With the continuation of the cranky spring weather, many tracks postponed or canceled their events this weekend. The Kile Motorsports group was not one of them, as they braved the elements to stage their Spring Fling program at the West Liberty Raceway. The historic fairgrounds half mile has in recent years hosted just a few special races per season. With the retirement of the principal promoter of those events, the Kile family stepped in to present an eight race schedule for 2022. The Kile family, led by patriarch Bud are well known in the racing community, having been involved in on track competition, parts sales and service, media relations, and have even dabbled in promotion at West Liberty in the past.
The program would feature six classes, late models, modifieds, sport mods, stock cars, hobby stocks, and sport compacts. A car show from 2:00 - 4:00 kicked off the opening day festivities. Seventy four race teams signed in on a chilly Saturday night that no doubt kept some racers, worried about the effect on their engines, at home. A surprisingly large crowd filed in, obviously hungry for a return of action on the big half mile.
Hot lap rolled out at 6:00 with the first heat taking the track just after 6:30. Heat race action took just about one hour, followed by a brief ten minute intermission, and we were soon feature racing.
Stock cars were up first, with ten of the twelve signed in lining up for fifteen laps. Outside pole sitter Dustin Vis grabbed the early lead. But it was eighth starting Johnny Spaw on the move, charging to fifth on the opening lap. By lap four the veteran had moved to third, just ahead of the lone yellow flag of the race. Spaw then used the Delaware style restart to take over the runner up spot and the chase was on. Vis kept his #20v out front, and a last lap charge by Spaw fell just short. Following those two was Miciah Hidlebaugh, Matt Picray, and Tom Cannon.
Attrition in the heat race saw only six of the ten sport compacts able to run the ten lap feature. Pole sitter Alex Hayes powered to the early lead, taking along Michael Lundeen. With those two checking out, a battle for third developed among the remaining cars. The race ran caution free, with Hayes taking the win. Lundeen was runner up, trailed by Trent Labarge, Colton Stewart and Ashton Blain.
All but one of the eighteen sport mods came to the track for fifteen feature laps. Logan Anderson shot from the pole, with third starting Shane Paris in hot pursuit. The yellow came as lap two was scored. Back under green, Anderson opened a commanding lead., catching slower traffic about lap ten. Working the lapped cars expertly, he was able to stretch his lead even more. The white flag waved, then the yellow came out ahead of the checkers. For reasons I am not sure of, the checkers was then shown along with the yellow, ending the race. Anderson took the win, with Paris, eighth starting Shawn Slaughter, Ryan Walker, and Beaver Dam, Wisconsin driver Skyler Woods collecting top five runs.
The hobby stocks also had some attrition on this chilly night, with seven of ten able to go feature racing. Randy LaMar paced the opening circuits of the ten lap event with Ryan Havel giving chase. As the front duo jockeyed for the lead, David Crimmins and Jacob Floyd fought for third. About lap eight, Havel snatched the lead from LaMar, holding on for the victory in another non stop event. LaMar scored runner up honors ahead of Crimmins. Cody Staley and James Pilkington rounded out the first five.
The late model count was a bit disappointing, with only sevens cars signing in. But they all took the sixteen lap feature green. Heat winner Andy Eckrich redrew the outside front row, and quickly established his #56 as the car to beat. A lone yellow came as lap two was scored for a spin by Kurt Stewart, wheeling an unfamiliar Nick Marolf back up car. Back to racing, Waverly, Nebraska surprise visitor Jake Bridge tried to keep Eckrich in sight. Meanwhile, Matt Ryan advanced to third, and soon Bridge had to focus on keeping the #07 at bay. Running his "A" car in fourth, Marolf went to the pits on lap twelve. With no more stops, Eckrich cruised to the win. Bridge followed, then came Ryan, Jacob Waterman, veteran Ron Boyse, starting his fiftieth year of racing, and Stewart.
Modifieds rounded out the card, fifteen of seventeen taking the green flag for twenty laps. Making his first start in an "A" mod, Maguire Dejong grabbed the early lead, chased by Charlie Mohr. Trailing the pair of youngsters, UMP ace Mike McKinney took over the second spot on lap three in the #21. With Dejong in control, a battle for fourth developed between eleventh starting Chris Zogg and Kurt Kile. At the halfway mark, Zogg had moved past Kile and Mohr and Dejong had caught the back of the pack. Pushing hard in turns one and two, Mohr brought out the caution, spinning his #99. Now McKinney and Zogg locked in a scrum for second as Dejong took advantage and stretched his margin. As the leaders came to the checkers out of turn four, McKinney and Zogg were involved in a mix up I could not see, with both losing their spots. Dejong was the flag to flag victor, and another Beaver Dam racer, Brandon Schmitt came from fourth to finish second. Kile, Dan Roedl, also from Beaver Dam, and Ray Cox Jr. completed the first five.
The final checkers waved about 9:10, an excellent showing for the new promoters, just over three hours, including hot laps on the big half mile. No doubt the show was helped along by a fast, smooth racing surface.
Thanks to Bud, Katie, and the crew for their hospitality, and to announcer Shane for some important info. The next race at West Liberty will be on May 7. Be sure and check Kile Motorsports on Facebook for info.
Have a safe and Happy Easter!
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