Deery Brothers Summer Series
34 Raceway
September 2, 2012
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Aikey adds historical Pepsi to already impressive Deery Series resume



by Bill Martin
WEST BURLINGTON, Iowa (Sept. 2) – Jeff Aikey made Deery Brothers Summer Series history again Sunday, on another history-making night at 34 Raceway. 

Aikey won the Pepsi USA Nationals, the 400th event in the IMCA Late Model tour’s 26-plus seasons. The six-time series champion and current point leader earned $5,000 and lap money for the victory. 

His career total of 57 Deery feature wins now includes three Pepsi triumphs. 

Defending race winner Andy Eckrich chased Aikey across the finish line. Jay Johnson ran second much of the way and ended in third; Matt Strassheim and Ray Guss Jr. completed the top five in the 50-lapper.

Mike Murphy Jr., winner of the April Deery feature at 34, started inside Eckrich on the front row and led the first 19 circuits before getting caught in lapped traffic. 

Aikey, who had started eighth, was quick to take advantage and passed Murphy for the lead with Johnson and Eckrich in tow.

Johnson stayed on Aikey’s back bumper through restarts on laps 31, 36 and 37. Eckrich finally wrestled the spot away but couldn’t catch Aikey, ending three car lengths off the pace.

Aikey was also the Pepsi winner in 1998 and 1999. This year’s event had been postponed from Saturday because of inclement weather. 



Darrel DeFrance was 10th in his 400th consecutive series event. Johnson won the $250 Sunoco Race Fuels feature qualifier drawing. Murphy’s pole start netted him a set of heads from Brodix. 

Next up for the Deery Series is the Labor Day event at Boone Speedway, on opening night of the IMCA Speedway Motors Super Nationals. 

Pit gates open at 10 a.m. and registration for Late Models continues until 5 p.m. Sept. 3. Deery drivers will get the opportunity to hot lap before their heat races on Monday.

Eight drivers who took the green flag in Sunday’s main event had perfect series attendance coming into the night and earned $99 Ideal Ready Mix Ironman Challenge cash bonuses.

Aikey, Eckrich, Johnson, Guss, Murphy, DeFrance, Joel Callahan and Justin Kay can all earn additional bonuses of the same amount by maintaining perfect attendance and qualifying for features at Boone, the Yankee Dirt Track Classic Sept. 14 and 15 at Farley Speedway, and the Sept. 22 series finale at Davenport Speedway. 

A-Main
1 8 77 Jeff Aikey
2 2 56 Andy Eckrich
3 3 93 Jay Johnson
4 5 41 Matt Strassheim
5 10 58 Ray Guss, Jr
6 4 31 Jason Utter
7 12 38 Colby Springsteen
8 6 40 Joel Callahan
9 9 69 Tom Goble
10 14 99D Darrel Defrance
11 7 46 Nate Beuseling
12 15 84 Sam Halstead
13 24 6 Jay Chenoweth
14 13 16 Tyler Bruening
15 17 15K Justin Kay
16 1 14M Mike Murphy, Jr
17 16 15R Mark Burgtorf
18 11 3D Tom Bowling
19 18 7 Matt Ryan
20 20 25 Lonnie Bailey
21 21 53 Leroy Brenner
22 19 90X Rob Toland
23 22 77K Curt Kyle
24 23 15 Kyle Hinrichs

B-Main
1 15R Mark Burgtorf
2 15K Justin Kay
3 7 Matt Ryan
4 90X Rob Toland
5 25 Lonnie Bailey
6 53 Leroy Brenner
7 6 Jay Chenoweth
8 47 Andy Nezworski
9 15 Kyle Hinrichs
10 77K Curt Kyle
11 7 Willie Gammill
12 42 Tom Darbyshire

Heat #1
1 3D Tom Bowling
2 58 Ray Guss, Jr
3 31 Jason Utter
4 41 Matt Strassheim
5 16 Tyler Bruening
6 15K Justin Kay
7 53 Leroy Brenner
8 90X Rob Toland
9 42 Tom Darbyshire

Heat #2
1 56 Andy Eckrich
2 77 Jeff Aikey
3 93 Jay Johnson
4 69 Tom Goble
5 99D Darrel Defrance
6 6 Jay Chenoweth
7 25 Lonnie Bailey
8 7 Willie Gammill
9 77K Curt Kyle

Heat #3
1 38 Colby Springsteen
2 14M Mike Murphy, Jr
3 46 Nate Beuseling
4 40 Joel Callahan
5 84 Sam Halstead
6 15R Mark Burgtorf
7 7 Matt Ryan
8 47 Andy Nezworski
9 15 Kyle Hinrichs