More MLRA, Equals More Simpson

 In the last two seasons, I have been able to cover six Midwest Late Model Racing Association shows, and five of those found one of the Simpson brothers in victory lane. The only misfire was the recent Slocum 50 at 34 Raceway, where Shannon Babb edged out the brothers, who finished second and third that night.
 Friday night it was a second 2018 visit to the Davenport Speedway, with the action this time on the 1/4 mile inside oval, which is used for weekly racing at the fairgrounds facility. While the predicted mid week monsoons had pretty much skirted my home base, the Quad City area was dumped upon, particularly on Wednesday night, with around three inches of rain leaving us somewhat skeptical that racing would take place Friday. MLRA race director Ernie Leftwich described the issues his team faced in trying to bury a scoring loop sensor on the front stretch Friday, hoping that the extensive work done by track crews with the grader and " whatever else they used out there " to prepare the racing surface had not dislodged the transmitter, which would have forced some old school hand scoring!
  Although there was an inside wall of mud, the racing action actually produced a fair amount of dust throughout the evening.
  I found it somewhat ironic that many drivers had indicated that they would have preferred to race on the 1/4 mile during the event two weeks prior, yet there were ten less cars racing on this night, with several series " regulars " missing from the field. Perhaps a somewhat smaller payout had something to do with it?
  But the Simpsons and 23 other super late models checked in do battle in the 40 lap headliner. Leftwich stated during the drivers meeting that 25 or more cars would add a B-main qualifier to the three heat races, but come feature time, 24 starters were listed on the lineup, with only Luke Goedert absent. The former IMCA hotshoe did indeed join the line up, but went pitside following the parade lap. Once again, drivers drew for their heat race starting spot, with a  passing points system used  to set the feature lineup. Chad Simpson came from the fourth starting spot in an absolutely loaded first heat to take the win over polesitter Jonathon Brauns, earning the pole for the headliner. A resurgent JC Wyman advanced four positions in heat two, finishing second to polesitter Payton Looney, earning an inside row two starting slot, flanked by Looney. Tony Jackson JR. charged from outside row one to capture the final ten lapper ahead of third starting Will Vaught, giving Jackson the outside pole spot for the feature.
  Chad Simpson seemed a good bet from his pole position in the main event, but Wyman got the jump on the front row, crossing the stripe first on the opening lap ahead of a multi car mess in turn four. Local racer Matt Ryan and tour regular Jeff Roth saw their night end early as a result. If I heard correctly in the drivers meeting, Leftwich announced that if the first five cars crossed the start finish line, then a lap would be scored, and this was apparently the case, as the field was realigned in the Delaware format, with Wyman and his #4 out front. Back under green, Chad began to get some heat in his fresh tires, and he was beginning to challenge from the third spot when on lap three, Jordon Yaggy looped his ride in turn one. Jeremy Grady, who had pulled out of his heat with heavy smoke coming from his car, and Billy Drake, both retired at this point. Back to racing, Simpson found has way to the front by way of the high side on lap four, and he and Wyman began to put some distance on the pack. Slower traffic became a factor on lap ten, but Simpson was up to the task. With Will Vaught running a strong third, he suddenly slowed on lap 13, and he headed to the work area as the caution waved. He remained off the track as racing finally resumed and that turned out to be the final yellow of the 40 lapper. Wisconsin driver Mitch McGrath, who fired off seventh, slipped by Wyman on lap 15, as Simpson opened a sizable lead. Wyman retook the runner up spot two laps later. Now most of the field was using a low groove around the track, with McGrath and Justin Kay searching a higher line. Traffic again came into play on the 22nd circuit, but Simpson handled it with ease. Brother Chris Simpson had fallen to fourth in that loaded first heat after lining up third, leaving him in row seven on the feature grid. But he picked his way forward, grabbing the fourth position with ten laps to go. The winner from two weeks ago then made a run at McGrath before settling in to fourth. At the checkers, it was Chad out front to split the pair of Davenport shows with his brother. Wyman ran a season best second ahead of McGrath, Chris Simpson, and Looney. Jackson headed the second five in front of Kay, Brauns, Tyler Bruening, and Dave Eckrich. It was the second series win for Chad, who took the checkers one week before in Oklahoma.
  The late models had been third on the feature card, with the weekly street stock class leading things off. The starting field had numbered 14 for 15 laps, with apparently late arriving Jeremy Gustaf tagging the tail. Numerous lead changes and a host of caution periods dominated the first half of the race, with Jesse Owen grabbing the top spot on lap nine. With three laps remaining, three cars raced three wide for the second spot, with Gustaf being one of those, but he suddenly exited the speedway. As the white flag waved, with Jeff Struck Jr. out front, the caution came out one last time, setting up a two lap finish. Struck held on for the win, with Owen in second. Gene Ehlers came home third ahead of Kevin Goben.
  The IMCA sport mods, also a weekly class at Davenport, showed a strong 22 car field, with all but one taking the green for 15 laps. A multi car pile up in turn one on lap three took out visiting hot shoe Tyler Soppe, and forced top contender Tony Olson to the tail. Following a lengthy delay as the mess was cleaned up, racing resumed, but unfortunately it was only the first of several lap three caution periods. But with field whittled down to about 14, the rest of the event went caution free. Keith Blum was impressive in leading flag to flag. Jared Waterman took runner up honors over Joe Nemitz and Brandon Setzer.
  The final race of the night was another weekly points class, the IMCA modifieds. Again a nice 23 car field was on hand, with 20 laps scheduled to complete the program. A lap one crash took out Rob Toland, who along with Kay was one of the two drivers doing double duty. When the first lap was scored, one of a host of former late model drivers, Stephan Kammerer was on top. As he was stalked by Bob Dominacki, the #77 began to build a comfortable lead. Doug Crampton battled his way to the second spot on lap seven, but one circuit later, Kay, who started deep in the field took over the runner up spot. A pair of yellow flags slowed the action, and Chris Zogg charged to third. With Kammerer out front, a three wide scramble for second highlighted lap ten, with Crampton, Kay, and Zogg in the hunt. Kay eventually cleared the others, and began to chase down the leader. On lap 13, Kay took the top spot, but a multi car caution put him back in the runner up spot. It was at this point that we headed for the car for the long trip home. Reports this morning indicate that Kay did pick up the win, with Kurt Kile claiming second. Bryce Garnhart and Eric Barnes came next, as Crampton, who apparently had an issue after we left, came back to fifth.
  A big thanks to Bob Wagener and crew for going above and beyond to overcome rough conditions and put on an entertaining show, and special thanks to  Carrie Rouse for her hospitality. Davenport Speedway is a leader in weekly racing, and with it being 10:00 sharp when we left the facility, it is a recommended racing destination.
  Next up if the weather man cooperates is another Quad Cities adventure, with a Sunday visit to the Quad City Speedway across the river in East Moline,Illinois for our first Deery Brothers IMCA late model Summer Series show of 2018. Spring is finally here, so enjoy the action whenever and wherever you can!