DAKOTA CLASSIC MODIFIED TOUR MANDAN STORY/RESULTS

By John Gartner

Jay Noteboom is a talented driver who knew going into the final race of the Big Dog Chassis Dakota Classic Modified Tour at Dacotah Speedway that he only had to stay somewhat close to second place Allen Kent and he would be the series champion for the first time. The Hinton, Iowa driver of a fast #7N machine had already scored feature wins at Minot, Estevan and Williston to take a 10 point lead going into Championship Night. Kent had been consistent throughout the entire series, despite no feature wins and the #33 driver had a starting spot in the feature a row ahead of Noteboom.

When the feature race started Noteboom took no chances as the young Grant Junghans of Manhattan, Kansas in the 2X hotrod set a scorching pace around the 3/8 mile high bank track with consistent low 19 second lap times.

After 13 laps the pressure on Noteboom was over as Kent left the track with mechanical problems. Three laps later third place in points--Hank Berry of Sidney, Montana also headed for the pits with broken parts. That meant it was clear sailing for Noteboom and a long awaited feature win for Junghans. Noteboom took the championship with 223 points to the 197 scored by Kent, who took the runner-up honors. Junghans moved up to 13th in the series with the win. The entire feature went green to checkered without a yellow flag for the first time on the tour.

Several Tour records were set during the 20th running of the series. Car count records were set at Minot, Estevan, Williston and Dickinson. A total of 103 different drivers entered from 10 states and three Canadian provinces. Thirty six drivers entered all Tour races with Williston’s Troy Heupel winning the new Bert transmission that was drawn among all drivers who had raced at all venues. Over $54,000 in prize money was paid out during the course of the six race series.

WILLISTON, N.D. (July 15) – Fans at Williston Basin Speedway got a preview of how Wednesday’s Big Dog Dakota Classic Tour main event would play out early in the evening.
Current IMCA Modified series point leader Jay Noteboom and defending champion Hank Berry ran 1-2 in the fourth qualifying heat, then finished in the same order after a back-and-forth battle in the $1,200 to win feature.
The victory was Noteboom’s third in four tour outings thus far and solidified his spot atop the standings heading into the Thursday show at Southwest Speedway at Dickinson and Championship Night at Mandan’s Dacotah Speedway on Friday.
Ricky Alvarado bounced back from a disappointing finish Tuesday at Estevan, starting on the pole and dueling early with Noteboom before ending in third. Ben Seidler and Shawn Strand followed.
Will Brack, the Tuesday winner, qualified from his “B” race and made his way up to sixth. Aaron Turnbull made the most progress, starting 23rd and taking home eighth place points.
Alvarado and Noteboom swapped the lead five times over the course of the first half of the 30-lapper, going side-by-side while Mike Hansen, Berry and Strand tussled behind them.
Two quick cautions came out after midway, the second yellow flying after a third turn crash that kayoed Han sen. Berry caught Alvarado for second following the re-start, then drove by Noteboom for the lead on lap 18.
Noteboom was back in front on lap 20, however, then slowly stretched his advantage to four car lengths by the checkers.
All tour feature winners and the overall champion qualify for the 2010 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. The top 10 drivers in final standings receive shares of a $2,000 point fund.

Brack sails to Big Dog Dakota Classic checkers at Estevan
Posted on July 15, 2009 at 03:07:24 pm

ESTEVAN, Sask. (July 14) – Will Brack sailed to the IMCA Modified checkers, on a windy night for the Big Dog Dakota Classic Tour at Estevan Motor Speedway.
After wrestling the lead away twice from Troy Gemmill, Brack drove away from the rest of the field for the $1,200 win Tuesday evening. Gemmill ran second much of the way before surrendering the spot to Mike Hansen following the only caution of the contest, which came on the 28th of 30 laps.
Jay Noteboom, winner of features Sunday at Nodak Speedway and Monday at Estevan, and Allen Kent completed the top five. NASCAR visitor Kenny Wallace ran second in his heat race behind Gemmill to qualify for the main event, started 10th in the main event and finished back in the pack at 20th.
Troy Heupel drew the pole but Gemmill was the early leader, with Brack, Hansen and Noteboom close behind.
Brack pulled alongside Gemmill and was scored first across the stripe on the eighth and ninth circuits. Gemmill regained the lead, then lost the position again after getting into lapped traffic with Brack.
Ricky Alvarado stopped with a broken suspension to bring out the late yellow. Hansen caught Gemmill when the race resumed while Brack held onto the lead.
Wind advisories were posted Tuesday for the Estevan area, warning of gale force winds approaching 50 miles an hour. Temperatures were on the low side as well for the third of six events in the 2009 tour.
Brack had also won the third race of the 2008 tour, at Williston Basin Speedway, site of the Wednesday night series show.
The final events are also at North Dakota venues, on Thursday at Southwest Speedway in Dickinson and on Friday at Dacotah Speedway in Mandan.
All feature winners and the overall tour champion qualify for the 2010 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. The top 10 drivers in final standings earn shares of a $2,000 point fund.
Fifty-eight Modifieds competed again Tuesday at Estevan. The 20th annual tour has averaged 62 open wheeled entries through its first three nights.
Feature results –
1. Will Brack, Mead, Colo.;
2. Mike Hansen, Alton, Iowa;
3. Troy Gemmill, Ponca City, Okla.;
4. Jay Noteboom, Hinton, Iowa;
5. Allen Kent, Minot, N.D.;
6. Devin Reynard, Estevan, Sask.;
7. Hank Berry, Sidney, Mont.;
8. Marlyn Seidler, Underwood, N.D.;
9. Aaron Turnbull, Estevan;
10. Brendon Gemmill, Ponca City, Okla.;
11. Troy Heupel, Williston, N.D.;
12. Mike Hagen, Williston, N.D.;
13. Shawn Strand, Bismarck, N.D.;
14. Grant Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.;
15. Chase Junghans, Manhattan, Kan.;
16. Matt Brack, Mead, Colo.;
17. Dennis Durmas, Whitewater, Colo.;
18. Les McLenehan, Estevan;
19. Wyatt Olson, Minot, N.D.;
20. Kenny Wallace, Concord, N.C.;
21. Davin Emmel, Estevan;
22. Kelly Bauman, Weyburn;
23. Ricky Alvarado, Delta, Colo.;
24. David Thome, Spalding, Neb.
1st heat top two – 1. Noteboom; 2. Chase Junghans. 2nd heat – 1. Hansen; 2. Berry. 3rd heat – 1. Will Brack; 2. Kent. 4th heat – 1. Troy Gemmill; 2. Wallace. 5th heat – 1. Hagen; 2. Raynard. 6th heat – 1. Heupel; 2. Bauman.
1st “B” feature (top four) – 1. Grant Junghans; 2. Emmel; 3. Durmas; 4. Thome. 2nd “B” feature – 1. Strand; 2. Alvarado; 3. McLenehan; 4. Olson. 3rd “B” feature – 1. Matt Brack; 2. Turnbull; 3. Brendon Gemmill; 4. Seidler.

courtesy IMCA.com

ESTEVAN, Sask. (July 13) – He’d needed 28 laps to work his way to the front of the opening night show.
Jay Noteboom won in much more dominating fashion when the Big Dog Dakota Classic Tour for IMCA Modifieds took to the track Monday for the first of two events at Estevan Motor Speedway.
Noteboom needed just a single circuit to shoot from the fifth starting spot, dive low past Ricky Alvarado and take over the lead. Running well ahead of the mid-race melee that took out half a dozen cars, he was never seriously challenged in the 30-lap, $1,200 victory.
Allen Kent topped the second of two “B” features, started 14th in the main and took the runner-up spot well behind Noteboom. Pole starter Brendon Gemmill, defending tour champion Hank Berry and Grant Junghans filled out the top five finishing positions. Alvarado was sixth.
Berry switched back to the ride that carried him to the 2008 series crown and ran second much of the way, slipping to fourth in the closing circuits. Junghans qualified from the same “B” race that sent Kent to the big show and moved up 13 places.
Gemmill, Chase Junghans and then Berry headed the pursuit before the fracas on the front straightaway, triggered by a spinning car.
While Noteboom dealt with lapped traffic, Kent and Seidler swapped second place before Kent took over for good with three laps left.
NASCAR visitor Kenny Wallace will join the Tuesday field at Estevan. Pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the grand stand opens at 5 p.m. Hot laps are at 6 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m.
From Estevan, the Big Dog Dakota Classic Tour is at Williston Basin Speedway on July 15, at Southwest Speedway in Dickinson on July 16 and concludes July 17 at Dacotah Speedway in Mandan.
All feature winners and the overall tour champion qualify for the 2010 Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot. The top 10 drivers in final standings earn shares of a $2,000 point fund.
Fifty-eight Modifieds were in the pits Monday.

Courtesy IMCA.com