Scenic Route to Dubuque, Ryans Takes Checkers

  This past week might be a case of making lemonade out of lemons. On Thursday, against all odds and better judgement, we headed for the Marshalltown Speedway and the oh so elusive 500th and final IMCA Summer Series event. Driving through off and on heavy rain, we arrived just to the outskirts of Marshalltown as a message from fellow Positively Racing bloggers Dick and Joyce Eisele informed us that the show had indeed been postponed, with a reschedule date of September 17.
  So we regrouped, and with clear skies on Sunday, we loaded up and headed for our first UMP Summernationals race of 2020, back to the Bullring at RICO in East Moline, Il. where we had journeyed the Sunday before. Aware of some severe storms in the Quad City area on Saturday night, I made contact with the folks there before heading out to make sure things were still a go. But not so fast! As we crossed the Mississippi River from Davenport to Rock Island, the phone rang, and P.R. guru Jeff Broeg delivered the news that the race had been cancelled due to wet grounds. Having anticipated our dilemma, Jeff offered up a couple of alternatives for us as an alternative to turning around and heading for home once again. As the driver, I made the decision, with needed help from my navigator, Fred, to point north to the Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway for weekly IMCA racing. Given our current location, this would now be a four hour trip, but fortunately our habit of being early to the track served us well in this instance.
   Although we do not often make the three plus hour trip to the northeast Iowa facility, it remains high on our list of favorites, and we were not disappointed on Sunday. A solid field of ninety two cars across six classes signed in, boosted somewhat by the late cancellation at East Moline. There have been some improvements to the venue since our last visit, including the seating area in our preferred spot towards turn one. Also, I do not remember the P.A. system being so crisp and clear, and I want to take this time to compliment the track announcer whose name I do not know. He did a phenomenal job of giving lineups complete with names, car numbers, and hometowns, at least twice for each race. This was a tremendous help to those of us unfamiliar with many of the locals. It seems like such a basic task for a race announcer, yet one that we seldom have the pleasure of experiencing!
   Hot laps started at the advertised time of 6:00, and heat race action actually began a few ticks before 6:30. It took just over an hour to complete the dozen qualifying events, followed by an intermission in the neighborhood of fifteen minutes, with a bit of track prep during that time. By 7:45, we were feature racing.
   Hobby stocks were up first, and Dakota Simonsen kicked things off with a dominating win in his sharp looking #60, a look a like to brother Daltons' late model. Wayne Hora and his gas man topped a wild and woolly two person cruiser marathon.
   All twenty four IMCA sport mods then lined up for fifteen laps, and I must confess, I had my doubts as to how that would go. But I hardly needed to worry, as the race was completed with only a pair of caution periods, and all but five of the cars took the checkered flag. Second generation driver Gage Neal, a real up and comer, turned in a strong performance to take the win after starting ninth. Lining up just behind Neal was another young hot shoe, Jason Roth, and he made a late charge to take runner up honors, while former late model pilot Kip Siems was third.
   A couple of late arrivals in the IMCA modified class swelled the field to nineteen, but it was Jeff " Bone " Larson coming from row five to claim the win. It did not come easy, as he had a spirited battle with twelfth starting Matt Gansen. Ryan Duhme hung near the leaders for a third place finish.
   Johnny Lovett made the long tow from Dekalb, Il.to take top honors in the four cylinder feature. He was one of those who had been headed to East Moline, but also made lemonade by grabbing the Dubuque dollars.
   The final race on the card was the twenty five lap headliner for the IMCA late models. Fifteen cars signed in, and all took the green flag, even though Hazel Green, Wisconsin ace Darren Mish checked out of his heat race as the cars lined up. Colton Leal and Jason Udelhofen led the pack to green, but Luke Merfeld shot to the early lead, opening a several car length advantage over Udelhofen. Dalton Simonsen started fifth and moved to second on lap four using the low line around the 3/8 mile even as Merfeld pounded the cushion. Ron Klein stalked the leaders in third. The first caution came at lap seven for a spinning James Curran. By now, sixth starting Eric Pollard and East Moline regular Matt Ryan had joined the top five. As racing resumed, Simonsen grabbed the lead just ahead of a caution for Klein, who came to a stop, ending his run at lap eight. Now in third, Pollard used the Delaware restart to power to second, taking Ryan along in third. The yellow came again at lap ten as Terry Neal slowed in turn three, his night over. Ryan shot to the high side on the restart, grabbing the lead. It now became a back and forth duel between the rim riding Ryan and the catfishing Simonsen, and they shared the top spot ahead of a lap thirteen caution for Ryan Hill. Matt Ryan was out front for the restart, and he now found his preferred line on the bottom in turns one and two, while powering middle to high in three and four. Simonsen continued to work the low line. Pollard went to work at the top of the speedway, overtaking Simonsen at lap sixteen, and we now had a three car battle going. Just when it looked like Simonsen might be making a move, a final caution came out at lap twenty two for a stalled Udelhofen. Back to green for the final three laps, it was Ryan holding on for the hard earned win. Simonsen ran second, followed by Pollard, Logan Duffy, and David Webster. Udelhofen rebounded for sixth, followed by Mitch Manternach, Mish, Hill, and Luke Pestka.
    The final checkers came about 9:45, and while a long one, the drive home was definitely shorter than the one to the track! Thanks to the crew at the Dubuque Speedway for saving our Sunday with some great racing.
    There are some excellent choices for racing in the coming week, and at this time our plans are uncertain. But now is the time to take whatever precautions you feel comfortable with and head to the track of your choice!