Rust is Reinhart Memorial Winner, Ryan Tops Late Models

    The 29th running of the Gary Reinhart Memorial race was hosted by Darkside Promotions front men Ryan Duhme and Timmy Current at the Cedar County Fairgrounds Speedway in Tipton, Iowa. In cooperation with Brian and Marcie Gaylord from Lee County Speedway, IMCA late models were added to the card, and the event also served as a Lee County Drive for Five qualifier for modifieds as well as late models. Sport mods, outlaw stock cars, and 4 stocks would be in action, while a visit by the American Iron Racing Series would fill out the lineup. There is considerable prestige associated with winning the race honoring the popular Reinhart which also boasts a $1,500 top prize. Combined with a $1,000 payday for the late model victor and the fact that Davenport Speedway has the night off for the Mississippi Valley Fair as well as Lee County not racing, and this would seem a winning formula for attracting solid car counts in all classes.

   One hundred and five race teams rolled through the pit gate, however I must admit to being a bit surprised at the counts in the headline divisions. Seventeen modifieds and sixteen late models seemed a bit light considering the opportunities presented, especially on a night where the weatherman gave us a break with comfortable temps. Davenport weekly drivers did a pretty good job at turning out, but I counted only three Lee County regulars on hand. Of course Tipton is about a forty five minute haul from Davenport, and you would need to add about an hour to that total coming from Donnellson. It is reality, however that racers do not travel as much as in past years, and while fuel prices are certainly a factor, this was the case before the current economic conditions set in. But enough pontificating. let's move on to the racing, which was quite entertaining!

    A tribute to long time driver Kelly Meyer, who recently passed on after a motorcycle accident opened the proceedings. Hot laps and heat races clicked off in good time, and after a short intermission, it was feature time. By now, the blinding sun had begun to set off turn two, and viewing the entire track became less challenging!

   Outlaw stock cars kicked off feature racing, eleven strong battling for fifteen laps. Shad Murphy paced the opening circuit ahead of a caution flag for Scotty Pratt. Back to action, it was Jeff Struck moving up to challenge for the lead, and he was out front as lap four was scored. Murphy saw his bid for a win end when he looped his #63 on lap seven. Back under green, Struck, Landen Chrestensen and ninth starting Jerry Miles broke free from the pack. Struck remained glued to the inside line while Chrestensen worked one lane higher searching for the front. At the checkers, it was Struck holding on by  one car length over Chrestensen. Miles was right there in third, with Kyler Hickenbottom and Kodey Miles completing the top five.

   A whopping twenty two A.I.R.S. cars took the green flag for fifteen circuits. R.J. Lank put his Edsel out front from row one, and held the top spot for thirteen laps. On the white flag lap, Robin Atkins was able to race ahead in his Mopar to claim the win. In truth, the gathered throng seemed to get more enjoyment out of this race than any others on this night!

   They call them 4 Stocks, and a dozen lined up for twelve laps. Keokuk hot shoe, an Adams County, Illinois Speedway regular, Michael Grossman and Dustin Forbes from Rock Falls, Illinois sat on row one, and they quickly distanced themselves from the field. Forbes was hugging the low groove while Grossman did business in the middle line. As the laps clicked off, Cyle Hawkins worked his way into the conversation in third after starting in row four. After the white flag indicated one lap to go, Grossman was able to make the pass for the lead down the backstretch, then he quickly moved down low in the final set of turns to secure the win. Trent Labarge and Colton Stewart filled out the first five spots.

   All sixteen IMCA late models came to the track for twenty five laps, although Dustin Schram ducked to the infield as the green flag waved. He had been involved in a heat race incident that found him spinning hard into the front stretch concrete wall protecting the judges' stand. Matt Ryan had redrawn the pole position, and he quickly jumped out front with fourth starting Justin Kay in tow. As the race stayed green, Ryan built a sizable lead running the high side of the quarter mile, and by lap nine he was approaching slower traffic. With a pair of cars running side by side, Ryan was forced to slow up a bit, and Kay began to close in on the leader. Working the inside line, Kay pulled even and with nine laps to go - stop me if you have heard this before - Kay snatched the lead from the #07. But wait, it was too early in the race for this dramatic move, and as those two worked through traffic, Ryan regained the lead. For several laps Kay stayed glued to the low line, finally moving up the track in the closing laps. But there would be no late heroics for the #15K this time, as Ryan held on for the win in the non stop event. Kay came home second, with Nick Marolf coming from row four to claim third. Fred Remley and Chuck Hanna rounded out the top five. Gary Webb was steady in sixth, topping Andy Nezworski, rookie Doug Burkhead, Don Pataska, and Michael Hines.

   With twenty seven IMCA sport mods on hand, it was announced early that all would start the fifteen lap feature, so P.A. man Jerry Mackey urged them to race smart in the four qualifying heats. And they did! As it turned out, there were three scratches for the feature, leaving us with a field of twenty four. The first three laps were a struggle, with a yellow flag each lap, but after that only one more caution period slowed the action. Ben Chapman sat on the pole, and held the top spot for all fifteen circuits. Behind him the racing was intense. Brayton Carter, Justin Becker, and Logan Anderson sliced and diced throughout the race, with each holding the runner up spot at various times. Those four were well out front as the final stoppage came, creating a four lap shootout. Chapman was able to take advantage and open a bit of breathing room, as the others battled behind him, and as the laps wound down, eleventh starting Tyler Soppe came up for a look. At the checkers, it was Chapman, Carter, Anderson, Becker, and Soppe.

   The IMCA modified thirty lap $1,500 to win headliner would close out the night. All seventeen cars made the call, with outside row one starter Joel Rust powering to the lap one lead ahead of pole sitter Matt Werner. Only two yellow flags slowed the action, as Rust found the very bottom line to his liking. Behind him, cars were racing all over the track, but he continued to stretch his lead. Meanwhile, Werner had his hands full as he ran side by side with Brad Dierks for the runner up spot lap after lap. On the outside looking for room to challenge those two was Beaver Dam, Wisconsin ace Brandon Schmitt. There would be no catching Rust as he went flag to flag for the coveted win. Dierks eventually claimed the second spot ahead of Werner and Schmitt. Lee county regular Austen Becerra lined up in row five and spent many laps working his way into the fifth position but could not close on the leaders. In the very talented field, veteran Denny Eckrich ran sixth in front of Jaden Fryer, Eric Barnes, Jeremiah Hurst in the #21T, and Rod McDonald.

   Although I failed to check the exact time, racing action was over shortly after 10:00P.M. Thanks to Ryan, Timmy, and the gang for a fun Friday night! 

   This will be all the racing for yours truly this weekend. A reminder that Adams County Speedway is taking this Sunday night off for the county fair. Next up for us is the Flo Racing Night in America event Tuesday at Brad and Jessi's 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. A whopping $22,022 top prize will draw an all star lineup of super late models, with IMCA sport mods the only other class on the midweek card. Hope to see you there!

"Huddy" Stays Hot at Davenport

    Tuesday night found us at Davenport Speedway as the MARS cars and stars rolled in to town for a $10,000 to win night of racing. The race was originally scheduled to fall between the final Silver Dollar Nationals last weekend at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood, Nebraska, and the Prairie Dirt Classic coming up this weekend in Fairbury, Illinois. When the World of Outlaw late model show in Boone, Iowa was moved to last night, July 25, it added another stepping stone in the march from the Lincoln area to near Chicago. This gave several of the traveling race teams a reason to stay on the road rather than make a quick trip back to the shop, and helped to swell the car count to a healthy mid week number. To make sure the show moved along quickly on a work night, only two additional classes were added to the card, IMCA modifieds and street stocks, both of which race weekly on the fairgrounds quarter mile.

   A quality field of twenty eight late models along with nineteen modifieds and seventeen street stocks turned out on a beautiful evening in front of a very strong week night crowd. The size of the street stock field came as a bit of a surprise, but a handful of IMCA legal stock cars added to the count.

   With hot laps in the books, it was time for late model qualifying which quickly became a highlight of the evening. With the racing surface in lightning fast condition, twenty drivers eclipsed the fourteen second mark. In group A, Hudson Oneal set a new track record with a lap of 13.350 seconds, much to the delight of the crowd. His high mark was short lived, however, as Devin Moran rolled out in group B and blistered the oval in 13.333 ticks of the clock!

   A pair of modified heat races saw Illinois hot shoes Matt Werner and Travis Denning pick up wins, then the late models contested four ten lap qualifiers. In typical " straight up by fast times" lineups, all four winners came from the front row. In fact, the  pole position produced each one, including including Oneal, Mike Marlar, Moran, and Gordy Gundaker. The top four from each ten lapper would make up rows one through eight for the fifty lap feature.  Rick Hixson and Jeff Struck, Jr. topped the street stock heats, then there was a short break for a bit of track prep ahead of the late model B main.

   The racing in the twelve lap consy was intense, with only four of the dozen starters slated to move on, and a pair of MARS series provisional points qualifiers would then be added to make the twenty two car starting grid for the main event. Nick Hoffman, wheeling what appeared to be a team car to Mason Zeigler, took the win. 

   IMCA modifieds would kick off the feature action, with all nineteen cars lining up for twenty laps. Ryan Duhme took the early lead while being pressured by Denning, who was out front as lap two was scored. The first yellow flag of the race came with five laps in the books, and back under green, eighth starting Werner powered to the runner up spot. Denning had opened a commanding lead when a final caution brought him back to the pack one lap before the half way mark. On the restart, Werner used the inside line to drive around the leader and those two then checked out on the remainder of the field. With four laps showing on the scoreboard, Denning slid around Werner, but the #93 fought back, holding on for victory after an intense battle. Following Werner and Denning to the checkers it was Duhme, Chris Zogg, and Charlie Mohr. 

   Officials then made a change in the running order, bringing the street stocks to the track next, seventeen strong for twenty laps. Struck had pulled the number one spot for the redraw, and he took off in front, quickly stretching his lead. The leaders soon gravitated to the inside line around the oval except for seventh starting Justin Kay, who was trying to advance through the field using a higher groove. On this night Kay had brought along his IMCA stock car as well as his late model. The lone yellow flag came with nine laps in the books, and back to racing a side by side scrum for second place developed between Rob Henry, and another IMCA car, #71 of David Brandies, a battle soon won by Brandies. Henry fell to fourth behind Jesse Owen, but with the leaders again running nose to tail on the bottom, he soon jumped up one lane, eventually climbing all the way back to the second spot. Owen made a late charge to ease around Brandies, and as the checkers flew it was Struck with a flag to flag win over Henry and Owen, all three regular competitors at the track. The IMCA stock cars of Brandies and Kay completed the top five.

   A few more minutes of track work and it was time for the headliner, the Hoker Trucking 50. Peering into the staging area brought some confusion until it was announced the in addition to the twenty two MARS qualifiers, track promoter Ricky Kay had generously decided he would start the entire field, making a surprise payday for the six drivers who were on the outside looking in! Of that group, only Jay Johnson was unable to make the call, giving us a whopping twenty seven car field! The field would be aligned straight up by heat race finishes, and after the first attempt at a start was called back, Oneal jumped to the front. Initially he was running a top groove in turns one and two, then diving to the bottom at the other end. Second running Marlar started out matching him, then began to move around the track in search of a way to the lead. Now here came rim riding Bobby Pierce, who lined up in row three before quickly moving to the third spot about lap seven. With the high number of cars on the track, traffic came into play by lap eight. Two more laps and Pierce drove to second using an inside move in turns three and four. By now Oneal had built a bit of a lead, but Pierce went back up top and was closing fast when the first caution came thirteen laps in. With Hudson committed to the low line, Bobby again went to the top ahead of a second yellow three laps later. Two more cautions slowed the action before the final twenty eight circuits went non stop. The high groove appeared to lose some of its luster as both Moran and Max Blair drove around Pierce on the bottom, but with fifteen laps to go Pierce had the heat back on his tires and charged back to second. Ryan Unzicker was also on the move, coming from row seven to sixth. As Pierce again began to close on the leader, Oneal may have got the sign from his crew or simply observed slower traffic ahead, but he now moved up the track to match Pierce. Pierce attempted a couple of sliders around the leader with ten, then seven laps to go, but Oneal was able to fight off the challenges. With Moran suddenly within a car length of Pierce, the front three lined up single file on the top side behind the cars of the Gundaker brothers and rode out the closing laps. As the checkers waved, it was the second victory this month for Oneal at the quick quarter mile. Pierce settled for runner up honors, with Moran completing the podium. Blair and Marlar also scored top fives. Unzicker paced the second five, trailed by Kay, who started in twentieth. Chris Simpson, Jeff Larson, and Jason Feger, the series point leader coming into the night, rounded out the top ten.

   Always a quick show, the Davenport crew outdid themselves on this night, with the final checkers flying several minutes before 10:00 P.M.! Thanks as always Ricky, Brenda, and their team for their hospitality. We still have a few more trips planned this season to the historic fairgrounds track, which will now take a break as the Mississippi Valley Fair kicks off this weekend. Next up for us is a Friday visit to the Cedar County Fairgrounds Speedway in Tipton, Iowa for the Gary Reinhart Memorial modified special combined with a Lee County Speedway remote Drive for Five late model event. Hope to see you there!

Ninety Eight Cars Highlight the Action at Vinton

    Sunday we made the decision to meet up with Jeff and journey north to the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa for the first time in 2022. After weather cancelled previous attempts, this would be the only night of late model racing this season for the Dripps family promoted fairgrounds oval. With both East Moline and Dubuque not racing, we were hoping for a mix of IMCA late models showing up to race for a total winners' share somewhere close to $1,500. As it was, only a dozen late models signed in, but with a total car count of ninety eight, the seven division program offered up plenty of entertaining action.

   Hot laps kicked off close to the advertised time of 5:30, and it was impressive to see as many as eighteen cars - sport mods, no less - hot lapping at the same time on the quarter mile. At that pace, and with any spin outs bringing a yellow, checkers, we were racing in short order, with the first heat rolling just past 6:00. This followed a moving tribute by the INEX Legends series, racing in support of fallen police officers and their survivors. Fourteen qualifying heats set the feature fields, and after a brief intermission for a bit of track work, it was feature time.

   Those same Legends cars started things off, with all but one of the fourteen on hand lining up for eighteen laps. Griffin McGrath took the early lead, bringing along eighth starting Parker Jones and Michael Weber. As he made a bid for the lead on lap eight, Jones looped his #41 in turn two, bringing out the yellow flag. Jordon Miklas took advantage of the Delaware style restart to charge from third to the front as racing resumed. Three laps later, Weber drove into second, but one more circuit and he spun off the backstretch to bring a second and final caution. Miklas held on for the win, topping McGrath, Jones, Robby Morrison, and Kacey Korsmo. 

   All six of the remaining classes would be IMCA sanctioned, and sport compacts were up next. Eleven of the thirteen signed in made the call for a dozen laps. The caution waved on lap one when Colton Stewart was squeezed off the backstretch as a gaggle of cars fought for position. Back under green, it was Nolan Tuttle and Spencer Roggentien pulling away from the field in a side by side tussle for the lead. With Roggentien ahead by a bumper at the line, the yellow waved one more time with nine in the books. Now starting up front alone, Roggentien drove to victory lane, followed by Tuttle, Blake Driscoll, and Steven Schmitz, while Stewart recovered to claim fifth.

   It was now late model time. Eleven cars had run a pair of heat races, and now late arriving Jenna Johnson would join them for twenty feature laps. The first try at a start was called back, then pole sitter Dalton Simonsen powered to the lead followed by his row one mate, Dancin' Bobby Hansen, and Andy Nezworski. By the time Nezworski was able to clear Hansen for second on lap three, Simonsen had opened a sizable advantage. After changing his line around the oval, Andy began to slowly but steadily close on the leader. As lap sixteen was scored, they ran side by side, catching the back of the pack one lap later. Rolling down the backstretch in search of the white flag, Nezworski drove to the lead and the eventual checkers. Simonsen was quite possibly a bit disappointed in second. Hansen ran a strong third, while Kevin Kirkpatrick held off Darren Ackerman for fourth. Michael Leal came next, trailed by Sean Johnson, Troy Cordes in the #72 usually driven by Jared Ballhagen, Kelly Pestka, Colton Leal, Austin Russell, and Jenna Johnson. The race went non stop after the called off start, and all twelve cars were still on the track at the checkers.

   The sport mods turned out the most cars, and all twenty two lined up for fifteen laps, including Will Wolf who got upside down in his heat race. Veteran Vern Jackson was the early leader from his pole start. With the action intense up front, Jackson spun in turn four on lap four, creating a logjam and ending his run. Josh Banes was the leader on the restart, and he was able to open a bit of a lead, as four cars fought behind him for position. The caution came again just after halfway, then a multi car scrum on the restart again brought things to a halt. One more lap was scored before a fourth and final caution, with the final six laps going all green. Row seven starter Joe Docekal had been hounding Banes, and with four laps to go, he powered to the front, then pulled away for the win. Banes ran second ahead of Colby Heishman, Ben Chapman, and Brandon Tharp.

   Fourteen modifieds set up for twenty laps. First heat winner Jesse Belez lined up on the outside pole and shot to the early lead. Eighth starting Dallon Murty was on the move using a dandy move to split the cars of Mark Schulte and Jacob Snyder for second as the trio exited turn two. Belez and Murty checked out ahead of a lap five caution, then again as racing resumed. Murty put a bumper out front on lap thirteen and began to build his lead. However slower traffic four laps later allowed Belez to stay close. At the checkers, it was the second generation hot shoe, Murty with yet another win as he executes his rookie season in the mods while also piling up wins in his stock car. Belez ran a strong second, chased by Schulte, Brennen Chipp, and Snyder.

   Only ten hobby stocks were on hand, and major atta boys to the track for only running one heat race. Fifteen laps would be the feature distance, and again, after a hard roll over in the heat, Brett Vanous made the feature call. After a lap one caution and one driver sent to the tail to the dismay of a few fans sitting around us, the race went green to checkers. Scott Siems was the early leader as the field quickly split into a pair of five car battles. Joren Fisher took over the top spot on lap four, gradually building a lead as fourscars ran side by side and nose to tail for second through fifth. When the checkers flew, it was Fisher with the win, holding back Siems, Matt Brown, tenth starting Vanous, and Dalton Weepie.

   Stock cars would wrap things up, thirteen strong for fifteen trips around the track. Norman Chesmore lined up outside row one, shot to the lead, and opened a commanding advantage by the fourth lap. First heat winner Kaden Reynolds started in row five and was slicing his way through the field, moving to third on lap ten. Chesmore was becoming more conservative, easing through the turns, then jumping on the gas down the chutes as Jason Doyle and Reynolds continued to eat into his lead. A caution with four to go ended what may have been a dramatic three car battle, as on the restart, both Reynolds and Doyle drove around Chesmore, with Reynolds ahead by a nose. Doyle fought back to the lead one more time, but if was Reynolds taking the checkers. Like Murty in the modifieds, the youngster Reynolds has made the jump from hobby stock to stock cars without missing a beat. Doyle ran a close second, while Shaun Bistline, Chesmore, and Scooter Dulin completed the first five.

   The final checkers came about 9:20, putting yours truly in good shape for the two and a half hour trip back home. Thanks to Rick Dripps and his team for their hospitality and to "as good as they get" announcer Ryan Clark for his acknowledgements of Positively Racing.com.

   We have a couple of road trips planned for this week starting with a Tuesday stop at Davenport Speedway as the MARS late models come to town. If you see us there, say "Hi!", and thanks for checking in!

Catching Up on a Warm Week

    Impeccably timed, the central air unit in our lovely abode decided this summer was the time to give up the ghost. As we sifted through estimates for a new HVAC combo, we were able to 1950's it until this week, when Mother Nature decided to play in the 90 degree range. It was then we decided to spend a couple days with our daughter and son in law in the Quad Cities, and wouldn't you know it, our visit happened to match up with the Ron Gustaf Memorial late model race at the East Moline Speedway during the Rock Island county fair. So heat then became just a minor annoyance as I made my first visit of the season to the quarter mile facility. Knowing that the West Liberty Raceway was also in action that night, I suspected the car counts would be down, but hey, it was a race! In fact, only fourteen IMCA late models signed in to do battle for the top prize of $2,090.86. Older race fans will note that numbers 20,90, and 86 have appeared at various times on cars wheeled by Ron and other members of the Gustaf family.  

   For a time, it looked as though another Quad City legend, Gary Webb, would take home the big check. Starting on the pole, Gary led the field for nineteen laps before coming to a stop on the backstretch after contacting the concrete wall. He was able to continue, but from the tail of the lead lap, his shot at victory over. Second and third running Chuck Hanna and Jacob Waterman lined up side by side for the restart, with Hanna choosing the inside line. Waterman, who started last in the fourteen car field, powered around the top side, grabbed the lead, and although stumbling a bit a few laps later, held on to win the thirty lap headliner. Hanna and Sam Halstead stayed close behind. Shawn Mulvany replaced the #70 on his machine with a #90 and came home fourth ahead of Donnie Pataska. Andy Nezworski, Dustin Schraam, Webb, Chris Lawrence, and Michael Haines completed the top ten.

   We made our way back home on Friday in time for me to hitch a ride to Lee County Speedway for weekly racing. On this night, heat seemed to be the main culprit in holding down both the car and fan count, but fifty eight entrants in the five regular classes plus eight mini hauler trucks staged some tight racing on the three eighths mile fairgrounds oval. 

   Eighteen IMCA sport mods led the way with the first feature. Bobby Six took off from the pole position, soon tailed by seventh starting John Oliver Jr. in the #557. Brayton Carter came from row six to the top five on lap three, then to third two laps later. That trio put some distance on the pack ahead of a lap seven caution. They raced three wide at times through two more yellows as the race hit the mid point of the eighteen scheduled laps. Lap thirteen is when Carter drove to the front as Sean Wyett moved up to run side by side with Oliver for second. With Carter well out front, a quick on the trigger yellow came as the white flag was displayed setting up a green, white, checkers finish. Back to racing, a spinning car in turn two saw the caution wave again as the leaders came through turns three and four headed to the checkers. The final two lap dash only delayed the inevitable, as Carter rolled his #01 into victory lane, the drivers side missing the sheet metal after a heat race pile up. Wyett bested Oliver for second, followed by Dakota Girard and Brandon Lambert.

   The two dominate drivers in the mini hauler class, Tucker Richardson and Brian Tipps staged a back and forth, side by side, nose to tail barn burner, with Richardson taking top honors in the non stop twelve lapper.

   Ten IMCA late models lined up for twenty laps. Pole sitter Ed Hollenbeck led lap one before heat two winner Ray Raker charged ahead after starting outside row one. Raker opened a several car length advantage as heat one winner Jeremy Pundt charged to second. With Raker in command, the only caution of the race came with seven laps to go as Sam Halstead slowed on the back stretch. On the Delaware style restart, tenth starting Tommy Elston powered from fourth to second, then set his sights on the leader. The scoreboard read three to go when Elston grabbed the lead, and from there he cruised to the win. Raker held on for a season best second, with  Darin Weisinger Jr. edging Pundt for third. Jay Johnson rounded out the first five. Jeff Guengerich, Dalton Simonsen, Denny Woodworth, and Hollenbeck came next, with Halstead credited with tenth. Interestingly, I believe the three drivers right behind Elston were all in search of their first late model win.

   Only Seven IMCA modifieds checked in. Bill Roberts Jr. got the jump to lead the opening circuit, with Mitch Boles in pursuit. Mark Burgtorf took the runner up spot one lap later, but Austen Becerra was on the move. He was third on lap three, and cleared Burgtorf two laps later. He was ahead of Roberts by a bumper as lap six was scored as the front three put distance on the field. As Roberts and Burgtorf battled lap after lap for second, Becerra steadily pulled away. With zero cautions, Austen cruised to the win. Roberts held off Burgtorf all eighteen laps for second, while Boles and Dennis Laveine also turned in top fives.

   It was hardly a surprise that IMCA stock cars staged the race of the night. David Brandies came from inside row two to lead outside pole sitter Beau Taylor as lap one went in the books. Meanwhile, all eyes were on ninth starting Dustin Vis, who has been on fire at LCS. He powered to third on lap three, then quickly joined Brandies and Taylor in a three car breakaway. One lap ahead of the halfway mark he nosed ahead of Taylor for second, then took the lead two laps later, at lap ten. Brandies was not ready to give up, however, and the two swapped paint as they ran side by side for several laps in old fashioned door banging style! Vis had opened about a one car length lead when the lone caution came with four to go. Taylor used the high line to move back to second on the restart, stayed close to Vis, but could not complete the pass. Vis collected the $50 bonus on his head, while Taylor took the runner up spot. Brandies held on to third in front of double duty Oliver Jr., and Jason Cook.

   IMCA sport compacts would round out the program, with eight of the nine on hand racing for fifteen laps. Kimberly Abbott sat on the pole, and led her row one mate Chevy Barnes for lap one. Barry Taft and Josh Barnes soon joined those two in a four car battle. Barry and Josh moved to second and third with five in the books as Chevy faded a bit in fourth. Kimberly held the slimmest of leads, Taft and Josh Barnes ran side by side, and a large quilt might have covered all three! The race ran non stop, and at the checkers it was Abbott with the win by something like .03 seconds. Josh Barnes claimed second, Taft third, then Chevy Barnes and Brandon Reu.

   The action wrapped up well ahead of the 10:00 hour. Thanks as always to the Gaylords and their crew for their hospitality. Reminder that the track will not be in action next Friday, however their Drive for Five event will be held at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa on Friday night.

Eckrich, Zogg, Vis, Carter, and Ash Tops at Lee County

   With the Lee County Fair in the rear view mirror, on Friday we journeyed back to the D shaped Donnellson three eighths mile oval for the biggest late model race of the season. The Joe Kosiski owned SLMR east division cars and stars would be rolling  into town for a $3,000 to win event. The series absorbed the longtime IMCA Derry Brothers sponsored Summer Series, with both a western and eastern division points race, including a few duel sanctioned races. The rules package developed by the former national champion Kosiski allows for a variety of engine combinations. This would be the first visit of the SLMR to the Lee County track. On this night they would replace the IMCA late models, while the other four regular IMCA classes, modifieds, stock cars, sport mods, and sport compacts would fill out the card. With the annual Scotland County, Mo. fair race about an hour down the road, a few drivers likely would be absent, but extra  purse money was added in the companion classes. Additionally, a rain out to the north in Davenport and a lingering slight chance of rain in Donnellson would make for a wild card set of circumstances.

   No one at LCS needed to fret over car count, however, as a solid field of ninety three, led by thirty two late models rolled through the back gate. The track was still a bit wet from the rains, and developed a bit of a bump in turn one as the late models did their two lap time trial qualifying. Andy Eckrich led the way with a lap of 15.707 seconds. The track crew then took a bit of time to rework the surface a bit ahead of heat race action. Following sixteen qualifying heats, there would be a pair of B mains for the late models, but now the track crew decided to do a deeper dive into reworking the dirt, spending around forty five minutes with the heavy equipment. 

   For those unfamiliar with SLMR qualifying procedures, the B main lineups probably looked a bit odd. As I understand it, not only does the series use a time trial top six heat race invert to transfer the top sixteen in passing points to the feature, but time trial points are also added in to the total. For example, National Dirt Hall of Famer drivers Gary Webb and Jeff Aikey crossed the line third and fourth in heat one but were relegated to a "B", while the fifth and sixth place cars of series points leader Justin Kay and Spencer Diercks moved straight to the main event. The fifth place finisher in heat four, Todd Cooney was effectively scored third and these events would have a significant outcome on the feature finish. 

   But first the IMCA stock cars would line up for eighteen laps of feature racing. That group was a bit light, with eleven entries, but what a strong field it was! After an intense battle in their heat race, Josh Foster and David Brandies lined up side by side in row one. Foster edged out to the slimmest of leads. Meanwhile, third starting Dustin Vis had slipped back a bit, but by lap five, he had charged to the runner up spot. Two more trips past the flag stand, and he grabbed the lead and began to pull away from the field. Behind Vis, Foster, Brandies, and John Oliver Jr. fought an intense battle for second. As the while flag waved, Brandies made contact with Foster in turns one and two, sending the #77 spinning and bringing out the only yellow flag of the race. After some discussion, Foster was placed back in second for the restart while Brandies was sent to the tail of the lead lap. Although his nearly straightaway lead was erased, Vis had no issues with the green, white, checkers finish, taking the win. Oliver Jr. nosed ahead of Foster at the line for second, while Chad Krogmeier and Jason Cook completed the top five.

   All seventeen IMCA modifieds came to the track for eighteen laps. Spencer Diercks was scored the lap one leader ahead of a lap three caution. On the restart, sparks shot from beneath his #29 as he appeared to break a rear end. Following the caution, Daniel Fellows inherited the lead the lead, and as he continued to pace the field, there was great two and three wide racing for fifth on back. As the race reached the halfway point Fellows continued to pound the cushion while second place Chris Zogg worked the bottom and third running Matt Werner operated in the middle groove of the widening oval. As the scoreboard counted down to seven to go, Fellows bobbled slightly in turn two, and Zogg pounced, grabbing the lead. From that point, Zogg pulled away to a nice advantage. With three circuits remaining, Davenport Speedway regular Werner slipped around Fellows for second. Positions four through six crossed the line in tight formation, with Jerad Fuller, Dennis Laveine, and Austen Becerra scored in that order.

   All but two of the twenty one IMCA sport mods would check in for eighteen laps. It was pole sitter Dakota Girard in front of third starting Brayton Carter and Jim Gillenwater as lap one went in the books. Those three then raced three wide with Carter taking command on lap three. By the midway mark, Carter had opened a sizable lead. Dylan VanWyk had lined up in row four, and as the green flag laps clicked off, he moved steadily forward, powering to second with seven to go. With no yellow flags, the leaders were working in heavy traffic, and Carter did a masterful job as he managed to keep a couple of lapped cars between himself and VanWyk. Shockingly, the race went caution free, with Carter cruising to the win! VanWyk took runner up honors while Gillenwater hung around in third. Girard saw his top five run end in the closing laps, turning fourth over to Adam Birck. Sean Wyett finished off the first five. 

   Sixteen late models from the four heat races, three from each B main, and a pair of provisionals gave us a twenty four car late model field, racing for twenty five laps and a $3,000 top prize. It was a pair of veteran aces, Andy Eckrich and Curt Martin sitting in row one. In that order they drove away from the pack in close formation, with Andy edging out to a several car length advantage. By the eleventh circuit, slower traffic became a factor and Martin began to close the gap. With his accumulated points, Todd Cooney had started in row four, and with nine laps to go, he had worked his way into the conversation in third. With about five circuits remaining, Martin got too high in turns three and four, clipping the guard rail. Amazingly, he fell back only two spots, with Cooney and Luke Goedert slipping around the #45. With no lapped cars between himself and the leader, Cooney quickly bit into Eckrichs' lead. The distance was down to just a couple car lengths as the checkers waved giving Andy the flag to flag, non stop win. Cooney settled for second, followed by Goedert, Martin, and Justin Kay, who made a late charge after starting in the sixteenth position and running outside the top five most of the race. Jason Hahne led the second five, topping Joel Callahan, Jeff Larson, track regular Nick Marolf, and Jeff Tharp. 

   As most of those gathered made a mad dash for the exits, all twelve IMCA sport compacts came track side for the finale. Barry Taft was wheeling a #48 car from the Fullenkamp stable, and he shot out to a big lead. As the laps rolled by, sixth starting Jason Ash worked into the second spot, closing on Taft in what was now a two car duel. For the third straight feature, there were no cautions, and Taft was making strategic use of lapped cars to hold Ash at bay. However as the white flag was about to fly, Ash was able to drive around Taft for the lead and the win. Barry would come home second, besting Adam Christy, Chandler Fullenkamp, and Luke Fraise. Kimberly Abbott lost a top five on the final lap with what appeared to be a flat tire. 

   It was an uncharacteristic late night at LCS, with the final checkers waving near 11:30, but the extra time spent on track work made for a smooth fast surface resulting in only three caution flags in ninety four laps of feature racing! Thanks as always to the Gaylord team for their hospitality. Today marks the middle of July with a great slate of racing ahead, so stay cool and take in a race near you!

Burgtorf, Becerra, Zaragoza, Birck, and Deford Take Adams County Honors

    Race night number thirty five of the season found yours truly back at Adams County, Illinois Speedway east of Quincy.  The weekly show would be going up against the rescheduled 410 Winged Sprint Car event featured during the Lee County Fair up the road in Donnellson, Iowa which was washed out last Thursday. In a refreshing act of cooperation, Lee County promoter Brian Gaylord contacted Adams County officials and together they worked out a plan to allow both tracks to hopefully offer acceptable car counts in their shared divisions. Lee County would  have IMCA sanctioned modifieds and stock cars, while those classes at Adams County are of the UMP "open rules" type. IMCA sport mods and sport compacts would be at Quincy only, so there would be only a small amount of crossover between the two neighboring tracks. Crate late models would race only at Quincy, as well.

   Seventy five cars came through the pit gate, with all classes except UMP modifieds using a draw to line up their heats. Frankie Wellman topped mod qualifying with a lap of 14.756 seconds.

   With heat races and intermission shenanigans out of the way, the UMP Pro Crate late model feature came first, eleven cars for eighteen laps. Heat winners Darin Weisinger Jr. and Denny Woodworth sat on row one, with Woodworth jumping to the lead. Making his first ever visit to the track, Timmy Dick drove his #122 into the runner up spot on lap two. He then set his sights on Woodworth, pulling alongside on lap five, then leading the next trip past the flag stand. Dick hugged the low line while Woodworth did business around the top of the black, slick track. Increasing his advantage, Dick caught the back of the pack about lap thirteen, and he had to give up his inside line to try and navigate the car of Steve Theivagt. In putting the #36 a lap down, he moved back down a bit too soon, clipping the Theivagt machine, bringing out the yellow flag. For the Delaware style restart, Woodworth elected the inside line behind Dick, giving the top to Mark Burgtorf. The sixteen time track champion found something in that high groove, and quickly closed on the leader. With the scoreboard out of commission, I likely miscounted the laps, but as the white flag waved, Burgtorf made his move, and took the win by the narrowest of margins as the front duo battled to the checkers. It was an excited Burgtorf as he celebrated in victory lane, scoring the win in the Lynn and Karen Richard #15R, his former full time ride. Dick settled for second ahead of Woodworth, Sam Halstead, and Cody Maguire. Jeff Dotzert topped the second five over Derrick Carlson, Colby Eller, Jason Oenning, and Theivagt. Weisinger Jr. was running mid pack when he had an issue on the final lap.

   Nine street stocks lined up for fifteen laps. Heat winners Rudy Zaragoza and Steve Grotz paced the field ahead of a lap one caution. The yellow flew again on lap two before things settled down. Rudy and Steve worked the low line, while Beau Taylor searched one groove higher. Meanwhile seventh starting Jake Powers crept into second place ahead of a caution just before the halfway mark. Following the restart, Taylor found something, charging to the runner up position on lap ten. Zaragoza and Taylor then put distance on the rest, as Beau first tried the middle line, then dropped down hoping to slip inside the #67R. Zaragoza held his line, driving to his fourth consecutive win. Official results show Taylor second, topping Powers, Pete Stodgel, and Sage Martin. 

   The 4 cylinder division had sixteen cars for fifteen circuits. Derrick Deford lined up in row two and took the lead on the first lap ahead of Kimberly Abbott. A lap four caution interrupted a heck of a battle behind those two, as Jimmy Dutlinger and Jeffery Delonjay battled for third. Dutlinger jumped to second on the restart, and the next caution came two laps later as Jaden Delonjay joined the back and forth for second through fifth. While Deford remained out front and collected his fourth win on the season, Abbott and Dutlinger raced side by side in the closing laps, with Kimberly taking the runner up spot by inches. Jeffery Delonjay ran fourth, while rookie Kyle Weisenberger collected a top five.

   Long time B mod racer Mike Bowen, who recently passed away was honored on this night, and in memory of his familiar #60, this special race paid $1,060 to win. In addition, the Bowen family added $160 to a couple of "mystery spots" in the twenty lap feature. All but one of the twenty three entrants took the green flag. Following a false start, Kyler Girard took the lead from outside row one. Fourth starting Logan Cumby moved up to challenge on lap three. After a lap six restart, it was Adam Birck up to do battle with Cumby. A caution around lap nine and  two more at lap fifteen, and Birck was in second and putting pressure on Girard. Kyler stayed committed to the low line, forcing Adam up the track, and they drove side by side under the flag stand with two to go. Birck was out front one lap later, and held on for an emotional victory. Girard made a last ditch move on the final set of turns, got out of shape, and could not get across the finish line.  As a result, Shane Paris took the runner up spot, trailed by fourteenth starting Tanner Klingele, row six starter Josh Holtman, and Brandon Savage.

   Modifieds would round out the show. Shawn Deering had issues with his #16, and wound up sitting out all night, so fifteen cars were scheduled to take the green flag. As the cars circled the track on their parade laps, Brandyn Ryan and Levi Long both ducked to the infield, leaving us with a group of thirteen, including Birck, doing double duty in the Statewide Solar #17. Following the initial yellow for Long, pole sitter Austen Becerra charged to the front ahead of row one mate Kenny Wallace. Another quick caution, and Becerra hugged the low line while Wallace drove one lane higher. A final caution came with eight laps in the books, and back to green Dave Weitholder joined the party up front in a three car breakaway. While Wallace and Weitholder jockeyed for the runner up spot, Becerra slowly increased his lead, driving off to the twenty lap victory. Weitholder won the battle for second over Wallace, while double duty Burgtorf and Wellman filled out the top five.

   With starting times moved one hour later to combat heat and the setting sun, the action wrapped up a bit after 10:00. Thanks to Jim, Tammy, Blake, and crew for their continuing hospitality. Next up for yours truly will be Friday at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson for the long anticipated visit by the SLMR late model series. Hope to see you there!

Lucas Oil Late Models Invade Davenport

    On Wednesday, the Lucas Oil late model series made a stop at the Davenport Speedway on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa. The historic facility, now strictly a quarter mile venue has the unique distinction of hosting a wide variety of the major late model sanctions racing throughout the mid west. We have already witnessed the SLMR series, as well as a UMP Summernationals event. Both of the following cancelled earlier this season due to weather, the MARS cars are due back on July 26, and the MLRA series on August 12. World of Outlaw late models will stage a three night extravaganza culminating on August 27, and the SLMR will return on September 24. A sudden illness for MARS promoter Tony Izzo, Jr. has put that that series in a temporary holding pattern, so we will see how that develops. All this is in addition to the Kay Promotions folks hosting weekly racing at the speedway, as well, featuring IMCA late models. 

   As they did during the Summernationals show, those same IMCA late models would be in action on this night along with another weekly class, IMCA sport mods, making for a tidy three division show on a week night. 

   An outstanding group of thirty seven super late models checked in to compete for the $10,000 top prize along with nineteen IMCA lates and two dozen sport mods. The powers that be at this track are models of efficiency, and showed it by hot lapping as many as twelve cars at a time on the smooth, wide quarter mile. 

   Qualifying for the Lucas Oil cars came three at a time, with the scoreboard on the front stretch keeping us up to date with times for each car. Brandon Overton , timing in Group A set turned the overall fastest lap at 13.617 seconds, and then it was literally off to the races.

   Ten heat races plus a pair of B mains for the supers set the feature fields, and after a short delay for some track grooming, the IMCA late models lined up, nineteen cars for twenty five laps.

   Michael Haines and Hall of Famer Gary Webb sat on row one after the redraw, and following his heat race win,Webb wasted no time grabbing the lead. Matt Ryan started in row two and he quickly joined Webb as the two veterans began to put distance on the pack. As the laps clicked off, all eyes were on the driver who has dominated the track over the last few seasons. Justin Kay lined up in the twelfth starting slot, charging to fifth on lap nine. One lap later, Ryan was able to slip around Webb for the lead, and then stretched his advantage as slower traffic came into play.  Two more circuits and Kay was fourth, then third with eleven to go. Fifteen down and Kay was in a battle with Webb for second, and when he finally took the spot with seven to go, Ryan had a sizable lead. But we have seen this before, and just as Darryl sitting alongside had predicted, with three laps remaining, Kay pulled even, then around the leader as the scoreboard clicked to two to go adding to his heat race win with another feature victory. The non stop event saw Ryan again the bridesmaid and a strong run for Webb in third. Jacob Waterman and heat two winner Joel Callahan completed the top five, followed by row nine starter Chuck Hanna, Dustin Schram, Hannas' row nine mate Andy Nezworski, and Todd VanTassel.

   It was now time for the forty lap headliner, and heat winners made up the first two rows. Overton and Mike Marlar filled row one, with Hudson Oneal and Earl Pearson Jr. next. Hudson grabbed the lead on the first time around, then locked into a three car breakaway with Overton and Marlar. Oneal had obviously set up his #71 to run the inside line, and he never moved off the bottom. Meanwhile Overton elected to run one line higher while Marlar did business on the cushion . All three grooves were working, and positions were swapped almost non stop between those three. It was lap sixteen before the first feature yellow flag, as Ross Robinson stopped on the front stretch, then ducked to the infield for attention from his crew. The timing was unfortunate, as the leaders were just now catching heavy traffic. Back to racing, the top three, clearly dominate, pulled away once again. One lap before the halfway mark, the second and final caution waved as Tyler Erb slowed on the backstretch. Jimmy Owens briefly challenged the top three on the restart, but could not maintain their frantic pace, as Marlar now opened a several car length lead, leaving Oneal and Overton to battle for second. At the same time, we were keeping an eye on Ricky Thornton Jr. Seemingly lacking speed all evening, he had been relegated to a row twelve provisional starting spot, but was now solidly in the top ten. As traffic came into play in the last ten laps, Oneal began to close on Marlar, catching up with seven left, then working inside for the lead one lap later. In what was now constant heavy traffic, Overton was able to find an opening and move to the runner up spot. A jubilant Oneal picked up his second win in two trips to Davenport. Overton followed in second, then it was Marlar, Owens, and Spencer Hughes, who ran quietly all race in the top five. Tim McCreadie claimed sixth ahead of Thornton Jr., seventeenth starting Ryan Gustin, series points leader Brandon Sheppard, and second provisional starter Daulton Wilson.

   With the lengthy especially for television interviews of the top five, we headed for the gates ahead of the sport mod finale - there was an early call the next morning for this blogger! Apparently we missed another barn burner, as while Logan Veloz took the win from the pole, Tony Olson came from row eleven to a runner up finish! Brayton Carter jumped eight positions to third, trailed by Ben Chapman and Justin Becker.

   It seems like every time I an able to make the two and a half hour trip to this fine facility, the racing is top notch. A quick, efficient show on an absolutely perfectly prepared track, a large crowd in the massive grandstands and  a full pit area - I have come to expect nothing less! Thanks as always to Ricky and Brenda for their hospitality. 

   It is raining by the bucket full as I sit here this morning, so we will see when our next racing adventure will be! Thanks for reading.

Marolf, Eckrich Repeat, Vis, VanWyk, Barnes, Richardson Top Lee County

   Keeping an eye on the radar, we once again headed to Lee County Speedway in Donnellson for another installment of the "Drive for Five" for IMCA late models and IMCA modifieds, along with a "Drive for Three" for IMCA sport mods. The other two IMCA classes that compete at the track regularly, stock cars and sport compacts would also be joined this night by the Mini Hauler trucks.

   A quality field of ninety two teams in the regular five classes plus seven trucks checked in in front of a nice crowd on what turned into a beautiful evening. And to top things off, the track was as smooth as it could be, fast and "hammer down!"

   With the nearly perfect track conditions, caution flags were at a minimum, and the qualifying races rolled off quickly, including a B main to pare down the twenty nine car sport mod field to twenty four for the feature. 

   Sport compacts were the first feature, with all but one of the fourteen signed in doing battle for fifteen laps. Following the initial start being called back, the race ran caution free. Kimberly Abbott and Chevy Barnes completed lap one side by side, with Chevy pulling ahead on lap two as the pack bunched up behind him. Josh Barnes powered to second on lap three, and the father son duo raced side by side with father Josh finally taking over the lead about lap six. Along with Brandon Reu, the top three broke from the field, and lap ten saw Reu in second by a nose. At the checkers, it was Josh, Reu, Chevy, Abbott, and Jason Ash rounding out the first five.

   All but one of the fifteen stock cars were next for eighteen circuits, although Dustan Fenton needed a push to the pits on the parade lap. Visiting Dustin Griffiths charged to first on the opening lap, taking along Dustin Vis in second. Vis then grabbed the spot on lap two, and two time winner Josh Foster followed in second. Six laps in, with the top two locked in a battle, David Brandies broke a fan blade which went through the radiator, creating a jam up that saw Beau Taylor with heavy body damage. Taylor was able to restart in his position, and again the race stayed green until the end. Vis held off Foster for the win. Taylor cleared Griffiths late for third. Out in his new #05 for the first time this season, John Oliver Jr. came from row six to fifth.

   All fifteen modifieds lined up for twenty two laps. Front row starters Mark Burgtorf and Denny Eckrich, both legends for sure,  paced lap one, with rising star Austen Becerra looking for an opening. Eckrich took command on the next trip around, two more laps and Becerra cleared Burgtorf for second. Eckrich opened a big lead and Becerra likewise put distance on the remainder of the field ahead of a lap thirteen caution. Following the Delaware style restart, visiting Jarrett Brown cleared Chris Zogg for third as Eckrich again disappeared in the distance. Denny cruised to his second $1,000 payday in a row, with Becerra holding off a late challenge by Brown. Zogg came home fourth, and Burgtorf held off Dennis Laveine for fifth.

   A dozen late models saw Nick Marolf and Jeff Guengerich pace the twenty five lap headliner. As lap one was about to be scored, Ed Hollenbeck appeared to lose his steering, slamming the turn four guardrail, bringing out the red flag. Following the original restart Marolf charged ahead, followed by C. J. Horn. One more stop came at lap three for debris, then Marolf and Horn battle side by side until lap six, when Nick began to pull away. Horn was likewise all alone in second as the pack chose the inside line around the three eighths mile, with passing at a premium. Like Eckrich before him, Marolf made it back to back Drive for Five wins. Horn followed, while Darin Weisinger Jr. was strong in third. Independence, Iowa hot shoe Sean Johnson held off Guengerich for fifth. Denny Woodworth ran sixth, while the smoking #54 of Tommy Elston was next. Dalton Simonsen, Sam Halstead, Ray Raker, and Jeremy Pundt rounded out the field.

   With twenty four cars qualified, twenty three sport mods came to the track for twenty laps. Outside pole sitter Dylan VanWyk grabbed the lead over Kyler Girard then Logan Anderson moved to second on lap three. A turn three pile up on lap four saw the red flag out for clean up, and back to racing Girard moved to the lead. About lap seven (the scoreboard was on vacation for the night!), VanWyk regained the top spot. Anderson followed in second on the next lap, and those two broke away as the race continued. Just after the halfway mark, Anderson drifted high in turns three and four, grazing the guardrail, which allowed VanWyk to widen his advantage. Brayton Carter had redrawn the twelve chip, and was slowly but steadily working his way forward, entering the top five on lap eleven. The leader found himself in slower traffic at lap fifteen, but he quickly put three cars between himself and Anderson. Cruising around in third, veteran Jim Gillenwater moved up to challenge Anderson for second with three laps to go. Logan was able to hold off the #10G , and on the white flag lap, Carter edged past Gillenwater for third. Girard, another visitor to the speedway completed the top five. 

   As the trucks lined up for their twelve lap feature, we headed for the parking lot. Reports show Tucker Richardson taking the win. We were on the road home shortly after 10:00, with another top notch show in the books. Thanks as always to Brian and Marcie for their hospitality and for keeping racing strong in southeast Iowa!

    Family time will keep me from the rescheduled MLRA sanctioned Slocum 50 at 34 Raceway in West Burlington for the first time, but I hope all my racing friends will take in a show somewhere, sometime during this holiday weekend!