Crigler and Gustin Highlight Turkey Bowl Winners

 Just shy of one year ago, Jeff Broeg offered a ride to the twice rescheduled 11th annual Turkey Bowl at the Springfield Raceway. Having never been to the southeast Missouri 1/4 mile facility, I jumped at the chance to take in a race on what was now the Sunday after Thanksgiving. 166 cars in five classes turned out on a chilly late Sunday afternoon with a 3:00 PM start time. Unfortunately, there were a few hiccups in the program, and with three members of our group due to show up for work on Monday, we made the decision to head towards home before seeing any feature racing. Of course, this left a bit of unfinished business, so when Jeff offered a return trip for this Saturday, I was all in. Tracking the forecast at least twice per day - you can do that when you are retired! - it looked like deja vu all over again. But as the week progressed, the predictions of temps in the 40's and possible precipitation dissolved, and by Saturday morning, the forecast was for temps in the upper 50's and no rain. So five of us piled in for the trip south, watching as the thermometer climbed to a balmy 67 degrees as we rolled into the speedway.
  Something close to 170 cars signed in, even though the late model count shrunk slightly from 26 last year to a still solid 20, possibly due in part to a shock rule designed to accommodate a variety of competitors. Even though we had no need for a self imposed curfew, it did not matter, as the program rolled along quickly. The only problem for yours truly was that the computer system at the track had issues, and announcer Ronnie Williams was apparently left mostly on his own as far as driver information. As to be expected,  many of the entrants were unfamiliar to him and me, as well as the normal late season shuffling of different drivers wheeling different rides, which left us doing a lot of guessing as to who and what we were seeing. Compiling points for many of the mid western states came in handy for Jeff, and he has a detailed summary of the action on the Backstretch here at Positively Racing.com.
  Early in the evening I decided to segue from reporter to fan, watching as Iowa hot shoe Ryan Gustin, a driver I am very familiar with charged to the front of the non stop 25 lap modified feature, picking up the $2,000 check and the unique Turkey Bowl trophy.
 When the late models hit the track, however, old habits kicked in, and I found myself taking notes while watching another driver I see weekly, Sam Halstead, work his way from row six to fifth at the finish, racing five plus hours from home. Scott Crigler claimed the trophy and the $2,000 payday after starting fourth, besting sixth starting Joe Gorby. Jake Davis and Kaeden Cornell followed the first two. Dylan Hoover, former IMCA champion Justin Wells, veteran Raymond Merrill, Jace Parmley, and Shawn Strong completed the top ten.
  Following the late model finale, the legend cars came to the track for their feature, while the unscheduled mini late models lined up. When the 22 car legend field suffered their first caution, we headed for the car, just after 8:00.
  The racing surface was in tip top shape throughout the night, the light watering and grading ahead of each feature may or may not have contributed, but especially for November racing, it was a near perfect track. Slide jobs and crossovers were in abundance, making for a great late afternoon/evening of racing, and the 2019 Turkey Bowl XIII is a race I can highly recommend. The only change I would offer up is to implement the " spin and your in " rule in the heats, but that might be nit picking...
 Even as I am starting to put together my 2019 schedule - see Quincy Raceways, 34 Raceway, Benton County Speedway, Marshalltown Speedway, - there is ONE MORE event for this season, the St Louis Dome race November 29,30, and December 1. If the stars align, just maybe... stay tuned, and thanks for reading.