Last Minute Road Trip

After several weeks of UMP late model racing,including five nights of Summernationals, we were ready for a change of pace, and some IMCA late model racing seemed just the ticket. Although we were thinking maybe next week, a favorable weather forecast made Saturday a bit too good to pass up. So after a few phone calls, Keagan, Darryl and I headed for the Independence, Iowa Motor Speedway for the sixth annual Dick Frye Memorial. We all agree that the 3/8 mile oval on the Buchanan County Fairgrounds is one of our favorite venues, but the nearly three hour drive each way keeps us from more frequent visits than we would like.
Arriving a bit early, we checked out the offerings on this final day of the county fair, and as I checked in at the pit office, the ladies there mentioned that it was raining to the east in Dubuque and Farley. How could this be, with a zero chance according to my computer? As the pits began to fill with what would eventually total 112 cars in six classes, a light but persistent shower began. Track announcer and fellow Positively Racing blogger Ryan Clark assured me it was a tiny blip on the radar, and would soon pass. Of course, this was minutes after late model veteran Rick Wendling had told me the rain would miss the track. Fortunately, Ryan was correct, and the only damage the brief shower caused was  about a 20 minute delay in starting the program while the extra moisture was packed in. Once green flag racing began at 6:50, 15 heat races clicked off in 85 minutes. Indy has an expanded single spin rule for heat races - if you stop on the track, even in a multi car scrum, you go to the pits. They also are the only track I have seen use this in the late models as well. It sure helps to keep things moving! There was one unusual event in late model heat three. The track packer was continuing to roll in the surface between heats, and as the late models circled the oval, the tractor appeared to cut down towards the infield on the backstretch, clipping the front of the # 19 of Kelly Pestka. Damage seemed minimal on the # 19, but Pestka showed some displeasure, heading to his pit area before the green flag. Three drivers I had not seen yet this season, Jon Passick, Rory Metcalf, and late arriving Jason Rauen picked up heat wins with 22 of the 23 late models competing in the eight lap qualifiers. Rauen came from the eighth starting spot, making him a car to watch in the 25 lap finale.
 Following a 27 minute intermission, feature racing began. The IMCA sport compacts were added to the card at Indy this season, and from what I read, they have been slow to catch on. Only six cars signed in on Saturday, with all making the call. Indy also instituted a zero tolerance policy on jumping the start, and two different polesitters were sent to the back after perceived jumping. The second of those was Adam Gates. Although he displayed a bit of frustration, it mattered little, as he quickly moved to the front in the 12 lap event, picking up his ninth win in 11 weeks of racing in his # 007.
  Next came the 20 lap IMCA modified feature, with 25 of the 27 cars signed in making the call. Again, track officials work to keep the show moving with a one minute per lap time limit, and single file restarts after the third caution. The mods did hit the time limit at lap 18, but managed to complete the final three laps under green. Shawn Ryan worked the top side of the track to perfection, taking an early lead from Josh Sherbon following a lap three caution and stretched out his advantage after each caution to pick up his first win of 2013. Ronn Lauritzen worked his way to second and challenged Ryan, but settled for second. Point leader Tyler Droste worked around Troy Cordes in the closing laps for third, with JD Auringer taking fifth.
 The IMCA stock cars also struggled a bit with yellow fever, with 12 of the 13 entrants taking the green for 18 laps. Jesse Brown led early before Jerod Weepie took over following a lap four restart. John Emerson moved his # 87 up to challenge, taking over the top spot on lap 16. The final caution was for a car that was allowed to rejoin the race seven laps down. Emerson held on for the win over Weepie, and Justin Temeyer finished third, running much of the race with heavy smoke coming from the right rear of his ride. It was win number six for Emerson in 2013. He would be back later in the # 25 late model.
  All 21 IMCA hobby stocks took the green for 15 laps. The first half of the race saw three caution periods, with Jeremiah Wilson leading early. Ironically, he was the first car to drop out, with a flat tire on lap nine. Benji Irvine inherited the point, and picked up the win over Justin Stander. Jerry Luloff slipped past Jim Ball at the checkers for third. 19 hobbys finished the event.
  Now it was time for the 25 lap late model finale. Polesitter Luke Pestka took the early lead, with fifth starting Passick soon showing his nose on the inside. The yellow waved on lap four, and before racing resumed, Kelly Pestka left on the hook with apparent rear end issues, bringing a frustrating night for him to a close. As racing resumed, seventh starting Darren Ackerman had powered to fourth, but by lap seven, it was eighth starting Jeff Aikey in a Rick Dralle car moving to third, and 12th starting Rauen to fourth. Passick and Pestka swapped the top spot back and forth on lap nine, and one lap later Aikey drove around Passick on the high side. One lap later, he took the lead for good. On the 12th circuit, Rauen grabbed third, and he continued his charge, moving to second on lap 20. With the race staying green following the lap four yellow, Aikey could not be caught. Rauen passed 17 cars in his two races, and took home second in the feature. Pestka, Ackerman and Passick ran top five - the second five to cross the line was Curt Martin, point leader Tyler Breuning, Metcalf, veteran Greg Kastli, and Dale Hackwell Jr.
 The final race of the night was for the 21 IMCA sport mods, but it had been a long day for all three of us, and we headed for the car. Results indicate the sport mods only completed nine laps before hitting the time limit, with Brandon Smith taking the win.
  It was a good time on what became a pleasant evening in central Iowa, and many thanks to the fairboard and promoters for a good night of racing. Special thanks to Ryan for his hospitality, and not one, but two plugs for Racin' Down the Road and Positively Racing!
  As I type this, Quincy Raceways has cancelled for Sunday, July 21 due to much needed rain showers, so We are doubly glad we made the trip to Indy. We will probably stay close to home next weekend, but if you get the chance, catch the Corn Belt Clash at Columbus Junction on Thursday. Wish I could!
 Hope to see you Racin' Down the Road.