Chad and Andy Share the Twins

Saturday night Darryl, Fred,and I made our annual trip to the West Liberty Raceway for the finals of the Liberty 100. This race has always been a favorite of mine, but since they split the format last season, running 50 laps each for open late models and IMCA late models, it has moved near the top of the list. Saturday night was made even better by absolutely perfect weather. And whether it was the warm evening, the race format, or both, it was the largest crowd I have seen at Liberty in several seasons., and that was good to see!
As with most places we have journeyed in 2011, the car count was down a bit from last season, but there was still 18 open lates and 23 IMCA lates back for the finals. The only real downer was the fact that the program was about one hour late getting started as the track crew over watered the big 1/2 mile. but even then, things got going at the regular Saturday night start time.
In addition to the late models, both regular track modified classes were on the card, as well as IMCA Sport Compacts and the mod lites.
After the feature fields were set with assorted heats, last chance races and fast dashes, the 4 cylinder 12 lap finale ran first.
After 50 plus years of racing, it is not often I see something I have not seen before, but on lap seven, Brad Chandler lost a left rear wheel while leading the race. What was different was the fact that not only did Chandler continue to run, but he held his lead. Then, with two to go, second running Ryan Walker also threw a shoe, bringing out the caution. At that point Chandler was sent pitside in accordance with track policy. On the restart, 74 year old Wayne Noble grabbed the lead and took the checkers. Although I have yet to see official results, sources say Wayne was DQ'd in tech and Jordon Walker was awarded the win. If this info is incorrect, I apologize.
Next out was the seven car mod lite main. Rob Guss took an easy win in the 15 lapper, with Jonathon Houston blowing up one of the 1000 cc power plants while running second.
The IMCA modified 20 lapper turned in to a caution plagued affair, and after early leader Larry Herring dropped out with engine woes, second generation driver Chris Horn, from Marion took his first dirt modified feature win. Many of you will remember his father, Fred, a late model ace in the 1970s and 1980s.
The open late models rolled out next for their 50 lap, $3500 to win extravaganza. Outside pole sitter Chad Simpson snatched the lead from polesitter Brian Harris coming out of turn two on the first lap, and never looked back. Simpson began lapping slower cars by lap seven before the first caution on lap eight. At this point Jill George, who received the loudest applause in pre race introductions, became the first casualty of the event. The race then went clean and green until lap 285, when Wayne Brau slowed in turn four. Even though the side by side restart method was employed on restarts, Simpson retained the lead each time. By lap 42, Harris seemed to be closing, but he jumped the cushion a bit, ending his challenge. Chad picked up the flag to flag win, with Harris second all the way. Chris Simpson shared in the family success by running third, and the Eckrich brothers took the next three spots, with Denny, Andy, and Dave crossing the stripe in that order. Rounding out the lead lap cars were Joel Callahan and Kurt Kile, while Rich Bell and Todd Hormel completed the top ten.

The open modified 25 lapper came next, with polesitter Todd Hansen leading the first lap before veteran Bruce Hanford took over from a row two start, taking outside polesitter Scott Dickey with him. Brad Dubil had motor issues early in the night, and started 24th on the grid. Ten laps later, he had moved up ten spots , only to retire to the pits. The first caution came on lap 13 for Hansen, who appeared to blow his engine. On the restart, Johnny Spaw, who had dropped back several spots, charged to second. Two laps later the yellow waved again, and on the third try at a restart, Spaw grabbed the lead. On lap 18, double duty Kurt Kile took the runnerup spot, and he mounted a challenge on Spaw, but came up short. A jubilant Spaw noted that it was his first mod win at Liberty, ending a long dry spell after many pro stock wins in the late 1980s.
The finale of the evening and the season was the IMCA 50 lap $3500 to win feature race. Dash winner Ray Guss Jr., a newly named member of the dirt racing Hall of Fame, and Denny Eckrich sat on the front row. The first yellow came on lap four for Tyler Breuning, and Guss held the top spot over Andy Eckrich. Meanwhile, 18th starting Mike Murphy Jr. had advanced six spots. Two laps after the restart, third running Denny Eckrich stopped on the track, and by now, Murphy was up to fifth, while Tommy Elston took over third, and 15 starting Justin Kay in the # 21H normally driven by Brian Harris moved to eighth. The race stayed green until lap 18, and by now Murphy was fourth, and Nick Marolf had moved from 13th to sixth. On the restart, Marolf shot to fourth, while Murphy fell to seventh. When the caution came out on lap 20, Mike Klinkhammer, the 16th starter, moved to sixth. Six laps later, double duty driver Joel Callahan slipped past Andy Eckrich for second. On lap 31 the caution came again, and Murphy was back to fourth. If you are wondering about my point, we often hear that there is nor enough passing with IMCA late models. Well this race sure debunked that myth! Following this last restart, Eckrich and Callahan waged a fierce battle for second, with Andy taking the spot back on lap 38. Two laps later, the youngest of the Eckrich brothers charged past Guss to take a lead he would not give up. Guss held on for second ahead of Callahan, Marolf, and Murphy, while colby Springsteen took sixth. The rest of the top ten included Kinkhammer, Elston, Gary Webb, and Kay.
This was for sure one of our best nights of 2011, and makes me wish the season was not coming down to the final night. Still there are some opportunities to see good racing, so make some plans this weekend as I hope to!