If at First You Don't Suceed...

Saturday morning began with me working as I must do on the occasional Saturday, and buddy Fred staying close to the weather channel. Leaving work about 10:30, I made a call to the Littons in Iowa City, who let me know that the rain appeared to be on the way to the West Liberty area. Heading home, I took up the watch, and soon after a return call from Bob Litton, word came down that Donnellson, West Burlington, and West Liberty had all called off their races. Although the forecast was far from reassuring, Fred and I met up and headed south to Kevin and Tammy Gundakers Tri City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, Il. for the final night of the three night Modified Mania combined with the Monster Midwest late models. 64 UMP type mods checked in for the third $3,000 to win purse, while 31 late models showed up for a $2,000 top prize. 28 UMP Pro Crate late models and 22 street stocks filled out the stout field. An interesting format had the two premier classes putting four or five cars on the track at a time, running a couple of hot laps followed by two time trial laps. Frank Heckenast Jr. recorded the fastest lap in his late model at 14.780 around the 3/8 mile oval, while Brent Mullins paced the mods. Mullins needed that fast lap to earn a prvisional start in the main event. Eight modified heat races, two C-mains, two B-mains and a top eight dash sert the field for the 30 lap finale, while the late models ran four heat races, captured by Heckenast, Brian Shirley, Ryan Unzicker, and Jason Feger,and a B-main won by Tim Rataczyk. A track provisional for the " Salty Dog " Rick Salter set the 21 car field. At one point it seemed unlikely that we would see any feature racing, as a light but persistent rain fell for more than 30 minutes. The track officials kept wheels going around the speedway throughout, and when the rain let up, we went back to racing.
With more rain on the horizon, the modified feature was moved to first in the running order, with Quincy, Il. standout Michael Long sharing the front row with southern Ill. star Chad Kinder. When Kinder jumped the start, the front row was moved back to row two, and row two assumed the front. It took just 12 laps until Long and Kinder were battling up front, and Michael soon began to open up a sizable lead in his # 18L. Although Kinder closed in a bit in traffic, Long was never seriously challenged, taking the win to go along with a runnerup finish on Thursday. Mike Harrison made the run of the night, starting 15th and charging to third, Jeff Leka took fourth, and Kevin Weaver, who led in the early going, brought the # 128 home in fifth. Next up was the the 30 lap late model main event. after a short delay while weaver climbed in his # B12, Dennis Erb Jr. and Shirley brought the field to the green. A light rain began to fall again, but the Super late models raced on, with Shirley assuming the top spot. Unzicker kept pace early as Erb fell back to fifth. As the laps wound down, Erb moved back to the second spot, but could not overtake Shirley. Feger started eight and crossed the stripe in third, Unzicker claimed fourth, and UMP national point leader Rusty Schlenk took fifth in his # 91. Chad Zobrist started and finished sixth, Heckenast took seventh, Scott Weber ran eighth in Randy Kortes #00, while young Bobby Pierce and Weaver completed the top ten.
Quincy drivers Mark Burgtorf, Dustin Griffin, and Rickey Frankel also made the show, while Jason Frankel, out with a new ride he purchashed from Clint Kirkham, grazed the while while running in a transfer spot in the B- main. With the weather threatening and the time nearing 11:30, we headed to the car as the crates came to the track.
I hesitate to offer up this weeks plans, as I seem to be jinxing myself, but Saturday night in Knoxville,Iowa is on the agenda.
On Saturday I learned that midwest dirt track racing lost a true friend, as Gary Storey passed away in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Before his illness, Gary, often in the company of Bob Litton, could be seen at tracks all over the middle of the country. My last visit with him was at Independence, Iowa in the summer of 2009, and although in failing health, he was talking racing as always. RIP, my friend.