Joe Kosiski Won the NASCAR All-Star Tour series opener at Davenport
Speedway. Joining Kosiski in victory lane is flagman Johnny Oberthien. – Fred
Ensminger Photo
By Pete Pistone
Davenport, Iowa (April 21, 1989) – 1988 NASCAR All-Star Tour champion Joe Kosiski picked up where he left off by winning the series-opening event Friday at Davenport Speedway.
The Omaha, Neb., veteran fought off his brother, 1987 All-Star Tour champion Steve Kosiski, and hometown favorite Gary Webb for the victory in the curfew-shortened 30-lap main event.
A field of 26 cars started the feature, shortened to 30 laps because of the 10 p.m. city curfew. Kosiski quickly established a lead over Jim O’Conner and Webb. Holding a three-car-length lead, the first yellow flew when Bob Hill spun in the second turn, bunching the field behind Kosiski for the restart.
On the restart, Webb maneuvered his way into second past O’Conner and set his sights on Kosiski, much to the delight of the large hometown crowd.
Kosiski, though, began to stretch his lead as Webb found himself in a battle with Steve Kosiski for second. As the field completed lap 17, Dave Birkhofer stunned the crowd when he flipped and came to a rest entering turn one. The Muscatine driver was uninjured, but his battered race car suffered heavy damage.
With the wreckage cleared, the green flew again and Kosiski again increased his lead as the laps wore down. Steve Kosiski got by Webb for second and mounted a short challenge, but it was clear the defending champion was going to be too much.
When the checkered flew, it was Joe Kosiski and Steve Kosiski, first and second, with Gary Webb, Rollie Frink of Davenport, and O’Conner. The victory was worth $3,000 to Kosiski, who assumed the series point lead.
“This was a tough drive tonight, but the car was really hooked up,” the winner said in victory lane. The opening series event drew 39 late models representing nine states.
Frink set fast time, touring the half-mile in 22.87 seconds. Frink also captured the “Race of Champions” race open to the six fastest qualifiers. Steve Kosiski and Frink won qualifying features, and Frink also won the semi-feature.
In other action, Davenport’s Bruce Hanford bested the modified field to claim the $500 top prize.
Results -
NASCAR Late Model -
1. Joe Kosiski, Omaha
2. Steve Kosiski, Omaha
3. Gary Webb, Davenport
4. Rollie Frink, Davenport
5. Jim O’Conner, Kankakee, Ill.
6. Jay Johnson, West Burlington
7. Jeff Hinkemeyer, St. Cloud, Minn.
8. Mitch Johnson, Fargo, N.D.
9. Junior Shickel, Bloomington, Ill.
10.Bob Helm, Milan, Ill.
11.Steve Fraise, Montrose
12.Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis.
13.Jim Swank, Hamilton, Ill.
14.Jerry Wancewicz, Omaha
15.Ted Beaman, Council Bluffs
Modified –
1. Bruce Hanford, Davenport
2. Carl Severson, Dubuque
3. Rich Smith, Davenport
4. Jack Lueth, Davenport
5. Rayn Dolan, Lisbon
6. Terry Ryan, Davenport
7. Jeff Jones, Davenport
8. Mike Schulte, Norway
9. Roger Bruggeman, Dubuque
10.Sonny Smyser, Lancaster, Mo.
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