Jackson Falters, Pierce Grabs Fourth Slocum 50

  After a delay of nearly three months, 34 Raceway in West Burlington was able to host the twelfth annual Slocum 50 on Friday, July 3, the tribute race for the popular track champion whose life was taken in a pit accident some fifteen years ago. The race has been staged under several sanctioning bodies, with this being the third consecutive year under the MLRA banner. The  $10,555 first place check, in honor of Brent's identifiable " High 5 " racing, makes it one of the marquee events for the series and his home track, as well.
  Normally run on the third Saturday in April when most other regional and national series are off, the Covid crisis necessitated an alternate date, and since the MLRA series was already slated to be at 34 on the holiday weekend, it seemed like the best option for a reschedule. As in recent years, a pair of regular classes at the track, the IMCA stock cars and 305 sprints were also on the card for the evening.
   With the late afternoon sun bearing down, track officials gave the high banks a liberal dose of water and as a result it took a considerable amount of time to run in the facility, creating a bit of a late start, but leaving us with a fast and smooth 3/8 mile track.
   Despite competition from some other marquee events, a solid field of thirty five super late models signed in, supported by seventeen IMCA stock cars and nineteen 305 sprints. Time trial qualifying for the late models was split into two groups, with the overall quick time going to one of the crowd favorites, Brian Birkhofer from just up the road in Muscatine. Brian tripped the clock at 15.547 seconds.
   Four heat races set the first eight rows of the feature grid. Birkhofer went the distance to best Jeremiah Hurst, Johnny Scott, and Matt Furman in heat one. Lebanon, Missouri hot shoe Tony Jackson Jr. led flag to flag in his ten lapper ahead of Mike Spatola, Chris Simpson, and Mason Oberkramer. Heat three went to 2018 Slocum winner Shannon Babb in front of McKay Wenger, Chad Holladay, and Rickey Frankel. Finally, three time winner Bobby Pierce captured heat four over a turn four pass by Chad Simpson for second, Tony Toste, and Kolby Vandenbergh.
   A pair of B mains qualified three drivers each. Brian Shirley topped Dave Eckrich and Jason Feger, then Tim Manville outran Garrett Alberson and Jason Papich. A whopping four series provisionals were added. Payton Looney, Justin Duty, and Brennon Willard lined up, while Mitch McGrath came to the track in the #77 borrowed from non qualifier Jordon Yaggy.
   The IMCA stock car twenty lap main was up first. Heat two winner John Oliver Jr. was set to join the first heat winner Chad Krogmeier on row one, but he was a no show. The stock cars are known for quick, competitive low caution events, but such was not the case tonight, at least for the first half of the race. Numerous yellow flags marred the early laps, as several cars went for spins, creating mayhem. One of these early cautions sent Abe Huls to the work area for repairs, and he went from a row four start to the tail for the restart. Krogmeier was the early leader with Jeremy Pundt, Jason Cook, and eventually David Brandies battling for second. Pundt grabbed the lead on lap five, and the scramble up front found Krogmeier hung out to dry at the top of turn two. Fortunately for him another yellow waved, and he was able to restart in second. By now, Huls was up to fifth, and another quick yellow saw him restart in third. Following a lap eight caution, the field went single file for the restart. One more time the yellow waved on lap nine, then the laps clicked off until the final two circuits . Pundt was running the inside line up front, and Brandies pounded the cushion to take the lead at the halfway mark. Huls, Pundt, and Cook staged a thrilling battle for second and Brandies took advantage to begin stretching his lead. Following a final caurtion at lap eighteen, Cook tok the runner up spot. At the checkers, it was Brandies with the win followed by Cook, Pundt, Huls, and Krogmeier.
    It was now late model time. Babb powered to the lead from outside row one, with Jackson moving to second ahead of Birkhofer. On lap four Jackson charged to the front, and by the time the large crowd held up five fingers to salute the fallen champion Slocum on lap five, Jackson was stretching his margin. The caution waved at lap nine as Holladay stopped, with Jackson barely avoiding hard contact. Back under green, Birkhofer used the high line to take second from the low riding Babb. Meanwhile Jackson was working a low line, and was particularly fast coming off turn four, again opening a lead. Pierce entered the top three, but Jackson was in control, especially with about to be lapped cars pulling to the infield as the leader approached. Finally Jackson had to negotiate slower traffic as the race neared halfway, and Babb began to close the distance to the leader. Pierce was now the car on the move, and as lap thirty was scored he overtook Babb for second. By now, the leader had a full straightaway lead. With Pierce starting to eat away at the lead, the caution came at lap forty one for a slowing Shirley. Babb temporarily regained second on the restart, but he drifted too high in turn four, and Pierce took back the spot. With an open track, Jackson was again pulling away when suddenly he slowed and stopped on the track with six laps remaining, his run ended. Now it was Pierce out front, and although Babb powered around the high line, Bobby was not to be denied, claiming his fourth Slocum 50 crown. Babb took runner up honors with Birkhofer joining on the podium. Hurst ran a solid fourth with Chris Simpson jumping to fifth in the closing laps. Scott claimed sixth in front of Spatola, Chad Simpson, Alberson, and Manville.
    With the post race celebration complete, the sprint cars lined up for twenty laps. Nathan Murders redrew the pole position and  paced the field on the opening lap, with row two starter Cody Wehrle taking over one lap later. Wehrle had his #27 in command when the caution waved at lap seven. As racing resumed, Dan Keltner was now in the runner up spot, but Wehrle remained in control until a lap eleven yellow when chaos ensued as several cars mixed it up. Again the restart was single file, and the race stayed clean and green until the checkers. The leader found himself in heavy traffic with about two circuits remaining, but by then his margin was enough that he had no worries. Murders rebounded to finish second, followed by Keltner, Nick Guernsey, and Dugan Thye. The three heat winners for the sprints were Mason Campbell, Devon Rouse, and Daniel Berquist.
    Thanks to Brad, Jessi, and the 34 staff for persevering through a trying spring to offer both their hospitality and this very special event! They will follow up a highly successful night with a visit next Friday by the World of Outlaw sprint cars.
    The MLRA tour moves to the 300 Raceway in Farley, Iowa for a holiday special tonight, and we hope to catch up with them as they complete the three night swing Sunday at the Bullring at the RICO ( Rock Island County) Fairgrounds in East Moline, Il.
    Finally we are sad to announce the passing of IMCA late model racer Shaune Lewis. Shaune suffered a medical emergency and passed away while competing Thursday night at the Davenport Speedway. I did not know Shaune personally, but had watched him race cleanly and competitively on several occasions, even as recently as two weeks ago. Only 47 years old, he was also the boys varsity basketball coach at Kewanee High School. Condolences to his family, friends, racing family, and student athletes present and past. RIP, Coach Lewis.