A sure sign the mid west race season is winding down came Saturday as Lee County Speedway hosted another edition of Shiverfest. Beginning as a one off novelty race in 1999, this event has become a "can't miss" for fans and drivers alike. Although there have been many tweaks over the years, the seven classes on the card in 2022 would be a first. Combined with hay rack rides, box car races, and trick or treating, the full day and night of entertainment offered something for all ages.
When all the counting was done, one hundred and sixty four cars came through the pit gate, including veteran hot shoe Billy Tuckwell, Springfield, Illinois, who rolled in with his #B4 modified just in time to tag the tail of the B main.
Hot laps kicked off at 5:30 as scheduled, and it took twenty heat races plus two Sport mod and one Modified B main to set the feature fields. After box car races for the kids at intermission, it was time to go feature racing. Up to this point, things were clicking off in timely fashion. However a serious bout of "yellow fever" would plague the remainder of the night. Perhaps it was a case of "go for broke, we have all winter to fix it" or maybe just one of those nights, but flagman Rodney Bleisner may have come down with a torn rotator cuff or carpal tunnel after waving the big yellow flag over two dozen times during the seven main events! Certainly the track was not to blame as it was smooth, wide, and racy from start to finish, turning to the preferred (by the drivers) black slick as the evening wore on.
The visiting American Iron Racing Series was first on the card, with all but two of the sixteen signed in racing for twelve laps. Robin Atkins paced the field early, chased by Brian Gade and Tyler Maschmann. In the closing laps, Gade was able to put his #5 1958(or 59?) Ford out front for the win, with Maschmann second in his 1957 Ford, and Atkins third in a Mopar machine. These cars represent those of my youth, and I am fascinated by the fourth place Packard of Jake Hayes. Bruce Yoerger in his 1966 Chevy finished fifth. While these guys race for a minimal purse, they certainly go all out for the trophy!
The Modified field was whittled down from thirty to twenty four feature starters battling for twenty laps. Mark Schulte paced the opening circuit after starting third, but it was outside pole sitter Austen Becerra taking over on lap two followed by seventh starting Travis Denning. The first caution came on lap four as Chris Zogg lost the handle on his new unlettered #9Z, and on the restart as Denning tried to sneak under Becerra, contact, perhaps from behind, left him with a flat tire, his night over. As the race continued, Robbie Reed, Bill Roberts Jr., Matt Werner, and eleventh starting Jarrett Brown all mounted challenges. Becerra was however on cruise control as the white flag flew. Before Austen could reach the checkers, a final caution set up a green, white, checkers finish, and although Reed made a late charge, it was Becerra with the win. Brown, Schulte, and Werner completed the top five.
The usually well behaved Stock Cars ran next, all twenty seven entrants lining up for twenty laps. Five yellow flags in the first thirteen laps would mar the action, but amazingly after the field went single file with the time limit having expired, they clicked off the final seven circuits under green. Kaden Reynolds, who used a "rubbin' is racin'" move to capture the first heat, jumped from fourth to lead lap one after a first lap five car pile up brought out the first caution flag. Soon it was John Oliver Jr. in hot pursuit of the leader. After a single file restart, Johnny abandoned the low line to chase Reynolds around the narrow cushion. With seven laps remaining Reynolds was working through slower traffic and closing in on the #31 of Keegan Wells when Wells clipped the guardrail between turns three and four. With nowhere to go, Reynolds made hard contact leaving him with a flat tire and a DNF. Back under green, Oliver Jr. pulled out to a big lead, cruising to the win. David Brandies won a close battle for second over Jason Cook, Miciah Hidlebaugh, and Jason Bahrs. Coming to the checkers Abe Huls was also in the mix for a top five finish when he contacted one of the tractor tires in turn four, dropping to nineteenth in the finishing order.
Twenty one Late Models, including a handful of rookies were up next for twenty five laps. Modified and Stock Car standout Tom Berry Jr. got the call to wheel the #77 normally driven by Jeff Aikey, and he turned a pole position start into an early lead. C.J. Horn and Sean Johnson swapped the runner up spot and the leaders hit slower traffic on lap eight, just ahead of a spin by Dekota Job. Back to racing, eighth starting Nick Marolf used the Delaware style restart to climb to third. Failing to make the redraw out of his heat race, track champion Tommy Elston started in row seven and was charging through the field when he was squeezed a bit in turns three and four, smoking a tire barrier and bringing out the yellow. As Elston restarted in the back, Marolf powered to second on the restart, then drove around Berry on lap eleven. He then checked out on the pack in lapped traffic, opening a big lead after each of two more caution periods. At the checkers it was Marolf with the win, while Berry Jr. was impressive in second. Horn, Johnson, and Mark Burgtorf in a new for him ride rounded out the top five. Elston climbed back to sixth, chased by Andy Nezworski, Chuck Hanna, Darin Weisinger Jr., and Jeff Guengerich.
The Mini Hauler Trucks turned out their usual eight trucks, and they would be up next to run twelve laps. Brian Tipps would line up on the pole and have no problem racing off to the win over Jeff Bockes, Jim Ruble, Sheldon Brocket and Jacob Ruble.
Forty Sport Mods topped the roster, and as mentioned it took five heat races and a pair of B mains to whittle the field down to twenty four cars to compete for eighteen laps. Kip Siems held serve through a false start and and early caution. Brandon Dale and eighth starting Logan Anderson powered to the front following the caution, but before the lap could be scored, the yellow was out again. Now it was Hazel Green, Wisconsin standout Jason Roth climbing to second, and then grabbing the lead as lap six went in the books. With five laps to go, Roth caught the back of the pack, but by now he had a comfortable lead, and he was smooth in traffic, driving off to the win. Dale started and finished second, winning a close battle with Tanner Klingele, tenth starting Brayton Carter, and Anderson.
What started as one of the largest crowds of the season was down to a hearty few as the Sport Compacts lined up, twenty two strong to race for fifteen laps. Pole sitter Chuck Fullenkamp shot to the front, taking along third starting Kimberly Abbott. Jason Ash quickly moved in to challenge Abbott for second ahead of a lap four caution. Back under green row five starter Michael Grossman took over the third position, then to second as Abbott bobbled a bit in turns three and four. Following a lap six caution, the top four of Fullenkamp, Grossman, Abbott, and Ash ran side by side and nose to tail. Soon Fullenkamp in the low groove and Grossman one lane higher locked up in an entertaining side by side scrum for several laps. Behind at the line lap after lap, Grossman finally nosed ahead just before a final caution with three laps left. On this final restart, he opened a lead, grabbing the final LCS checkered flag of 2022. Fullenkamp took runner up honors, Ash squeezed around Abbott at the flag, and Peoria, Illinois hot shoe Jimmy Dutlinger moved up five spots to cross the line a few feet behind Abbott.
The cool but comfortable festivities wrapped up about 11:30, putting a wrap on another memorable Shiverfest and (hopefully) successful season for Lee County Speedway! Turning the calendar, we are hoping to sneak in at least one more race, the 6th annual Turkey Dash next Saturday, November 5 at the CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction, Iowa, a race that has quickly become a tradition for us! Dress warm, come on out, and we will hopefully see you there!
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