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News
Release
For
Immediate Release: Sep 22, 2007
1st Annual Aaron Koppien Memorial Stock/Super Stock
Combo
with Oahe Speedway Shootout Races
September 22, 2007
Runner up, Steve Koppien,
Sioux Falls, SD(l) and
winner, Rod Neugabauer,
Mitchell, SD, in winner's circle following
conclusion of the "Aaron Koppien Memorial
Stock/Super Stock Combo". (Motor Race Images photo)
In the
largest field of Stock/Super Stock competitors to
compete at Oahe Speedway, Rod Neugabauer, Mitchell,
and Steve Koppien, Sioux Falls faced off in the
finals of the 1st annual "Aaron Koppien Memorial
Stock/Super Stock Combo". Neugabauer, using a
quick .012 reaction time, headed Koppein to the
finish line. For the second year in a row,
Neugabauer took his E/SA '71 340 Duster to the
championship. Koppien
got around
a red lighting Rick Wessels, Belle Fourche, in the
semis and Neugabauer bested Regina, Sasketchewan's,
Glenn Person, in the balance of the round.
Person, along with John Sien, Winnipeg, Manitoba,
made the long haul from north of the border to race
at Oahe Speedway. Rick Ryan, Aberdeen, was #1
qualifier in his SS/NA '88 Olds at 11.19,
running
1.50 under the altitude adjusted index of 12.69.
Oahe Speedway claimed two new NHRA national records.
Ron Roddel, Sioux Falls, reclaimed the GT/MA
record, Roddel set the class record in 2005 at
the speedway, which stood for nearly a year.
Dave Smith, running a '66 Nova, out of Kearney, NE,
set the GT/L record in qualifying on Saturday
morning. The top three qualifiers, ran at
least 1.40 under their respective indexes. In
an emotional victory lane celebration,
Neugabauer presented his first place trophy to the
driver he had just beaten, Steve Koppien.
Aaron Koppien, Steve's son, passed away earlier this
year. It was announced that, going forward,
this race will be known as the "Aaron Koppien
Memorial Stock/Super Stock Combo at Oahe Speedway".
Oahe
Speedway Box Shootout finals came down to a match
between Tony Lemker, Lake Park, IA, and David Rae,
Gillette, WY. Lemker, driving a rear engine
dragster of his own design, took the race when Rae
broke out in the final. Rae wasted a great
.008 reaction time in the loss. Rae singled
into the finals in the semis. Curt Hieb,
Chamberlain, fell to Lemker in the other semifinal
match. Hieb broke out by a slim .002 second
margin at the finish line. Lemker's win is the
4th during his autumn visits to Oahe the past three
years.
Thirty
four No Box Shootout contestants squared off for the
winners check.
In the
end, Pierre residents, Larry Iverson and Jason
Ehlers, emerged as the final pair. Iverson
used a quicker reaction time to outrun Ehlers.
Iverson, was unopposed in the semis, and Ehlers,
2005 Oahe Speedway Pro Champion, moved to the finals
when Travis Olson, Bath, broke in the burn out box.
Dar Hofer, Onida, and Thad Smith, Pierre, recorded
great .001 reaction times in eliminations.
First time
visitor, Wayne Vickers, took his ragtop '68 Camaro
to victory in the Trophy Shootout. Vickers,
Mitchell, won over Warren Stramer, Hazelton, ND, in
the finals. Stramer took on Bill Waldner,
Pierre, in the semifinals. With nearly
identical reaction times, Waldner, on his '02
Harley, could not hold off Stramer's hard charging,
intercooled, turbo '94 Chrysler Laser in their semi
match. Vickers singled into the finals.
Junior
Dragster finals paired up Carly Ellingson, Rapid
City and Stephanie
Holm,
Pierre. Ellingson won the match when Holm
broke out in the final.
Ellingson
beat Ashley Holm, to advance to the final and
Stephanie Holm
was
unopposed in the semis. Junior Dragster ranks will
grow next season with the addition of the two car
Holm team and Kimberlee Guether being joined by
little brother, Jonathon, in the class.
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