More Friday Racing

 Night number 12 of the 2012 racing season for me was an event unplanned until the middle of this week. Friday night racing is a difficult proposition for this blogger,given the fact that I do not get off work until at least 5:00, and sometimes later. But after checking out the ad for CJ Raceway in Columbus Junction, Iowa this week featuring the first visit by late models to the 4/10 mile oval in a couple of seasons, and knowing that I would not be racing on Saturday, I did some quick calculating. I decided that if I could get off work close to 5:00, and made only a brief stop at home, I could probably make it to the track close to the 7:30 start time. After exchanging a couple E-mails with track worker Dianna, I found out they would be running a make up IMCA stock car feature first, so I also had a cushion. So I called traveling partner Darryl, who also never knows until the last minute when he will get done, but luck was on his side, and he was ready to roll by 5:00. With Keagan in sick bay, Darryl and I took off from my house at 5:42 and pulled into the track at 7:15, in plenty of time to see three classes of hot laps and get a sandwich by race time. We were greeted with stories of how bad the track had looked during the afternoon, and during hot laps it looked as though a hole was forming in turn one. After warm ups, the track crew used a few minutes to roll in the speedway, and continued to do so throughout the night, and the result was a fast, smooth surface all night. The only downside was that the middle groove was clearly the fastest way around all night, and passing was at a premium.
 First up was the make up 14 car 25 lap make up stock car feature. Nathan Wood started up front, and led flag to flag for an easy win. Cole Simmons slipped by Brian Holmes with two laps to go to finish second, as only six cars were left when the checkers flew.
  We then moved quickly through one 4 cylinder heat followed by two heats for the mod lites. Next up was the open modifieds, and it was neat to see former stock car racer Randy Stalder taking a spin in what I would guess is the back up # 17 of Steve Stewart. As the green flag flew in mod heat two, Rod Statts got the worst of a turn one melee which found him doing a 1/4 roll onto the drivers side of his #08s. When the car was turned back over, Rod drove into his pit with a flat tire.
 The 12 IMCA rules late models next ran to heats, with outside row one starters Colby Springsteen and Matt Strassheim taking the checkers.
As the 16 stock cars ran their heats, it was announced that we would not be taking an intermission, a welcome idea indeed. The 4 cylinder main up first, and Tyler Whalen bested the seven starters.
  The mod lites ran next, with all but one of the 13 entrants taking the green. The yellow flag waved midway through the event, and as the field slowed in turn three, Austin Hayes in the # 7 may have not seen the yellow light. The youngster made contact with a slowing car, and flipped wildly several times, badly damaging his machine. Thankfully, he was uninjured. When racing resumed, Justin Bucholz continued to lead, only to give up the top spot to local driver Jonathon Huston. With a green, white, checkers finish, heat one winner Evan Epperson, who had started deep in the field, raced to the runner up spot, but could not run down heat two winner Huston. Bucholz good run ended on the final two lap dash, as only seven cars took the checkers.
  All 11 mods took the green, including Statts, but a lap one altercation pared the
field to nine. No one had an answer for the front row starting Stewart, who led the distance. John Fellman had been on a rail in his heat race, and came from near the back to fifth quickly before retiring his # 20. Dave Imming took second, ahead of Nick Hixson, with seven cars taking the checkers.
  The $1000 to win 25 lap late model finale was up next. Sitting behind the Springsteen faithful, we had learned that  Colby had drawn the outside pole position, and given his strength in his heat win, was surely the favorite to take home the big check. Colby jumped out front at the green, but lap one was not scored when a skirmish sent Kevin Kile to the trailer. on the restart, Todd Malmstrom got the jump in his # 75m. Todd held on until drifting a bit high in turn four, giving Springsteen the opening he needed. The second generation driven from Morning Son, Iowa had nearly a half lap lead when the caution erased his lead on lap 13 for fourth running Tom Goble, who slowed after dropping fluid on the front stretch. After the green waved again, Springsteen again opened a comfortable lead over second running Sam Halstead, and cruised to the win. As the laps wound down, eighth starting Jay Johnson began to run down Halstead. As the leaders came to the checkers, Sam held on by less than a car length for the $600 runner up check. Kurt Kile had started in the tenth position, spun early in turn four and restarting at the tail of the single file lineup. The veteran with the " For Sale " sign on the side of his purple # 77 patiently worked his way up to fourth, and was on hot on the heels of Halstead and Johnson at the flag. Malmstrom and Jay Chenoweth completed the cars still running at the end. Mike Zemo in the Z machine, who we had yet to see run this season, was credited with seventh, followed by Jeff Aikey, Goble, Strassheim, popular veteran Ron Boyse, and Kevin Kile.
  Their was still a stock car feature in staging, but it was now past 10:30, and had been a long day for both of us, so we headed to the car, satisfied that we had gotten value for our $8.00 ticket. Checking results, I see that Lane Kauffman picked up the checkers in the nights final event.
  Early in the evening, I was greeted by old friend Lane Evans, a former northeast Missouri resident who once hired my son and I to announce a truck pull and mud run at a county fair. Lane now calls Mt Pleasant, Iowa home, and racks up plenty of miles attending Tri State area tracks. I also got to visit with old friends Curt and Pat Hetzler. Curt is a former late model racer who son Brent and I got to know when their son Brian racxed the family owner # 47 IMCA late model. Curt said the two of them had not been to a race since Brian hung up his helmet, but with Brian now in the flagstand at CJ, they decided to try spectating!
  The late models are scheduled three more Friday nights in 2012, plus the Corn Belt Clash series will make a visit during the Louisa County Fair. I hope to make it back sometime in 2012 so I can introduce Keagan to the track I first visited more than 40 years ago!
  Thanks to Dianna and everyone at CJ for a fun Friday night.
   Next up is Sunday night UMP racing at Quincy Raceways. The announcement came this week that our late model points leader, Brandon Sheppard will be moving from his family owned # B5 cars to take over the Josh Richards # 1 Rocket house car on the national stage, as " Kid Rocket " has scored driving duties in the # 39 NASCAR Nationwide ride. Apparently the deal is good at least for the next month, so while it has been fun having the 19 year old at QR, we wish him luck as he ventures out on the World of Outlaw tour.