Ricky and Brenda Kay were finally able to kick off their 2023 season with a Thursday night special event. The MLRA late model series began a three night swing through eastern Iowa with a $5,000 to win headliner. A pair of weekly IMCA classes, late models and sport mods, would fill out the card on a beautiful spring evening at the storied Scott County Fairgrounds facility. This would be the third installment for the MLRA. Their season kicked off under unusual circumstances at Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri, with fields of forty eight and fifty cars aided by the early cancellation of the World of Outlaw Illini 100 at Farmer City, Illinois. As a result those first two events were captured by non series regulars, Ricky Thornton Jr. and current points leader Jonathon Davenport. This was followed by a weekend washout at Tri City Speedway near Granite City, Illinois, leaving defending series champion Chad Simpson the highest in points of the expected season long competitors.
With temperatures bumping the eighty degree mark, another solid field of forty five super late models checked in to the delight of the large week night crowd. IMCA late models at seventeen and IMCA Sport Mods at nineteen would round out the eighty one car gathering.
Shannon Babb, the second car out for time trials would best all competitors with a lap of 13.852 seconds around the quarter mile oval. As is common with the MLRA "straight up start" procedure for heat races, the four eight lappers were all won from the front row. The only fly in the ointment came when heat two winner Ryan Unzicker was apparently disqualified for an unknown infraction, turning that win over to Chad Holladay. Chad Simpson, Ryan Gustin, and Brandon Sheppard collected the other heat wins.
IMCA late models and sport mods used a draw, redraw format, with late model heats going to fifth starting Andy Nezworski and outside pole sitter Nick Marolf. Sport mods heat winners were pole sitters Todd Dykema and Ben Chapman.
A pair of ten lap B mains added three cars each to the MLRA field, with pole starters Tony Jackson Jr. and Justin Kay victorious. Four points provisional and "emergency" starters would make up the twenty six car lineup for the forty lap headliner.
First up would be the fifteen lap feature for the sport mods, with all cars making the call. Front row starters Trey Grimm and Ryan Reed would pace the opening circuit, with Logan Veloz moving in to challenge Grimm on lap two. Five laps in Grimm had begun to open a comfortable lead and Reed had fought back to second when the yellow flag waved for a Rance Powell spin. Back under green, a four car battle developed up front, with seventh starting Chapman and his row four mate Dykema overtaking the leaders. Chapman and Dykema then drove away from the pack with only tenth starting Jarett Franzen able to stay in the same time zone. With two laps remaining the field was again tightened as Logan Cumby would bring out a final caution. There would be no change at the front, however, with Chapman taking the win over Dykema and Franzen. Veteran racer Kevin Goben charged all the way from eighteenth to finish fourth, while Mitch Strayer completed the top five. Levi Heath, Aaron Hitt, Denver, Colorado driver Cole Stichter, Reed, and T.J. Patz completed the top ten.
The MLRA cars would then line up for a shot at $5,000. Chad Simpson and Gustin would lead the field to green, pacing the pack ahead of a lap two pile up in turn one which eliminated Dustin Sorenson. Back to racing, Holladay moved to second, then cleared Simpson to hold the top spot for two laps in a side by side duel as Gustin faded outside the top five. Simpson then retook the point as the leaders began to fall in line in the inside groove. With seven laps scored, the caution waved for Trevor Gundaker, and back under green it was Babb now applying pressure, with Sheppard moving to third. Simpson continued to run the low line while Babb pounded the cushion in turns one and two, then ducked behind the leader in three and four. Finally Babb would give up his top side charge, but now slower traffic was about to make things interesting when the caution waved at the half way mark. Now it was Sheppard trying the high line off turn two, then he slipped under Simpson off turn four to lead lap twenty three, taking Babb along in second. Sheppard now opened a sizable lead, but as he closed in on the back of the pack, the caution waved again, and suddenly the #B5 pulled off the track with a flat tire. Babb was now out front of Simpson, while Gustin had rebounded to third. Having watched his competitors advance, Ryan took the high side challenge, grabbing second before another yellow one lap later for Jackson Jr. Simpson again took the lead as racing resumed, but was unable to shake the rim riding Gustin. With just a pair of laps remaining, a flat tire sent Gustin up and over turn two ending his run. Although he cleared the track, the yellow flag waved a final time for Arkansas driver Tyler Stevens, setting up a two lap dash to the checkers. Nine cars remained on the track in single file formation, as Chad Simpson now drove to the win, while brother Chris chased him home in second. Babb scored a podium finish, trailed by Jake Timm and Holladay. Bob Gardner advanced fifteen spots to sixth, followed by provisional starter Jeff Herzog, Jason Feger, and Daniel Hillsabeck. Gustin was credited with tenth.
As we caught our breath following a phenomenal forty laps of action, the IMCA late models came track side for twenty five circuits. Marolf and Todd Van Tassel made up row one, as Nick looked for a sweep. He jumped to the early lead, with Brian Harris in the Richard Racing #15R coming along from row two. The two veteran drivers quickly put distance on the field ahead of a lap seven caution for Brandon Loos. Following a called back start as the field piled up coming to green, Harris turned on the high side hustle, but he could not overtake Marolf, and lost the runner up spot to Fred Remley. A caution for debris and another for Chance Huston slowed the action with about sixteen laps scored. By now, the field was mostly locked to the low side of the track, and with the leaders catching the back of the pack, Marolf made the decision to move off the bottom to clear a lapped car. Staying low on the track, Remley was able to move past the lapper and Marolf, as well. He then stretched his advantage, and with no more stops, cruised to the win. Marolf settled for second, while Andy Nezworski climbed from ninth to third. Harris and Jaden Fryer rounded out the top five, followed by South Dakota racer Evan Miller, Van Tassel, Chris Lawrence, Colton Leal, and Mack Mulvany.
We have come to expect nothing but top notch racing at Davenport, and although the track seemed a bit tricky at times, there is no doubt those in attendance got their moneys' worth and then some! Thanks to Brenda and Ricky for their hospitality, and to Chad for the shuttle service. We plan to be back at this fine facility several more times in 2023.
But for now it is on to 34 Raceway tonight, as Brad, Jessi, and the Slocum Foundation present the Slocum 50. The MLRA sanctioned event, held in honor a a fine young man lost far too soon pays a cool $10,555 to win. Originally, of course this race was to be held on Saturday, with the $5,000 to win Prelude to the Slocum held tonight, Friday, but with possible inclement weather coming on Saturday, the two nights have been flipped on the schedule. Come early, grab a seat and hopefully we can enjoy two more nights of awesome super late model racing!
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