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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.
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