My 2014 total races attended came in at 70, with 67 of those coming at dirt tracks and the other 3 at a asphalt event. Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL topped the list with 14 nights. Followed by 34 Raceway in West Burlington, IA with 13, and Davenport Speedway in Davenport, IA with 11. The Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, IA was next with 5, followed by the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA with 4. My 3 days of asphalt racing came in mid September during the NASCAR weekend at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, IL.
Two nights were spent at the following tracks: Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, IL; Boone Speedway in Boone, IA; Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, IA; Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, MO; LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, IL; and Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA. I then made one trip to the following tracks: Bloomfield Speedway in Bloomfield, IA; Knox County Fair Race in Knoxville, IL; Dubuque Speedway in Dubuque, IA; Eldon Raceway in Eldon, IA; and Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, IL. Then there were two tracks that I made my first ever visit to, and those were the Brownstown Speedway in Brownstown, IN; and the Macon Speedway in Macon, IL.
Many of you that know me, know that I have or currently work at several midwest tracks, and that accounts for the double digit visits to the Davenport Speedway, 34 Raceway, and Quincy Raceways in 2014.
There are two things that stood out to me in 2014. The first of those being the 24 driver's who either won their career first feature, or first in the class they raced, or first at the track they raced at. Among the driver's who picked up there first career win are Mike Kincaid in a Hobby Stock at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, IA; Jimmy Halcomb in a Mod Lite at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, IA; Shane Watts in a Stock Car at 34 Raceway; Bradley Holtmeyer in a SportMod at Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL; Devon Rouse in a Mod Lite at 34 Raceway; Cody Washburne in a Sport Compact at 34 Raceway; Tyler Glass in a Modified at 34 Raceway; Daniel Bergquist in a 305 Sprint at 34 Raceway; Nathan Hayes in a Stock Car at Quincy Raceways; Creston Williams in a SportMod at 34 Raceway; Cord Williams in a Street Stock at the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, IA; Shane Quam in a 305 Sprint at 34 Raceway; Tanner Klingele in a SportMod at Quincy Raceways; and Derek Liles in a SportMod at the Eldon Raceway in Eldon, IA. Those driver's who won their first features in the class they raced in 2014 include Joey Gower in a SportMod at Quincy Raceways; Mike Hughes in a Stock Car at Bloomfield Speedway in Bloomfield, IA; Rob Henry in a Modified at the Davenport Speedway; Aaron Brocksieck in a SportMod at Quincy Raceways; Chad Krogmeier in a Stock Car at 34 Raceway; and Gordy Gundaker in a open Late Model at Quincy Raceways. Finally, those driver's who won their first features at the tracks they raced at include Kimberly Abbott in a Sport Compact at the Lee County Speedway and the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, MO; Kevin Dickey in a Street Stock at the Davenport Speedway; Jeff Kriz in a Modified at the Independence Motor Speedway in Independence, IA; and Scott Pippert in a Stock Car at the Independence Motor Speedway.
The second thing that stood out to me during the 2014 season was the season the Austen Becerra had. He picked up 39 feature wins in a Sport Compact, which helped him claim three track championships. Those coming at the Lee County Speedway, 34 Raceway, and Quincy Raceways. Austen would also finish 3rd in the IMCA National Title Chase, which helped him claim the Illinois State Championship in the IMCA Sport Compacts. He would finish out the season racing an SportMod to get ready for the switch to that class in 2015.
Before many tracks released there 2015 schedules, the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, IA and the Bloomfield Speedway in Bloomfield, IA announced there would be no weekly racing at those two tracks for 2015. It's sad to see for those drivers and fans that have supported those tracks for many years in the past. But it just goes to show that each and every one of us needs to make sure we support this sport we love, and get out to any local track whenever possible. Or we could see many more of this in the years to come.
The first track in the Southeast Iowa, Northwest Missouri and West Central Illinois area to schedule races for the 2015 season is the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, MO. Those races are coming up this weekend on Friday, March 20th and Saturday, March 21st, with the "Midwest Bottom Heavy Spring Nationals". The track will roar back into action on Saturday, May 9th, when the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models roll into the speedway. That event will be followed up with the annual fair race on Thursday, July 9th. After that will be the 2nd Annual Fall Special on Friday, September 25th and Saturday, September 26th. The season will come to a close on Friday, October 16th and Saturday, October 17th with the annul running of the Fall Nationals. To stay up-to-date on all the events happening at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, MO are encourage to like their page on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scotland-County-Speedway/531042493650646.
Up the following weekend, Friday, March 27th and Saturday, March 28th will be the 3rd Annual Spring Extravaganza at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, IA. The follow Friday, April 3rd the track will take the week off, as the Frostbusters will be taking place in the central and northern part of the state of Iowa. The first weekly points night will begin on Friday, April 10th and will continue through Friday, May 1st. Then on Thursday, May 7th the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models will make the first of there two stops at the track in 2015. Weekly points racing will return for both Friday, May 15th and 22nd. Friday, May 29th the Sprint Invaders will make there first of two stops at the track for 2015. Followed by another weekly points night on Friday, June 5th. Then on the following Friday, June 12th the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models return for the second time. Another weekly points night will take place on Friday, June 19th, before the Thursday night Bud Special featuring the Hawkeye Dirt Tour Modifieds takes place on June 25th. That will be followed by another weekly points night on Friday, July 3rd. Then the following Friday, July 10th will be the Lee County Fair event. With a pit stop, with no races, taken place on Friday, July 17th. The track will return for two weekly points nights on Friday, July 24th and 31st., before taking two weeks off on Friday, August 7th and 14th. The Sprint Invaders will return for there second time on Friday, August 21st, following that event will be the season championship night on Friday, August 28th. After taking five weeks off the Lee County Speedway will finish off there season with the 4th Annual Fall Extravaganza on Friday, October 9th and Saturday, October 10th. Then the annual Shiverfest event will take place on Saturday, October 24th. To keep up with all the happenings at the Lee County Speedway be sure to check out there website at www.leecountyspeedway.com.
Another Friday night track set to kick off there 2015 season is the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, IA. They will hold a practice on Friday, April 3rd, with another one scheduled for Thursday, April 9th. Then the season will kick off on Friday, April 10th with the "Rebel", featuring the IMCA Late Models battling for $5,000 to win. Friday, April 17th will feature the Cornbelt Clash / MARS Late Model Series on the 1/2 mile track. The regular points night will kick off on Friday, April 24th and again on Friday, May 1st. Those weeks will be followed up with the first ever visit by the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models on Friday, May 8th. Following that week will be another weekly points night on Friday, May 15th, before the Modified Madness takes over the track on Friday, May 22nd. A top prize of $2,000 is being offered for the IMCA Modifieds on that night. Two more weekly points night on Friday, May 29th and June 5th will be sandwiched in, before the SportMod Madness on Friday, June 12th. Where the IMCA SportMods will be battling for a top prize of $2,000. Another two weeks of points racing will held on Friday, June 19th and 26th, before the Street Stock 50 takes place on Friday, July 3rd. A top prize of $2,000 is being offered for the Street Stocks on that night. Three more weekly points night will be held on Friday, July 10th, 17th, and 24th, before the Mississippi Valley Fair takes over the grounds on Friday, July 31st and Friday, August 7th. After the fair on Friday, August 14th will be the 4 Stock Nationals, with the 4 Stocks shooting for a top prize of $2,000 to win. A weekly points night will be held on Friday, August 21st, before the season championships on Friday, August 28th. Then on Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12th will be the 1st Annual Governor Cup. Friday nights show will be held on the 1/4 mile, while Saturday nights events will be held on both the 1/4 mile and 1/2 mile. The following Saturday, September 19th will be the Night of Destruction and Cheater's Night to round out the season. Make sure you check out there website at www.davenportspeedway.com to keep up with everything happening during the 2015 season.
34 Raceway in West Burlington, IA, which host weekly racing on every Saturday, is set to kick off there 2015 season this coming weekend. On Saturday, March 21st they will be holding a car show at Heartland Harley Davidson on Roosevelt Ave in Burlington, IA from 11 am - 2 pm. Then at 6 pm at Roederer's Pit Stop they will be holding a kick off party. The following Saturday, March 28th will be a practice day from 12 pm until 3 pm. That will be followed by the season opener for the Sprint Invaders on Saturday, April 4th. The National Sprint League will make there inaugural debut on Saturday, April 11th. Next up is an event everyone looks forward to every year, the "Slocum 50". Which will be held on Saturday, April 18th featuring the open Late Models for the second year in a row. Weekly racing will then be held on Saturday April 25th, May 2nd, May 9th, May 16th and May 23rd. Then the Sprint Invaders returns for a Sunday night show on May 24th. The first quads, bikes and side by side racing will be held on Saturday, May 30th. That will be followed up by some more weekly racing on Saturday, June 6th, June 13th, and June 20th. Another event everyone looks forward to is the World of Outlaw Sprint Cars, which makes a stop at 34 Raceway on Friday, June 25th. More weekly racing will be held on Saturday, July 4th, July 11th, July 18th, July 25th, August 1st, and August 8th. There will be no races held on Saturday, August 15th. But then the Sprint Invaders return for there third appearance on Saturday, August 22nd. The final points night will be held on Saturday, August 29th. Following that will be a Labor Day weekend event on Saturday, September 5th. With the quads, bikes, side by sides returning on Saturday, September 12th. Then on Saturday, September 19th the Sprint Invaders will hold there Season Championship, with Saturday, September 26th set aside in case of a rain-out on September 19th. The final event to be held at 34 Raceway in 2015 will be another quad, bikes, side by side event on Saturday, October 3rd. To stay up to date on all the events happening at 34 Raceway, please check out there website at www.34raceway.com.
Last Chance Promotions, for the second year in a row, will be running the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, IL for the 2015 season. Sunday, April 12th is the date set to kick off there season. Which will be followed up by races on April 19th, April 26th, May 3rd, May 10th, and May 17th. Then on Sunday, May 24th the MOWA Sprint Cars make there first of three stops at the track. Another Sunday night race will be held on May 31st, before the POWRi Midgets return to the track once again in 2015 on Thursday, June 4th. Two more weekly nights will be held on Sunday, June 7th and 14th. Then the UMP Summernationals for Late Models invades the track on Sunday, June 21st. Weekly races on Sunday, June 28th, July 5th, July 12th, and July 19th will be held. One of the biggest announcements made a few months ago was that the World of Outlaw Late Models would make there first ever stop at the Quincy Raceways on Thursday, July 23rd. They will be joined by the MOWA Sprint Cars. The following Sunday, July 26th the track will be off, with no races being held. Weekly action will return on Sunday, August 2nd, August 9th, and August 16th. Then on Sunday, August 23rd the Sprint Invaders will make a stop at the track. Three more weekly races will be held on Sunday, August 30th, September 6th, September 13th, before Season Championship night on Sunday, September 20th. On Sunday, September 27th the MOWA Sprint Cars will close out the 2015 season at Quincy Raceways. Make sure you check out there website at www.quincyraceways.com to stay up to date on there 2015 plans.
As I mentioned above, it is very vital for everyone who LOVE'S dirt track racing to get out and support your local track as often as you can. Without everyone's support it is very impossible for any track to survive each week and year. I for one hate to see any track have to announce they will no longer be operating on a weekly basis. So if you every see me out and about at your local track, which is very likely if you attend races in Southeast Iowa, make sure you stop me and introduce yourself.
Looks like my 2015 season is going to kick off this weekend, Friday, March 20th and Saturday, March 21st at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, MO. Maybe I will see a lot of you there!!!! Depending on what weather website you look at the weather looks to be just fine for RACING!!! The following is what Intellicast is saying the weather will be like for Memphis, MO this weekend!!! LET'S GO RACING!!!!
Friday03/2062 | 40 °F
Friday 10% Precip. / 0 in
Sunny skies. High 62F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Friday Night 0% Precip. / 0 in
A mostly clear sky. Low near 40F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday03/2162 | 34 °F
Saturday 0% Precip. / 0 in
Sunny skies. High 62F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night 0% Precip. / 0 in
Clear to partly cloudy. Low 34F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.
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