third when his motor ex pired eight laps away from the

checkers and the tour title. Hansen started last in the field of 24

and finished a credible seventh, while Heupel ran 10th.

 

Ben Seidler followed his Thursday win at Southwest Speedway with a

runner-up showing and Matt Brack was third. “B” qualifier Jay

Noteboom made another strong showing in fourth and Jeff Decker

rounded out the top five.

 

With Berry running the high line in front, the Bracks went side by

side and bumper to bumper in their pursuit throughout a lengthy green

flag session. Aaron Turnbull, Robert Hellebust and Seidler had the

front three in sight before lap 22 contact sent Turnbull to the pits

and Hellebust to the back of the field.

 

The final caution of the contest came on the fateful 23rd circuit,

when Will Brack’s engine gave out. Noteboom raced into the top four

following the re-start; Hansen was up to sixth before Steve Pfeifer,

another qualifier from the “B” features, passed on lap 27.

 

The only repeat winner in the 19th annual tour, Berry earned 2009

Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot nods for each victory, as

well as for the overall series title.

 

He’ll get $500 of the $2,000 point fund, as well as the lion’s share

of contingency awards from IMCA and tour sponsors. Hansen was the

runner-up three points back and Heupel edged Will Brack for third in

the final tour standings, which were based on drivers’ five best

finishes out of the six events.

 

Fifty-two Modifieds checked in at Mandan. The series averaged nearly

54 entries a night.

Feature Results –

1. Hank Berry, Sidney, Mont.;

2. Ben Seidler, Underwood;

3. Matt Brack, Mead, Colo.;

4. Jay Noteboom, Hinton, Iowa;

5. Jeff Decker, Dickinson;

6. Steve Pfeifer, West Fargo;

7. Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa;

8. Shawn Strand, Bismarck;

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

10. Troy Heupel, Williston;

11. Marlyn Seidler, Underwood;

12. Drew Christianson, Minot;

13. Robert Hellebust, West Fargo;

14. Jay Steffens, North Platte, Neb.;

15. Rusty Corneliusen, Dickinson;

16. Dan Carl, North Platte, Neb.;

17. Joren Boyce, Minot, N.D.;

18. Eric Folstad, Glenburn;

19. Will Brack, Mead, Colo.;

20. Daryn Schuler, Bismarck;

21. Aaron Turnbull, Estevan, Sask.;

22. Wyatt Olson, Minot;

23. Mark Dahl, Bismarck;

24. Darrell Bauer, Mandan.

1st heat (top two) – 1. Matt Brack; 2. Folstad; 2nd heat – 1. Dahl;

2. Decker. 3rd heat – 1. Will Brack; 2. Carl. 4th heat – 1. Ben

Seidler; 2. Heupel. 5th heat – 1. Berry; 2. Steffens. 6th heat – 1.

Corneliusen; 2. Helle bust.

1st “B” feature (top four) – 1. Olson; 2. Pfeifer; 3. Strand; 4.

Schuler. 2nd “B” – 1. Christianson; 2. Note boom; 3. Turnbull; 4.

Boyce. 3rd “B” – 1. Bauer; 2. Marlyn Seidler; 3. Murray; 4. Hansen.