Kay Stays Perfect in Deery Action

 Yogi Berras' " It ain't over 'till it's over! " was never more true than Sunday night at the Quad City Speedway in East Moline, Illinois. The three ten lap heat races for the 25 Deery Brothers Summer Series late models went caution free - as did the seven heats for the support classes - but they were hardly drama free.
  After winning the first two outings on the series schedule, Justin Kay came in as the favorite, and his row two starting spot in heat number one put him in good position for a feature starting spot near the front. But a flat tire on the second lap sent him to the pits, saddled with the 25th starting spot in the 50 lap headliner. Curt Martin led the distance for the win.
  When the second heat came to the track, Ryan Dolan was absent from the lineup, but when heat three came out, Ryan came to the track. He had been announced in the second ten lapper, so he was sent to the infield for the final heat, which saw Cayden Carter grab the win and Joe Zrotlik collect a DNF. Heat two went to Nick Marolf, with Matt Ryan and Todd Cooney exchanging slide jobs behind him.
  Darryl and I happened to be sitting in front of Roger Dolan, and he called his sons' pit to see what had happened. He said Ryan was told he was scheduled in heat three, then told he had missed his spot in heat two, so anyway...
  Following a lengthy intermission in which we were treated to a host of Rogers' tales of the past, the 16 car sport mod feature lined up for 15 laps. Justin Veloz jumped to a big lead from row one, when " yellow fever " began on lap four. Following a lap five restart, Veloz clipped the tractor tire in turn four, kicking it out on the track to bring out another yellow. Curiously, he was allowed to stay out front on the restart. That proved to be the only break he needed, as he survived three more cautions to pick up the win. Jared Waterman and Brandon Setzer staged a spirited battle for second, both survived late contact and crossed the line in that order. Dustin Schram and Gage Neal completed the top five.
 The ten lap 15 car sport compact feature was up next. Nick Proehl stayed out front until lap six, when Brandon Forbes took the spot. Proehl had faded to mid pack, but as the white flag flew, he apparently made contact with the #20 of Lisa Benningfield, who went into a series of hard rolls in turn two. As she climbed from her car, the race was called complete, with Forbes the victor. Rob Harding Jr., who had been pressuring the leader was second.  Proehl was apparently later disqualified and even suspended for his contact with Benningfield.
  Eight mod lites had checked in, with seven starting the feature. Clint Morehouse was scheduled for the pole position, but elected to start on the tail, retiring after one lap. The race stayed green following a false start. with Jon Padilla leading until the final circuit, when Guy Morse muscled past for the win.
  All 15 IMCA modifieds took the feature green, 20 laps the scheduled distance. Eric Barnes jumped to the lead from the outside pole, but a yellow flag negated the start, with Milo Veloz being sent to the tail. The next try saw Doug Crampton go for a spin, and on the third attempt, Barnes again grabbed the lead. A lap seven caution involving Rob Toland slowed the action, and Veloz was now back to seventh. One lap later, Veloz entered the top five, and on lap nine he moved to fourth. As Toland came back to the top five, Barnes began to trail a smoke screen in the final five laps. But his #1 held together, and he took the checkered flag. Brandon Durbin and Matt Werner hung around to finish second and third, with Veloz and Toland completing the top five.
  Now it was time for the headliner, with all 25 cars making the call. As heat winners, Marolf, Carter, and Martin had went through a complicated redraw process to set the top three spots, and they lined up in that order. In a departure from the past, the rest of the field lined up by passing points. QCS does not have a scoreboard, and watching the full track action, taking notes, and counting laps was more than full time work for yours truly, so my notes, while extensive, may be less than accurate, so ...
  Carter jumped to the early lead, as Marolf was shuffled outside the top five. With Martin pushing Carter for the lead, the caution waved on lap four for Chuck Hanna. Dolan had started in row eleven, and was now 16th, Kay had come from last to 19th. A caution on the restart sent Jeremiah Hurst to the tail, and Andy Nezworski used the Delaware restart to take second. Another pair of cautions kept the field bunched, and on lap nine, Dolan entered the top ten. One circuit later, Carter exited with a flat tire, Dolan was eighth, Kay 14th. Rob Toland took over the top spot and appeared to be in control as the pack battled for position behind him.  Soon it was Martin who would take a trip to the back, as he spun to avoid a stalled car, and Kay now ducked to the work area in the pits for a tire change. As the laps clicked off, tenth starting Terry Neal moved to third behind Toland and Chad Holladay, Nezworski called it a night, and Dolan entered the top five. Toland opened a commanding lead, and one lap past halfway, Dolan charged to third. A couple circuits later, Kay was now on the move, joining the top ten. When the caution waved for Eric Sanders, Neal gave up the runner up spot, heading pitside. Dolan grabbed second on the restart, Kay took eighth, and Toland was now basically on three wheels, as his left front began to wobble. A caution involving Matt Ryan made it obvious to all that Toland was in trouble, Kay was now in the top five, with Dolan lurking in second. Back to green, Toland got a bit crossed up in turn two and was tagged by Holladay. Rob was done, and Chad took his turn at the back of the pack. Dolan had now completed his journey to the lead, but Kay was lined up in second. The two leaders traded high and low lines at each end of the high banked 1/4 mile before Kay powered to the lead on the top side. He began to stretch his lead as one more yellow slowed the marathon. In the closing laps, Dolan began to fade a bit, as Hurst saw his come from the back stop in second, and Zrostlik, who had started in row twelve, took third. Dolan settled in fourth, with Marolf charging back to fifth. Todd Cooney was scored sixth, Martin edged Holladay for seventh, and Sam Halstead and Gary Webb somehow avoided the carnage to complete the top ten. There were still 14 cars running at the checkers, and with all the cautions, I think only rookie David Norton was not on the lead lap. It was the first time we had seen Norton race, and we applaud him for not impeding the leaders as he stayed out of trouble while making his laps.
  Despite the carnage and the drawn out intermission, we were still on the road before 9:30. Thanks to K&S Promotions for their hospitality, and to scorer Kevin Feller for the warm welcome.
  I am looking forward next week to finally spending a Friday night closer to home at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa, then at Quincy, Illinois Raceways Sunday as the UMP Pro Crate late models make their first appearance of 2018. Thanks for reading!