(Photos by Jeff Bylsma) Chad Simpson (25) races with his brother Chris Simpson (32) in a Late Model heat race.

Chad Simpson made his own fireworks as he drove the World Dirt Racing League win at Clay County Speedway. Simpson would lead all fifty laps despite a series of caution flags that kept the field close.

Chad Simpson (Mount Vernon, IA) started on the outside front row and had the lead as he and pole-sitter Denny Eckrich came off of turn two. Simpson rode the top shelf to the win all night.

Jason Eckerd (of Milford) powers his Sprint Car through turn two.

"My little brother (Chris) said, 'I suppose you're going to run the cushion'" the older Simpson said in victory lane. "I like to run there, but it's more about running were the track is fast, and tonight, it was going to be tough to pass anyone on the bottom.

"I have got to thank my crew," Simpson went on to say. "It's been a great three days for us. This car is awesome! They've worked their butts off setting this car up, and it paid off big tonight." The win at Clay County Speedway was Simpson's first of 2008 and career WDRL win.

Simpson was hoping to gain ground on WDRL Late Model Series Point Leader, John Kaanta (Elk Mound, WI). He did, but only by the slimmest of margins as Kaanta would run towards the front all night and take home second. Kaanta worked for the runner-up spot. He battled with Denny Eckrich (Tiffin, IA) and Jason Utter (Columbus Junction, IA) for second through the second half of the main event. Eckrich and Utter would fight for the same piece of racing real estate and collect each other of of turn two. Both were done for the night.

Chris Simpson drove to a third place finish. Simpsons third place wasn't easy as mud had packed into his right-rear tire, and it made his car a handful to keep under control. Eric Pember (Pittsvile, WI) and Chris Spieker (Messena, IA) rounded out the top five.

The WORLD Dirt Racing League wishes to thank these series sponsors: Hoosier Racing Tires, Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation, CrashedToys.com, Chase Signs and Graphics, BSB Manufacturing, Champ Pans, Hooker Harness, Fast Shafts, Lincoln Electric, Performance Bodies, QA-1 Motorsports, The Brake Man and Wyman Ford.

Winters takes JSTS win

By Tom Svoboda, Jackson Speedway Touring Series

The Jackson Speedway Touring Series held its first race outside of the Jackson Speedway, this past Friday evening at the Clay County Fair Raceway. The event was the support division for the WDRL Late Models Firecracker 50. Picking up the evening's 25-lap main event was Scott Winters, Butterfield Minn.

Three caution flags slowed Winters on route for victory lane. At the drop of the green flag it was Scott Winters getting the early lead from his inside row one starting spot. Clint Garner, Sioux Falls S.D., moved into the second spot with Casey Heser, Jackson Minn., in the third spot.

On lap five the caution flag came out when Jake Leighty, Worthington Minn., spun his car in turn four. The restart saw Garner try to move by Winters in turns one and two but Winters was able to keep Garner behind. Five more laps would get in the books when Russell Wiese, Lake Park spun in turns one and two.

Once again on the restart it was Winters holding off Garner. As the race went on Winters and Garner would start to pull away from the field, but once again on lap thirteen the caution came out when Jason Eckard, Okoboji came to a stop off the back straightaway. With the final restart of the race Garner would make one final attempt at getting by leader Winters but couldn't. As the final laps went caution free, Winters and Garner would build up a huge lead over third place running Casey Heser. As the laps wound down, Garner could not close up on Winters and challenge for the lead.

When the checkered flag flew it was Winters taking the win. Garner took second followed by Casey Heser, Bill Boles, Harris and Gordy Vogelaar, Worthington Minn.

The heat races went to Jason Eckard and Casey Heser.

Clay County Fair Raceway - Results

for July 4, 2008

Jackson Speedway Touring Series 360 Outlaw Sprints (19 Cars)

A Feature (25 laps) -- 1. 23W Scott Winters, Butterfield MN, 2. 40 Clint Garner, Sioux Falls SD, 3. 75c Casey Heser, Jackson MN, 4. 05 Bill Boles, Harris IA, 5. 99v Gordy Vogelaar, Worthington MN, 6. 71R Ryan Anderson, Charter Oak IA, 7. 5M Troy Manteufel, St. Peter MN, 8. 27 Jody Rosenboom, Rock Rapids IA, 9. 13 Jordan Martens, Harrisburg SD, 10. 3D Ryan Voss, Okoboji IA, 11. 75 Brandon Geldner, St. Peter MN, 12. 2B Brett Bartels, Blue Earth MN, 13. 99 Shawn Van Wyhe, Rock Rapids IA, 14. 18 Russell Wiese, Lake Park IA, 15. 98 Steve Yarns, Jackson MN, 16. 7M Chad Meyer, Sioux Falls SD (DNF), 17. 2H Jason Eckard, Okoboji IA (DNF), 18. 1HD Jake Leighty, Worthington MN (DNF), 19. 24 Jesse Drost, Rushmore MN (DNS)

Heat 1 (10 laps) -- 1. Eckard, 2. Boles, 3. Geldner, 4. Manteufel, 5. Voss

Heat 2 -- 1. Heser, 2. Garner, 3. Winters, 4. Leighty, 5. Vogelaar

WDRL / CRASHEDTOYS.COM Qualifier 1: (10 Laps) 1. Denny Eckrich, 2. Eric Pember, 3. John Kanta, 4. Matt Furman, 5. Skip Frey, 6. Rick Hanestad, 7. Gary Webb.

WDRL / CRASHEDTOYS.COM Qualifier 2: (10 Laps) 1. Andrew McKay, 2. Chad Simpson, 3. Chris Simpson, 4. Chris Spieker, 5. Dave Eckrich, 6. Dennis Hillson, 7. Randy Rosenbloom.

WDRL / CRASHEDTOYS.COM Qualifier 3: (10 Laps) 1. Curt Martin, 2. Jeremy Grady, 3. Rob Moss, 4. Jason Utter, 5. Jason O'Brien, 6. Alonzo Grosse, 7. Frank Heckenast Jr.

Iowa-Illinois Taylor Insulation Pole Dash: (6 Laps) (to determine starting position for the A-Main) 1. Denny Eckrich, 2. Chad Simpson, 3. Curt Martin, 4. Andrew McKay, 5. John Kaanta, 6. Jeremy Grady, 7. Rob Moss, 8. Eric Pember,

WDRL Feature: (50 Laps) 1. Chad Simpson, 2. John Kaanta, 3. Chris Simpson, 4. Eric Pember, 5. Chris Spieker, 6. Rick Hanestad, 7. Dave Eckrich, 8. Matt Furman, 9. Dennis Hillson, 10. Jeremy Grady, 11. Curt Martin, 12. Randy Rosenbloom, 13. Gary Webb, 14. Alonzo Grosse, 15. Andrew McKay, 16. Jason O'Brien, 17. Denny Eckrich, 18. Jason Utter, 19. Frank Heckenast Jr, 20. Rob Moss, 21. Skip Frey.