(Sunday, March 31, 2013) - WOW!!! What a difference a year makes, as at this same time last year we were enjoying sunny days with temperatures into the high 70's to low 80's. Plus everybody was wishing they had a track to go racing at, rather then a track to practice on. So what happens in 2013, but tracks scheduling early spring openers. Then guess what, mother nature dumps several inches of snow in the area and temperatures struggle to climb out of the 50's.
Well every year I start by keeping my blog up-to-date after each weekend of racing I take in, but when September and October rolls around it is a struggle for me. Between work and helping out at alot of the fall specials, it seems to get harder to keep up with things. I can say I will try to do better, but only time will tell in the future how well I can stick to that.
My number for 2012 turned out to be a total of 63 races attended, most of those events were at tracks I worked at. Then some of those events were ones in which I went to watch to enjoy some away time from everything. The track I visited most in 2012 was the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, IA, which turned out to be 16. That also happens to be the track I work at each and every week. 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA came in second, with 12 events attended there. Followed by the Peoria Speedway in Peoria, IL with 4 races. The Bloomfield Speedway in Bloomfield, IA and the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA turned out to be 3 events each. Tracks with 2 events each turned out to be the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL, Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, IA, Quad City Speedway in East Moline, IL, and the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, IA. Finally the tracks in which I attended 1 event at include the Farmer City Raceway in Farmer City, IL, Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO, CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction, IA, Tri-City Speedway in Pontoon Beach, IL, Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA, LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, IL, Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, IA, and the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL.
The Bloomfield Speedway, Peoria Speedway, CJ Speedway, Tri-City Speedway, and the Jackson County Speedway were all tracks I returned to in 2012 after several years having passed since I last attended a race at them. Then the Independence Motor Speedway and the LaSalle Speedway were the 2 tracks I attended events at for the first time ever. All of these tracks I hope to get back to during some point in the 2013 season. Plus there are a few I hope I can cross off my list of tracks to attend.
Enough about 2012 and now it's time to look forward to the 2013 season, which has already kick-off at two of the tracks in my area. The Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, IA had there Spring Extravaganza season opener on Friday, March 29th and 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA held there Spring Frostbuster on Saturday, March 30th. More on both those events coming up in the next two blog updates.
Next up for the Lee County Speedway will be the first of three visits by the Sprint Invaders on Friday April 5th, also joining the cards will be the STARS Mod Lite Series along with points openers for the IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods and IMCA Sport Compacts. The following Friday, April 12th will be the 5th Annual Brian Hetrick Memorial 305 Sprint special. With the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Hobby Stocks opening there points seasons. Friday, May 10th will be a IMCA Modified special, then the 305 Sprints return on Friday, May 17th. The Mississippi Valley Vintage Race Cars visit the Lee County Speedway on Memorial Day Weekend Friday, May 24th. An IMCA Stock Car special is slated for Friday, May 31st, followed by a Fan Appreciation Night on Friday, June 7th. The 305 Sprints return once again on Friday, June 14th. Then the Sprint Invaders and the Hawkeye Dirt Tour for the IMCA Modifieds take to the speedway on Thursday, June 20th. Also on the card that night will be the IMCA SportMods and IMCA Sport Compacts. The following Friday, June 28th with by an IMCA SportMod special. Iowa's oldest fair, the Lee County Fair, will be the host of the final visit for 2013 by the Sprint Invaders to the track. With an IMCA Sport Compact special slated for Friday, July 19th. Then the final visit for the 305 Sprints will take place on Friday, July 26th. Following that up will be an IMCA Hobby Stock special on Friday, August 2nd. The next two weeks, Friday, August 9th and August 16th will be off weeks. With the season championships being held on Friday, August 23rd. A special TBA will be held on Friday, September 13th. Then the two day Fall Extravaganza will be held on Friday, October 11th and Saturday, October 12th. With the always popular Shiverfest closing out the 2013 season at the Lee County Speedway on Saturday, October 26th! For more information about the Lee County Speedway be sure to check out there website at www.leecountyspeedway.com.
The 2013 schedule at 34 Raceway in Burlington, IA is full of special and weekly events to fill everybodys wants. The only major change you will notice for 2013 at the track is the sanctioning of the Late Models went from IMCA to UMP. There 2013 season opener took place on Saturday, March 30th with the Sprint Invaders. The following Saturday, April 6th will be the 5th Annual Slocum 50 featuring the IMCA Deery Borthers for Late Models. Then on Saturday, April 13th the MOWA 410 Sprint Car Series makes a stop at the track. Following that up will be the first ever visit by the Cornbelt Clash/ MARS/ ALMS Series featuring the open Late Models. The Sprint Invaders return to 34 Raceway on Memorial Day Weekend Sunday, May 26th, with the Mississippi Valley Vintage Race Cars joining them. Then on Friday, June 7th the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars return to track after two years of being off the schedule. The following Saturday, June 15th will be a Fan Appreciation $5 night, then the next of one of those nights on the schedule being held on Saturday, July 6th. Then the UMP Summernationals "Hell Tour", featuring the UMP Late Models, will reurn to 34 Raceway in 2013 on Saturday, July 13th. The annual Sprint Invaders "Night of the Twins" will be held on Saturday, August 17th. Followed by another $5 Fan Appreciation Night and season championship on Saturday, August 24th. Then on Friday, August 30th the USAC 410 Non Wing Sprints visit the track after making there first ever stop at the track back in 2011. A two day MOWA 410 Sprint Series is set to take to the track on Friday, September 6th and Saturday, September 7th. Followed by a 305 Sprint, Stock Car and SportMod Challenege event set for Saturday, September 14th. The Sprint Invaders will close out there season at 34 Raceway on Saturday, September 21st. While the 4 wheelers and pit bike races will close out the season at 34 Raceway on Saturday, September 28th. For more information about 34 Raceway be sure to check out there website at www.34raceway.com.
After a fews years of promoting the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, IA Al and Kathy Dlouhy have decided to step away, which opened the doors for Darkside Protmotions Tim Current and Ryan Duhme to move in to take over the job. They have set Friday, April 13th as there first race of the 2013 season, with it being a $1,000 to win Modified event. The season opening points events will be held on Friday, April 26th. Tuesday, June 11th the Deery Brothers IMCA Late Models and Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds will invade the speedway. Another $1,000 to win Modified special is set for Friday, July 5th. While the Sprint Invaders return on Thursday, July 11th for the Cedar County Fair. The following night Friday, July 12th will be another fair event, featuring the weekly classes. Then on Friday, July 26th the Cornbelt Clash Late Models will invade the track. A Super Bomber special is set for Friday, August 2nd, with the season championships set for Friday, August 23rd. The United States Modified Touring Series (USMTS) returns for the second straight year on Thursday, August 23rd. While the following night Friday, August 30th is a TBA event. The season will come to a close on Friday, September 6th with the Dlouhy/DeVore Memorial. For more information about the Cedar County Raceway be sure to check out there website at www.darksidepromo.com/ccr/index.html.
Saturday, April 6th the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, IA is set to open the doors with the Sprint Invaders on the 1/4 mile track. That will be followed up on Friday, April 12th with the Cornbelt Clash Late Models on the 1/2 mile track. The Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models will make there annual early season stop on the 1/4 mile on Friday, April 19th. Then on Friday, April 26th will be the season opener for weekly points on the 1/4 mile. Friday, May 24th will be the "Modified Madness 50" paying $2,000 to win for the Modifieds. With the "SportMod 50", which pays $2,000 to win for the SportMods, taking place on Friday, June 14th. The annual "Street Stock 50" which pays $2,000 to win for the Street Stocks is set for Friday, July 12th. Then on Friday, August 9th the "4-Stock 50", which pays $2,000 to win for the 4 Cylinders, will take place. The season championships are scheduled for Friday, August 23rd. With a Night of Destruction set for Friday, September 13th. The final event on the 2013 schedule will be the "All Star Classic" featuring the Deery Brothers Summer Series for the IMCA Late Models on Saturday, September 21st. For more information about the Davenport Speedway be sure to check out there website at davenportspeedway.com.
The Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA is set to kick off there 2013 season with the first ever visit by the Sprint Invaders on Friday, April 19th. The season opener for weekly points is set for Saturday, April 27th. Then on Thursday, June 6th will be the Entry Level Extravaganza, featuring the SportMods, Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts. Tuesday, July 2 is the annual stop for the Deery Brothers Summer Series for the IMCA Late Models. Following that up will be the Fair Race on Saturday, July 20th. The World of Outlaw Late Models return once again on Monday, August 5th, with the Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds making there first ever visit to the track on the same night. Season championships are scheduled for Saturday, August 24th. While the Deery Brothers Summer Series for the IMCA Late Models will close out the season on Friday, September 20th. For more information about the Independence Motor Speedway be sure to check out there website at www.independencemotorspeedway.com.
Under the guidance of Darkside Promotions, Tim Current and Ryan Duhme, for the second year the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, IA will open there season on Saturday, April 13th with a TBA event. Then the weekly points event will open up on Saturday, April 27th. The "Open Wheel Classic", which pays $1,000 to win for the Modifieds, will take place on Saturday, July 6th. The Fair Race will be held on Thursday, July 25th. Followed by the Super Bomber Special in Saturday, August 3rd. Then the Cornbelt Clash for Late Models and the annual Dusty Kay Memorial for 4 Cylinders will take place on Saturday, August 10th. The season championships are set for Saturday, August 24th. With a TBA race on the schedule for Saturday, August 31st. Then on Saturday, September 7th will be the Top Spot Showdown. With the season coming to a close with two TBA events set for Saturday, September 21st and Saturday, September 28th. For more information about the Jackson County Speedway be sure to check out there website at www.jacksoncountyspeedway.com.
The Peoria Speedway in Peoria, IL will kick off there 2013 season with two events on the schedule on back-to-back nights. First being on Friday, April 12th with the "Big Dawg 40", which is paying the UMP Modifieds $2,000 to win. Followed by the the "Don Bohlander Tribute" paying $3,000 to win for the UMP Late Models on Saturday, April 13th. There weekly points opener is set for Saturday, April 20th. Then the UMP Summernationals returns on Monday, June 24th. The "Herb Shannon Memorial" Vintage Night is set for Saturday, August 24th. While the season championships are set for Saturday, August 31st. The Al Archdale Jr / Willard Bess Memorial for the Lightning Sprint Nationals will be held on Sunday, September 1st. A 4 Cylinder Enduro is scheduled for Saturday, September 7th. While the final event of the 2013 season is set for Saturday, September 15th being the Late Model and Modified Illinois State Championships. For more information about the Peoria Speedway be sure to check out there website at www.peoriaspeedway.com.
Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL has there 2013 season opener set for Sunday, April 14th, with it being a ponts event for all there weekly classes. The following Sunday, April 21st will be a MARS/ALMS/Cornbelt Clash Late Model special. Then on Sunday, May 26th the MOWA 410 Sprints will invade the track. That will be followed up on Tuesday, July 2nd with the UMP Summernationals making a stop at the track. The ALMS Late Models return on Sunday, August 11th. While the MOWA 410 Sprints return on Sunday, September 1st. The season championships, which is also the final event of 2013, is set for Sunday, September 29th. For more information about the Peoria Speedway be sure to check out there website at www.quincyraceways.com.
Sunday, April 14th will also be the Quad City Speedway in East Moline, IL season opener for weekly points. The "Hershel Roberts Memorial", featuring the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models, is set for Sunday, May 5th. While the "Gary Reinhart Memorial" for the UMP Modifieds will take place on Sunday, May 26th. The "Ronnie Weedon Memorial" for UMP Modifieds is set for Sunday, June 9th. While the season championships will take place on Sunday, August 25th. The first annual "Ron Marks Memorial" for the Street Stocks will be held on Sunday, September 1st. With the 2013 season ending with four TBA events on Sunday, September 8th, Sunday, September 15th, Sunday, September 22nd, and Sunday, September 28th. For more information about the Quad City Speedway be sure to check out there website at www.quadcityspeedway.com.
The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, IA was set to open there season on Wednesday, April 3rd, with a Frostbuster event. But due to the grounds still being wet they are unable to get onto the track to get it prepared in time, so the event has already been cancelled. So now the season opener will feature the first ever visit by the Sprint Invaders to the 1/2 mile on Wednesday, April 10th. A Hobby Stock special is set for Wednesday, April 24th. The first of five visits by the IMCA Late Models will be on Wednesday, May 1st. The next being on Wednesday, May 22nd. A SportMod special is set for Wednesday, May 29th. While a Fan Appreciation night being held on Wednesday, June 12th. The IMCA Late Models return for the third time on Wednesday, June 19th. While the 18th Annual Stock Car Shootout taking place on Wednesday, July 3rd. The 2nd Annual Dave Lowry Memorial is set for Wednesday, July 10th. Then on Tuesday, July 16th the Hawkeye Dirt Tour for IMCA Modifieds will join the IMCA Late Models. With the following night Wednesday, July 17th being a weekly points events. Both of those events will be a part of the fair. The IMCA Late Models final race of 2013 at the track will be Wednesday, August 21st. The track will then take 4 weeks off before returning to action on Wednesday, September 21st. That will be followed up with season championships on Wednesday, September 18th. The 27th Annual Fall Challenge will close out the 2013 season on Friday, October 4th and Saturday, October 5th. For more information about the Southern Iowa Speedway be sure to check out there website at www.oskyspeedway.com.
Finally, after a few years of Brian and Amanda Tipps running the CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction, IA for the Fair Association, they decided at the end of 2012 to step down. So the Fair Association over the off season hired Kurt Burmeister to run the weekly events at the track for 2013. There season opener for points is set to kick off on Friday, April 26th. The 5th Annual "Firecracker 25" for the Stock Cars is set for Friday, July 5th. While the Cornbelt Clash for Late Models returns on Thursday, July 26th. Followed by a weekly points race on Friday, July 27th. Both of those events will be held during the fair. Another Stock Car special will be held on Friday, August 9th. While the season championships on Friday, August 30th will close out the 2013 season at the track. For more information about the CJ Speedway be sure to check out there website at www.cjspeedway.com.
Some notes about 2013: Daniel Bergquist, who drove the familiar dark red #40B Sprint last year, will be behind the wheel of a white #9 Sprint Car for 2013....Kyle Petterson, who piloted the 4J Sprint machine for many events in 2012, will be in the #22P for 2013....Damian Getchell will join his dad, Dave, in 2013 behind the wheel of a Sprint Car, as he will piolt the #83D....Jared Schlipman will follow in his father's, Terry, footsteps in 2013, as he climbs behind the wheel of a #42 Late Model....Larry Powell will try his luck behind a Late Model in 2013, as he will pilot the #687....Terry Gallaher, who drove a Late Model around the midwest for many, many years, will now be seen behind the wheel of a #0 Modified for 2013....Jeff Mueller, who drove a Stock Car for many years, has decided to try out a Modified for 2013. As he will pilot a black #77 TC Chassis....Dugan Thye, who drove a Hobby Stock, will take over the drivers seat of the #11T Modified his dad Darin vacated for 2013.....Chad Krogmeier, who drove a Hobby Stock for many years, will now be seen in his #12 Stock Car for 2013....Jake Wenig, who won many Hobby Stocks features thru the years, will now been seen behind the familiar #4 Stock Car for 2013....Mark Bowman, who ran a Hobby Stock in 2012, can been seen behind the wheel of the 3B Stock Car for 2013....Timothy Anders will join the Stock Car division for 2013, as he will be driving the #23 machine....Jim Powell moves from the Hobby Stock class to the Stock Cars for 2013, as he will be seen driving the #48J....Quite possibly the biggest class around many tracks in the area in 2013 will be the SportMods, as several drivers have joined the ranks.....Nathan Anders drove a Hobby Stock for most of 2012 before ending the season in a SportMod. For 2013 you will continue to see him piolt the #22 SportMod at tracks....Tanner Klingele piloted a Hobby Stock and SportMod for 2012, but will now only been seen behind the wheel of the 73x SportMod for 2013.....Jon Lear will join the SportMod class in 2013, behind the wheel of the 96L machine....Taylor Gainer will move up from the Hobby Stock class to the SportMods, driving the #10G....Richard Wagy also moved up to the SportMod class from the Hobby Stocks, but will pilot a #55 machine for 2013....Bucky Gallaher made the move from the Sport Compacts to the SportMods for 2013, as he can be seen behind the #01....Jeff DeLonjay is another Hobby Stock driver who moved to the SportMod class for 2013. He will be piloting the #32 machine....Victor Hastings will join the SportMod class for 2013, after moving up from the Hobby Stocks, he will be behind the wheel of a black #8H....Lyle Timmerman will be behind the wheel of a #44 SportMod for 2013....Derek St. Clair, who won many Hobby Stock features and track champions before moving to Stock Cars, will now concentrate on his #101 SportMod for 2013....Devon Rouse, who is only 14 years of age, moved up from the go-kart ranks to pilot the #16 Mod Lite for 2013.
With the 2013 season kicking into high gear, I would encourage you to get out and support your local track. Without your support it is very difficult to keep putting on weekly and even specials events for you to enjoy during the season. So with that, I hope to seen many of my old friends and hope to meet a lot of news ones during the 2013 season!!! Until that time LET'S GO RACING!!!!
