Saturday it was back to Davenport for night two of the Corn State Nationals. Once again MLRA Super Late Models would be the featured division, this time vying for a $10,000 top prize. IMCA Modifieds were looking for a $5,000 payday, and a late sponsor stepped up to swell the late added IMCA Sport Mods purse to a $1,000 winners share. Outlaw Street Stocks would once again try for a $500 payoff.
The total car count for the evening sat at ninety two, four higher than the opening night show. Thirty six Super Late Models topped the bill, with five new entrants off setting three drop outs. The early cancellation of the MARS Late Model program brought in a handful of hard chargers, including World of Outlaw points leader Brandon Sheppard. The IMCA Modified count sat at a healthy thirty one, while the Sport Mod numbers fell by eight to seventeen and the Outlaw Street Stocks continued their soft turnout with eight signed in.
I had seen a post earlier in the day that hot laps had been moved up by 45 minutes, however this did not seem to be the case as action kicked off at the original time of 6:30. Whether a bogus post or track officials were wary of the rain falling in all directions, I am unsure. But although we drove through a worrisome shower on the way north, and rain eventually stopped racing just to the north in Maquoketa, only a few renegade drops dotted the pavement in Davenport.
Late Models again time trial qualified two at a time, and the early draw proved most fortunate, as the first car out, Tyler Bruening would set overall quick time at 13.449 seconds. Four heat races would then set the first eight rows of the Late Model feature. Only the third eight lapper bucked the trend of front row winners. Pole sitters Bruening and Garrett Alberson captured heats one and two, but it was Dennis Erb Jr. breaking through for the win in heat three. Sheppard then powered from outside row one to top the final qualifier. Once again a pair of B mains set the next three rows, with victories going to Tim Simpson and Curt Schroeder. On this night the provisional starters increased by two, giving us a twenty six car starting field.
IMCA Modifieds staged three eight lap heats to determine their feature line up, with wins going to double duty Chris Simpson, temporarily out of retirement Bruce Hanford and Ben Chapman.
Things seemed to be moving along at a smoother pace than on Friday, but once again their was a lengthy delay ahead of the features for track prep. And when cars finally hit the track, it was the eight Street Stocks give the assignment of rolling in the surface after a heavy dose of water had been added.
By the time the green flag waved for the fifteen lap Street Stock feature, only six cars remained on the track. Cary Brown took the early lead ahead of Blake Woodruff and Jesse Owen as those three battled for position. As the race approached the mid point, Woodruff moved to the front and began to stretch his advantage. The caution flag would come with four laps remaining, and back to racing Owen drove to the high line in turn one as Woodruff moved up the track, and contact between the two sent Owen over the top of the cushion, bringing the yellow flag out once again. After clean up only two cars were left on the track for the final four circuits. Cary Brown would find himself with his second win in two nights while Tyler Roth crossed the line in second.
It was now Late Model time, and perhaps to further "run in" the racing surface, the field would circle the quarter mile oval many times before the green flag would finally start the action. Bruening would take off from the pole with Erb Jr., Sheppard, Alberson and series points leader Chad Simpson in hot pursuit. Tyler Erb would soon join the chase in fifth, and the lead pack caught slower traffic about lap nine. Bruening had opened a nice cushion when the only yellow of the race came a dozen laps in. Top contenders Simpson and Dillon McCowan sat in the infield as the green flag waved once again. Bruening continued to pace the field while Alberson and Sheppard battled behind him and Tyler Erb and Dustin Sorensen contested fourth before Dustin slipped off the top of the tricky turn three. By lap twenty two of the forty lapper, Alberson had closed the gap on the front runner, and one lap later he was scored the leader. Slower traffic again came into play around lap twenty five, as Sheppard cleared Bruening for second. Working the lapped traffic to perfection, Alberson pulled away temporarily, but by lap thirty three Sheppard had found speed on the high line of the track and moved in to make a challenge for the top spot. However Alberson was not giving up, and seven laps later he completed a Davenport sweep to go along with his runner up finish Thursday at Tipton. Sheppard would complete his strong run in second followed by Bruening in third, both making their only appearance of the three night swing. Tyler Erb and another "newcomer," McKay Wenger in the Quad City based Curless Racing #99 would round out the top five. Tony Jackson Jr. gained four positions to sixth ahead of Trevor Gundaker, Frank Heckenast Jr., Sorensen and Erb Jr.
Although we had not set a "hard" curfew, it was now approaching 10:30, and with all three of us facing early Sunday commitments, we decided to head for the car and catch the televised action on the drive home.
The Sport Mod main event clicked off in fine fashion, with Tony Olson bringing home the win from the pole position in front of Friday winner Logan Veloz, Rayce Mullen, Cole Stchter and California racer Tyler Bannister. Olson and Veloz would trade the top two spots from the Friday finish while Mullen collected his second top five.
Thirty one laps would be the distance for the IMCA Modified finale. Austen Becerra charged to the front from outside row one and led the majority of the race. Becerra was ripping around the top of the speedway and soon had Ben Chapman alongside racing the inside line. With a liberal dose of caution periods, fifth starting Trevor Fitz soon took up the chase, also working down low. Although Becerra attempted to switch his line, his #22 did not seem to like the low groove, and eventually Fitz found his way to the front. The Camarillo, California driver who has been a 2024 regular on the Iowa ovals would pick up the $5,000 check, besting Becerra, Chapman, Eric Barnes and twelfth starting Chris Zogg.
It was an entertaining end to our three day northern swing, and now the plan is to wrap up our long racing weekend close to home tonight at the "reborn" Quincy Raceways.
Thanks to SR Promotions and their team as well as MLRA officials for a fun Saturday night, and a special thanks to Tina at the pit shack for her friendly assistance. Also thanks to Jeff for hauling two old guys up and down the road!
The clock is ticking on 2024, so get to a track near you soon!
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