The Eckrich Brothers Two For Two at Lee County

    Friday night Lee County Speedway in Donnellson opened their 2023 points season. It would also be the first installment of the IMCA Late Model "Drive For Five." Now in its' third season, the mini series pays $1,000 to win seven nights during the season with a $5,000 to win finale in August. To be eligible for the big payoff, drivers must have competed in at least five of the seven qualifying shows, otherwise the winner of the finale would collect $2,000. 

   Also in action on Friday would be IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Northern Sport Mods, and non sanctioned Sport Compacts.

   Seventy race teams signed in on what began as a pleasant evening, weather wise. With hot laps complete, the first green flag flew at 7:38, and ten heat races clicked off in timely fashion with only five yellow flags to slow the action. A quick ten minute break, and the nice sized crowd settled in for feature racing.

   Sport Compscts kicked things off with all sixteen competitors lining up for fifteen trips around the three eighths mile oval. Chevy Barnes jumped from outside row one to the lead as four cars raced in tight formation behind him. By lap three his father Josh had cleared that group to claim second. and he drove to the front one lap later, only to suddenly slow and pull to the infield, his run finished. Chevy was back in control, but lap six saw row three starter Jason Ash sneak to the inside of Barnes to grab the lead. From there it was a parade all the way to the checkers in a non stop event. Ash scored the win over Barnes, Brandon Reu, Luke Fraise, and Chandler Fullenkamp. 

   Veteran racer Jerry Jansen had battled to a third place finish in the first Stock Car heat, but he was a no show come feature time, leaving us with a dozen cars for the eighteen laps. Pole sitter John Oliver Jr. paced the opening circuit ahead of a Neal Kohlmorgan spin. Back to racing, Derrick Agee secured the runner up spot, then set up a slide job out of turn four only to have Oliver Jr. cross him over to maintain the lead. As lap four was scored Agee managed to take over the top spot. Suddenly a weather front rolled in, the wind picked up, the temperature dropped noticeably, and within minutes a light rain began to fall. Fortunately the skillful Stock Car pilots were up to the added challenge, as Agee and Oliver pulled ahead while last weeks' winner Josh Foster and Jeremy Pundt fought for third. The caution flag waved with four laps to go for Kevin Koontz, and back under green the top seven cars headed to the inside line running nose to tail to the checkers. Huntsville, Missouri hot shoe Agee drove to victory over Oliver Jr., Jason Cook, Foster, and Pundt. 

   Rushing through post race honors, Modifieds rolled to the track, all twelve cars scheduled for eighteen laps. As outside row one starter Denny Eckrich charged to the front the rain thankfully stopped and the breeze subsided somewhat. A pair of Late Model legends, Eckrich and Mark Burgtorf drove off from the pack, and by the half way mark, Denny was checking out on the field. With just six circuits remaining, the lone yellow flag brought the Flying 50 back to the pack. Austen Becerra now cleared Dennis LaVeine for third as Burgtorf found the speed to challenge Eckrich for the lead. Mark was actually ahead by a nose as lap thirteen went in the books, but Denny quickly regained the point. In the closing laps contact between Becerra and Burgtorf resulted in a flat tire for Burgtorf, and he faded to fourth at the end. Eckrich held off a rim riding Becerra for the win, while LaVeine cleared Burgtorf for third. Fifth position went to visitor Zach Dockter, who made what Announcer Tony Paris said was an 877 mile tow from Norwich, North Dakota! My guess is Zach would have questioned the coats and blankets that came out when the breeze picked up!

   It was now Late Model time, and Andy Eckrich one upped Denny by redrawing the pole position for his twenty five lapper.  Sibling rivalry took a back seat, however as Denny left his car in the infield and wandered down towards the turn one scoreboard to offer hand signals to his younger brother. Jay Johnson was the only driver of the sixteen signed in to not make the call. Jay suffered engine woes early - I don't believe he even hot lapped - and was loaded and long gone by feature time. Andy charged ahead at the green, taking along his row one mate Sam Halstead and fourth starting C.J. Horn. Denny Woodworth was on the move early, clearing Horn on lap two and Halstead one lap later. Horn then drove to third, and the front pack stayed that way until Horn slipped past Woodworth on lap eleven. By now Eckrich was in another time zone, but a lap twelve caution erased his big lead. On the Delaware Style restart Woodworth was quick off the line and briefly challenged Eckrich for the top spot. Andy remained in control and a couple more trips around saw Horn drop to the low line and retake second. Occasional visitor Ron Klein lined up in eighth but found speed late and with seven circuits left cleared Woodworth for third. The final laps were a two car scrum between Eckrich and Horn, with Denny doing all he could to keep Andy informed of the oncoming #01. Horn was on the rear bumper of the leader with a pair of laps remaining, but Amanda Eckrich Simpsons' twin brother held on for the win. Behind him it was Horn, Klein, Woodworth, and Dalton Simonsen. Tommy Elston paced the second five in front of Darin Weisinger Jr., Ray Raker, double duty Pundt, and Halstead. 

   Sport Mods would round out the show, with only Cody Agee missing from the thirteen car field. Brayton Carter would redraw the pole position, and stay in command all eighteen laps. Logan Cumby and Jim Gillenwater would follow Carter until Brandon Dale powered to third on lap three. Carter was using the low line in turns one and two to avoid a whoop-de-doo that developed in the middle of those turns, then raced the high line in turns three and four. Another double duty pilot, John Oliver Jr. wheeled the Derek Goble #55 to third ahead of a lap five caution period. Back under green, Carter completely checked out as a great three car battle developed between Dale, Oliver Jr., and Cumby. Twelve laps in Oliver Jr. took over the runner up spot, pounding the cushion on what was a lightening fast track. But there would be no catching Carter who worked lapped traffic with ease, cruising to a full straightaway advantage. Oliver Jr. held second, chased by Cumby, Dale, and a late charge by twelfth starting Matt Tucker. Matt recovered from early troubles to turn in a strong performance. 

   The final checkers waved at 9:43 wrapping up a very entertaining and skillfully run show. Despite the cool temps most of the crowd stayed around until the end, with many heading to the pits afterwards to check out the cars and visit with the drivers given the early finish! Thanks as always to the Gaylords for their hospitality. Although we toyed with the idea of a three race weekend, we have decided to take Saturday off, then hope the weatherman cooperates on Sunday for what will hopefully be night number two of racing at the Adams County, Illinois Speedway. The ultra competitive UMP Modifieds are scheduled to compete there for a $1,000 payday.

Woodworth, Rexing, Jackson, Girard, and Delonjay Tops at Quincy

    Sunday night became the twice postponed second season opener for the Jim and Tammy Lieurance Adams County, Illinois Speedway (formerly Quincy Raceways.) Following a successful debut year for the .29 semi banked oval track, shuttered for the previous two seasons, the five regular classes remain the same, albeit with one significant change. The Pro Crate Late Model division had been UMP sanctioned in 2022, however a UMP rules change for this season was basically going to force drivers to choose between competing at either UMP or IMCA tracks. Considering the number of racers who divide their time between Quincy and Lee County Speedway in Donnellson (as well as 34 Raceway in West Burlington,) Lieurance made the decision to drop the UMP sanction for the time being. The move will leave the speedway without a sanction, but will protect the "crossover" drivers. To hopefully lure some of the UMP points chasers to still compete at Quincy, a number of $1,000 to win races dot the 2023 schedule. There are also several $1,000 to win events on tap for the UMP sanctioned Modifieds, a particularly talent laden class at the track. Sport Mods, typically the highest car count class, will retain the IMCA sanction while Street Stocks and Four Cylinders will be unsanctioned.

   With the temperatures decidedly on the chilly side, start times were moved up for opening night, with the drivers meeting set for 3:15, hot laps and racing to follow.

   This first event of the season was not without issues. After a bit of a late start to hot laps, it quickly became apparent that the bright sunshine combined with a stiff breeze would create considerable dust issues. Fortunately the direction of that steady breeze kept the dust out of the grandstands, but it still made for challenging viewing conditions for fans and drivers alike. Multiple watering sessions followed by laps spent running in the moisture along with more than the usual number of caution periods combined to put a bit of a drag on the program, with the final checkers waving just ahead of 8:00 P.M.

   Still a nice sized crowd considering the cool conditions remained patient, happy to be back at the track. 

   The final tally was sixty three cars, led by twenty one Four Cylinders. 

   UMP Modifieds would qualify, with Jacob Rexing topping the leader board at 14.618 seconds while all other classes would draw for their heat race starting positions.

   With heat race action in the books, Late Models would follow intermission with their twenty lap feature. Heat winners Denny Woodworth and Sam Halstead would sit on row one for the straight up start. Woodworth would grab the early lead and the Late Model Lawyer would stay out front for the distance. After taking several years off, Jason Perry has returned with a familiar looking #27, and he would show little rust as he tucked in behind Woodworth. The front duo would be working the inside line around the oval. As the non stop race neared the halfway point, Braden Bilger would decide to climb the ladder, clearing Halstead for third. While Braden continued to pound the cushion, Woodworth and Perry continued in the low line. With the white flag displayed Bilger found the momentum to clear Perry for second. Halstead held on for fourth. In only his second night out, Christian Miles collected his first top five finish. Darin Weisinger Jr. ran sixth ahead of Jason Oenning and double duty Jeffery Delonjay. Tommy Elston and Austin Poage would be scored next although both were early exits. Delonjay and Pogue join Miles as rookies in the premier division. 

   Four Cylinders were moved to second in the running order, with all but one lining up for fifteen laps. Pole sitter Barry Taft took the early lead, while his front row mate Jeffery Delonjay drifted high off turn four , losing several positions. Following a pair of yellow flags with three laps in the books, Dyllan Bonk and Delonjay moved to the high line of the track, racing three wide with Taft for the top spot. Six laps in and Delonjay had climbed back to the lead and was trying to check out on the field when the yellow would erase his margin. Restarting single file, the front runners worked middle to high around the track while Jimmy Dutlinger hugged the inside line. A final caution came with three laps to go and second running Taft left the oval with an over heated engine. With a final green flag, Delonjay stayed in command while Bonk, Dutlinger, and Kimberly Abbott battled for second. They would follow Delonjay to the checkers in that order, with Jaden Delonjay nosing out Spencer Coats at the line for fifth.

   Street Stocks would turn out only six cars on the night, and hot shoe Robert Cottom was a no show for the twelve lap feature.Third starting Jake Powers would lead lap one, with the yellow flying for a Leremy Jackson spin. Fortunately for Jackson, he would only be going to the back of a five car field. By lap six he had moved up to battle Powers for the lead. Two more laps and Jackson used a high side charge to the front, taking along Sage Martin in second. Martin would bobble in the closing laps, with Powers rebounding to second in front of Martin. It was the first ever Street Stock feature win for Jackson.

   The father and son duo of Rick and Drake Stevenson would make up row one for the thirteen car twenty lap UMP Modified feature. After a called back start, Drake took the lead ahead of Rick. Mark Burgtorf would drive around Rick for second on lap two, and the front pair would check out on the field. A lap five caution would set up a Delaware style restart, and Mike Vanderiet Jr. would clear Burgtorf for second as Mark was shuffled back to about seventh. Drake drove away from the pack as six cars worked in tight formation behind him. The younger Stevenson bobbled briefly in turn four allowing Rexing to close slightly, but he stayed in control. Then with five laps remaining, disaster struck Stevenson as a tire failure brought him to a stop in turn three..Rexing inherited the point, then held off  Dave Weitholder for the win. Vanderiet, Rick Stevenson and Russ Coultas filled out the first five.

   IMCA Sport Mods would stage an eighteen lap thirteen car finale. It would be outside row one starter Logan Cumby with the early lead. Tanner Klingele would clear Cumby ahead of a lap two caution. Kyler Girard would move to the runner up spot on the restart, with the next stop coming with six in the books. Three more quick cautions and the field would go single file. A tight four car battle developed for the lead, with Klingele, Girard, and Cumby running three wide and Adam Birck looking for an opening. One more time the yellow waved for Birck who made a quick move to the trailer, his run ended. Kyler Girard was on a rail, and he stretched out to a nearly straightaway lead all the way to the checkers. Cumby took runner up honors, trailed by Klingele, Dakota Girard, and Josh Holtman.

   More than once Promoter Jimmy promised no more afternoon starts , so ACS will likely be back on a regular Sunday night schedule going forward. Thanks to him and Tammy for their continuing hospitality!

Worst to First, Marolf Tops Lee County Late Models

    Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa kicked off their 2023 season on Friday with night one of the Spring Hooray. This event was scheduled to be two separate shows concluding Saturday night, but the threat of strong winds and lower temperatures led officials on Friday morning to cancel night number two. Six classes filled the Friday card, with a mix of rules for the competitors allowing for certain UMP and USRA legal late models, modifieds, B modifieds and stock cars to challenge the regular IMCA racers on this opening weekend. Four cylinders and Mini Hauler Trucks would also be in action on this night, with the four cylinder rules for the weekend closely mirroring the IMCA package.

   A solid opening night gathering of eighty three (plus one!) race teams converged on the fairgrounds three eighths mile oval on a beyond chilly night in front of a small but hearty group of fans.

   With typical first night slowdowns, hot laps rolled out about twenty minutes after the 7:00 advertised time, but it was pretty much non stop action from there on, with the final checkers flying near the 10:30 mark.

   Six feature races began with the 4 Cylinder division. Twelve of the fourteen cars signed in battled for fifteen laps. Defending track champion Brandon Reu sat on the pole position and paced the first circuit before fourth starting Barry Taft pulled alongside as lap two was scored. Taft then took command, pulling away to a nice lead while the next four competitors raced in tight formation. Third starting Justin Stevenson battled side by side with Reu for the runner up spot, nosing into second around the mid point of the race. With no cautions slowing the event, Taft walked to the win. Stevenson held off Reu for second with Chandler Fullenkamp and Luke Fraise completing the top five.

   A somewhat disappointing ten Stock Cars were on hand, and all but one lined up for eighteen laps. In what was a far from typical Stock Car finale, five yellow flags slowed the action. Outside pole sitter John Oliver Jr. took the initial lead as Josh Foster and Jeremy Pundt fought for second. After taking the spot, Foster began to run down the leader ahead of yellows for Leremy Jackson, then Rowdee Van Genderen. With seven laps remaining, Foster eased ahead at the line as another caution came for Pete Stodgel and Eric Glass, with Foster scored the leader. Two more cautions would come while Foster and Oliver continued to pull away from the pack. At the checkers it was Foster with the win chased by Oliver Jr., Jeremy Pundt and Chad Krogmeier. Second generation Van Genderen rebounded to round out the first five.

   Modifieds would be next, fifteen strong for eighteen circuits. Austen Becerra has been on a fantastic role in the early part of the season, and when he redrew the outside front row start, the outcome seemed likely. Austen did indeed lead from start to finish, but the racing was intense behind him. One lap went in the books before a caution as Mark Burgtorf stopped off turn two, his night ended. Back to racing, Ethan Braaksma drove around Troy Cordes for second. Becerra would open a big lead ahead of Braaksma, who did the same over Cordes. Meanwhile Drew Janssen, who lined up in row six was the man on the move. With five laps to go, Janssen worked past Braaksma for second. He was unable to run down Becerra, who cruised to victory. The next three cars across the finish line were Janssen, Braaksma, and Cordes, none of whom figure to be Lee County regulars in 2023. Fifth place went to Becerra "teammate" Jadin Fuller.  

   A nice field of sixteen late models signed in, along with MLRA Super Late Model regular Justin Duty, who was just looking for some "test and tune" laps. All sixteen would start the main event, and on this night they would run twenty five laps. That amount proved key as the final pass for the lead came with just two laps to go. With 2022 champion Tommy Elston starting on the pole, he would seem atop the betting line, but that is why we race 'em. Elston led the first six laps marred by a caution for debris as well as a pair for rookie Christopher Miles. Up to this point, Jay Johnson and C.J. Horn had been swapping second and third while Andy Eckrich waited patiently for an opening. But it was Nick Marolf who had caught every ones' attention. A flat tire before the official green flag waved in his heat race had sent Nick to the pits and relegated him to a row eight start for the feature. But with just those six laps scored, he now lined up in row three (fifth position) for the Delaware style restart. As we neared the halfway mark, Johnson and Horn continued to battle behind Elston as Marolf cleared Eckrich for fourth. Nine to go saw now second running Horn closing quickly on Elston who came upon to slower cars racing side by side for position. As Horn moved in to challenge the leader, Marolf drove around Johnson for third on lap nineteen. Three laps later both Horn and Marolf were able to move past Elston, then Marolf used a top side move to blast by Horn. However a final caution would come before the lap was scored putting Horn back out front. Marolf continued to work the high side of the track to perfection, and he drove past Horn, fifteenth to first for the win. C.J. would hold second, topping Elston, Eckrich, and Johnson. Denny Woodworth was steady all race to finish sixth in front of double duty Pundt, Sam Halstead, Brandon Savage in the Derek Hollenstine #21, and first heat winner Jeff Guengerich. 

   With barely enough time to catch our breath, all but one of the twenty two Sport Mods came trackside for eighteen laps. A mixup at the end of lap one saw a broken rear end send Adam Birck pitside and double duty Oliver Jr. having to restart at the tail. The flying green flag set up a duel between front row starters Dylan VanWyk and Brayton Carter, with Dylan in front. Following another caution for John Renier, it was VanWyk using a top to bottom line through turns one and two followed by a high line through three and four to hold off Carter. As those two pulled away from the field, Van Wyk moved down to protect the low line in one and two while continuing to flirt with the guardrail at the other end. Heavy slower traffic presented no issues for the youngster as he maintained a comfortable lead before the last caution with four laps to go. By now Oliver Jr. had charged back to the fourth position, but he could advance no further. The double checkers waved over VanWyk trailed by Carter, a solid run by Dakota Girard, Oliver Jr., and Sean Wyett. 

   Five of the six Mini Haulers were lining up as we three well chilled old timers headed for the exit. Results show Tim Wagner grabbing the win over Sheldon Brocket, Roger "Fireball" Brockett, Don Wood, and Jeff Bockes.

   Many thanks to Brian and Marcie Gaylord for their continuing hospitality and for putting on a really good night of racing despite conditions that would have made canceling a no fault decision!

   We will take tonight off, then be in our usual seat on Sunday as Adams County, Illinois Speedway (nee Quincy Raceways) kicks off their twice postponed 2023 season. Again the forecast is for chilly conditions, so starting times have been moved up with the drivers meeting set for 3:15. Hope to see you there!

Babb Sweeps Up at the Slocum 50

 With near perfect April weather conditions for the second evening in a row, it was time for the annual Slocum 50 at 34 Raceway near West Burlington, Iowa. Originally scheduled for Saturday night, the memorial race, a highlight of late model racing in the mid west, was swapped with the previously planned Prelude to the Slocum. If 34 manages to avoid the predicted inclement weather, that race will now become sort of a "Postlude To The Slocum" event on Saturday. So stay tuned for that! 

   Once again it would be MLRA Late Models the featured class for the $10,555 headliner in honor of the late racing champion who called Burlington home before losing his life in a pit accident at his home track in 2005. IMCA Stock Cars and 305 Sprint Cars would fill out the scheduled card both nights.

   The super late models would be competing for the second of a three night swing through eastern Iowa, with defending series champion and current points leader Chad Simpson picking up the $5,000 top prize Thursday night just up the road at the Davenport Speedway.

   Forty one super late models (plus Kolby Vandenbergh, who quickly unloaded then reloaded his car) signed in for a shot at the coveted Slocum 50 title. "Local" drivers Mark Burgtorf and Jay Johnson, plus Missouri travelers Aaron Marrant and Dalton Imhoff joined the mini tour on Friday. Chad Holladay was an early evening scratch, along with Spencer Diercks, who displayed a badly smoking engine in hot laps. 

   But it was former Slocum 50 winner Shannon Babb who dug up a broom from his stacker trailer and put a clean sweep on the proceedings, claiming fast time, a heat race victory, then led all fifty laps of the main event!

   Shannon circled the three eights mile high banked oval to the tune of 15.090 seconds, collecting his second fast time award of the weekend. He then captured one of the four eight lap heat races from the pole position, as did Minnesota driver Jake Timm, along with  Brandon Sheppard, and Garret Alberson. 

   A pair of ten lap B mains were also won from the pole position by a pair of Arkansas hot shoes, series rookie Tyler Stevens and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Billy Moyer. Two series provisional starters and a pair of "emergency" provisional users completed the twenty six car starting field in front of a loud and boisterous gathering of fans. 

   Before the main attraction however, all fourteen 305 Sprint Cars lined up for their twenty lap feature. Chase Richards paced the opening circuit before third starting Jake Glasgow powered to the lead on lap two. Ironically, this would be the only pass for the lead in any of the feature races. As Glasgow opened up a nice advantage, Cody Wehrle began to pick off cars ahead of a caution period for Cole Helmerson, who spun then rolled to a stop with with five laps in the books. Cody then moved to the runner up slot following the single file restart. Row four starter Tanner Gebhardt now moved in to challenge Richards for third as the front duo pulled away in nose to tail fashion. About lap twelve Wehrle and Glasgow nearly avoided disaster when they made side by side contact on the front straightaway, bringing a collective gasp from the crowd. As Glasgow again opened a lead, Wehrle now had third running Gebhardt to contend with. Three laps from the checkers, Tanner took over the position, and although he was able to somewhat close the gap on the leader, he would ultimately settle for second. Following Glasgow and Gebhardt, it was Wehrle, Richards, and Noah Samuel completing the top five.

   IMCA Stock Cars would see ten of the eleven competitors come to the oval for fifteen laps. John Oliver Jr. would redraw the pole position and lead all fifteen laps to secure the win. His row one mate, Gary Pesicka, coming all the way from Burt, Iowa in his fast and sharp looking #AK46 would have an eventful feature race. After winning the heat race, he would be involved with contact on lap four, do a 360 degree spin and KEEP GOING, to the delight of those of us in the stands. As Oliver went on cruise control, Jason Cook and ninth starting Corey Strothman battled behind him. A lap nine caution bunched the field, and Strothman pounded the cushion to grab the runner up position. Corey was then using the whole track in an effort to overtake Oliver, utilizing a diamond move in the corners, driving from high on the cushion to the bottom of the track hoping to slip inside the #05. But the veteran Oliver stayed true to the inside groove all the way to the checkers. Strothman, Cook, a revitalized Pesicka, and Jeremy Pundt would round out the top five.

   With the pomp and circumstance of this special night complete, the remaining twenty six Super Late Model drivers got down to business. Babb would shoot from the outside pole to lead Timm, Sheppard, Alberson, and Mason Oberkramer as lap one was scored. The first caution came with three laps down as Brennon Willard, Steve Stultz, and Tony Jackson Jr. came together in turns one and two, ending the night for Jackson. Back to racing, Sheppard moved to second, and late model rookie Dillon McCowan entered the top five. A second caution came with seven laps scored as Matt Furman got crossed up in turns one and two. From that point, it was thirty one laps of green flag racing. Timm would retake the second position but on lap twenty one it was Sheppard again the runner up as he chased Babb through heavy traffic. Lap thirty saw both the leaders running with no lapped cars in the way, but Brandon could gain little ground on the hooked up #18. Back in traffic, Sheppard had closed the gap and looked as though he was ready to pounce at lap thirty eight, when Moyer, now in the top ten, slowed exiting turn four and even though on the bottom of the track, neglected to make the left turn to the infield to allow racing to continue, instead drawing a caution before driving to his trailer. One final stop came on the restart when Ryan Unzicker and Bob Gardner came together in turn four. Fourth running Oberkramer also headed for the trailer at this point. The final restart saw Babb with a strong run, and Sheppard could only watch the #18 drive off to victory. As he had the night before, Ryan Gustin made a late race charge, powering to third after starting in row eight. Timm would come home fourth, while Thursday runner up Chris Simpson also advanced several positions in the closing laps to score a top five. Tyler Bruening was sixth ahead of late model newcomer Dustin Sorenson, Alberson, Yaggy, and McCowan. Although I am not sure how the MLRA Lucky Dog procedure works, these ten cars were at one point the only ones left on the lead lap.

   Babb would add a second Slocum 50 trophy to his many feature wins. 

   Although the southerly breeze wafted a bit of dust into the grandstands, I heard no complaints, as Brad, Jessi, and crew presented an awesome racing surface with multiple grooves along with a final checkered flag at about the 10:00 hour! 

   As I sit at my computer the rain is coming down forcefully here in Canton, Missouri, but that is a fair hike from West Burlington, Iowa, so keep an eye on the 34 Raceway website for updates, and hopefully we can get together again tonight for more Super Late Model action!

    Update: Saturday racing at 34 Raceway for tonight April 15 has been canceled!

Chad Simpson Grabs MLRA Checkers and Points Lead

    Ricky and Brenda Kay were finally able to kick off their 2023 season with a Thursday night special event. The MLRA late model series began a three night swing through eastern Iowa with a $5,000 to win headliner. A pair of weekly IMCA classes, late models and sport mods, would fill out the card on a beautiful spring evening at the storied Scott County Fairgrounds facility. This would be the third installment for the MLRA. Their season kicked off under unusual circumstances at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, with fields of forty eight and fifty cars aided by the early cancellation of the World of Outlaw Illini 100 at Farmer City, Illinois. As a result those first two events were captured by non series regulars, Ricky Thornton Jr. and current points leader Jonathon Davenport. This was followed by a weekend washout at Tri City Speedway near Granite City, Illinois, leaving defending series champion Chad Simpson the highest in points of the expected season long competitors. 

   With temperatures bumping the eighty degree mark, another solid field of forty five super late models checked in to the delight of the large week night crowd. IMCA late models at seventeen and IMCA Sport Mods at nineteen would round out the eighty one car gathering. 

   Shannon Babb, the second car out for time trials would best all competitors with a lap of 13.852 seconds around the quarter mile oval. As is common with the MLRA "straight up start" procedure for heat races, the four eight lappers were all won from the front row. The only fly in the ointment came when heat two winner Ryan Unzicker was apparently disqualified for an unknown infraction, turning that win over to Chad Holladay. Chad Simpson, Ryan Gustin, and Brandon Sheppard collected the other heat wins. 

   IMCA late models and sport mods used a draw, redraw format, with late model heats going to fifth starting Andy Nezworski and outside pole sitter Nick Marolf. Sport mods heat winners were pole sitters Todd Dykema and Ben Chapman.

   A pair of ten lap B mains added three cars each to the MLRA field, with pole starters Tony Jackson Jr. and Justin Kay victorious. Four points provisional and "emergency" starters would make up the twenty six car lineup for the forty lap headliner. 

   First up would be the fifteen lap feature for the sport mods, with all cars making the call. Front row starters Trey Grimm and Ryan Reed would pace the opening circuit, with Logan Veloz moving in to challenge Grimm on lap two. Five laps in Grimm had begun to open a comfortable lead and Reed had fought back to second when the yellow flag waved for a Rance Powell spin. Back under green, a four car battle developed up front, with seventh starting Chapman and his row four mate Dykema overtaking the leaders. Chapman and Dykema then drove away from the pack with only tenth starting Jarett Franzen able to stay in the same time zone. With two laps remaining the field was again tightened as Logan Cumby would bring out a final caution. There would be no change at the front, however, with Chapman taking the win over Dykema and Franzen. Veteran racer Kevin Goben charged all the way from eighteenth to finish fourth, while Mitch Strayer completed the top five. Levi Heath, Aaron Hitt, Denver, Colorado driver Cole Stichter, Reed, and T.J. Patz completed the top ten.

   The MLRA cars would then line up for a shot at $5,000. Chad Simpson and Gustin would lead the field to green, pacing the pack ahead of a lap two pile up in turn one which eliminated Dustin Sorenson. Back to racing, Holladay moved to second, then cleared Simpson to hold the top spot for two laps in a side by side duel as Gustin faded outside the top five. Simpson then retook the point as the leaders began to fall in line in the inside groove. With seven laps scored, the caution waved for Trevor Gundaker, and back under green it was Babb now applying pressure, with Sheppard moving to third. Simpson continued to run the low line while Babb pounded the cushion in turns one and two, then ducked behind the leader in three and four. Finally Babb would give up his top side charge, but now slower traffic was about to make things interesting when the caution waved at the half way mark. Now it was Sheppard trying the high line off turn two, then he slipped under Simpson off turn four to lead lap twenty three, taking Babb along in second. Sheppard now opened a sizable lead, but as he closed in on the back of the pack, the caution waved again, and suddenly the #B5 pulled off the track with a flat tire. Babb was now out front of Simpson, while Gustin had rebounded to third. Having watched his competitors advance, Ryan took the high side challenge, grabbing second before another yellow one lap later for Jackson Jr. Simpson again took the lead as racing resumed, but was unable to shake the rim riding Gustin. With just a pair of laps remaining, a flat tire sent Gustin up and over turn two ending his run. Although he cleared the track, the yellow flag waved a final time for Arkansas driver Tyler Stevens, setting up a two lap dash to the checkers. Nine cars remained on the track in single file formation, as Chad Simpson now drove to the win, while brother Chris chased him home in second. Babb scored a podium finish, trailed by Jake Timm and Holladay. Bob Gardner advanced fifteen spots to sixth, followed by provisional starter Jeff Herzog, Jason Feger, and Daniel Hillsabeck. Gustin was credited with tenth. 

   As we caught our breath following a phenomenal forty laps of action, the IMCA late models came track side for twenty five circuits. Marolf and Todd Van Tassel made up row one, as Nick looked for a sweep. He jumped to the early lead, with Brian Harris in the Richard Racing #15R coming along from row two. The two veteran drivers quickly put distance on the field ahead of a lap seven caution for Brandon Loos. Following a called back start as the field piled up coming to green, Harris turned on the high side hustle, but he could not overtake Marolf, and lost the runner up spot to Fred Remley. A caution for debris and another for Chance Huston slowed the action with about sixteen laps scored. By now, the field was mostly locked to the low side of the track, and with the leaders catching the back of the pack, Marolf made the decision to move off the bottom to clear a lapped car. Staying low on the track, Remley was able to move past the lapper and Marolf, as well. He then stretched his advantage, and with no more stops, cruised to the win. Marolf settled for second, while Andy Nezworski climbed from ninth to third. Harris and Jaden Fryer rounded out the top five, followed by South Dakota racer Evan Miller, Van Tassel, Chris Lawrence, Colton Leal, and Mack Mulvany.

   We have come to expect nothing but top notch racing at Davenport, and although the track seemed a bit tricky at times, there is no doubt those in attendance got their moneys' worth and then some! Thanks to Brenda and Ricky for their hospitality, and to Chad for the shuttle service. We plan to be back at this fine facility several more times in 2023. 

   But for now it is on to 34 Raceway tonight, as Brad, Jessi, and the Slocum Foundation present the Slocum 50. The MLRA sanctioned event, held in honor a a fine young man lost far too soon pays a cool $10,555 to win. Originally, of course this race was to be held on Saturday, with the $5,000 to win Prelude to the Slocum held tonight, Friday, but with possible inclement weather coming on Saturday, the two nights have been flipped on the schedule. Come early, grab a seat and hopefully we can enjoy two more nights of awesome super late model racing!

Zeitner and Wyman Top Qualifying Features, Martin and Madden Also Winners at Harlan

   Once again, mother Nature interfered with our weekend racing plans to follow the MLRA late models to Tri City Speedway near Granite City, Illinois. Fortunately, that opened up several other possibilities for both Friday and Saturday night. With early church services on Easter Sunday, Friday racing seemed the best choice, and when the opportunity came to visit a track for the first time, it was too good to pass up. 

   So on Friday afternoon, we began the loooong journey to the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa for what was billed as night two of the Awakening. With night one of this mini series weathered out last weekend, this would also be opening night 2023 for the track. The Malvern Bank SLMR west division Super Late Models would be the headline class with multiple $1,000 to win features on Friday, along with Malvern Bank 360 Winged Sprint and Keast Motors Northern Sport Mods also on the card. 

    Formerly a big half mile speed plant, the track followed the lead of many mid west fairground facilities, as it was reconfigured to a semi banked one third mile to begin the 2022 season. 

   We arrived during hot laps, making our way into the covered grandstands of the fairgrounds facility as twenty nine super late models followed the fourteen Northern Sport Mods for their practice laps. This would be our only look at the #76 of Zach Zeitner, for whom mechanical problems sent him pitside for the night.  

   Twenty three of the winged racers would fill out the card, and with hot laps in the books, it was race time!

   The format for the late models on this preliminary night was a bit different. They would be time trial qualifying, two laps under the clock, then be lined up in alternating fashion for a pair of twenty lap features. Later in the program, the top eight from those qualifying feature races would once again run time trials with the fastest ten making up the first five rows for the Saturday night $4,000 to win headliner, while the rest would vie for starting spots in a pair of B mains. 

   Heat races for the sport mods and sprints clicked off with only one major incident, when contact in the first spring qualifier resulted in Seth Brahmer getting upside down in his #13V. 

   Following intermission, it would be late models up first, with the Zach Zeitner scratch giving us a pair of fourteen car events, which was actually an acceptable amount on the cozy black dirt oval.

   Andrew Kosiski and Jake Neal sat on the front row of the six car invert for feature number one. Following a called back start, Justin Zeitner powered from inside row two to lead lap one ahead of Neal and Kosiski. While Justin worked around the low line on the track, Neal used a power move up top to move to the front on lap four. It quickly became a two car battle, and with no yellows, the  pair caught the back of the pack as the race reached the halfway mark. Zeitner was then forced to change his line to negotiate the slower cars. He began to mount a challenge and coming through turns three and four to complete lap fourteen, he executed a slide job on Neal. Unfortunately, he did not quite clear the #1 car, Neal appeared to jab the brakes to avoid contact, and went for a spin, bringing out the caution flag. Zeitner was the new leader while Neal was placed at the end of the lead lap cars for the Delaware style restart. Bill Leighton outran Kosiski to grab second as the green flag waved, and the new front duo pulled away from the field. Although he stayed close, Leighton could not mount a challenge for the top spot, with  Zeitner picking up the $1,000 prize. Following Leighton and Kosiski, it was Derrick Stewart, Curt Schroeder, Brad Perdue, and Curtis Glover. Neal was able to charge back to grab the all important eighth position, putting him in the upcoming time trial round. 

   J.C. Wyman and Todd Cooney brought he field to green in feature two, with Wyman grabbing the lead, taking along third starting Jesse Sobbing in second. As those two began to inch away from the pack, the yellow flew on lap five as Cooney slowed with a flat tire, his night over. Overall quick qualifier Tad Pospisil (13.684) and Charlie McKenna would now do battle for third, with Tad finally claiming the spot on lap eight as Charlie fell a bit off the pace. By the crossed flags signaling the halfway point, Wyman had checked out on the field. An entertaining duel for second saw Pospisil claim the position on lap fifteen. Wyman cruised to the win, with Pospisil and Sobbing next. Corey Zeitner came from row five to finish fourth ahead of impressive late model rookie Dylan Sillman. McKenna, Brian Kosiski, and Josh Leonard rounded out the top eight. 

   Following the sprint car feature, the top sixteen took their second crack at time trials, and the perseverance of Neal was enough to earn him the pole position in the four car invert for the Saturday finale.

   Meanwhile, that twenty lap twenty two car sprint car money race was something close to a "show killer." A steady stream of spin outs and crashes resulted in seven yellow flags in the first nine scored laps. Pole sitter Jason Martin held the lead throughout, and when the final eleven laps clicked off caution free, he was able to stretch his advantage to a full straightaway, dicing his was through heavy traffic. His row one mate Cody Ledger would eventually cross the line in second. Ryan Roberts was an early challenger, but saw his night end early. But it was nineteenth starting Tyler Lee who turned heads, as he charged all the way to third before slipping to fourth behind Joey Danley at the checkers. Brendan Mullen would complete the first five. 

   With the sport mod eighteen lap finale in staging, we decided to begin our marathon drive home. Results show front row starter Corey Madden picking up the win over third starting Willy Kirk, row four mates Kaylin Lopez and Jake Sachau, while twelfth starting Carter VanDenBerg came home in fifth. 

   We were left with a very favorable impression on our first ever visit to SCS - other than the hike into the next county to get to the rest rooms! It is always a treat to visit a track for the first time, especially with a group of good friends.

   Here's hoping the sunny skies and warming temps hold. IRA Sprint Cars will be back on the card tonight at Brad Stevens and Jessi Mynatts' 34 Raceway after a whopping forty eight cars competed last night. Then it is a very busy week of racing coming up on the schedule with three nights of MLRA late models, starting Thursday night at Ricky and Brenda Kays' Davenport Speedway, where IMCA late models and IMCA Sport Mods will fill out the card, followed by two nights at 34 Raceway for the Prelude to the Slocum 50 on Friday followed by the memorial fifty lapper on Saturday. Finally, Jimmy and Tammy Lieurance will stage their season opener at Adams County, Illinois Speedway on Sunday, April 16. If you haven't made your first race of the season yet, now is the time!

  

  

Back to Wheatland, Davenport is Dominant

    With continuing inclement weather plaguing the mid west, racing options once again dropped one by one for this weekend. Fortunately, the storms riding north from Arkansas skirted past the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri. So after a several year absence, I found myself once again at the Diamond of Dirt Tracks for the second time in this 2023 season. The dynamics of this opening two nights for the MLRA late model series was altered considerably when the World of Outlaw Illini 100 at Farmer City, Illinois was canceled mid week. The "middling" payout at Wheatland may not have normally attracted many of the national touring drivers, but it is just eight short weeks until the Show Me 100 $50,000 to win weekend at the three eights mile speed plant. So a strong mix of forty eight national and regional drivers signed in on Friday night hoping to take advantage of a test and tune session with a $5,000 payout.

   On Saturday night, the winners' share would climb to $10,000, with USRA Stock Cars and USRA B Mods competing for a $750 top prize. A second night of SMVR vintage cars would round out the competition.

   With $10,000 on the line for Saturday, four more super late models were added to the field, so with a pair of drivers heading home, fifty competitors paced a total one hundred fifteen cars signed in throughout the four divisions. Once again it was a cool night, but there was a large crowd of bundled up fans on hand to take in the action.

   Late models kicked things off with time trial qualifying split into two groups. Jonathon Davenport paced the first group of twenty five with a quick lap of 15.680 seconds, which held up as the overall fast time. Defending MLRA series champion Chad Simpson topped the second group at 16.231, the track slowing up a bit as qualifying moved along. Following three heats for the vintage cars, the late models contested six eight lappers, lined up straight up by qualifying times. Not surprisingly, five of the six heats were won from the front row. Davenport, Logan Martin, Simpson, Spencer Hughes, and Brian Shirley took checkers from the front, while Jeff Herzog advanced from row two to capture heat two. After a less than stellar qualifying effort, top competitor Brandon Sheppard was headed into the top three in heat two when a sharp left turn by Dalton Imhoff sent the #B5 through the infield, relegating him to a B main.

   With the top three from the heats moving to the forty lap main, a pair of twelve lap B mains added six more cars to the starting lineup. event. The only car unable to make the call was modified stand out Dustin Sorenson. Now behind the wheel of the Jimmy Mars #28, Dustin appeared to lose an engine on the opening lap of heat three, a race that saw rookie Dillon McCowan battle side by side with Martin for the win.

   Kolby Vandenbergh topped the first B, with Sheppard again forced to take evasive action, finishing one spot out of a transfer. Friday feature winner Ricky Thornton Jr. outdueled Ryan Gustin in B main two. Gustin was making his first appearance of the weekend.

   With heat races for the fifteen USRA Stock Cars and twenty six USRA B Mods complete, intermission included some track prep ahead of feature racing.  

   SMVR vintage cars kicked off the main events, battling for fifteen circuits. Damon Clevinger methodically worked his way forward from row five to take the checkers ahead of twelfth starting Chad Eickleberry.

   Four MLRA provisional starters swelled the starting lineup to twenty eight cars. At the drop of the green, Davenport shot from his pole position to a large lead by the time lap one was scored. Simpson, his row one mate also left the pack behind in second, but by the fifth trip around, Davenport had opened a straightaway advantage. One lap later J.D. caught the back of the pack. As the race stayed green, Davenport worked effortlessly through the heavy traffic, always with a couple of lapped cars between himself and Simpson. Garrett Alberson established himself in third while the race to watch was an intense battle for fourth between Martin, Hughes, and Shirley. Early on Shirley apparently contacted the concrete wall, sustaining damage to his #3S, eventually causing him to fall off the pace. Incredibly there were no yellow flags to slow the action, and Davenport cruised to the victory. Simpson was strong in second, followed by Alberson. Hanging around outside the top ten, thirteenth starting Bobby Pierce was one of the few to find success running the high line around the track, and he began a charge to the front after the half way mark. The checkers stopped his march forward in fourth, and we were left to wonder what might have been with a late caution flag. Martin topped Hughes in the battle for fifth, while Payton Looney, Stormy Scott, Gordy Gundaker and Hall of Famer Billy Moyer rounded out the top ten. 

   The clock was flirting with 11:00, and with the temps dropping, we headed for the parking lot and the hour drive to our hotel. This turned out to be a fortuitous decision, as the Stock Car twenty lapper turned in to a crash filled marathon. Only four cars were around at the checkers, and the top two of David Hendrix and Bryan White played bumper cars before and after the checkers, as we witnessed thanks to the miracle of television. We were safely in our room when the curtain came down on the B Mod finale, as Kris Jackson came from row five to victory over Jon Sheets, Mitchell Franklin, Ryan Gilmore, and Colson Kirk.

   The MLRA cars and stars will now travel to Kevin and Tammy Gundakers' Tri City Speedway near Pontoon Beach, Illinois next weekend for double header action. As of now, the forecast looks like we made be headed for more race friendly weather, so make plans to take in a race near you!