Moran King of the Outlaws

    Saturday night found us at the Davenport Speedway for the final night of the Hoker Trucking Quad Cities 150 three day World of Outlaw late model extravaganza. Thursday nights 40 lapper was won by Devin Moran, while the Friday portion went to Brandon Sheppard. Moran is a second generation pilot, while Sheppard is the third in his lineage to wheel a late model. Seventy laps would be the distance tonight, bringing the total to one hundred and fifty laps of feature racing, with the finale paying a cool $30,000 to win. The racing this week at the historic fairgrounds facility had reportedly been a bit less than the side by side style we have grown accustomed to, and with this final night lined up by cumulative points from the first two shows, passing would no doubt be at a premium. Modifieds and sport mods would also be in action once again. 

   Just over one hundred cars checked in led by thirty three returning late models. Mike Fryer took over driving duties of the David Webster #44W, the only newcomer in that division.

    There had been quite a bit of criticism concerning track conditions following the first two nights, with the World of Outlaws officials apparently refusing to allow any track prep before the features. Perhaps because of this, a heavy dose of water was applied to the racing surface and it took awhile for track packers with help from modified drivers to get the 1/4 mile ready for racing. As a result, hot laps began about fifteen minutes past the 6:30 advertised time, a rarity for Davenport. 

   There would be no time trials for the late models on Saturday, with the heats lined up by points accumulated on the two preliminary nights. Exceptions to this came as three drivers for various reasons missed the mandatory autograph session held before racing started. Both Ricky Weiss and Jeremiah Hurst forfeited second row starting spots and would line up at the rear of their heats. Weiss was able to advance to a top four transfer spot in heat one, but Hurst would have to run one of two last chance qualifiers and failed to make the A main.

   All four ten lap heats were won from the pole position , winners were Devin Moran, Brandon Sheppard, Bobby Pierce, and Chris Madden. Following all heat race action, the track workers took some time to work the surface. The change in procedure resulted in an excellent track that held up well through the seventy lap finale.   

   The top two drivers from each late model heat came to the infield for the televised redraw for the feature. Heat winners drew for spots one through four and second place finishers, Dennis Erb Jr., Frank Heckenast Jr., Ryan Gustin, and Chris Simpson for positions five through eight.

   A pair of Last Chance B mains transferred the final eight starters to the feature. After twice going over the top of turn one from the outside pole in heat one, getting a complete restart once, then going to the tail the next time, Cade Dillard was victorious from the pole in the first B, while Nick Hoffman wheeled the Bloomquist ride from outside row one to the checkers in B main number two.

   Following another break, twenty four late models lined up for seventy laps. The winners from the previous two nights, Moran and Sheppard sat on row one. With Moran out front those two quickly found separation from the pack. Moran was using the inside line while B Shepp ran the middle. With some minor contact in turn one, Sheppard took the lead briefly on lap five. Moran quickly retook the spot, catching the back of the pack at lap ten. At that time, the red flag waved as Garrett Alberson got too high in turn one, resulting in a wild flip. He was not injured, but his #59 car went to the pits with a wrecker on each end. As racing resumed, cars were running all over the wide 1/4 mile, using three distinct lines. Moran opened a bit of a lead, and now fifteenth starting Brian Shirley was on the move, quickly advancing five positions to eighth then working to run down the pack of seven that had distanced the field. Slower traffic again came into play at lap twenty two, and although Devin was doing a good job moving through the lappers, Sheppard was cutting into his lead. Meanwhile Pierce, Boom Briggs, Jimmy Mars, Gustin, and Madden were in a tight battle for position behind the front runners. Shirley joined the hunt as the yellow waved with thirty seven laps in the books. Sheppard took the inside on the Delaware restart, and Pierce used the high line to power into second. He briefly challenged Moran before the leader again began to pull away. At lap forty nine, the fifth running Mars went off the top of turn three and headed to the pits. With Moran on cruise control, Briggs slipped past Sheppard for third at lap fifty five. Madden followed into fourth a couple laps later as the caution flew for seventh running Gustin, who slowed with a flat tire. Back to green, Moran, Pierce, and Madden were locked in a tight three car battle for the lead. Pierce tried a slide job in turn three on lap sixty, but Moran was able to cross over and hold the point. One more lap and Madden cleared Pierce for second. With five circuits remaining, Pierce got under Madden in turn three and appeared to stay on the throttle, with Madden going for a spin. After pleading his case, Madden went to the sixth position of the fourteen cars still running, the "blend in" rule, while Pierce lined up in second, with Shirley now in third. This final restart was single file, Moran maintained his lead, and with two laps to go, Shirley cleared Pierce for second. Bobby tried a last ditch move coming to the checkers, but drove off the track in turn four losing a couple positions. As the checkers waved, it was Moran out front with Shirley gaining thirteen spots to take runner up honors. Briggs was scored third, followed by Sheppard and Pierce. Madden crossed in sixth, Weiss ran seventh while sixteenth starting Brent Larsen advance eight positions. Heckenast Jr. and Erb Jr. completed the top ten. After the races it was learned that Sheppard lost his brakes with fifty laps to go, no doubt slowing his run. 

   As the always lengthy made for T.V. post race festivities started, the clocked ticked near my self imposed 10:30 P.M. curfew, so we reluctantly headed for the parking lot ahead of the feature events for the sport mods and modifieds. Looking at the results, it appears the track stayed racy for those events. Tyler Soppe captured the sport mod $1,500 payday over Tyler Suckow, tenth starting Ben Chapman, B main winner Dylan VanWyk, and eleventh starting Brayton Carter. The 2,000 winners check in the mods went to veteran Jeff Aikey ahead of Mitch Morris, ninth starting Ethan Braaksma, Cayden Carter, and Shane DeVolder.

   Thanks as always to Brenda and Ricky Kay for their hospitality and for taking a chance with a big money extravaganza, as well as to the World Racing Group for making Davenport Speedway a destination. Judging from the huge crowd on Saturday, I would expect we will see the Outlaws again in 2022.

  

Lee County Crowns Season Champs

    Friday night we made the short trek to the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson for season championship night. Thanks to an effort by IMCA sport mod champion Austen Becerra to collect sponsor money, a "Rookie Rally" was added for those in that class who had never won a feature event in sport mod, "A" mod, or late model competition, who held an IMCA sport mod license, and had raced at least once this season at LCS. It was estimated that twenty seven drivers would be eligible for the race, which at last count would have a winners check similar to the regular feature, with at least the top five taking home money. The American Iron Racing Series were special guest for the evening as well, with a full program of heats and a feature. The track had dozens of "high dollar" prizes as well as a also a candy dash all for the youngsters on what began as a scorching hot August evening.

   There was plenty of moisture in the track surface, and it was "hammer down" and smooth as glass for most of the night. In fact there were only two cautions during the thirteen heat races, with one of those for a false start.

   Following the lengthy intermission, the Rookie Rally race was up first. A dozen cars lined up for a dozen laps. While it was certainly an admirable experiment, it did showcase the fact that there are drivers in this class in need of extra laps, funds or knowledge to run up front. One of the up and comers in the sport mod division, Logan Cumby had to be considered a  favorite to win even though he started in the fifth row. Indeed, he picked up the win while passing few if any cars, as he was able to simply wait out the spinners. Five yellow flags marred the first three laps, with the race then staying green the rest of the way to beat the time limit. Nicholas Profeta did a nice job, starting sixth and taking the runner up spot after battling with Josh Holtman. Brandon Lambert ran fourth, and Reed Wolfmeyer lost his third place finish as he spun in turn three coming to the checkers, recovering to take fifth.

   Ten IMCA stock cars lined up for eighteen laps. Outside pole sitter, Jason See, an infrequent visitor to the track, jumped to the early lead. See had opened a sizable advantage by the time ninth starting Abe Huls worked his way to second with a dozen laps to go, fighting an intense battle with Chris Wibbell and John Oliver Jr. for the position. As the race ran caution free, Abe gradually closed the gap on the leader, and was on the rear bumper of See as the laps wound down. Jason had been running the top in turns three and four, and entering high in one before diamonding to the bottom out of turn two. As the white flag waved, he moved to the bottom where Huls was operating to try and cut off the inside line. It was a successful  move, as See took the flag to flag win. Huls settled for the runner up spot in front of Oliver Jr., Wibbell, and Jerry Jansen. Jason Cook came in with a ten point leader over Oliver and drove a conservative race to finish ninth and claim the class championship. 

   The IMCA modifieds were fifteen strong, lining up for eighteen laps. Chad Giberson led the opening laps, as Michael Long, driving the Daniel Fellows #11, started eighth and moved towards the front. Long pulled a dandy move to split two cars and jump to third on lap four, but a caution flag negated the move. Following the Delaware style restart, he powered to second, then quickly to the lead. He was checked out on the field when the yellow flag waved with eleven laps to go. Row five starter Mark Burgtorf charged to second on the restart, holding off Austin Howes, Jeff Waterman and a fast closing Dennis Laveine. Long again ran away from the pack, while Burgtorf also pulled away in second. As Laveine took third, Howes pulled to the infield with four circuits remaining. With no further stops, Long cruised to the win, while Burgtorf continued his string of second place finishes. Laveine, Waterman, and Brandon Dale followed. Dale entered the race with a one point lead over Long, but the victory gave Michael the title. 

   Thirteen of the A.I.R.S. competitors checked in, with Scott Van Buskirk in his 1958 Studebaker, and Jeff Hollenbeck not making the twelve lap feature call. This event went non stop as well, with former late model and modified standout Steve Johnson coming from row four to the win in may have been a mid 70's Oldsmobile. Bart Miller took second in his 1961 Ford. 

   The IMCA sport compact point championship already belonged to Brandon Reu as twelve cars came to the track for fifteen laps of action. Adam Christy came from row two to top the opening circuit. With fifth starting Josh Barnes soon taking up the chase, the front duo pulled away from the pack. As the leaders crossed the line for lap four, Barnes was a bumper in front, but a caution before the lap was complete gave the point back to Christy. From there he gradually increased his lead to take the win. Barnes followed, leading Chuck Fullenkamp, Chevy Barnes, and Kimberly Abbott in the top five. Reu came home seventh behind Dyllan Bonk. 

   Tommy Elston had asix point lead over Burgtorf as the fifteen IMCA late models lined up for twenty laps. Hard luck driver Nick Marolf sat outside row one, and quickly overpowered Ray Raker to lead lap one. Jay Johnson lined up in fourth, and took second four laps in. Marolf headed for another zip code as a dramatic five car scrum developed for positions fourth through eighth. At the back of that group, tenth starting Elston was able to somehow worm his way through three cars as all five exited turn four, trying to keep Burgtorf at bay. Elston and Burgtorf were able to eventually clear a stubborn Denny Woodworth, but by then Marolf, Johnson, and C J Horn had a lock on the top three positions. The fourth place run secured the track title for Elston over fifth finishing Burgtorf. Woodworth checked in sixth ahead of his team mate Dustin Griffin, Raker, National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Gary Webb, and Matt Strassheim. This race also went caution free.

   IMCA sport mods would round out the action, with all but one of the twenty two cars taking the green. A spinner on lap one looked ominous but remarkably that would be the only caution of the eighteen lap race. Tom Bowling Jr. had heat race issues and was allowed a few hot laps at intermission, but now he quickly took the top spot aided by a pole start, taking along Barry Taft in the #55. By lap two, fifth starting Brandon Savage had pounded the cushion to the runner up position. Two more laps found Bowling Jr., Savage, Tanner Klingele, and ninth starting Austen Becerra nose to tail and side by side for the lead. Just after the halfway mark, Bowling was forced to check up ever so slightly for a slower car, and Savage charged around both cars for the lead. Two more circuits and Becerra had made his way to second. With fourteen in the books, Austen used a low side pass exiting turn two to move to the front. That was the move of the race, as Becerra claimed the win and the track championship. Savage continued his string of top finishes in second, followed by Bowling Jr., Klingele, and Adam Birck.

   With all the extra hoopla, the night wrapped up shortly after 10:30. LCS will now take a week off before coming back on SATURDAY September 11 for the late model Drive for Five finale. They will follow that up with a two night show in early October, and of course Shiverfest on All Hallows Eve. 

   Darryl and I will catch up with Fred tonight at the Davenport Speedway for the conclusion of the Quad Cities 150, as the World of Outlaw late models race seventy laps for a $30,000 top prize. The joint will be rockin', so come early and enjoy the food trucks, vendor booths, and of course, the racing!

Diercks Captures West Liberty Checkers

    Friday night was episode two in the Hoker Trucking SLMR east series late model weekend tour through eastern Iowa. The historic half mile fairgrounds oval in West Liberty, Iowa was the setting. Once a regular Saturday night destination, the track now sees action only a handful of times each season. The half miles are seemingly no longer preferred by drivers and perhaps fans as the cars sometimes get a bit strung out, but for pure speed, West Liberty is hard to beat. Strung out cars was certainly not an issue this night!

   Four divisions of regular racers filled the card on Friday, with a pair of exhibition classes, the American Iron Racing Series and Midwest Jalopies also on hand.

   SLMR uses a lineup system beginning with time trials followed by a six car invert in the heat races which would seem to put the fast timers at a disadvantage on the "hammer down" tracks we have seen the past two events. For the second night in a row, Chad Holladay topped the two lap qualifying with a lap of 19.221 seconds. Starting sixth in the first heat was only a minor set back however as he blasted to the front to pick up the win. Heats two and three went to the outside pole sitters, Brian Harris in the Lynn Richard #15R normally driven by Mark Burgtorf, and series points leader Justin Kay. In the second heat, pole sitter Curt Schroeder lost the handle entering turn one, spun in front of the field and pinned Andy Eckrich against the concrete wall. Although his crew thrashed on the #56, Andy was unable to make the feature call.

   With heat races in the books, the track crew took about twenty minutes to work on the corners and it was soon feature time. The 4 stock ten lapper was first on the card. Unfortunately only four cars checked in for the night, and Cody Montgomery could only watch the feature from the trailer, leaving us three starters. On lap two Cody VanDusen smacked the wall between turns one and two, ending his run. Alex Hayes then stretched his lead over Dylan Welsch to pick up the win.

   IMCA type modifieds were next, with fourteen scheduled starters for twenty laps. Derrick Stewart lined up on the pole and opened up a sizable lead over third starting Dakota Simmons. Soon row three starter Denny Eckrich was hounding Simmons for second, with seventh starting Jeff Aikey joining the party. As lap nine was scored, Eckrich tried a slide job on Simmons, and the three competitors raced down the front chute three wide behind Stewart. Eckrich took the runner up spot, and at the crossed flags signaling the half way mark, he was closing fast, while Aikey moved to third. Eckrich held the lead into turn one on lap thirteen, but Stewart retook the point down the back stretch. With six laps to go, Aikey suddenly slowed down the front chute, his run over. And on the restart it was Eckrich coming to a stop out of turn two, his charge over, as well. Now it was Kurt Kile using the Delaware restart to advance to second, taking up pursuit of the leader. Stewart was streaking through the high line while Kile followed him through turns one and two, then dove low at the other end of the track. He was unable to make the pass, and Stewart picked up a hard fought win. Kile held off Simmons for second, with Jarrett Brown and Brandon Banks rounding out the top five.

   Thirty five trips around would be the goal for the late models. I am not sure what the lineup procedure is for their main event, but it was Nick Marolf and Spencer Diercks leading the remaining twenty three cars to the green flag. With Diercks leading and Holladay coming from row two to third, they gained a bit of separation before catching slower traffic on lap seven. Two laps later, the yellow flag waved for Jim Cruise, who smacked the turn one wall, wiping out a nice lead for Diercks. With Cruise finally removed from the track, the race stayed green and the leaders again caught the back of the pack just past the halfway mark. At this point, several of the lapped cars headed for the infield, creating plenty of racing room for the front runners. On lap twenty two, fourth running Chris Simpson rolled to a stop after belching smoke from his #32. Marolf used a strong restart to grab the lead, slowly stretching his margin until he suddenly came to a stop out of turn two with ignition troubles seven laps from the checkers, a heartbreaking end to his run. Diercks restarted in front, with now second running Dave Eckrich choosing the inside line behind him. Holladay lined up outside Eckrich and charged to second, but the caution came out for debris. So on the next attempt, Dave switched to the outside line and held second as racing resumed. Eckrich was able to stay close to Diercks, but not close enough to make a move as the laps clicked off. It was a thrilled Diercks who put his #29 in victory lane. Eckrich followed up his Thursday win with a runner up finish as he moves ever closer to the points lead. Holladay made it two thirds in two nights, and Jason Hahne advanced six positions to fourth. Charlie McKenna recorded his second top five of the weekend. Chad Simpson wheeled the Jay Johnson #93 to a sixth place finish, followed by Justin Kay, Jeff Tharp, Darrel Defrance, and J.C. Wyman to round out the top ten.

   The first of the exhibition classes was next on the card ahead of the twenty four car sport mod main, so we headed to the parking lot for the two hour plus drive home. Thanks to Robert, Carrie, and the Drt Trak gang for their hospitality. They will move on to Maquoketa Speedway tonight for the wrap up of the SLMR mini tour as part of the Brit Montgomery Memorial, and will be back at West Liberty as stop two of another three race SLMR weekend on Friday, September 24. Mark it on your calender, as I have! 

   I would like to offer my sincere condolences to the family of racing legend Ramo Stott. Ramo was a boyhood hero on the track and someone I was proud to get to know off the track as well. His racing legacy has stretched through generations, with sons Corrie and Lance and now grandson Brandon Savage carrying the checkered flag.        R.I.P., Ramo.

  

Dave Eckrich Cashes in at C.J.

    Thursday night was the rescheduled Hoker Trucking SLMR east series event at the C. J. Speedway in Columbus Junction, Iowa. In addition to the super late models racing for a $3,000 top prize, three of the weekly classes were also on the card. IMCA modifieds, IMCA sport mods, and stock cars battled for extra prize money, with sponsor donations swelling the winners share to $1,000 for the sport mods and stock cars. The SLMR portion of the night would be the first of a three night tour through eastern Iowa, with a Friday night stop at the West Liberty Raceway followed by Saturday night action at the Maquoketa Speedway. 

   The legendary track on the Louisa County Fairgrounds was for many years a half mile staple of the long defunct MVSC  - the Mississippi Valley Speed Club, but has since been shortened to a very racy 4/10 mile oval complete with a unique levee on the backstretch to hold back the sometimes rising waters of the volatile Iowa River.

   Eighty six cars checked in on a sultry evening, highlighted by twenty five late models. Competition kicked off with late model time trials and Chad Holladay took top honors posting a lap of 18.950 seconds.

  Eleven heat races set the feature fields and within all cars qualified for feature racing, there were no useless position dashes disguised as "B mains."

   With no break in the action all eighteen modifieds lined up for twenty laps. Derrick Stewart and track point champion Jarrett Brown paced the field, with Brown holding the early lead. As lap two was scored, fourth starting Denny Eckrich had powered to second, and row four starter Cayden Carter joined the front duo on lap five. By the halfway mark, Eckrich was hounding the leader, and he used an inside move in turn three to grab the lead on lap eleven. With the top three separated from the pack, Carter closed on Brown for second at lap seventeen while Eckrich maintained a solid lead. Flagman Doug Haack displayed the "two to go" sign, Eckrich charged through turn one and in a totally out of character move, looped his #50 as he exited turn two. The only caution flag of the event saw Carter down low and Brown up top restart side by side for a green, white, checkers finish. Carter immediately pulled to the lead and acknowledged his good fortune in victory lane. Brown came home second in front of Stewart. Jeff Waterman and Kyle Madden battled throughout, and completed the first five in that order.

   Stock cars were next, all nineteen cars for twenty laps. With young Dallon Murty starting on the pole, the rest of the pack had a tall order to keep him from the winners' circle. Outside row one starter Johnny Spaw and third starting David Brandies are also no strangers to victory lane, and they kept Murty in their sites while father Damon Murty moved from row three to fourth. The first yellow came at lap three, and Brandies used the Delaware style restart to move to second as the elder Murty took third. A second caution came at lap five and now Damon took up the chase in second. The preferred and seemingly fastest line was low on the track, but Damon was working a high line, searching for speed. Spaw rebounded to second following a third and final caution, but Damon soon retook the spot and was again searching the high side for a line to the front. With the white flag in the air, Dallon bobbled slightly as he ran the middle through turn one, and Damon was able to execute an inside pass for the lead and the win. Dallon joined his father in victory lane, no doubt a bit disappointed in his runner up finish. Spaw ran third, followed by Brandies and row six starter Corey Strothman.

   Thirty laps would be the distance for the late models. Twenty four drivers lined up, with Nick Marolf the only one to not answer the call. The front row was all Eckrich, with Andy and heat two winner Dave setting the pace. The first attempt at a start was waved off as Jon Brauns rolled to a stop in front of the inside front stretch wall. On the next try, it Was Andy leading Dave, fourth starting Holladay, and sixth starting Chris Simpson. Dave Eckrich drove around his brother on lap two, and by the time Simpson grabbed second at lap six, Dave held a sizable lead. Holladay then made the pass for the runner up spot, and by lap twelve, slower traffic was coming into play allowing Chad to close the gap to the leader. Four more circuits, traffic was heavy, and Simpson again joined the front duo in what was now a three car scrum. Holladay powered to the front on lap twenty one, holding the spot until Dave Eckrich was nose ahead as lap twenty four was scored. Simpson had one last gasp, taking second with three laps left and making a run at the leader, but Dave was not to be denied, as he picked up his first SLMR win. Chasing Simpson and Holladay, it was Charlie McKenna topping Andy for fourth. Jason Hahne moved up six spots to sixth, and Chad Simpson piloted the Jay Johnson #93 in seventh. Heat three winner Todd Cooney came home in eighth, besting series point leader Justin Kay and row ten starter Jeff Aikey. Mark Burgtorf topped the first heat, but finished outside the top ten. 

   This blogger had an early call for Friday, so we headed to the parking lot as the sport mods came to the track for the finale. Congrats to Dylan VanWyk on his win over Shane Paris, Colton Livezey, twenty first starting Austen Becerra in the Logan Cumby #8C, and Trey Rock. 

   Thanks to Larry Richardson and staff for a quick week night show on a well prepared track that yielded exciting side by side racing throughout! We will be leaving soon for night number two of the SLMR east mini tour at the West Liberty fairgrounds half mile. If you see us there, stop and say "Hi!"

Sheppard Wins the Battle at Highland

    While stubborn showers and a sketchy forecast cancelled racing across the state of Missouri on Friday, we took a chance and ventured south to the Highland, Illinois Speedway for the make up UMP Summernationals late model and Summit modified event originally scheduled for July 10. The headline race would feature a $10,000 top prize to the winner of the late model feature, while the mods would compete for a $2,000 check.

   Bobby Pierce came into the weekend, which would move across the Mississippi River to the I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri for a Saturday make up event, as the late model points leader. Nick Hoffman, who has completely dominated the modified tour to this point, winning all but one race, would not be in action, having temporarily taken over driving duties in the Scott Bloomquist #0 late model.

   UMP ProMods and Street Stocks would fill out the card.

   Time trials kicked off the proceedings. Rodney Standerfer was quickest among the twenty three modifieds with a lap of 13.926, one of only two to break the fourteen second mark. Late models were paced by one of the first two cars out, track regular Blaze Burwell , who circled the quarter mile at 13.203 seconds as the times for the most part slowed as qualifying continued for the twenty nine entrants.

   Areas of mud in the infield were witness to the heavy rains the track had recieved, and track workers spent some time after qualifying trying to smooth the bumps out of the racing surface. Finally the first heat hit the track about 8:00 P.M. In typical UMP "time 'em and start 'em straight up," all three late model ten lappers were won from the pole position. Burwell topped his row one mate Tanner English, Bobby Pierce defeated the outside pole sitter Brandon Sheppard, and Garrett Alberson grabbed heat three followed by fourth starting Shannon Babb. The top five from each heat would transfer to the fifty lap feature straight up behind the heat winners who would draw amongst themselves for the top three positions.

   Heat race action for the other classes was followed by a late model consy, with local drivers Todd Rehg, Dan Jacober, and Paul Kuper moving to the main event. Four provisionals would fill out the twenty two car starting field.

   A rather lengthy intermission followed while track track crew again worked the choppy surface. 

   Late models would run first, and there was drama before the green flag even waved. Ninth starting Todd Tischauser apparently lost a wheel as the cars prepared for the parade lap. He was allowed to make repairs, but then made to go to the back of the field. Meanwhile, Brandon Lance ducked to the infield work area ahead of the green, but came back to tag the tail following a caution as lap one was scored. Pierce had redrawn the pole, and he paced Alberson and English on the opening circuit. That early yellow involved track regulars Daryn Klein, Michael Kloos, and Jacober, with only Jacober able to continue. Sixth starting Babb powered to third on the Delaware style restart. While the leaders hugged the low line around the tire barrier, fifth starting Sheppard began searching for a bite one lane higher while being scored in fourth. Pierce opened a commanding lead, catching slower traffic about lap ten. All eyes were now on Babb and Sheppard, as the two veterans battled for third. Around lap fifteen Sheppard secured the position, then began working his higher line chasing Alberson for second. The yellow waved for the second time about lap twenty ( Highland could use a scoreboard or a stronger P.A.!) Sheppard charged to second on the restart and was now hounding the leader. As the crossed flags signaled the halfway mark, the top two had pulled away, running nose to tail and side by side, bouncing through the corners. Five more laps, and Pierce caught a rut exiting turn two, allowing Sheppard to slip around on the inside line. Before the lap was scored, however, the caution came out giving the lead back to Pierce, much to the dismay of many in the packed grandstands. Pierce survived another yellow for Mitch McGrath, who spun while running fifth. Ashton Winger now entered the conversation, breaking into the top five after starting fifteenth. Back under green, they battled side by side, with Brandon holding a slight edge past the flag stand on lap thirty six. Pierce had regained the spot as the yellow came out again, but this time Lady Luck was with B Shepp, who restarted out front. Pierce stayed close for one more lap before he temporarily lost the handle in turn four. He was able to recover in time to hold second, but Sheppard was able to open a sizable lead as a result. The race then stayed green until the end, with Sheppard taking a popular win in his family owned #B5. Pierce was runner up, followed by English. Alberson had faded out of the top five, but rebounded to grab fourth in front of Winger. Babb finished where he started in sixth, besting Joe Godsey, Jason Feger, Burwell, and tenth starting Chad Zobrist.

   While three features remained on the card, it was now on the wrong side of 10:30, so we headed out for the long distance walk to the parking area. (A trip to Highland is not for the feint of heart!) Checking results on the three hour trip home, Mike Harrison took the modified money from the pole over fourth starting Standerfer. First heat winner Owen Steinkoenig topped the ProMods from outside row one, and Gary Walker turned a pole start into a street stock win. 

   While everyone will surely want to check all the nuts and bolts after battling on a track with "character," the late model feature was very entertaining and kept the conversation going long after the checkers waved!

   At this time, our next adventure is scheduled to be the rescheduled SLMR east series race at the C J Speedway in Columbus Junction, Iowa on Thursday, August 19.  Hope to see you there!

A Full Night of Racing in Donnellson

        After yet another rain out, this time for their Saturday night, "Drive for Five" event, Lee County Speedway was geared up for what would now be the sixth and final qualifier in the season long build up to the potential $5,000 to win finales coming soon. Both the IMCA late model and IMCA modified features would pay $1,000 to win this night, plus a $250 bonus for the late models, courtesy of the Sonoco Fuels bonus program. Filling out the card would be the other three weekly IMCA classes, stock cars, sport mods, and sport compacts as well as a late addition of the Mini Haulers/trucks class.

    An excellent field of ninety six cars checked in with a full grandstand due in part to the staging of the postponed "Christmas in July" event, with Santa Claus on hand and a host of prizes for youngsters and adults alike. The track was unusually tacky all night long, thanks to a half inch of rain in the early morning hours. It took fourteen heat races to set the feature fields, with no B mains needed as the IMCA sport mods had the highest count at twenty four.

   Feature action kicked off with all twelve IMCA sport compacts lining up for fifteen laps. Heat race winners Brandon Reu and Kimberly Abbott took the green from row five while fourth starting Adam Christy jumped to the lead and opened a nearly straightaway lead. Reu was the first to break through, moving to second about lap six. The only caution flag of the race came just after halfway when Ashton Blain stopped in turn two. This brought Christy back to the pack, and Reu wasted no time powering to the front on the restart. He then cruised to the win, although Christy stayed within striking distance. Abbott won a back and forth duel with Dyllan Bonk for third, while Kaycee McGregor rolled home in fifth. 

   A large field of twenty one IMCA late models signed in to do battle. Stock car veteran Jeremy Pundt made his late model debut in a car purchased just this week from Lynn Richard. For his first time out, Jeremy kept the #15X, tagged the tail and ran competitively in his heat race before an early exit in the twenty five lap finale. Dave Eckrich started on the pole of the draw redraw feature, taking the lead over third starting Dustin Griffin while sixth starting Tommy Elston muscled his way to third. However the yellow flag waved before a lap was scored, causing an original restart. Back to racing, it would be twenty five non stop laps. This time Eckrich led Griffin, brother Andy Eckrich, who lined up eighth, and Elston. On lap two, Andy charged to second and Denny Woodworth cleared Elston for fourth. By the halfway mark, the Eckrich brothers had made it a two car battle. With a dozen laps left on the scoreboard, Andy drove to the front as the duo approached slower traffic. From that point he stretched out to a comfortable margin. Elston found a bit of traction in the closing laps, moving to fourth, then third, but could not run down the leaders. At the line, it was Andy, Dave, Elston, Griffin, and Andy Nezworski. Woodworth ran sixth, besting Gary Webb, who had his hands full with Justin Kay, first time visitor Kirby Schultz, and Mark Burgtorf, who started tenth and finished there. 

   The IMCA stock car class was the lone disappointment, as only nine cars checked in. Eight were left come feature time, with eighteen laps to be run. Chris Wibbell led Beau Taylor for lap one, with Jason Cook and John Oliver Jr. joining Taylor three wide for the runner up spot as they crossed the line for the second time. Six laps in, Oliver Jr. found his way around Wibbell and was opening a lead when the lone yellow came at the halfway point as Leremy Jackson came to a stop on the backstretch with an apparent blown engine. Cook was able to take second on the Delaware restart, but Wibbell continued to hound him for the remaining circuits. Oliver picked up another win, trailed by Cook, Wibbell, Taylor, and Jerry Jansen.

   All twenty IMCA modifieds took the feature green for twenty two laps, and a star studded group it was! Michael Long sat on row one and looked to be the presumptive favorite. But that it why we race 'em and don't just pay 'em! Row two starter Chris Zogg followed Michael while Dennis Laveine slipped past Jeff Waterman for third on lap two. Cayden Carter lined up seventh, and on the third trip around he advanced to fourth. Long stretched his lead as Zogg, Laveine, and Carter battled for second. Five laps in, a multi car mixup in turn two ended with Drew Janssen taking a hard roll in his #127. When action resumed, Carter needed only one lap to claim the runner up spot, and the race was on. Cayden was easing his car around the inside tire barrier while Michael worked the middle groove around the 3/8 mile oval. As the crossed flags signaled eleven down, Carter drove to the front. He then gradually increased his lead while Long was well ahead of a tight battle for third between Zogg and Laveine. Meanwhile, Bill Roberts Jr. and Mark Burgtorf ran side by side for fifth. The checkers waved over the "Gas Man" Carter, followed by Long, Zogg, Laveine, Roberts Jr., and Burgtorf, who came from row seven.

   There were ten trucks signed in to race, and while short on entries they did put on an entertaining twelve laps. Brian Tipps led the first six laps before Ryan Barton took over. Tucker Richardson also cleared Tipps briefly as the top three easily distanced from the rest of the field. Tipps retook the second spot and tried to mount a challenge for the lead on the final set of turns, but Barton held on for the win. Tipps and Richardson followed. The trucks no longer have a "home track," as they just do not have the numbers to support running weekly, although they may be added to the LCS schedule on occasion in 2022.

   Coincidence or not, the IMCA sport mods were last on the card again on Friday, and it proved a wise decision. Three yellow flags and one red in the first five features before six caution flags brought us to the time limit in the finale, which was then shortened to I believe thirteen laps. As the Mayflies threatened to take over the fairgrounds, Brandon Savage and Logan Cumby brought the twenty three remaining cars to green. Cumby took the lead, but the start was waved off as Jadin Fuller pounded the front stretch guardrail. On the second attempt, Austen Becerra was slow on the start, rolling to a stop in turn one. His #22 had similar issues in his heat race, suddenly slowing as he battled for second. In that race he pulled to the infield and had to line up twenty first in the feature. A push start and he tagged the tail of the feature, and this time it was Savage out front. By lap four, eighteenth starting Jim Gillenwater, who spun to avoid an accident in his heat, and Becerra, were in the top ten. Another yellow at lap five saw twelfth starting Jake Griffin now in fifth, and he quickly moved to second. It was the first night at LCS for the young man from Quincy,Il. who most recently competed and I believe finished twelfth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Knoxville Raceway. Another caution three laps later wiped out a big lead for Savage and reset the field single file. Meanwhile Becerra was methodically climbing through the pack, and was in the runner spot with seven laps to go when his gremlins resurfaced bringing out another yellow and ending his night. As the green waved yet again, Joe Bliven, with an assist from another driver, spun on the front stretch and was hit hard by Colton Bowman. The crash caused heavy damage to both cars. Mercifully it was finally time for "green, white, checkers." Savage recorded a jubilant flag to flag win, two weeks after marking his season debut with a blown engine. Griffin was happy with a runner up finish in his first night out. Tanner Klingele, Cumby, and Sean Wyett completed the top five.

   LCS will take next week off before returning with the Sprint Invaders topping the bill on Friday, August 20. Currently we are watching the weather, with a Sunday visit to the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa on our wish list. I apologize if you are receiving this entry late, as we seem to be having a bit of trouble with the Positively Racing site today!