Thornton Wins Opener, Carter Doubles Up at Memphis

    For the first time since a rained out event in 2018, the high powered Late Models invaded Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. Joe Kosiskis' Super Late Model Racing - SLMR - series opened their east division season on the wide, super fast four tenths mile speed plant. Stock Cars, B Mods, and 4 Cylinder Compacts filled out the card on a cool Friday evening. $3,000 to win plus championship points would be plenty of incentive for the traveling Late Model stars. Race director Mike VanGenderen and his team had the surface in tip top condition. 

   Twenty five Late Models topped the sixty eight car field in the four division program. SLMR uses a bit of a convoluted qualifying system involving time trials, inverts and passing points to set their feature field, and for this season they decided to time within specific heat race groups according to the draw at check in. California transplant Dylan Thornton topped the time trial portion overall with a lap of 17.628 seconds, leading group one. Clear as mud, right?

   A top six invert for the three eight lap heat races saw rookie Dallon Murty and western Iowa hot shoe Shane Demay capture wins from the front row, while third generation Nebraska racer Andrew Kosiski came from row two for the third heat victory. Fellow Nebraska driver Jason Hobscheidt claimed the ten lap B main. Adding three provisional starters found only two drivers on the outside looking in for the thirty lap money race, although Derrick Stewart was a no show as the green flag waved.  

   The series has a bonus program which offers the pole sitter the opportunity to start the feature in position six, and collect the cash if he is victorious. Carried over from 2024, the bonus was worth an extra $500 this night, and last seasons' SLMR west division champion Jesse Sobbing took the challenge. Ultimately he fell short of the win, and that bonus will be worth $700 as the series moves to Norfolk, Nebraska tonight for the western division opener. 

   Chad Simpson and C.J. Horn led the field to green, with Andrew Kosiski powering to second behind Simpson as lap one was scored. Thornton had lined up in row three, but he climbed to the runner up spot on the third time around, and he began to methodically run down Simpson as the duo separated from the pack. Chad would catch the back of the field by lap nine, and as slower traffic came into play, Thornton used a power move off the high side of turn two and a low line dive in turn three to take over the lead on lap twelve. As the leaders continued to encounter heavy traffic in the caution free race, Simpson would often close in on the leader only to have Dylan weave his way through the slower cars to build a cushion. With just five circuits remaining Simpson made a last solid move to close in on Thornton, but once again the #38T was able to clear a lapped car and drive off to victory. Simpson settled for the runner up position, while Murty would no doubt have liked to see a late caution after charging from a row five start to third at the checkers. Sobbing held off Jake Neal to complete the top five. Kosiski faded to sixth over twelfth starting "Chargin'" Charlie McKenna, sixteen year old Missouri driver Kayden Clatt, Modified star and Late Model rookie Tim Ward and Webster City, Iowas' Jason Hahne. Tri State standout Austen Becerra, in I believe his first SLMR start, was the hard charger, coming from nineteenth to eleventh. The thirty non stop laps was a testament to the superb track, which received a bit of manicuring during intermission. 

   Compacts had run the first feature of the evening just ahead of the Late Model B main. For whatever reason, only five of the 4 Cylinder warriors showed up on this night. The twelve lap main contest saw Brandon Reu grab the lead on lap one and hold off Barry Taft the rest of the way in the non stop event. Jordon Ohaver would come home in third. 

   All but three of the solid twenty four car B Mod group lined up for eighteen laps of action. Quincy, Il. ace Logan Cumby jumped from the pole start ahead of his row one mate, Brandon Dale. Those two quickly pulled away ahead of a caution with five laps down for a spin by fourth running Kyler Girard. Brayton Carter had redrawn the number twelve pill, but as racing resumed he would take over that fourth position, locked in a four car battle for third. The next yellow flag came with seven in the books, and back under green, Dale would charge to the lead while Carter powered to second. Cumby was still strong in the top five when he suddenly ducked to the infield just past the halfway mark. Just as the leaders caught slower traffic on lap thirteen the caution flag would wave for the third time one lap later. As racing resumed, Cody Agee moved to third and fourth running Charlie Rindom drove too high in turn one, smacking the guard rail and bringing a final caution. Agee briefly took second, but it was Carter with the momentum and with only two circuits remaining he dove under Dale to grab the top spot, then drove away for the win. Brandon Dale, from just down the road in Arbela brought his #12D home in second followed by Agee, Dawson David, and Chris Spalding. Although "Speedy Bray" gained eleven positions in taking home first, it was Tonganoxie, Kansas visitor Brayden Bennett claiming hard charger, as he moved up fourteen slots to finish sixth. 

   Fourteen Stock Cars produced a dramatic finale to the program. Only Jason See failed to make the twenty lap feature call. Jay Schmidt and Derrick Agee filled out row one, with Agee gaining the early advantage. Only one lap was scored before the first caution, and back to racing it was two and three wide action behind the leader, which allowed Derrick to open a sizable gap on the field. Damon Murty would clear the traffic to grab second on lap four, and two laps later top contender Maguire DeJong would bring out the yellow, ending his top five run. As racing resumed, Murty and Michael Jaennette waged a battle for the runner up spot while Agee again drove off from the field. Often times we see the Stock Cars prefer the inside groove, but on this fast two groove surface, most of the leaders were operating high on the cushion. In addition to his B Mod, Brayton Carter was behind the wheel of the Vandenberg #7V Stock Car, and after starting fourth and battling early, he jumped to third on lap thirteen running the low line. As the leaders prepared to take the white flag, Jaennette slipped off the top of the treacherous cushion between turns three and four, triggering a  final caution and setting up a green, white, checkers finish. Although he saw his big lead disappear, Agee appeared to remain in control. However on the final lap he got too high coming off turn two, lost momentum, and Carter was ready to pounce. Although he led only half a lap, it was Brayton doubling up as he grabbed the Stock Car honors, as well as the B Mod crown. Agee was likely a bit disappointed in second. Murty hung around in third, trailed by Dennis Elliot and Schmidt. Garrett Porter improved the most positions, starting in thirteenth and crossing the line in sixth. 

   Anticipation was high for Late Model fans wanting to witness the high horsepower machines on the Scotland County speed plant, and I doubt anyone left disappointed. And certainly the B Mods and Stock Cars only added to a solid night of racing, which wrapped up before 10:00P.M.! Now in just under two months, the winged Sprint Invaders will test out the wide, fast track in what promises to be another "edge of your seat" event! Thanks to MVG and everyone at the track for their hospitality and for a great night of racing!

Pierce is Slocum 50 Champ Once Again

    It seemed only one thing could keep Bobby Pierce from a fifth Slocum 50 title at 34 Raceway on Saturday, but for a brief moment it looked like it might happen. The second generation driver, currently the hottest and perhaps most popular racer in the country took the lead on lap six and survived lapped traffic to sweep the weekend features by no more than a car length over hard charging Carson Ferguson. 

   One addition - Ryan Gustin - and two subtractions left us with a strong thirty eight car field of MARS Super Late Models at the three eighths mile high banked West Burlington facility. The first driver out for qualifying, affectionately known as "Squirrel," Brian Shirley led things off by turning the overall quick time of 15.183 seconds on what various drivers described to pit reporter Dustin Jarrett as a " tricky" racing surface. All four eight lap heat races were captured from the pole position, with Shirley, Dennis Erb Jr., Pierce and Ferguson taking wins, then redrawing for the front pair of rows for the fifty lap headliner. Two B Main last chance races looked like mini features of their own, with again pole sitters Garrett Alberson and Frank Heckenast Jr. taking wins. Indeed, Heckenast was a story on his own, timing in seventeenth in his group of nineteen, advancing from row five to finish one spot out of the four car transfer in his heat, then charging to a B main win. Unfortunately, his run ended early in the main event. Three provisionals were awarded on this night, giving us a twenty three car lineup for the $10,555 to win feature.

   Shirley jumped to the feature lead from the outside pole, followed by his row one mate Ferguson. The North Carolina pilot would power past Shirley to lead lap two, and third starting Pierce also cleared Shirley on lap three. Pierce moved to the front on lap six, briefly ceding the spot to Ferguson for lap seven. With Carson racing down low on the reworked surface, Bobby used a higher line to charge back ahead one lap later in what quickly became a two car breakaway. With Erb moving to third, the leaders caught the back of the pack on lap seventeen. Pierce was forced to give up his low line to negotiate the traffic as Ferguson continued to move around, searching for an opening. With Pierce gaining some separation, Erb and eleventh starting Gordy Gundaker closed in on Ferguson. One lap before the halfway mark hard luck Drake Troutman slowed with a flat tire to bring out the first yellow flag. With clear track ahead, the leaders migrated to the inside line even as Gundaker climbed to third. Pierce opened a comfortable lead ahead of a lap twenty nine caution for Kayden Clatt. Back to racing, Gundaker was shuffled back as Erb and Shirley filled out the top four. Pierce was well out front and Ferguson had a sizable advantage in second when Bobby again caught the tail of the pack on lap thirty nine. For the next few laps Pierce had things well in hand, but as lap forty three was scored, Ferguson was closing fast. Pierce was trying to keep his machine in the bottom groove, but Carson managed to poke the nose of his #93 even lower. As the white flag waved the pair raced side by side, and as they entered the final set of turns it looked like Ferguson would seal the deal. So with the large crowd on their collective feet, Pierce slid his ride all the way to the top of turn four and found enough bite to clear Ferguson down the front straightaway for a breathtaking win. Erb Jr., Gundaker, and Tony Jackson Jr. completed the top five. Jake Timm advanced ten positions to finish a weekend best six, while Ryan Unzicker picked up a dozen spots to claim seventh. McKay Wenger, Shirley, and Dylan Thornton rounded out the top ten. As mentioned earlier, it was an unbelievable fifth Slocum 50 title for Pierce, added to his Friday win in the Prelude and a runner up finish Thursday at Cedar County Raceway. So he will now return to the World of Outlaw Late Model series, likely giving up his hefty MARS points lead. 

   Before the excitement of the Late Model finale, both IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars did battle. Twenty laps of Modified action saw Michael Claeys and Denny Eckrich bring the field to green, with Denny jumping to the front. As the veteran driver stretched his margin, an intense three car scrum developed behind him, with Claeys, Chris Zogg, and Sport Mod move up Logan Anderson vying for position. Soon the #32 Skylar Harroun car, driven this night by Carson Ferguson, joined the battle. On lap six, Anderson cleared that group, taking the runner up spot, and began to close on the leader. At the half way mark, Eckrich and Anderson raced side by side, and Logan then charged ahead, soon opening a comfortable lead. Slowly becoming comfortable in the strange ride, Ferguson eased around Eckrich for second just ahead of a lone caution with lap fifteen official. Back to racing, Anderson held on for an emotional win, his third in six tries since moving up to the Mods. Ferguson ran second chased by Eckrich and eighth starting Dustin Wilwert. Claeys won a side by side battle with Blaise Lewis for fifth. 

   The Stock Car turnout was surprisingly light, but still produced an entertaining fifteen lap feature. Kirk Kinsley and John Oliver Jr. brought the field to green, and it was Kinsley getting the jump to the front. Oliver lurked in second, patiently waiting for an opening that never came. Beginning at lap ten, he applied pressure to the veteran Kinsley, and the pair raced nose to tail under the white flag. As the pair entered turns three and four for the final time, Oliver jumped to the high line looking for extra momentum. His gamble failed to pay off, as not only did Kinsley hold on for the win in the non stop event, but Brayton Carter managed to drive underneath Oliver to grab second. Corey Strothman and Austin O'Donnell filled out the remaining spots. 

   Despite less than ideal weather conditions, a large and enthusiastic crowd once again turned out to honor the memory of Brent Slocum and they were rewarded with top notch racing and an on your feet finish. After seventeen seasons, this continues to be a highlight event of the racing season. Thanks once again to Jessi Mynatt, Brad Stevens, and their entire team for their hospitality! Time to catch our breath and begin watching the weather for another full weekend of racing coming up. Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you at the track!

Pierce Preps for a Shot at Five with Prelude to the Slocum Win

    Friday night the MARS Super Late Model mini tour moved south to 34 Raceway near West Burlington, Iowa for the Prelude to the Slocum. $5,000 would be the top prize for the opening night of the popular tribute weekend. Only one "support" class would be in action on the night, with the 305 Sprint Cars, a regular weekly division, vying for $1,055 to win. In case you have been living in a cave, you likely know that Brent Slocum was a popular and successful area racer who tragically lost his life in a pit accident in 2005. Incredibly, it has been nearly twenty years since his passing, but through the efforts of track owners Brad Stevens and Jessi Mynatt as well as the Brent Slocum Foundation they formed, this race has become a "can't miss" event as well as raising funds for many local causes during its seventeen runnings. Over the years, the Late Models have raced under a few different sanctions, and this was the first time since the 2016 season under the MARS umbrella.

   On a day when it would have been easy to cancel, with off and on showers and a biting northwest win, track officials persevered. Indeed, it took thirty minutes or so of dedicated track packing, but when the moisture was worked in we were presented with a fast and amazingly smooth surface that needed no further manicuring during the night!

    Thirty five of the Thursday night Late Models competing at Tipton made the trip south, and with four new additions, there were thirty nine of the high powered machines set to do battle on the high banked three eighths mile clay oval. A surprisingly small field of ten 305 Sprint Cars completed the field in front of a crowd no doubt held down a bit by the less than ideal weather conditions. 

   Time trial qualifying for the MARS cars was split into two groups, and the fourth car out, #22* driven by Pennsylvania youngster Drake Troutman turned a lap of 15.409 seconds to lead group"A." As the track became faster, Thursday quick timer Carson Ferguson, racing out of North Carolina rolled out fifth in Group "B" and circled the oval at 15.136 on his way to another fast time bonus. But the final car out, New Mexico racer Garrett Alberson, driving the Quad Cities based Roberts Motorsports #58, and one of the four "newcomers," blistered the track with a lap of 15.053 for the overall quick time.  

  Four eight lap heat races were again won from the front row, helped along by the "straight up" starts. Troutman, Bobby Pierce, Brian Shirley, and Dennis Erb Jr. were victorious. Those four would redraw to set the first two rows of the 40 lap feature. Two ten lap B mains would then advance only the top two finishers in each. Pole sitter Justin Duty from Molalla, Oregon, and outside row one starter McKay Wenger would capture those checkered flags. The race of the night came in the first of these last chance qualifiers, as Dylan Thornton, who lists Orcutt, California as home, and Iowa racer Matt Furman traded paint and slide jobs in a battle behind Duty. Thornton finally prevailed, with his #38T showing some battle scars afterwards! Two MARS series points provisional starters would then round out the twenty two car starting field.  

   Following a very brief break, all but one of the Sprint Cars lined up for fifteen laps of action. From outside row one, heat two winner Colton Fisher shot to the lead ahead of his row one mate, first heat winner Jeff Wilke. Fisher had opened a commanding lead when his engine appeared to let go with billowing smoke and a few flames as he crossed the line to complete lap six. Tanner Gebhardt was able to move around Wilke on the restart. With close racing behind the leader, Donnie Steward saw his strong run come to an end on lap eleven, again with possible engine woes. Gebhardt was able to build a comfortable lead and cruise to the win. Wilke, McCain Richards, Riley Scott, and Cole Helmerson completed the top five. 

   It was now Late Model time.Troutman and Pierce would lead the field to green, with Drake setting the pace. On lap three, Pierce jumped to the cushion and powered to the front, quickly moving back to the inside line around the oval. The first caution came at lap seven for Justin Reed, who rejoined the field at the tail. Erb Jr. cleared Troutman for second on the restart as Pierce began to stretch his advantage. With most of the field liking the low line, Troutman was pounding the cushion, holding his own, but unable to move forward. Wenger would bring the the next yellow flag with a flat tire sixteen laps in. Back to racing eighth starting Ferguson climbed to fourth and two circuits later Troutman drove around Erb for second ahead of a multi car scrum in turns one and two. Now Erb regained the runner up spot and Shirley shot to fourth. Troutman would bring a caution at lap twenty one, his run over, as his bad luck continued for a second straight night. The final yellow flag waved with twenty seven in the books as Bob Gardner slowed on the track and sixth running Tanner English went to the infield hot pit for a tire change. As the green flag flew for the final laps, Erb made a strong bid for the lead, pulling alongside Pierce. Bobby then went topside once again, found a fast line, and cruised home to the win. With all the cautions, only one of the remaining nineteen cars failed to finish on the lead lap. Erb would stay strong in second, followed by Shirley, Ferguson, and fourteenth starting Shannon Babb. Brandon Sheppard led the second five after a back and forth battle with Alberson and seventeenth starting Duty. Jason Feger and provisional starter Tony Jackson Jr. rounded out the top ten. 

   The win was worth $5,000 for the second generation hot shoe Pierce, but he has his eye on the bigger prize tonight, the coveted Slocum 50, of which he is a four time winner! $10,555 is up for grabs in honor of the  driver of the "High 5". If you are in attendance tonight remember the high five show of hands in the air on lap number five! Modifieds for $1,000 to win and Stock Cars will also be on the card in what should be an awesome show.  

   Thanks to Jessi, Brad and the gang for their hospitality!

  

Sheppard Opens a Big Weekend with MARS Hawkeyeland 40 Win

    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!

Olson, LaMar, Woodruff, Montomery, McDermott and Gar - Whoops - Nezworski Top Davenport Opener

    Friday we geared up for what will hopefully be a busy April with our first 2025 visit to Davenport Speedway. It was the season opener in year number two for promoter and part time racer Jeff Struck. A full six division card of IMCA Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, Outlaw Street Stocks, IMCA Hobby Stocks, and 4 Cylinder cars made for an entertaining night of racing under cool conditions. Even though a double line of trucks and trailers stretched on to Locust Street when we arrived an hour before hot laps, the ladies at the pit shack somehow managed to get all 109 race teams checked in in time for hot laps to fire off right as scheduled at 6:30. And other than a couple of small glitches including a cranky scoreboard, opening night clicked off in mid season form. 

   With a top of twenty five entries in both Modified classes, no B mains were run, and the fourteen heat races clicked off in ninety minutes. The track packer made a couple passes between some of the qualifiers to help widen out the surface, but following a brief fifteen minute break there were no delays between the main events.

   IMCA Sport Mods came to the track first, dueling for fifteen laps. There was some attrition in this division, with only twenty cars taking the green flag. Heat two winner Tony Olson redrew the pole position and immediately shot to a sizable lead ahead of Ryan Reed and Levi Laymon. About six laps in (during a scoreboard malfunction!), a pair of yellow flags were followed by Laymon using the Delaware style restart to move to second while Reed was shuffled back in the pack. Olson was cruising coming to the white flag when a final yellow flag set up a green, white checkers shootout. Another shuffle up front saw first heat winner Cole Suckow take over the runner up slot, but Olson stayed in control for the win. Laymon, Josh Starr, and Kyle Hoffman completed the first five.   

   IMCA Hobby Stocks turned out an impressive seventeen cars, with all lining up for a dozen laps around the quick quarter mile. A lap one spin sent front runners Carson Butt and Daniel Wauters to the tail for the restart. Second heat victor Matt Bennett then assumed the lead ahead of another caution one lap in. Back under green, Bennett saw his good run end as he suddenly slowed and exited the track on lap five. Randy LaMar, who had lined up in row eight now grabbed the top spot with Nick Proehl in hot pursuit. Although he continued to apply pressure, Proehl would settle for second behind the hard charging LaMar. Wauters climbed back through the field to finish third ahead of heat one winner Jason Schutterle and Sheldon Hunter. 

   Only eleven of the fourteen Outlaw Street Stocks made the call for fifteen laps. Cary Brown led the pack early battling side by side with Landen Chrestensen. Following a lap six caution Rob Nylin took up the chase as Brown, Nylin and Blake Woodruff pulled away from the field. With eleven laps scored, Woodruff used a successful slide job in turn four to grab the lead, and a final caution came one lap later. Nylin drove to second on the restart, but the checkers would be for Woodruff. Heat two winner Jesse Owen gained five positions to finish third in front of Brown and Andrew Burk. 

   Twenty laps would be the distance for the IMCA Modifieds, and all twenty five came to the track. A turn one collision on the opening lap created the longest delay of the night, and again the yellow flag waved on the next try. Finally getting started, Kyle Montgomery and Kaity Sample, Winnemucca, Nevada paced the field, with Sample leading laps two through five before slowing and pulling to the infield on lap six. At the same time the caution came out for Spencer Diercks, who suffered heavy body damage in an altercation. Back under green, Kurt Kile took up the chase, battling for second with Logan Veloz in a three car breakaway. Veloz moved around Kile and began a tight duel with Montgomery before a pair of cautions at laps thirteen and fifteen. Back to racing, Veloz attempted a slider on the leader out of turn four, but Montgomery was able to cross him over to hold the lead. Veloz suddenly left the track in turn one while twelfth starting Charlie Mohr shot to the runner up position. But Montgomery would hold serve the rest of the way, with heat winners Derek Thompson and Matt Werner edging Kile to round out the top five. 

   4 Cylinders turned out the smallest car count at eleven, with only nine left come feature time. Travis Hawkins jumped out front, with heat two winner Shawn McDermott moving in to challenge as the race passed the halfway mark. Approaching the final circuit, Hawkins got out of shape, the caution flag waved, and Hawkins went to the tail of the field. Dustin Munn challenged McDermott briefly, but at the line it was McDermott, Dustin Forbes, Munn, and first heat winner Jason Rhoads. Michael Grossman crossed the line in fifth, but failed post race tech, turning fifth over to Nolan Morrow. 

  For the night cap, it was fifteen IMCA Late Models doing battle. Dave Wadsager had smacked a ute tire in turn three during hot laps to end his night. Travis Denning finished third in the first heat, but redrew the outside pole position. But when the cars came to the track, the #56D would not fire off, and Denning needed a push back to the pits, taking out a top contender. The field was crisscrossed and Bryce Garnhart took advantage to power to the early lead. As the field shuffled behind him, Garnhart, the heat two winner, opened a sizable advantage over second running Jake Morris, Andy Nezworski, Evan Miller, and first heat victor Matt Ryan. Three times the yellow flag would wave with four laps scored, the final one eliminating Mitch Morris and Scott Strauss. When Nezworski cleared Jake Morris on lap seven Garnhart was again well out front, and he continued to build his lead. With no more stoppages, the #3 had about a half track advantage when the checkers fell. And he was doing his post race interview as we headed for the parking lot just after 10:30. But checking official results as we made our Kwik Star coffee stop just south of town, the leader board showed Nezworski with the win! A check this morning found Bryce had been fifteen pounds light at the scales after the victory lane festivities. So the final rundown became Nezworski with the win followed by Ryan, Morris, Miller, and Cruz Birkhofer. Joel Callahan advance nine spots to run sixth ahead of Jesse Bodin, Ryan Claeys, Broderick Prescott, and Anthony Guss. 

   Thanks go out to Jeff Struck and the helpful ladies at the pit shack for an entertaining night at the track! Racing is finally in full swing and things are warming up, so get to the track and maybe we will see you there!

Spring National Night in Memphis

   

The  Friday opening night of the Memphis. Mo. Spring Nationals at the Scotland County Speedway was cancelled a day early due to wet grounds as well as a forecast of unfavorable weather conditions. So we resumed our season for the Saturday night portion of the event. Five classes would be in competition on the wide, fast oval, identified anywhere from a three eighths to a half mile track. And even with cool temps and a steady breeze, the early start time of 5:30 hot laps gave us hope of an early conclusion to the action. Even with the show down to one day, a solid field of eighty competitors signed in from six states, including Minnesota, Kansas, and California.

   Hot laps kicked off about twenty minutes after the 5:30 advertised time, but after the delay the show clicked off quickly, with the final checkers waving about 9:10. Eleven heat races ran off in timely fashion with inspections and redraws in the infield, and after a short ten minute break it was feature time. Stock Cars were up first, with all but one of the sixteen on hand lining up for twenty laps. Derrick Agee shot to the lead for outside row one, holding off hard charging John Oliver Jr. and Maguire DeJong. But on the eighth lap, Agee caught a rut in turn two, allowing both drivers to drive underneath him. A pair of yellow flags kept things tight, but once out front Oliver Jr. was the leader each time by the flag stand, picking up the hard fought win. DeJong won a close battle with Agee for second, while Brayton Carter in the Vandenberg #7V and second heat winner Jason See completed the top five. 

   The hybrid B Mod/Sport Mod class would be next, with all sixteen again set for twenty laps. Brayton Carter climbed from the Stock Car into his #01 Sport Mod, lining up on the front row, and as they used to say, "that was all she wrote!" "Speedy Bray survived a couple of cautions, but was basically unchallenged, driving off to the flag to flag win. Cam Reimers stayed close to the leader in the late going, but could not mount a serious challenge. Dawson David gained four spots to claim third ahead of Colton Livezey and eighth starting Chris Spalding. 

   The A Mod class was a bit light with a dozen entries, but with Clash on the Coast champion Austen Becerra pulling the number two pill, it mattered not. Driving a car lettered to resemble his late father Tony, who turned many fast laps at Memphis, Austen drove off into the Scotland County night in the non stop twenty lapper. Dylan Thornton, who lists Orcutt, California as home, but spends much of the season in the mid west held off Stock Car hot shoe Joel Rust in a Precision Performance #151 for runner up honors. Quad City youngster Charlie Mohr and Troy Corders rounded out the first five. 

   Twenty three Compacts checked in after Dyllan Bonk lost an engine during the pre race afternoon practice session, with nineteen taking the feature green flag. Following a lap one mix up, second starting Kimberly Abbott paced the early laps, with Barry Taft and Brandon Reu in hot pursuit. Jeffery Delonjay, who along with brother Jaden appeared to half throttle through their heat races, perhaps using the show as a "test and tune, " suddenly decided to "go for it," shooting from fourth to the lead in the blink of an eye off turn two.  Halfway through the fourteen laps, Reu made contact with Abbott, who then contacted the tire barrier between turns one and two. Track officials decided to return Kimberly to the second position and send Reu to the tail, so he pulled his #27 to the infield. Back to racing, Abbotts' #71 suddenly slowed on the backstretch, piling up the cars of Caleb Giese and Josh Clark, with Clark ending up on his side. Delonjay then raced on to an apparent win, but was met in victory lane by race director Mike VanGenderen, who after a brief conversation and a hand shake, radioed to the tower that the 32D was a DQ, and the win would go the Barry Taft. So apparently the "test and tune" part was accurate. This would move New York Mills, Minnesota driver Travis Roush to second and lady racer Katelynn Watts to third. Matt Moore stated in row eight and finished fourth in front of twentieth starting Joshua Glaspie. Only eight cars were running at the checkers. 

   Thirteen Hobby Stocks would be the closing act. The dominant driver around these parts, Dustin Griffiths did not have his familiar #10G in the pits, but was instead wheeling a Jim Tull #22X. And wouldn't you know it, Dustin drew the number one pill! Eric Knutson had gotten the better of Griffiths in their heat race, but after starting fourth he could do no more than chase Dustin until he lost the handle on his #12 coming to the "two to go" wave of Kevin Egglestons' green flag. Griffiths picked up the win, with seventh starting Corey VanDerwilt topping Brad Graham for second. Tom Killen Jr. and Preston McDonald also collected top fives. 

   If any of this information is inaccurate, I apologize, as about halfway through feature racing I lost my notebook to the unknown depths below the bleachers, never to be seen again, as there is no access below!

   VanGenderen and his crew now move on the the Bloomfield, Iowa Speedway next weekend for the Southern Iowa Frost Out, and racing action will return to Memphis on Friday, April 25, as the SLMR Late Models will highlight a "can't miss" show! 

   Not sure what is next for yours truly, indeed this aging computer seems to be hanging on by a thread, but stay tuned and we will hopefully see you at the track soon!

Opening the Season in Grand ( Springfield) Style

    The abrupt change in temperatures came just in time for us to kick off our 2025 racing season. The two full nights of action came at the same venue where we closed out 2024, Springfield, Mo. Raceway. Conceived last fall by track owner/promoter Jerry Hoffman along with racer Justin Wells, the event was originally to be a weekend showcase honoring the roots of southwest Missouri racing, the MLRA, as well as a pair of original series legends, Darrell Mooneyham, and the inaugural MLRA champion from 1989, Ken Essary, with special invitations extended to former series champions. Friday nights' Late Model feature would pay $5,036 to win, a nod to thirty six years of the tour, while the Saturday winner would collect $6,036. Following the shocking announcement that Lucas Oil Racing had disbanded the series, Hoffman decided to soldier on, and even increased the Saturday top prize to a cool $10,036, perhaps reflecting the savings of sanction fees. Cash for Late Model fast time and heat race winners also sweetened the pot. A healthy payout was also on the line for the other four classes on the card, B Mods, Midwest A and B divisions, as well as Legends. Those four groups would run heat races only on Friday, double heats for the B Mods, with B and A mains on Saturday, while Late Models would of course stage two complete shows.

   We expected a solid field of competitors filling the pit area, and came prepared for two exciting nights of action with quickly falling temps, and we were not disappointed!

   Ninety one teams signed in on Friday, topped by twenty eight Super Late Models. Truthfully I expected a few more cars, but then again it was still February in the mid west and many teams are simply not yet ready to go. As it is, I certainly had no complaints about the competition or the show, which began very near the 6:15 advertised start time. 

   Late Model time trials clicked off smoothly, with Chatham, Illinois ace Brian Shirley tripping the clock at 12.041 seconds around the quick quarter mile. The widely accepted though hardly fan friendly line up procedure of fast timers up front reared its ugly head with all four eight lap heats won from the pole position. Shirley, Tony Jackson Jr., Clayton Stuckey and Dillon McCowan picked up the $100 heat race bonus after being the top four timing in. The pattern held as Justin Wells topped the ten lap B Main from the pole, which added four cars to the sixteen heat race qualifiers. Unfortunately, Logan Martin, who was wheeling a second car for the Austin Vincent team after closing down his own operation had already blown an engine and was the only scratch from the "B."

   Starting once again from the pole, Shirley took the lead in the thirty lap main event ahead of Stuckey. The yellow flag flew for the first time on lap four for Kylan Garner. Billy Moyer took advantage of the Delaware restart to climb to second after starting in fifth. The two veterans, Shirley and Moyer quickly pulled away from the pack and were about the catch the back of the field when Jon Kirby spun about lap thirteen. Stuckey then regained the runner up spot as McCowan also slipped past Moyer for third. As the " Squirrel" stretched his margin, McCowan powered to second and appeared to be closing the gap on the leader with a full ten laps to go. But even with slower traffic looming, Shirley maintained a solid lead all the way to the checkers. McCowan settled for second, Jackson Jr. mounted a second half charged to third, and Stuckey nosed out Moyer for fourth. The Gundaker brothers, Trevor and Gordy waged a battle for sixth chased by Sawyer Crigler, Mason Oberkramer and Eli Ross.  

   It was a quick turnaround as the promise of cool temps persuaded Hoffman to bump Saturday start times up to 3:20 hot laps. With a belly full of Lamberts', we settled in as Late Models again staged time trials. Martin, Jimmy VanZandt, and the heavily smoking #7 of Cole Wells were missing from the lineup, with the addition of Glen Powell and Arkansas driver John Briggs bringing the count to twenty seven. An addition here and subtraction there and the Saturday total tally was plus one at ninety two race teams. The afternoon start left the track a bit slower, with Jackson Jr. leading the way at 12.738 seconds. Once again heat wins went to the pole sitters, Jackson Jr., Stuckey, Gordy Gundaker and Shirley. As an added bonus, long time MLRA director Ernie Leftwich sweetened the pot for what turned out to be heat race number one, and Tony Jackson Jr. walked away with a cool $1,100 for eight laps of racing. The best Late Model prelim of the weekend was the Saturday B Main, with nine cars battling for four qualifying positions. West Plains, Mo. driver Dustin Tiger came from row four to grab the win. A time trial mishap found McCowan unable to make repairs in time for his heat or B main. 

   With the balanced fields, no B mains were needed in the other divisions, so feature racing was staged around the Late Model qualifiers. Mid West B Class opened feature racing with seventeen cars battling for twenty laps. Cody Arnett took the early lead from the pole with his row one mate Gavin Buckley in pursuit. The yellow flag would fly four times in the first half of the race as the less experienced drivers fought for position. As the front duo raced side by side just past the mid point, Buckley took over the top spot. He then pulled away in his black #47, surviving one more yellow at lap fifteen. He would cruise to the win, besting Arnett, Jordon Cater, Braxton Rupp and Darren Burt.

   The nineteen competitors in the Legends class had trouble putting more than two green flag circuits together in their twenty lap marathon. Six times in the first dozen laps the caution flag would wave before one final stoppage marred the final eight trips around. This was not bad for everyone, however. Trenton Simon started fourth in his #72s machine, and was attempting to move up early when he looped his ride and was forced to restart at the tail of the single file lineup. Right away he began picking off cars, gaining a few spots ahead of each caution. At the half way mark, he was back to second, and he grabbed the lead on lap twelve, just ahead of another stoppage. A final yellow flag came with fifteen in the books, and this time the field was realigned Delaware Style, perhaps because it was in the five to go window. In any event, the white flag came one lap later, then Simon held on for a popular win. Jay Reynolds ran up front all race long, edging early leader Tanner Foster for second. J P Harris and back row starter Chance Gilbert completed the top five. 

   The Mid West A division was a bit short, growing from nine cars on Friday to a dozen for the finale. But it was three wide racing for the lead as lap one was scored and the yellow flag flew. Pete Richardson brought his sharp looking #64 to the front from row two, while Ben Newell and Jerad McIntire battled for second. Soon hard charging Mark Simon came from row five to grab the runner up position as a gaggle of cars fought behind the leader. Two more cautions slowed the action, but Richardson remained in charge, taking the win. Sundance Keeper came on strong to finish second, chased by McIntire, Newell, and Carter Harrison. 

   Thirty six laps would be the distance for the Super Lates. Jackson Jr. and Stuckey brought the field to green after Matt Menzie went pit side following a puff of smoke. Gordy Gundaker jumped to the early lead with Jackson Jr. in pursuit. A lap two yellow ended the night for Oberkramer. Looking to double up, Shirley used a power move to advance from fourth to second on lap four, taking along Kirby in third. Along with Stuckey, the top four locked on the low side and began to put distance on the pack before catching the tail of the field around lap twelve. Trying to set up the leader, Shirley looped his #3S with thirteen laps scored. Stuckey took second on the restart, then cleared Gundaker for the lead. Following a caution for Tiger, Kirby shot to the runner up spot., then Jackson Jr. slowed to bring out the yellow with fourteen to go. Back to racing Gundaker retook second and Moyer jumped to third. Meanwhile with apparent fresh rubber Jackson Jr. came quickly charging through the field. There was one final caution as the back of the pack got crossed up with a dozen laps left, but there would be no catching the youngster Stuckey. He cruised to the $10,036 payday in front of Gordy Gundaker. Kirby eased around Moyer at the end while Shirley climbed back to fifth. Ross had a strong run in sixth, trailed by Crigler, Jackson Jr., Trevor Gundaker and crafty veteran Raymond Merrill, making his first Late Model starts in nearly three years this weekend. 

   B Mods would round out the fast paced show, nineteen strong for twenty laps. Matt Brookshire led Waylon Dimmitt early as veteran Ken Schrader came from row three to third. Following a lap three caution, Schrader took the runner up slot, then powered to the front on about lap six. Four more times the yellow flag would stop the action, but Schrader appeared to be a day early for his Sunday drive. Each time he would pull well ahead, and the NASCAR and mid west legend cruised to a crowd pleasing victory. Dimmitt settled for second while Cole Campbell made the trip from Mexico, Missouri to claim third. Top competitor Kris Jackson struggled a bit on Friday, but came back in the finale to climb seven positions to fourth ahead of Anthony Ferrara. 

   It was just past 7:30 when the final checkers flew, much appreciated on a chilly evening!

   A fun weekend spent with good friends Jeff, Darryl and Barry marked the beginning of year number seventy spent going to races for yours truly. Although no one could have imagined the changes from 1930's style coupes to the "store bought" machines of today, I still get a thrill watching these warriors challenge each other on the ovals. Hope to see you all soon at the races!