CEDAR RAPIDS, IA -- Bill Prietzel was able to recover from a first lap crash and went on to win the season opener for the Yellow Book USA Super Truck Series Friday night at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, IA. He won the 30-lap feature by inches over Vincent Wilkinson, Donnie Woller and Andy Jirik. Prietzel, who has started more races than any other series driver since the division was begun in 1997, took the lead on the fourth lap when he slipped under rookie Mark Soronen, The race got off to an unusal start when Prietzel, Art Christoffersen and Soronen all got jammed together in turn three in a three-wide battle for the lead on lap one. Prietzel's right side door sustained some lower damage in the incident. Christoffersen was fored to pull off with a flat left rear tire and Soronen continued in the lead.

The entire starting field had to slow down for the incident, allowing Soronen and Prietzel to pull away. Jirik and Woller, who both broke the one lap track record in
qualifying, sliced away at the gap and closed in on the two leaders. The top four were running bumper to bumper with five laps remaining. Wilkinson got sideways entering turn one with four laps left, causing Jirik and Woller to take evasive action. All three continued, but Prietzel pull out to a three length lead. Woller was able to get around Jirik with three laps left. Prietzel won by a narrow margin, Wilkinson, who missed the entire 2002 season, made a strong comeback with his second place finish. Woller, who flipped his truck here a year ago, also had one of his best series finishes ever with a third. Jirik, who plans to run the entire series after several years of occassional visits, was a tight fourth and now owns the new Hawkeye Downs truck record at 19.938. Jamie Farrell and Soronen rounded out the top six.

The next event for the series drivers is planned Sunday afternoon, May 18 at the half-mile Wisconsin International Raceway in Kaukauna, WI.

Summary:
1. Bill Prietzel, Franklin, WI, Chevrolet; 2. Vincent Wilkinson, Sandwich, IL, Chevrolet; 3. Donnie Woller, Merrill, WI, Ford; 4. Andy Jirik, Lonsdale, MN, Chevrolet; 5. Jamie Farrell, New Prague, MN, Ford; 6. Mark Soronen, Faribault, MN, Dodge; 7. Larry Fitzsimmons, Farmington, MN, Chevrolet; 8. Gary Fredrickson, Northfield, MN, Ford; 9. Wade Prasil, Cedar Rapids, IA, Ford; 10. John Vig Jr, Shakopee, MN, Ford; 11. Tony Holm, Prior Lake, MN, Chevrolet; 12. Brad Blenker, Junction City, WI, Ford; 13. Anthony Brewer, Shakopee, MN, Ford; 14. John Froelich, Chippewa Falls, WI, Chevrolet ; 15. Michael Schimtz, Northfield, MN, Ford; 16. Art Christoffersen, Toddville, IA, Ford; 17. David Coghlan, Marion, IA, Ford; 18. John Jones, Fridley, MN, Ford. 17. and 18. did
not start.

10-Lap Heat winners: christoffersen and Farrell.
Qualifying: 1. Jirik, 19.938 (record); 2. Woller, 19.988