A New Chapter Begins in Donnellson

       After an opening night cancellation due to a saturated racing surface, it would be race night Friday at Lee County Speedway. And it would be the first night for the new promoters at the fairgrounds three eighths mile oval in Donnellson, Iowa. The Weisinger family has seen several generations compete on Tri State area tracks for many decades and it has always been a true family affair. So when the fair board found themselves searching for a new promoter for 2026 it was patriarch Darin taking the plunge. And as might be expected it soon became a group effort. While Darin will be the "face" of the operation, it will be daughter Lee Ann Lambert - of National Anthem and numerous local bands fame - handling race director chores.

   The most obvious change to the program is the return to Friday night racing and along with that comes a return to IMCA sanctioning in five of the six classes. Late Models, Modifieds, Sport Mods, Stock Cars and Sport Compacts will again be on the weekly card, with unsanctioned Mini Hauler Trucks replacing Hobby Stocks in an attempt to increase car counts. This would also be the first points paying night at the track.

   Seventy three race teams checked in on what turned into a very chilly evening, and there were even a couple of rain showers in the area before race time. All things considered, it seemed like a decent opening night crowd. As might be expected, the program was a bit late getting started, but the races clicked off in good fashion, with the final checkers just past 10:30 on a near perfect racing surface.

   It was a memorable beginning for the new promotion team, as in the very first heat race of the night contact on the backstretch sent the #11E of Ethan Prim for a wild ride as his flipping Sport Compact might have cleared the wall were it not for the catch fence. Fortunately he was able to walk away from the accident although his car did not fare as well. It would be the first of two roll overs on the night, as Dylan VanWyk would also take a tumble in the Sport Mod feature even as the yellow flag came out for a spin at the other end of the track. He was running in second place at the time, and I am not sure what happened as I was focused on the spinner in turn four as Dylan did a complete roll over off turn two.

   Feature racing began with the Sport Compacts, and although only five of the seven cars on hand took the green flag, this may have been the race of the night. Chuck Fullenkamp paced the opening lap before Brandon Reu took over one lap later. Soon it was Josh Barnes applying pressure to the leader, and he was out front by inches as lap four of ten was scored. The frontrunners then ran side by side lap after lap with Reu leading as lap eight went in the books. But when Kevin Eggleston waved the checkers it was Barnes again ahead by a nose, picking up the win over Reu. Heat winner Kimberly Abbott was third in front of David Prim and Fullenkamp. 

  All fourteen Stock Cars lined up next for twenty laps. David Brandies led the opening circuit over Chad Krogmeier. John Oliver Jr. started inside row two, and by lap four he was the new leader. With Brandies now second, Krogmeier and Jason See locked in a battle for third. Just past the halfway mark, See spun in turn three while running in third. Derrick Agee moved to third following the Delaware restart, but was soon overtaken by Leremy Jackson. As Oliver built a commanding lead, the next six cars ran in tight formation. On the white flag lap Agee was able to regain third, but it was Oliver Jr. and Brandies first across the line. Jackson barely held off a charging See for fourth. 

   Twenty laps would be the distance for the Modifieds. Austen Becerra redrew the pole position, jumped quickly out front and stayed there in the second caution free feature. Jared Eckrich moved around birthday boy Bill Roberts Jr. for the runner up spot on lap two and while Becerra built a half track lead Eckrich also put distance on the rest of the field. Becerra would cruise to the win, followed by Eckrich, Roberts and Blaine Webster. Mark Burgtorf used a late race pass of Jace Whitt to climb to fifth. 

   A strong field of seventeen Late Models signed in for the night. Jason Oenning finished fifth in heat one while Tommy Elston could do no better than fourth in heat two, but the opening night redraw found those two sharing row one for the twenty five lap feature. And much like the Modified main event, the redraw told the tale. Elston blasted out to a lead he would never relinquish. Third starting Spencer Havermale soon powered to second, and even as Elston moved to a different time zone, Havermale also pulled away from the pack. However behind those two the action was intense. Oenning held on to third before suddenly ducking to the infield. Meanwhile Darin Weisinger Jr., Sam Halstead and Denny Woodworth were locked in a tight scrum for fourth. With just seven laps remaining, Woodworth and Halstead went synchronized spinning in turn four to trigger the first yellow of the race. Halstead retired to the pits and Woodworth was allowed to keep his position in the running order. Eighth starting Curtis Glover used the Delaware restart to power around Havermale for second but there would be no catching Elston. Havermale would hold third, chased by Woodworth and Weisinger Jr. Like Woodworth, Jackson Frankel advanced five spots to finish six, topping Ron Boyse, Jake Griffin, Jeremy Pundt and Jayden Johnson. 

   The largest field of the night was eighteen Sport Mods, and they all came to the track for twenty laps of action. And once more the redraw told the story. Cole Gillenwater lined up on the pole position and shot to the lead, pulling away from the pack with double duty John Oliver Jr. in tow. Soon it was a charging VanWyk clearing Oliver for second. The first caution came five laps in, and VanWyk was soon challenging Gillenwater for the lead as they ran side by side until the yellow flag waved at the lap eight mark. That is when disaster struck, ending VanWyks' night. Twice more the caution would wave, and on the final restart Brandon Dale cleared Oliver for second before John drove to the infield, his charge finished. Gillenwater would pull away to a comfortable lead, then drive off to his first ever feature win. Dale came home second besting young Bryson Eckrich, Charlie Rindom and Jason  Van Zomeren. 

   With an early call Saturday morning I will confess to heading to the parking lot as the Mini Haulers lined up for the finale of the night. Congrats to Caleb Ealy on his win over Colton Meeker and Nick Wilkerson.

   A big thanks to Darin and the Weisinger family for their hospitality. Remember, 2026 is once again Friday night racing at Lee County Speedway!

Pierce Takes WoO Honors at Indee

    After finally getting back to the track on Sunday, raindrops and all, we were looking for our first midweek event of the season. Things did not look too good, at least here in northeast Missouri with another inch plus of precipitation lasting into Monday morning. But as the storms moved on, word came from the powers that be at Independence, Iowa Motor Speedway that they would be good to go for their second Tuesday race in a row. With a stacked program of World of Outlaw Late Models, Karl Chevrolet Premier Late Models, IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars along with a near zero chance of the "R" word, we were more than pumped, cool temps be darned! It had been a couple of seasons since I had checked in on the Race Indee folks and the improvements made to the racing surface since my last visit. Scott Webb Concrete would be the presenting sponsor for this marquee event. 

   It was a very large and early arriving crowd, but the lines at both the ticket booth and concession stands moved smoothly and efficiently as obviously a lot of planning went into this event. The track surface was in good condition except for a pesky dip in turn one that was mostly corrected during a manicuring session before the feature races. And even the eventual World of Outlaw feature winner admitted in victory lane that he was initially not pleased with the amount of water laid down on the three eighths mile, but the yield was two or three good racing lanes, so "I guess they know the track better than I do." Kudos to Mike Van Genderen, Dana Benning and crew for a job well done!

   The WoO visit scheduled for 2025 at Indee was washed out, so having been two years since the Super Late Models had hit the oval, the track record was ripe for picking. And sure enough, it was eclipsed on multiple occasions before Nick Hoffman set the bar at 12.549 seconds in Group A qualifying. The Iowa dominate crowd soon erupted in cheers as native son Dallon Murty paced Group B at 12.854 seconds.

   Thirty two competitors were divided into four eight lap heat races, and with "straight up" starts, it was no surprise that all four winners came from the front row. Hoffman, Jonathon Davenport and Murty all led the distance from the pole position while Bobby Pierce did the same from outside row one after pole sitter Daulton Wilson was penalized for jumping the start. Still there was a fair amount of movement in the qualifiers, including a charge from seventh to third by Justin Duty in heat two. Later in the program the sixteen non qualified cars ran a pair of Last Chance races with the top three moving on. Ethan Dotson and Dustin Sorensen both advanced from row two to victory lane, while another Iowa favorite, Chad Simpson made a dramatic late charge from seventh to third to earn a feature spot. Three provisionals would round out the twenty five car starting grid.  

   A solid field of twenty five Premier Late Models checked in, and they too ran four heats. National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Jeff Aikey, defending series champion J.D. Auringer, Travis Smock and Logan Duffy picked up eight lap wins. 

   Sixteen IMCA Modifieds and twenty two IMCA Stock Cars would round out the ninety five car field. Kollin Hibdon ran off with Mod heat one and Etham Braaksma roared from sixth to take heat two. Stock Car heats came after intermission, with Gage Neal, Tom Schmitt and Braden Richards victorious. 

   The four car Super Late redraw saw point leader Hoffman and Murty line up in row one for the 40 lap #12,000 to win headliner. Hoffman shot to the lead taking along third starting Davenport and his row two mate Pierce. Davenport was absolutely ripping the lip all night, and on lap five he went over the top of turn two, falling to fifth. One lap later the first yellow came for Tyler Bruening. It was now Hoffman, Pierce, Garrett Alberson and Cade Dillard out front. Back to racing, Pierce shot below Hoffman, blasting to the lead out of turn two, Davenport rebounded to third and Drake Troutman powered to fourth. Pierce and Hoffman put some distance on the field and the leader had caught the back of the pack when the caution flag waved with thirteen laps scored. Two more laps went in the books before a third yellow as Murty drove off the top exiting turn two. Back under green, young Trey Mills found speed, entering the top five. On lap eighteen Davenport again went over the top of turn two losing several positions, but he caught a break as the yellow flag negated his mistake. To this point "Turbo" Tyler Erb had been a non factor, but suddenly he was on the charge, climbing to fourth. Pierce was now comfortably ahead, but he would again catch the tail of the field with about a dozen laps left, and with cars running side by side for position Hoffman would quickly close the gap. But just as things were getting interesting the yellow flag waved for a final time on lap thirty one. Erb would move to third as Davenport jumped the turn two cushion for a third time. With clear track ahead Pierce went on cruise control as Hoffman now found himself working to fend off Erb. On the final lap as Pierce drove to the win and the series points lead Erb eased around Hoffman for second place honors after starting in eighth. Troutman gained five spots to finish fourth while Mills crossed in fifth. Alberson paced the second five ahead of Davenport, Dotson, Sorensen and Dillard.

   The clock was ticking as the Outlaws performed their made for TV post race festivities. Finally the Premier Late Models lined up for twenty five laps of action. Pole sitter Smock would lead his row one challenger Aikey as the green flag dropped. Smock would survive an early yellow, but as lap five was scored Aikey was ahead by a nose. One more lap went in the books before another caution, and on the restart Auringer muscled his way to second, Joel Callahan and Nick Marolf followed as Smock fell to fifth. Aikey held a nice lead as the race hit the mid point while Marolf picked off Callahan for third. Lap sixteen saw Nick clear Auringer for second, however Aikey was still in control. That would change when the caution flag would fly at lap twenty. Back to racing Marolf was all over the leader, finally moving to the front on lap twenty two. One more stoppage would set up a green, white, checkers finish. As Auringer faded back, Aikey missed his mark coming to the green, scrambling the field on the final laps. At the checkers it was Marolf taking his second series win. Quiet for most of the night, C. J. Horn suddenly found himself in the runner up spot after starting in row six. Troy Morris III advanced seven spots to third while Matt Ryan charged from row seven to fourth. Auringer completed the top five. Callahan, Aikey, Logan Duffy, Jason Hahne and Bobby Hansen rounded out the top ten. 

   Our self imposed curfew of 10:30 was moments away, so we headed for the car and the three hour journey home. Thanks to My Race Pass, for results, as Spencer Diercks picked up the Modified win over Cody Laney, Braaksma, Hibdon and Jed Freiburger. Richards took the Stock Car top prize, besting Schmitt, Damon Murty, Dakoda Sellers and Rowdy VanGenderen. 

   This event has been on my "can't miss" list since it was announced, and it did not disappoint! 

   Next up is a planned Friday visit closer to home as Darin Weisinger and crew try again to open a new chapter at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson. 

Quincy Raceways Races Through the Raindrops as Season 51 Begins

    36 days...Thirty six days... Due mostly to the consistently lousy weekend weather and in the case of this weekend family obligations, it had been just over five weeks since my bout of racing withdrawal began. So I was more than happy to rush home Sunday, grab my supplies and head to the fifty first home opener for Quincy Raceways. And with the forecast showing no wet stuff until overnight, things were looking up! The good news is that with some adjustments the entire seven class program was completed. The not so good news is that the final three features were run in a light rain. But, hey, it was racing!

   The track crew and the three man management team have been hard at work, putting in many extra hours to prepare for the season, and the result was a good racing surface with just a bit of dust early as the southeast breeze attacked the impressive crowd. 

   The downside was a somewhat disappointing overall car count, although the newly minted IMCA Late Model division was solid with fifteen entries.

  With all the opening night pomp and circumstance complete, racing began about 6:30, with heat race action clicking off in good time ahead of intermission. 

   The visiting vintage class kicked off feature racing. They would run a non stop ten laps, with Bonne Terre, Missouri driver Marshall Skaggs picking up the win over his fellow Bonne Terre competitor Tom Mesey in the PB (peanut butter) car.

  Street Stocks would go next, running twelve caution free laps. Only winner Jacob Rexing and runner up Jake Powers were still around when the checkers waved. 

   Action increased dramatically as all fifteen Late Models lined up for twenty five circuits. Popular local driver Jake Griffin was behind the wheel of the #79 normally driven by Robby Warner, and Jake had issues in hot laps and failed to make his heat race. In fact he was given an extra quick hot lap session to see if his problems were fixed, and it appeared so as he lined up deep in the field for the feature. Spencer Havermale and Jason Oenning filled out row one of the inverted field, with Spencer leading lap one ahead of a caution for debris. Following the Delaware Style restart, Austen Becerra charged to second as he and Havermale put some distance on the pack. But soon Denny Woodworth would join the leaders even as Jamie Wilson, Oenning and tenth starting Tommy Elston waged an entertaining battle for fourth. The yellow flag came out twice with six laps scored, ending the night for Ryan Aden Jr., and back to racing it was Woodworth moving to the lead. Twelfth starting visitor Curtis Glover was now looking strong as he vaulted inside the top five. Becerra would again clear Havermale for second on lap ten, and on the next trip around Jackson Frankel smacked the turn one wall ending his run. Back under green Becerra was mounting a challenge for the lead, clearing Woodworth about lap seventeen ahead of a final caution for Darin Weisinger Jr. As racing resumed, Havermale slipped around Woodworth for second and fifteenth starting Griffin found himself in the top five. Becerra would lengthen his lead and cruise to the win followed by Havermale, Woodworth and Griffin. Jeffery Delonjay made a late charge to round out the top five. Wilson, Elston, Glover, Weisinger Jr. and Oenning would complete the top ten. 

   The Dirtcar Modified field was shockingly short, and with scratches by Dean Vickers and 2025 champ Justin Reed, only four cars took the green flag for a dozen laps. Dave Weitholder ran to a caution free win, although he was challenged late by Shawn Deering. Vance Wilson and Kirkland Cunningham would round out the field. 

   With the sprinkles setting in, Crown Vics lined up for twelve circuits. Brian Kaylor took the early lead from outside row one with pole sitter and 2025 Champion Jake Etter in hot pursuit. Things got even tighter as the front runners hit slower traffic with three laps to go, and as the pair exited turn four to take the white flag, Etter powered to the lead. He would hold off Kaylor for the W. Alex Hatfield in an unlettered "mystery " car would finish third in front of Braxton Dieker and Isaac Little. 

   The raindrops became a bit more persistent as all twelve IMCA Northern Sport Mods came to the oval for their main event, shortened to fifteen laps. Tanner Klingele put his #73X out front from the pole to lead lap one before his row one mate A. J. Tournear nosed ahead as lap two was scored. Meanwhile Reed Wolfmeyer and Kyler Girard came from rows three and four to join the party up front. Klingele edged back to the front just ahead of a caution four laps in. As racing resumed Wolfmeyer charged to the runner up spot and began to hound the leader. The caution would wave two more times, the last caused by contact which sent Tournear for a spin, knocking him out of the top five. Klingele would hold off Wolfmeyer for the victory, with Girard claiming third. Cole Gillenwater made a late charge to fourth after starting in row four, while Alec Cain picked up five spots to finish fifth. Tournear would charge back through the field to sixth as the checkers. An interesting aside, Cole Gillenwater is a third generation QR driver and on this night his father Jim turned over the wheel of his #10 to young Chevy Barnes, a Sport Compact driver making his first start in a Sport Mod. Chevy is the fourth generation of a well known racing family, as his great grandfather was Don White, from my and Chevys' hometown of Keokuk. Racing historians will note that Don was a many time Stock Car champion in the touring days of IMCA and USAC. Chevys father Josh continues to compete in the Sport Compact division also. 

   The rain drops were now creating havoc with pen and paper, and I will admit to heading towards the parking lot as the Dirtcar 4 Cylinders prepared to put a cap on the action. Peeking at the scoreboard as I climbed in my vehicle, I saw the Devin Harrell led the race at about the mid point, and thanks to My Race Pass, I see he picked up the win over Ethan Zumwalt.

   Thanks as always to the Delonjays and their team for their hospitality and for keeping racing alive in Quincy. 

   Even though some big events have been lost, there is still a long season ahead, and just maybe Mother Nature will start playing nice!

Dallon Murty Doubles up at Memphis, Brown, Reimers, Kriegel and Reu Also Winners

    I love it when a plan comes together, and Saturday night we were able to make the trip to Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. The very large crowd was on hand for night two of the Memphis Spring Nationals. We felt lucky with the great weather last weekend in Springfield only to follow up with record breaking heat on this first weekend of Spring. Short sleeves and no jacket, as 9:30 found us on our way home! And that happened even though hot laps were pushed back, as the heat of the sun required multiple watering and packing sessions to get the track in racing condition. While turns one and two developed a bit of "character " that made for a bit of a challenge at times, the interviewed podium finishers were very complimentary with regards to the racing surface. Considering the amount of snow fall early in the week, I would say kudos all around to the preparation crew. And of course there is no one better than a Mike VanGenderen led staff at moving a show along once the first green flag drops!

   Ninety one cars in the five divisions checked in to race with B Mods leading the way at twenty eight. They would be the only class in line for a B Main, but when one scratch plus an early on track incident whittled the field to a qualifying field of four cars, the race was called. Again, some tracks would have run eight unnecessary laps...

   Following intermission, it would be Compacts first on the feature grid, with all but one of the eighteen signed in competing for a dozen laps around the big three eighths mile. Pole sitter Luke Fraise shot to the early lead over his row one mate Alvin Cooney. Soon it would be sixth starting Dyllan Bonk and ninth starting Brandon Reu up to battle behind Fraise. By the time Reu took control of the second spot, Luke had built a sizable advantage. Slower traffic came into play on lap eight, but Fraise was up to the task at hand. The white flag waved and I began to write down the order when the impending checkers was replaced by the yellow caution flag, setting up a green, white, checkered finish. Fraise restarted out front of the Delaware Style lineup, but as the white waved once more, Reu pulled alongside going down the backstretch. Through the final set of turns they raced in tandem, but Reu won the drag race to the finish line. Fraise was justifiably disappointed with his runner up finish, but that is racing. (Although I am a fan of a one lap shootout in these situations, especially on tracks bigger than a quarter mile, but I am not in charge!) Bonk held on for third ahead of a good battle behind him. Michael Gardner traveled from Des Moines to take fourth over Katelynn Watts. 

   Twenty four B Mods lined up next for twenty laps, although we lost two cars on the parade lap. A first lap pile up also eliminated Jamie Aleshire. Austen Becerra, driving the Bobby Six #6 and Cam Reimers sat on the front row, with Reimers jumping out to the lead. Along with Brandon Dale, the trio ran three wide as lap one was scored. Reimers took control the next trip around. and quickly stretched his lead. He caught the back of the pack on lap eight, and one lap later Dale dropped out with a flat tire. With eleven in the books, the red flag waved, as a violent crash on the backstretch sent Moberly, Missouri racer Colten Gerry barrel rolling and flipping end over end. After a few anxious moments, Gerry was declared uninjured, however his #93 was as mangled a mess as I have seen in a very long time. Thankfully he had taken no shortcuts with his safety equipment. Back to racing Reimers again pulled away as it was now Becerra working to hold back Colton Livezey for second. At the same time, Dakota Girard, Cody Agee, and Brayton Carter were locked in a tight duel for fourth. Reimers would build a straightaway lead, taking the checkers as the next group of five finished in that very same order. 

   All but one of the twenty Stock Cars were now up for twenty laps. Outside pole sitter Derrick Agee led third starting Dallon Murty through lap one before Stock Car rookie Bradley Graham charged from outside row two to the lead on lap two. With sixth starting David Brandies moving to second, he led a charge of Agee and Murty in pursuit of Graham and his sharp looking #2G. At the same time, Nathan Wood and John Oliver Jr. worked side by side to join the fray. Following a lap six caution, Wood climbed to fourth. Somewhere around lap twelve, (no scoreboard here!) Brandies powered to the lead taking Murty along in second. Those two would swap the position, running side by side as the laps clicked off. Meanwhile Wood was on the move to third and a three wide scrum developed for fourth. Murty would take the white flag first, but again the yellow would replace the checkered, creating another two lap shootout. Back under green, Young Murty, fresh off his first Super Late Model races in Florida, pulled ahead to make it two for two for the weekend. Brandies expressed some displeasure in victory lane, although I am not certain who the target was. "Papa" Damon Murty came on strong late to finish third, while Wood and Graham completed the top five. As is nearly always the case, the Stock Cars "stole" the show!

   The Modified car count of nine was disappointing for sure, and only seven survived to take the twenty lap feature green. "Downtown" Kyle Brown sat on the pole and wasted no time leaving the field behind. A caution for Fisher Reese at lap seven brought second running Austen Becerra and the rest of the pack back to the leader, but again Brown drove away. Jace Eckrich used the restart to climb two spots to third. Once more the yellow waved with thirteen laps scored, but there would be no stopping Brown. He raced a middle line around the oval as Becerra ripped the top in turns one and two, then dove low at the other end, all to no avail. Brown scored the win while Becerra collected his second runner up finish of the night. Eckrich, Kurt Kile, and Charlie Mohr would round out the top five. 

   Hobby Stocks would cap off the evening, with all sixteen lining up for fourteen circuits. That previously mentioned "character" in the first corner triggered a melee on the opening lap, stacking up several cars. Back under green, pole sitter Briar Kriegel, making the long tow from Brooklyn, Iowa, jumped ahead of Des Moines hot shoe Tom Killen, Jr. Daniel Wauters in the Jared Miller #17M and Dustin Griffiths waged a duel behind the leaders. Wauters broke free, and by lap seven was challenging for second when the caution came. On the restart, Wauters got shuffled back on the high side while Brayden Wood charged to third. Lap after lap Kriegel and Killen battled side by side, swapping the lead in front of some very vocal and enthusiastic supporters. Mimicking the Compact feature, the pair exited turn four side by side with Kriegel crossing the line first for the hard fought victory. Killen Jr., Wood, Keaton Gordon, and Wauters rounded out the top five. 

   As previously mentioned, those final checkers from starter Kevin Eggleston waved just before 9:30. Thanks to MVG, his staff, the fair board and all the workers who came together to give us great racing in March! As the local racing schedule and prior commitments pan out, it may be a couple weeks or so before our next trip to the track, but be sure and check in with yours truly and my Positively Racing colleagues as the mid west season ramps up. Thanks for reading!

Jackson Jr. Sweeps the MLRA Weekend at Springfield

   On opening night of the MLRA revival weekend at Jerry Hoffmans' Springfield Raceway, Tony Jackson Jr.  more or less cruised to the thirty lap win. On Saturday night, Jackson would again visit victory lane, but he had to work much harder to collect the $5,000 payoff.

   Two new Super Late Models, Kayden Clatt and Tucker Cox, would make their initial appearance on Saturday, while five drivers did not return after Fridays' action, leaving us with thirty seven competitors. 

Once again the action kicked off with limited hot laps at the advertised time of 6:15, but the welcomed quick show of night number one could not be duplicated. The five division program turned out one hundred and twenty one race teams, with a different lineup of classes in support of the Late Models. The track was a bit slower than Friday, with the 12.337 quick time of Iowan Derrick Stewart about three tenths less than on Friday. Once again the Late Models would contest four eight lap heats with the top three moving on to the thirty lap finale. Jackson Jr. and National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Billy Moyer - the Group "B" fast timer both nights - would repeat heat race wins, joined by Clay Stuckey and Eli Ross, all from the front row. It was a short night for Minnesota youngster Matthew Larson, who lost a wheel lining up on the outside front row of heat four. Apparently there was more damage, as he failed to appear for his B Main. Also Joey Smith was a no show for the evening following hot laps. Later on in the program Sawyer Crigler came from row two to capture a B Main while Illinois driver Daniel Adam topped the final qualiflier. 

   In between, the program was plagued by fits and starts as racers in the other classes suffered from yellow fever. I know I sound like a broken record, but if there was one change I could make at this track, it would be a "spin and you're in" rule in the preliminary events. Thank goodness the local flag man is not opposed to ignoring a stopped car long enough to wave a checkered flag!

   With the main event fields set, Midwest A Mods lined up, nineteen cars for twenty laps. As the green flag waved, four cars piled up between turns one and two. Back to racing outside pole sitter Dakota Girard, a regular Sport Mod racer at my "local" tracks, jumped to the lead in front of pole sitter Jaren Powrie. While Girard built his advantage, Powrie also pulled away from the rest of the pack. Dakota had nearly a full straightaway lead by the time he caught the back of the pack at lap thirteen. With four circuits remaining, a disabled car was unable to exit the track, bringing out the caution flag. The lapped cars went to the back, giving Powrie another shot at the leader. As the green waved third place on back stacked up in turn four. With clean up finally complete racing resumed. Powrie would stay close to the leader, but could not mount a challenge, as Girard took a flag to flag win. Jordon Cater came all the way from row nine to finish third, and his row nine mate Jerry Brown followed in fourth. Gary Krebs rounded out the top five, as only eight cars remained on track at the checkers. 

   Normally Legend cars turn out strong numbers at Springfield, but on this night only a bakers' dozen checked in. And with considerable attrition - only two cars left in one heat after first lap mayhem - nine cars lined up for a fifteen lap feature. Not finished with their difficulties, the caution flag came as racing began. Pole sitter Devin Lawson avoided the carnage, survived two more yellows, and scored a flag to flag win. His strong run was nearly negated, however, as Jett Stovall (sounds like a familiar surname!), pulled alongside out of turn four coming to the checkers, but had to settle for second. At the same time, third place Jacob Horn was but a car length back in third. Scott Merrell and Dustin Blair completed the top five. 

    The clock read 9:44 as intermission began. As track work started, the four Late Model heat winners came to the front stretch to shoot baskets to determine their starting positions. Confessing to playing regularly, Jackson Jr. immediately sunk a bucket to earn the pole, then it took a few rounds for Stuckey to claim the outside pole. The advertised event offering $20,000 for a half court made basket found one young lady come up short, then we were treated to a fireworks display. Also during this time, the previous two feature winners came back to the track for pictures, an interesting time saving measure.

   After about thirty minutes, twenty three Late Models came to the track to work in the considerable amount of water added to the quarter mile. When the field began to increase speed, Moyer belched a cloud of smoke and headed for the trailer, his run over before it began. Adam also exited before the green flag, leaving us a field of twenty one. Although somewhat frustrating, the rework of the surface did pay dividends, as the track was very racy, with multiple grooves for the thirty laps. Jackson shot to the lead over Stuckey ahead of a lap three yellow for Caden McWhorter and Glen Powell. Back under green, Stewart charged to second, Jackson stretched his lead, and sixth starting Dillon McCowan jumped to third. As McCowan moved in to battle Stewart, eighth starting Jeff Herzog climbed to fifth, then fourth. Lap eleven saw the caution come for Ross, ending his night behind the wrecker. As the green flag waved, a Tyler Kuykendall spin brought another yellow. The next restart saw McCowan on the cushion as he pulled alongside the leader, then slid through turn four to the front, with Herzog charging to third, soon followed by another stoppage for Corey Zeitner. Having been shown the fast lane, Jackson Jr. move up top on the restart, returning the slide job favor to retake the advantage in turn one. As Herzog stalked the leaders, his bad luck weekend continued with a flat tire on lap nineteen. Back to racing one more time, McCowen briefly moved back out front using the low line, but Jackson was too strong on the high side, retaking then extending his lead. Tony would then cruise to the win. McCowan raced home second while local favorite Terry Phillips gradually worked from row seven to complete the podium. Stewart came home fourth and Stuckey recorded his second top five of the mini series. Sixth through tenth went to "Opie" Mike Spatola, Timothy Culp, Aaron Marrant, Brennon Willard, and McWhorter. 

   We were now past the 11:00 mark on a cool yet comfortable and mostly dust free evening, so as post race festivities began, we headed for the car. Congratulations to Full Body feature winner Tanner Foster, and B Mod victor James Thompson.

   Thanks to Jerry Hoffman for gambling on potentially fickle March weather to offer up a fun weekend of racing. While the crowd was a bit light on Friday, Saturday saw a nice turnout of spectators. Also, thanks to Ernie for bringing back the legendary MLRA. Our 2026 plans include several more series events. For now, we hope to enjoy at least one night of the Memphis Spring Nationals next weekend at Scotland County Speedway. Say "Hi!" if you see me there!

   

MLRA Roars Back to Life in Springfield

   At the end of the 2024 racing season, the Lucas Oil group pulled the plug on the historic and still well supported Midwest Late Model Racing Association - MLRA, after thirty six seasons. The void was quickly filled for 2025 by multiple upstart series in the Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma area while the MARS series picked up the handful of events in the state of Iowa. But promoter Ernie Leftwich, who headed up the final seasons of the MLRA was not ready to see the popular organization fade into the sunset. So after one season with the Comp Cams series, he decided to take the plunge and breathe new life into the MLRA brand. He purchased the dormant series and along with his wife Kayli, set about a rebuilding process from the ground up for 2026. And what better place to kick things off but at the track often visited by MLRA, the Springfield Raceway quarter mile! 

   With high expectations, Fred and I made plans to begin our 2026 season at Jerry Hoffmans' iconic speedway, the same venue where I began and ended my 2025 season. Speaking of Hoffman, as a showman as well as a race promoter, we also were witness to selected fans attempting to make a highly difficult basketball shot into a basket for a $20,000 payoff. When it comes to Springfield Raceway, there is always more than on track action! Of course, even planning this excursion came with a challenge as Springfield also hosted the Missouri state high school basketball playoffs on this same March 13-14 weekend, with hotels near or at capacity and with inflated room rates!

   But all's well that ends well, so let's move on to the actual racing programs. In addition to qualifying events, the MLRA field would add provisionals based on 2024 final points standings for this weekend only. And thanks to Race On.com, each night there would be one more provisional starter. This position would be based on fifteen drivers who preregistered then selected by a fan vote. The top two vote getters not otherwise qualified would be added, one each night. Got it? So here we go!

   Ninety two cars in four divisions filled out the card for night number one, with a more than solid field of forty Super Late Models leading the way. Hot laps kicked off right on time at 6:15, and with only three classes hot lapping (front wheel drives did not take laps), Late Model time trials kicked off at 6:30 in what became a fast paced program. Mike Spatola made the long haul from Manhatten, Illinois, and topped qualifying with a lap of 12.049 seconds. Veteran Billy Moyer was fastest in group two.

     The twenty eight Midwest B Mods then ran three heats ahead of four eight lap qualifiers for the Late Models. Tony Jackson Jr., Moyer, and Tyler Kuykendall were victorious from row one, while Iowa driver Derrick Stewart captured heat two from the second row.

   Twenty 4 cylinders and a tiny group of four Bombers plus a lone B main for the Midwest Mods set their feature fields, while the MLRA teams contested a pair of ten lap B's. Sawyer Crigler and Clay Stuckey led the four transfers, both from the pole. Three, rather than the advertised two provisionals were added, while Dayton Pursley was the "fan favorite " recipient for night number one. 

   Twenty laps would be determine the Midwest B Mod winner for the eighteen starters.A lap one pile up in turns one and two involved six cars, with four done for the night. Back to racing, polesitter Rafe Duncun pulled away ahead of another caution seven laps in. The field then restarted single file, with row six starter Jordon Cater on the move to the top five, pounding the high side of the quick quarter mile. Meanwhile sixth starting Karter Jackson was applying pressure to the leader while Joe Beard stayed close in third. The yellow waved a final time at lap thirteen when a slowing car stayed on the track. Cater shot to third as the green flag waved, but Duncan now found an extra gear, stretching his lead a bit. At the checkers it was Duncan with a flag to flag win followed by Jackson, Cater, Beard, and eighth starting Jacob Cater.

   A quick intermission was taken to "tickle" the track, then it was thirty laps of Late Models for $5,000 to win. Jackson Jr. and Moyer would lead the pack to green, pulling away from the field. Stewart would trigger the first yellow, his night ended with three laps scored. Back to racing both Spatola and Eli Ross, third row mates, cleared Moyer for second and third. With Jackson in command, the red flag came with eleven laps down as Kylan Garner got upside down off turn four. A flat tire would also effectively end the night for Moyer at this time, as well. By now Stuckey was up to fourth after lining up in row seven. Again Jackson pulled away as Spatola and Ross battled for the runner up position. But it was Stuckey, who captured one of the 2025 MLRA tribute features here last spring that was on the loud pedal. On lap eighteen he cleared Ross, then charged to second one lap later. The leader would catch heavy traffic on lap twenty four, but he showed veteran poise as he skillfully dispatched the slower cars. At the checkers it was Jackson with the win chased by Stuckey, Ross, Spatola, and Caden McWhorter. Daniel Adam charged from row nine to sixth, followed by provisional starter Dillon McCowan, Kuykendall, Timothy Culp, and Terry Phillips. 

   Pleased but covered in dust, we took our leave about 9:45 as the top three interviews were attempted over a less than effective P.A. system.  A check of results shows Justin Day a FWD winner from the pole, while Ben Chapman did the same in the Bomber class.

   Tonight, Saturday, we will be back at it with the Late Models again going for $5,000 backed by B Mods, Midwest "A" class, Full Body, and Legends. 

Putting a Wrap on 2025

    With the mid west dirt track season coming to a close, it is time for a review of another exciting season for Racin' Down the Road. Family activities and some contrary spring weather led to a bit fewer shows than normal, while a poorly timed "bug" wiped out my best chance at adding a "new" track to my list for 2025, leaving me stuck temporarily at 76 venues in thirteen states. 

   Still a look at the book shows 49 race nights over ten months beginning February 28 in Springfield, Missouri, and ending November 15 at that same facility.  

   Rechristened Quincy Raceways led the way with eleven nights of action, followed by Lee County Speedway in Donnellson at ten. 34 Raceway in West Burlington was a destination for eight events while the two and a half hour trip to Davenport Speedway took place on five occasions. Two trips south resulted in three race nights at previously mentioned Springfield Raceway, and Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Mo. was visited twice. 

   Single race nights came at ten different facilities, I-55 Raceway in Pevely, Mo., Tri City Speedway in Granite City, Spoon River Speedway near Banner, and Lincoln Speedway, all in Illinois.  

   As usual, Iowa tracks led the way, with one event each at CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction, West Liberty Raceway, Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, 300 Raceway in Farley, Boone Speedway, and "Dirt at the Downs," in Cedar Rapids for again a bit lower total of sixteen tracks. 

   Although all were familiar tracks, it had been more than a couple years since I had visited several, especially Boone and Hawkeye Downs, and I owe a special thanks to Jeff for handling a lot of the driving chores. 

    There are significant changes coming at a couple of tracks closest to home, and we will take a look at those as the off season unfolds. A couple that we will mention is the new promotion team at Lee County, the Weisinger family, specifically Darin, Debbie, and daughter Lee Ann Lambert. I have counted this well known racing family as friends for many years, and wish them the best. Also the track will be switching back to Friday night racing and IMCA sanctioning, which should be a positive development for the Tri State area. And upon further consideration, Quincy Raceways will stay with a weekly Sunday night program, sprinkled with a couple of Late Model specials on Friday nights. At this time they are still awaiting sanctioning approval for their weekly Late Model division, so stay tuned!

   It may only be December, but I am already building my 2026 calendar, but more importantly, keep checking the Positively Racing calendars for another exciting racing season! 

   Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and we will see you all soon!