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!
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