MARS WINS WDRL GOVERNOR'S CUP, SIMPSON CAPTURES 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP AT DAVENPORT

Dirt Late Model
National Headlines

McCreadie captures $40,000 victory at the Late Model Knoxville Nationals

Wall banks $20,008 victory in the Magnolia State 100 at Columbus Speedway

Phillips nets $5,000 Late Model Showdown feature at Lakeside Speedway

Roberts scores Southern Allstars Series victory at Golden Isles Speedway

Lanigan scores Friday prelim to 5th Annual Late Model Knoxville Nationals

Crydermann paces night 2 of Badger State Nationals at Cedar Lake Speedway

Woodworth collects Late Model Showdown feature win at Lakeside Speedway

Roberts extends SAS East points lead with win at Golden Isles Speedway

Payne earns top honors in
'Al Bodenhamer Memorial' at Adrian Speedway

Richards scores $7,000 prelim win to 5th Annual Late Model Knoxville Nationals

McCreadie tops Jackson 100 in first appearance at Brownstown Speedway

Weeks nets Carolina Clash Super Late Model win at Lancaster Speedway

Baker claims 20th Annual 'Pittsburgher 100' win at Penn Motor Speedway

Keltner flies to O'Reilly Battle of the Bluegrass win at Bluegrass Speedway

Phillips collects MARS DLRA 'Fall Classic final at Lebanon I-44 Speedway

Bucky Doren
DAVENPORT, Iowa (October 4) - Jimmy Mars drove to the win in the sixty-lap World Dirt Racing League Governors Cup at Davenport Speedway. Mars pocketed the $10,000 payday, and Chad Simpson edged John Kaanta in a thrilling battle for the WDRL Late Model Series Championship that was not settled until the last lap.

Darren Miller (Chadwick, IL) lead the twenty-four car to the green flag, and Miller sat at the point. Jimmy Mars (Menomonie, WI) stayed close through the early stages of the race. On lap twenty-three, Mars started to look underneath Miller for the lead, and the two battle door-to-door for the next few laps.

Mars would take the lead away as the field completed lap twenty-seven. Despite a few caution flags and lapped traffic. Mars was able to hold on to lead and the ventual win in the 23rd running of the Governor's Cup.

"I can't thank my brother Chris enough," Mars said in victory lane. "He has built one awesome car. I showed by nose a few times to Darren (Miller), and we always try to race each other clean, so I wasn't worried. He moved to the low side in turns one and two. I was able to work around him on the highside. That was a great car tonight."

Miller would finish second. Brady Smith (Solon Springs, WI) ran third the entire sixty-laps. Jeff AIkey (Cedar Falls, IA), Jason Utter (Columbus Junction, IA), and Chad Simpson (Mount Vernon, IA) fought for the fourth spot as the race was working to a close. Aikey would pull away with twelve laps remaining. Utter would round out the top five.

John Kaanta (Elk Mound, WI) worked his way from an eleventh place starting spot to battle Simpson for sixth and the WDRL Championship. Kaanta held the points lead by one point going into tonight's race. With only one point seprating Kaanta and Simspon, that meant who ever beat the other on the track would win the 2008 title.

Like a script from Hollywood, the two ended up battling side-by-side for the last twelve laps. It was more than a battle for the sixth place, it was a battle for the WDRL crown. The two swapped grooves a few times, but still now clean cut leader. As the duo rocketed off of turn four as the checkered flag was flying, Simpson was able to get a good enough run to take sixth and the championship.

"I saw John (Kaanta) worked under me," Simpson recalled from victory lane. "I thought I beat get moving. That was exciting. Nerve-racking, but exciting. I had trouble in turns three and four, and I knew that he was faster there. I knew if he was going to try something, it would probably be there. We got a good run off of four when it counted, and I couldn't be happier."

Simpson beat Kaanta by two points in the final WDRL Late Model Series Points Championship. Eric Pember (Pittsville, WI) was third followed by Frank Heckenast Jr (Orland Park, IL) and Chris Simpson (Oxford, IA).

Heckenast was also crowned the the 2008 Chase Signs WDRL Rookie of the year, edging Jeremy Grady (Story City, IA) for the honors.

All WDLR Champions and the top ten in points will be honored during the 2008 WDRL Banquet on Saturday, November 22, 2008. The celebration will take palce in Tama, IA at the Meskwaki Bingo and Casino.

RACE RESULTS
GOVERNOR'S CUP (Night 2)
DAVENPORT SPEEDWAY
DAVENPORT, IA
OCTOBER 4, 2008

WDRL A-MAIN - GOVERNOR'S CUP: 60 Laps
1. Jimmy Mars, 2. Darren Miller, 3. Brady Smith, 4. Jeff Aikey, 5. Jason Utter, 6. Chad Simpson, 7. John Kaanta, 8. Jeremy Grady, 9. Chris Simpson, 10. Jeff Larson, 11. Frank Heckenast Jr, 12. Eric Pember, 13. Dan Shelliam, 14. Gary Webb, 15. Skip Frey, 16. Andrew McKay, 17. Darrell DeFrance, 18. Terry Neal, 19. Matt Furman, 20. Rich Bell, 21. Denny Woodworth, 22. Justin Kay, 23. Jeremy Gustaf, 24. Cam Granger. (DNS - Denny Eckrich - Motor).

WDRL CONTINGENCY AWARDS:
IOWA-ILLINOIS TAYLOR INSULATION POLE DASH: Darren Miller, Brady Smith, Jimmy Mars
QA-1: Darren Miller
CHASE SIGNS HARD LUCK: Denny Eckrich
THE BRAKE MAN: Darren Miller
CHAMP PANS: Chad Simpson
DESIGN 500 RACEWEAR: John Kaanta
BSB MANUFACTORING: Jeremy Grady
FASTSHAFTS: Chris Simpson
HOOKER HARNESS: Frank Hecknast Jr
CHASE SIGNS ROOKIE OF THE RACE: Jeremy Grady
CHASSIS: MasterSbilt