Body III Tops Cash Money Late Models at Springfield

    Heavy and persistent rains throughout the middle part of the week played havoc with racing schedules in the mid west. A planned week day trip to the Dallas County Speedway in Urbana, Missouri saw their USMTS championship series race washed out, and wet grounds also forced cancellation - which later became postponement - of Shiverfest at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. So with Jeff at the wheel and Darryl along, we literally headed across northern Missouri on Saturday with three possible destinations. At about 12:30, promoter Jerry Hoffman announced that the Cash Money late model season championship event at the Springfield Raceway was a go, so we backtracked a bit then headed south to the quarter mile facility tucked in the south west Missouri countryside. 

    We arrived minutes ahead of the advertised 4:30 hot laps to a bustling pit area with a few late comers still lining pit road. Seven local classes would run in support of the twenty seven late models, making a total of one hundred eighteen cars on hand in front of a sparse crowd on this sunny but chilly early fall evening. 

    Racing kicked off right at 5:00. The late models, racing for $1,200 to win and an impressive $450 to start the thirty lap feature, were divided into four heat races. The series used a draw for starting spots in the eight lap qualifiers, with the top fourteen in passing points moving to the A main. As a result, we saw plenty of passing in the four heats. Isaac Keeper came from row two to capture heat one over fifth starting Austin Vincent, Jace Parmley, and Brett Testerman, with those two starting fourth and sixth, respectively. Brandon Baldridge turned a pole start into a heat two win ahead of seventh starting Jim Body III, and fourth starter Aaron Scroggins. Heat three was captured by fourth starting Cole Wells in front of seventh starting Jim Body, row twos' Justin Wells, and pole sitter Bobby Maggard. Finally Mitch Keeter gained four spots to win heat four, topping row three mate Dustin Mooneyham, and out side row one starter Chuck Comer. With fourteen more heat races in the books, the remaining thirteen late models lined up for a twelve lap B main qualifying the top four for the big dance. Chris Hawkins came all the way from tenth to take the win in front of Justin Pearish, Scott Fry, and Jaxon Ertel. Point provisionals would go to Tim Petty and Jimmy Vanzandt, rounding out the twenty car lineup for the feature. 

    Nine Pure Stocks then lined up for their feature race. Pole sitter Karla Lampe followed up her heat one win by leading early before Grayson McKiney drove his #05G to the front to claim the win. Scotty Carter, Kolby Rathbone, and heat two winner Chris Countryman completed the top five.

    Intermission came next, and it turned into a long one, as the children in attendance were turned loose in the pit area to trick or treat while the track crew put a dose of water on the track.

    Finally we were back to racing. Legends cars were up next, nine strong. Heat winners Jay Reynolds and Trenton Simon shared row one, and it was Simon picking up the win with Reynolds in second. Steve Harshbarger, Steven Harshbarger Jr., and Matthew Bowen rounded out the first five.

   The late models were the headline class on this night, and they came to the track next. Mooneyham and Vincent shared row one, with Mooneyham getting the jump. However first the yellow, then the red flag would fly before lap one was scored for a pair of two car collisions in turn three. Ertel would be the only car unable to continue. Mooneyham again took the lead on the restart, and on lap two fourth starting Body III charged to second. Mooneyham had a bit of distance on Body III as they caught slower traffic on lap ten, but the yellow came out again for something that I apparently missed. Keeter moved to second following the Delaware restart ahead of a final caution. With twelve laps in the books, Body III powered around Mooneyham for the lead. Now the first four separated from the pack, with Body III and fourth running Cole Wells using the low line, and second and third place Mooneyham and Keeter on the high side. As the laps clicked off quickly, the younger Body opened a nice advantage, but with eight circuits remaining, Wells jumped to second, preparing to challenge the leader. Body III however remained in control, and four laps later it was Keeter charging to second. At the checkers, it was Body III with the win, followed by Keeter, Wells, Mooneyham, and Body. Parmley topped the next five ahead of Justin Wells, Keeper, Vincent, and Comer. 

    Along with the winner, points champion Cole Wells, and Rookie of the Year Keeter came to victory lane for their honors as we made our way to the car for the long drive home, regretfully missing another five features! 

   Up next on the calendar is the annual Turkey Dash at Larry Richardsons' C J Speedway in Columbus Junction, Iowa next Saturday, November 6.  Five classes of IMCA rules cars will be in action, with hot laps tentatively set for 2:00. Check their website for more info. And as previously mentioned, Shiverfest, at the Lee County Speedway was canceled only to be revived for a weather dependent date of November 20. Again, keep an eye on their website or on Facebook for more info. November 20 will also be the date of the annual Turkey Bowl race at Springfield Raceway. So there is still lots of potential for Racin' Down the Road!

Ramsey, Spaw, Carter, Fullenkamp, Carter Tops at Scotland County

    After a trip to visit the great grandson, it was back to racing on Saturday night. It would be night number two of the Calvin Meyer Memorial at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. Calvin was a dedicated race fan and friend to many who lost his life in 2020, leaving behind his wife and young daughter. This first annual racing weekend was washed out last fall at the historic fairgrounds facility, which now hosts events about four times per season.

    With heavy rain predicted before midnight, race director Mike Van Genderen moved up hot laps to 5:00 P.M., a welcome change for these crisp fall evenings. Just over one hundred race teams signed in to do battle on the smooth, wide, semi banked dirt oval, perhaps 4/10 mile in length. On this night the racing surface was in pristine condition, fast all night and black slick when the final checkers fell.

    It took thirteen heat races and a pair of B mains to set the feature fields. Between the "spin and you're in" rule and the fact that one race followed the next so quickly that announcer Tony Paris could barely recap the qualified cars and give the line up for the next race, folks were still coming in at feature time!

   In fact, the hobby stock main event actually ran between the sport mod and modifieds B mains. All sixteen cars took the green for fifteen laps. Dustin Griffiths lined up on the pole and grabbed the lead ahead of a lap two caution. On the restart, Friday winner Luke Ramsey charged to the front, followed in second two circuits later by Mike Kincaid. Soon a three car scrum for the position developed between Griffiths, Kincaid, and Clint Nelson. Ramsey had opened a sizable lead by the time a second and final caution came for debris with five laps to go. Nelson used the Delaware restart to move to second, and at the checkers it was Ramsey, Nelson, Kincaid, Griffiths, and Solomon Bennett.

    Eighteen cars took the twenty lap feature green flag in the stock car division. Following a yellow flag on the start, Tom Berry shot to the front from the pole position in the #99D normally driven by Damon Murty. As Berry stretched his lead, ninth starting Johnny Spaw began to charge through the pack, claiming the second spot on lap six. Spaw then began to close on the leader ahead of a caution flag at the half way mark. Spaw put his #00 out front as racing resumed, then pulled away from the field until a final yellow came with four laps remaining. It was no problem, however for Spaw, who repeated his night one victory. Miciah Hidlebaugh out dueled Berry and Abe Huls for second. David Brandies had issues in his heat race and was forced to start in row nine for the feature. He then advanced all the way to fifth at the checkers. 

    Twenty two laps would be the distance for the twenty four car sport mod field. Austen Becerra was doing double duty in both modified classes, and he powered from row two to lead the first lap, taking his row two mate Brayton Carter along in second. A pair of cautions at laps four and five saw Austen stay out front, however Curtis Van Der Wal now took over the runner up spot and began to work on the leader. As lap eleven was scored, Curtis was ahead by the slimmest of margins. Lapped traffic became the focus at lap thirteen, and when Van Der Wal and Becerra got caught behind slower cars, Carter used the high line to charge to the front. Two more cautions came with five laps to go, and now it was Brayton in front and Becerra using everything he had to try and grab the lead. In the final set of turns, Becerra went full bore but his #22 got out of shape, dropping him to fifth at the stripe. Cayden Carter in the Maguire Dejong #30M took runner up honors to " Speedy Bray", chased by Dylan Van Wyk, and Van Der Wall. 

    Fifteen sport compacts lined up for fifteen laps of action. Barry Taft started up front and put his #2 in the lap one lead. Chuck Fullenkamp and Kimberly Abbott raced three wide with Taft as the next circuit was scored, and by lap three Fullenkamp had secured the top spot. Jeffrey Delonjay charged through the pack to second place on lap four, and it quickly became a two car battle with Fullenkamp out front and Delonjay nipping at his heels. Friday winner Brandon Reu advanced to third at lap ten, but could not close on the leaders. As the laps wound down, Fullenkamp stretched his lead and cruised to the win in the non stop event. Delonjay recorded the runner up finish, with Reu, Isaiah Penton, and Michael Grossman completing the top five. 

    Modifieds racing, twenty four strong for twenty five laps would close out the evening. Chris Spaulding was wheeling a #00, and he paced the opening circuit with double duty Cayden Carter in tow. Cayden took over on the next lap, and from there the race would be for second on back. Becerra came to the runner up spot on lap five, but Carter continued to build his lead. Kurt Kile started in row four and moved to third on lap nine. Just past the crossed flags of starter Doug Haack to signal the half way mark, Carter caught the back of the pack, but he skillfully negotiated the slower cars with little problem. With no cautions to slow his momentum, Carter repeated his Friday victory in dominating fashion. Becerra held on to the second spot this time, while Mark Burgtorf cleared Kile late to claim third. Kile and Spaulding rounded out the top five. 

    The final checkers had us in the car headed home by 8:45! A big thanks to Mike Van Genderen for his hospitality and to him and his outstanding crew for a well prepared track, and a lightning fast show on a chilly Saturday night. 

    Weather permitting, we are looking at one more midweek show at the Dallas County Speedway in Urbana, Missouri on Wednesday as part of the USMTS championship week, and of course next Saturday is the highly anticipated Shiverfest at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. 

   I also want to give a shout out to Randolph County Raceway promoters Jim and Tammy Lieurance on the exciting news that they will be reopening the former Quincy Raceways in 2022. Stay tuned here and at the Adams County (Illinois) Speedway website for updates.

Shirley Takes Tri City Dollars

    Tri City Speedway near Granite City, Illinois was the setting for race night number fifty of my 2021 season. This would mark championship night for the MLRA late model series. Originally scheduled as a two night grand finale, the Friday portion as well as the Thursday practice were cancelled due to rain and wet conditions. The Saturday show would pay a tidy $7,000 to the feature winner, with UMP modifieds racing for $2,000 and B mods filling out the card chasing $1,000 at the top. Lebanon, Missouri driver Tony Jackson Jr. came into the weekend with a healthy points advantage over second place Garrett Alberson. Unofficially, it looked as though Jackson need only to qualify for the main event to lock up the title, which would would be his second overall, the first coming in 2013. While Jackson looked for the $15,000 championship check, fourth place Mason Oberkramer had secured headed for Rookie of the Year honors for the series.

    Having just a single day of racing no doubt had an affect on car counts, but still fields of twenty five late models, twenty five modifieds, and thirty three B mods made for plenty of action. Following late model hot laps, the modifieds did a combo hot lap/qualifying round, with Mike Harrison fastest overall at 16.406 seconds. Late models then came back with two qualifying laps.  Alberson was one of the last to make his run, and he was tops at 14.622 seconds, nipping Shannon Babb by .002 ticks. B mods then hot lapped ahead of heat race action. 

    In typical "time 'em and start 'em up front" fashion, the pole sitter topped all three mod heats, with Timmy Hill, Rick Conoyer, and Harrison taking wins. Late model ten lappers all went to the outside row one starter, with Jeff Herzog, Gordy Gundaker, and Brian Shirley claiming wins. B mods were draw and go. John Stanton, Curt Young, and Cole Cygan came from row two for wins, while Shad Prescott advanced seven spots to capture the final heat. 

   A ten minute break turned into nearly thirty as track workers decided to try and smooth out a couple of rough spots on the track caused no doubt by the obviously heavy rains the track had received. The B mods then completed qualifying with a B main where Rob Neubauer gained six positions to take the win. 

    The late model forty lap headliner would be first on the feature docket. All twenty five drivers made the call. Oberkramer was forced to start at the tail after unloading his back up car for his heat race. Herzog paced the opening pair of laps ahead of the first caution for a Tim Simpson spin. Back to racing, Jackson Jr. moved to third after starting in seventh, and Gordy Gundaker rebounded to fourth after falling to sixth from the outside pole. Shirley took over the lead on lap five and began to pull away from the field. Alberson got up in the crumbs in turns one and two, falling well back in the top ten. Slower traffic was in play by lap nine, with cars running side by side and nose to tail. Jackson used the opportunity to jump to second and as he did, the yellow waved, with Brennon Willard looping his car in turns one and two, nearly collecting the #56 of Jackson. As racing resumed thirteen laps in, the leaders all ducked to the inside line, while row six starter Bobby Pierce moved to the cushion. But now it was Shannon Babb on the move, taking fifth on lap fifteen as Gundaker charged to third. Shirley was again running away from the pack as Alberson climbed back in the hunt and Pierce began to fade. But with traffic again in play at the halfway mark, Pierce again charged to fifth. Following another caution with twenty eight laps scored, Pierce rolled to a stop on the backstretch. Debris had hit his air cleaner, exposing the engine, and after officials confirmed the issue, he elected to call it a night. Gundaker took over the runner up spot on the restart as Frank Heckenast Jr. powered to third and Jackson dropped to fourth. With Shirley again on cruise control, a final yellow came with four laps to go for sixth running Chad Simpson, who retired to the trailer. This final restart was single file. Two more laps and Heckenast cleared Gundaker for second and began to run down the leader. As the white flag waved, Shirley stayed low on the track while Heckenast moved to his outside. It was a drag race out of turn four to the checkers, with Shirley out front and Heckenast on his bumper. Gundaker was pleased to come home third. Alberson finished fourth, one spot in front of Jackson Jr., securing the runner up spot in the championship standings. Herzog led the second five, followed by a strong run from row seven starter Aaron Marrant. Daniel Hilsabeck was eighth, while Babb faded to ninth. Justin Duty advanced eight spots to finish tenth.

   After considerable post race hoopla by MLRA officials, all but one of the modifieds lined up for thirty laps of racing. Conoyer and Hill ran side by side for the first pair of laps before Hill settled in front. Slower traffic was already in play by lap four, and when one got out of shape, Conoyer made contact, ending his night. Two more quick yellows eliminated top challengers Dean Hoffman and Michael Long. By the time five laps had been scored we were down to fourteen cars on the track, and frustrated officials went with a single file restart. Harrison moved to second before another caution two laps later. Delaware style restarts resumed, Trey Harris took over second, two more laps down and another caution. We were at six cautions before things finally settled down, At the fifteen lap mark, Hill was driving away from the field, Harris was in second, and Dylan Sharp had charged from twentieth to third! As Hill worked efficiently through lapped traffic, Harrison was able to nose past Sharp for third before the next caution at lap twenty one. Back under green Harris mounted a challenge for the lead, but drifted into the crumbs in turns one and two, turning second over to Harrison. Hill was hugging the low line with Harrison working the top. But now it was Harrisons turn to get too close to the wall and Harris reclaimed the spot. With all this going on behind, Hill was stretching his advantage, until a spin by Harris with just three circuits remaining brought out a final caution flag. Sixth starting Danny Ems entered the picture, snatching second away on the restart, and coming to the white flag, Hill suddenly began to fall off the pace. In the right place at the right time, the veteran Ems grabbed the lead and the win. Harrison came home in second while Brandon Bollinger, hung around all race and finished in third. Hill was able to limp to a disappointing fourth, followed by nineteenth starting Jake Trebilcock. Dave Weitholder drove an unfamiliar #27 to a sixth place finish, topping Harris, T.J.Eilers, and Rayce Baker, the only cars remaining on the track. Sharp was credited with tenth. 

    Well chilled, we headed for the car ahead of the B mod finale which was captured by Clint Young over Tommy Seets Jr., Dustin Bosson, Prescott, and Treb Jacoby.

    Thanks to Kevin, Tammy, and crew for staging an entertaining night of racing under very challenging conditions. The week ahead looks busy, but I hope to catch a night of racing next weekend in Memphis, Missouri at the Calvin Meyer Memorial. This first annual event, postponed from 2020 will offer racing on both Friday and Saturday. Hope to see you there!

   

Aikey, Burgtorf, Murty, Anderson, Fullenkamp Tops at Lee County

    Saturday was night number two of the tenth annual Harvest Hustle at the Lee County Speedway on the fairgrounds in Donnellson, Iowa. After a Friday turnout of one hundred and thirty three race teams, one hundred forty six signed in for the finale. Outstanding payouts were on the line, with late models, modifieds, and sport compacts all vying for a $3,000 top prize, while the stock cars and sport mods competed for $2,000 winners' checks.

   Racing kicked off one hour earlier with cloudy, but warm conditions. It took twenty three qualifying events to get ready for feature racing, with the twenty five lap stock car finale rolling off first, fifteen of the seventeen on hand taking the green flag. This race turned into an unusually caution filled, drawn out affair. The red flag came on the opening circuit, when Pete Stodgel rolled his #82 in turn four. A fluid spill, possibly fuel, created a long clean up procedure. That was just the beginning, as six more caution periods marred some great racing. Scooter Dulin paced lap one, with Kirk Kinsley taking over from there. Following a lap two restart, Johnny Spaw split the leaders, and by lap six he had Abe Huls and Friday winner Dallon Murty on his heels. About lap ten, Murty used another restart to grab the lead, but Spaw fought back to the front. At the halfway mark, the pair swapped slide jobs and crossover moves before Murty finally claimed the position. Meanwhile Huls, Jeff Mueller, and David Brandies staged an epic battle for third before getting into a tangle six laps from the checkers that sent Huls to the pits. Murty pulled away to the $2,000 winners' share in the closing laps, while Spaw held off Mueller for second. La Mesa, Texas driver Michael Sheen ran fourth. Last lap contact between Brandies and Kinsley saw Brandies cross the line in fifth, but he was penalized for the altercation, turning fifth over to Shane Richardson. Murty and Huls claimed heat race wins.

    The late models turned out a disappointing fifteen entries for $3,000 to win. Season point champion Tommy Elston and Darrel Defrance lined up in row one for the thirty five lap feature. Elston set the pace early, with fourth starting Jeff Aikey moving to second on lap two. The pair of veterans quickly broke from the pack as Jeff Larson moved to third and Mark Burgtorf used a power move to come from sixth to fourth about lap ten. Andy Nezworski soon joined the battle for third, and on lap fifteen Elston suddenly slowed out of turn two, his run over. Aikey was now in command and two laps later Burgtorf cleared Larson for second, taking Nezworski along in third. The duo swapped the runner up spot before Andy took it for good with five laps remaining. At the checkers, it was Aikey, the newest member of the Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame taking the win. Nezworski, Burgtorf, Larson, and Defrance filled out the first five. Chuck Hanna, Gary Webb, Jay Johnson, Friday winner Darin Duffy, and third generation driver C.J. Horn completed the top ten. The race went caution free. Nezworski and Burgtorf topped the qualifiers.

    Sport mods were up next with the thirty two car field trimmed to twenty four. Following a first lap caution, outside pole sitter Logan Anderson led his front row mate, Jim Gillenwater, pulling well out front before a lap four yellow. Tanner Klingele took over the second spot on the restart, with seventh starting Brayton Carter jumping to third, then clearing Klingele for second. As the race neared the halfway mark, heavy traffic became a factor, and with ten laps left on the scoreboard, Anderson and Carter were neck and neck for the lead. One more trip around and again the yellow flag waved.  The restart saw another yellow, then on the next attempt Carter got shuffled well back in the pack. Twelfth starting Tony Olson was now in the runner up spot with an intense four car battle for third behind him. One more caution came with five laps to go, and back to racing Anderson stretched his advantage, cruising to the win. Olson held second, topping Klingele, who survived a challenge from young Dylan VanWyk. Carter worked his way back to round out the top five. Heat wins went to Tyler Titus, Gillenwater, Tyler Soppe, and Anderson, with Austin Poage and A.J. Tournear claiming the B mains.

    $3,000 would be on the line for the modifieds, with twenty four of the thirty seven on hand scheduled to take the green. However, Denny Eckrich was unable to make the call. Burgtorf, doing double duty in the Baker Racing #03B charged to the front from outside row one ahead of Kyle Brown and pole sitter Dave Weitholder. As Mark stretched his margin, Austen Becerra came roaring to third behind Brown. Burgtorf sat a torrid pace on the now smooth, black slick three eighths mile track, with nearly a straightaway lead as the mid point of the thirty lapper approached. Heavy slower traffic became a factor at the twenty lap mark, and with six laps to go, Burgtorf and Brown raced side by side. Kyle led briefly on lap twenty seven, but Burgtorf recovered to be scored the leader as the lap was complete. Brown made one final charge coming to the checkers, but it was Burgtorf by a car length at the flag stand. Two more double duty drivers, Larson and Aikey trailed, with Cayden Carter advancing fourteen positions to run fifth. It was another caution free event. Heat winners were Friday victor Dustin Smith, Burgtorf, Larson, and Becerra. B mains went to Travis Denning and Dakota Simmons. 

    The grand finale of the weekend was the forty lap $3,000 to win battle for the sport compacts. Forty five race teams from as far away as Ohio battled through five heats and two B mains, with twenty six qualifying for the big dance. Ironically, Friday winner Jake Benischek, scheduled to start in row five, failed to make the feature call. Following a lap one caution and a complete restart, it was Jason Ash blasting off from the outside pole while Chuck Fullenkamp came all the way from eighth to second by lap two. Fullenkamp drove to the front on lap five, even as three and four wide battles continued behind his #48. The next caution came at lap nine when track champion Brandon Reu, with a little help, spun and was hit in turn four, ending his night. On the restart, Ash had issues and was shuffled to nearly the back of the field. Nathan Chandler and Derrick DeFord now dueled side by side for second. Following a pair of yellows, row six starter Jeff Delonjay took over third, then second seventeen laps in, taking along Brady Reed in third. One lap before the half way mark, contact on the front stretch sent Josh Barnes into the guardrail and into a hard flip. With the red flag displayed, Josh emerged apparently uninjured, but with a badly damaged race car. The field was now down to eleven cars, as Fullenkamp and Delonjay pulled away from the pack in a furious two car scrum. As the laps wound down, however, Chuck began to increase his lead. He took the checkers with a several car length advantage over Delonjay in second. Jay Mariuzza, and Jimmy Dutlinger traveled from Pekin and Peorisa, Illinois respectively to finish third and fourth, with Jacob Houston taking fifth. Dutlinger, DeFord, Chandler, Erik Vanapeldoorn, and Fullenkamp captured heat wins, with Dry Ridge , Kentucky driver Chevy Gibson and Jarrett Hellweg topping B mains.

    Again racing concluded just after 11:00 P.M. Thanks as always to the LCS staff for their hospitality and a full weekend of racing action on a beautifully groomed track. Lee County Speedway has one more event on the 2021 racing calendar, the ever popular Shiverfest on October 30. 

   There is still plenty of racing to be had throughout the three state area not only this month, but November, and even the first weekend in December. So dig out the warm clothes, and do like we will be doing, find a race and head to the track!

   

Duffy, Smith, Murty, Carter, Benischek Tops at Lee County

    Friday would be the opening night of the tenth annual Harvest Hustle at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. Each installment of  the two day event would be complete shows, featuring late models, modifieds, stock cars, sport mods and sport compacts. All but the compacts would race for a winning share of $1,000 on Friday, with dramatic increases on night number two. $200 would be tops for the compacts this night. A total of one hundred thirty three cars from six states signed in with thirty six modifieds and thirty four sport mods leading the way on an absolutely beautiful fall evening.

   It took sixteen heat races and four B mains to whittle the field down for feature racing on a surface that was smooth as glass and lightning fast. With a starting time a bit later than normal and extra races taking place, we moved directly into the feature events with zero down time. 

   Stock cars came first to the speedway, with fifteen of the seventeen on hand set to due battle for twenty laps. Co announcer for the night Jerry Mackey called Dallon Murty the luckiest person he knows, as the youngster who has dominated the stock car ranks this season pulled the number one pill for the redraw. Dallon would then lead each lap, although it was far from an easy win. Veteran racer and car builder Johnny Spaw started alongside the #99x and dogged Murty the entire race. With Abe Huls and David Brandies also in the hunt, the first yellow flag came with four in the books for a spinning Pete Stodgell. Back to racing, eighth starting Jeff Mueller charged to fifth using the high line around the three eighths mile oval. The first five then pulled away from the rest of the pack, running in nose to tail formation. Just after the halfway mark, Mueller, now up to third, slowed with a flat tire, bringing out the final caution flag, ending his run. Over the final laps, Murty and Spaw made it a two car race. Spaw made a final charge, pulling alongside Dallon with three laps to go, but he could not complete the pass. At the checkers it was Murty, Spaw, Huls, Brandies, and Chris Wibbell. Jason Cook and Brandies were heat race winners.

   Twenty six sport compacts signed in, and all were eligible for the main event, with a pair of scratches leaving two dozen lined up for fifteen laps. Track champion Brandon Reu set the early pace from the outside pole. On lap two Josh Barnes, wheeling an unfamiliar #21 slipped around Nathan Chandler for second. Fifth starting Jake Benischeck joined the four car tussle on lap five, and two laps later he was out front. With Reu ducking to the infield to end his night, it was Jake and Josh in a two car battle. Two laps from the finish, Jaden Delonjay also pulled off, ending his top five charge. With the field heading to the checkers, a stalled car in turn three brought out the only yellow, setting up a green, white, checkers finish. It was just a momentary set back for Benischeck, who claimed victory over Barnes, Chandler, Chuck Fullenkamp, and twelfth starting Jimmy Dutlinger, over from Peoria, Illinois. Heat wins went to Barnes, Chandler, and Fullenkamp.

   A smaller than anticipated field of twenty late models were on hand, with only Brian Webb failing to make the call for the twenty five lap feature. Kirby Schultz and Darin Duffy sat on the front row, with Duffy rocketing to the lead as the green flag waved. The caution came out with sixteen laps left on the scoreboard as Brandon Rothzen nailed the same turn three guardrail that had ended his heat race run. Duffy stretched his advantage on the restart, while second running Jeff Aikey - a recent inductee in the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame - did the same over the rest of the pack. Meanwhile, Shultz, Hall of Famer Gary Webb, and eighth starting Andy Nezworski dueled for third. With seven circuits remaining, Nezworski broke free to take the spot. As the race stayed green, Duffy cruised to the win, while his "teammate" for the night, Aikey claimed second. Nezworski was third and Jeff Larson in the Doug Curless #99 outgunned Webb for fourth. Andy Eckrich made a late charge to sixth after lining up fourteenth, topping C.J. Horn, Mark Burgtorf, Tommy Elston, and Schultz to round out the top ten. Chuck Hanna, driving the #32 he recently purchased from Chris Simpson, Horn, and Elston were heat race winners.

   Four heats, captured by Sean Wyett, Logan Anderson, Tanner Klingele, and Tyler Soppe, and B mains won by Dennis Laveine and Tim Plummer, set the twenty four car sport mod feature field, racing for twenty laps. Things began slowly, with a pair of cautions in the first two laps sandwiched around a false start. From there, pole sitter Brayton Carter stretched his lead, first over Klingele, then onrushing Carter VanDenBerg in a car formerly driven by "A" mod graduate Austen Becerra. VanDenBerg was reeling in "Speedy Bray" as the race hit the halfway point, but lost ground as slower traffic came into play. Now the focus was a four car scrum for third between Klingele, Wyett, Anderson, and Brandon Savage. Following a final caution with six laps to go, Anderson powered to fourth, then third, as Carter cruised to the win. VanDenBerg held second over Anderson, Klingele and Wyett. 

   Modifieds wrapped up the long night of racing. Three Illinois hot shoes, Travis Denning, Dave Weitholder, and Matt Werner, along with Davenport Speedway regular Dustin Smith took heat race wins. Eric Barnes, Colona, Illinois, and Dubuque, Iowas' Tyler Madigan captured B mains, giving us two dozen survivors racing for twenty two circuits. It was pole sitter Dustin Kroening, Hebron, Illinois, leading lap one ahead of a mixup that sent both Weitholder and Werner to the trailer with damage. Back under green, sixth starting Smith powered to the front using the top side of the track. The pair of Smith and Kroening paced the field, while fourteenth starting Becerra, another of the Illinois Boys, moved in to challenge Laveine for third. Two more circuits, and he claimed the position as the leaders worked through heavy lapped traffic. With a pair of laps left, Becerra pulled a successful slide job in turn two to take second, then Kroening did the same at the other end. The white flag waved, and Becerra gained the advantage again coming off turn two. This battle was all Smith needed to drive to the win. Becerra took runner up honors, with Kroening scored in third. Laveine held on to fourth, while Denning made a late charge to round out the top five. 

   The final checkers waved a few minutes after 11:00 P.M., wrapping up a superb night of action, and leaving everyone eager for night number two. We can expect more cars in the pits, and more folks in the stands, with top prizes of $3,000 for late models, modifieds, and compacts, and $2,000 for the stock cars and sport mods. Also the action kicks off one hour earlier tonight, with hot laps set for 6:00 P.M. The weather looks to be even better tonight, so don't miss out!

  

UMP Fall Nationals Close the Season at Lincoln

    Saturday was night number two of the UMP Fall Nationals at the Lincoln, Illinois fairgrounds speedway. This end of year event originated at Eldora Speedway near Rossburg, Ohio, moved to I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Missouri and for the past two seasons has found a home in Lincoln. A complete show for the DirtCar divisions on Friday featured Pro Crate late models, modifieds, Pro modifieds, and street stocks. For Saturday, the super late models and Hornets joined the show, with street stocks moving on down the road, as the UMP points season came to a close. 

   This would be our second visit of 2021 to the quarter mile bullring after part of the 2020 finale was moved to early April of this season and for the first time in quite a while rainy conditions threatened to disrupt our racing. In fact three other tracks within one to three hours of Lincoln pulled the plug due to rain, and as it turned out created the most compelling story of our evening.

   The car count, like the crowd was likely less than promoters would have preferred, again with the drizzly conditions almost up to race time no doubt a major factor. With the super late model count hovering close to single digits, several of the crate late model teams decided to "double dip." The final count had eighteen super lates, fourteen crates, seventeen modifieds, twenty six crate mods, and only five hornets.

   All five divisions did combined hot lap/qualifying sessions, but with as many as four cars at a time on the track, it was over in a flash. Mike Chasteen Jr. and Jose Parga topped the late model classes with times of 13.310 and 14.318 seconds. Kenny Wallace at 14.465 and Kyle Helmick at 15.320 paced the modified divisions, while the top hornet time was set by Allan Harris at 17.555 seconds.

   Super late model heats ran first, with the UMP style lineups of fast qualifiers up front. But things got interesting when a black toter trailer rolled in as Ryan Unzicker, a refugee from Sycamore, completed the two hour twenty minute haul south. As Chasteen lead flag to flag in heat one, defeating Michigan driver Steve Fairbanks, Wisconsin's Jayme Zider, and local favorite Myles Moos, Unzicker quickly lined up at the back of heat two. When lap one was scored, he was in third, ahead of a caution flag. Back under green, Unzicker charged to the lead, outgunning pole sitter Jake Little, Jose Parga, and Greg Kimmons in the nine car, eight lap race.

   Wallace topped Mike Harrison, Rick Conoyer, and Brandon Roberts in mod heat one, while Friday winner sixteen year old Hunt Gossum went flag to flag in heat two over Jake Griffin, Trevor Neville, and Dave Weitholder.

   Pro Crate late model heat one saw double duty Parga take the win in front of Billy Knippenberg, Blaise Baker, and Cody Maguire. Outside front row starter Brandon Eskew was leading the second eight lapper when he suddenly slowed in turn three, collecting second running Aaron Heck. It was the end of the night for Eskew, while Heck rejoined the tail of the field. Heck then charged back to the front, winning over Brandon Sweitzer, Colby Sheppard, and Chuck Mitchell.

    Pro mod heats went to Ryan Hamilton, Brian Vinson, and B.J. Deal, then Harris topped the hornet six lapper. 

    A quick ten minute intermission followed as the eighteen car super late model twenty five lap feature lined up. Unzicker shot to the point from outside row one, leading Chasteen and Little. Chasteen and Little staged a back and forth and side by side battle for second while Unzicker opened a straightaway lead. He caught the back of the pack about lap eight, and one lap later Chasteen finally secured the runner up spot. As Unzicker moved smoothly through slower traffic, the only caution flag came with three laps remaining for a Phil Taylor spin. By this time, Ryan had lapped up to seventh position, but the lapped cars were placed at the tail of the field, with the Delaware restart putting Chasteen and Little on his back bumper. Parga was running fourth, and he charged to second as the green flag waved. Unzicker again stretched his lead while Chasteen was able to work back around Parga for second at the checkers. Little came home fourth ahead of Blaise Baker. Moos crossed the line in sixth, besting Maguire, Kimmons, Colby Sheppard, and Chuck Mitchell. The win netted Unzicker a cool $3,000.

    Fifteen modifieds lined up for twenty five laps, with Wallace and Gossum in row one. Gossum quickly pulled away from Wallace, even as the former NASCAR ace put distance on the battle for third. Evan Fink slowed to bring out the yellow with seven laps down, and on the restart Brandon Bollinger climbed from eighth into the top five. By the half way mark, Gossum was again well out front as Bollinger rode the inside line to fourth. The second generation driver slipped around Harrison for third on lap fifteen, then cleared Wallace three laps later. Harrison also drove past Wallace with three circuits to go, but the race belonged to Gossum. The youngster made the trip from his home in Mayfield, Kentucky a profitable one, as he picked up the win on both Friday and Saturday. Bollinger, Harrison, Wallace, and Neville completed the top five, followed by Weitholder, Conoyer, Fink, Roberts, and Griffin.

    Pro Crate late models would be next, with all but one (Eskew) of the fourteen cars making the call for twenty trips around the quarter mile. Heck and Parga soon put distance on the field, as a four car scrum developed for third between Sweitzer, Baker, Knippenberg, and Sheppard. The caution flag waved seven laps in for a mix up between Michael Maestos and Eric Doran. The yellow waved again on the restart, with Baker exiting the track and Sheppard relegated to the back of the pack. Again the top two pulled out to an advantage, and as they caught slower traffic, the caution came a final time for a four car pile up with three laps to go. Following the single file restart, Heck secured the win over Parga, Knippenberg, Mitchell, and Roben Huffman. Ryan Miller led the second five in front of Sheppard, Maguire, Rockett Bennett, and Doran.

   Crate modifieds would be next, and all twenty six cars made the call. Ryan Hamilton powered to the early lead ahead of a lap seven caution. Back under green, an unidentified car smacked one of the large tractor tires protecting the outside wall, sending it on to the track and creating a four car pile up. With the red flag displayed, cleanup was fairly swift, and we were soon back to racing. Another caution at lap thirteen was only a momentary obstacle for Hamilton, who picked up the win. Vinson out dueled Deal for third, followed by Owen Steinkoenig and Deece Schwartz. James Hileman, double duty Conoyer, Jake Montgomery, Tommy Gaither, and Billy Knebel filled out the top ten.

    We were on the road as only four hornets lined up for the ten lap finale. Nick Johnson prevented a sweep by Harris, who ran second ahead of Brandy Burgett, and Cook Crawford. 

   The well run show had us in the car about 9:00. Thanks to the Lincoln Speedway staff for not only their hospitality, but for persevering on a night it would have been easy to pull the plug. 

   Next weekend we hope to stay close to home and take in complete shows on Friday and Saturday as Lee County Speedway presents the tenth annual Harvest Hustle. Check their ad on Facebook for details!

Kay Stays Hot at Tipton

    Thursday night, it was off to one of my favorite events of the season, night one of the Darkside Promotions Fall Bash at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa. The three night extravaganza usually turns out an interesting mix of drivers, mostly from Iowa and Wisconsin and Illinois. The opening night is our pick night, with late models topping the card. In past years, the late models have battled for a $1,500 top prize, however in 2020 the family of the late Brad Coin, a well known competitor in and supporter of IMCA late models, upped that number to $2,800 in memory of Brad's car Number 28C. This season, the Coin family elected to add $1,000 to positions two through ten. While the "to win" money dropped to $1,000, the add on made for an attractive purse down the line. The modified winner would also collect a cool $1,000 for their effort.

    We arrived to a bustling pit area, and when the final tally came in, there were 203 race cars signed in. Still, hot laps fired off about 6:15, and officials did a good job of filling the track for each green, white, checkers session. Twenty five heat races and eight B mains later, it was finally feature time. 

   The advertised running order was then adjusted as the late models would run their twenty eight lap (in honor of Brad Coin) feature first. All but two of the nineteen drivers on hand lined up. Dave Hammond had issues in his heat race, while Kevin Miller was a no show in his heat as well. Jeff "Bone" Larson was behind the wheel of the Doug Curless #99 normally driven by Brian Harris, and he drew the pole position following his opening heat race win, also from the pole. Luke Pestka climbed in the #63 for the night and started outside of the front row. But it was second heat winner and inside row two starter Justin Kay who charged to the lap one lead ahead of Larson and fifth starting Spencer Diercks. This event is often a showcase of substitute drivers, and tonight was no exception, In addition to Larson, Diercks was filling in for Matt Ryan. With his car en route to the track, Matt found himself "under the weather." Diercks was on hand with his modified, but not his late model, so he took over duties in the #07.

   Kay immediately checked out to a commanding lead over Larson, while row four starter Andy Nezworski moved up to do battle with Diercks for third. As Kay found the back of the pack about lap eight, Fred Remley charged from fifth to third while the first caution flag waved for third heat winner Gary Webb. Back under green, it was Nezworski jumping to the cushion to claim third. Another yellow two laps later saw the night end for Kelly Pestka, and Nezworski used the Delaware restart to power to the runner up spot. As Kay pulled out to a nearly half lap lead, Larson rebounded to nose ahead of Nezworski for second. With the race staying green for the final fifteen circuits, Kay cruised to the win. Larson and Remley filled out the podium, while Nezworski and tenth starting Joe Zrostlik recorded top fives. Jeff Aikey came home sixth ahead of Diercks, Joel Callahan, Gage Neal, and John Emerson.

   What had been a smooth, quickly run show then came completely off the rails. All but two of the twenty five hobby stocks would line up next for fifteen laps. Jake Benischek would share the front row with Ryan Havel, but it would be third starting Manny Bennett trailing Benischek ahead of a lap one caution. As racing resumed, Cody Staley caught the berm coming out of turn four, possibly with a flat right rear tire,  and flipped his #55 machine wildly on the front stretch, bringing out the red flag. After a bit of a delay getting the accident cleaned up, it was announced that Benischek had not stopped in a timely fashion and would be sent to the tail of the field for the restart. After mildly showing his displeasure, he retired to the pits. Bennett and Havel lined up side by side for the restart, but the yellow soon flew again as Bennett slowed with a flat tire and Jared Miller spun while working inside the top five. A total of five more caution periods came in the final ten laps, mostly for spins, with the double file restart used each time as well as no mention of a time limit. No more than two laps at a time were scored before we mercifully saw a checkered flag. Milan, Illinois pilot Andrew Burk dominated the late stages of the race to take the win. Kody Miles, Matt Bennett, Chad Rigby, and Justin Ginther completed the top five. Manny Bennett was in the top five mix, but was disqualified for what I am not sure. 

    We had set an 11:00 curfew ahead of our two and a half hour drive home, and although it was now about 10:45, we hoped to see the 4 stock feature and maybe "cheat a little" should they run a quick twelve laps. However, the water truck was brought out for several rounds and then the 4 stocks began the task of repacking the quarter mile surface, so we decided to head for the parking lot with four features still on the docket.

   I can report that Joe Zrostlik followed up his fifth place run in the late models with the 4 stock win over Canton, Indiana driver Robert Deford. Dallon Murty started third and topped twelfth starting Jeff Mueller in the stock cars. Brayton Carter was the best of fifty five sport mods, beating his row one mate Shane Paris, and it was Chris Zogg besting the modifieds over eighth starting Brandon Schmitt, from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. 

   Racing continues for the next two nights in Tipton, with Mod Lites replacing the late models tonight, then two person cruisers and the American Iron Racing Series filling out a seven division card on Saturday. Thanks to Timmy Current, Ryan Duhme, and the entire team for their hospitality as well as their hard work in putting on such a challenging event. The addition of the new grandstands has greatly enhanced the racing experience at the Cedar County Raceway! 

   We are hoping the weatherman cooperates with our planned second visit of the season to the Lincoln, Illinois fairgrounds Speedway on Saturday for the final night of the UMP DirtCar Fall Nationals, as six divisions battle for feature wins and championship honors. Although we have turned the calendar to October, there are still many good options for top notch racing, so check the Positively Racing calendar and maybe we will see you at the track!