Back on the Summer Series Trail

 With some vacation time lined up, I took advantage of a rain free day and headed north to the Quad City Speedway in East Moline,Il. for only my second stop on the  IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series late model tour for 2015. My daughter went along to do some visiting while I took in the races, insisting we take her car,but more on that later.
  The tour was down a bit on cars, it was a Wednesday night race in the middle of vacation season, and some drivers are leery of the banked 1/4 mile oval with the unforgiving outside concrete wall. Still, 22 late models signed in, along with 12 street stocks and 11 mod lites, three classes being about right for a week night show, and there was a nice sized crowd on hand to take in the action.
 Two street stock heats were up first, taking to the track about 7:20, after the 6:55 hot laps ran on time and quickly. Nathan Hall picked up the heat one win, and former late model driver Kory Peterson took took heat two, both non stop events. Next the mod lites also ran two non stop eight lappers, with Greg Durbin and Shon Sanders in victory lane.
 Three late model heats were up next. Tyler Droste drew the pole in the first ten lapper, and led flag to flag ahead of John Emerson. Tour point leader Justin Kay started in row four and crossed the line eighth, setting up a long climb in the main event. Shaun Mulvany was scheduled to go from the pole in heat two, but his car had suddenly veered right coming out of turn four in hot laps, sending him into the front  stretch wall, ending his night. This moved Nate Beuseling to the front row, and he captured the race ahead of Andy Nezworski, who made contact with Brunson Behning taking the spot on what was definitely a high side track during the heats. IMCA national point leader Matt Ryan started in row two, took the lead on the first circuit, and held on to best Jon Poll in the final preliminary race. The first caution flags of the night, two of them, came in this race, as Mike Garland smacked the turn one wall, and one lap later, Joe Zrostlik looped his ride.
 The heats were in the books at 8:00, and while the Caseys Pizza redraw for the late models was conducted on the front stretch, some track prep was done to try and add grooves to the racing surface.
  The 15 lap street stock feature rolled out at about 8:35, with all 12 cars taking the green. Rob Henry started outside row one, grabbed the early lead, and held on through two restarts to record the victory. Jeremy Gustaf pressured Henry, settling for second, with Hall in third.
  Again, all 11 mod lites took the green for 15 laps. Sanders shot to the lap one lead, the caution flew at the end of the lap, but it was scored as official. Shon again shot ahead on the Delaware restart, and only a lap eight red flag slowed his run. A two car collision in turn four left Dan Guss a bit shaken, and he took a right pitside in the ambulance. When racing resumed, Sanders held off another former late model driver, Jason Masengarb, and Brian Schnell for the win.
  With Garland joining the field on the parade laps, 21 cars took the 50 lap late model feature green. Heat one winner Droste drew the pole position, and he shot to a big early lead with row two starter Nezworski in tow. The high side still seemed to be the fastest line, but unlike the heats, the middle and low grooves also offered effective lines. Droste closed in on slower traffic by lap eight, maintaing his advantage until the first yellow on lap 15, as he made contact with Jay Chenoweth, resulting in a flat for Chenoweth. Back to racing, fifth starting Todd Malmstrom took the second spot from Nezworski. As those two and Scott Fitzpatrick battled for second, Droste again opened a commanding lead. On lap 23, Malmstroms night ended with a puff of smoke, and one lap later the caution waved as fourth running Beuseling slowed, ending his run. Following the restart, Nezworski moved to second, and ninth starting Ray Guss Jr charged to third. As Droste again opened up a large lead, Jeff Aikey joined the fray in fourth on lap 27. Droste was using the top groove, Nezworski hugged the low side, and Guss ran the middle line. Another stoppage came on lap 32, as Fitzpatrick apparently suffered a flat, ducking to the pits for quick repairs. On the restart, Guss jumped to the high line, with Nezworski moving up as well, although he soon dropped back to the low side. Again Droste stretched his lead, and on lap 38, Guss smacked the turn three wall as he tried to power around Nezworski. The 58 car went on the hook, ending his run. Back under green, Ryan, who had drawn a row six pizza box to start 12th, moved to the runnerup spot, taking Behning along from fifth to third. One more time the caution waved, as Fitzpatrick, back on the move forward, climbed the wall in turn three, riding it around, showing the crowd the underside of his # 24. With a final shot at the leader, no one could mount a serious challenge, as Droste simply had his # 31 set up perfectly. The third generation driver led all 50 laps for the win, with Ryan taking a hard fought second. Behning claimed third, with Aikey fourth. Although not a factor for the win, Kay advanced 16 spots to record a top five finish. Nezworski faded to sisth, followed by Zrostlik, Thad Wilson in the # 11 car, Emerson, and Gary Webb. One lap down, Ryan Dolan was the final car still running at the checkers.
 The action ended about 9:45, and as I made my way to the pit parking lot, my daughter called to say as she sat in the car waiting for me, a rock, or more likely a dirt clod flew over the wall, smashing her windshield. Fortunately, it was right of center, so it did not hamper my vision on the drive home. If you follow this blog, you will remember that the last time she let me use her car to go to a race, I suffered a flat tire in the Maquoketa parking lot!
  Thanks to Marsha and the staff at QCS for a very entertaining night. With Sunday being their regular race night, I don't get many opportunities to visit, but I never come away unhappy. Thanks also to Bob Litton for keeping letting me join his group in the grandstands.
  As I write this, Quincy Raceways is preparing for the biggest night in the 41 year history of the track, as tonight the World of Outlaw late models will be joined by the Midwest Open Wheel 410 sprint cars in what should be an awesome, two class program. According to promoter Ken Dobson, plenty of tickets remain, the sun is shining, hope to see you there. Unfortunately, Steve Kinser will not be racing, as he was involved in a rollover accident Saturday night at Eldora Speedway, and is too sore to make the trip. Still it sahould be a great night of racing!