Eighty Eight Race Teams Invade Quincy

    It was a perfect Sunday night for racing at Adams County, Il. Speedway. The five regular classes were on the card, with the 4 Cylinders also running their make up feature that had been postponed by high winds three weeks ago. And to top things off, the Iowa based American Iron Racing Series made an appearance, giving us eighty eight race teams and a full night of action before a large holiday weekend crowd. The feature attraction for the night was the Gene Patrick Memorial for UMP A Mods, with the winner taking home a cool $1,000. All of this action made for a long night of racing, stretching past the ten o'clock hour. 

   Sixteen starters returned to compete in the twelve lap make up event. Jaden Delonjay and Jimmy Dutlinger brought the field to the green flag, with Delonjay and Travis Demint leading lap one. With four laps down, Dutlinger rebounded to second. Two laps later, the only yellow flag came as Dyllan Bonk slowed with an apparent expired engine. His #2B had been showing smoke for the last several races, and a brief fire under the hood signaled the end of the power plant. On the restart, Dutlinger moved to the front. He then picked up the win, his second in less than twenty four hours, having won Saturday night in Charleston, Illinois. Jaden rolled home second, while older brother Jeffery Delonjay and Spencer Coats charged to third and fourth in the closing laps. Demint completed the top five. 

   Mike Vanderiet Jr. topped Modified qualifying at 14.533 seconds, then thirteen heat races set the regular feature fields.

   With intermission finished, IMCA Sport Mods saw all but one of the seventeen entrants line up for eighteen laps. Yellow fever was the theme of the race, somewhat aided by a flagman who for some reason was very quick on the trigger on this night. Reed Wolfmeyer sat on the pole position, and was the other story of the race, leading from flag to flag to pick up his first ever feature win. Several times during the night drivers were penalized for firing off early, both on original starts and on restarts, including alleged violations on restarts by top contenders Adam Birck and Tanner Klingele. During a caution period near the halfway mark, both Birck and Dakota Girard, second and third at the time. retired to the pits. Klingele chased Wolfmeyer to the checkers while Nicholas Profeta won a tight battle with Logan Cumby for third. A.J. Tournear recovered from a flat tire early to claim fifth. Only eight cars were still running at the end. 

   Darren Cawthon made his season debut in the Crate Late Model class, but was the only one of fifteen to not make the feature call. Denny Woodworth and Tommy Elston redrew the front row start, and ran side by side for a couple laps before Tommy edged ahead in a two car breakaway. Elston was running a middle line on the black slick track while Denny worked around the tire barriers. Just past the half way point of the twenty lapper, Woodworth executed a successful slider out of turn two to grab the lead. Slower traffic came into play about lap fifteen, and even though three cars were racing for position, Woodworth was able to pick his way around them. As the white flag was displayed , the lone yellow came for Jeffery Delonjay. Woodworth had no problem on the green, white, checkers finish, picking up win number two of the season. Jason Perry drove around Sam Halstead and Elston for second in those final laps, with Jamie Wilson in fifth. Patrick Shumaker towed in from Sellersburg, Indiana to come home sixth ahead of Braden Bilger, Jason Oenning, Christian Miles, and Darin Weisinger Jr. 

   Shawn Deering topped lap one of the UMP Modified headliner over Vanderiet Jr. in a battle of heat race winners. Following an unexplained very lengthy caution period two laps in, Austen Becerra had fallen out of his heat race and now charged all the way from twelfth to enter the top five. Two more cautions came about half way through with Mark Burgtorf and Becerra blasting to second and third on the restart as Becerra flirted with disaster lap after lap on the treacherous cushion  With five laps to go, Burgtorf pulled alongside Deering, but a quick yellow for a slowing Matt Diaz negated his challenge. Jacob Rexing cleared Burgtorf for second on this final restart, but Deering cruised to the win from that point. Burgtorf and Becerra both cleared Rexing at the finish, while Vance Wilson wheeled his #4 Sale ride to fifth. 

   Only eight Street Stocks signed in, with fifteen laps the feature distance. Rudy Zaragoza sat on the pole and powered to the first lap lead. Robert Cottom lined up outside row three, but charged to the runner up spot on lap three. The two veteran drivers ripped the top of the track as Cottom slowly cut into Rudys' advantage. A single caution with three to go closed the gap, but Zaragoza made no mistakes, notching a flag to flag win. Cottom was runner up, trailed by Jake Powers, Alan Cottom, and Troy Grotz.

   Fifteen cars made the call for the regular 4 Cylinder event. The Delonjay brothers led the field to green, with Jaden topping the opening circuit. Jeffery followed in his tracks as they ran a high line around the .29 mile speedway. Meanwhile Dutlinger and Coats dueled side by side for third. The caution waved at lap six, as Kimberly Abbott stopped at the top of turns one and two, leaving on the back of the wrecker. From there, Jaden continued his charge, picking up a flag to flag win over Jeffery, Coats, Dutlinger, and Landon Neisen. 

   I then took my leave ahead of the A.I.R.S. twelve lap finale. Results show Domanic McNabb picked up the win over Tyler Maschmann in a battle of Ford bodied machines. 

   We are set to enter the summer months and racing season is kicking into high gear, so check the Positively Racing calendar and head to a track near you!

Marolf Tops Drive for Five at Lee County

    Memorial Day weekend kicked off with the third installment of the IMCA Late Model Drive for 5 series at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. In addition to the $1,000 to win qualifier for the Late Models, the other regular classes were on the card, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Sport Mods, and Sport Compacts. It was a beautiful evening for racing with sunny skies and pleasant temperatures the order of the day. 

   Twenty three IMCA Late Models set a season high mark, dominating the seventy five car field in the five divisions. Once again the black dirt surface was well prepared and as the show rolled on it was a challenging mixture of fast and slick, particularly in corners one and two. Hot laps clicked off at 7:05, and following a touching tribute to our men and women lost in battle by announcer Tony Paris, taps played eloquently by Larry Loney, and as always a rousing rendition of the Star Spngled Banner by Lee Ann (Weisinger) Lambert, we were racing by about 7:33!

   Between twelve and fourteen cars in the divisions other than Late Model gave us a pair of heat races in each to go along with three qualifiers for the premier class, and with a short intermission complete, we were soon feature racing. 

   Compacts led things off racing for fifteen laps. When a car spun on the opening lap former track champion Kimberly Abbott had nowhere to go, and the contact ended her night, with among other things, a broken axle. Barry Taft and Josh Barnes paced the opening lap battling side by side with the front five cars putting distance on the field. As the front pair drove down the front stretch completing lap five they made slight contact, and Barnes was able to snag the lead. Two laps later Taft retook the point as the top five continued to race in nose to tail fashion. Suddenly Barnes slowed, his night over four laps from the finish. Luke Fraise then closed in on Taft while Chevy Barnes and Brandon Reu fought side by side for third. Taft would hold on for the win over Fraise, Barnes, Reu, and Chandler Fullenkamp. 

   All thirteen Stock Cars lined up for eighteen laps. Pole sitter Kevin Koontz led lap one as the field raced three wide behind him. After starting in fifth, John Oliver Jr. emerged from that scramble to take the lead as lap two was scored, Jeremy Pundt charged from ninth to second, and tenth starting Derrick Agee followed him in third. The leaders worked around the low side of the track ahead of the only caution flag of the event with nine laps in the books for a Cole Mather spin. Following the restart, Agee jumped out of line, moving up a lane and taking over the runner up spot. Running just outside the top five, Josh Foster also decided on a higher line, picking up a couple of positions. Although Agee put heavy pressure on Oliver, John held on for the win. Pundt came home third followed by Foster and Dakota Simonsen.

   Jesse Belez led Dennis Laveine through lap one of the Modified eighteen lapper, but row three starter Drew Janssen was the man on the move. He powered to second on lap two, then won a drag race with Belez to edge ahead on lap three. Austen Becerra lined up in row five, climbed to third on lap three, second on lap six, then charged to the lead one lap later. A spate of three yellow flags slowed the action just past the halfway mark, then the final seven circuits clicked off in quick fashion. Becerra was running on the very top of turns three and four, even contacting the guardrail at one point. That only slowed his run briefly and he cruised to the win. Janssen won a battle with Mark Burgtorf for second, Bill Roberts Jr. gained three spots to fourth and Scott Boles edged Daniel Fellows in his 2023 debut to complete the top five.  

   The Late Models used a draw, redraw format for the evening and heat two winner Nick Marolf found himself sitting on the pole position alongside Denny Woodworth. Two time feature winner C. J. Horn joined them at the front as lap one went in the books. Working the low line around the three eighths mile oval, Marolf slowly stretched his lead to nearly a full straightaway before catching the back of the pack on lap eleven. The caution flag flew one lap later as Ed Hollenbeck slowed out turn two. Defending champion Tommy Elston roared to life on the Delaware style restart, jumping from fifth to the runner up spot. Mimicking Elston on the high side, Jay Johnson also rode the high line to enter the first five. Again Marolf pulled well ahead, with a final yellow four laps from the finish as veteran Gary Webb and Darin Weisinger Jr. made contact. This night belonged to Marolf, however, as he once again pulled well ahead, picking up his second Lee County win of the year. Elston held off Woodworth for runner up honors, while Johnson topped Horn for fourth. Chuck Hanna made the trip from Port Byron, Il. to race home in sixth in front of thirteenth starting Jeremy Pundt, last weeks' winner Jeff Guengerich, Woodworth teammate Jason Oenning, and "Superman" Sam Halstead. 

   Sport Mod action would wrap things up with eighteen laps the distance. Rookie Brandt Ames led Brandon Lambert and Adam Birck as lap one was scored. Following a quick yellow, Birck blasted to the front followed closely by tenth starting Brayton Carter. It took only a couple more trips around for Carter, dominate at the speedway this season, to grab the lead. Carter then worked around the inside line while Birck searched multiple grooves looking for more speed. A four car battle developed behind those two, with Brandon Dale finally easing ahead of Jim Gillenwater, John Oliver Jr., and Sean Wyett.  A final yellow came three laps from the end as Lambert and Cole Gillenwater made contact. Dale was able to power to second on the restart and he stayed close to the leader, but "Speedy Bray" held on for the victory. With Dale in second, Birck, Wyett, and Oliver Jr. rounded out the top five. 

   The final checkers waved several minutes ahead of the 10 P.M. hour, another entertaining night of action in the books. Thanks to Brian, Marcie, Brian, and crew for their help and hospitality. 

   We will spend Saturday away from the track, then plan to land in our usual perch Sunday at Adams County, Il. Speedway. Enjoy your holiday!

  

Gundaker, Jackson, and Calvert Top Moberly Opener

    Moberly Motorsports Park just east of Moberly, Missouri has undergone many ownership and name changes since its construction as the state of the art Moberly Motorsports Complex late in the 1980s. Originally advertised as a high banked half mile dirt track, at one point pavement was laid down before being resurrected as a four tenths mile clay speed plant. After promoting a unique but highly successful "Wiener Nationals" late model event in 2021, Mid Missouri racer and businessman Reid Millard purchased the facility in 2022. Meanwhile, another area businessman, Galen Hassler, spent one season as a successful promoter of nearby Callaway Raceway in Fulton. But for 2023 Hassler, also a part time racer, has taken the reigns at Moberly, working with Millard.  Rather than hosting traditional weekend racing and splitting cars and fans with nearby tracks Callaway Raceway and Lake Ozark Speedway, the management team elected to schedule specials throughout the season featuring both late model and open wheel races. Still there seemed to be "meat left on the bone," thus the development of the Trophy Tuesday series. The concept features ten nights of racing. Five classes will rotate throughout, with four in action each week making an eight race mini series for each of Late Models, A Mods, B Mods, Super Stocks, and Hornets. Making this an even more unique plan is that different rules packages will be allowed - if you are legal under your particular sanction, you will be legal here. There can be no mixing of rules, and certain allowances have been made to keep everyone competitive. In addition to good payouts there is a strong season points payout available to those racing a majority of events. 

   Tuesday, May 23 would be the inaugural Trophy Tuesday featuring Late Models, A and B Mods and Super Stocks. This first event seemed like a perfect week night diversion, giving this late model fan five different sanction (or lack thereof) shows in seven days. 

   The night definitely had a glass half full, half empty result. B Mods led the way with a solid nineteen car field, and the thirteen late models on hand was a good turnout for a track that does not race weekly. On the down side, only five Super Stocks and two A Mods signed in. Hopefully they will give these classes time to develop more of a following. The crowd looked to be a pretty good one for an opening night, and to me it seemed as though it tilted towards younger generations, something we don't often see at the local tracks!

   Opening night gremlins, including a track that needed considerable packing resulted in a late start to the program, but Hassler had emphasized that 9:30 would be the target time for a complete show, and once begun things moved along at a quick pace with the final checkers waving at 9:25!

   Hot lap sessions also served as qualifying times. Cody Agee topped the B Mods at 20.430 seconds while Trevor Gundaker topped the Late Models with a lap at 18.399. Derek Wiss led the Super Stocks at 22.952. 

   The initial plan was for just two of the four classes each night to run heats based on a draw before  racing began. However the car count splits on this night made that an easy call. Agee, Kris Jackson, and Chris Spalding topped the three B Mod eight lappers - A Mod pilots Dylan Hoover and Charlie Baker tagged the tail in two of these races. Pole sitter Gundaker and third starting David Melloway captured heats for the Late Models. 

   Super Stocks would run the first fifteen lap feature. Josh Calvert started outside row one and jumped to the early lead, taking along third starting Agee. The only caution of the race came three laps in as Darek Wiss smacked the turn two outside concrete wall. Back to racing, Calvert and Agee pulled well ahead, running nose to tail around the top of the speedway. Agee threw everything he had at the leader, including a bump draft and a trio of slide jobs with Calvert crossing him back over each time. The final attempt came as the duo drove through turns three and four on the final lap, with Calvert first at the line. Curtis Barnes was the only other car on the track at the checkers, with Jason Rindom and Wiss scored behind them.

   Gundaker and Melloway paced the Late Models, also lining up for fifteen laps. Gundaker charged to a flag to flag win, while there was plenty of action behind him. With Melloway trying to stay close, Matt Becker and Kyle Graves swapped the third position back and forth. A pair of yellow flags for Ashley Lancaster three laps in and Kayden Clatt three laps later only slowed Gundakers' road to victory. At the checkers it was Gundaker, Melloway, Becker and Graves with Clatt fighting back to a top five finish. Chase Breid ran sixth ahead of Curt Potter, Lancaster, Bill Vaughn, Dwane Vandelicht, Chad Walter, and Steve Potter. Jarred Ballard was unable to make the feature call. 

   B Mods would round out the night, also racing fifteen laps. Only Tyler Lewis failed to make the call, with the A Mods also taking the green at the tail of the pack. Agee and Jackson sat on row one, and those two along with fourth starting Kyler Girard soon put distance on the field. With Jackson running a middle line around the oval, Girard was able to pull even wheeling around the top of the track. Jackson then changed his line and opened some breathing room as Agee moved in, taking second from Girard ahead of the only caution. Back under green Dawson David entered the fray, moving to third behind Girard, then taking second at about the halfway mark. As Jackson checked out, a six car battle tightened up behind him. About lap ten, Agee rebounded to the runner up spot, while Dakota Girard climbed to third after lining up in eighth. Jackson cruised to the win followed by Agee, Dakota Girard, David, and Spalding. Kyler Girard, Jamie Aleshire, Chris Leathers, Preston Dawson and Kelly Smith would round out the top ten. Hoover would be declared the A Mod victor over Baker.

   Congratulations to Hassler and Millard for some out of the box thinking and an entertaining Tuesday night. Now if they could find a sponsor for a scoreboard to go along with the improvements already made...

  

Unzicker, Steffens, Becerra Top Quincy Special

    It was nearly perfect weather Sunday afternoon as the cars and stars of the MARS Late Model and Modified tours as well as the Pure Cool Hart Limited Modified competitors rolled in to Adams County, Il. Speedway east of Quincy. The final tally for the three class program came in at eighty five entries plus the #14 Late Model of Reid Millard which eventually became a back up car in the feature for Kyle Hammer. In fact, drivers were on hand from eight states and one foreign country!

   Promoters Jim and Tammy Lieurence were expecting a large turnout on both the pit and grandstand side, and that seemed to be the case, with neighboring Scotties Fun Spot offering up their parking areas for the somewhat late arriving throng. 

   There were a lot of laps put down on the .29 mile oval before actual racing began, with late model hot laps and qualifying - Tyler Erb topped the leader board as the only driver to break thirteen seconds at 12.907, modified hot lap, time trial combo - Josh Harris at 13.716 - and Limited Mod hot laps.

   It took ten heat races and a pair of B Mains to set the feature fields, and those events moved along quickly ahead of about a twenty five minute intermission.

   Late Models would roll out first in the feature lineup, with all twenty four drivers making the call as Hammer tagged the tail after issues in qualifying with his #26H. Forty laps would be the distance with a $5,000 check dangling on the line. Second and third heat winners Jason Feger and Ryan Unzicker would top the six car redraw and start in row one, while first heat winner Tyler Erb would start outside row three. Feger would be ahead by a nose as lap one was scored, but it would be Unzicker out front for the remaining thirty nine. Erb joined the party on lap three following Feger around the bottom of the slickened track while Unzicker operated higher on the semi banked oval. Slower traffic came into play about lap twelve - what happened to the scoreboard? - forcing the leaders to alter their lines. Three circuits later, Doug Tye looped his ride in turn four. and with the yellow light on but no where to go Erb made contact with both cars stopping on the track. Per MARS rules, both drivers were sent to the tail, much to the disappointment of the Texan in the #1 machine. One more stoppage came two laps later for Jonathon Huston, then the final twenty three laps clicked off quickly. It was now a two car battle between Unzicker and Feger, both having turned many laps here over the years. Traffic again became a factor about lap thirty one, and a couple of times Feger was able to sneak a peek inside the #24, but was unable to make a pass. Unzicker cruised to the win, with Feger unchallenged in second. The 2022 winner of this event, Tommy Sheppard Jr. rolled home third followed by Rodney Melvin and Lowell, Indiana pilot Rich Dawson. Sixth through tenth went to Jake Little, former Quincy regular Justin Reed, series rookie of the year leader Mike Harrison, Trevor Gundaker, and Quincy Raceways legend Mark Burgtorf. The MARS points leader coming in to the hight, Unzicker was able to stretch his advantage. 

   With the TV festivities complete, Modifieds rolled out for thirty laps and a shot at the $2,000 prize. Seven cars had been eliminated to give us a twenty two car starting grid. Heat winners Kyle Steffens and "The Kentuckian" Josh Harris sat on the front row while heat two winner and former track champion Michael Long lined up fourth beside Zeke McKenzie. Steffens shot to the early lead, opening a sizable advantage ahead of a yellow flag for Jacob Rexing, the opening night feature winner here in Quincy. Fifth starting Tyler Nicely used the Delaware style restart to move to the runner up spot before Harris reclaimed it one lap later. Steffens again pulled well ahead before slower traffic reared its ugly head about six laps from the checkers. Nicely was able to work back into second, then close quickly on the leader. The top three came to the checkers in tight formation with Nicely pulling alongside Steffens at the end. But it would be a flag to flag win for Steffens, the driver from St. Charles, Mo. The Kentucky duo of Nicely and Harris followed, while Long and Trevor Neville rounded out the top five. Peoria ace Allen Weisser was sixth,besting Rick Conoyer, defending track champ Austen Becerra, McKenzie, and Logan Veloz. 

   With the field whittled to twenty four from the thirty two signed in, Hart Limited Mods would line up for twenty laps. Running on the black slick track with the smaller tires would prove to be a daunting task, and I stopped counting caution flags when the red one waved for a multi car pile up in turn one with about four laps to go. Second generation driver Damien Kiefer looked strong in winning his heat but his pole start went for naught as his #0 quit just a pair of laps in to the action. Third starting Becerra, doing double duty in the Logan Cumby #8 then took over, and as long as he did not run out of fuel, he looked good to go! This race truly was a battle of attrition, but having come through the limited mod ranks, Becerra was up to the challenge, claiming the win. Local racer Reed Wolfmeyer was strong in second topping Matthew Edler and Chris Spalding. Proving that you are never out of a race in this division especially, Quincy racer Tanner Klingele was sent to the tail early after getting caught up in a caution, but worked his way back to fifth at the finish. Shad Prescott, James Hileman, weekly competitor Dakota Girard, T.J. Jackson, and Joe Rudy also turned in top ten runs. 

   Thanks to Jim and Tammy for always allowing me access to their fine facility, and to Matt Curl and his MARS staff along with Dewain Hulett and the Hart folks for a fun Sunday night of racing. 

   As of now, we are looking at perhaps a mid week night of racing, so stay tuned and we will hopefully see you somewhere as we continue Racin' Down the Road!

  

Thornton Jr. Sweeps the Weekend With 34 Raceway Win

    Saturday night found us at one of our favorite long time venues, 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. Lucas Oil Late Model Series cars and stars would top the bill, while IMCA Northern Sport Mods and IMCA Sport Compacts would also take a crack at the high banked three eighths mile oval. Friday night the Lucas Oil Series paid a visit to the seldom used 300 Raceway in Farley, Iowa, where Ricky Thornton Jr. topped a field of twenty six competitors. Tonights' event, sponsored by CRST The Transportation Solution would offer up a fifty lap main event paying a cool $15,000 to the lucky winner. With additional sponsors coming on board, the Sport Mod feature winner would collect $850, while $350 would go in the pocket of the Compact victor!

   The Late Model count was up a bit with twenty eight teams rolling through the pit gate. Fifteen Sport Mods and thirteen Compacts filled out the field. Hot laps rolled off close to the 6:00 advertised time, and with racing scheduled for 7:00, plenty of time was built in for Late Model time trials, two and three cars at a time. Decorah, Iowa driver Tyler Bruening was the fastest qualifier with a lap of 15.026 seconds. 

   Four heat races sent the top four in each to the Late Model finale. As is generally the case with "time'em and start straight up" shows, all four eight lappers were won from the front row. Tim McCreadie captured heat one from outside row one, while pole sitters Thornton Jr., Earl Pearson Jr., and Jimmy Owens also scored victories. With a pair of heats in the books for the other classes, ten of the dozen remaining Late Models lined up for a ten lap B main. The top six would move on to the big dance, with pole sitter Garrett Alberson claiming the win. A pair of provisional starters gave us a field of twenty four to do battle for the $15,000 prize.

  Following a brief intermission and with no track work needed, Sport Compacts came to the track for a twelve lap feature. A false start resulted in the front row cars moved back one row, then we were racing.  Dyllan Bonk paced the opening lap before Justin "Popeye" Stevenson charged from row four to lead lap two. As Stevenson pulled away, a tight four car battle raged on behind him. Tim Schnathorst, one of the earlier penalized drivers cleared that group for second while Bonk, Luke Fraise, and Noah Kayser continued an entertaining contest for third. With nine laps scored, Fraise appeared to get together with a lapped car, ending his run. One more lap was scored before Schnathorst went for a spin, his night also over. The caution flag waved one more time on the restart, but Stevenson stayed in control to take the win. Kayser outdueled a pair of Adams County, Il. regulars, Bonk, and Kyle Weisenberger for second while Darrian Hammitt rounded out the top five. 

   It was now Late Model time. McCreadie and Thornton Jr. sat on row one. "T Mac" shot out to a commanding lead running low around the inside tire barrier. Early on it was just eleventh starting Hudson Oneal trying to make up ground running the top side, but he would soon tuck in down low after limited success up top. About lap fifteen, McCreadie caught the tail of the field and when he left his preferred line to deal with the traffic he made contact with the turn three concrete, allowing second running Thornton Jr. to erase his lead. Another pair of trips by the flag stand saw those two racing side by side, and soon Thornton used the inside line to grab the lead. McCreadie tried to fight back running a high line, but soon tucked in behind the leader. Clearly the fastest on the track at this point, Thornton checked out ahead of a mysterious yellow flag twenty eight laps in. Back to racing, Pearson Jr. used the Delaware style restart to take second briefly, with McCreadie soon retaking the spot. Again Thornton checked out while Brandon Overton entered the top three. Another questionable caution flag came at lap thirty eight as Daulton Wilson headed off the track possibly to change a tire. On this restart McCreadie jumped the turn two cushion, falling from second all the way to tenth. Three more laps brought out the final caution as Jonathon Davenport slowed on the front stretch with a flat. Inside of ten to go, the field now reset single file, and once again Thornton drove off from the pack, taking over the series points lead with back to back wins. Overton gained five positions as the runner up trailed by Spencer Hughes, Pearson Jr., and tenth starting Chris Simpson. Oneal was I believe around eleventh on the final restart and charged all the way to sixth at the checkers. Mason Zeigler, odd graphics and all, finished seventh ahead of eighteenth starting Tyler Erb, Owens, and Max Blair. It was acraazy weekend for Ricky Thornton Jr., as he had an accident leaving Farley the night before that saw his merchandise trailer upside down on the side of the road. Thankfully there were no injuries to him or his family!

   After all the TV hoopla was complete, it was Sport Mod time for those of us hearty fans who remained. Brayton Carter and Tyler Heckart filled row one, and when Carter was scored the leader for the opening lap, it looked like another notch in the belt of the driver of the #01. Heckart said "not so fast," fighting back to lead lap two. Following a caution on the next lap, the front duo pulled well ahead of the other thirteen, racing side by side. Lap after lap "Speedy Bray" tried to stick the nose of his hot rod inside of #42, finally gaining enough momentum to retake the lead on lap ten of the scheduled fifteen. Carter then began to put some daylight on Heckart as John Oliver Jr. and Logan Anderson battled for third. A caution flag with two laps remaining saw Heckart get shuffled back to fifth on the Delaware restart. As the white flag was displayed, Anderson looped his ride in turns one and two, but there was no yellow flag this time, instead the checkers was waved. Carter claimed victory while Shane Paris found his way to second after starting in tenth. Sean Wyett also took a podium spot, while Oliver Jr. and Heckart filled out the first five.

   Though nothing like the uncomfortable conditions we encountered the night before, sunset still brought a cool down, so the fast paced show was welcome. In fact, the clock read 9:50 as we fired up our ride in the parking lot! Thanks to Brad and Jessi for their friendly hospitality and for a top notch program. There will be several more special events mixed in with the regular Saturday night shows at 34 Raceway, so be sure a visit ( or more) is on your racing schedule.

   From here we will move south to Adams County, Il. Speedway near Quincy on Sunday, where Matt Curls' MARS Late Model and Modified tours will take center stage along with Dewain Huletts' Hart Limited Modified traveling series. Hot laps are scheduled to kick off at 5:30, hope to see you there!

Reutzel Grabs the Big Check in Donnellson

    Friday night found us back at our usual haunt at Lee County Speedway, Donnellson, Iowa. This week the program would be a different animal as POWRi 410 Outlaw Bandit Sprints would take center stage, battling for a $5,000 top prize. IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Northern Sport Mods would also be on the card, and thanks to additional sponsors, IMCA Late Models were a late addition to the show. As the original schedule had the Late Models off this week, no track points would be earned in this division. 

    Cool, cloudy, and breezy conditions once again dominated the area throughout the day, and the most accurate way to describe the night would be cold! Still a sizable crowd turned out to watch the proceedings, with Sprint Car fans in abundance.

    Eighty two teams signed in for the four divisions, thirty sprinters as well as a season high twenty Late Models. A sign of things to come came early when the announcement was made that not only would the Sprint Cars time trial, but they would do so one at a time! So after Aaron Reutzel set a quick time of 13.927 seconds as the twenty third car out followed by some track work, it was about 45 minutes later than normal for the opening heat race. 

   An even dozen heat races plus a B main for the sprinters set the feature fields, then all twelve Stock Cars lined up for eighteen laps. Jerry Jansen paced the opening circuit before Jeremy Pundt took command. Early on Dalton Simonsen moved to the runner up spot, soon giving way to Jason Cook. Lap seven saw visiting Cole Mather, Oelwein, Iowa, who had lined up in tenth drive to third behind Pundt and Cook. With most of the field hugging the inside line, Cook took a shot up top before dropping back down to try and fend off Mather, who suddenly found a middle groove to his liking. After battling side by side with Cook, Mather claimed second with just two laps remaining, and as the white flag waved he drove to the outside of Pundt, then won the drag race to the checkers. A large quilt might have covered the top three, Mather, Pundt, and Cook as they crossed the line. Simonsen came home fourth, with Derrick Agee in fifth. The race was caution free.  

   The advertised "five or ten minute" break for track prep became a major undertaking, and within ten laps of the Sprint Car thirty lapper, we were back to a bottom dominate surface anyway. Twenty three cars took the feature green, with the only two drivers who cracked the 14 second barrier in time trials lining up in row one, Reutzel and Buddy Kofoid. On the initial start, Joe B Miller rocketed from row two to the lead, but a three car pile up in turn three brought us back to an original restart minus top contenders Carson McCarl and Roger Crockett. Crockett was not involved in the skirmish, but apparently had mechanical issues. Kofoid grabbed the lead, with the yellow waving again on lap three. On this restart it was Reutzel shooting to the front, and he slowly stretched his lead ahead of lapped traffic eleven laps in. Kofoid took the opportunity to close in on the leader, and by the half way point Ayrton Gennetten had joined the front duo in third. As the leaders raced around the tire barriers, Gennetten was caught temporarily behind a lapped car as Reutzel and Kofoid pulled away. Soon Reutzel had gained some breathing room and Ayrton was again hounding Kofoid. As the white flag waved, however, Gage Montgomery went spinning in turn one, setting up a single file two lap dash to the checkers. Reutzel was up to the challenge, collecting the win and the $5,000 payday. Kofoid took second trailed by Gennetten, seventh starting Ian Madsen, and Miller.

   With the lengthy post race festivities finished, all but two of the IMCA Late Models came to the track for twenty five laps. Pole Sitter Jeff Guengerich jumped to the lead, with third starting Denny Woodworth in second. Two yellow flags in the first five laps saw fifth starting Andy Nezworski power to the runner up spot while ninth starting Tommy Elston climbed to third. A final caution at the half way mark was followed by Chuck Hanna charging from fifth to third, but with the track now reduced to one lane there would be no more passing up front. Guengerich had opened a nice lead but with just a couple laps to go, he was caught behind a slower car operating in his preferred line. Nezworski quickly closed the gap, but Jeff was finally able to sneak inside the lapped car and drive on to his second feature win of the season, his first at LCS. With Davenport Speedway not in action tonight, five of their weekly competitors made the trip south, and two of them, Nezworski and Hanna ran second and third. Elston and Woodworth completed the top five, followed by Simonsen, Ray Raker, Pundt, Sam Halstead, and Jason Oenning.

   We were hoping for a smooth IMCA Sport Mod twenty car eighteen lapper. Front row starters Brandon Lambert and Brandt Ames paced lap one, ahead of a caution for Adam Birck with two in the books. The restart saw Lambert, Kyler Girard and tenth starting Brayton Carter running three wide before Carter took command. With five laps down, the red flag waved for a five car melee in turn three. Looking at a possible lengthy clean up, the clock showing 11:30, and a Saturday morning commitment on my schedule, we regretfully headed for the car. Arriving home, My Race Pass lists Carter the winner followed by Brandon Dale, Carter VanDenBerg, John Oliver Jr., and Nicholas Profeta.

   Thanks as always to the Gaylords for another entertaining night of racing in Donnellson!

    Our racin' weekend is set to continue on Saturday with our second visit of the year to 34 Raceway in West Burlington, where Lucas Oil Late Models top the card, competing for $15,000 to win. Just a pair of divisions, IMCA Northern Sport Mods and IMCA Sport Compacts round out the lineup. Then on Sunday, the MARS Super Late Models, MARS Modifieds, and Hart Limited Modifieds all invade Adams County, Illinois Speedway in Quincy. Hope you can join us at one or better yet both shows!

Erb Jr. Nabs the Big Dollars at Davenport

   Flo Racing Night in America made a now annual trip through the mid west with four Super Late Model week night races last week and this, wrapping up Wednesday at the famed Davenport Speedway. The made for TV events this season pay $23,023 and $1,000 to start for the fifty lap features. Only one support class was added on this night, the popular IMCA Modifieds. A quality field of forty Super Late Models along with twenty two IMCA Mods signed in to do battle in front of a sizable throng of spectators.

   Hot laps kicked off right at the advertised time of 6:30 and with ten and eleven cars out at a time, it took only fifteen minutes before we were ready for Late Model time trials. With two cars on the clock at once,Winfield, Tennessee driver Mike Marlar was the fourth car out and he not only turned the fastest lap of the forty, but broke the quarter mile track record with a time of 13.321 seconds. As qualifying continued and the cushion was pushed higher and higher, times slowed, with the Group B leader Jimmy Owens eight tenths off the record pace at 14.124 seconds.

  The two groups were divided into four eight lap heat races, lined up straight up by qualifying times, and predictably, only one driver, Chad Simpson, was able to crack the top four starters and move directly into the main event. Pole sitter Marlar topped heat one and outside row one starter Bobby Pierce captured heat two. Pennsylvania driver Mason Ziegler in an unnumbered black machine and Dennis Erb Jr. topped the final two heats after lining up third on the grid.

  Next up it was three Modified heats, with all cars transferring to the feature. Only one yellow flag slowed action in the seven heat races, then came a pair of ten lap Late Model B mains, with only the top two in each moving to the money race. 

  Chris Simpson scored a popular victory in the first consy after lining up fourth, digging in the low groove to edge Tim McCreadie as the pair exited turn four on the final lap. Brandon, Florida hot shoe Kyle Bronson also started fourth, and used a low side charged to drive from third to the lead on lap one of the second B, pulling away for the win as Frank Heckenast Jr. edged Daulton Wilson in a tight battle for second. Two provisional starters, Devin Moran and Tanner English were added to the back of the twenty two car starting field for the main event.

   Late Models would run the first feature, with Marlar and Ziegler perched on row one. Running high on the speedway, Zeigler shot to the lead with Marlar, Pierce, and Erb Jr. trailing. Erb jumped ahead of Pierce on lap thirteen as those four separated from the pack. One lap later, Marlar slipped over the top of turn one, and although he would seemingly have been able to ease back onto the track, the yellow flag waved and he was relegated to the tail for the restart. Erb now took up the chase, catfishing past Zeigler on lap nineteen. Zeigler would fight back to lead the next trip around, but Erb would take over for good as lap twenty one was scored. As Dennis stayed true to the inside line , pulling away by the halfway mark, Zeigler began to fade back through the pack. Pierce moved to second and Hudson Oneal soon followed in third. With the low groove the fast way around, Oneal took the runner up spot on lap twenty nine. The race stayed green, and Erb caught the back of the field with a dozen laps of racing to go. Unwilling to give up his preferred line, and with cars racing for position in front of him, Erbs' lead began to shrink. Perhaps making his final charge to the higher line a few laps to soon, Oneal was unable to mount a serious challenge, and Erb drove on to his second Flo Racing win of the mini tour. Oneal took runner up honors and Pierce filled out the podium in third. Brandon Overton started ninth and finished fourth while Ricky Thornton Jr. gained six spots to complete the top five. Bronson would be the hard charger, advancing twelve positions to sixth, followed by Jonathon Davenport, Zeigler, Brandon Sheppard, and Ryan Gustin. 

   With all Late Model post race television commitments  complete, Modifieds lined up, twenty one strong for twenty laps. Hired gun Brian Harris captured the first Mod heat, then took off from the feature pole to pace the first five circuits. Lap three saw veteran Jeff Aikey climb to second, then fly past Harris on the high side to lead lap six, while Mitch Morris shadowed the front pair. As Aikey opened a sizable lead, a five car battle for second was interrupted by the only yellow of the race eight laps in. Back under green, it was heat two winner Tim Ward joining Harris and Morris in a three wide scrum for second. One lap ahead of the mid point, Ward completed his charge from row four to the lead, while Orcutt, California pilot Dylan Thornton raced into third, using two more laps to move to second. With both Harris and Aikey going pitside Ward stretched his margin, cruising to the win and the $1,000 payday. Thornton held on for second over heat three winner Eric Barnes. Chris Zogg started in row six and came home fourth and Morris rounded out the top five. 

   If not the among the breathtaking finishes we have witnessed at Davenport the last couple of seasons, the racing was never the less entertaining, the track smooth and fast, and it was another "plus" show, a great way to spend a Wednesday night!

   Thanks again to Ricky and Brenda Kay and their staff for their hospitality, and you can expect several more reports from this track during the 2023 season. In the meantime, we have a full weekend on the horizon, including Poweri 410 Bandit Outlaw Sprints leading a four class program Friday night at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Lucas Oil Late Models headlining Saturday action at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, wrapping up with MARS Late Models, MARS Modifieds, and Hart Series B Modifieds Sunday at Adams County, Il. Speedway in Quincy. Pick one out or better yet, join us for all three! See you at the races!

Horn, Becerra, C. Barnes Repeat, Oliver Jr., Wyett, Wagner Tops at LCS

    Friday night was the second installment of the IMCA Late Model Drive for Five mini series paying $1,000 to win at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. Also for the second time in 2023 Mini Haulers joined the regular five divisions in competition. Ninety three (technically ninety four - more on that later) race cars rolled through the pit gate, shattering the 2023 top mark. Although there was a day long threat of showers, the sun came around and it was a gorgeous evening to be at the race track. Despite a slight blemish early in turn one, the racing surface was fast and smooth, with a massive payoff come feature time. 

   Hot laps began right at the advertised time of 7:00, and the fourteen qualifying events rolled off promptly at 7:30 followed by a short ten minute intermission, all ahead of a somewhat late arriving crowd.

   IMCA Northern Sport Mods would be the first feature, with only rookie Kaleb Nevers missing from the nineteen entrants. The first attempt at a green flag was waved off following a skirmish in turns one and two. At that point, flagman Rodney Bleisner could have auctioned off his yellow flag, and promoter Brian Gaylord could have sent the wrecker crew on their way home! With the caveat that we actually headed for the parking lot ahead of the Mini Hauler feature, we saw zero caution periods for the remainder of the five regular class features! Both the drivers and the track prep crew deserve credit for such an incredible performance, as well as Rodney, who is willing to wait until the last moment to allow an out of shape car to return to the track or duck to the infield!

   Back to racing, pole sitter Jim Gillenwater drove off ahead of a three car battle for second. By lap three Brandon Dale had claimed the runner up spot, and three laps later seventh starting Sean Wyett had moved in to challenge Dale for the position. With John Oliver Jr. having charged from ninth to fourth, his row five mate, last weeks' winner Brayton Carter now entered the top five. As the race reached the half way mark, Gillenwater was on cruise control, but soon Wyett began to cut into the lead. With three circuits remaining, the two heat winners were nose to tail, but the veteran Gillenwater was able to use a lapped car to put a bit of distance on the #12S. Gillenwater was running a middle line while Wyett stuck to the inside groove. As they hit turns three and four for the final time, Wyett pulled a textbook slide job to grab the lead. Gillenwater was able to cross him over, but came up just short at the checkers, with Sean a victor by a scant .048 seconds, his time out front measured in feet and inches! Gillenwater would settle for second, while Oliver Jr. cleared heat three winner Dale for third. Carter completed the top five.

   Officially sixteen IMCA Late Models checked in, however rookie driver Ryan Harris also came through the gate with a sharp looking #3H. As the Late Models prepared to hot lap, we saw a four wheeler pushing week one winner Nick Marolf from staging back to his pit area. While the #33 has been experiencing engine woes while waiting on long delayed parts, when he prepared to roll off for warm ups, transmission issues left him stranded on the line. He then took over the #3H for the evening, which just happened to be one of his former cars! Thus we had sixteen cars line up for twenty five laps of action. Last weeks' winner C.J. Horn and last weeks' winner at 34 Raceway, Jeff Guengerich sat on row one. Horn quickly shot to the lead, and on the third circuit, fifth starting Denny Woodworth cleared Guengerich for second. Soon double duty Dalton Simonsen advanced from row four to third, and those top three ran spread out from each other but well ahead of the pack. Slower traffic came into play by lap eleven, and on the next trip around, Simonsen snuck past Woodworth, setting up an entertaining duel between the pair, even as Horn checked out. By the time Woodworth retook the runner up spot, Horn had a full straightaway advantage. Meanwhile defending champion Tommy Elston joined the battle for second. Horn drove off for his second consecutive victory, while Woodworth used a last corner move to edge Simonsen for second. Elston came home fourth in front of Jay Johnson. Guengerich led the second five, topping Jeremy Pundt, Darin Weisinger Jr., Sam Halstead, and Ray Raker. 

   All but two of the fifteen Sport Compacts would come to the track for fifteen laps. Josh Barnes took off from the pole, while his son, last weeks' first time winner Chevy Barnes spent four laps powering from row five to second. As Chevy worked to close the gap, Kimberly Abbott, Noah Kayser, and frequent visitor Jack Pflum (did I mention he is from Cincinnati, Ohio?!?), battled for third position. Chevy took seven laps to move in on the leader, and with four circuits to go, he ended a tight duel by grabbing the lead. From there, son bested father, as Chevy scored win number two of his fledgling career. Josh held on for second in front of Pflum, while Abbott held off hard charging Chandler Fullenkamp for fourth. 

   Sixteen of the eighteen IMCA Modifieds were good to go for eighteen laps. Third starting Jadin Fuller took the early lead, taking along fifth starting Bill Roberts. Last weeks' winner Austen Becerra lined up in row four and climbed to third on lap two. As those three duked it out, Austen moved to second on lap seven, then used a power move in turn four on lap ten to take the lead. As Becerra and Fuller drove off from the pack, week two winner Denny Eckrich worked from his row four spot to third with six circuits remaining. Becerra slowly increased his lead, cruising to the checkers ahead of Fuller and Eckrich. Mark Burgtorf made a late move to fourth, then held off another traveler, Grey Ferrando. Calling Stayton, Oregon, home, Ferrando is on an Iowa racing tour after a fourth place run Wednesday in Stuart.

   Thirteen IMCA Stock Cars checked in, but Kevin Koontz and Les Blakley were missing from the eighteen lap headliner. Jerry Jansen put his Ford machine out front with John Oliver Jr. in tow. Oliver took over on lap two, taking along Jeremy Pundt in second. Five circuits in, Derrick Agee had worked his way from row five to the runner up spot running around the tires on the bottom of the track while Oliver worked up top. As Oliver maintained his wide margin, Josh Foster, Beau Taylor, Dalton Simonsen, and Chad Krogmeier worked for fourth on back. Again, the race stayed green all the way, with Oliver Jr. cruising to the win. Agee was the Bridesmaid trailed by Pundt, Foster, and Taylor. 

   It was 9:47 as we loaded up to head for the parking lot, Mini Haulers headed to the track! According to reports Tim Wagner picked up the final feature of the night. 

   Thanks to Brian, Marcie, and all involved for a A+ night of racing!

   We will do our Mothers' Day festivities one day early, and make plans for another Sunday night at Adams County Speedway in Quincy, Illinois.Then it will be a Wednesday visit to Davenport Speedway for the big Castrol Flo Racing Night in America spectacular featuring Super Late Models backed by IMCA Modifieds. Racing season is finally in full gear, so make plans to get to your favorite track(s)!

McLean, Becerra, Powers, Birck and the weatherman Tops at Quincy

    After three weather postponements in four tries, Adams County,Il. Speedway in Quincy was back at it Sunday night. Although the forecast was somewhat ominous, we were treated to sunny skies and a temperature of ninety degrees as race time approached, about fifty degrees warmer than the Sunday prior. Before the final feature race, however, Mother Nature came roaring back with dangerously strong winds, sending the gathered throng scurrying for the parking lot as the 4 Cylinder main event cars were sent pitside ahead of the green flag. 

   The night began in promising fashion as a solid field of seventy four race teams signed in, with all but the Street Stocks showing in the mid to upper teens. Somewhat surprisingly, the IMCA Sport Mod and 4 Cylinder classes were divided into three heat races each, half of those with only five cars scheduled. In fact, with an early evening scratch by Sport Mod driver Lucas Schieferdecker, we were treated to one qualifier starting just four cars. 

   UMP Modifieds are the only class to time trial qualify at the track, and Austen Becerra topped the eighteen car field with a lap of 14.316 seconds. With heat races for the five classes in the books and about a twenty minute intermission out of the way, we were ready for feature racing.

   Crate Late Models would line up first with all fifteen cars set to battle for twenty laps around the .29 mile semi banked oval. Devin McLean made the long tow in from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, and he would redraw the pole position, with Darin Weisinger Jr. alongside. As the field headed into turn three on the opening lap, Tommy Elston checked up to avoid another car, and the result was a multi car pile up that eliminated Elston as well as Jeffrey Delonjay, Jason Oenning, and Jeff Dotzert. Following an original restart for the remaining eleven cars, McLean shot to the lead with defending track champion and week one winner Denny Woodworth on his heels. Returning hot shoe Jason Perry worked into third just ahead of a caution period at lap eight for James Dickerson. Back to racing, McLean was running a middle line while Woodworth moved from the low groove to the cushion and back, searching for a way to the front. The Racing Attorney was unable to keep pace as McLean gradually opened a several car length advantage, cruising to his first Adams County win. Woodworth, Perry, and Sam Halstead followed. Back racing after several seasons on the side lines, Jamie Wilson brought home his #56 in fifth. Cody MaGuire, Weisinger Jr., and rookies Derek Hollenstine, Austin Poage, and Christian Miles completed the top ten. 

   Street Stocks continue to struggle with car counts, with eight signing in for the night. All eight lined up for fifteen laps. It was Rudy Zaragoza and Jake Powers filling out row one. Rudy quickly claimed the seemingly faster inside line, while Jake did business on the high side. The front duo drove off from the field and just after the crossed flags signaled the halfway mark, Powers switched his line, nearly sneaking inside the leader. Zaragoza was able to hold him off until the final circuit when Powers drove to the inside and took the lead and the win, much to the delight of his considerable rooting section. Zaragoza settled for second, with the son and father team of Troy and Steve Grotz, and Kale Foster rounding out the first five. A flat tire in the closing laps ended a strong run for Beau Taylor, who fell to sixth.

   The eighteen car UMP Modified field was filled with talent, Becerra and Rick Conoyer pacing the field for eighteen scheduled laps. As the pack exited turn two on the first trip around, Conoyer was shuffled back outside the top five with Becerra grabbing the lead. A multi car crash in turn two on lap two ended the night for Shawn Deering. Another quick yellow came on the restart ahead of a long green flag run. As  Becerra drove off from the pack, row two starters Rick Stevenson and Jacob Rexing battled hard for second. By lap seven, Austen had opened a straightaway advantage, and even as he worked slower traffic, he increased his lead to a full half lap. With just three laps remaining, his lead evaporated with a final yellow flag. This proved to be just a minor inconvenience, however, as the #22 cruised to victory lane. Taking a ride in the Audrey Gerberding #66, long time Quincy fan favorite son Jake Griffin made a late charge to come home in second, slipping past Rexing. Mark Burgtorf recovered from the early pile up to claim fourth, and Dave Weitholder completed the top five. Stevenson slipped to sixth, Conoyer ran seventh, while Mike Vanderiet, Jr., Scott Bryant, and Russ Coultas filled out the top ten. 

   The wind picked up and the temperature dropped as all but Schieferdecker came trackside for eighteen laps of Sport Mod action. Jake Hunter and Adam Birck filled row one, and Birck quickly took command with fourth starting Reed Wolfmeyer in tow. As Adam put distance on the pack, a tight five car scrum developed behind him. Fifth starting A.J. Tournear and eighth starting Tanner Klingele waged a back and forth duel for second. With ten laps in the books, a spate of three yellow flags slowed the action. On the first restart the second running Klingele elected the outside row on the Delaware Style line up, but with no laps complete, he then moved to the inside behind Birck. Although he stayed close for a time, he could not mount a challenge for the lead. As the laps wound down, Josh Holtman was able to hook up his #5, charging to third at the checkers. Logan Cumby advanced five spots to fourth, while Dakota Girard cleared Tournear late for fifth. 

   As the 4 Cylinder feature came to the track, the strong breeze morphed into a gale force, and track officials wisely cleared the track with a quick announcement that the main event will be made up at a later date. 

   Thanks to Jim, Tammy, and the crew for an entertaining Sunday night, and thanks for reading!

Becerra Wins A Nailbiter at Lee County

    Friday night racing returned for night number three at the Lee County Speedway. This would mark the first 2023 appearance of the vintage cars in addition to the five regular classes. Seventy three cars filled out the five weekly divisions, led by a season high eighteen IMCA Late Models. Threatening skies early likely affected both car and crowd count, but no rain fell and it was a pleasant although cool evening. Once again the track was in perfect shape, producing lots of passing and the IMCA Modified main event was surely the race of the year to this point.

   First in the feature lineup, however it was all but one of the seventeen IMCA Northern Sport Mods lining up for eighteen laps. Cody Agee shot from the pole to lead the first two laps before Nicholas Profeta charged to the lead on lap three. Profeta held the top spot through four yellow flags in the first ten circuits. Meanwhile Brayton Carter had worked his way forward after starting in row four, and with just six laps remaining he jumped to the cushion and drove to the lead, taking along Matt Tucker in second. With fours laps to go, Adam Birck powered to the runner up spot but the caution came one final time as Tucker made contact with the tractor tire in turn four. Restarting in third, Birck challenged Carter for the lead, but "Speedy Bray" would hold on for the win. Birck settled for second followed by a gaggle of cars slicing and dicing for positions. At the checkers it was John Oliver Jr. in third followed by Sean Wyett, with Brandon Dale nosing past Profeta for fifth.

   Sport Compacts would race next, twelve strong for fifteen laps. Josh Barnes and Barry Taft filled out row one, with Taft taking the early lead. Barnes emerged from a three wide battle for second, joining Taft in a two car breakaway. Barry slowly stretched his lead, and with six laps left, Josh suddenly slowed, ducking to the infield, his run over. Cruising out front two laps later, Taft met the same fate, pulling off out of turn two. Chevy Barnes now headed a tight three car battle for the lead, and he held serve, scoring his first ever feature win. Another second generation Compact driver, Chandler Fullenkamp came home second, topping Brandon Reu, Justin Stevenson, and Luke Fraise. 

   All twelve IMCA Stock Cars came to the track for eighteen circuits. Row two starter Beau Taylor avoided a traffic jam out of turn two to grab the lead, with fifth starting Jeremy Pundt hot on his trail. Only one lap was in the books when the first yellow flag of the race slowed the action. Pundt grabbed the lead as racing resumed, but seventh starting Jason Cook was the man on the move, taking over on lap five, even as the front six cars ran in tight formation. With Cook hugging the inside line, Derrick Agee was working up top looking for a way around the leader. With six laps to go, John Oliver Jr. slipped under Agee for second, then moved to the high line in turns three and four while following Cook in one and two. A caution for debris came with three laps left, and back under green, Oliver Jr. ducked to the infield, his challenge ended. Cook held on for the win, with Agee strong in second. Taylor had dropped out of the top five, but came roaring back in the closing laps to claim third, while Chad Krogmeier nipped Pundt at the line for fourth.

   Two starters were missing from the fourteen IMCA Modifieds, with eighteen laps the scheduled feature distance. Bill Roberts Jr. charged ahead, quickly putting distance on the pack. With three laps down, a spate of three yellow flags ground things to a halt. Finally back to racing, Mark Burgtorf took over second while Austen Becerra advanced to third. Roberts was hooked up on the cushion while Burgtorf would close in one lap only to lose ground the next trip around. With just four laps remaining, Mark moved in to challenge on the low side, and Becerra, who had lost considerable ground when he bobbled in turn two was lurking behind the front duo. Austen was able to clear Burgtorf for second, and coming to the white flag he laid a big time slide job on Roberts. But Bill was up to the challenge, crossing back over to lead at the flag stand. Going down the backstretch for the final time, those front runners raced three wide, and Becerra won the drag race out of turn four to pick up a thrilling win. He followed up with a dirt track "burnout," showing his excitement, drawing cheers from the crowd! Burgtorf edged Roberts by a nose for second, while Jadin Fuller and visiting Long Grove, Iowa driver Dustin Smith completed the top five. As stated earlier, it has my vote thus far for LCS race of the year!

   IMCA Late Models would be next, with all eighteen cars making the call for twenty five laps. As exciting as the Modified race was, there would be little drama in this one. Pole sitter Dalton Simonsen paced the opening circuit before fourth starting C. J. Horn powered to the front on lap two. While Simonsen and Jeremy Pundt battled side by side for second, Horn drove off into the night, opening a straightaway lead by the halfway mark, even as he fought lapped traffic. The only thing that could slow his run was a yellow flag, and it came with twenty laps in the books. The team cars of Denny Woodworth and Jason Oenning had been running in fifth and sixth for several laps ahead of the caution, but Woodworth found extra speed on the restart, quickly moving to third. Pundt turned in his most impressive Late Model showing in second  even as Horn again pulled away. Running a smooth line around the inside groove, the vastly improving Oenning used a last lap pass the clear Simonsen for fourth. Tommy Elston, ran sixth followed by Darin Weisinger Jr., visitor Sean Johnson, Ray Raker, and Sam Halstead.

   A sparse field of vintage cars had a couple of races to run as we made our way to the car, the clock reading 10:08 to wrap up another night of entertaining racing at Lee County. Thanks as always to Brian and Marcie Gaylord, Brian Neal and the crew for their hospitality!

   Tomorrow it will be a birthday celebration for great grandson number two, then hopefully Mother Nature will smile on Adams County, Illinois Speedway and we can get back to Sunday night racing.