The MARS racing series, now owned by former standout late model driver Tony Izzo Jr. was originally scheduled to kick off the 2020 season here in the midwest with a two night show at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa the last weekend in March. Little did we know what a dramatic effect that rained out weekend would mean in relation to the early racing season. But this week, Izzo rolled up his sleeves and reentered the racing scene with a three race mini series featuring $5,000 to win shows in Davenport and Donnellson, Iowa followed by a Saturday night event in Peoria, Il.
Encouraged by a beautiful day weather wise, we headed to the Davenport Speedway for Thursday night super late model racing backed by an appearance by the IMCA late models. And to sweeten the pot even more, the Kay family decided to also offer up the rained out late model feature from last Friday night, with any extra competitors allowed to " buy in " and tag the tail of that event, giving us three late model features on the always racy 1/4 mile bullring nestled inside the historic 1/2 mile track.
A field split evenly with twenty one entrants in each of the late model classes signed in to do battle.
Things got off to a bit of a rocky start when series officials could not get the timing loop operational, with the decision made to scrap time trials and go to a draw format for the super late models.
So the IMCA make up feature was now first on the card. All but two of the sixteen drivers qualified from last Fridays' rain out were on hand, with the seven " new " drivers lining up behind those fourteen for twenty five laps. Veteran Gary Webb shot to the lead from the pole position ahead of a lap two caution for Dave Stichter. Following the Delaware restart, Webb again assumed the lead, and defending track champion Matt Ryan powered to third after starting in row four. Ryan advanced to second just ahead of a lap seven caution, and took over the lead one lap later, only to have the caution giving the lead back to Webb. Meanwhile, row eight starter Justin Kay was on the move to fourth. Ryan again grabbed the lead as lap eleven was scored, and Kay charged to third. Kay took over the runner up spot at lap fifteen, while Andy Nezworski followed in third. With no more cautions, the leaders caught slower traffic about lap twenty, and Kay began to reel in the leader. With Ryan pounding the cushion, Kay raced around the bottom, taking over the top spot as the white flag waved. At the line, it was Kay with the win while Ryan settled for second. Nezworski was third, followed by Chuck Hanna and Webb. Division rookie Mitch Manternach led the second five, besting Joe Zrostlik, Brian Harris, Logan Duffy, and Brian Webb.
MARS heat races were up next, with Allen Weisser picking up the first ten lapper over Brian Birkhofer, Myles Moos, and Jason Feger. Bobby Pierce lost an engine during hot laps, but wheeled his back up #32 from row three to claim heat two in front of Jon Brauns, Daryn Klein, and Brian Shirley. The final qualifier went to Spencer Diercks ahead of Chris Simpson, Frank Heckenast Jr., and Bob Gardner.
From row three Ryan topped IMCA late model heat one followed by Nick Marolf, Nezworski, and Joe Ross. Kay was victorious in heat two over Manternach, Don Pataska, and Harris. Zrostlik claimed heat three in front of Hanna, Gary Webb, and Duffy.
With no B mains needed, track officials took time to put some water on the 1/4 mile as the IMCA guys prepared for their twenty five lap $1,000 to win feature. Drawing the outside pole start, Ryan quickly assumed the top spot, stretching his lead even as he worked slower traffic by lap eight. The only caution of the event came at lap seventeen, when third running Zrostlik spun on the front stretch, possibly with a little help? As the field reset, Kay, who started eleventh and stayed there for the first part of the race, was now up to sixth. Five circuits later, he had made his way to second, although the high flying Ryan still had a several car length lead. But again the #15K was methodically working the inside line, and in a deja vu move, he snared the lead as the white flag flew. The move gave him a clean sweep with two feature wins along with a heat race victory. For Ryan it was another runner up finish. Marolf was third ahead of Harris in the Lynn Richard #15R, and the youngster Duffy ( not B J Jackson as the announcer mistakenly called him! ) Nezworski rode home sixth, then came Manternach, Pataska, Zrostlik, and Gary Webb.
The headline event was the forty lap $5,000 to win feature for the MARS stars. Brauns and Pierce sat in row one, with Pierce jumping to the lead. Simpson took second one lap later, but Heckenast was the man on the move, starting ninth and claiming third on lap six. A three car battle for second about lap eleven saw Simpson, Heckenast, and Birkhofer in tight formation. The first caution came at lap twelve for Matt Furman, then again two laps later as the cone was knocked on the track. Pierce was pounding the cushion, Simpson working the bottom, as a hard charging Weisser grabbed third at lap seventeen. Suddenly Simpson faded to sixth even as Heckenast moved to second and began to close on Pierce, who temporarily moved down the track. Not to be denied, Frankie put his # 99Jr. in front , encountering slower traffic at lap twenty eight. One lap later, as turn four became treacherously slick, Birkhofer slid over the top, falling to sixth. Pierce was now making up ground on the leader, but on lap thirty three, he fell victim to the turn four challenge. From there it was smooth sailing for Heckenast Jr., as he picked up the win. Weisser finished strong in second, chased by Shirley, Simpson, and Birkhofer. Pierce was sixth followed by Chad Holladay, Klein in the Gerstner Racing # 6, Rich Bell, and Kay, who did double duty on the night along with Joel Callahan.
The final checkers waved before 10:00, sending the large crowd home still buzzing about three excellent features. Thanks to Tony Izzo and the Kay family for their hospitality and a great night of racing!
Tonight the MARS mini tour moves to the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson for another $5,000 to win extravaganza. The IMCA late models will also be on the card, racing for a $1,000 as part of their " Drive for Five " promotion which will culminate with a September event offering a $5,000 to win prize. IMCA modifieds and IMCA sport mods will fill out the card tonight, with hot laps at 7:00 and racing to follow. Hope to see you there!
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