2024 was another exciting year for yours truly and my trusty companions. Although my total races were down a bit, I still managed to log fifty three nights at nineteen different tracks in five states. Adams County, Il. Speedway/ Quincy Raceways led the way with fifteen nights followed closely by Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Ia. at fourteen. Both of these I consider my "home tracks," as I can be standing at the pit shack in about thirty five minutes from home. Davenport Speedway takes more effort, but the quality offering of Late Model specials was an attraction on five occasions this season. Two visits each came at a long time favorite, 34 Raceway in West Burlington, along with Independence Motor Speedway and Cedar County Raceway in Tipton. Single nights were enjoyed at CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction, West Liberty Raceway, Benton County Speedway in Vinton, all in Iowa. East Moline Speedway, Peoria Speedway and Tri City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Il., along with Scotland County Speedway, Callaway Raceway in Fulton, Moberly Motorsports Park, and Springfield Raceway in Missouri were also visited once.
Thanks to my Positively Racing cohort Jeff Broeg, I was able to add three new to me venues in three different states. Our season opened at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, South Dakota, and we made a late season pilgrimage to Grain Valley Speedway near Kansas City, Missouri and Tri State Speedway just across the state line near Pocola, Oklahoma. This brought my total tracks to a somewhat modest (compared to my P.R. colleagues) seventy six.
Changes are afoot for 2025. Seven nights in 2024 were spent chasing MLRA Late Models, a now defunct wing of the Lucas Oil Racing family. Fortunately it appears the rejuvenated MARS series has picked up several of those events, including the uber popular Slocum 50. As schedules continue to drop, the upcoming season is shaping up to be both varied and busy. For several seasons in the early 2000's our racing would begin and end at the same facility, the long closed Kentucky Lake Motor Speedway. Now we hope to recreate that scenario. Having wrapped up 2024 at Springfield Raceway, we now look forward to the two night opening extravaganza at the quick quarter mile on February 28 - March 1. That is IF Mother Nature will cooperate! In the meantime, enjoy the holidays. Merry Christmas to all!
