While many racing friends headed to Knoxville on Saturday, Darryl and I headed south to the Montgomery,Mo. Motorsports Park. Having suffered a partial rainout the week before, the night was to begin with the final 13 laps of the A modified feature as well as the late model main event, followed by a complete show for the five regular classes. Steve Stotler looked like the man to beat as the mods took off on a still somewhat slick track. " Big Block " Tim Hancock was lurking in the second spot when his # 44 ride went up in smoke on lap16. Dave Weitholder, and Kelly Smith, driving Bill Bakers # 03 tagged Hancock, but both got their spots back. Following a green, white, checkers finish two laps later, Stotler took the win, with Weitholder second and 13 year old Jake Griffin in third. As Stotler picked up his trophy, young Griffin climbed in his # 08 late model, part of the 13 cars that returned from the prior weeks 15 car field. As the high powered UMP cars took off, the caution flew on lap two for Reid Millard. On the restart, Jerry Lierly grabbed the lead over Jason Perry. On lap four, the top two made contact, sending them both to the pits. After another false start, the race was red flagged as the EMS crew was summoned to the pit area. It was several hours later that we learned the reason - Lierly had suffered a broken arm in the collision. He eventually went by private vehicle to the hospital in Hermann, Mo., returning with the diagnosis of needed surgery. Dave Jumper then assumed the lead. After a lap twelve caution, Dustin Griffin moved to second, and proceeded to run side by side with Jumper. On lap 23 the two made contact, ending Jumpers run. D Griffin led the final two circuits to take the win over Jim Moon, while cousin Jake Griffin recorded anothe third place finish. Mike Hammerle and Robby Warner completed the first five, as only seven cars finished.
The action then rolled over to the regular show, and with late arrivals, the field swelled to 91 total cars, led by 33 UMP modifieds, 20 UMP late models, and 20 B- mods. As the night got off to a bit of a late start - 7:45 - it was decided to cut the support class heats to six laps, and the late models I believe, ran eight. The Griffin boys stayed hot, with Jake winning his mod heat and scoring a second to Perry in his late model heat. Dustin grab late model heat three, while Keith Pratt made a successful return to the track by grabbing heat one. KP missed about three months with engine issues.
The feature races in the support divisions also had laps shaved off, with the 4 cylinders scheduled for eight laps. As it turned out, that may have been plenty for Rodney George, who ran the last couple laps with his right rear wheel throwing sparks as it wobbled precariously. Buddy Lowery scored the ten lap sportsman main, with the B'mods also set for ten circuits. Unfortunately, on the ever slickening track, the B's looked like the proverbial hogs on ice. After too many cautions to count, the time limit hit with only three laps scored, and the race went to green, white checkers. The final two laps went caution free, and Hallsville, Mo. driver Larry Winn, a nearly 40 year veteran, nabbed the win.
A 22 car starting field of A-mods were next for 15 laps. By virtue of his heat win, Jake Griffin had the pole, but during the parade laps, veteran Steve Grotz noticed a problem in the rear suspension of Jakes ride. Grotz, who is from Quincy, competes against Jake at MMSP, then often helps him in the pits at Quincy Raceways. Track officials took a look at the # 08, and sent Jake pitside. It took four tries to get the mods started, and by then Jake was able to rejoin the back of the pack for the now single file start. Visiting Brian Beilong took the early lead, running the low groove, while Grotz, who started in the sixth slot, decided to try the cushion. Grotz grabbed the lead briefly, but a lap five caution relegated him to second. On the restart, " Mack Daddy " again went upstairs and retook the point. Although he had a couple of close calls on the top in three and four, Grotz held on for an emotional victory. It was the first for the 63 year old since his rollover accident a couple years back in an IMCA late model left him on a halo for the summer with the prediction that his racing career was over. Mike Vanderiet Jr. slipped past Beilong for second in the closing laps.
Last on the tack was the regular feature for the late models. Although it was announced the race would be cut to 20 laps, I am preety sure it went the full 25.
Pratt and Perry shared the front row, with Perry grabbing the lead. The caution waved twice on lap three, and when we got back to racing, third starting Dustin Griffin powered around Perry. Bearing down Jason looped his # 27, forcing him to the tail. As he headed back forward, he again lost the handle, bringing out the yellow, and ending an unusually bad night for him. Although D Griffin looked to be in control, cousin Jake took Grotz' line on the restart, pounding the cushion, and pulling alongside his cousin. By lap 13, Jake had the top spot, and although Dustin got close a couple of times, Jake held on for his first late model win of 2012 in what his dad Danny said was race # 116! The 13 year old did a NASCAR style burnout on the front stretch, to the delight of the crowd, and was an incredibly excited young man in the post race interview, and in his pit afterwards. Grotz, crew chief Tony Warner, and dad Danny were nearly as excited as the youngster.
Dustin held the second spot, as the cousins took home a big share of the nights payout. Pratt was pleased with a third place run in his return, Hammerle recorded another fourth, and Moon rolled home fifth. Warner, Jumper, Rich Lawson, Vance Wilson, and Lance Getz completed the top ten.
The final checkers waved just before midnight, due in no small part to the outstanding efforts of the flagman. He almost refused to waste time and laps with the silly raised flag, " next time we will start" signal. The restarts lined up in turn four, and the next trip by, the green was out. Why every track does not do this is a complete mystery to me!
My second trip to Montgomery Motorsports Park was another good experience, as the reopened facility has their act together, although there was that 20 mnute intermission...
Family matters took me out of town on Sunday, and I missed my first night of racing this season at Quincy Raceways. According to reports, several nice tributes were held in memory of the track photographer, " PhotoBilly " Haffer, who lost his life last week in a car accident while returning from a race in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was a friend of everyone who knew him, and will be sorely missed.
Four features were contested before rain washed out the final nine laps of the hobby stock main, and the IMCA sport compact 12 lapper, which will start the program next Sunday. Congratulations to Dustin Griffin, Steven Delonjay, Terry Houston, and Tony Dunker on their wins.
Also congrats to Ray Guss Jr. following his induction Saturday into the National Dirt Racing Hall of Fame!
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