Thursday, April 17 was the opening night of a scheduled three night swing through eastern Iowa for the MARS Late Model series. The kickoff for the mini tour came in Tipton at the Cedar County Fairgrounds under the direction of the Darkside Promotions and K Promotions groups. In addition to the high powered headline class battling for a $5,000 payday, Modifieds would run for a $1,000 top prize, Stock Cars for $750, and Sport Mods for $500 to win. With the dissolving of the MLRA open Late Model Series, the MARS folks have stepped up to the plate in the Hawkeye state. In fact, this event carries the moniker of the Hawkeyeland 40!
An exceptional turnout of 43 Super Late Models comprised just over half of the 85 car field. Support class attendance was a bit light, but with the threat of rain lurking, it was not unwelcome. And track officials did an excellent job of moving the program along. Hot laps began at 6:30 and even with time trial qualifying for the Late Models, the final checkers waved about 9:42 P.M.! The track smooth and fast, hammer down if you will, but required no tweaking throughout the intermission free program.
The Late Models qualified in groups A and B, with the twentieth car out, Carson Ferguson the first and only driver to eclipse the thirteen second mark with an overall fast lap of 12.892 seconds. This top lap was worth an extra $500 for the racer out of North Carolina. The excellent track prep was evident when the final car out in the next round, Brian Shirley, topped group B qualifying with a 13.105 showing around the quick semi banked quarter mile.
Only four eight lap heats were contested for the MARS cars qualifying four in each, and with straight up by time starts it was no surprise when only one driver, fifth starting Chad Simpson, advanced from beyond the first two rows. Ferguson, Shirley, and Brandon Sheppard all scored wins from the pole, while Tanner English captured his heat from outside row one. The other three classes used the draw, redraw method, creating a bit more passing opportunities, although the fields were such that all entries in those divisions transferred to their feature.
A pair of ten lap B Mains moved the top two in each on to the main event, with Jason Feger and Dylan Thornton victorious. Two series provisional starters would then round out the twenty two car starting grid.
Sport Mods would be up first in the feature lineup, nine cars for twenty laps. Cole Stichter would charge to the early lead for outside row one ahead of Trey Rock, Brayton Carter and Justin Becker. Carter would move to the runner up spot on lap two. Running low on the track, Stichter would hold about a four car length lead over Carter, who was running a higher line as he searched for speed. Slowing closing the gap, Carter would dive low in turn one on lap thirteen to grab the lead. The only stoppage of the race came with six laps remaining when Brady Hilmer appeared to make contact with another car and do a slow roll off turn four. Back to racing Carter pulled away. Meanwhile Stichter and Becker waged a side by side battle for second. "Speedy Bray" would cruise to the win, with Stichter winning the battle for second ahead of Becker, Levi Heath and Rock.
With the heat race winners redrawing for the top four spots, Sheppard and Shirley brought the Late Model field to green. But Ferguson powered to the early lead. Lap three saw Sheppard use a high side move to the lead trailed by Ferguson, Shirley and fifth starting Bobby Pierce. With "B Shepp" building a lead while pounding the cushion, Shirley and Pierce moved to the next two spots on lap eight, then Pierce cleared Shirley for second one lap later. A caution flag came for Ryan Unzickers' broken shock mount with ten laps in the books. On the Delaware style restart, Shirley was shuffled back to fifth as Drake Troutman and Ferguson slipped around the #3s. English then joined the battle for third as Sheppard and Pierce pulled away, Sheppard running high and Pierce hugging the low line. Slower traffic came into play about lap twenty. A second and final yellow flag came on lap twenty eight, as Tony Jackson Jr. and Justin Duty got together. English claimed second briefly on the restart before Pierce used a high side move to reclaim the spot. Sheppard continued to run a high line while Pierce and most of the pack hugged the inside line. With lapped traffic again again coming into play Pierce was able to close the gap in the final circuits, but Sheppard held on for the win. Pierce took runner up honors in front of English, Ferguson and Shirley. Ryan Gustin gained six positions to finish sixth trailed by Daniel Adam, twentieth starting Dennis Erb Jr., Feger, and Chad Simpson.
With the television hoopla out of the way, seventeen Stock Cars lined up for twenty laps. Pole sitter Tony Olson was followed by Kenny Richards ahead of a lap three caution. With the top two hugging the low line, outside row one starter Kaden Reynolds used a high line to close on the leaders, then dove low to second ahead of a lap five yellow. Back to racing, the top three battled nose to tail, separated from the field. Slower traffic threatened to become a factor as the white flag flew on lap nineteen, but Olson held on for a flag to flag win. Reynolds ran second in front of Richards, Brayton Carter, and John Oliver Jr.
Modifieds would round out the night, fifteen strong for twenty five laps. The only caution of the race came on the start as Jed Freiburger came to a stop in turn one. Tom Berry would lead from outside row one ahead of Kyle Montgomery in the opening circuits. As Berry began to stretch his advantage, Ethan Braaksma and Jeff Larson took up the chase on lap five. Berry was cruising as the race hit the mid point, but Braaksma began to quickly cut into the lead with ten laps remaining. Four circuits from the checkers, Berry caught the back of the pack, and when he briefly broke his momentum, Braaksma looked ready to pounce. However Berry would clear the lapper, then hold off Braaksma for the win. Larson came home third, topping Spencer Diercks and California driver Troy Morris III.
It was a quality night of racing in front of a late arriving but good sized Thursday night crowd. Thanks to Ryan and Timmy for their hospitality, and to Dr. Al and Ricky for another well prepared racing surface. Tonight we plan to rejoin the MARS stars and cars at Jessi and Brads' 34 Raceway in West Burlington for the $5,000 to win "Prelude to the Slocum." 305 Sprint Cars will also be on the card, hope to see you there!
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