Saturday was 34 For Kids Night at 34 Raceway west of West Burlington. The event, which included tons of giveaways for toddlers all the way through seventeen was rained out the previous week. Additionally, there was a driver meet and greet behind the grandstands, and a fireworks presentation after the races. Five IMCA divisions plus the Mini Hauler Trucks filled out the racing card. Arriving during the heat races, 305 Sprint driver Ryan Jamison swelled the field to 96 competitors.
Unlike our last visit, heat race action was plagued by numerous cautions, as some drivers seem to have trouble finding grip on the smooth surface. Still the race of the night may have been the third late model heat when Andy Nezworski and Austen Becerra, subbing in the Boles Racing #4B raced side by side for at least six of the eight laps.
While the concession folks worked hard thinning out the lines from the large crowd, 305 Sprints lined up for the first feature, 14 cars for 15 laps. Thirteen year old Braxton Flatt charged to the lead from the outside pole with his row one mate John Barnard in pursuit. Following a yellow flag with one lap scored, those two pulled away from the field. Dugan Thye began to run down the leaders ahead of a second and final caution with five laps to go. On the restart, Dugan dropped to seventh as Flatt and Barnard again drove off from the pack. The junior high schooler pulled away for the win to the delight of the crowd. Barnard was second, followed by Luke Lane, Riley Scott, and a rebounding Thye.
Sport Mods turned out a full field of 24, with all taking the green flag for 20 laps. Korey Stuart took the early lead while Sean Wyett drove from row four to second. Wyett nosed ahead on lap three, but the first of four cautions negated the pass. Back to racing Wyett again grabbed the lead while Bryson Eckrich, aided by the Delaware restart jumped from fifth to second. Following the next restart with seven in the books, it was tenth starting Jarrett Franzen charging to third. Back to green after a lap ten stoppage, it became a two car battle between Wyett and Eckrich. As they crossed the stripe with six laps remaining, Eckrich was out front by a nose. One more caution came with four to go, and this time it was a single file restart. At the checkers it was 16 year old Bryson with his first 34 Raceway feature win, his sixth overall in 2026. Wyett was the bridesmaid followed by Franzen, John Oliver Jr., and Jarrett VanDenBerg.
Mini Haulers lined up 11 strong for a dozen laps. Austin Roose was the early leader over Nick Wilkerson in a truck with #44 hiding a #9. Lap two saw Wilkerson and Caleb Ealey slip past the leader, then disaster struck as Roose landed upside down exiting turn four, collecting Brett Timmerman. Wilkerson held the top spot through a lap four yellow, then he and Ealey pulled away from the pack. Staying close, Caleb was finally able to make a winning pass with four laps to go. Wilkerson would settle for the runner up spoy ahead of Ethan Brown, Hayden Delzell, and Larry Hooper.
Another strong group of 20 Late Models came to the track for 25 circuits. After his heat race win, Andy Nezworski redrew the pole position and charged to the lead ahead of third starting Tommy Elston. Jake Griffin soon joined the front duo in a three car breakaway. On lap eight, Elston climbed the ladder and nosed ahead of Nezworski, but a yellow flag negated the pass. Back under green, Elston was once more able to slip around the #7, but again the caution flag came. The final 17 laps went caution free, with Nezworski now cruising along while Elston battled with Griffin for second. With about four to go, Andy hesitated briefly as he worked to overtake a slower car, and Elston was able to quickly erase what had been a comfortable lead. But "Nez" was up to the challenge, and he held off the track point leader to pick up the win. Griffin briefly gave up third to Travis Denning, but recovered to round out the podium, while Logan Veloz raced home in fifth. Sixth through tenth went to Becerra, Curtis Glover, Mark Burgtorf, Denny Woodworth, and Jesse Bodin.
Stock Cars were the "good guys," with 15 caution free laps for the 15 competitors. Cody Staley paced the opening circuit, giving way to Casen Keller and Jordon Miles on lap two. That pair put on a thrilling display of clean, hard racing. While Keller led the final 14 laps, Miles was on his bumper all the way, making one last charge on the final lap. No one in the crowd could be sure who the winner was. Electronic scoring told us it was Keller picking up his first ever Stock Car win by .018 seconds! John Oliver Jr. fought heavy traffic, advancing five positions to third in front of ninth starting David Brandies, and Austin Kemper.
Modifieds put a cap on the action, 13 cars for 20 laps. And once again it was the youth movement coming out ahead. Logan Anderson survived a pair of early cautions, holding off first Eric Barnes and then Jed Freiburger driving a #37, small 6 car with his familiar #6 on the roof ? Following a lap seven caution, Jace Eckrich charged to second, battling with Freiburger. A final yellow came just past halfway for a rare Austen Becerra spin as he ran in fourth. Eckrich began to pressure Anderson as racing resumed. With three laps to go, Logan drifted high in turn three allowing the Flyin' 50 to grab the top spot. Like his 16 year old cousin before him, 17 year old Jace Eckrich held on for the win, increasing his track points lead. Anderson Freiburger, Chris Zogg, and Barnes completed the top five.
There will be no racing next Saturday at 34 Raceway, with season championship action set for August 22. Thanks to Brad, Jessi, and crew for a fun Saturday night!
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