Along with Darryl, Tuesday I wandered south for my second visit of the season to the Reid Millard owned, Galen Hassler operated Moberly Motorsports Park. This would be our first check in with the UMP Summernationals, 2023 edition. In its second week of this years' series, the Summit Modifieds would also be on the card at the four tenths mile high banked high speed facility. With just two classes, we were anticipating a quick show.
Special guests Ken Schrader and Scott Bloomquist were scheduled to be on hand to do some "commentating, " however an unexpected health issue at the last minute unfortunately resulted in Scott having to cancel his appearance, although Kenny was still on the grounds for an interview, autographs, and I assume plenty of T.V. time.
A solid field of thirty two Super Late Models checked in, but a shockingly low number of Modifieds were on hand. The last man through the gate, Chris Spalding upped the total to just seven!
After we were on the road, it was decided to push hot laps back one hour to 7:00P.M., and after those warm ups were complete, the track was rewatered in turns one and two, with several minutes spent repacking as what turned out to be a huge week night crowd settled into their seats.
Micheal Long topped the Mods in their hot lap/qualifying format with a time of 18.593, before Billy Moyer Jr. paced the Late Models, at a fast 17.093 seconds.
Four Late Model eight lap heats came next with the top four in each moving on to the thirty lap finale. As might be expected with the time 'em and start the fast ones up front procedure, all four winners came from the front row. Moyer Jr., Ashton Winger, and Australian Kye Blight all took wins from the pole position, with Texan Morgan Bagley victorious from outside row one.
Long then cruised to the six lap Modified win before the Late Model Last Chance Showdown. The remaining sixteen cars were scheduled for ten laps, with only the top two moving on. With four teams done for the night, an even dozen lined up for the final qualifier. MLRA regular, Iowan Daniel Hilsabeck was the show in this one, charging from deep in the pack to fly by track regular David Melloway and eventual runner up Forrest Trent to take the win.
As is their custom and with an eye towards series loyalty, four provisional starters were then added to the eighteen qualified cars for the feature race. Doug Tye, Mark Voigt, and Thomas Hunziker picked up starting slots along with Melloway who recieved the track provisional. For Hunziker, who comes east from his home in Bend, Oregon to run the tour, it helped turn his night around. Following time trials, while setting in his pit, the radiator exploded on his #38, sending water and coolant several feet in the air! While he missed his heat race, quick work from his crew and an assist from Winger got him back out for the consy.
Some track work and more music from the "permanent" stage was followed with the call for the Late Model headliner. Bagley and Moyer Jr. would fill out row one, with Billy grabbing the early lead. The third generation pilot was racing in the middle groove around the super high banked oval while "MoBags" operated down low. Winger quickly closed on those two, looking for an opening. The first caution came at the end of lap three for a Kayden Clatt spin, and during the slow down, Winger headed for the trailer with apparent engine woes. Pennsylvania ace Drake Troutman then used the Delaware style restart to overtake Bagley for second, and along with Moyer Jr., drove off from the pack. Billy stayed in his middle line while Troutman powered his #7 high on the track in turns one and two, then hugged the bottom groove in three and four. Slower traffic became at factor about lap nine ( a scoreboard sure would help this facility!), but Moyer Jr. remained in control, as he dominated turns one and two while Troutman would close the gap at the other end. Somewhere around the halfway mark, Troutman picked up enough momentum for a high side pass, then began to open a comfortable lead. Jason Feger had started in seventh and was now closing quickly on Moyer Jr. when suddenly the right rear tire on the Troutman car came violently apart, ripping into his quarter panel and bringing out the yellow flag just eight laps from the finish. Back to racing Feger made a brief bid for the lead before new front runner Moyer Jr. began to pull away. One more caution came four laps from the end when Bagley lost his top five run , tagging the concrete outside wall off turn two. Moyer Jr. had no issues with the single file restart, cruising to the win. Feger took yet another Summer Nats runner up finish, while Blight captured a series high third. Michigans' Chad Finley advanced five positions to fourth, easing past Frank Heckenast Jr. on the final lap. Clayton Stuckey led the second five, besting Tyler Clem and Bob Gardner. Hilsabeck spun out of turn four coming to the checkers, perhaps with a flat tire, collecting Johnathan Huston, however those two were awarded ninth and tenth, possible because the leaders had already taken the checkers?
With post race festivities concluded, the Mods lined up for fifteen laps. After a pair of false starts, the front row of Long and Austen Becerra were penalized one row. Then on a lap two restart, Long appeared to get loose, collecting Dave Weitholder, ending his bid for a sweep. Becerra soon drove around Spalding for the lead, then powered off for an easy win. Only Spalding remained with him on the lead lap as the checkers waved. Preston Dawson was third, followed by Charlie Baker, while Weitholder was credited with fifth.
The final checkers came a few minutes after the 10 P.M. hour. Thanks to Reid, Galen, the Gundakers, and all involved for a fun night of mid week racing. While Moberly Motorsports Park will continue their Trophy Tuesday series, another big event will come Labor Day weekend with the third running of the popular Weiner Nationls. MLRA Late Models and B Mods will be on the card.
Tonight I plan to follow the Late Model Summernationals tour as they head north to Davenport, Iowa Speedway, where IMCA Late Models and IMCA Northern Sport Mods will fill out the card. With week one tour champ Brian Shirley, as well as several other top contenders shifting their focus to World of Outlaw and Lucas Oil Late Model events, the it will be interesting to see who might pick up the $10,000 weekly Summer Nats bonus this time. If you see me in Davenport, be sure and say "Hi!"
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