Dripps Is First Pro Late Model Tour Winner

    Sunday night we hit the road, venturing north for the first time in 2023 to the Benton County Speedway, AKA "The Bullring" in Vinton, Iowa. In addition to the five regular IMCA classes, the three times rained out  Pro Late Model Tour would host their inaugural event. Conceived by Late Model racer Brandon Davis, the fledgling east central Iowa tour features a hybrid rules package somewhat similar to the SLMR, but on this night at least dominated somewhat by IMCA regular competitors. The car count was likely less than hoped for, but with Dubuque an hour and a half away racing in the middle of their points season and an SLMR race in Stuart combined with an already full weekend of action, perhaps it might have been expected, especially being a rescheduled event. 

   In total, however, a full field of ninety nine cars made for a solid evening of racing on the constantly refurbished Benton County Fairgrounds. Since our last visit, a safety wall has been constructed to protect pit area spectators and a scoreboard has been added in the infield. Also, the shiny new aluminum bleachers create added comfort. 

   The weather in Vinton was markedly different on Sunday than here in Canton, Mo., as bright sunshine greeted us as we neared the track. However with a stiff breeze and lower than predicted temps both a jacket and a sweatshirt from the racing bag were put to use!

   Regular "farming" of the black dirt quarter mile took place during the program, but despite best efforts, for the most part the inside line was the fast way around the track for the majority of the racing. Still there was plenty of three wide action, and indeed much of the passing was done from the top groove.

   One thing that really stood out was the number of cars in each qualifying race. While it seems many tracks are content with six (or sometimes less!) cars in qualifying heats, we were treated to nine and ten car heats, running between six and eight laps, with only the ten Late Models going ten laps. 

   Following those qualifiers and a massive candy dash for the Little Racer Car Club, it was time to go feature racing. 

   Again the number of laps in the main events were somewhat less than other tracks, but still enough to separate the contenders from the pretenders. 

   Up first it was fourteen cars lining up for a dozen laps in the Sport Compact division. Steven Schmitz paced the opening laps with Spencer Roggentien in his tracks. Lukas Rick came from row five to join the party, and he was ahead by a nose as lap four was scored. The only caution of the race came with five laps in the books, and as racing resumed, Rick drove off from the field to record his third points night win in a row and fourth overall in 2023. Schmitz and Roggentien were next followed by Nolan Tuttle and Robert Rundle.

   Fifteen laps would be the distance for the sixteen Sport Mods able to make the call. Logan Anderson would jump to the first lap lead and hold it throughout for his first ever victory in Vinton. Sam Wieben would drive from sixth to challenge Anderson early, but with no caution flags to slow the action, Logan cruised to the win. Trailing Wieben in second was Joe Docekal, Tony Olson, and Ben Chapman.

   All sixteen Modifieds lined up for twenty laps, with pole sitter Jerry Dedrick pacing the field early. Troy Cordes, Ryan Maitland, and Kip Siems raced in dramatic three wide fashion before Cordes broke free, grabbing the lead on lap five. He then tucked in around the tire barriers while Maitland and eighth starting Joel Rust tried to keep up. A caution for debris just after the mid point brought Cordes back to the pack, and Rust used the Delaware restart to power to second using the high line. By lap sixteen, Cordes and Rust were in a dead heat, and it was Joel taking the point out of turn four as lap eighteen was scored. He then held on for the win, topping Cordes, Maitland, Brint Hartwick, and Mike Burbridge.

   With three features remaining, the quick pace began to slow as sixteen Hobby Stocks came to the track for fifteen laps. Scott Siems led the first trip around, giving way to Justin Wacha on lap two. Following a lap three caution, a five car melee on the back stretch saw the car of David McCalla taking a hard roll through the air, bringing out the red flag. Following a lengthy delay for removal of several cars and clean up of a fluid spill, Wacha took off hugging the low groove around the tires. Meanwhile an entertaining five car side by side and back and forth battle developed behind him. A final caution came with four circuits remaining, and back under green it was Jacob Floyd moving in to challenge the leader. Again, four cars raced in tight formation for third position, and it is probably a good thing that transponders could sort out that finish. The biggest cheers of the night came for the victorious Wacha while Floyd settled for second. The gaggle behind those two had Siems in third followed by Bradly Graham and Corey VanDerwilt. 

 Now is when the wheels really came off the fast moving program. The usually well behaved Stock Cars were racing for a $1,000 top prize, but you might have thought it was a great deal more by all the out of control action. While the green flag was out, the nineteen participants gave us twenty laps of good racing, but oh those cautions! Eight times the race was delayed, including following a lap two restart when Greg Sweerin got upside down in turn one. Leah Wroten and Brett Vanous both took turns up front before seventh starting teenage Dallon Murty and his fifth row starting father Damon joined the lead pack. Dallon was a part of the low riding "catfishers" while Damon was doing business up top. About lap fourteen Damon had managed to move to the front, but as he traded paint with Gage Neal, Dallon powered to the lead.  Dallon was now in command and was headed to the checkers when another hard charging youngster, Kaden Reynolds disappeared over the banking in turn three to bring out another yellow flag. The official ruling charged Damon Murty with the caution, and Reynolds retained his position. One final caution gave us a single file green, white, checkers finish, and even as the checkers waved, two cars were sitting cross ways in turn two! Dallon Murty collected the big check ahead of Neal, Vanous, Reynolds, and Jeff Wollam. 

   Pro Late Models wound round out the program, and in marked contrast they ran a caution free twenty five laps for their shot at $1,000. Chase Brunscheen and Logan Duffy paced the field to green, with Duffy powering to the lead. Track promoter Corey Dripps  lined up in fourth, and set sail after Duffy. Just before the halfway mark, Dripps eased his #31 into the lead while hard charging Nick Marolf moved to third. Duffy was not giving up without a fight, and by lap sixteen, he was alongside the leader. With those two duking it out, Marolf and fourth running T. J. Fortmann were able to stay in the mix. In the closing laps, Dripps was able to open a bit of an advantage, racing to the checkers in this first ever event. Duffy came home in the runner up slot, while Fortmann was impressive in passing Marolf for third. Bobby Hansen drove a stead race to complete the top five. Gabe Umbarger was next, besting Brunscheen, veterans Greg Kastli and Rusty Patterson, and Jenna Johnson. 

   Thanks go out to Corey and Rick Dripps for their hospitality, and a big thanks to announcer Ryan Clark for providing the interesting stats listed here as well as multiple shout outs to Positively Racing, Jeff Broeg, and yours truly. It was also a fun visit in the stands with multi track announcer Jerry Mackey and the legendary late model champion Curt Hansen! All in all, a great night of racing in Vinton!