Catching Up

 With a glitchy computer, I have been away from posting for a couple of weeks, so it is time to catch up on things. In what was likely my final race of 2015, I met up with Darryl and Fred at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa two weeks ago for Shiverfest.  Once again, the 3/8 mile fairgrounds track was amazingly well prepared, and Mike Vangenderen has quickly become one of the best at running a race program. The racing in all five features was outstanding, with the IMCA stock car finale,won by Jeff Mueller, a classic.
 For a late model junkie like myself, however, the highlight of the day may have been the result of the rules meeting in the afternoon. Confirming a rumor we had been hearing for several weeks, it was announced the late model racing will return to Donnellson for 2016. While we had been hearing it would be a crate engine class, the released rules offer up several different engine packages which will allow IMCA spec engines, among others to compete, with spoiler, weight , and restrictor plate options attempting to level the playing field. There will also be tight restrictions on shock packages and tire options available. I have since seen some sniping - imagine that - on the internet that there are too many options and that teching all the cars will be to cumbersome. Staring from scratch on a brand new class, especially one as expensive as late models needs to be as inclusive as is reasonable, and I am more than willing to give Mike the benefit of the doubt. So far, his track record as a promoter has been excellent, and I am hopeful he can pull this off. I am rarely off work before 5:30 on Fridays, but it takes about an hour and 15 minutes from the parking lot at work to my preferred seat in Donnellson, so I am already excited about the 2016 season. Reports say there were 17 people at the late model meeting, and while some names have been mentioned, the one person we talked to who plans to compete in the new class is former track champ Tommy Elston. Tommy had some interesting insights into the cost of  fielding a late model, and indeed he had sold his IMCA late model early in 2015 and dropped down to the IMCA modified class. It was also announced earlier that the late models will be included on the schedule at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis,Mo. for various dates.
 While the Ciltrak promotion group is planning to be back at Quincy Raceways in 2016, the will no longer be promoting at the Lincoln,Il speedplant. Veteran midwestern promoter Bob Sargeant will add Lincoln to his list of tracks, while Ciltrak will apparently continue their successful run in Jacksonville,Il.
 When the Lucas Oil late model series switched dates for the popular Knoxville Late Model  Series, a domino affect was created for other headline races in Iowa. Labor Day weekend will now be the home of the Yankee Dirt Track Classic in Farley, Iowa. This is two weeks earlier than normal. The Liberty 100 at the Simmons Promotion sister track in West Liberty moved this past season from the first weekend in October to Labor Day weekend. It will now move to the final weekend in September, which I believe was its regular date fore several seasons. Marshalltown Speedway will offer up IMCA late models on the third weekend of September as part of their fall special the same weekend as Knoxville. This leaves the second weekend in September open for a late model show in competition withe Boone Super Nationals. in 2015 the Davenport Speedway staged what appeared to be a successful Corn Belt Clash program, so we will wait for the Davenport schedule.
 For the UMP crowd, the World of Outlaw late models have scheduled late model shows at I -55 Raceway in Pevely,Mo on October 1 and Lincoln,Il on October 2. This is the weekend that Peoria,Il ran their 100 lapper this season, so we will see what shakes out there. Tri City Speedway has yet to release their schedule for Mod Mania, which also includes three nights of UMP late models, but if tradition holds, it should be the same weekend as West Liberty. So many choices... As of now, the first date circled on my 2016 calendar is April 16, the Slocum 50 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington,Iowa. As of now, no sanctioning for the annual event has been announced. Interestingly, 34 also has three possible late model dates on their preliminary schedule.
 While my work schedule will not permit going, their is at least one more date of racing in the midwest in 2015. The Springfield,Mo Raceway will be in action on November 21, with late models, A and B modifieds and possibly more with an afternoon start. This race typically draws about 25 late models and big fields of mods, especially B mods to the 1/4 mile facility. I would like to make the trip someday, as this is a track I have yet to visit. But it looks like 2015 will not be the year.
  Thanks for reading, we will have more as schedules are released and the long off season continues.