Tuesday evening the Lucas Oil Late Model Series made their yearly stop at Ricky and Brenda Kays' Davenport Speedway. The 2022 version of this race was one of the recent classics at the quarter mile oval, with Hudson Oneal back to defend his win, now the Rocket House Car driver for the Mark Richards Racing team.
Thirty one other drivers had the same idea, checking in alongside sixteen IMCA Late Models and a bit less than expected fifteen IMCA Modifieds.
It was a warm and humid early evening when we arrived at the track, with temps soon falling into the comfortable range. Once again, Kay and his team had the oval in excellent racing condition, even as turns one and two became a veritable land mine in qualifying, with the developing cushion mere inches from the top. In fact in one sequence which brought a roar from the considerable gathering, all three time trial competitors on the track at the same time followed each other three wheeling it over the top. "If your friend jumped off the bridge, would you do it to?" was ringing in my ears!
Once the eventful qualifying sessions were ended, Devin Moran set atop the board with a quick lap of 13.330 seconds, about a tenth and a half off the track record.
Heat races winners in both Late Model classes came from the pole position until the final one when the high flying youngster from Pennsylvania, Drake Troutman rolled around the top of the oval to grab the win after lining up in row two. His "devil may care" style has quickly made him a budding fan favorite here in the mid west. In a stroke of misfortune, area favorite Chad Simpson was running in a transfer position in heat two, dove to the inside of turn three on the final lap looking to gain a position, appeared to lose the handle and rolled to a stop with his #25. Chad was then the only no show for the B main, his night ending early. It was a tough break for the Iowa racer who has already recorded an MLRA series win at the track back in April.
Eric Barnes from row one and sixth starting Matt Werner captured Modified heats before pole sitter Frank Heckenast Jr. topped the six cars moving to the money race in the Lucas Oil B main.
All sixteen IMCA Late Models would then line up for twenty five trips around the banked quarter mile. While pole sitter Nick Marolf jumped ahead at the green, it was fifth starting Joe Beal in front as lap one was scored. Marolf then retook the spot one lap later, but as lap three went in the books, it was now seventh starting Andy Nezworski in charge. As Nez began to stretch his lead, the front cars all settled in around the bottom groove except Justin Kay , who set out trying the high line. He reentered the top five after initially falling back from a row two start, then fell to sixth as the lone caution came for Matt Ryan with ten laps down. Mike Goben began the race in row six, but was the man on the move on the restart, powering to third, while Kay followed in fourth. But it was Nezworski and Beal separating from the pack as the laps wound down. Slower traffic came into play with four to go, but the veteran Nezworski used the back markers to increase his lead. Andy picked up the win, trailed by Beal, Goben, Kay, and Marolf. Jaden Fryer ran next in front of East Moline Speedway promoter Chuck Hanna, third generation racer C.J. Horn, Chance Huston, and Ryan.
The obligatory "farming" session then took place, once again successfully leaving us with a multi groove surface for the $10,000 to win forty lap headliner.
Heat one and three winners, Moran and Jonathon Davenport brought the field of twenty four to the delayed green as officials gave several laps to Tyler Bruening who ducked to the work area during parade laps, trying without success to remedy an unknown issue with his #16. As racing began, Moran led Davenport and heat two winner Ricky Thornton Jr. through lap one. Davenport then took over for five circuits, with Moran riding the top of the track back to the lead on lap six. With Davenport back in front, the lone caution came a dozen laps in, with fifth running Chris Simpson exiting the track. Thornton used the Delaware restart to grab second, and followed Davenport as they put distance on the pack. Traffic became a factor just past the halfway point, but J.D. was seemingly on cruise control. With the laps quickly winding down, it was now eighth starting Hudson Oneal gaining ground as he closed on Thornton for second. He took the spot on lap thirty and soon began to gain on the leader. But with no further cautions he soon ran out of laps, as Davenport closed the deal by several car lengths. Thornton and Oneal followed, while hard charging Brian Shirley picked his way from the sixteenth starting spot to a solid top five. Garrett Alberson wheeled the 'hometown" Roberts Motorsports entry home in sixth, topping Tim McCreadie, Brandon Overton, Troutman, and Max Blair.
Following the made for T.V. post race hoopla, Modifieds lined up for twenty laps to close out the show. National Dirt Late Model Hall of Famer Jeff Aikey shot to the early lead, taking along young Charlie Mohr and Jordon Hicks. The yellow flag waved for Mohr, who looped his #99 two laps in. A second and final caution came on the restart as Bill Roberts Jr. slowed on the backstretch. Sixth starting Werner drove to the runner up spot as racing resumed, and on lap four cleared Aikey for the lead. Mitch Morris rebounded to second with seven in the books. Werner was working the middle line of the still multi grooved surface as Morris scampered around the bottom and Aikey worked the top. Brad Dierks joined the battle for second, shadowing Morris in the low line. With eight laps to go, Aikey slipped, falling back a bit. But there would be no real challenge for Werner, as he cruised to the win. Dierks gained six spots as the runner up, followed by Morris, eleventh starting Scotte Lemke, and a rebounding Aikey, as a scramble in the final laps made for some late position swaps.
As always, it was an efficient and enjoyable show at the historic speedway. Thanks again to Ricky and Brenda for their hospitality and to Chad for the shuttle service. We look forward to another visit to the track in two weeks, July 25, as the MARS Late Models come to town.
Next up for yours truly will be the free admission night this Friday at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, as IMCA Late Models, Modifieds, Stock Cars, Sport Mods, and non sanctioned Sport Compacts along with vintage cars do battle. The track has been off for the past two weeks, so it is time to get your racing fix, and this week it is free to do so, courtesy of our friends at Kohlmorgan Hauling of Keokuk. So come on out, stop by and say "Hi!"
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