Don't Look Up

 Before the 2015 race season began, my son in law, who has probably never been to a race in his life, bought me a notebook and pen used by emergency workers that can be used in rain without a lot of smear. Apparently he knew something about this race season.
 This week I took a couple of vacation days to try to boost my lagging race count by following the three race swing of the MLRA late models through the area, topped off by a Sunday night weekly show at Quincy Raceways. I had planned to catch the previous three night swing of the MLRA stars and cars in May before all three were cancelled. So it went to four for four on Thursday when my first trip in many years to Oskaloosa, Iowa was washed out on Thursday.
 Despite less than ideal weather conditions on Friday, we headed to my old " home " track, the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. Promoter Mike VanGenderen and crew did an amazing job of getting the grounds ready with all the moisture that had fallen during the week. Parking the " big " rigs outside the pit shack not only helped save the muddy inside pit area, but also provided early arriving fans with a chance to check out the cars and visit with some of the touring drivers before the show began.
 When I go to Donnellson, my modest reporting skills seem to suffer, as I spend too much time visiting with old friends and former racers. Fortunately Jeff Broeg has a full recap of the nights events at Backstretch here at Positively Racing.com. My buddy Darryl said he never sees a bad track at Lee County, and Friday was no exception. While most drivers prefer a dry, slick surface, the over abundance of rain dictates a " hammer down " tacky track, which most fans love. With every IMCA track south and east of Des Moines cancelled, the pit area swelled to over 120 race teams in six classes, but the program still got underway at the rescheduled 7:00 hot lap time. It took 17 heat races and two B-mains, one for the 28 car IMCA sport mod class, and one for the 27 car MLRA field to set the feature lineups.
 After non stop main events for the IMCA sport compacts and IMCA hobby stocks - congrats to Josh Barnes who held off Kim Abbott and Leah Wroten who out dueled Brandon Symmonds, the sport mod finale turned in to a marathon 20 lapper. Joey Gower dominated the event, with Jim Gillenwater in the runner up spot.
 The 40 lap late model headliner ran next. Passing points, my personal favorite, was used to set the first eight rows of the main event. Jason Utter and Jess Stovall made up row one, with defending series champ Chad Simpson and Californian Jason Papich in row two. Utter led the early part of the race, with Stovall scored ahead on lap four. Throughout the middle portion of the race, which featured only one caution on lap two, it was Iowans Utter and Simpson dueling for the top spot. As the laps wound down, Stovall began his charge, taking second on lap 31 , and grabbing the top spot five laps later. With three circuits remaining, Simpson headed to the infield with from suspension damage, leaving Utter to take up the charge. However, Utter suffered a flat rear tire on the white flag lap, limping across the finish line just ahead of Papich. Denny Eckrich, who had waged a great side by side duel with Papich for many laps, edged 16th starting Ryan Gustin for fourth. 2014 winner Terry Phillips was never a factor, finishing one lap down in tenth behind Jeremy Payne, Mark Burgtorf, Colorado driver Scott Lewis and provisional starter RC Whitwell, who calls Arizona home.
 Those folks who left following the late model finale missed two good races. The 19 car IMCA stock car show was dominated by Todd Reitzler, but a four car pack entered turn four of the final lap with a shot at the win behind Reitzler. Abe Huls took the runner up spot as high riding Jeremy Pundt washed up the track going for the win.
 The IMCA modifieds finished off the night, with Tyler Groenendyk picking up the win over Scott Hogan.
 Thanks to the LCS crew for working hard to give the large crowd an outstanding show!
 Unfortunately, the Randolph County Raceway in Moberly,Mo. fell victim to wet grounds and a forecast of more rain, forcing postponement of the final night of the three night MLRA mini tour.
 After perusing various track websites and communicating on Facebook, we decided to take a chance and head south on Saturday to I -55 Raceway in Pevely,Mo for weekly UMP racing.
 Driving through a couple of absolute downpours, we arrived at the track where only a brief shower had fallen, though the forecast had now changed for the worse.
 The car count at I-55 was down a bit, probably at least partly due to the weather, and it was the smallest crowd I have ever seen at Pevely, but none the less, the show went on. After ten heat races and position dashes for the UMP late models and UMP modifieds, it was feature time.
The Pro 4 class was up first, 13 cars for 12 laps. Eldon Hempkin took the win after the front two cars were involved in an altercation that sent both to the tail mid race.
 The UMP sportman class ran next, with Trey Harris taking a flag to flag win. Chris Soutier slipped around Troy Medley for second in the 15 lapper.
  The 20 lap 18 car UMP modified feature was an edge of your seat race. Mark Miner had dominated his heat race and the dash, running the top groove around the high banked 1/3 mile,earning the pole for the main event. Rusty Griffaw started in row two, and was not about to let Miner run off and hid again. Running as low as he could around the oval, Rusty whittled away at the lead, pulling alongside the red # 7 on lap nine. The two ran side by side, with Griffaw finally completing the pass on lap 12. Fourth starting Jim Black followed teammate Griffaw on the low groove, also getting past Miner for second.
Miner then dropped to the low side, holding back Rick Conoyer, until the yellow waved with three laps to go. On the restart, Miner went back to the cushion, powering back to second. As he tried to set up Griffaw on the final lap, he bobbled coming out of turn two, falling to fourth behind Griffaw, Black, and Conoyer at the checkers.
 The few drops of rain we felt at intermission were long gone, and the 14 UMP late models came to the track. Scott Weber and Kolby Vandenbergh sat in row one, with surprise first time visitor Jason Papich and Billy Laycock in row two. Weber and Papich jumped out fron, with Weber running the top, with the yellow waving on lap six. On the restart, the leaders resumed their high, low duel, with Papich scored first on lap 11. One lap later, Weber hit the turn tow concrete wall, ending his run. On the restart, Laycock and Vandenbergh took up the chase. Meanwhile, hotshoes Dewayne Kiefer and Tim Manville, both of whom struggled in heat race action, began to move to the front. Manville took to the high groove, while Papich led the pack on the low side. Manville found a bit of cushion on the very top of the track, thrilling the crowd as he picked off car after car. Still he could not overtake Papich, who followed off a third place run in his first visit to Lee County Speedway on Friday with a win on his first visit to I-55 on Saturday. When asked in victory lane if he would be back at Pevely on June 27 for the UMP Summernationals show, Jason said he was supposed to be camping that weekend, but may need to rethink his plans! Manville turned arough start into a runner up finish, followed by 12th starting Kiefer, Laycock, and Cody Conner. Dave Jumper ran sixth ahead of Paul Roider,Vandenbergh, Kenny Rumble,Alan Westling, Trace Westling, Paul Schrempf, Chris Hall, and Weber, who was credited with 14th.
 The B-mod feature was up last, but we headed for the car, hoping the weatherman would treat us well on the long drive home. After inching through a 30 minute backup for a massive sobriety check point on Highway 61, out early departure from the track was quickly used up. And yes, I passed fine!
 Thanks to the I-55 crew for putting on a show under less than ideal conditions.
 As I do this report, I am waiting for word form Quincy Raceways on the status of tonights show at the Bullring. As of 1:00, things are a " go. " Either way, next Sunday, June 21, the UMP Summernational late models will be at Quincy for a $5,000 to win show.
 Thanks for reading!