Horn a Surprise Winner At Davenport

  Friday we made one more trip north to the Davenport Speedway for the opening night of a two race weekend dubbed this night as the Davenport Dirt Stars. Seven classes came to race on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds quarter mile featuring the Pro Late Models battling for $1,500 to win. Once again it was a beautiful early autumn evening in sharp contrast to the less than comfortable spring weather we have experienced these last few seasons. 

   A surprisingly (to me) total count of one hundred and thirty race cars rolled through the pit gate, led by twenty seven Pro Late Models.

   Hot laps kicked off just a couple minutes after 6:30, and it was about thirty minutes later when the Midwest Jalopy heat race kicked off the racing action. It took eighteen heats to set the feature fields, as after a couple of scratches the Late Model B main was scrubbed. 

   A bit of track work in turn one was addressed during the fifteen minute intermission, and soon it was time for the money races. But soon the " wheels would come off," so to speak.

   All eight Jalopies lined up for a dozen laps, with Michael Hulsing pacing lap one, giving way to Austin Honts one lap later. Hulsing then brought out the lone yellow flag six laps in. Back under green, heat winner Matt Fulton Sr. began to pressure the leader, and he moved to the front on lap ten. Honts would fight back, but Fulton held on by less than a car length to claim the win. Jayson then Jeff Blunt came next, with Pat Bailey completing the top five. 

   While the Jalopies had little trouble negotiating the fast rack, unfortunately the same could not be said for the Street Stocks. All but one of the seventeen on hand came to the track for fifteen laps. Three times the caution flag came before one lap was scored, the third a grinding crash in turn two that left us with ten cars for the restart. On the next attempt, the leader spun in turn three causing all to take evasive action, and perhaps in desperation, lap one finally went in the books. Now new leader Bob Barker would briefly lose the handle on his ride in the same corner as the green waved, with Jason Robbins scored out front for lap two. Restarting after a fifth caution, Robert Cottum, who went to the tail after yellow number one now found his way to the runner up position. The sixth and final caution came with four circuits recorded, and back to racing the front pair drove away from the field. Cottum made an unsuccessful attempt at the lead about lap eleven, but Robbins then pulled away for a convincing win. Rob Henry, Jordon Miles and Joe Bonney also tallied top five finishes. 

   This was perhaps not the night for victory lane festivities as all but one of the twenty two IMCA Sport Mods lined up for twenty laps. A yellow on the initial green spoiled a front row start for Josh Starr, then it was pole sitter Austin Kemp leading lap one. Third starting Levi Heath took over the next time around, and Tony Olson soon followed in second. After a lap seven caution, Kemp, Olson and Kevin Goben locked in a tight battle behind the leader. Seemingly from nowhere, twelfth starting Hunter Longnecker joined the leaders, moving to third on lap eleven, then charging to the front one lap later. He quickly stretched his lead as Heath, Olson and Goben now fought for second. Longnecker avoided tragedy as a pair of slower cars spun in turn one as he lapped them with three left on the scoreboard. A final stoppage came on the restart, but Longnecker drove off into the Scott County night for the win. Olson won the battle for second, chased by Heath and Goben. Kemp recovered to slip around Dakota Cole for fifth.  

   The time was ticking by quickly as twenty five Pro Late Models came to the track for twenty laps.  The four heat winners filled out the front two rows, with Nick Marolf, Clay Simpson and finally Matt Ryan leading a portion of lap one while Dylan Thornton fell back a bit. Marolf cleared Simpson for second on lap two, with fifth starting C. J. Horn following in third. Slower traffic came into play by lap six, and Horn eased around Marolf for second. Ryan and his closest pursuers lined up high on the track negotiating the back of the pack and now the race to watch was for fourth through sixth between Simpson, Thornton and Andy Eckrich. Racing caution free, Ryan built a nice lead by the half way mark while Thornton climbed to third at lap fourteen. Now Horn was on his horse, moving to the back bumper of Ryan. What quickly became a three car scrum saw Thornton clear Horn for second as lap seventeen went in the books. Then as the front two came through turns three and four to take the white flag, Thornton loaded up a major league slider. Both drivers briefly lost momentum, opening the door for Horn, who drove by on the inside for the lead. The third generation racer then held on for the thrilling victory. Thornton crossed the line in second followed by Marolf, Ryan and Simpson. Bakersfield, California driver Troy Morris III made a surprise start, finishing sixth ahead of Logan Duffy, J.D.Auringer, twenty second starting Ben Seeman and Brennen Chipp. The event went non stop for twenty exciting laps.

   The clock was now ticking close to 10:00 with three features still to go and facing an early Saturday call, as the IMCA Mod Lites came to the track we headed for the parking lot. We were both surprised and pleased to see that all three features were able to beat the curfew! Congrats to Dillon Raffurty (Mod Lites), Matt Werner (IMCA Modifieds) and Bradly Graham ( IMCA Hobby Stocks) on their wins! 

   Racing resumes tonight, Saturday, highlighted by the IMCA Modified Greg Durbin Memorial paying over $3,000 to win, along with the Pro Late Models battling for $2,500. Hot laps for the six division program are scheduled one half hour earlier, at 6:00.  

   With family activities on tap, this will put a wrap on my racing for the weekend. Next up on the  Racin' Down the Road schedule will be next Friday night at Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, where 410 Sprint cars and Pro Crate Late Models will headline the show. But there are several excellent choices out there tonight and tomorrow, the weather is great, so grab a jacket and head to a track near you!

Jackson Jr.a Winner as MARS Invades Quincy

    Billed as the "Gem City Shootout" sponsored by Dennis G. Woodworth, Attorney at Law,  the MARS Super Late Model series rolled into Quincy Raceways for their second 2025 visit on Sunday while wrapping up their three race weekend. UMP Pro Crate Late Models, UMP Dirtcar Modifieds, open B Mods and Dirtcar 4 Cylinders also raced on an atypically hot September evening with extra money on the line in several classes.  The MARS turnout of nineteen was a bit lighter than expected, with the long weekend and the extreme heat no doubt taking a toll on drivers and equipment. Still there was plenty of high speed excitement as the goal seemed to be to test the integrity of the concrete wall, especially turns one and two!

   The final car count would come in at seventy one, well balanced with a pair of heat races preceding the main event in each class. Three divisions would qualify through time trials. Sun River, Montana racer Michael Leach was the only driver to break the thirteen second mark with a lap of 12.994 seconds in the MARS division, while Denny Woodworth (Crates,) and Kenny Wallace ( Mods) also led their classes.

   As mentioned, several competitors tried to knock down the wall in qualifying, including Jake Little, and Brennon Willard. Both however were able to make repairs although Willard missed his heat race. Keokuk, Iowa driver Brandon Queen was not as fortunate as he climbed the backstretch wall while attempting a pass in his heat race, sidelining him for the remainder of the evening with extensive damage to his #12 machine. 

   With heat race action and intermission complete, the headline class would come first in the feature order. Eighteen cars lined up for thirty laps and a shot at the $5,000 payoff. Heat race winners Jason Feger and Tony Jackson Jr. paced the field, with Jackson jumping ahead. The Lebanon, Missouri veteran opened a sizable lead before catching the back of the pack on lap seven. Ten laps in third starting Ryan Unzicker cleared Feger for second, and by this time Jackson was well ahead of the second place battle. As Jackson came upon slower cars racing for position around lap twenty, Unzicker began to close the gap. The first yellow flag came at lap twenty three as Chevy Boyer climbed the turn three concrete barrier. With clear track ahead for the restart Jackson again pulled away, but once more the caution came at lap twenty eight when Caden McWhorter lost a battle with that same wall. The field then restarted single file and Jackson Jr. cruised to a flag to flag victory. The top two in series points then ran side by side for second, with Feger slipping past Unzicker at the line to increase his points margin. Jeff Herzog started fourth, dropped to sixth, then rallied back to finish in fourth followed by Leach. Shannon Babb paced the second five ahead of Justin Duty, Daryn Klein, Little and Kolby Vandenbergh.  

   Modifieds would be up next, racing for twenty laps. There was a three car pile up in turn one on the initial start, then it was pole sitter and NASCAR veteran Wallace leading the way chased by double duty Justin Reed  and Dave Weitholder. Two more quick cautions came with two laps scored, and when racing resumed Reed was shuffled back to fifth as Weitholder took up the chase. Following a lap four yellow, Shawn Deering eased past Weitholder in a tight battle for second before #05 regained the position. There was one more stoppage with nine laps scored, but Wallace remained in control, even though he would change lanes, moving up the track as the laps clicked off. Weitholder held the runner up spot while Reed recovered to finish third. Mike Vanderiet Jr. and Deering completed the top five.  

   The local Crate Lates lined up for twenty five laps with only Spencer Havermale missing from the fifteen car field. Twice the caution flag would fly before a lap was scored, but then it was Woodworth leading Dakota Ewing in a battle of heat race winners. Jamie Wilson would move to second following a lap four caution, then clear Woodworth for the lead three circuits later. Woodworth was out front of the three car battle as lap nine went in the books, and a final caution came in three more laps as Jackson Frankel crashed at the entrance to turn one. Ewing charged from the third to first on the Delaware restart and methodically pulled away from his challengers. When the checkers waved it was the Warrensburg, Illinois driver recording his third win in his first three QR visits in 2025. Woodworth would settle for second in front of Wilson and Darin Weisinger Jr. Sam Halstead started eleventh , languished near the back of the pack, then made a late charge to finish fifth. Robby Warner also gained six positions to sixth ahead of former track regular Braden Bilger wheeling a #25 car. Tommy Elston nursed his damaged ride home in eighth topping Jeffery Delonjay and visiting Jacob Doolen. 

   The B Mod field was once again a mix of travelers and local IMCA Sport Mod competitors. St. Louis racer Matthew Edler has been a force in his visits to QR this season, and this night would be no different. Starting on the pole, he would survive three caution periods in the fifteen lap event to dominate the proceedings. Reed Wolfmeyer would focus on the leader before a late race side by side challenge from Tanner Klingele which Wolfmeyer would win by a nose. Veteran Joey Gower, who has seemingly raced in about every class at QR over the years would come home fourth chased by Parker Smith. 

   A dozen 4 Cylinders would put a cap on the action. Dyllan Bonk would be behind the wheel of a #8P machine for the night while Michael Malaney piloted Bonks' familiar #2B. Bonk would charge to the early lead in a tight battle with Matthew Mackey Jr. When Bonk drifted a bit too high on lap five, Mackey powered to the lead just ahead of the yellow flag. Mackey was still out front when the only red flag of the night came as Bryce Baker rolled his #27B hard in turn three. Fortunately he appeared uninjured. Back under green the front pair took off, Mackey in front and Bonk racing against the wall searching for extra bite. On the white flag lap, he finally gathered the momentum to drive past the leader, crossing the stripe for a hard fought win in what may have been the race of the night. Mackey settled for second followed by Matt Mackey, Jaden Delonjay and Spencer Coats. 

   It was an exciting night of action, wrapping up sometime around 9:30. Thanks as always to Jeff, Renee and crew for their continued hospitality. QR will be idle next Sunday, but will return with racing on Sunday, September 28. The weather is fine, so lets continue to enjoy the racing! 

 

Feger Sweeps Corn State Nationals

    Saturday was night number two of the Corn State Nationals at the Davenport Speedway on the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds. The cars and stars of the MARS Racing Series would be competing for double the winners' share from Friday, with check for $10,000 awaiting the top finisher. Two IMCA divisions, Modifieds and Sport Mods would also be in competition. 

   Once again, thirty two Super Late Models signed in, with the Modified classes well balanced at twenty six and twenty four. It was a blazing hot day, with the thermometer in our vehicle registering at an even one hundred during the drive north. This undoubtedly contributed to the difficulty preparing the track, and the program was about forty minutes late beginning, a situation that put track officials under the gun throughout the night. Track conditions were changed from Friday, and it was the fifteenth car out to time, Garrett Alberson who set the overall top speed at 13.891 seconds. The only other driver eclipsing the fourteen second bracket was Daniel Adam, and unfortunately that turned out to be the highlight of his night.

    Indeed, Adam would start on the pole position for heat two, and he was running well within a top four transfer spot, second to Tony Jackson Jr. But as they entered the white flag lap, the #75 car suddenly slowed and headed for the pits, his heat race run over. As was the case on Friday, the heat victories all went to front row starters, typical of "time 'em and start the fast ones up front" racing. Alberson, Jackson Jr., Blair Nothdurft and Caden McWhorter  picked up wins, while pole sitter Michael Leach and third starting Derrick Stewart claimed B main checkers. On the opening lap of the first of those B's, Adam charged from outside row three in pursuit of a top two qualifying position. But as the field exited turn two he climbed the right side of a spun car, nearly getting upside down, ending what had to have been a frustrating night. Once unstacked, he tried to restart the race, but quickly retired to the pits. 

   The late start left little time for additional track work, and the IMCA Modified twenty lap feature came quickly to the track. Chris Zogg and Shane Paris led the star studded field to green, and when Zogg nearly crossed up in turn four, Paris and fourth starting Spencer Diercks paced the opening circuit. Following a lap four caution, Diercks grabbed the lead ahead of a three car scrum for second among Paris and row three starters Matt Werner and Jeff "Bone" Larson. The red flag stopped the action six laps in when a mix up involving Andrew Hamburg and Bill Roberts Jr. on the backstretch ended with Hamburg upside down. The clean up was a lengthy one, with both cars out of the race. A third stoppage came twelve laps in, and back under green Larson powered to third. Two more yellow flags would mar the action. By this time the leaders were running a low line around the quarter mile, nose to tail except Larson and Zogg, who were trying to "build" a top side, but eventually they would give up and fall in line. Diercks would drive home with the win, chased by Paris. Werner would cross the line in third, but did not survive tech, moving Larson to third followed by Zogg and sixteenth starting Logan Veloz. Brandon Durbin was steady in sixth, while young Jace Eckrich gained eleven positions in seventh ahead of twentieth starting Tony Von Dresky. Jason Pershy started and finished ninth while Charlie Mohr got behind the eight ball early in the night, but gained thirteen spots to record a top ten.  

   A quick tickling of the surface came as twenty two Late Models lined up for forty laps and a shot at $10,000. Alberson shot from the pole while Nothdurft, McWhorter and fifth starting Ryan Unzicker raced three wide for second. As the field sorted out, Alberson was running the high line while Nothdurft cat fished around the bottom, easing past Alberson for the lead. The first of six yellow flags came at lap four as Stewart spun off turn four. Unzicker made the top side work briefly, charging to second, but soon gave way to both Alberson and ninth starting Chris Simpson, as the top side appeared to lose bite. Nothdurft increased his advantage as the leaders lined up in the bottom groove for several uninterrupted laps. Another caution came with a dozen laps scored, and the Delaware Style restart saw Simpson in second and closing on the leader. Things got dicey about lap thirty as Nothdurft, the surprise South Dakota entrant caught he tail of the field. As he moved from the low groove to attempt to pass a slower car, suddenly Simpson and Unzicker were alongside running lower lines. Unzicker emerged in front, but immediately slowed in turn three with an untimely flat tire. Back to racing it was now Nothdurft, Simpson and McWhorter pacing the field. Friday winner and Series points leader Jason Feger had just been hanging around in the second five, but restarting in fifth, he now lived up to his "Highside Hustler" nickname, pounding the mostly unused cushion to drive to third. With two more cautions in the next four laps, Simpson was able to nose ahead using the newly discovered high line. But with just six laps remaining, Chris dropped back to the bottom side, leaving the door open for Feger, who powered to second and then drove around Simpson for the lead. The final circuits saw those two go at it, but in the end it was Feger sweeping the two Corn State main events, adding $15,000 to his war chest.  Simpson would settle for second while Frank Heckenast Jr. came on late for a second top five of the weekend. Nothdurft was fourth and Alberson added a fifth to his third place run on Friday. Jackson Jr. made it sixth two nights in a row, followed by McWhorter. Justin Duty bounced back from an early tire change to finish in eighth, while Leach was the hard charger, gaining eight spots to ninth. Unzicker powered back from his late flat to record a top ten finish. 

   All the usual post race pageantry became expendable as the clock ticked dangerously close to the 10:30 curfew with one feature still to go. But with that we headed to the parking lot for the journey home. My Race Pass results show veteran driver Kevin Goben as the winner of the fifteen lap IMCA Sport Mod finale. His row one mate Bob Silaggi, thirteenth starting Tyler Maschmann, Levi Laymon and Chris Burke would complete the top five. 

   Thanks again to SR Promotions, especially the very helpful and friendly lady at the pit gate, for their hospitality during our several 2025 season visits. 

   Tonight the MARS cars and stars will wrap up their weekend tour with their second stop of the season at Quincy Raceways. Family activities took me out of the area for their visit in May, so I look forward to this night of great racing. UMP DIRTcar Modifieds, open B Mods, DIRTcar 4 Cylinders and UMP DIRTcar Crate Late Models will fill out a busy card. Hot laps kick off around 5:30. Hope to see you there! 

 

Feger Tops MARS Action, Zeitner and Henry Collect Wins

    Friday found us at one of our favorite venues, Davenport Speedway as the MARS Late Models rolled in to town for the first of two nights. The weekend is billed as the Corn State Nationals, with $5,000 going to the winner on this night followed by $10,000 on Saturday. In addition a pair of regular divisions at the track would fill out the card, IMCA Late Models and Outlaw Street Stocks. It was a beautiful evening underneath the roof of the massive grandstands. With one late arrival, the MARS folks turned out a quality thirty two car field, and the local Late Model group was strong at twenty three. Unfortunately for their fans, only seven Street Stocks signed in, and they would run the first feature of the night. 

   All seven made the call for fifteen laps. Following a called back start, the caution flag would wave with one lap scored and Rob Henry out front of his row one mate, Cary Brown. That pair would race side by side for the next three laps before the yellow flag came again. Back under green, Henry pulled away to a slight advantage as Brown now had his hands full with a challenge from double duty Mitch Morris. Two more laps brought another stoppage, and as the remaining four cars took the green once again the yellow light turned on as a crew attempted to change a tire on the apron off turn two! The final nine laps would stay green, with Henry taking the win over Brown and Morris, the only three still running at the end.  

 
 A rather lengthy track prep session would then precede the MARS main event. The field had been whittled to twenty two through three heat races and a single B Main along with two provisional starters. ( For those who may have been confused, Justin Duty had earned one of the provisional spots, but with his car unable to go he climbed in the Tim Simpson #17.) Normally a thirty two car field would result in two groups of qualifying and four heats, but the order had been set before the late arrival of southern Missouri competitor Tyler Kuykendall. Series points leader Jason Feger had set quick time as the first car out, then picked up the first heat win before redrawing the outside pole for the forty lap feature. He grabbed the early lead with fourth starting Garrett Alberson outgunning pole sitter and heat three winner Ryan Unzicker for second. Only once would the yellow flag fly, with three laps in the books. Unzicker would power to second on the restart, and the chase was on! The two Illinois long time rivals pulled away from the pack while there was plenty of dueling for positions behind. On lap ten, tenth starting Frank Heckenast Jr. slipped around Alberson for third. Now many eyes were focused on another Illinois veteran, Shannon Babb, as he climbed from a fourteenth place start to fifth at the twelve lap mark. Two more trips past the flag stand and the leaders found themselves catching the tail of the field. Around the mid point of the race Alberson retook third and Babb continued his march to the front by also clearing Heckenast Jr. The front two still held a solid advantage, even as the traffic thickened. The scoreboard showed six to go when Unzicker made his charge, but Feger was able to put a lapped car between himself and the #24 to close the deal for the evenings' sweep. Alberson earned the final podium slot, followed by Babb and Heckenast Jr. Tony Jackson Jr. was next ahead of Chris Simpson in seventh. Dylan Thornton shared hard charger honors with Babb, advancing ten positions to eighth in front of Daniel Adam and Chad Simpson. Caden McWhorter finished eleventh to go along with a heat race win and surprise (to me) entrant Nick Anvelink made the trip from Bonduel, Wisconsin to claim the B Main victory before finishing twelfth in the feature. 

   The quarter mile track was black slick around the high side, and that quickly became the preferred line for the IMCA Late Models. Veteran Dave Hammond, young Clay Simpson, and the "Worlds' Fastest Art Teacher" Matt Ryan picked up heat race wins, and Ryan quickly shot from outside row one to the lead of the twenty five lap finale. Simpson moved from outside row two past Dustin Smith on lap two, and the chase was on! Ryan and Simpson drove off, but again there was movement behind those two. Nebraska standout Zack Zeitner and local star Andy Nezworski battled in third and fourth as the laps clicked off. Slower traffic came into play early, and with eight laps scored, a spinning car forced Simpson over the bank in turn four to avoid contact. However he was able to keep moving and restart behind the leader. Once again in traffic with ten to go disaster struck! As Ryan came upon a slower car, Simpson appeared to tag the back of the #07, sending him for a spin. There was seemingly much conversation among the powers that be, and it was determined that both Matt and Clay would be sent to the tail of the field. Neither driver seemed too pleased, and Ryan stopped a couple times on the front stretch hoping for a conversation that never came. Simpson headed to the pits, and as Nezworski and Zeitner brought the field back to green, Ryan also exited the track. Zeitner won the drag race to turn one, and was never headed, picking up the win. Nezworski finished second, topping Jesse Bodin, Smith, and Logan Veloz. Mitch Morris climbed ten spots to sixth, chased by C.J. Horn, Curtis Glover, Cruz Birkhofer and Ethan Pickard. 

   The final checkers came about 10:20.

   As stated, the MARS stars will be right back at it Saturday night, racing for $10,000 before heading south to Quincy, Il. Raceways Sunday. IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Sport Mods will also be on the Saturday card in Davenport. 

   Thanks to Jeff Struck and his team for their hospitality on a beautiful Friday night. Do NOT let these amazing evenings go to waste, turn off the TV and head to the track!  

Ewing, Poel, Rexing, Wolfmeyer, Mackey, Jones Top Quincy Raceway Action

    Racing continued Sunday at Quincy Raceways with regular classes on the card with open B Mods replacing IMCA Sport Mods.  It was a pleasant evening with another sizable crowd at the .29 mile facility. Several area sponsors stepped up to sweeten the purses, as track point championships are now decided, as a result, there was an interesting mix of talent, including a couple of first time competitors in the sixty five car field. 

   Time trial qualifying was held in three classes with Jamie Wilson (Late Models,) Justin Reed ("A" Mods,) and Reed Wolfmeyer (B Mods) setting quick times. Heat races clicked off quickly, and following a quick intermission it was time for the money races. 

   The Street Stock class had the added incentive of a bounty on Jacob Rexing, however only nine cars signed in. A top contender to perhaps claim the extra cash was Robert Cottom, but he was a no show come feature time. Rexing lined up outside row one, and he quickly jumped to the lead ahead of row two starter Rudy Zaragoza. Following a lone yellow flag with two laps scored, Rexing methodically increased his lead. Meanwhile Zaragoza and Eddie Dieker waged a close battle for second. At the checkers it was Rexing on top once again, chased by Zaragoza, Dieker, Rodger Boden and Brandon Boden.  

   B Mods came next with ten cars coming to the track. A.J. Tournear was missing after pulling out of his heat following a puff of smoke from his ride. The first attempt at a start was waved off, then pole sitter Wolfmeyer pulled ahead of his front row mate, Joey Gower. Late Model racer Austin Howes was behind the wheel of the Logan Cumby #8C on this night, and he moved to the runner up spot on lap two. Tanner Klingele would follow in third one lap later, and the chase was on. Once more the caution flag waved nine laps into the fifteen lap event, but the running order stayed the same on the restart. Wolfmeyer caught slower traffic with a couple laps to go, but it was no problem as he added a feature win to his heat victory and quick time. Howes held off the persistent challenges of Klingele for second, while Gower and quickly improving rookie Alec Cain came next. 

   UMP Pro Crate Late Models had the highest car count at fifteen, although Super L.M. racer Brandon Queen was on hand only to turn some laps ahead of the MARS Late Model special next Sunday. Heat winners Tommy Elston and Denny Woodworth lined up in the front row, and Elston won the race to turn one. Along with fourth starting Dakota Ewing, those three broke away from the pack. Just before the mid point of the twenty five lapper, Ewing slid around Woodworth for second, then set sail for the leader. Elston was catfishing the low line while Ewing pounded the cushion. By lap fifteen, Ewing was applying heavy pressure, and three circuits later he executed a crossover move down the backstretch to grab the lead. Traffic came into play with five laps remaining, but Ewing raced smoothly through the slower cars. With Elston comfortably in second, Jamie Wilson moved in to battle Woodworth for third while the Frankel cousins, Ricky III and Jackson fought for fourth. It was clean and green to the checkers as Ewing picked up his second win in two trips to QR this season, the victory worth $1,450. Elston took the runner up spot while Woodworth edged Wilson for third. Rickey won the battle with Jackson to grab a top five. Frankie Wellman, Robby Warner and Spencer Havermale ran nip and tuck, finishing next in line, and Benet Duesterhaus rounded out the top ten. 

   As good as the Late Model main event was, UMP Modifieds may claim the race of the night. While only nine cars made the start, there were epic battles around the track. Dave Weitholder shot to the lead from the pole position, with Spring Lake, Michigan visitor Jacob Poel next in a battle of heat winners. Weitholder slowly increased his lead while Rick Stevenson and Justin Reed waged a back and forth battle for third. The high flying Reed would edge ahead down the backstretch but Stevenson would nose ahead at the flag stand as he ran the bottom groove. Once again there were zero yellow flags to slow the action, but six laps from the end of the twenty lapper Poel had moved to the rear bumper of the #05. At the same time, double duty Rexing entered the battle for third as the paying crowd split their attention between the two great battles. As the white flag flew, Poel was in front by the slimmest of margins. At the checkers it was Poel first with Weitholder glued to his bumper. Stevenson held back Reed and Rexing for the final podium spot. The win was worth $1,200 for Poel. 

   Fourteen Dirtcar 4 Cylinders would race for fifteen circuits. Matthew Mackey claimed the top spot after lining up in row two, quickly opening a commanding lead. Meanwhile, pole sitter Dustin Forbes and eighth starting Spencer Coats raced hard for the runner up spot ahead of a tight three car scrum for fourth. It looked like a third straight caution free event, but as the white flag waved Colton Sauder made hard contact with the concrete wall just below the flag stand. After cleanup, the dash to the checkers saw Mackey scoring the win over Coats, Forbes, Haylee Mackey and Matt Mackey. Ninth running Richard gave us four of the Mackey family in competition!

   The Crown Vic division gave us increasing car counts throughout the season, but oddly when the points chase ended the numbers fell off. Only six cars checked in on Sunday, and they raced for a dozen laps. Again only one time did the yellow flag wave, that on the opening lap. Long time racer Terry Houston took a ride in the #422, and he paced the field early, swapping the top spot with Brian Kaylor on laps three and four. Soon Jacob Jones caught the front runners, and he charged to the lead on lap five.  Jones then cruised to the win, trailed by Houston and Kaylor. Isaac Little topped double duty Brandon Boden in a close duel for fourth. 

   It was another fast paced program with the final checkers just after 9:00 P.M. Thanks to the Delonjay team for their continuing hospitality. As mentioned, the MARS Late Model series rolls into town next Sunday as part of a three race weekend. Quincy Raceways will then take a week off and perhaps come back with more fall racing after. Check the website for info. 

   On a personal note, it was great to have our long time racing companion Darryl at the track last night, as he is undergoing some health challenges. There is a mini "racecation" on tap this weekend for yours truly, so say "Hi" if you happen to spot us Racin' Down the Road! 

    

Super Nationals Crowns Sobbing and Padilla Early Champions

    It was a racin' Labor Day and night as we made the long haul to Boone, Iowa for some IMCA Super Nationals action. We sat down at about 1:00 P.M. just as racing began, and when we packed up ten hours later, there were still eight races to go!

   In the meantime we witnessed more than sixty checkered flags, six famous Boone farming sessions, and more than five hundred different cars circling the three eighths mile oval either racing or hot lapping!

   Reports supported by photos explained that the Sunday night Prelude to the Super Nationals program was shortened by a downpour which flooded not only the massive pits and campgrounds - eighty plus acres?- but the infield of the track itself. At a lesser event it would likely have been enough to postpone racing for perhaps days. But this is Boone, and the week long show must go on! 

   The IMCA Mod Lite portion of the week was originally scheduled to wrap up on Sunday, however their thirty lap "Dance" became an early part of the show on Monday and we were off and running. Silvis, Illinois driver started in the middle of row four of the three wide, ten row lineup and  took the lead in the second half of the thirty lapper to pick up the first "Big Dance" title of the week.

   Twenty heat races in both the Northern Sport Mods (192 cars), and Hobby Stocks (179 cars), whittled down their transfers, and the first Sport Mod twenty five lap feature was perhaps the race of the night.  Something close to a half dozen lead changes sandwiched around only two yellow flags saw Lee County Speedway regular Tyler Heckart score a thrilling win. Tyler started in row three, topping eleventh starting Cole Suckow, Austin, Minnesota driver Michael Johnson, early leader Michael Poston and nineteenth starting Brayton Carter. The top eight cars would be locked into the inside row for their Saturday night finale. In typical Super Nationals fashion, ten states were represented in the thirty car feature field! 

   IMCA Late Models make only one appearance during Nationals week, and for the last several years that has been as a complete show on Monday. Thirty nine cars signed in representing six different states.  Four heat races each transferred the top three to the fifty lap finale. Illinois racer Jesse Bodin, Nebraska driver Zack Zeitner and Iowan Jesse Sobbing all picked up wins from the front row while Newman Grove, Nebraska ace Cory Dumpert topped heat three after starting in row four. A pair of B Mains filled out the twenty four car grid, with Carthage, Illinois driver Austen Becerra, and Cody Thompson, Sioux City, Iowa collecting wins. 

   The Late Model headliner was a wild one, with the caution flag waving five times. Following a pizza box redraw, Zeitner and Bodin fired off from row one, Zach leading lap one and Jesse pacing lap two. Fourth starting Sobbing took over on lap three. While battling for the top spot, Bodin brought out the first yellow on lap eight with a spin likely caused by a flat tire. The field bottled up on the restart, with Iron Man Darrel Defrance looping his ride. As racing resumed, row seven starter Cody Thompson was flying through the field, entering the top five on lap ten. Sobbing continued to lead running high on the track while Zeitner worked down low and Dumpert trailed close behind. With seventeen in the books the caution came as Drew Baker slowed, and as the field reset, Dumpert gave up his third place run, retiring to the pits. Now it was C. J. Horn joining the front two.. As Sobbing pulled slightly ahead, Zeitner did the same in second while Thompson continued his charge to fourth. A final stop came just after halfway as J.J. Rodeman saw his night come to an end. Thompson powered to third on the restart and the top three opened up an advantage on the field. Travis Denning had lined up in the twenty fourth position at the start, but he was now battling hard with Logan Veloz for fourth. Thompson continued to move forward, clearing Zeitner with thirteen laps remaining, and the leaders caught slower traffic at lap forty, just as Denning pulled off the speedway. The final eight laps was edge of your seat racing as Thompson and Sobbing exchanged slide jobs and crossovers, but this one belonged to Sobbing and his #99. Going down the backstretch on the final circuit Thompson suddenly slowed, with Zeitner wheeling around him to claim the runner up spot. Horn and Veloz rounded out the top five. South Dakota racer Kole Nordquist ran sixth, chased by twelfth starting Matt Ryan. Andy Nezworski advanced a dozen spots to eighth while Kale Kosiski gained ten positions to run ninth. Jake Bridge completed the top ten.  

   As mentioned, there was still lots of racing to be had at this juncture, but Tuesday was a workday for three in our group, and this writer was four hours from home! So we took our leave, pleased with the action we had seen! 

   The Super Nationals event, with over 1100 total entries is like no other, a spectacle that must be seen to be believed! And now for a nap...