The 2011 racing season was the last time we visited the Callaway Raceway outside Fulton, Missouri. But after a few seasons of inactivity, as the big quarter mile track tucked away in rural Callaway County became just a memory, race driver Galen Hassler took on the task of reviving the once thriving facility. Having heard many positive reports, we decided to make the one hundred plus mile drive to take in the five division program. Late models, B mods, Super Stocks, Pure Stocks and Hornets would fill out the Friday night card.
The forecast was less than favorable and apparently racing in the state of Iowa was affected, but aside from a couple early sprinkles, the rain held off until we were headed home. The shift in the wind direction and some lightning during the closing laps of the late model feature was just the opening salvo to an interesting drive back home!
A solid field of seventy cars signed in to race on Friday, and the locals indicated that the strong field of twenty late models was likely a season high, with twelve of the top fourteen in points on hand.
If my info was correct, the track used a pill draw to line up the heat races, then passing points for the features. This is a procedure that I enjoy, although it did seem to favor the front row starters on this particular night.
It took a bit of track packing to get the somewhat greasy track race ready, and after an impressive opening ceremony, racing kicked off about twenty minutes past the 7:30 advertised start time. Eight lap heat races ( six for the hornets) and starting all ten cars in the pure stock and hornet classes in one heat made for better racing and helped to move the show along. Intermission was a bit long as Lucas Oil Speedway representative Danny Lorton was on hand to discuss 2023 rules with the late model drivers, but soon we were feature racing.
The POWRi super stocks would be up first, with all fourteen cars out for fifteen laps. Aaron Poe shot to the lead from outside row one, chased by pole sitter Darek Wiss in what quickly became a two car battle. Double duty Justin Russell soon caught the leaders and drove around Wiss for second on lap seven. Two laps later slower traffic became a factor, and Russell was able to pull even with Poe as lap ten was scored. But on the next trip past the flag stand Poe had opened a bit of breathing room, and he held on for the non stop flag to flag win. Russell came home second, with Wiss close in third. Jimmy Myers in his sharp looking #007 was fourth, and Ted Welschmeyer completed the top five.
USRA B mods would be next, sixteen strong for twenty laps. The early portion of the race looked like more of the same for this division, with four yellow flags in the first five circuits. However the final fifteen laps would click off with no more stops. Front row starters Shadren Turner and Mike Striegel paced the field early, but as the race hit the halfway mark, Turner had stretched out to a nice lead. It was three laps before the checkers when Turner caught the back of the pack, but the slower cars presented no issues, as he cruised to the win, leading all the way. Striegel ran second, trailed by eighth starting Adam Paul, Tyler Lewis, and Kyler Girard in the first five.
Hornets would show just eight of the ten cars on hand, with twelve laps the distance. Chaz Bell would quickly open a commanding lead from the pole position. The only caution would come at lap five as points leader Josh Clark would got cross ways and smack the tire barrier in turns three and four, ending his run. As racing resumed, Bell would again pull away from the pack all the way to the checkers. Alvin Cooney won a close battle with Adam Melloway for runner up honors, but Melloway was DQ'd for an unknown infraction. This moved Emery Crow to third, followed by Blake Reno and Troy Kyser.
Now it would be POWRi pure stock time. All ten entrants would race for a dozen laps. The lone yellow came for debris on the opening circuit, and I suspect it had something to do with the #1SS of Stan Booth, who raced the entire distance with the hood flapping up on one side of his machine. Jordan Martin used his pole start to build a solid lead by the mid point of the race. Darin Porter was able to keep Martin in his sights, but could do little to close the gap. With no other cautions, Martin would drive to the win. Porter topped Booth, Jeff Turpin, and Cliff Champney in the top five.
Late models would put a wrap on the night, and all twenty cars made the call for twenty laps of action. (Can he still be only) fourteen year old Kayden Clatt and Justin Russell, heat two and one winners, would occupy row one. But it was heat three winner and track points leader Todd McCoin charging from inside row two to grab the lap one lead over Clatt. The caution waved at lap two as Bill Vaughn and Josh Newman got together in turn three. Russell cleared Clatt for second following the Delaware style restart, and by lap six the front of the pack had caught the back. A caution came at lap eight for a spin by Jarrett Ballard. Back to racing, McCoin opened a sizable lead as Russell, Clatt, and Tucker Cox fought for second. Russell emerged from that scrum and was closing a bit on the leader when the yellow waved with eleven in the books as Dennis Cook disappeared in the darkness off the top of turns three and four. Now came that previously mentioned change in the weather, and as racing resumed, eleventh starting Reid Millard came up to do battle for fourth with Clatt. McCoin and Russell had pulled well ahead when a final caution came five laps from the checkers, again for Ballard. Now the field would set single file, and Cox would mount a challenge for the second position. McCoin would be a flag to flag winner, while Russell held on for his second runner up of the night. Cox would settle for third, while Clatt held off Millard for fourth. Chase Breid would be steady in sixth, besting Matt Becker in seventh. Alan Westling came on strong late and was challenging for fifth before slipping off the top of turn four coming to the white flag. He would recover to run eighth in front of Scott Halley and Dallas Bennett.
The final checkers came just after 10:30, putting a bow on a fun night of racing at this bullring tucked away in the woods of Callaway County - if you have never been there, use your GPS! Thanks to Loretta at the pit shack, as well as Galen and his team for making us feel welcome and allowing us to do what we do! There have already been many improvements made and the facility is in great shape, especially after being vacant for so long. Hopefully Galen and his group can resurrect the scoreboard and add some extra lighting both on and off the track. But I see good things in the future for Callaway Raceway!
We will take tonight off and go visit with family and old friends at the world famous Montrose, Iowa Watermelon Festival. Maybe we will see you there! Thanks for reading!
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