Second Generation Driver Tops 34

 Tuesday night we paid a visit to one of my favorite tracks, 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, catching up with the Deery Brothers IMCA late model Summer Series for the third time in 2018. We were pleased with the 33 car count last Thursday at Vinton, but were shocked when it was announced that 37 drivers had checked in at 34. This is especially surprising considering that the Quad City area is the closest place to find IMCA late models. However, central Iowa was also well represented, and there was even one driver who gave a hometown in the state of California, Michael Hynes, driving a #05 that had me writing down "Paul Nagle" in the book before it was announced as Hynes.
  The IMCA stock cars were also in action with a car count of around 15 racing for the $500.00 top prize. No doubt the Hogan Memorial in Vinton took a bite out of the count, but as is nearly always the case, the stock cars staged a twenty lap feature that was worth the price of admission. The INEX Legend cars also turned out a solid field of more than twenty, racing to benefit the C.O.P.S. organization.
  With the sun bearing down, racing began close to the 7:00 advertised time, with nine heat races and a pair of late model B- mains setting the feature fields. I cannot remember the last time I visited a track that there was not an intermission to rework the surface during the program, but with the exception of adding a bit of water, we raced with the track we were given. To the delight of most of the drivers, I am sure, the high banked 3/8 mile slicked off and stayed smooth throughout the night.
  Even though the Deery Series uses a draw system for heat race lineups, all four ten lappers were won from the front row, with Tyler Bruening, Ryan Dolan, Rob Toland, and Darrell Defrance coming to the front stretch to do the pizza box redraw, whereby each driver opens their box revealing a starting position in the first two rows of the feature, then must give that spot to one of the other four. This somewhat silly exercise became a crucial moment as it turned out. But we would have to wait to see how it played out, as the stock cars were up first for twenty laps.
  It took three tries to get the main event started, as first Brandon Rothzen and then Jim Lynch went for a spin, courtesy of three wide racing. When we finally got going, it was Jason Cook out front, with Chad Krogmeier nipping at his heels. The caution waved again on lap four as Ray Raker went off the top of turns one and two, and following the Delaware restart, Tom Bowling Jr. powered to the runner up spot. Bowling then took over the lead one lap later, as our attention shifted to David Brandies and Abe Huls, who were coming to the front racing side by side. Around the halfway mark, there were five cars in a tight battle for the second spot, with Cook, Huls, Brandies, Krogmeier, and Rothzen in a tight pack, while Jason See was closing in, looking to join the fray. See retired to the pits during a lap twelve caution, but on the restart cars went four wide, and Brandies ran out of real estate, going for a spin. Track officials attempted to clean up his damaged car, successfully removing the front bumper and hood, but unable to rip a damaged side panel from his #71. Brandies restarted at the tail, but soon pulled to the infield. Huls cleared Krogmeier for second as racing resumed, although Chad kept a nose under the #30C. With four laps to go, Abe was in command of second, and one lap later when Bowling slid high, Huls used his familiar low line to grab the lead. He then moved to the middle groove, holding back Bowling, who kept up his momentum on the top side of the track. At the checkers, it was Huls, Bowling Jr., Krogmeier, Rothzen, and Cook.
  The 25 lap legend feature was entertaining as well, with former IMCA and super late model racer Jason Utter using a lap 16 single file restart to surge from third to the lead, then pulling away for the win.
  Vinton winner Jeremiah Hurst and Lee County Speedway regular Sam Halstead, driving his IMCA car had topped the B- mains, which qualified five cars each, and with the addition of two series points provisionals, 24 cars were set to compete for 50 laps. However, B-main qualifier Curtis Glover did not make the call, giving us 23 starters. The veteran Defrance, who has yet to miss any of the I believe 485 series events, had drawn the outside pole position in the pizza box deal, and as he had to give it up, he elected Dolan as the lucky recipient. Defrance wound up with the inside row one spot, and led the field into turn one. However Dolan took advantage of the faster high line, powering to the lead off turn two. The second generation pilot opened a commanding lead before hitting slower traffic eleven laps in. Meanwhile, fourth starting Tyler Bruening was hounding Defrance for second, with the duo running side by side for several laps before Bruening took the spot on lap 17. Dolan eased around the first pair of lapped cars, then again opened a big lead as he raced with a clear track in front of him. Sixth starting Matt Ryan had fallen back a bit early, but came charging into the top five on lap 21. Bruening began to cut into the lead, and as we reached halfway, he was challenging Dolan for the top spot, just a couple of car lengths back. Again Dolan was able to pull away, and again Bruening closed the gap around lap 30. Dolan stayed patient, working the heavy  traffic to perfection, leaving Bruening scrambling to keep up. Each time the leader found a clear track, he would pull well ahead, only to lose his cushion in traffic. Bruening was back within striking distance for the final six circuits, but the race belonged to Dolan, as we went 50 laps without a caution! As Ryan celebrated his $2,000 win in victory lane, it was neat to see his legendary father Roger, camera in hand on the grandstand side of the flag stand!  Defrance was well back in third at the checkers, followed by Toland and Ryan. Point leader Justin Kay spent many laps stalking the Eckrichs brothers,Andy and Denny, finally moving up from twelfth to sixth, with Andy next. Terry Neal came home eighth, Denny was ninth, and " Chargin' " Charlie McKenna started tenth and finish in the same spot.
  A big thanks to Brad Stevens and Jessi Mynatt for a good night of racing under less than ideal conditions. With fireworks following the main event, we were still on the road around the 10:00 PM hour. It is always great to see old friends at 34, and lots of bench racing took place!
  The Deery Series will next visit the Columbus Junction, Iowa track on Wednesday, July 18. Meanwhile, 34 Raceway will see action resuming this Saturday night, and they are making plans for the Tony Stewart owned All Star Circuit of Champion 410 sprint cars event on Sunday, July 29. Our " old guys " tour is set to resume Saturday night with a visit to Lake Ozark Speedway near Eldon, Missouri for the second of  weekend shows featuring the MLRA late models., along with the local street stocks. The high powered late models are racing Friday for a $3,000 top prize and Saturday for $5,000.
  Thanks for checking in.