Deery Brothers Summer Series
Farley Speedway
September 17, 2011
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Hard work pays off for Bruening with $7,500 Yankee Dirt Track Classic Deery Series win

by Bill Martin
FARLEY, Iowa (Sept. 17) – Tyler Bruening says its always good when hard work pays off.

In his case, that effort resulted in his career first win on the Deery Brothers Summer Series circuit and a check for $7,500.

Bruening led all 50 laps of the IMCA Late Model tour main event Saturday at Farley Speedway’s Yankee Dirt Track Classic, holding off Denny Eckrich by less than a carlength at the checkers.

“I couldn’t believe I won it,” he admitted. “This is definitely the biggest win of my career. It makes all the hard work pay off.”

Eckrich’s brother Andy was right behind the front pair in third. Series point leader Ray Guss Jr. and Mark Burgtorf rounded out the top five. Terry Neal, winner of the Friday Brodix Silver Anniversary Shootout at Farley, was sixth.

The only caution of the contest came for debris on lap three. Bruening caught up with the back of the 24-car Yankee field by lap 17 and built a sizable advantage by midway.

That comfortable lead disappeared by the final laps as Denny Eckrich gradually reeled the leader back in.

Eckrich tried inside and was right alongside Bruening the last time around the oval.

“After the first few laps, I felt we had the car to beat. I’d gone into the race anticipating running around the bottom but after we got out there that part of the track went away and I ran a higher line,” Bruening said. “I kind of got stuck in lapped traffic late in the race and he (Eckrich) closed right up on me.”

“I had pushed the car pretty hard all night,” he added. “After the race we pulled in and took a look at the right rear tire and it was pretty well gone.”

The top two finishers from each of five heat races and the top four from both “B” features qualified on Friday.

Bruening won his heat race, then topped the dash to earn the pole start.

He’d had 44 Deery main events start under his belt dating back to 2005 coming into the night. Bruening’s previous career-best third place showing, at Marshalltown Speedway in May, was among his five top five finishes this season.

Bruening’s father Greg, a former Deery regular, is his car owner and crew chief.

Six points separate Guss and Andy Eckrich heading into the Sept. 24-25 series finale at Quad City Speedway in East Moline, Ill. Pit gates open at 2 p.m. an the grandstand opens at 3:30 p.m. Hot laps are at 5 p.m. and racing starts at 5:30 p.m.

Feature results  
1. Tyler Bruening, Decorah;
2. Denny Eckrich, Tiffin;
3. Andy Eckrich, Iowa City;
4. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.;
5. Mark Burgtorf, Quincy, Ill.;
6. Terry Neal, Ely;
7. Justin Kay, Wheatland;
8. Luke Goedert, Guttenberg;
9. Brian Harris, Davenport;
10. Dan Shelliam, Hazel Green, Wis.;
11. Jay Johnson, West Burlington;
12. Joel Callahan, Dubuque;
13. Boone McLaughlin, Mediapolis;
14. Nate Beuseling, Silvis, Ill.;
15. Darrel DeFrance, Marshalltown;
16. Dale Stolte, Springville;
17. Joe Zrostlik, Long Grove;
18. Jeff Guengerich, Washington;
19. Jim Brokus, Dubuque;
20. Kevin Kile, West Liberty;
21. Travis Smock, Independ­ence;
22. Matt Ryan, Davenport;
23. Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun;
24. Justin Reed, Quincy, Ill.

1st last-chance feature (winner qualifies) – 1. DeFrance; 2. Zrostlik; 3. McLaughlin; 4. Smock; 5. Doug Yates, Monticello; 6. Beuseling; 7. Jeremy Grady, Story City; 8. Dean Wagner, Evansdale; 9. Jill George, Cedar Falls; 10. Larry Harris, Muscoda, Wis.

2nd last-chance feature – 1. Ryan; 2. Curt Martin, Independence; 3. Brian Beaudry, Lost Nation; 4. Bruce Schmitz, Mineral Point, Wis.; 5. Mitch Current, Maquoketa; 6. Jeff French, Waukee; 7. Mike Smith, Flippin, Ark.; 8. Scott Welsh, Marion; 9. Jonathan Poll, Delmar; 10. Richie Gustin, Gilman.

Hard charger provisional – McLaughlin. Series provisionals – Beuseling, Smock and Zrostlik.