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.
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