Closing the Books on Another Season

    With the conclusion of Dirt in December at the Dome in St. Louis, another mid western racing season has come to an end. Before I offer up my modest stats for 2023, I feel a need to comment on the Dome extravaganza. First of all, I will concede that the apparent record crowds this year put me in the minority. But I have been asked countless times this fall if I was going to the event, and often given incredulous looks when I said "No." I will admit to having attended the Saturday night portion for three years running before my change of heart. And it would seem that the promoters have since solved the issue of nine and ten hour championship night marathons. Perhaps I have simply reached the "get off my lawn" stage of life, but the (mostly) unscripted weekend seems to me to more closely resemble an All Star Wrestling spectacle than a legitimate racing event. Torn up cars by the dozens, bruised egos (drivers apparently told to settle their issues on the track!?!), over the top concession and parking prices for me just does not make up for the possibility of a couple of  decent features to wrap things up. I will admit that it is an opportunity to see drivers in action  that only come around once a year ( a treat for me), as well as plenty of time to visit with old and new friends along the concourse. So for those of you who look forward to it each year, good for you, and enjoy! And perhaps after a few seasons at home, I will try it again. If you have not heard, the 2024 dates will be December 5-7. It would seem after this many years the promoters would be able to secure the same weekend each year, but I realize that bookings for a venue like this are stretched out years in advance... *( For those of you who think they should spend more time building the track, or add an extra weekend featuring your favorite class!)

   Now to the matters at hand. In 2023, I was able to attend sixty events at eighteen different venues. Adams County Il. Speedway in Quincy led the way with eighteen nights, followed by Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Ia. with fourteen. There were four trips to Davenport, Ia. Speedway, and three to Moberly, Mo. Motorsports Park. Two visits each were recorded at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, West Liberty Raceway, Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Marshalltown Speedway, all in Iowa, and Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, and Springfield Raceway in Missouri. It was one night each at CJ Raceway in Columbus Junction, Knoxville Raceway, Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Clay County Fairgrounds in Spencer, Hamilton County Speedway, Webster City, all in Iowa, and Jacksonville, Il Raceway, and finally Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. 

   As always, we tried for a nice mix of series and sanctions, and personally I was able to add two new venues this season, an April visit to Harlan and an October trip to Webster City, bringing my total to seventy three different tracks during my sixty eight years of chasin' racin'. I am in awe of my racing friends whose totals far eclipse my own, and it is fun to be able to continue to wander to new tracks every so often. 

   As we speed towards the New Year, I am excited for the many changes taking place at area tracks and eagerly await all the schedules to fall into place so we can begin to plot our 2024 adventures. To this point I am also in the minority as far as joining the streaming crowd, but never say never, right?

  Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and prosperous New Year, thanks for reading, and we look forward to seeing everyone in the Spring!

Turkey Bowl XVII Headliners to Stevens, Berry Jr., and Jackson

    This weekend I was fortunate to feed my desire for November racing with nights two and three of the Larry Phillips Memorial Turkey Bowl at Jerry Hoffmans' Springfield, Missouri Raceway. A change in format this year drew us to the extra night, with A Modified double heat races determining passing points for the first few rows of the Saturday main event. However, along with five heats for the fifty one late models on Saturday, it seems a bit less than charitable to only advance eight drivers to their respective "money race." As an example, Iowa racer Ryan Gustin and Missouri hot shoe Logan Martin started in row one and captured their ten lap late model heat, but were forced to a B main. I guess I can challenge the process, but a three night total of 350 plus race cars and a big Saturday night crowd perhaps puts me in the minority. 

   If you followed this special weekend of racing, you are likely well informed concerning the issues with the safety crew, if not my Positively Racing and travel mate Jeff Broeg detailed it elsewhere on this blog site. But with all this being said, it was a solid two nights of racing which serve as a great season ender, and I will once again be marking it on my personal list of events to attend in 2024. 

   Seven total classes participated over the three nights with all but the late models running heat races one night, B mains and Turkey Bowl features another. For all but the Legends, those nights came back to back, and with the one day gap in their program, three extra Legend racers rolled in on Saturday and were allowed to tag the tail of their twenty lap finale, swelling the starting field to twenty seven. For all other divisions, it was twenty car mains, plenty on the quick quarter mile.  

   Allen Thompson claimed the unique Turkey Bowl trophy for the Pure Stocks on Friday, and as the evening progressed and the temperatures plummeted through the forties, we made the decision to head for our hotel ahead of the Midwest B Modified headliner, which went to Tyler Pearish. 

   Although the Saturday program was set to kick off  near 4:00 PM, about two hours earlier than Friday, the 248 race teams combined with fireworks during intermission, multiple cars wanting hot laps, end of season B main action, etc., produced another marathon evening. 

   The tone may have been set in the first late model heat when outside pole sitter Carl Murphy got crossed up at the exit of turn two and collected a fair portion of the field. The contact resulted in Murphy getting upside down, with top contender Tony Jackson Jr. also nearly toppling over before coming down atop the Murphy #X2M. The result left both drivers sidelined for the night. 

   Young Sawyer Crigler was racing his #11 with a 525CT crate engine, which allowed him to employ a spoiler about twice as tall as his competitors. He was running a strong second in the first of three B mains when a cloud of smoke ended his run.

   Austin Vincent was out front in the final B when he suddenly ducked to the pit area. 

   Legend cars would kick off feature racing, and it quickly devolved into a three car battle. The first half of the twenty lapper clicked off caution free, then three more yellows came in the next four circuits. But through it all, it was Jay Reynolds out front, and he took home the hardware, besting Tyler Garretson and Trenton Simon. 

   B Mods would line up for twenty five laps. Second generation driver Damien Kiefer and wily veteran Ken Schrader would fill the front row. That duo would swap the lead early before the hottest B Modder around, Kris Jackson arrived from row three to join the party. Pulling away from the field, the front three battled ahead of a lap eleven caution. On the restart Jackson powered to the lead, and from there stayed in command. Schrader stayed in range but failed to score his second Turkey. Ryan Gilmore charged all the way from row six to third, followed by Kiefer and Dalton Keith. 

   In another unique sideshow, as Hoffman reworked the racing surface, a decorated barrel was set up in front of the bleachers and the top eight A Mod qualifiers were trotted out and challenged to toss a football into the barrel from several feet away. The first to sink the shot would start on the feature pole, and the rotation would continue until the lineup was determined. While Schrader elected to not participate and start in eighth in his second main event, another double duty driver, Sawyer Crigler  grabbed the pole on the opening toss. The veteran standout from my neck of the woods, Mark Burgtorf would line up alongside Crigler. Even with his somewhat under powered IMCA engine on the regroomed surface, Burgtorf paced the first seven laps before giving way to Crigler. Meanwhile, sixth starting Terry Phillips, top contender son of the honored driver, drove to the runner up slot on lap ten. Following a caution flag, Iowa standout Tom Berry Jr. worked his way to second on lap fifteen after lining up seventh. Berry then grabbed the lead on lap twenty two. As the halfway point of the fifty lapper was scored, a slowing Dakota Sproul caused Berry to check up and as he made contact with that car, Crigler eased to the front to be scored the leader for the restart. Unfazed, Berry quickly moved back to the front as racing resumed, setting a quick pace as he "catfished" around the bottom of the oval. One more caution came thirty eight laps in, but Berry remained in control. He collected the Turkey and the $7,575 payday in his first ever trip to the facility. Crigler took the runner up spot, but failed post race tech, turning second over to tenth starting Dylan Thornton. Phillips would be scored third, followed by Schrader and row seven starter Shawn Knuckles. Sixth through tenth went to Anthony Roth, Austin Rettig, Darron Fuqua, Ohio star Rusty Schlenk, and Burgtorf.

   Thirty laps would be the distance for the $5,075 to win Late Model main event. Up and coming Arkansas racer Tyler Stevens and MLRA Rookie of the Year Dillon McCowan would fill out row one, pulling out in a two car breakaway. Meanwhile tenth starting Logan Martin was on the move, entering the top five on lap six. Slower traffic became a factor about lap ten, as Stevens was able to pull away a bit and Martin advanced to fourth. Now it was Nebraska ace Justin Zeitner moving in to challenge for second, followed closely by Martin. Continuing his charge, Martin then drove around Zeitner for third. Gustin, who started alongside Martin after their heat race debacle, came to fifth on lap eighteen, then fourth two laps later. But by now Stevens was cruising, and with zero cautions during the thirty laps, the #2 drove off to the win. McCowan gained some separation in second, while Martin, Gustin, and Zeitner crossed the line nose to tail. Scott Crigler led the second five in front of Caney, Kansas driver Jacob Magee, Jace Parmley, Dustin Hodges, and Jim Greenway. 

   There was one race remaining when we elected to call it a night and a season. Reporting shows Anthony Ferrara topping the Midwest A Mod finale. 

    On track racing in this area is down to the Gateway Dirt Nationals in December which will go on without me the season. But I will still be manning the keyboard with an end of season wrap up to come, and it seems as if this off season may be legendary for "news!" So stayed tuned and be sure and keep up with all of us here at Positively Racing as we navigate all the changes. Happy Thanksgiving, and we will be back soon!

Pospisil Tops Night Number Two Fall Futurity Winners

    After a weekend of no racing, we were able to get back on track at a new to me venue, Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City, Iowa. The occasion was night number two of the Your Life Iowa Fall Futurity, originally scheduled for the weekend prior featuring the Hoker Trucking SLMR east series championship. With inclement weather postponing the event, SLMR series officials elected to call it a season, and the headline Late Model class would now run under a rules package allowing SLMR, IMCA, and Wissota cars to compete. The purse on this Sunday night would pay $2,000 to the Late Model winner, while Modifieds, B Mods, Stock Cars, and Hobby Stocks would race for a $1,000 top prize, all under the USRA banner. The event was held in conjunction with Friday night racing in Mason City, and Hamilton County followed with Saturday and Sunday shows. Sunday racing was set to kick off at 4:30 P.M.

   The half mile track has recently undergone some changes, with the reworked racing surface now measuring three eighths mile around the inside. 

   Although there was a threat of rain rolling in in a few short hours, eighty cars showed up to race before a sparse crowd on  this chilly, breezy late Sunday afternoon. There would be no hot laps, and racing would kick off close to the advertised time. From that point, officials did an excellent job of moving the show along, and the final checkers waved at approximately 7:30 P.M, beating the rain and sending everyone home in a timely manner. The drivers did a credible job of trying to keep the show moving by attempting to restart their cars after a spin, and the flagman did an excellent job of giving them time to do so. And after an interview and photo op with the first feature winner, it was decided to hold off on victory lane festivities until the end of the night!

 Eleven heat races and five feature events in three hours on a three eighths mile track, perfect for a work/school night!

   With heat races complete and following a brief intermission, Late Models hit the track first, racing for twenty laps. Only Jenna Johnson, whose #7 seemed to give up on the final lap of her heat race, failed to take the green flag. Nebraska driver Tad Pospisil shot to the lead from outside row one, leading pole sitter Jason Hahne. Pospisil slowly increased his advantage until the lone caution came for debris just past the halfway mark. Davenport, Iowa racer Brian Harris had picked up wins on both Friday and Saturday night, but he would start this event from outside row four. He entered the top five on lap nine, then gained one more position as the caution came. Back under green, Pospisil continued to lead while Harris moved to fourth on lap sixteen, then third the following lap. As he moved in to battle with Hahne for second, Pospisil wheeled his #04 to a flag to flag win. Harris took runner up honors over Hahne. Darrel Defrance started and finished fourth followed by Shane DeMay in fifth. Minnesota veteran Lance Mathees led the second five in front of Curt Schroeder, Wisconsins' Gavin Tarras, South Dakota driver Ryan Engels, Rusty Patterson, and Michael Trulson. So five states were represented in the twelve car field!

   Hobby Stocks had the largest car count at twenty one, and they also had the most difficulty completing their feature. There would be five yellow flags in the first ten laps before the final eight clicked off in non stop fashion. Sioux Falls, South Dakota pilot Dustin Gulbrandson would jump to the lead from the outside pole and survive all the restarts for a flag to flag win. Pole sitter Scott Dobel and fourth starting Chris Hovden had an entertaining battle for second, with Hovden eventually securing the position. Dylan Clinton advanced four spots to fourth after Friday and Saturday wins, while Bruce Sommerfeld came from tenth to complete the first five. 

   The race of the night came in the Modified division. Brandon Davis, Hayfield, Minnesota ( small town?) charged from the pole to open a big lead over fellow Minnesotan J.T. Wasmund. Former IMCA hot shoe Kyle Brown lined up in fifth and had moved to the runner up spot before a lap three caution sent him back to third. He then secured the runner up position following the Delaware restart. It now became a two car war between Davis and Brown. Lap after lap Brown would attempt the dive under Davis for the lead, but each time Davis would power out of the corner in first. Searching for his best line, Davis would sometimes switch up and move to the inside, sending Brown up the track in his pursuit. At about the half way mark of the twenty lapper, Davis had opened a bit of a lead, but slower traffic became a factor on lap fourteen, and it was edge of your seat racing as the duo sliced their way through heavy traffic. Davis would prevail in this tie breaker, Davis sweeping the weekend at Webster City while Brown took the win at Mason City. Veteran racer Ron Ver Beek quietly worked his way from row four to third in his oddly numbered(?) "R" machine, followed by Wasmund and Bakersfield, California driver Kyle Heckman. Iowa racing legend Kelly Shryock would come home in sixth. 

   All seventeen B Mods took the feature green for twenty laps of action. Minnesotas' Harley Dais topped lap one from position two ahead of the first caution. Back to racing, Joe Chisholm would drive around Doug McCollough for second. Just prior to a final caution with six in the books, hometown driver Ty Griffith would advance to second during a battle with Dais and Chisholm. Back under green, Griffith grabbed the lead and began to put distance on the field. St. Joseph, Missouri driver Shadren Turner was now the man on the move, charging all the way to second on lap twelve after starting in eighth. However there would be no catching Griffith, who cruised to a convincing win. Turner made it #56 in both first and second, while Saturday winner Chisholm settled for third. McCollough and Dais would round out the top five. 

   Stock Cars would put a wrap on the night. All but one of the seventeen signed in would do battle for twenty laps. Front row starters Austin Meiners and Nate Whitehurst would duel side by side as Meiners paced lap one while Whitehurst took the top spot on lap two. As the duo put distance on the pack, Meiners retook the lead one lap before half way. He then opened a sizable lead and was cruising towards the finish when the only caution came three laps from the end. On the restart hard charging Bill Crimmins powered to second after lining up in row four. But the Fort Dodge driver had nothing for Meiners, who picked up the final checkers of the season at the storied fairgrounds facility. Following Meiners in order it was Crimmins, Whitehurst, track promoter Todd Staley, who started in row seven, and Jesse Brown. 

   All in all it was a fun night of racing, and the timely show made the four hour trip home seem much shorter! Thanks to Todd and crew for the opportunity to add one more track and race night to  a quickly passing 2023 season.

   Despite a somewhat iffy forecast, we are making plans for a big racing weekend much closer to home, with a highly anticipated five division program featuring a return of  Late Models Friday night at Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. followed by an all time favorite, Shiverfest Saturday at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. I hope you are making plans for these special events as well!

Elston,Carter Double Up at Harvest Hustle Night Two

    Saturday night we were right back at Lee County Speedway for night number two of the Harvest Hustle. While still quite chilly, weather conditions were much better overall as the sun was out and the wind had calmed considerably. Remarkably car counts were up, one hundred fifty three in all, even allowing for a seventh class - American Iron Racing Series - joining the field. The program kicked off one hour earlier with hot laps rolling as advertised at 6:15. 

   Eighteen qualifying heat races, again with zero B mains set the main event line ups, and with only an eight minute break we were feature racing. 

   Stock Cars would lead things off, and after being the race of the night on Friday, this twenty lapper would be less than stellar. A whopping seven yellow flags would mar what was otherwise a very competitive affair. All twenty seven cars would take then green flag, with Kaden Reynolds setting the pace early. The youngster from Cedar Rapids would survive five of those caution periods, holding off first Jason Bahrs, then fellow C. R. veteran Johnny Spaw. With just six laps to go, Kaden suddenly slowed after jumping the turn four cushion, then drove to the pits , perhaps with a tire down. Spaw would assume the lead as racing resumed, and he would need to withstand one more yellow flag two laps from the finish. During this final slowdown, John Oliver Jr. would give up a top five run, heading for the pit area. Spaw would hold on for the win and his second top five of the weekend. Dustin Vis would gain six positions to finish as the runner up chased by Bahrs, twelfth starting Abe Huls, and row five starter David Brandies. 

   Sixteen A.I.R.S. cars checked in, with all but one coming to the track for fifteen laps of action. It took a pair of yellow flags to get lap one in the books, but then Doak Allen Jr. and Bart Miller ran side by side for several laps until just after the half way point when Miller put his 1962 Ford out front to stay. Allen came home second in his black Chevy Nova. 

   The Sport Mods cleaned things up a bit, with two dozen of the twenty eight signed in lining up for twenty laps. Pole sitter Carter VanDenBerg shot to the front with Jim Gillenwater on his heels. Soon Friday winner Brayton Carter arrived from row three to join the front runners. VanDenBerg and Gillenwater raced side by side as Carter moved around behind the duo, looking for an opening. On about lap six, Carter was able to split the leaders in turn four, and from there it was no looking back. As Carter caught the back of the pack on lap seven, he began to put distance on his challengers. Once again, cars were fighting for position all around the three eighths mile oval. The first caution came with six laps to go as Jim Powell climbed the turn one guardrail, riding it for several yards before coming to a stop on the track. Before the yellow, all eyes were on a great battle for third through sixth between Dylan VanWyk, VanDenBerg, Shane Paris, and track regular Sean Wyett. One more stoppage saw VanWyk charge to second, and along with leader Carter the front pair drove off from the pack in nose to tail fashion. The checkers would wave over "Speedy Bray," his second win of the weekend. VanWyk, VanDenBerg, Paris, and Wyett would round out the top five. 

   Jay Johnson pulled his #93 Late Model to the pit area during hot laps and was soon loaded and on the way home leaving us with twenty four cars for the twenty five lap feature. Tommy Elston topped his outside row one redraw of Friday by pulling the number one pole position on Saturday with first year Late Model driver Jesse Bodin alongside. The front pair shot out front joined by sixth starting Matt Jones. Following a lap three caution, Elston and Bodin put distance on the pack while tenth starting Jeremy Pundt charged through the field to third. By the halfway point the leaders were in lapped traffic and Bodin was nipping at the heels of the #54. Elston gained a bit of breathing room as he put worked the slower cars, but with five laps to go Bodin had pulled alongside. Jesse was working high on the track while Tommy ran a low line through turns one and two and a higher groove at the other end. With just two laps remaining, Bodin executed a slide job in turn three, but Elston was able to cross him over to regain the lead. Elston then led the final laps, completing a weekend sweep of heat races and features. Bodin settled for runner up honors while Pundt scored his second third place run of the weekend. C.J. Horn came from row six to finish fourth while Vance Wilson came on strong, starting in row ten and charging all the way to fifth. Late Model rookie Josh Foster advanced ten positions to six ahead of Jason Oenning, teenager Kayden Clatt, Nick Marolf, and Andy Nezworski. 

   Modifieds would be up next for twenty laps, all but one of the twenty four signed in lining up. It took three tries to get lap one in the books, with a five car tangle in turn three eliminating top contender Denny Eckrich. Bill Roberts Jr. grabbed the early lead from the pole position with fifth starting Kurt Kile in tow. Ethan Braaksma was behind the wheel of the #12J, and with four laps scored he had powered from row six to second. Two more laps and Braaksma moved to the front, quickly distancing himself from the field. Seemingly on a rail, by the mid point of the race he had opened a full straightaway advantage. Meanwhile the battle behind him was on going, and with ten in the books eighth starting Matt Werner drove to the runner up spot. With the race staying green, Ethan pulled ahead even more, racing a full half lap in front of second place Werner as the laps wound down. At the checkers it was Braaksma, Werner, Roberts Jr. , Eric Barnes, and Missouri USRA competitor Robby Reed. For both Braaksma and Werner it was two Harvest Hustle top fives.

   There were still a pair of features remaining, but early calls persuaded our driver to head for the parking lot as the clock read about 10:20. The results show Daniel Wauters capturing the eleven car Hobby Stock main event over Tom Killen Jr., Bradly Graham, Calvin Dhondt, and Eric Knutson. For all but Knutson, who made his first appearance of the weekend,  it was back to back top fives for the others. 

   While the Hobby Stock count dropped by six, the Sport Compacts gained six cars from Friday. with twenty starting the finale. Double duty Jeffrey Delonjay crawled from his Late Model and captured the Compact main in his only visit of the weekend. Kimberly Abbott and Barry Taft made it a pair of top fives, while first timers Chuck Fullenkamp and Dyllan Bonk completed the top five. 

   Although we needed to check out early, it was a solid night of enjoyable, competitive racing, with a bit larger crowd, no doubt aided by better weather and no high school football.

   Thanks again to Brian and Marcie Gaylord as they wind down their tenure as outstanding stewards of the speedway. Before they go from promoters back to fans however, there is still one more race on the docket, the immensely popular and highly anticipated Shiverfest on Saturday, October 28. It is much an event as a race, so check the track website for times and attractions. And to those wondering, things sound positive for continued racing at Lee County for the 2024 season, hopefully there will be news on that front before long!

   The next Racin' Down the Road is scheduled for Friday night  as the MLRA Late Models begin their championship weekend at Kevin and Tammy Gundakers' Tri City Speedway near Granite City, Illinois. 

   There is still time to find a race near you, so get out and enjoy!

Elston, Burgtorf, Reitzler, Carter, Taft, and Griffiths Top Harvest Hustle Night One

    Racing resumed at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson with night number one of the Harvest Hustle on Friday. The event lived up to its' name as Fall weather made its' debut, a crisp evening enjoyed by those in attendance. 

   The original five division program was supplemented by the addition of Hobby Stocks thanks to a  sponsor coming on board late who wished to include the class. With the rules opened up to allow for certain non IMCA legal cars to participate, the pit area swelled to one hundred thirty three cars on a blustery night! Still track officials did an amazing job. Hot laps started right at the advertised time of 7:15 and just a ten minute break separated the sixteen qualifying heats from the six feature events, with the entire show wrapping up at 11:00, the races clicking off in rapid fire fashion. Even so, there was but a hearty few still in the stands when that final checkers waved.

   Kudos to the promoters for giving all drivers the opportunity to start their respective feature, as a couple of classes might otherwise have used a B main. As it turned out, natural attrition eliminated a few competitors along the way.

   Sport Mods would roll out first for twenty laps. All twenty five cars lined up although John Oliver Jr. retired to the pits before the green flag flew. Logan Anderson shot to the lead from outside row one ahead of pole sitter Braden Richards. The first caution came with just one lap scored and back under green fourth starting Tanner Klingele charged to second taking along fifth starting Brayton Carter in third. Carter soon powered to second as he and Anderson pulled ahead of the pack. On lap eight Carter used a fourth turn slide job to take the lead. One lap before the halfway mark, as Carter caught the tail of the field, the yellow flag waved for a second and final time. Klingele again took advantage of the Delaware style restart to move to second while Carter VanDenBerg powered to third. Again "Speedy Bray" pulled away from his challengers, with slower traffic coming in to play on lap sixteen. He smoothly moved through the back of the pack, cruising to the win. Klingele held the runner up spot, while Shane Paris showed speed late, advancing from his row four start to third. VanDenBerg and Anderson completed the top five.

   Sport Compacts would be up next with all but two of the sixteen checked in racing for fifteen laps. Barry Taft lined up outside row one and charged to the lead followed by third starting Travis Demint. Outside row two starter Jake Benischek came up to battle Demint for second, finally taking the spot just ahead of the lone caution on lap seven, but the field then reverted back to six laps scored. As racing resumed, Jake temporarily rolled to the lead but was soon overtaken by Taft. The three front runners raced side by side and nose to tail while Kimberly Abbott and Rick DeFord ran close behind looking for room to move up. As he entered turn three for the final time, DeFord looped his #00, but the checkers was already out for Taft, who picked up the hard fought win. Demint came in second, followed by Benischek, Abbott, and Corey Crispin.

   All but one of the twenty six Stock Cars took the green flag for twenty laps. Derrick Agee charged from row two to pace the opening circuit in front of pole Sitter Dustin Vis. By now the super racy three eighths mile had multiple grooves, and the normally bottom hugging Stockers were using all lines with varying degrees of success. The caution came with six laps scored, and Dustin Griffiths put his #10G in second on the restart. Todd Reitzler had taken the green from outside row four, but he now moved to third with seven laps scored. Agee was driving around the inside boundary tires while Griffiths and Reitzler pounded the cushion. With the crossed flags indicating the halfway mark, they were replaced with a second yellow, and back to racing Reitzler jumped to second. Three more trips around and Todd was able to use his top side momentum to clear Agee for the lead. He then put considerable distance on the pack, but with the white flag displayed it was replaced by the yellow setting up a green, white, checkers finish. (Personally, I am in favor of a one lap shootout in these cases, but I digress.) Reitzler was never the less up to the challenge, scoring the victory. John Oliver Jr. was the beneficiary of the late caution, powering to runner up honors, trailed by Agee, Griffiths, and tenth starting Johnny Spaw. 

   Wayne Kniffen was the lone Modified of the twenty two on hand not showing for the twenty lap feature. Dustin Kroening and Mark Burgtorf brought the field to green, and the veteran Burgtorf quickly shot to the lead. Matt Werner drove to second on lap two as row three starters Jarrett Brown and Denny Eckrich raced side by side for third. Meanwhile Burgtorf opened a nearly straightaway lead as the race hit the mid point. By now Mark was in heavy slower traffic, but he was skillfully picking his way through. At the same time, an intense battle was going on behind him between Werner, Brown, Eckrich, and twelfth starting Ethan Braaksma. Finally Brown was able to clear that group and he began to run down the leader. As the laps clicked off in the non stop event, Brown was shaving off seconds each trip past the flag stand. When the checkers waved, he was close to showing his nose to the leader, but it was Burgtorf with the flag to flag win. Braaksma claimed third followed by Werner and Eckrich. 

   Again, all but one of the seventeen Hobby Stocks - a great count considering they were a late addition, came trackside for sixteen laps. Double duty Dustin Griffiths came from outside row two to lead Daniel Wauters on lap one and an early caution, while Bradly Graham powered from sixth to second on the next trip around. Billy Stanford was racing hard for second when he brought out the second caution, spinning with two laps scored. There was another stop on the restart, then Griffiths took off running the top of the track while Graham raced around the low line, both gaining separation. A fourth and final caution at the halfway mark reset the field single file while bringing the front duo back to the pack. It proved only a temporary inconvenience, however, as Griffiths cruised to the win with Graham in second. Calvin Dhondt came from row four to third, followed by ninth starting Des Moines driver Tom Killen Jr.. Wauters completed the first five. 

   Closing out the night would be twenty five laps of Late Model action. No shows Frank Mason and Kyle Hollenbeck in the #39 normally piloted by Ed, left us with twenty five starters! A pair of veterans, Chuck Hanna and Tommy Elston sat on row one. Tommy shot quickly to the lead while fourth starting Nick Marolf took over second on lap two. With four laps scored, the only yellow came as long time Modified ace Scott Boles had problems with his shiny new #4B Late Model. On the restart Elston went to another time zone as C.J. Horn moved to third after starting in row three. Elston built a straightaway lead before catching the back of the pack around the mid point of the race. Although the traffic was heavy as cars raced for positions, Elston navigated his way through with no issues. Meanwhile, Marolf, who we last saw at LCS behind a wrecker with a heavily damaged machine, gained separation in second. Suddenly it was eleventh starting Jeremy Pundt capturing every ones attention as seemingly from nowhere he entered the top five, then continued to pick off cars, charging to third as the laps wound down. Elston cruised to his first feature win at LCS this season. Marolf  took runner up honors with Pundt in third. After that, I am not sure what happened, as by my eyes and the original scoring it was Horn in fourth. However the official results show Denny Woodworth and Hanna rounding out the top five, with Horn in sixth, so I am guessing there may have been some sort of penalty imposed? In any event, seventh through tenth went to Vance Wilson, Bobby Hansen, Darin Weisinger Jr., and Andy Nezworski. 

   This brought an end to a great night of racing on an immaculately prepared track. I also want to offer up props to flagman Rodney Bleisner and his capable assistant who did an awesome job of keeping the show moving, especially by allowing out of shape cars to right themselves and not throwing a hair trigger caution. This alone shaved several minutes off what could have been a much longer evening!

   Thanks as always to Brian and Marcie Gaylord, as their tenure as capable stewards of the famed fairgrounds oval winds down. But in the meantime, we will do it all again tonight, with action kicking off an hour earlier with hot laps at 6:15. Due to the solid car count, Hobby Stocks have again been added to the card, and the always entertaining American Iron Racing Series cars will be on hand as well. So dress warm and join us, won't you please?

Neville is Chad McCoy Memorial Champ, Elston, Rexing, Kiefer and Delonjay Also Winners

    Sunday night was the third annual Chad McCoy Memorial at Adams County, Illinois Speedway east of Quincy. Shortened from an originally scheduled two day event, there was still big money on the line in all five divisions. UMP Modifieds would highlight the program, with a winners' purse of $4,545 plus lap money. Street Stocks, Hart Series B Mods, and Crate Late Models would all have first place money in excess of $1,000, while 4 Cylinders would compete for a top prize of $645. The festive fall atmosphere would also include a Hay Rack Ride courtesy of B Mod and Street Stock racer Pete Stodgel, a costume contest, silent as well as a live auction, and more. Unfortunately, all of the hoopla combined with more cars, extra laps, and a plethora of caution flags contributed to a marathon event which saw the final checkers wave just as the clock ticked past 11:00.

   Ninety three drivers checked in, led as expected by the UMP Modifieds with twenty eight teams. Only the Mods needed a B main to set their feature field, so after thirteen heats, that lone B main and intermission, the qualified Modifieds came to the track for the King of the Dirt Finale. Ten drivers were eligible, having competed in four of the five preliminary events staged throughout the season. The twelve lap affair was captured by young Drake Stevenson, who overtook early leader Austen Becerra mid race, then held on for the first major win of his fledgling career. 

   Feature racing began with a twenty lapper for the dozen Street Stocks on hand. Following a first lap caution, Rudy Zaragoza and Jacob Rexing drove off from the pack in a side by side battle. The yellow came again with seven in the books for Kimberly Abbott, out for only the second time in the George Wilson #77. Back under green the red flag quickly came for a multi car tangle which eliminated four cars. One more time the caution flag waved before Rexing took the checkers for the second time since he added the #59R Street Stock to his stable. Zaragoza came home second ahead of track champion Jake Powers, opening night winner Leremy Jackson, and Pete Stodgel. 

  Thirteen Late Models lined up next for twenty laps. Again, a lap one caution set up an original restart. Pole sitter Denny Woodworth shot ahead of his row one mate, Tommy Elston. At this point the fast way around the oval appeared to be the inside line, but Elston operated in a higher groove as he hounded the leader. Jason Perry joined the front duo between a pair of yellows on laps four and six. Finally Elston was able to ease past Woodworth on the top side with a dozen laps in the books while Perry followed using the low line. With just four circuits remaining, Perry suddenly slowed, coming to a stop at the exit of turn two, his run ended. Vance Wilson cleared Woodworth for second on the Delaware style restart even as points champion Elston pulled away for another second half win. Vance Wilson, Woodworth, Jamie Wilson, and Jason Oenning scored top five finishes. Darin Weisinger Jr. ran sixth ahead of Austin Poage, first time visitor Eric Rutherford, and Marty Hull Jr.. Perry was credited with tenth. 

   Paced by the #45 Modified of the late Chad McCoy, the headline event of the night came next. The field was whittled a bit to twenty five starters going at it for forty five laps. A pair of travelers, fast timer and first heat winner Jared Thomas, Edinburg, Il., and heat two winner Chase Holland from Success, Mississippi filled out row one. Along with third heat winner Michael Long they shot to the front with Thomas overtaken for the lead by Long on lap three. As Michael stretched his advantage fourth heat winner Trevor Neville found speed on the top side of the blackened surface, racing to the runner up spot on lap nine. The first caution came after that ninth lap was scored and three circuits later Rick Conoyer joined the party in third followed one lap later by track champ Austen Becerra. Just as Long caught the back of the pack on lap seventeen, the caution flag would come again. At this point Becerra exited the track with his front bumper apparently folded under the front end of his #22. Back to racing it was Long working down low and Neville on the cushion when slower traffic again came into play. With cars racing for position in his preferred low line, Long appeared to clip the tractor tire barrier in turn four possibly nudging it a bit onto the track. In any event, fourth running Dave Weitholder apparently hit the tire, causing enough damage to end his run as the caution flag waved. On the restart Long charged hard into turn one, losing the handle and spinning to bring the yellow back out. He then retired to the pits. As racing resumed, it was Holland in second while Mike Chasteen Jr. powered to third. With nine laps to go, Chasteen Jr. charged to the runner up spot, while Neville had opened a sizable lead. One final caution brought the #777 back to the field with four laps remaining, but the single file restart presented only a temporary delay for Neville, who picked up the big payday. Chasteen Jr. advanced nine spots to take runner up honors followed by Holland. Chris Spalding started tenth and finished fourth in front of Rick Conoyer. Sixth through tenth went to Stevenson, Treb Jacoby, twentieth starting Shawn Deering, Steve Picou and Thomas.

   Sixteen 4 Cylinders would run next, going eighteen laps. After finishing third in his heat race, points champion Jeffery Delonjay redrew the number one pill for the feature lineup. He then paced the field through a lap three caution, holding off a four car scrum behind him. Eventually Jeffery and brother Jaden broke free in nose to tail fashion. After Jeffery was able to put a lapped car between himself and Jaden, he stretched his margin, cruising to the win. Visitor Matt Mackey was able to close on Jaden, but settled for third at the checkers. Spencer Coats edged Jimmy Dutlinger for fourth at the line. 

   The final event on the card saw two dozen Hart Series B Mods line up for twenty laps. Popular local driver Tanner Klingele suffered a flat tire during the parade laps, dashing to the work area for a quick change, then tagged the tail of the field. Troy, Mo. driver A.J.Cline and St. Louis pilot Matthew Edler filled out row one with Cline leading lap one before Edler took over on lap two. After a lap two restart, Cline looped his ride, bringing a second caution. The next stop came with eight laps scored, and as the race reached the mid point, Damien Kiefer completed his run from row six to the lead. The second generation racer from St. Genevieve, Mo. then survived three more caution periods, the final coming with just two laps to go, to score the hard fought win. Part time local driver Bobby Anders was strong and steady in second followed by Edler and local hot shoes Reed Wolfmeyer and Adam Birck. It was a quick comeback for young Kiefer who rolled his car the night before in Memphis, Mo. action. 

   Thanks to J.T. Promotions for their continuing hospitality and for offering up October racing.

   Next up for Racin' Down the Road will be Friday and Saturday Harvest Hustle racing at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. Hope to see you there!

Carter Times Two, Brown, Ramsey, and Taft are Scotland County Winners

    Saturday night we made our first visit of the season to the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. The occasion would be night number two of the Jim Oliver Memorial honoring a gentleman who was a long time racer, the patriarch of three generations of dirt track racers, as well as being a  friend to many, including yours truly. The fairgrounds track plays host to only a handful of events each season under the capable hands of race director Mike VanGenderen, this weekend being the sixth annual affair. Besides the usual healthy purse offered up to the five divisions of competitors, there was $5,015 in bonus cash donated by Oliver Heating and Air, swelling the two day total to over $45,000! In addition, the top four finishers from the Friday features would be locked in to the inside four rows on this night.

   As usual, the super wide oval, be it three eighths or four tenths mile, was smooth and lightning fast. Somewhat surprisingly, a handful of the pre qualified drivers did not return, but still more than eighty cars were checked in on a perfect night, weather wise. Hot laps would kick off shortly after the advertised time of 6:00, and we were racing thirty minutes later.

   The count was light in the 4 Cylinder division, with only one more qualifying heat while it took three for the Stock Cars and a pair of heats for the Modifieds, Sport Mods, and Hobby Stocks to round out the feature fields. 

   A brief intermission with a bit of track work set things up for feature racing in front of a nice sized gathering.

   Sport Mods would go first, with sixteen cars coming to the track for twenty laps.Although the line up board listed Friday winner Carter VanDenBerg as the driver of the #7V, it was announced post race that his cousin Cayden Carter was behind the wheel. Carter would shoot to the early lead from the pole taking Tim Plummer and Jim Gillenwater along. Those three would break away from the pack ahead of a lap three caution for debris. Gillenwater and Plummer would swap the runner up spot before a second and final yellow flag for a Patrick Phillips spin on lap seven. Carter again checked out on the field while the race to watch was for second. Gillenwater, celebrating his birthday, was hugging the low line while Plummer rode the cushion. They would continue to swap the position and it was Plummer in second when the leader caught slower traffic on lap eighteen. With a pair of cars going side by side for position, Cayden was able to split them out of turn two to seal the deal. He would then drive off to the flag to flag win. Plummer topped Gillenwater for second while Colton Livezey advanced four spots to outrun Tyler Heckert for fifth.

   Next up would be Hobby Stocks going for fifteen circuits. Tom Killen and Kale Hensley brought the eighteen starters to the green flag. Before that happened, however, Luke Phillips would shed a wheel and axle on his #33. As it turned out, that would be the only delay in the action. Hensley led Killen on lap one with third starting Luke Ramsey powering to second on lap three. By the eighth trip around the leaders were racing side by side, and Ramsey was in front as that lap was scored. At the same time, row four starter Aaron Martin was moving forward, and he slipped into third on lap ten. Three laps later Martin used a low side move to clear Hensley for second, but he could not run down the leader in the final two laps. As Kevin Eggleston waved the checkers, it was Ramsey, Martin, Hensley, Killen, and ninth starting John Watson rounding out the top five. 

   Moving along quickly, the eight car Four Cylinder fourteen lapper was next. With Brandon Reu sitting on the pole he seemed to be the odds on favorite, and he maintained the top spot as Barry Taft and Tim Schnathorst battled side by side for second. Taft was able to secure the runner up spot, and on lap four he drove around Reu for the lead. Meanwhile Schnathorst now found himself in a third place duel with Michael Grossman. Schnathorst soon began to fade back, eventually crossing the line in sixth. There would be no catching Taft, who topped Reu, Grossman, Kimberly Abbott, and Garrett Porter. Again there would be zero caution periods to slow the action.

   The full field of Stock Cars saw twenty three line up for twenty laps. Cayden Carter was behind the wheel of the Michael Petersen #1X, and he would lead the pack to green ahead of Johnny Spaw, Jason See, and Nathan Wood. John Oliver Jr. would start from row seven, but by the fourth trip past the flag stand he had entered the top five. Soon the leaders were in heavy traffic, but Carter maintained a safe lead while Spaw raced well ahead of a three car scrum for third between Wood, Oliver Jr. and See. The first caution period came just three laps from the checkers when Dennis Elliot looped his #29 on the now black racing surface. The yellow flag would wave once more on the restart, and when racing resumed Wood used the Delaware style restart to clear Spaw for second with Oliver Jr. following in third. Likely the fastest car on the track at this point, Oliver Jr. then drove around Wood for second on the final circuit, but his charge ended there. Carter picked up his second win of the night, besting Oliver Jr., Wood, Spaw, and See.

   Modifieds would be the headliners on this night, and sixteen of the high powered machines came to the track for twenty five laps. Following a first lap caution, pole sitter Jarrett Brown and third starting Austen Becerra paced the field. A tight three car battle behind the leaders entertained the crowd as Michael Jaennette, Robbie Reed, and Jerad Fuller fought for position. On lap five the red flag flew as a massive pile up out of turn one saw the #OK of Damien Kiefer doing a pair of roll overs. Fortunately there were no injuries, but about six cars were eliminated in the melee. Back to racing, Reed powered his #5 into the runner up spot, then set his sights on the leader. Brown was committed to the inside line while Reed worked high around the turns. By lap fourteen Reed had closed the gap, and one lap later he was in front by a nose at the line. Two more yellows would come in the next pair of laps. On the final restart, Chris Zogg, who had suffered considerable damage on Friday, would charge to fourth after lining up in row five. On the final lap Brown was able to get a run on the leader and they came out of turn four in a near dead heat. Not being sure where the finish line was, we had to wait for the announcement declaring Brown the winner by no more than six inches! Reed, Becerra, Jaennette and Zogg would complete the top five. It was a thrilling cap to the evening that had the crowd buzzing.

   To top off the excellent racing, the final checkers flew before 9:30, leaving the many campers and racers plenty of time for bench racing and partying!

   Thanks as always to MVG and his friendly and efficient crew for an outstanding night of action at one of my long time favorite tracks. 

   On this Sunday we will head back to Adams County, Il. Speedway for the now one day Chad McCoy Memorial, with UMP Modifieds topping the bill as they race for big dollars. Extra money will also be on the line for Crate Late Models, Hart Series B Modifieds, Street Stocks, and 4 Cylinders. In addition, the promoters have a host of other activities planned, including a Hay Rack Ride, costume contest, silent auction, and more. The weather is great, so let's go racing!

  

Kay Doubles Up, Diercks, Olson, Forbes Top Fall Bash Action

    Thursday night it was back to the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton for night one of the annual Fall Bash. The car count from the Gary Reinhart Memorial the night prior grew by twenty three to one hundred and seventy four, with only the Late Model count dropping, from twenty seven to twenty one. With the way the counts were distributed, it became necessary to add B mains in the IMCA Stock Cars (which replaced the Outlaw Stocks), and the 4 Stocks. With the added heat races, there would be a whopping thirty two races scheduled. But with much better on track behavior from the drivers, it took only four hours from the onset of hot laps to the final checkers, with the action nearly non stop!

  As every other class required a pair of B mains to set their twenty four car starting grids, Late Models would be first in the feature order. This race would go twenty eight laps in honor of long time car owner/driver Brad Coin, whose Late Models sported that number during his colorful career. As the field ran their pace laps, Brandon Loos needed a push around the banked quarter mile. Unfortunately his #57 would not fire off, and he would be the only driver unable to take the green flag. Ryan Claeys and Dustin Schram redrew the front row, but the start was waved off when Joel Callahan spun in turn two. Schram jumped to the lead on the restart with third starting Jesse Bodin in tow. As lap two went in the books, fourth starting Evan Miller cleared Jesse for second. Following a lap five caution for a Thomas Stevens spin, Matt Ryan charged from the second double file row to the runner up position, while Miller was shuffled outside the top five. Ryan was racing around the top of the track while Schram, Bodin, and oncoming Justin Kay did business around the inside tire barriers. As Ryan and Bodin swapped positions, these four cars broke well ahead of the pack. On about lap eighteen Kay was able to advance to second, quickly closing on the bumper of the leader. With nine of the twenty eight laps showing on the scoreboard and the leaders in traffic, Justin eased ahead out of turn two. He quickly put distance on the pack, and needed only to survive another pair of cautions in the final laps to pick up his second Late Model win in two nights of hard fought action. Ryan collected his second top five of the week in second followed by Schram, Bodin, and ninth starting Bobby Hansen. Callahan worked his way back through the field to record a sixth, trailed by Joe Beal, Ron Klein, Miller, and veteran Steve Johnson. 

   Stock Cars would be up next for twenty laps. Kay, who was once again racing in three classes, sat outside Jacob Ellithorpe on row one. With a good idea of track conditions, Justin shot to the lead and held on through three quick caution flags just past the half way mark to record another win. Dustin Vis had come from row two to second on lap two and was cruising when Stan O'Brien jumped over the cushion in turn three, came back on the track on the front straightaway and made contact with Vis who then looped his #20V bringing out the yellow flag and sending him to the tail. Two more stoppages followed in the next scored lap, and then we were treated to an entertaining three wide battle for second between Gage Neal, Cole Czarneski, and Ellithorpe. Neal eventually broke away from that group, but could not run down Kay, settling for runner up honors. Czarneski, Ellithorpe, and twenty first starting Charlie Sancinati from West Allis, Wisconsin completed the first five. 

   Two dozen Sport Mods came to the track for twenty trips around the oval. A pair of Iowa hot shoes, Jarett Franzen and Kyle Olson brought the field to green. Franzen was the early leader with Olson on his heels. By this point cars were able to move freely around the blackened surface with the growing cushion while the fast line seemed to change back and forth within just a few laps. Happily, only one yellow flag slowed the action, that coming with three laps in the books. The low riding Franzen held the top spot until lap nine when Olson used a top side charge to grab the lead. Running high on the treacherous cushion, Kyle slowly pulled away from the field. With no more cautions, he cruised to the win. Franzen was solid in second while Cole Fenske advanced four positions to claim third. Austin Stamm ran fourth and Brayton Carter was able to drive from row five to  fill out the top five. 

   Four Stocks would battle for a dozen laps with only two yellow flags in the first half of the event slowing the action. Wednesday winner Jake Benischek led in the early going before fourth starting Dustin Forbes used a restart with three laps scored to power to the front. After the final caution five laps in, Joe Zrostlik, Josh Starr, and Benischeck raced three wide for second while Michael Snyder stayed hot on their tail looking for a way around the trio. As the laps wound down, Forbes remained in command, the first time I have written down #815 as a race winner!  Hometown driver Starr took second with Zrostlik, Snyder, and Benischek next in line. 

   The finale of the evening was the featured Modified division, and what a finale it was! Twenty four cars, twenty five laps, and not a yellow flag in sight! A pair of Late Model standouts, Spencer Diercks and Chris Simpson came away from the front stretch redraw with front row starts. And as it turns out, pulling the Hoker Trucking beer can with the number one on the bottom from the Yeti cooler that will go to the overall three night point champion proved to be the winning move for Diercks. Spencer would charge ahead as starter Doug Haack waved the green flag and lead all twenty five trips around the oval. Sixth starting Dylan Thornton, the Californian who summers in Iowa, would find his way around Simpson with eight laps to go and was able to close the margin to the front as the leaders worked in slower traffic. But Diercks was up to the challenge, going flag to flag in the non stop event. Thornton and Simpson came next followed by a pair of #12s, Ethan Braaksma and Jeff "Bone" Larson. 

   As mentioned, the final checkers waved just after 10 PM, and the party was already underway as we headed out for the long drive back to Missouri (and Illinois for my companions.) Many thanks to Ryan , Timmy, and the Darkside crew for their hospitality and for a superb night of racing. Kudos to "Dr. Al" for a another perfectly prepared racing surface. And last but not least, thanks to announcer Jerry Mackey not only for the kind words for yours truly and Positively Racing, but also for another fine job behind the mic keeping us both informed and entertained throughout the evening.  Racing will continue for two more nights as the Fall Bash kicks into high gear. Check the website for details.

   We will take tonight (Friday) off even as we make plans for another couple of nights of "post season" racing on this gorgeous weekend. There are lots of good choices, don't let 'em pass you by!

Four Nights of Action Kicks Off in Tipton

    Wednesday we made a last minute decision to head to Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa for the first of four consecutive nights of racing there, this night being the rescheduled 30th annual Gary Reinhart Memorial. A stellar field of one hundred and fifty one cars in five divisions opened the marathon weekend.

    For this night we had set a 10:30 curfew, and with hot laps starting on time as advertised at 6:30, we were hoping to see the complete show. With warm ups complete, heat racing kicked off at 7:00, and with the one spin rule in effect, seventeen heats and four B mains - two for each of the modified classes were completed by about 8:45. A quick intermission came next for some track prep to knock down a bit of the cushion on the immaculately prepared tacky and fast quarter mile, and it was time for feature racing. 

   First up would be the Outlaw Stock Cars, who offered up an interesting mix of the so named cars with a generous helping of IMCA Stock Cars added in. All but one of the twenty four drivers on hand made the call for fifteen laps of action. Unfortunately this is when the wheels began to come off. Five caution periods marred the action, including three on consecutive laps mid race. Outlaw racer Jeff Struck lined up on the pole position alongside Justin Kay - who was competing in three different classes! - and patiently paced the field throughout the marathon event. Following the third of those rapid fire yellows, tenth starting Joel Rust raced side by side with second running Kay before taking sole possession of the runner up spot. As that battle raged on Struck opened a commanding lead, but with the final two cautions coming with three, then two laps to go, Rust was able to put pressure on the leader although he could not get close enough to challenge for the top spot. This race would belong to Struck, followed by Rust and eighth starting Joe Bonney, who also came on strong in the late stages. Zach Zuberbier and Jake Lund completed the first five. 

   My companion stated the next running 4 Stocks would probably go non stop in their twelve lapper, but with all but one of the twenty eight signed in, that would prove to be wishful thinking! Indeed, in this race the wheels - well one, actually, literally did come off, as top contender Cyle Hawkins "threw a shoe" with three laps scored. Heat two winner Trent LeBarge was the early leader with hometowner Josh Starr in tow. Following this first restart, Starr and Jake Benischek charged from the first double file row to overtake the leader, with LeBarge shuffled back to fifth. Two more quick yellows came and on this final restart Benischek powered to the front. The final six circuits clicked off non stop and Jake was able to hold off the advances of Starr to grab the win. Travis Hawkins claimed third in front of Joe Zrostlik and LeBarge. 

   The clock was ticking as the Late Models lined up. Only Teagan Evans, who left the track on the hook after a heat race pile up was missing from the twenty five lap affair. Unfortunately the twenty six drivers who took the green flag were unable to string laps together early on. After a certain number of yellow flags, which eventually numbered seven, track officials began to deduct laps from the scheduled twenty five. Ron Klein had come from row three to capture the first heat, then redrew the number two pill to start alongside Jaden Fryer in the front row. Klein grabbed the lead followed by Fryer until a restart with four in the books when sixth starting Evan Miller took over the second position. Justin Kay had lined up outside row five, advanced to seventh, then began a charge through the field, moving to the runner up spot about lap nine. Also coming to the front after starting in row six it was Joel Callahan and Matt Ryan. But with the race staying green for the final ten laps, it was a battle between the rim riding Klein and the tire hugging Kay, side by side, lap after lap. With just a pair of circuits remaining, Kay took command, charging to the hard fought win. Klein collected a hard fought second, followed by Callahan, Ryan, and Miller. Fred Remley gained eleven spots to finish sixth ahead of Dustin Schram and Late Model rookie Jesse Bodin. Bobby Hansen also gained eleven positions to claim ninth while Joe Beal started twenty fourth and turned in a top ten. 

   It was now pushing our 10:30 cutoff, so we regretfully headed to the parking lot as the Sport Mods headed for the green flag. Reports this morning show Logan Veloz topping the Sport Mods over Jarett Franzen and Tony Olson, while Brandon Schmitt bested Chris Simpson and Ethan Braaksma in the Modified finale. 

   Tonight we will hope for a bit better luck as we again make the two and a half hour trip for the opening night of the Fall Bash. The lineup is basically the same, with IMCA rules Stock Cars replacing the Outlaw variety on the card. Perhaps with a night under their belt, everyone will be more comfortable on the track and the yellow fever will be a thing of the past. Hope to see you there!

   And a bit of housekeeping, the scheduled two night Chad McCoy Memorial at Adams County, Il. Speedway near Quincy has been switched to a Sunday only show with Micros dropped from the card. There will still be five divisions in action racing for big dollars, hot laps starting about 5:30. Hope to see you there, as well.

Quincy Crowns Season Champs

    An ominous forecast early in the weekend gave way to a beautiful Sunday afternoon and evening and Adams County, Il. Speedway was able to stage their 2023 season championship races. Sixty cars turned out in the five regular divisions, all in double digits led by fifteen Pro Crate Late Models. Regular line up procedures were in effect for all classes, with both the Late Models and UMP Modifieds using time trials to determine heat race starting slots. Last week Jamie Wilson was charged with "no time" after a transponder issue, but this Sunday he paced the division with a lap of 13.657 seconds. Jacob Rexing topped the Mods at 13.968 ticks of the clock. 

   Street Stocks kicked off feature action, eleven cars for fifteen laps. Robert Cottom and Rudy Zaragoza sat on row one with Cottom leading the way. Two yellow flags came in the first two circuits. Now it was Zaragoza and Rexing in a battle for second, but as Rudy fell a bit off the pace Jake Powers charged to second, creating a three car scrum with Cottom and Rexing. A final caution came with ten in the books, and back to racing Cottom and Rexing went side by side with just two laps remaining. At the checkers it was Cottom scored the leader for all fifteen laps as Rexing settled for second. Zaragoza rebounded to run third followed by Powers and Sage Martin. Powers would claim the points title. 

   Dirtcar 4 Cylinders came next with nine of the ten signed in taking the green. Jaden Delonjay powered to the lead from his pole start taking along his fourth starting brother Jeffery in second. Jeffery took over the top spot on lap three, and walked away from the field in the non stop fifteen lapper. Jaden remained in second while Spencer Coats ran the distance in third ahead of Kimberly Abbott. The only "racing" was the on going battle for fifth, as Landon Neisen edged Kyle Weisenberger for the position. Jeffery Delonjay was the runaway points champion. 

   Ten of the eleven UMP Mods came track side for eighteen laps of action. A pair of St. Louis area "Ricks," Conoyer and Stevenson, filled out the front row. With two laps scored, a three car wreck eliminated Frankie Wellman, and when the yellow waved again on the restart two class runner Rexing needed a push to the infield, his night over. With Conoyer leading the way, Becerra cleared Stevenson for second. Conoyer opened a sizable lead until a caution came with a dozen laps scored. Following the restart Conoyer again pulled away and with four laps to go Mark Burgtorf charged around Becerra for second. A final yellow came after the white flag was shown, but Conoyer was up to the challenge, holding off Burgtorf for a flag to flag win. Becerra, who ran on the ragged edge of the growing cushion, came home third ahead of Stevenson, while Shawn Deering edged David Weitholder for fifth. Weitholder was wheeling his back up #4 machine on the night and suffered heavy right side damage as he raced mid pack. Becerra was the track point champion.

   A heat race accident eliminated Braden Bilger and Christian Miles from competition, leaving a bakers' dozen for the Crate Late twenty lapper. The six car redraw found Vance Wilson and Darin Weisinger Jr. pacing the field. Vance and third starting Denny Woodworth topped the opening pair of laps ahead of a caution for a rare Jamie Wilson spin. Back under green fifth starting Tommy Elston, who led Woodworth by just five scant points, joined the battle up front.Vance and Tommy worked the top line while Denny did business down low. The two points leaders were racing side by side behind Wilson when the caution came for Austin Poage with seven laps scored. Following the Delaware restart Elston powered around Wilson for the lead, and when another caution came two laps later for Darren Cawthon, visiting Chase Osterhoff, four hours from his home in Kankakee, charged to the runner up spot. Running the inside line on the slickened surface, Elston was in control as the white flag waved. But as Yogi said "it aint over 'till it's over!" Tommy, then Chase drove under the checkers of flagman Allen Motley as a mix up in turn four triggered the yellow light. As Elston headed for victory lane, the remaining cars continued to circle the oval. According to track officials, the transponder scoring only recorded the top two finishers before the caution, and in what seemed at best a bizarre ruling, there would be one more lap run to determine the feature and season points outcome. As Elston told me later, he had removed his earpiece, so there was a moment of confusion on his part, but soon everyone was back in line for a one lap shootout. I hate to think what could have happened under such questionable circumstances, but fortunately the twenty first lap was just a formality as Elston held on for the win. Osterhoff followed in second in his only Adams County visit in 2023. Jason Perry seemed behind the eight ball early, but found speed to advance five positions to third in front of Vance Wilson and Woodworth. Jason Oenning wheeled the Hollenstine #21 to sixth, topping Cody Maguire, Weisinger Jr., Jamie Wilson, and Cawthon. Elson told interviewer Skipp Dunker there was a "wheelbarrow full of reasons" he wanted his first Quincy points title. 

   There was still one feature to go, as all thirteen IMCA Sport Mods took to the track for eighteen laps. Quinton Shelton and Pete Stodgel led the field to green. A major pile up in turn four of the opening lap forced number two points man Reed Wolfmeyer to the trailer, after he apparently exited his car on the track to check for damage? As racing resumed, Shelton and Michael Goodwin battled for the lead before sixth starting visitor Nicholas Profeta squeezed through to grab the top spot. Following a second and final yellow just after the halfway mark, points leader Logan Cumby raced to second after lining up in row four. Profeta continued to hold the lead running around the tire barriers while Cumby operated one lane higher. With five circuits remaining, Cumby was able to clear Profeta for the top spot, but out of nowhere came eighth starting A. J. Tournear. Blasting around the cushion, he charged to second on lap fifteen, quickly closing on the leader. With the white flag displayed, Tournear drove around Cumby out of turn two, to I believe his first feature win of the season. Cumby took second in the feature and first in the points chase, while last weeks' winner Patrick Phillips cleared Profeta late for third. Tanner Klingele advance five positions to complete the top five. 

   Adams County, Il. Speedway will next host the two day Chad McCoy Memorial next Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 30 - Oct. 1, with big money on  the line for multiple divisions, check the track website for details. The final event of 2023 at the track will be Thursday, October 12 as the MLRA Late Models begin their championship weekend. Thanks as always to Jim, Tammy, and the gang at Adams County for their continuing hospitality, and we hope to see you next weekend!

   Next up we are planning to make the drive to the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa Thursday for the opening night of the Darkside Fall Bash. The fairgrounds quarter mile track in Tipton will actually be hosting four straight nights of racing beginning Wednesday with the rescheduled Gary Reinhart Memorial. And there will be two nights of racing beginning Friday at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. for the Jim Oliver Memorial.

   So grab a jacket, turn off the Pay per View, and head to the track, as nothing beats fall racing!

Elston Sweeps Up at Quincy

   Sunday night found us high above turn one at Adams County, Il. Speedway for the King of the Crates Finale paying $1,000 to win to the Late Model feature. In addition, a special twelve lap event was ran for the eight drivers qualified through the King of the Crates season long series. All five regular divisions would be in action with the Sport Mods once again IMCA sanctioned after two weeks of "open" competition. 

   The night started with time trial qualifying for Late Models and UMP Mods. Tommy Elston rolled out late in the order and topped the Crates at 13.726 seconds and Kenny Wallace paced the Mods at 14.056.

   Following ten heat races - two per class - for the sixty six cars signed in, and intermission, the Late Model special event rolled to the track. Elston and Jason Oenning, still wheeling the Derek Hollenstine #21, sat on row one. Elston shot to the lead and held on for the win to go with his heat race victory. Third starting Braden Bilger ran second, but could not get close enough to attempt a pass. Jamie Wilson, Jason Perry, and Oenning completed the first five followed by Darin Weisinger Jr., Denny Woodworth, and Sam Halstead who exited the track early. Woodworth is now piloting the car driven most of the year by Oenning after Denny was involved in a grinding crash at Lee County Speedway. 

   Street Stocks kicked off feature action. The growing class had fifteen cars come to the track for fifteen laps. Heat winners Jacob Rexing and Robert Cottom paced the field and those two pulled away from the pack racing side by side ahead of a lap four caution. Four more yellow flags slowed the action, and after the final one with three laps to go the field went single file. Cottom gained control and raced to the win. Points leader Jake Powers recovered from a 360 degree spin to avoid an out of shape Rudy Zaragoza six laps in. When it was determined that neither driver actually stopped on the track, both were given their spots back and Powers eventually cleared Rexing for runner up honors. Zaragoza and Steve Grotz completed the first five. 

   The IMCA Northern Sport Mod class was unusually light, with just ten cars going for fifteen circuits. Patrick Phillips lined up in row two, charged to the lap one lead and cruised to a flag to flag win in the non stop race. It was the first main event win of the season for Phillips, who fell victim to a last lap pass a couple of weeks ago. Tanner Klingele was able to win a tight battle with Reed Wolfmeyer for second, but could not run down the leader. Logan Cumby edged A. J. Tournear for fourth. Cumby and Wolfmeyer picked up heat race wins.

   Eleven Dirtcar 4 Cylinders took to the .29 mile oval for fifteen laps and also went non stop to the checkers. First heat winner Jeffery Delonjay and Kimberly Abbott sat on row one, but it was heat two winner Jimmy Dutlinger challenging Delonjay early on. Jeffery pounded the tall cushion while Jimmy worked around the tire barrier on the low line. By the mid point Delonjay had opened a commanding lead and he took the checkers about a half lap in front of the soon to be crowned national champion Dutlinger. Spencer Coats was strong in third trailed by Jaden Delonjay. Dyllan Bonk lost his number five spot when he slowed on the backstretch on the final lap, turning the spot over to Landon Neisen. 

   It was now Late Model time, with Elston and Weisinger Jr. leading the sixteen car field. The race was slow getting started as first timer Marty Hull Jr. rolled to a stop in turn four ahead of the green flag. A lap one yellow set up an original restart, but the twenty lapper stayed green the rest of the way. Heat two winner Vance Wilson was shuffled back from his row two spot as the field mixed it up out of turn two on lap one. But it was Elston again leading the charge, making it forty two laps led for the night! Woodworth and Perry battled for the runner up spot with Perry finally taking control. Bilger stayed close in fourth while Jamie Wilson completed the top five. With transponder issues in qualifying, Jamie started the night behind the eight ball, coming from the back to fourth in his heat, then gaining three positions in the feature. Weisinger Jr. led the second five ahead of Oenning, first time visitor Braden Johnson, Vance Wilson, and Christian Miles. 

   UMP Modifieds would round out the action, fifteen cars for eighteen laps. Heat winners Austen Becerra and Trevor Neville brought the field to green, with Kenny Wallace tucking in behind Becerra for second. Neville then rebounded to grab the lead on lap three. The only yellow flags came with seven laps scored and a strong slide job by Becerra followed by a slick crossover by Neville was called back due to a crash on the backstretch. Back to racing Neville twice jumped the cushion in turns three and four allowing Becerra to sail past. Along with Wallace, those three checked out over the closing laps. With just two laps remaining they raced nearly three wide into turn one. When the checkers flew, it was Becerra with the win followed closely by Wallace and Neville. Kevin Blackburn recovered from an early stumble to outgun Mark Burgtorf to round out the top five. 

   The action wrapped up just minutes after 9:00 P.M.

   Thanks as always to Jim, Tammy, and the crew for a fun Sunday night of racing.

    I am scheduled for a few days off to have a minor medical procedure and hopefully spend some time with the great grandsons, hopefully returning to Adams County, Il. Speedway for season championship night next Sunday. In any event these fall races are quickly becoming my favorite, so I shan't be away for long. In the meantime, watch the specials calendar at Positively Racing, there is lots of good stuff still coming!

   

 

Thornton Jr. Claims Night Number One at Knoxville

    As has been our practice for the last couple of seasons, night number one of the Knoxville Lucas Oil Late Model Nationals has been on the calendar. The Saturday night finale of the three day spectacle was on my "can't miss" list from year one until the covid interrupted season of 2020, but with the advent of a mid race fuel stop and the reduced number of laps for the main event, this first preliminary night has become more of an attraction. This would not have been the case with the field split into two qualifying nights, but with the current manageable car counts a full night of racing with all the participants taking a shot at the $7,000 top prize has become a satisfying event leaving the weekend open for other activities. 

   And although the car count for this Thursday show may have been the lowest yet at forty, I would have to say it was easily the best start to finish night of racing I have witnessed not only in 2023 but likely for many seasons! Each of the four heat races, two B mains, and twenty five lap feature were filled with twists and turns, unexpected outcomes, and to top it off the final checkers flew at 9:15!

   Former Nationals winner Mike Marlar started the night off with quick overall time, turning the big half mile at a blistering 17.109 seconds. 

   With the six car invert utilized in the heat races, Marlar lined up outside row three, and with four laps down he suddenly rolled to a stop, bringing out the first and only heat race yellow flag. Without so much as a drive through the work area, he rejoined the field at the back of the ten car field. Meanwhile, third starting Max Blair found his way to the front and held on to pick up the win ahead of fifth starting Devin Moran and Brian Shirley, still sporting the #8S he featured at the World 100. With five cars transferring to the main event, Marlar came back to take the last spot from Chris Simpson just four laps after restarting at the tail. Not content with fifth, he also drove past Tyler Erb to come home in fourth.

   The second twelve lap event found pole sitter Chase Junghans setting the pace early while row two starters, Brandon Overton in his #4 World 100 car, and Kyle Bronson battled for second. Soon sixth starting Chris Ferguson, racing Knoxville for the first time, joined the back and forth barn burner for second. As the laps wound down, the leaders came upon the slower car of Al Humphrey, and Ferguson made his move all the way to the lead. Once in front he checked out, topping Junghans, Bronson, Overton, and Daulton Wilson. 

   Heat three was another down to the wire scrum. Daniel Hilsabeck led the opening circuit before the future Longhorn chassis house car pilot Brandon Sheppard charged to the top spot. As the laps clicked off, fifth starting Jonathon Davenport was closing ever so slightly on the leader. As the front duo exited turn four the final time, J.D. powered around Sheppard by the slimmest of margins to take the win. Group B fast qualifier Ricky Thornton Jr., Earl Pearson Jr., and Hilsabeck finished in transfer positions. 

   The final heat had Tyler Bruening leading the charge from his pole start with Chad Simpson, Spencer Hughes, and Ryan Gustin all challenging. With just two more trips around remaining, Simpson cleared Bruening to claim the win. On the final lap, Bruening fell all the way to forth behind Hughes and Gustin in the Iowa dominated heat. Hudson Oneal scored the final transfer spot. 

  With barely enough time to catch our breaths, the first of two fifteen lap B mains came to the track. Only Richie Bell was absent from the ten car field that would see just the top two move on to the money round. Chris Simpson and Garrett Alberson lined up in row one and they were quickly joined by the National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Billy Moyer Sr. in a tightly contested event.While Simpson managed to hold the lead for all fifteen laps, Alberson and Moyer played hot potato with the runner up spot. With the white flag flying, Moyer conjured up one last charge, clearing Alberson for the opportunity to move on.

   B main number two was no less dramatic, at least in the race for second. Tim McCreadie rebounded from a poor showing in both time trials and his heat race to drive off to a nearly half lap victory. Meanwhile four cars battled side by side and nose to tail for the final bite of the apple. Louden Tennessee pilot Cory Hedgecock was behind the wheel of a Jason Rauen #98, and he maintained a slight advantage over Tim Lance, Justin Zeitner, and Todd Cooney. But as the laps wound down, Cory began to fade back in the pack, leaving Lance and Zeitner to do battle with Cooney looking for an opening. When the checkers waved, it was the former Chicago Bear Lance edging Cooney for the twenty fourth feature starting spot. 

   A break of no more than fifteen busy minutes preceded the cars hitting the track for the main event. Wilson and Pearson Jr. sat on row one and paced the field as lap one was scored. On the third trip around, Davenport cleared EPJ for second, even as Wilson was building a sizable lead. Behind the front pair, a frantic four car battle was going on. As the leaders caught the back of the pack with ten laps down, Davenport began to cut in to the lead. Racing on lap sixteen, Wilson found cars racing three wide in front of him, and with a birds eye view in second, Davenport moved to the front. The outside move proved costly, however, as Jonathon tagged the front stretch guardrail, and as he powered towards turn one, his car would not turn and he found himself facing the wrong way at the end of the straightaway. As his #49 was towed to the pits, there appeared to be extensive damage to his ride. The young North Carolina driver Wilson was back in front for the restart, with eleventh starting Overton and seventh starting Marlar breathing down his neck and seventeen laps scored. Three circuits later, Overton used a high side move to grab the lead while eighth starting Thornton Jr. followed him in second. With just three laps left, Oneal made a rare mistake, spinning between turns one and two, bringing out only the third caution of the entire night! This final restart would be single file, and Wilson moved back into the runner up position one lap later even as Marlar and Moran remained a threat close behind. Heading down the backstretch with two to go, Wilson was quickly closing on Overton, but both drivers missed their mark in turn three, and Thornton took advantage to clear Wilson for second as the white flag waved. With plenty of momentum, Thornton would then drive to the bottom of turn one then slide up the track in front of Overton as they raced down the back chute. Ricky would then close the deal exiting turn four, adding another "W" and seven grand to his already phenomenal 2023 season! Wilson was perhaps disappointed but looked good in taking the runner up spot ahead of Overton, Moran, and Marlar. Ferguson rolled home sixth, topping row nine starters Erb and Gustin, while Sheppard and Pearson completed the top ten.

   The decent sized Thursday night crowd was buzzing as they headed for either the pit gate, the exit, or perhaps for some bench racing at the Dingus Lounge. Walking in the door at home at 12:05 was an unexpected treat, and I am a bit jealous of those who will be back at the historic half mile tonight and Saturday!

Stewart, McCarl, and Masters Take Clay County Fair Hardware

    After a night of close, competitive racing in 2022 as well as some of the best fair food around, we decided to once again make the long trek to the Clay County Fair in Spencer, Iowa, billed as "The World's Greatest County Fair." The Tri State Late Models were replaced this year with the Malvern Bank West Series SLMR Late Models, while there would be a return visit by the ASCS Sprint Cars and IMCA Stock Cars. The Stock Cars would be chasing a $1,000 top prize, the Late Models $3,000 while the Sprint Car winners check was a cool $5,000.  

 While the Sprint Car count increased by five to thirty one and the Stock Cars stayed even at twenty six, the change in Late Model sanctions did not fare as well, with a drop of nine to eighteen competitors, as only a couple of last years' entrants came back to raise with the different governing body. 

   Both the Sprints and Late Models used time trials to set their line ups. Blake Hahn paced the ASCS drivers with the fastest of his three laps showing 14.283 seconds, while the quickest of the SLMR stars was eastern division regular Derrick Stewart at 17.089 seconds around the three eighths mile oval. Both of those classes then employed a form of invert to line up their heat races while the IMCA Stock Cars drew for their starting spots. 

   Drivers in all classes seemed to struggle a bit with getting a grip on the racing surface, particularly in turns one and two, showing considerably less speed than at the other end of the track. Still they did a good job of holding caution flags to a minimum in the preliminary events. Although there was a bit of dust throughout the evening, it fortunately was drifting above the massive covered grandstands, and the track crew continued to add water often during the program. 

   Only the Sprints needed a consy as  the top sixteen cars transferred from the four heats, with a fifteen car B main sending six more to the twenty five lap feature. One provisional starter then grew the starting line up to twenty three.

   IMCA Stock Cars would be first on the feature card with all twenty six coming to the track for what was scheduled to be twenty laps. Unfortunately the drivers were never able to string together enough laps to show their stuff. Seven times the caution flag flew until mercifully the white flag was shown with fourteen laps scored. Outside pole sitter Mike Albertsen took the early lead over his row one mate Brock Badger. Two yellow flags and four laps later, eleventh starting Jake Masters charged to the runner up position. After two more cautions, one scored lap and a single file restart, Masters drove to the lead. From that point on he would drive away from the field only to have his advantaged erased by three more yellow flags. The final five laps went caution free with Masters cruising to the win. Albertsen held second followed by eighth starting David Smith, his fellow row four starter Jim Horjsi, and fifteenth starting Cody Nielsen. 

   The sprinters had far less trouble during their twenty five laps, at least until the checkered flag was displayed. Veteran Terry McCarl lined up outside of Hahn in row one and quickly jumped to the lead with fourth starting Matt Covington on his tail. Along with Hahn the top three gained separation from the pack as they flew around the top side of the speedway. By about lap nine - gosh this place could use a scoreboard! - McCarl found himself in slower traffic. As he moved from his preferred line to attempt to put those cars a lap down it looked as though Covington would have an opportunity to challenge for the lead. But not only did #24 maintain his margin, he evened increased it as he weaved in and out of traffic. His biggest challenge came with the #23 of Lance Moss, who was racing for position in the same preferred line of the leader. Eventually McCarl was able to make that pass, and from that point he checked out. As McCarl took the checkers and the pack headed out of turn four, Moss stopped in turn four with fire coming from the engine compartment of his ride. It was a tense time waiting for the driver to exit the car, aided by not only track personnel, but other drivers, as well. Finally he was out of the car, and was soon being checked out by the ambulance crew. With McCarl having taken the checkers, the race was considered complete. Covington was scored second ahead of the hard charger,  twelfth starting Zane DeVault, Hahn, and Brandon Anderson. Interestingly, three of the top five, Covington, Hahn, and Anderson all call the state of Oklahoma home. DeVault is from Indiana, and of course McCarl is a Hawkeye state legend. 

   The SLMR Late Models would round out the action. Involved in a heat race accident, veteran racers Chris Spieker and Rusty Patterson could not make the call, leaving us with a field of sixteen. Still this twenty five lapper would be the race of the night. Mostly due to points accrued during time trials, Andrew Kosiski and Derrick Stewart sat on row one. Stewart paced the opening circuit before Andrew took over on the next trip by the flag stand. With most of the front runners driving low in the corners, Stewart did business a lane higher, trying to find a sweet spot for his #43. The only stoppage of the event came with sixteen laps in the books, as Darrel Defrance and Jeff Segebart saw their night end early on the backstretch. Following the Delaware style restart, Tad Pospisil joined  Kosiski and Stewart as the trio pulled away in a tight three car battle. Again Stewart was working a higher line, and on lap twenty he was able to drive around Kosiski exiting turn two. Over the final five laps he slowly increased his lead, picking up his first west series win to match his east division checkers earlier at one of his "home" tracks in Columbus Junction. Pospisil outgunned Kosiski for second, while Bill Leighton started and finished in fourth. The Zeitner cousins, Corey and Justin picked up the two heat wins, then ran nose to tail in fifth and sixth. Blair Nothdurft was the mover of the race, advancing eight spots to seventh, trailed by Josh Leonard, Gary Brown Jr., and " Chargin' " Charlie McKenna. 

   It was a long  (2)day(s) and night of traveling and racing, but a special one none the less at a quality venue. With a quick turnaround, our next racing adventure will hopefully be night one of the Knoxville Late Model Nationals on Thursday, as the Lucas Oil Late Model Series comes calling for the first of two $7,000 to win qualifying nights ahead of the Saturday night finale. If I cross your path at Knoxville, be sure and say "Hi!"

Woodworth, Delonjay and Three New Winners at Adams County,Il. Speedway

    While many tracks around the mid west have hung up the "Closed" sign for 2023 or perhaps have a couple of specials remaining, Adams County, Il. Speedway soldiers on with their weekly racing program. The Sunday night show had four of the five regular classes on the card, however a group of sponsors stepped up with support to add the 4 Cylinders to the lineup. With several track regulars in the IMCA Sport Mod division having spent the week at the IMCA Super Nationals, it was decided that Sundays races would be opened up to include UMP and USRA B Mods along with the IMCA cars in a non sanctioned event. 

   A solid field of sixty nine cars signed in on a pleasant evening in front of a decent sized September crowd. The effects of a long season soon became evident, as there was a lot of bumpin' and door bangin' going on, some scores being settled or perhaps just normal late season frustration. From our perch near turn one it made for lots of interest and conversation, and I assume there was also plenty of chatter both over the Racecievers and in the pit area!

   The car count was nicely divided to provide a pair of heat races in each class, and despite some of the aforementioned activities, they clicked of quickly. During intermission, promoter Jim Lieurence addressed the crowd, letting us know that despite any rumors to the contrary, he has reached an agreement to operate the track again in 2024. He indicated there will be some adjustments to the schedule, yet everything will remain essentially the same. So that is good news for Tri State area racers and fans! Also during the break, popular veteran Kenny Wallace made an appeal for help for his well known race companion "Jughead", who is raising funds for a trip to Mayo Clinics for a serious stomach condition. A helmet pass plus the track 50/50 donation netted $2,000 for the cause!

   The feature lineups had the Crate Late Models rolling out first, with all fifteen cars making the call for twenty laps. Things got off to a rocky start when pole sitter Vance Wilson, out for only the second time in his #212, appeared to lose power between turns three and four on the opening lap. The result was a five car pile up and a red flag. Although it took quite a bit of time to clean up the mess, only Christian Miles was unable to continue racing. With Wilson now restarting on the tail, heat two winner Tommy Elston moved up alongside Denny Woodworth in row one for the restart. With Tommy jumping to the early lead, the yellow waved again with two laps scored when Cody Maguire spun in turn two, collecting National Dirt Hall of Famer Gary Webb. Both cars needed wreckers for their early exits. Back to racing, Woodworth moved to the front on lap four and began to slowly open a lead. Heat one winner Ray Raker was in pursuit of Elston for second when he pushed too high in turns one and two on lap nine, allowing Sam Halstead to take over third. A final caution came with just three laps to go when contact between Vance Wilson and Braden Bilger sent Wilson for a spin. . During the caution Jason Oenning, subbing in the Derek Hollenstine #21 exited the track, later displaying a bandaged and swollen arm. The final restart was single file, and Woodworth remained in control to take the win and a narrow points lead over second finishing Elston. Raker regained third over Halstead and Jason Perry. Jamie Wilson was the quick qualifier on the night, but a heat race stumble left him starting the feature in row four. He was able to advance to sixth at the checkers ahead of Vance Wilson, Darin Weisinger Jr., Darren Cawthon and James Dickerson.

   UMP Modifieds would go next, with all but Chris Spalding making the call from the dozen cars signed in.  Dave Weitholder, who along with Spalding and Jacob Rexing was doing double duty, had an issue with both his Mod and B Mod in his heats, but brought the B Mod to the track for both features, having to tag the tail in this eighteen lapper. Trevor Neville made the two and a half hour tow from Mackinaw, Illinois, captured the opening heat and fired off from the pole in the feature. Track points leader and heat two winner  Austen Becerra lined up outside row one, and dropped in behind Neville while seventh starting Mark Burgtorf found an opening and charged to third on the first lap. On the third trip around the .29 mile oval, Neville and Becerra made contact, with the leader spinning at the entrance of turn three. Although Austen pled his case that he could not avoid the #777, he was sent to the tail while Neville retained his position. Back under green, Neville and Burgtorf separated themselves from the field, racing nose to tail all the way to the checkers. Fast qualifier Kenny Wallace outran Jacob Rexing for third, while Frankie Wellman had a strong run in fifth. 

   All fourteen Street Stocks lined up for fifteen laps. Heat one winner Rexing, in only his second start in his Street Stock, shot ahead from row one with points leader Jake Powers in second. By the mid point Rexing had nearly a straightaway lead. As the race stayed green, a gaggle of five cars wrestled for positions two through six. Five laps were left on the board when Robert Cottom cleared that pack, but he could do little to close on the #59R. With no yellow flags to slow the action, Rexing cruised to the win. Cottom led the group of Powers, Rudy Zaragoza, Sage Martin, and heat two winner Beau Taylor across the line. 

   If you are a follower of Adams County Speedway action, hold on to your seats for what I am about to tell you. Fourteen of the fifteen B Mods checked in ran eighteen laps caution free! (Spalding also scratched from this feature.) Visiting driver Joe Rudy, Kirkwood, Mo. sat on the pole with Patrick Phillips to his right. That duo paced the field until lap three when fourth starting former NASCAR great Kenny Schrader powered to second. Three laps later, Schrader made the move to the front, and from that point he was gone. A heat race tangle had resulted in Weitholder facing the wrong way on the track where he was hit by Tanner Klingle. With both cars having to start deep in the feature field, they came forward together waging an entertaining battle. But with no breaks in the action, their progress was limited. Although he had to contend with lapped traffic, Schrader breezed to the win, matching his heat two checkers.  Rudy held second followed by Phillips and heat one winner Dakota Girard. On the final lap, Weitholder and Kligele cleared another visitor, veteran John Hobson for fifth through seventh.

   An indication of the quick and entertaining pace of the features saw most of the crowd stick around for the 4 Cylinder finale. Heat one winner and track points leader Jeffery Delonjay shared row one with Spencer Coats. They paced the field ahead of a lap four yellow for Ethan Prim who was collected by Blaine Lambert. Back to racing, the bumpin' and bangin' had everyones' attention. On lap nine, heat two winner Joey Laws, up from Hillsboro, Mo. drove to second, but one lap later Coats and Dyllan Bonk both slipped around Laws. With all the action behind him, Delonjay cruised to another feature win. Coats held second chased by Bonk, Laws, and Kimberly Abbott. 

   Although I imagine there are some less than pleased drivers, the night had lots of what I would call "throw back" racing! Adams County will be in action the next two Sundays, capped by a two day show at the end of the month, check the website for details. 

  We have plans for a couple of week night shows starting tomorrow( Tuesday,) so be sure and check in throughout the week. And just maybe we will see you as we go Racin' Down the Road!