A Road Trip, and then Back Home

As the 2011 race season quickly winds down, it has become all too apparent that even though we thought 2010 was a " down " year in terms of number of race nights, this season is shaping up to be even worse. While we could really use some rain around these parts, the timing of the few showers we get has really interfered with the race season. Between bad forecasts, gas prices, and outside commitments, the total number of tracks visited looks a bit week this season as well. One night in particular really stuck in my craw, that being the rained out World of Outlaw show at the Independence, Iowa Speedway in early July. Grandson Keagan and buddy Fred joined me on the three hour trip north, but the closer we got, the rainier it became, and as we waited on pit road, the plug was pulled. In addition, it was Freds first visit to the track, and I was anxious for him to see racing there. So after checking out fellow Positively Racing blogger Ryan Clarks' summary of the August 14 show, featuring 23 late models for a weekly show, I decided one more trip to the 3/8 mile oval sounded like a good idea for this past Saturday night. Once again, Keagan was on board, and buddy Darryl was able to make the weekend trip. Unfortunately, Fred had to miss this adventure. After several back and forth e- mails with Ryan, we set out from a rainy looking LaGrange, and drove into sunny Iowa skies. The closer we got to Indy, the more the clouds built up, and the first sprinkles hit just after we pulled into the fairgrounds. As Yogi said, it seemed like deja vu all over again! But after the lady at the front gate said the radar looked pretty good, we bought our tickets and staked out our seats, well ahead of the late arriving crowd. Sure enough, here came the persistent sprinkles that would cause a 37 minute delay before the program could get started. When they subsided, the track was rolled in, and hot laps began. As the late models came to the track, the showers came back, and another 26 minutes of down time resulted. When Darryl recalled a similar night in Jacksonville,Il. where we endured three such circumstances before the skies really opened up, I was not feeling any love. Still, Ryan kept assuring us on the mic that it would soon clear up, and the rare double rainbow lifted our spirits. It was 6:52 when the first heat came to the track, and what followed was nothing but racing as it should be! 13 heat races featuring 101 and race cars, run off in one hour and 11 minutes! No extra parade laps for the flagman to show drivers the furled green flag! Roll 'em out and turn 'em loose! When a disabled car dropped off the speedway in turn one, but kept rolling towards the pit entrance, the green stayed out. I may have a new favorite flagman, sorry I didn't catch his name! At 8:03, with no intermission, the first feature hit the track. Ryan has a detailed rundown of the action and results in his blog, so I will just offer up congratulations to the winners - young Tyler Droste in the sport mods, Sean Johnson in stocks, Troy Cordes in mods - after Todd Conrad spun while leading - and Quinton Miller in the time shortened hobby stocks. More kudos to the way this time limit race was handled. First of all, a 15 minute time limit really meant 15 minutes. It was then announced that the first stoppage after half way - 8 laps - would be the end of the race, no green, white, checkers. and that is exactly how it went. Anyone who spends much time around me at the race track knows that the late models are my first love, and I must say we were all excited that the field was once again 23 strong. And being a ' veteran " fan, having the likes of Curt Martin, Greg Kastli, Rick Wendling, Jeff Aikey, and Dean Wagner alltogether in a weekly show was something of a thrill. While we attempted to relate some of these legendary drivers exploits to Keagan, he had his eye on one of the up and coming stars of late model racing, Tyler Bruening. In the end, i guess we all had something to cheer, as the veteran Wagner grabbed the lead on lap one from his row two perch and held on for all 25 laps, surviving the only two caution periods on lap 13 for his first Indy win in over seven years. On the second of those restarts, 11th starting Bruening charged into the runner up spot, and shadowed Wagner to the checkers.
Ryan had told me in an e-mail that the races were usually over by 9:30, and I even with the rain, he was proven right, as my watch read 9:32 as we headed to the car for a three hour and five minute drive back to LaGrange. It would be an understatement to say a good time was had by all, with Darryl saying we should go back this week. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until 2012 for a return visit. Special thanks to Ryan Clark for all his help, and for not one, but two plugs for my attempts to entertain here at Positively Racing.
After early church and a much needed nap, it was off to Quincy Raceways for Fan Appreciation night on Sunday. A crowd reportedly numbering around 3000 turned out for the nights races, with IMCA Northern Sport Mods added to the card for the second time this season. The open wheel class will be featured two more times, with a track an Illinois state champion determined in mid September. The total car count was down a bit, but the racing was hotly contested. Abe Huls rolled through the pit gate as the heat races were winding down, started last in the IMCA stock car feature, and clawed his way to the front and the win in the caution free 15 lapper. Only eight sprt mods towed in for the $500.00 top prize, but again the action was intense. Jim Gillenwater grabbed the early lead and was cruising until a lap ten caution brought him back to the pack. On the restart, QR veteran mod driver Tony Dunker slipped past for the lead. three laps later, Gillenwater retook the point,leading the final two circuits for the win. Gillenwater is himself no stranger to QR, having won championships in the old bomber class as well as competing in A-mods, and late models.
Bobby Anders led 15 laps of the hobby stock feature before suddenly heading for the trailer. From there it was a battle to the checkers, with Brandon Symmonds holding off Jake Powers for his second win of the year.
After heat winner Mike Hornung Jr., making his first visit of the year, was sent to the tail of the Wild Thing feature for getting on the gas before the starting line Craig Bangert grabbed the lead and picked up his second win in two weeks. A special shout out to the 17 car UMP modifield field, as they completed 25 laps of caution free action. Michael Long ran away from the field, picking up his third feature win of the weekend, following victories at Pontoon Beach,Il and Memphis, Mo. Points leader Steven Delonjay ran second, while Mark Burgtorf, back in a modified after several seasons, ran third. Mark spent several campaigns racing the " Goob " Gordy # 69, and just recently agreed to pilot the # 7B of Craig Brooks, from Thompson - think Mexico - ,Missouri. Mark picked up the modified win Friday in Fulton, Mo.
The IMCA late models are having their tightest points battle in track history. Five drivers entered the next to last night of the late model points season with a shot at the title. Justin Reed came in with a one point lead over Keith Pratt, two over Lonnie Bailey, four ahead of Joey Gower, and nine up on Denny Woodworth. Only Bailey and Woodworth have late model championships on their resume. Bailey took over the lead with a heat race win, while Reed and Pratt were shut out. Come feature time, Matt Bailey jumped to the point, building a sizable advantage. Jason Perry soon broke loose from the pack and began to close the gap. Perry grabbed the lead on lap 12 , as Woodworth moved to third and tenth starting Burgtorf rocketed to fourth. After languishing mid pack, Reed began to move, and came to fifth, as M Bailey, Woodworth, and Burgtorf duked it out for second. With no cautions to bring the field to Perry, he picked up his second win in a row, ahead of M Bailey, Woodworth, Burgtorf, Reed, and Lonnie Bailey. So entering the final points night, Reed and L Bailey are tied, with Reed holding the feature wins tie breaker.
Before I sign off, I'm sure you have read the news that 14 year Lee County Speedway promoters Terry and Jenni Hoenig are backing away from promoting as Terry will apparently join the rest of us " regular " working smucks. All I can say, is good for them if this be the best for their family, and bad for the rest of us. There is no doubt that they experienced some growing pains in the early years at LCS, but to this day, they have one of the best run, and most entertaining dirt track shows in the midwest. Should Terry ever want to return to promoting, he should have no trouble finding a gig. I only hope that the Lee County fairboard can find someone with that sort of a knack for dirt track racing to take over the reins. Donnellson is a top notch facility with genuine race fans, so lets hope things work out for everyone involved.
Not sure where this weekend will take us, but hopefully there will be good racin' when we get there!