Tuesday, September 28, 2010

If at First You Don't Suceed...

Saturday morning began with me working as I must do on the occasional Saturday, and buddy Fred staying close to the weather channel. Leaving work about 10:30, I made a call to the Littons in Iowa City, who let me know that the rain appeared to be on the way to the West Liberty area. Heading home, I took up the watch, and soon after a return call from Bob Litton, word came down that Donnellson, West Burlington, and West Liberty had all called off their races. Although the forecast was far from reassuring, Fred and I met up and headed south to Kevin and Tammy Gundakers Tri City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Il. for the final night of the three night Modified Mania combined with the Monster Midwest late models. 64 UMP type mods checked in for the third $3,000 to win purse, while 31 late models showed up for a $2,000 top prize. 28 UMP Pro Crate late models and 22 street stocks filled out the stout field. An interesting format had the two premier classes putting four or five cars on the track at a time, running a couple of hot laps followed by two time trial laps. Frank Heckenast Jr. recorded the fastest lap in his late model at 14.780 around the 3/8 mile oval, while Brent Mullins paced the mods. Mullins needed that fast lap to earn a prvisional start in the main event. Eight modified heat races, two C-mains, two B-mains and a top eight dash sert the field for the 30 lap finale, while the late models ran four heat races, captured by Heckenast, Brian Shirley, Ryan Unzicker, and Jason Feger,and a B-main won by Tim Rataczyk. A track provisional for the " Salty Dog " Rick Salter set the 21 car field. At one point it seemed unlikely that we would see any feature racing, as a light but persistent rain fell for more than 30 minutes. The track officials kept wheels going around the speedway throughout, and when the rain let up, we went back to racing.
With more rain on the horizon, the modified feature was moved to first in the running order, with Quincy, Il. standout Michael Long sharing the front row with southern Ill. star Chad Kinder. When Kinder jumped the start, the front row was moved back to row two, and row two assumed the front. It took just 12 laps until Long and Kinder were battling up front, and Michael soon began to open up a sizable lead in his # 18L. Although Kinder closed in a bit in traffic, Long was never seriously challenged, taking the win to go along with a runnerup finish on Thursday. Mike Harrison made the run of the night, starting 15th and charging to third, Jeff Leka took fourth, and Kevin Weaver, who led in the early going, brought the # 128 home in fifth. Next up was the the 30 lap late model main event. after a short delay while weaver climbed in his # B12, Dennis Erb Jr. and Shirley brought the field to the green. A light rain began to fall again, but the Super late models raced on, with Shirley assuming the top spot. Unzicker kept pace early as Erb fell back to fifth. As the laps wound down, Erb moved back to the second spot, but could not overtake Shirley. Feger started eight and crossed the stripe in third, Unzicker claimed fourth, and UMP national point leader Rusty Schlenk took fifth in his # 91. Chad Zobrist started and finished sixth, Heckenast took seventh, Scott Weber ran eighth in Randy Kortes #00, while young Bobby Pierce and Weaver completed the top ten.
Quincy drivers Mark Burgtorf, Dustin Griffin, and Rickey Frankel also made the show, while Jason Frankel, out with a new ride he purchashed from Clint Kirkham, grazed the while while running in a transfer spot in the B- main. With the weather threatening and the time nearing 11:30, we headed to the car as the crates came to the track.
I hesitate to offer up this weeks plans, as I seem to be jinxing myself, but Saturday night in Knoxville,Iowa is on the agenda.
On Saturday I learned that midwest dirt track racing lost a true friend, as Gary Storey passed away in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Before his illness, Gary, often in the company of Bob Litton, could be seen at tracks all over the middle of the country. My last visit with him was at Independence, Iowa in the summer of 2009, and although in failing health, he was talking racing as always. RIP, my friend.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Pepsi Nationals Times Two

This past weekend was pretty much representative of the entire 2010 racing season, as rain played a major role in the festivities. With a vacation day on Friday, I was able to get to 34 Raceway plenty early to wander the pit area and catch up with some old friends while getting a good roster of the 51 late models that showed up to attempt to qualify for the $10,000 to win Saturday Pepsi Nationals IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series finale. The car count was down a bit from the past few seasons, but that is a trend I have been seeing most places I go, surely a bi product of a tight economy. Still, the best of the best in IMCA late model racing was on hand, and anticipation was high for the weekend. Despite my prediction, the track stayed pretty consistent throughout qualifying, and although most of the top times came during the first half, Quincy Raceways point champion Denny Woodworth set quick time with a lap of 16.575 late in the time trial round, locking him in to a starting spot for Saturday. Things got a little strange when I went back to the pits to record the heat race lineups. Tommy Elston was checking out his starting spot and mentioned to me that he did not see Mark Burgtorf on the lineups. After some conversation it was determined that Marks # 7B had been listed instead as 70. Although officials corrected the board apparently no one from the track contacted Mark, and his team had thought he was in the second heat instead of the opening one. As a result, he was late to staging, and would be relegated to a Saturday night B-main. Meanwhile, last years winner, Jason Frankel, driving Bill Genenbachers # 72 took the first qualifier to earn the pole for the money race. Nate Beuseling, Lonnie Bailey, Boone McLaughlin and Summer Series rookie of the year Andy Eckrich also captured the 12 lap preliminary events in which 15 cars qualified. While I missed the 305 Sprint event, I was back in the grandstands to see Jeff Mueller capture the IMCA stock car 20 lapper, leaving only the late model Ironman 20 lap feature to be contested. This race is a special event for the drivers who attend each Summer Series race throughout the season, and pays $750 to win. Former rookie of the year TJ Criss from Oskaloosa parlayed a front row start into a flag to flag win. While TJ had the field covered, there was plenty of action behind him, with Terry Neal advancing from ninth to take second in the 12 car field. Mark Preston, Eckrich, and series champion Ray Guss Jr. completed the top five.
Jeff Aikey finished sixth in another Guss car. Jeff broke his engine in hot laps, and the Roberts - Guss team loaned him their new # 58 car, which they brought along as a back up, electing to use the red # 58 as their primary car for the weekend. We left the track knowing that rain was a possibility for Saturday, and made some backup plans on the ride home.
Saturday morning was spent close to the phone and computer, and it was a bit after noon that the official word came that Saturdays racing was posponed until Sunday. At the same time, Quincy Raceways cancelled their Sunday races to avoid any conflict with 34. With the radar looking good to the south, Keagan and I met up with buddies Darryl and Fred and we headed south to I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo. for the Pepsi Nationals World of Outlaws late model $10,000 to win 55 lap one day event. 124 cars signed in for the four class program, including 31 World of Outlaw late models. It was grandson Keagan first WoO show, and he was filled with anticipation. Happily, he was not disappointed. Steve Francis set quick time around the 1/3 mile oval with a lap of 12.768 seconds. Heat race wins went to Francis, point leader Josh Richards, and Billy Moyer, while Chub Frank captured the B-main. The two ladies in the field, April Farmer and Jill George collected provisionals to fill out a 24 car field. The announcement was then made that rain - what else? - was headed our way, and the late model feature would be run first. Why can't more tracks make such good decisions? As the field rolled out, with Darrell Lanigan and Tim McCreadie on the front row, we all made our picks - I picked last and took T-Mac. The first 29 laps went non stop, with McCreadie, then Lanigan holding the top spot. The yellow came only because the ambulance was needed in the outside pit area. On the restart, T- Mac, who was second, spun in turn four. When racing resumed, ninth starting Shannon Babb charged to third, and began to work on second running Moyer, who had been swapping the lead with Lanigan. By lap 39, Babb had the runnerup spot, and after one last caution, 13th starting Brady Smith powered in to third. Babb worked the low line to take the lead and the win, with his mentor Moyer in second and Smith third. Lanigan took fourth over 11th starting Clint Smith. The second fiver included Richards, Francis, McCreadie, Frank, and 18 year old Austin Hubbard. Lanigans finish gave him the series points lead over Richards. With lightening flashing around us, we headed for the car, and barely made it to the interstate before the rains came. They were able to get the UMP modified feature in, with Mike Harrison taking the $1,000 win, but the sportsman and Pro 4 feature were apparently washed out. The late model feature may have been the best we have seen in 2010, with an excellent track and plenty of passing.
It was Sunday morning when we learned what we suspected on the trip home, that 34 Raceway would be unable to race on Sunday. It was a surprise however to learn the event would not be rescheduled.
Plans for this weekend include a Saturday night visit to the West Liberty Raceway for the Liberty 100 50 lap features for open and IMCA late models. Then on Sunday Quincy Raceways will try again to kick off their fall series featuring $1,000 to win late models with rules allowing the ULMA steel block late models and the UMP crate lates to compete with the IMCA cars. also racing are the UMP modifieds, IMCA stock cars and hobby stocks, with hot laps scheduled for 4:00 PM. Hope to see you at the races!

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

"O" For The Weekend

The past weekend was a grim reminder of things to come, as I did not get in any racing for the first weekend since early June. Saturday night was taken up with our annual hog roast at church, and although I was plenty busy, I was also wondering what I was missing at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton,Ia. Last season was my first ever visit there for the Dhouly - Devore race, and I definitely hated to miss it this year. An inch and a half of rain rolled through our area Friday night, so I was only mildly surprised when Quincy Raceways pulled the plug on Sunday night racing even though Saturday and Sunday were sunny and breezy. Unfortunately, there were some new cars arriving at the speedway , not thinking to call ahead.
With that in mind, I am eagerly anticipating the upcoming weekend, easily the busiest of the " postseason. " It would be a disservice to try and list all the special events slated for this Saturday and Sunday, as I counted at least ten shows within a couple hundred miles worthy of any race fans hard earned money. I will say that my plans are to attend the Pepsi USA late model Nationals at 34 Raceway in West Burlington. As long as this race has been held, and this will be year 19, I have missed only the 1997 edition due to work commitments. Should the weatherman interfere, there is a non sanctioned open late model show paying $7,000 to win at Pontoon Beach, Il on Friday, and a now one day only World of Outlaw late model show at I-55 Raceway in Pevely,Mo. on Saturday. So much good racing on the same weekend!
Quincy Raceways will try again on Sunday, with the Sprint Invaders, late models for $1,000 to win, UMP modifieds and hobby stocks. Start times have been moved up, with hot laps scheduled for 4:00 P.M.
The season is winding down way too fast, so take in some action this weekend wherever you are!

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The Boys Are Back In Town

The pop song lyric that titles this article was the theme of the IMCA late model Deery Brothers Summer Series a few seasons back, and seemed to me to be the perfect anthem for the traveling show. There is something special for late model fans to see the big out of town rigs rolling through town and down pit road at the local track. On Friday, that track was Quincy Raceways, and 29 competitors made the trip to the Broadway Bullring. The sun was out and the breeze was blowing on a beautiful Friday evening, as we anticipated the make up of the $3,000 to win Titan Wheel Classic which had been postponed during a rainy June. Unfortunately, there had been some heavy rain move through the Quincy area on Thursday evening, and the track was left a sloppy, muddy surface. Track personnel worked feverishly before the races, and again following heat race action, but the best they could do was a smooth and fast top groove around the .29 mile oval, while the lower grooves were choppy and treacherous. This is not to say that there was no passing, as heat one proved. 14 time track champion Mark Burgtorf drew the # 100 pill for heat race action, putting him last on the eight car starting grid. Mark caught a break when both Rob Toland and Kevin Blum were late to staging, moving him up to the third row. From there, Burgtorf used his knowledge of his hometown track to pick up the third and final transfer spot for the scheduled 50 lap finale. His luck continued to improve as he drew the number two slot for the money race. Jeff Aikey, Joey Gower, Terry Neal, and Jay Johnson captured heat race wins, while Bill Genenbacher and Andy Eckrich nabbed the two B- mains.Four
provisionals filled the field, including former track regular Nick Ingalls in Terry Gallahers # 0. Nick destroyed his car in a late June rollover. An announcement was made before the feature that the race would be cut to 40 laps, presumably due to track conditions. No one could have known what a dramatic effect this may have had on the final outcome. Burgtorf set sail from the outside pole and never looked back, leading all 40 laps. Ray Guss Jr. added to his storybook season by moving to the runner up slot at the checkers. As everyone surely knows by now, the " River City Hustler " has captured three track championships, the IMCA national title, and was now well on his way to the Summer Series title in his second season driving for Hershel roberts Motorsports. In fact, just before the drivers meeting, members of the team rolled in with a brand new Mastersbilt by Stuckey chassis they had just picked up in Mississippi. Track champion Denny Woodworth finished third, with Toland, Mark Peston, Gower, Charlie McKenna, Johnson, T.J. Criss and Jason Perry. rounding out the top ten. In talking to the top four after the races, all expressed doubts that they could have made the additional ten laps. Burgtorf had lost the belts off his engine and was overheating, Guss gad broken suspension, Woodworth had no brakes, and Toland had a broken radiator!
Support class action saw James Leffew capture a UMP modified win after the top two made contact on the final lap. Jason Cook made a trip south pay off with a flag to flag IMCA stock car win, while Bobby Anders paced the hobby stocks.
Saturday night, the " Boys " rolled into the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, 34 strong. Heat race winners included Tyler Bruening, Criss, Aikey, who had exited the feature early on Friday, and Tom Goble. Eckrich nabbed his second B-main in two nights, along with Guss. Interestingly, Ingalls in the Gallaher machine again took the hard charger provisional.Quincy Raceways points runner up, jason perry, who finished tenth on Friday, took off from row two and grabbed the top spot on the first lap. Through several early restarts he held on, including one for 15th starting Josh Most, who went pitside with what he thought was a flat tire. His crew waved him back out, and he tagged the tail of the field. While the action was going on up front, including Toland and Aikey dueling for second, Most began picking off cars on the high side of the speedway. Lonnie Bailey charged from 19th to fourth before his engine grenaded, ending his night. Lonnie says it was his first blown engine in 21 seasons! Mark Burgtorf was running the high side of the track before breaking the brace bars on the nose of his ride, hampering his steering and sending him to the trailer. Guss also fell victim to a flat tire, and had to restart at the back. Through all of this, Most traveled the high groove, until with a handful of laps to go he used an inside move to nudge Toland to the third spot. Back on the top at the while flag, he used a all or nothing move through the final turns to try and overtake Perry. a surprised Perry missed his mark ever so slightly, and Most won the drag race to the line to take his second ever Summer Series win and leave Jason still looking for his first. Toland , Aikey and Justin Reed were top five finishers, while Terry Neal, who qualified for but failed to start the feature on Friday claimed sixth over Tom Darbyshire, Jay Johnson, eighth for the second night in a row, Boone McLaughlin, and Guss. The five class program ended about 10:30, and although the corners developed some holes, the track was plenty racy all night long.
On Sunday night it was back to Quincy for a King of the Hill challenge format featuring time trials in all four regular classes and three lap elinination races involving between three and five cars per round. The time trial winner in each class received a $100 bonus, led by Denny Woodworth with a lap of 14.097. The King of the Hill runoff winner in each class had the option of giving up their feature pole position for a chance at a 50% bonus should they come through for the feature win. Late model ace Jason Perry accepted the challenge for a shot at a $1,500 payday, as did stock car driver Wes Mayfield for a possible $600. Before the feature races, the UMP modifieds staged the River City Rumble, a 35 lap event for the top 12 in points in attendance for a $1,000 top prize. Drawing for starting positions, second generation driver Steven Delonjay parlayed a front row spot in to a flag to flag win. The IMCA late models race a trophy dash each week all season to accumulate points for a 20 lap finale at years end paying $600 to win. The late model lawyer Woodworth came from row two to grab the lead on lap three and held on for his second check on the night.
With a much better track than Friday, the features looked to be top notch, and that was proven out as the four finales were run. Visiting Matt Greiner used a rare for QR low groove to outlast Mayfield for the stock car win, while Michael Long came back from a sixth in the Rumble to take the big hardware over Tony Dunker. Bobby Anders nabbed his second main of the weekend over point champion Steve Carlin.
Woodworth definitely had his # 45DW late model dialed in, as he led all 30 laps of the IMCA late model finale to take his fifth win of 2010. The $1,000 payoff left him with a sweep of the nights events and a $1,700 payday. Justin Reed, Perry, Burgtorf and Joey Gower trailed Denny at the checkers.
This week the Sprint Invaders will be in action at QR, and the stock cars will get a night off.
Congratulations to Ray Guss Jr. and Roberts Racing on their Summer Series victory at the Boone Supernationals and their fifth championship of 2010.
It may be September, but there are still a lot of choices for racing fans, so even if you are not going to Eldora, take in some racing this weekend!