Friday we journeyed north to C.J. Speedway in Columbus Junction, Iowa for the 2nd annual Tony Stewart Tribute race featuring the Hoker Trucking SLMR (Super Late Model Racing) cars and stars. The brain child of National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Joe Kosiski, the series was born from the ashes of the long running IMCA Summer Series which was purchased by the oldest of the three racing brothers from Omaha, Nebraska. Unlike the Summer Series, the rules package for SLMR is such that weight and engine adjustments are used to make both the spec engine and open power plants competitive. Although there is both an East and West series - the West sponsored by Malvern Bank - several events are in effect co sanctioned by both divisions. For stand alone races, Webster City would seem to be something of an arbitrary dividing line.
This night would be a points paying event for the East division, with a $3,000 top prize to the winner of the main event. The regular five Friday night IMCA classes would fill out the card, making for a busy night of racing under the knowledgeable and experienced guidance of promoter Larry Richardson, flagman Doug Haack and announcer Jerry "Hello Race Fans!" Mackey.
C.J. Speedway was whittled down many years ago from a half mile track to a racy four tenths mile. It sits on the Louisa County Fairgrounds on the southeast side of town. A grassy levee beginning in turn one and extending the length of the backstretch is the only protection from the sometimes rising waters of the Iowa River. Both on purpose and accidentally, the levee often serves as something of a launching pad for out of shape or "squeezed" drivers charging down the back chute!
Eighty two race teams signed in on a hot and steamy night in front of a huge Friday night crowd. As forecast, there were some heavy rain showers here and there, but the area around the speedway remained dry. Still the high humidity, cloudy conditions, and changing winds added to the puzzle of race track prep, and the cars made several laps ahead of each heat race in an attempt to widen out the racing groove.
Derrick Stewart, from nearby Ainsworth, in his second year in a Late Model after a successful Modified career topped qualifying at his home track with a lap of 18.923 seconds. SLMR uses a fast six invert from time trials to line up heat races which made the eight lap qualifiers more interesting. Never the less, all three heats were won from the front row, with Luke Pestka, Brian Harris, and Jonathon Brauns first across the line.
The car count in the regular five divisions was a bit light, but each class had enough cars for a pair of heat races.
IMCA Sport Compacts kicked off feature racing, with eight of the ten on hand battling for ten laps. Darin Smith grabbed the early lead, giving way to Caleb Geise on lap three. Kolby Sabin made the trip from Des Moines, started in eighth and soon moved up to challenge Geise in what became a two car chase in the non stop event. As the leaders entered the final turns, there was some contact, and Sabin won the drag race to the checkers, leading only a few yards, but enough to take the win. Geise was second followed by Smith, Cristian Grady, and Alex Hayes.
There was then a brief intermission for some track prep before all twenty four Late Models came to the track for thirty laps of racing. Stewart and another National Dirt Hall of Famer, Jeff Aikey filled out row one, and they lead the field through the first nine laps. Building a sizable lead, Stewart caught the back of the pack on lap seven, and by lap eight he was dealing with a gaggle of slower cars. However by the time Luke Goedert cleared Aikey for second, Stewart had checked out on the field. As the race reached the mid point, Goedert, Aikey, and 2022 winner Chad Holladay were in a tight battle for second, with series points leader Andy Eckrich lurking close behind in fifth. Stewart saw his lead evaporate at lap nineteen when the only caution of the race stopped the action. Although I am not sure what happened, there were sparks around Goederts' #44 and he wound up nosed against the embankment at the end of the front straightaway, his run over. Following the Delaware style restart, Stewart went to the cushion with Holladay in pursuit. But soon the leader had built another nice advantage. Holladay made a late charge as Stewart caught slower traffic about lap twenty seven, but he could not get close enough to challenge the #43 as Stewart scored a flag to flag victory. Holladay took second ahead of Aikey, Eckrich, and Jason Hahne. Matt Ryan rode home sixth in front of Jeff Larson, Charlie McKenna, Jason Rauen, and Pestka.
Following a lengthy presentation of awards, all ten IMCA Hobby Stocks lined up for a dozen laps. Two yellow flags, one on the first attempt at a start, slowed the racing, but it only delayed the inevitable, as Luke Phillips easily had the dominate car on this night. Starting in sixth, he was in front as lap one was scored and never looked back. Only that second caution as he was coming to the white flag, slowed his run, but he again pulled away during the green, white, checkers finish. Randy LaMar took the runner up honors, but Tucker Richardson saw his third place effort evaporate when he spun in turns one and two on the final lap. Billy Stanford then took the spot, followed by Jason Schutterle, and Preston McDonald. A man of few words, when asked in victory lane who he would like to thank, Luke simply said " Team Wapello!"
IMCA Stock Cars were up next for sixteen laps. The yellow flag waved on the start for a spinner in turn two, and top contender Johnny Spaw ducked to the pits for a tire change. Norman Bean took the lead as racing resumed, with Adam Bell in pursuit. Those two exchanged the top spot back and forth ahead of a lap seven yellow. Again Spaw took a quick pit stop to remove his hood, which was obviously missing a pin and had been flopping in the breeze. As Bell led at the halfway point, Spaw was already back to fifth, and he continued to pick off the front runners. The top five continued to battle in close formation, and Spaw moved to second with just three laps to go. That would be as close as he could get, as Bell was first to the checkers. Dustin Griffiths advanced six positions to third, trailed by Bean, and tenth starting Nathan Ballard.
Fourteen IMCA Modifieds lined up to go eighteen laps. Late Model driver Tim Simpson put his new #17 on the pole and paced the field ahead of a lap two caution during which he ducked pitside for service. With a new side by side front row on the restart, Kurt Kile stormed to the lead followed by Dakota Simmons. Jarrett Brown had started in row four, but moved to third with five laps scored. Two more trips around and Brown drove to second, and as Kile was temporarily caught in slower traffic, Brown moved in to challenge at lap nine. Clearing lapped traffic, Kile opened a bit of breathing room, and along with Brown and Simmons they drove off from the field. Traffic again became a factor by lap fourteen allowing Brown to stay close, and coming to the white flag, he executed a slide job in turns three and four. Kile was able to cross over and maintain the lead. But as the front pair entered those same turns on the final lap, Kile drifted high, leaving the door open for Brown, who like Sabin earlier, led only a few feet to pick up the win. Kile was second, Simmons third, then it was Shane Richardson and Cedar Fall driver Kip Siems in fifth.
IMCA Sport Mods rounded out the long night of racing, but they certainly did their part to help out, running sixteen caution free laps. Todd Hansen was the early leader as three cars raced three wide for second. It was Carter VanDenBerg who won that battle and by lap three he had charged to the front. Sixth starting Justin Becker now moved in to challenge, taking the lead at lap five. Dylan VanWyk joined the party as we moved past the halfway mark. On lap eleven, VanWyk pulled a slider in turn two, not quite clearing Becker, who made contact, slowing his momentum. VanDenBerg attempted to stay close, but VanWyk drove off to the win. Becker held on for third, topping Trey Rock, and Hansen.
The final checkers came as we closed in on 11:30 after a full night of racing. Thanks to Larry for his hospitality and to Jerry for the shout out for our Positively Racing crew.
Saturday will be a night of R and R, then it will be another $1,000 to win King of the Bullring special for UMP Mods at Adams County,Il. Speedway! Hope to see you there.
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