Hurst Tops Deery Field

  When I was drawing up my potential racing schedule for 2018, the first visit in 14 years by the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series late models to the Benton County Speedway in Vinton was on the list. Sometime later, a trip to Colorado came up for this week, and my second ever visit to the Benton County Fairgrounds 1/4 mile appeared to be an unfortunate casualty of the trip. So when the trip west was cancelled, Vinton was quickly added back to the schedule. As with most of the midwest, the weather here in northeast Missouri is hot, hot, hot, but several checks of the radar indicated that at least Thursday would be dry. But as early afternoon rolled around, a severe storm warning was issued for my part of the world, and at the same time the radar showed rain heading towards Vinton. Under darkening skies, Darryl and I headed out to meet Jeff in Mt Pleasant to catch a ride north while still watching the radar. For sure we drove through a pretty good line of storms, arriving in Mt Pleasant under gloomy skies. But that line of showers headed for Vinton seemed to have dissipated, so off we went.
   On my only prior visit to the track, there had been a near capacity crowd, and with Thursday being the opening night of the county fair, we thought seating might be an issue. Surprisingly, although there was a decent crowd, there was plenty of good seating available, even as racing began. The modifieds had the night off as they prepare for the prestigious Hogan Memorial race on Tuesday, July 3, but still there were five track regular classes of cars in action along with the late models.
  The posted running order had the late models last on the card, but with rather surprisingly low car counts for an advertised points night, and Vintons reputation for quick, efficiently run shows, we settled in for the action.
   The track was plenty wet as the evening began, and lap times during the early heat races were hardly record setting.  Still the track began to come in by late model time. Following the eleven heat races, track officials took about a 30 minute intermission and graded the top layer off the black dirt surface, and the result was outstanding multi groove feature events. During the break, the four late model heat winners, Chad Coyne, John Emerson, Todd Cooney, and Andy Eckrich took part in a modified pizza box drawing for starting spots in the front two rows of the 50 lap finale. It is a process whereby each driver has to give away the spot he has drawn, and, well, anyway....
  The micro mods were up first for twelve laps. 14 year old Dallon Murty, took the lead on lap two and picked up an easy win to start things off.
  The 4 cylinder cars, which are unsanctioned at the track, lined up for a dozen laps. Travis Losenicky led the early laps before Jake Benischek took over on lap seven. Jake gradually stretched his lead, taking the win ahead of Losenicky, Bill Whelen, Barry Taft, and Luke Benischek.
 Next came a pair of late model B mains to add ten cars to the feature field, which would then be supplemented by two provisional starters. Jeff Aikey in the Scott Fitzpatrick #24 and Darren Ackerman picked up the wins. The Summer Series has switched to a modified passing points system, with a designated number of cars behind the heat winners filling the next spots via the passing points. With a first lap scramble in the fourth heat allowing some deep in the field starters to finish up front, Ackerman was relegated to a B main after finishing third in his heat race!
  All 15 cars started the hobby stock feature, which may have been closer to a WWF match. Leah Wroten has been tough to beat of late, and she gained the lead on lap five, setting up a battle with Nathan Ballard. With five laps remaining, the yellow flag waved, and the Delaware lineup saw Ballard and Brett Vanous line up behind Wroten. Vanous took over the runner up spot until another caution period came as the white flag was being displayed, setting up a green, white, checkers finish, Wroten still out front. Ballard appeared to get a bit over aggressive in turn one, and Wroten and Vanous found themselves in trouble. Officials quickly gave Ballard the black flag to the delight of the crowd. Wroten, unfortunately, incurred a flat tire, and ducked to the pits to change it. Vanous was lined up out front, and Wroten rejoined in what was now the tenth and final spot. Vanous held on for the final pair of laps and the win ahead of Matt Brown, while Wroten charged back to fifth at the checkers.
  The sport mods came out next, 14 strong for 16 laps. Tony Olson grabbed the top spot on the fifth circuit, built a big lead, and took home top honors in the non stop race. Joe Docekal, Tyler Soppe, and Danny Dvorak completed the top four.
  A disappointing field of ten stock cars signed in, with all making the call for 16 laps. Scooter Dulin led early before a lap five yellow. Damon Murty had issues in the heat race, and was forced to start at the back of the pack for the feature. However, he was already up to fourth for the restart. John Oliver Jr. powered to the front as racing resumed, and at the halfway mark, Murty took second. The hard charging duo ran side by side before Murty took over for good on lap ten. One more yellow on lap 13 did nothing to change the outcome. Murty thanked the second running Oliver in victory lane for helping him diagnose a loose wire as what had plagued him the last two nights! Norman Chesmore ran third, and Dulin was fourth.
  At last it was late model feature time. Coyne and Emerson sat on row one, and Emerson shot to the early lead. Cooney took up the chase from Coyne on lap two. It soon became a two car battle, Emerson and Cooney, and on lap twelve the pair swapped the lead, with a little contact thrown in. The caution came out one lap later, and Coyne lost power, ending his top five run. It now looked like Jeremiah Hurst had the hot hand, as he had started in row six, but was now fourth. Tyler Bruening used the Delaware restart to take over second, and Hurst moved to third on lap 14. When the yellow came out for a spin, Bruening was moved back two spots for the restart. Officials determined he had jumped the start, although he may have been victimized by a little cat and mouse action between Emerson and Cooney. At any rate, Hurst charged to second, battling with Cooney before taking the lead from Emerson just before the halfway mark. Cooney went off the top of the track on lap 24, losing several spots but keeping the wheels turning. Series point leader Justin Kay began a second half charge, taking fourth on lap 27 and third five circuits later. Slower traffic was becoming an issue, and indeed Kay had his momentum slowed as he picked his way through. Emerson had fallen back a bit, but went off the backstretch line while running fifth, dropping several positions. Eighth starting Curt Martin had quietly worked his way to the runner up spot, running the high groove, and as the laps wound down he began to reel in the leader, who was running the low line around the speedway. However the slower traffic that had impeded Hurst now moved out of the way only to slow the forward momentum for Martin. With the race staying green for the final 35 or so laps, Hurst picked up the win in the Roberts Racing #58, his first series win since 2002! Martin followed up his series win at Boone with a runner up finish. Kay held off Bruening for third, and Andy Eckrich was fifth. Charlie McKenna gained six spots to finish sixth, while Cayden Carter was the hard charger, starting 22nd and finishing seventh. Aikey, Ryan Dolan, and Emerson completed the top ten.
  It was by all accounts a very good night of racing, lots of action, and the final checkers waving before 10:30. Thanks to Mick and Mike for the hospitality and to whoever was responsible for the relief from the hot temps!
  Thursday began what looks like a full weekend and more of racing for yours truly, but one day at a time! Tonight, we will perhaps ignore the heat index and head for the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson for racing and fireworks.
  Thanks for reading.