Sizzle in the Drizzle

After last nights Lucas Oil late model show at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, I think maybe Amy and Jeff Laue should join a co ed softball team, because they just keep hitting home runs! Somehow they took a lousy weather day with an ominous forecast and turned it into a show that will be talked about all season. As Keagan and I were driving north, I told him we would probably sit in the car as long as possible before purchasing our tickets because it looked like the rain was getting close. When we turned east on highway 34, however, it seemed obvious it would be a while, so we found our seats just after 5:30 and headed for the concession stand as the tractors continued to pack the track. Hot laps started on time at 6:30 and 37 quality late models were joined by 17 305 sprints and 21 mod lites.
Again, late model time trials began promptly at 7:00, and the cars were timed three at a time, moving things along quickly and creating activity all around the 3/8 mile. as it turned out, the first car out, the " Kentucky Colonel " Steve Francis set overall fast time in a brand new Mastersbilt machine. Unfortunately, we never did hear the exact time, but as Brad Neat had quick time in the second qualifying group at 15.111 seconds, Steve was somewhere around 15.00, which translates to about 90 MPH. As the final few cars took their qualifying laps, the drizzle started and as Francis was being interviewed on track the showers picked up. It was obvious we would have at least a delay, so we headed to the car for warmer coats. While sitting in the parking lot, we heard the 305 engines on the track, and came back in to the facility just as the # 50P of Harold Pohren crashed and caught into flames in turns 3 and 4. With the wreck cleaned up and the driver OK, the two sprint heats were run. During this time, the mod lites were pulled from staging, and the late models clicked off four caution free heats. Even though they were lined up straight up by times, there was still plenty of action for the four qualifying slots. Heat winners would make up the first two rows of the 50 lap finale, with heat one winner Francis and heat three winner Neat on row one, and defending series champion Scott
Bloomquist and local favorite Brian Birkhofer on row two. The mod lites did their part with three caution free 6 lap heats , and as the mist continued to start, stop, lighten up, and come harder, the late model drivers lined up for two 12 lap B-mains. With only the top three in each B moving to the feature, the action was intense. Dale McDowell took the first consy, while Jared Landers powered his # 777 to the checkers in the second 12 lapper. The finish of the night was in this race, as another area favorite, Darren Miller, was crusing in third position when his Diercks owned # 32D began to slow on the track. Steve Casebolt and alligator farmer Chris Wall began to reel him in. At the checkers it looked as though Wall made have had the spot, but the transponder scoring showed Darren in third. This was huge for Miller, as Wall was able to use one of two " emergency "provisionals offered to series regulars as a chance to pick up points, while Miller had no such chance. Rookie of the year and second generation driver Frank Heckenast Jr. also used an emergency, while Dennis Erb Jr. and 15 year old Tyler Reddick received regular point provisionals, making a 26 car starting field. I will admit to groaning when the flagmen started down the ladder, but when the announcement came that it would be a ten minute break and the late models would run the first feature, I knew that was a good call. Knowing the situation, the touring drivers, who sometimes can be a bit casual about coming to staging, quickly lined up and hit the track. There were no driver introductions, thank goodness, and after one of the worst four wide parade laps ever, the green flag waved at 9:02! Neat led lap one before Francis took over for the nest five circuits. Birkhofer was on the charge, and ran down Francis, taking the lead on lap six. Francis then took the spot back before Billy Moyer got bottled up and spun in turn two one lap later, bringing out the first caution. The Delaware style restart put Francis out front, and he opened up a lead he held until lap 22, when Birkhofer again took the point. One lap later Reddick spun with a low tire, bringing out the second and final caution. On the restart, Birky was on a rail, stretching out a straightaway lead, as Francis, Jimmy Owens, and Bloomquist, winner of the last four series race, dueled behind him. By the time Bloomer took possession of the second spot, Brian was flying through lapped traffic, and looked uncatchable. Still, the # 0 was eating away at the lead, and while Birkhofer still had a healthy lead at the checkers, Scott was clearly the man on the move. The win was a popular one for the Muscatine driver, who offered kudos to not only the Laues, but also former track owner and sponsor, the late Johnny Johnson. It was the first win of 2011 for Brian, who said it was only his fifth night out this season. Francis hung around to take third, followed by Owens and John Blankenship. The second five was led by Iowan Chris Simpson, then a fast moving Shannon Babb, Neat, Mike Marlar in #36 , and Scott James in the Riggs Racing # 81. The checkers waved just before 9:30. With the drizzle still falling along with the temperature, Keagan and I headed for the car as the sprints awaited their chance at the lightening fast and smooth as glass racing surface. As we rolled west, we moved in and out of rain showers, and upon arriving home, we learned that the sprints were only able to complete 11 laps before the track became unraceable. I understand that the running order may have been a bit different and the pace a bit more leisurely had the weather been favorable, but I cannot say enough about the promoters, Lucas officials and the drivers for doing all they could to reward the hearty group in attendance. I know there are a bunch of folks who regret staying home last night, as we simply do not get this type of quality show this close to home for those of us in the Tri State area. I will take that show for a $30.00 ticket any chance I get!
As I prepared to type this blog, I received an e mail from Quincy Raceways stating that USMTS promoter Todd Staley has postponed the USMTS tour races tonight at Spoon River Speedway and tomorrow night at Quincy Raceways. He is working with both tracks on a reschedule date. As of 3:30 on Saturday, Quincy Raceways is still hoping to run a regular race night tomorrow, with IMCA late models and stock cars, UMP modifieds, hobby stocks and Wild Things. A decision based on the weather will be made yet today or early Sunday.
The spring weather has not been kind to midwest race tracks, so get out and support your local track whenever you can. See you at the races!