Bergakker Crowned “King of the Mods” at Kalamazoo Speedway

7/21/2007

            AllStar Performance presented the much anticipated “King of the Mods” at Kalamazoo Speedway on Saturday night with a record number of O’Reilly USA Modifieds on hand.  48 open wheeled monsters took to the track for practice with 46 of them taking times during qualifications.  Kalamazoo, MI’s Brent Hook grabbed fast time for the evening with a 13.881.  Brian Bergakker of Lowell, MI currently tops the standings at Kalamazoo Speedway in the modified division and started the night off right by winning the 6 Fast Dash.  Edgerton, OH native Jason Dietsch won the heat race with Todd Currier of Delton, MI and Johnny Belott of Mt Morris, MI taking B Main wins and advancing into the A Main.  Other drivers having to transfer through the B Main were Dan Loughan of Charlotte, Mi, Mike Hadley Jr of Indianapolis, IN, Fort Wayne, IN’s Scott Coe and Steve Landers from Augusta, MI.  Track Promoter, Gary Howe and his great staff at Kalamazoo Speedway expressed their gratitude for the drivers by posting a purse for the AllStar Performance Consolation Race featuring all of the drivers not able to make the A Main with Tim West of Portage, MI tooking home the win. 

            When the field was set for the prestigious “King of the Mods” A Main presented by AllStar Performance it was Vicksburg, MI’s Harry Foote on the pole with the 2006 O’Reilly USA Modified Champion from Plainwell, MI , Bob Curry on the outside front row.  Foote took to the lead as the green flagged flew coming out of turn 4 for the start.  Dietsch settled into the second spot with Bob Curry in third with all three nose to tail.  As the field approached the halfway point of the race Bergakker and Hook continued to swap positions with neither one giving any room for the other.  Hook made his way around the third place car of Bob Curry with Bergakker following close behind.  With only about 30 laps to go Bergakker moves to the outside and cruises around Dietsch with Hook in his footsteps.  Now with only a dozen laps remaining Bergakker closes in on Foote and sweeps his modified around to take over the lead, with Hook still trailing right behind.  When the royal checkers waved at the end of the 75 lap event Bergakker would be crowned with Hook having to settle for second.  Foote managed to hold on for third with Tom Rutherford of Allegon, MI working his way up to the fourth hole in the final laps.  Diestch was able to bring home a fifth place finish for the evening. 

            Belott was awarded the AllStar Performance Hard Charger of the night by advancing 7 positions.  Scott Tomasik was named the LEAF Racewear Hard Luck recipient by coming into the event 8^th in O’Reilly USA Modified Championship Points and not being able to advance into the A Main. 

            The O’Reilly USA Modifieds will be in action on Friday August 3 for International Night at the Races at Baer Field Speedway in Fort Wayne, IN.  For a complete schedule and more information on the O’Reilly USA Modified Series log on to www.usamodifieds.com.