After a week off due to inclement weather, it was back to racing Sunday night at Quincy Raceways. Close to an inch of rain fell on the track on Saturday, and early Sunday, promoter Kenny Dobson and his crack staff decided to cancel the first week of Sunday afternoon action at the new go-kart track and try to get the .29 mile oval in racing shape for Sunday night. Thanks to tireless work from Tommy and his crew, the track came around, and the soggy pit area was groomed enough to hold the 70 plus race teams in attendance. That number is an increase of ten or so over last season, and it looks as though all classes may see some growth.
Mark Burgtorf set quick time for the late models on what started out as a dusty - hard to believe it! - racing surface, at 13.997 seconds. Wentzville,Mo hot shoe Rick Conoyer paced the modifieds at 15.169 seconds, as the dust began to settle. While Mark led flag to flag in his heat, Rick suffered a flat tire, relegating him to the back of 25 lap feature line up.
With 11 heat races and a 20 minute intermission out of the way, feature racing started with all but one of the 19 IMCA sport mods taking the green for their 18 lap main event. Austin Howes led lap one before Nathan Bringer powered his sharp looking # 79 to the front. On lap six, veteran Joey Gower grabbed the lead, with the first caution coming on lap ten. On the Delaware restart, Brandon Dale and Tony Dunker climbed to second and third, with Tony on the bottom side and Brandon up top. Soon they traded grooves, battling each other as they tried to reel in Gower. The caution waved again on lap 14. On the restart Gower and Dunker pulled away, with Bobby Anders working his way to third. Gower was able to lengthen his lead in picking up the win. Dunker and Anders followed, with Bobby Six charging from ninth to fourth in the closing laps.
The IMCA stock cars, 12 strong, came to the grid next for 18 laps of action. The normally well behaved stockers were feeling frisky on Sunday, enduring about three weeks worth of cautions. But when the leaders came nearly five wide out of turn four completing lap three, it was the highlight of the night! Andrew Hustead was the early leader, with Jim Lynch emerging from the lap three melee with the top spot. Beau Taylor survived the bumping and banging to nab the runner up spot, but cut a tire in the process, ending his run. Lynch opened a sizable lead, as Abe Huls started his march to the front. Following a lap ten yellow, it was Jim and Abe side by side. On lap 14, Lynch hooked his # 566 in turn one, spinning around, with Huls flying off the top of the track to miss hitting him. Fortunately for Huls, the yellow came out at the same time for Jake Powers, and with Lynch temporarily sidelined in the infield, Huls held the lead. Yellow fever took over, with both Trevor Hagerbaumer and Hustead in the second spot in the closing laps. But when the checkers flew, it was Huls followed by Powers, Jerry Jansen, and Hustead. Lynch had rejoined the field, crossing the line in fourth, but was a lap down.
The UMP late model count grew to 14 as Mike Hammerle came through the gate as hot laps were being run. Only John Ketterer failed to make the feature call, as he made hard contact with the wall in hot laps, and was on his way home by feature time. Burgtorf had rolled a " one " to set the feature invert, and he quickly pulled away from heat two winner Jamie Wilson as the green flag waved. Third starting Justin Reed, the week one winne4r, applied some pressure early, but Burgtorf began to build a lead when the only caution of the 25 lapper waved for first time vistor Bobby Regot on lap seven. Denny Woodworth challenged Reed for the second spot on the restart, as Burgtorf pulled away. Reed finally cleared Woodworth, closing on Burgtorf in traffic, but to no avail. Mark led all 25 laps to put the Rick Frankel # 33B in victory lane for the first time in 2015. Reed came home second, With Keith Pratt slipping past Woodworth for third. Brian Dively, nursing a leg injury, took fifth. Wilson headed up the second five, followed by Chuck Mitchell, Hammerle, Jim, Moon, and Ron Elbe.
The 17 car UMP modified field had two scratches from the feature. First heat winner Michael Long also rolled a " one " for the invert, and the young veteran then put on a dominant performance in the 25 lap race. He quickly jumped to a straightaway lead over Dave Weitholder, and when thew caution waved on lap 14, he was a full half track ahead of the # 05 of Weitholder. On the restart, defending track champion Steven Delonjay briefly grabbed the runner up spot, as Long again rocketed away from the pack. As Michael pulled away, the 15th starting Conoyer was picking off cars as he moved forward. The yellow erased Longs advantage on lap 19 and again on lap 23, but it only cut the margin of victory for the #18L. Conoyer slipped past both Weitholder and Delonjay in the closing laps to claim the runner up spot. Delonjay held off Weitholder for third.
The IMCA sport compacts finished off the night, with all ten cars coming to the line. Spencer Coats paced lap one, with Seith Woodruff nosing past as lap two was completed. Coats stayed close until a recurring mechanical issue ended his run during a lap five caution, which also saw the # 33 of Trent Orwig come to a stop. Orwig is a top contender in the All Iowa Points, and is making the trip to QR all the way from Floris, Iowa. Following the restart, Kimberly Abbott, the current All iowa leader, powered around Woodruff and cruised to her second win at the Bullring in as many tries. Seith claimed second ahead of Brandon Lambert, and John Girdley from Wayland, Iowa.
The two nights of action in 2015 have been among the best we have seen at Quincy Raceways in a long time, and the final checkers waving again just after 9:00 made for an enjoyable night at the track.
The early forecast for the weekend looks dicey, but we will try to get in a couple nights of racing this weekend. so kjeep an eye on the sky, and lets go racin'!
Monday, April 27, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Slocum 50 Notes
As usual, my Positively Racing cohort, Jeff Broeg has an excellent recap of the racing action last night at the 7th annual Slocum 50 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. So I will just add a few notes of my own following a good night of racing.
If you are a regular reader of this column, you know that Brent Slocum and his family were and are very special to my family. Brent was the best man at my son Brents' wedding in 2003 after the two became friends while Slocum competed regularly at Quincy Raceways where son Brent was track announcer. My son, his wife and son were able to attend the race last night for the first time in a while, as my daughter in law has health issues that keep them away from regular visits to the tracks. This year was extra special for us, as my daughters son, Keagan, who has been going to the races with me for about 11 years now, will graduate from high school next month. Since the Slocum Foundation began awarding scholarships to high school seniors, it has been a goal of Keagans' to compose an essay worthy of an award. And last week he found out that he was one of the seven recipients in 2015. Although only eight years old at the time of Brents untimely passing, Keagan had been around the personable Slocum more than a few times, and was a High Five fan for sure. Although obviously far more difficult for the family, being in the stands with just grandpa on the night of the accident had a profound effect on him, and I think receiving the scholarship was in part his way to honor Slocums' memory. The hard work, dedication and friendship from Brad, Jessi, and the Slocum family is very special to all of us.
To say that we were lucky to witness a full night of racing last night is an understatement. It was almost like we were racing under a dome, as the rains circled all around the speedway. As they did last season when storms threatened the UMP Summernational late model show, Amy and Jeff Laue and their crew stepped up and did their best to move the show along. I don't know if the rain we drove home in ever found the speedway, but at one point I also mentioned to my son that I we would probably have to be satisfied with the five late model heat races.
After Hall of Famer Billy Moyer took the lead on lap six and opened up a sizable lead, I began searching through the field for battles for position, while still keeping an eye on the leader. Although about ten of the 25 starters eventually pulled out, there was plenty of action behind the leaders. And with a handful of laps to go, you could see that either Moyer was slowing a bit or Ryan Unzicker was getting faster. Unzicker, the 2014 ALMS region champion, a top UMP regular season and Summernationals contender, shadowed the veteran, then tried to find racing room in the very bottom groove of the slicked off 3/8 mile oval. Then on the final circuit, as the top two headed to turns three and four, Unzicker made a move reminiscent of the final turn of the Lucas Oil late model nationals at Knoxville Raceway in 2014. That is when Brian Birkhofer went to the top of the track and used his momentum to overtake Scott Bloomquist at the checkers. Unzicker made the same type of move with the same result, and took home $ 10,555.00 for his daring effort. I don't know if the large crowd was thrilled for Ryan, or just in awe of his charge, but everyone was on their feet as the checkers waved!
What had the makings of a bit of a " Ho-Hum" race turned into one that will be remembered and talked about for a while!
Late afternoon showers hit the Quincy area around 3:00 PM, and just minutes after I received a text that the ALMS/MARS/Cornbelt Clash stop tonight at East Moline Speedway had fallen victim to weather, a call came telling me that the weekly show scheduled at Quincy Raceways had suffered a similar fate. So we will have to be satisfied with one night of racing this week and start making plans for next week. Maybe we will see you Racin' Down the Road.
If you are a regular reader of this column, you know that Brent Slocum and his family were and are very special to my family. Brent was the best man at my son Brents' wedding in 2003 after the two became friends while Slocum competed regularly at Quincy Raceways where son Brent was track announcer. My son, his wife and son were able to attend the race last night for the first time in a while, as my daughter in law has health issues that keep them away from regular visits to the tracks. This year was extra special for us, as my daughters son, Keagan, who has been going to the races with me for about 11 years now, will graduate from high school next month. Since the Slocum Foundation began awarding scholarships to high school seniors, it has been a goal of Keagans' to compose an essay worthy of an award. And last week he found out that he was one of the seven recipients in 2015. Although only eight years old at the time of Brents untimely passing, Keagan had been around the personable Slocum more than a few times, and was a High Five fan for sure. Although obviously far more difficult for the family, being in the stands with just grandpa on the night of the accident had a profound effect on him, and I think receiving the scholarship was in part his way to honor Slocums' memory. The hard work, dedication and friendship from Brad, Jessi, and the Slocum family is very special to all of us.
To say that we were lucky to witness a full night of racing last night is an understatement. It was almost like we were racing under a dome, as the rains circled all around the speedway. As they did last season when storms threatened the UMP Summernational late model show, Amy and Jeff Laue and their crew stepped up and did their best to move the show along. I don't know if the rain we drove home in ever found the speedway, but at one point I also mentioned to my son that I we would probably have to be satisfied with the five late model heat races.
After Hall of Famer Billy Moyer took the lead on lap six and opened up a sizable lead, I began searching through the field for battles for position, while still keeping an eye on the leader. Although about ten of the 25 starters eventually pulled out, there was plenty of action behind the leaders. And with a handful of laps to go, you could see that either Moyer was slowing a bit or Ryan Unzicker was getting faster. Unzicker, the 2014 ALMS region champion, a top UMP regular season and Summernationals contender, shadowed the veteran, then tried to find racing room in the very bottom groove of the slicked off 3/8 mile oval. Then on the final circuit, as the top two headed to turns three and four, Unzicker made a move reminiscent of the final turn of the Lucas Oil late model nationals at Knoxville Raceway in 2014. That is when Brian Birkhofer went to the top of the track and used his momentum to overtake Scott Bloomquist at the checkers. Unzicker made the same type of move with the same result, and took home $ 10,555.00 for his daring effort. I don't know if the large crowd was thrilled for Ryan, or just in awe of his charge, but everyone was on their feet as the checkers waved!
What had the makings of a bit of a " Ho-Hum" race turned into one that will be remembered and talked about for a while!
Late afternoon showers hit the Quincy area around 3:00 PM, and just minutes after I received a text that the ALMS/MARS/Cornbelt Clash stop tonight at East Moline Speedway had fallen victim to weather, a call came telling me that the weekly show scheduled at Quincy Raceways had suffered a similar fate. So we will have to be satisfied with one night of racing this week and start making plans for next week. Maybe we will see you Racin' Down the Road.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Quincy Opens for Season 41
Despite cloudy skies, Quincy Raceways dodged the rain drops and opened for season 41 in front of a solid crowd and decent car counts, especially considering the weather. 66 race teams checked in in five classes to do battle. Qualifying and the heat races clicked off quickly, with Springfield,Il hot shoe Brian Dively pacing the late models with a lap of 13.378 seconds around the .29 mile oval. Denny Woodworth outdueled Dively in the first late model heat, with Dustin Griffin topping Mark Burgtorf in heat two. NASCAR truck racer Justin Jennings was the only one of the 15 UMP late models to miss his heat, as he burned two spark plugs while qualifying his # 56J. Heat race two was red flagged, as Jim Moon looked to possibly break an oil line, creating a pretty good fire under the hood of his # 1 machine.
Feature racing started with 14 IMCA sport mods taking the green for 18 laps. Nathan Bringer paced the field early, as nine laps ran caution free. Following the first yellow it was a four wide dash through turns one and two for the lead on the smooth, fast racing surface. Bringer entered turn three too hard and jumped the cushion, and as the pack crossed the stripe, it was Brandon Lennox out front. Tanner Klingele, Brandon Dale - fresh off his third place run at West Liberty - and defending track champion Tony Dunker were pushing Lennox. Klingele was able to pull alongside Lennox as the white flag waved, and trailed by inches at the checkers in a photo finish. Unfortunately, Lennox failed post race tech due to suspension issues, giving the win to Klingele. Dunker was credited with second, followed by Adam Birck and Dale.
Nine IMCA stock cars signed in, but late arriving Jake Powers could not make his # 0 go, so eight started the 18 lap finale. Jim Lynch charged to the lead, and following a caution period, track champ Abe Huls began to pressure Lynch. On lap 13, Abe made a rare mistake, going over the berm in turn one, moving Beau Taylor to the runner up spot, with Troy Brierton in hot pursuit. As the white flag waved, Brierton looped his ride, setting up a one lap Delaware restart. In those four laps, Huls had moved back to fourth, and now restarted beside Taylor. Lynch held on for the win, with Huls besting Taylor for second, and Jerry Jansen claimed fourth.
The late models were next on the card, with their feature shortened this season from 30 laps to 25, a move popular with the drivers. Woodworth and Griffin sat on row one, and the late model lawyer, Woodworth, took the early lead. Jamie Wilson started in row six, but quickly powered toward the leaders. The first of two yellows came on lap six, and on the restart, fifth starting Justin Reed shot to the front, and began to distance himself from the pack. Woodworth, Griffin, Wilson, and Burgtorf, back this season in the Rick Frankel machine dueled behind the leader, with Keith Pratt, back in a late model, and Wisconsin transplant Todd Frank looking for running room. The caution waved one more time on lap 20 for young John Hahler, and Wilson saw his third place run end there with a flat tire. Pratt also headed pitside before the restart. Burgtorf slipped back as the green waved, but recovered to follow Reed to the checkers. Woodworth, Griffin, and Dively turned in top five runs, with the second five led by Frank, and Ron Elbe, starting his 38th season at QR.
With Robbie Reed pulling in to the pit area during intermission, there were 16 UMP modifieds to take the 25 lap feature green. Shawn Deering paced the opening lap, with Michael Long blasting to the front on the second circuit. NASCAR competitor Kenny Wallace made the trip to QR, coming back from Texas, and he quickly tucked in behind Long. The yellow flew on lap ten, and Dave Weitholder, back after missing the end of 2014 with medical issues, gerabbed the runner up spot from Wallace. Wallace soon regained the spot, and those three, along with Pevely,Mo. regular Rick Conoyer distanced themselves from the pack. Despite constant pressure, Long stayed uncharacteristically low on the race track, and led the final 24 laps for the win. Wallace nabbed second, with Conoyer passing Weitholder late for third. Long said he could see the top groove was crumbs, and decided to run the low groove.
12 IMCA sport compacts came to the track for 15 laps to polish off the card. 2015 points runner up Kimberly Abbott started in row three, but wasted little time charging to the lead, and the her first QR win of the season, and second overall. Trent Orwig made the trip south from Floris, Iowa and kept the pressure on Kim, settling for the second spot. Seith Woodruff ran third with Argyle, Iowa driver Barry Taft in fourth.
The final checkers waved at about the 9:00 hour, drawing the curtain on a very good season opener.
We counted five to six late models that were not on hand for various reasons this Sunday, and there is reason for optimism with improved car counts in the headliner division as the Broadway Bullring celebrates season number 41.
Next weekend will hopefully find us at 34 Raceway for the Slocum 50, then back at QR on Sunday. Enjoy some racing wherever and whenever you can!
Feature racing started with 14 IMCA sport mods taking the green for 18 laps. Nathan Bringer paced the field early, as nine laps ran caution free. Following the first yellow it was a four wide dash through turns one and two for the lead on the smooth, fast racing surface. Bringer entered turn three too hard and jumped the cushion, and as the pack crossed the stripe, it was Brandon Lennox out front. Tanner Klingele, Brandon Dale - fresh off his third place run at West Liberty - and defending track champion Tony Dunker were pushing Lennox. Klingele was able to pull alongside Lennox as the white flag waved, and trailed by inches at the checkers in a photo finish. Unfortunately, Lennox failed post race tech due to suspension issues, giving the win to Klingele. Dunker was credited with second, followed by Adam Birck and Dale.
Nine IMCA stock cars signed in, but late arriving Jake Powers could not make his # 0 go, so eight started the 18 lap finale. Jim Lynch charged to the lead, and following a caution period, track champ Abe Huls began to pressure Lynch. On lap 13, Abe made a rare mistake, going over the berm in turn one, moving Beau Taylor to the runner up spot, with Troy Brierton in hot pursuit. As the white flag waved, Brierton looped his ride, setting up a one lap Delaware restart. In those four laps, Huls had moved back to fourth, and now restarted beside Taylor. Lynch held on for the win, with Huls besting Taylor for second, and Jerry Jansen claimed fourth.
The late models were next on the card, with their feature shortened this season from 30 laps to 25, a move popular with the drivers. Woodworth and Griffin sat on row one, and the late model lawyer, Woodworth, took the early lead. Jamie Wilson started in row six, but quickly powered toward the leaders. The first of two yellows came on lap six, and on the restart, fifth starting Justin Reed shot to the front, and began to distance himself from the pack. Woodworth, Griffin, Wilson, and Burgtorf, back this season in the Rick Frankel machine dueled behind the leader, with Keith Pratt, back in a late model, and Wisconsin transplant Todd Frank looking for running room. The caution waved one more time on lap 20 for young John Hahler, and Wilson saw his third place run end there with a flat tire. Pratt also headed pitside before the restart. Burgtorf slipped back as the green waved, but recovered to follow Reed to the checkers. Woodworth, Griffin, and Dively turned in top five runs, with the second five led by Frank, and Ron Elbe, starting his 38th season at QR.
With Robbie Reed pulling in to the pit area during intermission, there were 16 UMP modifieds to take the 25 lap feature green. Shawn Deering paced the opening lap, with Michael Long blasting to the front on the second circuit. NASCAR competitor Kenny Wallace made the trip to QR, coming back from Texas, and he quickly tucked in behind Long. The yellow flew on lap ten, and Dave Weitholder, back after missing the end of 2014 with medical issues, gerabbed the runner up spot from Wallace. Wallace soon regained the spot, and those three, along with Pevely,Mo. regular Rick Conoyer distanced themselves from the pack. Despite constant pressure, Long stayed uncharacteristically low on the race track, and led the final 24 laps for the win. Wallace nabbed second, with Conoyer passing Weitholder late for third. Long said he could see the top groove was crumbs, and decided to run the low groove.
12 IMCA sport compacts came to the track for 15 laps to polish off the card. 2015 points runner up Kimberly Abbott started in row three, but wasted little time charging to the lead, and the her first QR win of the season, and second overall. Trent Orwig made the trip south from Floris, Iowa and kept the pressure on Kim, settling for the second spot. Seith Woodruff ran third with Argyle, Iowa driver Barry Taft in fourth.
The final checkers waved at about the 9:00 hour, drawing the curtain on a very good season opener.
We counted five to six late models that were not on hand for various reasons this Sunday, and there is reason for optimism with improved car counts in the headliner division as the Broadway Bullring celebrates season number 41.
Next weekend will hopefully find us at 34 Raceway for the Slocum 50, then back at QR on Sunday. Enjoy some racing wherever and whenever you can!
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Opening Night at West Liberty
My 2015 racing season final got rolling Saturday night with the Deery Brothers Summer Series IMCA late model show at the West Liberty, Iowa Raceway. Darryl, Fred, and I made our way north for the three class program which also opened the season at the storied Muscatine County Fairgrounds 1/2 mile oval. We were more than pleasantly surprised to see 43 late models show up - thanks Kevin Yoder for the assist on some unfamiliar cars - for a show that drew 31 entrants one year ago! In addition, 21 IMCA sport mods and 18 IMCA stock cars checked in under sunny skies and warm April temps. West Liberty is known for starting at the advertised time and opening night was no exception, with hot laps rolling at 6:31 on my time piece. A collision at the end of late model hot laps between Nick Marolf and Richie Gustin took a bit to clean up, but the first stock car heat still rolled off at 7:05. Great job as always to the Simmons Promotions group. The first caution flag of the night came in the seventh race, heat race number five for the late models. It was for veteran Jay Chenoweth, who arrived at the track with no number or decals yet on his red and black machine. Third generation teenage driver Tyler Droste was running second at the time, but got shuffled out of a top three feature qualifying spot on the restart. Teammates Scott Fitzpatrick and defending series champion Justin Kay took the first two heat wins, with 2014 race winner Colby Springsteen nabbing the third ten lapper. Track regulars Jonathon Brauns and Ron Boyse were winners in the final two heats. After three sport mod qualifiers, the program moved straight into the Caseys Pizza box redraw, with Andy Nezworski and Boyse capturing front row starting slots for the 40 lap $3,000 to win headliner. Two late model B- mains ran next, with local favorite Denny Eckrich edging second generation hot shoe Ryan Dolan in the first 12 lapper. Brian Harris made a dandy two car pass around Kyle Hinrichs and Rob Moss for the fourth and final qualifying spot at the halfway mark in the second consy and the winner of the series opener last week, Nebraska third generation driver Corey Zeitner took the checkers. With Harris now in third, Hinrichs came back to slip past Joe Zrostlik for the fourth spot on the final circuit. Ray Guss Jr filled the 24th spot on the starting grid with a hard charger provisional.
The stock cars started the feature action, running 20 laps. Track champion David Brandies started up front and quickly took command. Johnny Spaw started deep in the field but picked his way to second by the first caution period. Following another stoppage on lap 13, Greg Gill used the Delaware restart to take second , and he and Spaw slugged it out for the next couple of laps. By lap 16, Spaw was again in the runner up spot, catching Brandies with two laps to go. Brandies was able to keep his car wide enough to hold off the # 00, and at the stripe, it was Brandies, Spaw, and Gill.
The sport mods were up next for 20 circuits. Young Brayton Carter and Brett Lowrie sat up front. The first heat had been won by part time Quincy Raceway driver Brandon Dale, from Memphis, Missouri. It was the second generation drivers first ever trip to the big 1/2 mile, and he easily covered the field in his heat, but drew an eight to start in row four of the feature. Lowrie led the first half of the race, with Carter take over following a lap ten caution. Dale powered his way to third, but could not overtake the lead duo. The race ended under caution with a spin after the white flag waved. It was Carter, Lowrie, and Dale taking the podium spots. Track champion Aric Becker started in row five, and a mid race spin took him out of contention.
As is tradition at West Liberty, the late models rounded out the card. Boyse and Nezworski completed lap one side by side, with Andy taking control on the following circuit. He opened a sizable lead over Fitzpatrick, who also had distance over the rest of the pack. Kay started tenth, and by lap seven he had advanced to fifth. Two more laps and he was fourth, and on lap 11, he took third. As he began to reel in Fitzpatrick, the only yellow of the race came out for a slowing Nate Beuseling on lap 16. On the restart, Kay passed the front two, and began to pull away. Meanwhile, Harris had come all the way from row 11 to about ninth when the caution waved, and he now charged to the number five spot following the restart. Fourth running Jeff Aikey pulled out on lap 18, as Kay built a huge lead, eventually picking his way past a half dozen or so of the remaining cars. With the race staying green, the 15K went unchallenged to the checkers. He was followed by Fitzpatrick, Harris, Nezworski and Andy Eckrich. The second five had Kevin Kile in sixth, followed by Springsteen, Holladay, Brauns, and Zeitner.
Curt Martin was the nights hard luck driver, breaking in hot laps.
The Deery Series moves on the Farley and Webster City next weekend, while I will be at 34 Raceway in West Burlington for the MARS/CBC/ALMS $ 10,555 to win late model Slocum 50. Before that, grandson Keagan and I hope to be at Quincy Raceways for the season opener tonight. As I look out the window this Sunday morning, the clouds are moving in, so be sure and call ahead if you are planning to joins us at QR. Race season is here, so we will see you Racin, Down the Road!
The stock cars started the feature action, running 20 laps. Track champion David Brandies started up front and quickly took command. Johnny Spaw started deep in the field but picked his way to second by the first caution period. Following another stoppage on lap 13, Greg Gill used the Delaware restart to take second , and he and Spaw slugged it out for the next couple of laps. By lap 16, Spaw was again in the runner up spot, catching Brandies with two laps to go. Brandies was able to keep his car wide enough to hold off the # 00, and at the stripe, it was Brandies, Spaw, and Gill.
The sport mods were up next for 20 circuits. Young Brayton Carter and Brett Lowrie sat up front. The first heat had been won by part time Quincy Raceway driver Brandon Dale, from Memphis, Missouri. It was the second generation drivers first ever trip to the big 1/2 mile, and he easily covered the field in his heat, but drew an eight to start in row four of the feature. Lowrie led the first half of the race, with Carter take over following a lap ten caution. Dale powered his way to third, but could not overtake the lead duo. The race ended under caution with a spin after the white flag waved. It was Carter, Lowrie, and Dale taking the podium spots. Track champion Aric Becker started in row five, and a mid race spin took him out of contention.
As is tradition at West Liberty, the late models rounded out the card. Boyse and Nezworski completed lap one side by side, with Andy taking control on the following circuit. He opened a sizable lead over Fitzpatrick, who also had distance over the rest of the pack. Kay started tenth, and by lap seven he had advanced to fifth. Two more laps and he was fourth, and on lap 11, he took third. As he began to reel in Fitzpatrick, the only yellow of the race came out for a slowing Nate Beuseling on lap 16. On the restart, Kay passed the front two, and began to pull away. Meanwhile, Harris had come all the way from row 11 to about ninth when the caution waved, and he now charged to the number five spot following the restart. Fourth running Jeff Aikey pulled out on lap 18, as Kay built a huge lead, eventually picking his way past a half dozen or so of the remaining cars. With the race staying green, the 15K went unchallenged to the checkers. He was followed by Fitzpatrick, Harris, Nezworski and Andy Eckrich. The second five had Kevin Kile in sixth, followed by Springsteen, Holladay, Brauns, and Zeitner.
Curt Martin was the nights hard luck driver, breaking in hot laps.
The Deery Series moves on the Farley and Webster City next weekend, while I will be at 34 Raceway in West Burlington for the MARS/CBC/ALMS $ 10,555 to win late model Slocum 50. Before that, grandson Keagan and I hope to be at Quincy Raceways for the season opener tonight. As I look out the window this Sunday morning, the clouds are moving in, so be sure and call ahead if you are planning to joins us at QR. Race season is here, so we will see you Racin, Down the Road!
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