Friday night the MLRA weekend tour through eastern Iowa moved 50 miles north to the Davenport Speedway for a $5,000 to win open late model headliner. Also highlighting the show it was the Ronnie Weedon Memorial for IMCA modifieds. IMCA late models, IMCA sport mods, street stocks and the Nostalgia Stock Car Racing Club also competed during a busy night on the big quarter mile at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. Progress continues on several improvements at the facility with a new concession stand topped by viewing suites coming in the near future.
One hundred and sixteen cars filled the pit area, although the nineteen super late models again felt a bit light for a show of this stature.
For the second consecutive night, hometown hero Spencer Diercks topped the time trial leader board with a 13.354 second lap. In typical Davenport Speedway fashion, all heat races clicked off in a timely manner, and we moved quickly into feature racing.
IMCA sport mods would roll off first, twenty three cars for fifteen laps. I am not sure if it is the drivers, the superb track conditions, or a combination, but only a pair of yellow flags would slow the action on the crowded raceway. Cody Clausen led the field until the first yellow with a pair of laps in the books. Back under green it was Logan Veloz coming all the way from row seven to grab the top spot. The recent high school grad was putting distance on the field when the second and final caution came three laps later. On this restart Jesse Bodin would power to the runner up position, but Veloz was again on the run, pulling well ahead. With the race staying green to the finish, Veloz cruised to his eleventh win of the season. Bodin topped Ben Chapman for second, trailed by Todd Dykema and David Engelkens in the top five. Nineteen cars were still on track at the checkers.
Typically the vintage classes that race around the area put on a quick and entertaining bit of reminisce for the crowd. Unfortunately, this was not the case on this night. Perhaps it was the full moon, but countless yellow flags due to atypical aggressive driving made their feature painful to watch and more importantly ate up a lot of clock time at a facility with a curfew. Finally Terry Mattly was able to take his #112 to victory lane.
The MLRA thirty lap headliner would come next. As he had the night prior, Diercks would have the pole start after his heat one win. But the heartbreak of Thursday would fade to the rear view mirror, with a better outcome in front of the home town crowd. Chased by his row one mate Chris Simpson, Spencer would roll around the bottom of the track while Chris did business on the cushion. The pair raced side by side for several laps with Simpson actually holding the lead for laps two and three. But Diercks would fight back and by lap seven he was stretching his margin. Slower traffic entered the picture a dozen laps in, and the man on the move now was Justin Kay. Starting in row four, he was pounding the cushion , closing to fourth at the halfway mark. Simpson was able to narrow the lead to a car length as we passed lap twenty while Chad Simpson and Kay also drove into contention. With four laps remaining, Chris was temporarily caught behind a lapped car, and brother Chad was able to use a higher line to take the second spot away. With nary a yellow flag to slow the proceedings, Diercks drove home to the emotional win. Chad stayed ahead of Chris for second, while Kay crossed the line in fourth. However, after a lengthy visit in the tech area, Justin was disqualified, possibly by the dreaded droop rule. Frank Heckenast Jr. and Kolby Vandenbergh would then record top fives, followed by Thursday winner Tony Jackson Jr., and Daniel Hilsabeck. Tim Simpson and Mark Burgtorf raced side by side lap after lap, crossing the line next, while Brandon Queen scored a top ten finish.
The Ronnie Weedon Memorial IMCA modified twenty lapper would come next with two dozen cars taking the green flag. Pole sitter Matt Werner would lead Brad Dierks as lap one was scored. Back in the pack, cars were racing four wide all around the oval. With Werner well ahead, Travis Denning charged around Dierks to second on lap seven. Just before the mid point, slower traffic came into play, and with seven laps left on the scoreboard, Denning moved in to challenge for the lead. On the next trip around, Travis took command. One lap later, the only caution of the race came, with Dierks involved, sending him to the tail of the lead lap. As the checkers waved, it was Denning taking the win, topping Werner, double duty Bryce Garnhart, and Chris Zogg. Drew Janssen drove all the way from row ten to complete the top five, while Mitch Morris also gained eleven spots to run sixth!
The IMCA late models turned out twenty three cars, with all taking the green for twenty five laps. Following a lap one yellow, third starting Luke Merfeld grabbed the lead. Two laps in, a second and final caution came for a multi car mess that saw Colton Leal leave on the hook with heavy front end damage. Chris Lawrence would be out front for the restart, and Merfeld quickly moved in to challenge. Luke would race around the tire barriers and Chris was operating in the high groove. in what soon became a five car parade as traffic came into play eleven laps in. With Lawrence fading a bit, Joel Callahan moved to second, taking along Chuck Hanna. Nick Marolf, wheeling a brand new car was on the move after starting in ninth. He charged to fourth with seven to go, then third two laps later. Matt Ryan was also in the mix before slipping over the edge of the track with four laps left, slowing his run. Now Callahan was able to power around Merfeld for the lead, while Justin Kay, who had been making steady progress shot to third. On the closing laps, Marolf suddenly ducked to the infield, his run ending early. Merfeld hung on to second, but it was Callahan in victory lane. Kay was third while Hanna took fourth in front of eleventh starting Andy Nezworski. Ryan recovered to finish sixth ahead of Garnhart and Nebraska visitor Cory Dumpert, who leads the IMCA national points. Jacob Waterman wheeled the Mike Goben #1M to a ninth place finish, with Lawrence in tenth.
Street stocks were in staging to wrap up the night as we took our leave, congratulations to Landen Chrestensen on his win.
Thanks once again to Ricky and Brenda Kay for their hospitality and for another excellent night of racing! We will take tonight off, then look for our usual seats at the Adams County, Illinois Speedway in Quincy on Sunday. Hope to see you there!
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