Monmouth, IL (Wednesday, August 30, 2017) - Some of what I am about to write, I know there will be people out there who will disagree with it. But I took the time to do some research to help put some numbers with some of what I am going to cover. What led me to write this you may ask? We'll it comes from all the negativity recently posted on the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois' Facebook page.
About two months ago Ciltrac promotions Ken Dobson announced that after 4 years of promoting the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois, that he would not return to the track after the 2017 racing season. His hopes in making the announcement early enough was that somebody or group would approach him about taking over. But several weeks went by and nobody showed any interest, that was until a story appeared in the Quincy Herald-Whig newspaper on August 16th about the fate of the track.
Enter Jason and Robert Goble. They read the story thanks to a share on Facebook that popped in their news feed. They then reached out to Ken Dobson to make arrangements into coming an checking out the racing and the facilities on Sunday, August 20th. Two days later they purchased the grounds and equipment from owner Paul Holtschlag to become the new owners of Quincy Raceways. They immediately took over the facilities, and planned to finish out the rest of 2017 as the new owners / promoters of Quincy Raceways. There was no racing scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 27th. So this would give them some time to get to work in improving the grounds and putting together a schedule for September.
On Sunday, August 27th they released a September schedule on the Quincy Raceways Facebook page. WOW, you would have thought the world came to an end at Quincy Raceways. The new owners decided to drop both the Super Late Models and Crate Late Models from the rest of 2017. Was that a good idea? Well according to the Facebook negatives it was the worst decision every made. Has anybody ever sat down and looked how the Late Model class has dwindled over the past years. Everyone says if the track conditions improved then car counts would go up. Where are these cars coming from? To say these classes are growing, where is your proof? The cost to not only build these cars is out of hand, but what it cost the tracks to run them is just as high.
Here is some numbers that I have put together on both the Super Late Models and Crate Late Models at Quincy Raceways in 2017. Not counting the Big Ten Late Model Series held back in May, the Super Late Models have raced 8 other times at Quincy. In those 8 races they have averaged 8 cars. The payout for 8 cars is $3635. If you take 8 cars x 3 per car in the pits that equals 24. Then take 24 x $30 pit pass and you come up with $720. ($3635 - $720 = a loss of $2915).....The Crate Late Models have ran 10 races at Quincy and have averaged 9 cars. The payout for 9 cars is $2250. If you take 9 cars x 3 per car in the pits that equals 27. Then take 27 x $30 pit pass and you come up with $810. ($2250 - $810 = a loss of $1440).....Then everyone says well what about the Stock Cars and Sport Compacts, there car counts haven't been that good this year either. For the Stock Cars they have ran 9 times this year and have averaged 7 cars. The payout for 7 cars is $1025. If you take 7 cars x 3 per car in the pits that equals 21. Then take 21 x $30 pit pass and you come up with $630. ($1025 - $630 = a loss of $395).....The Sport Compacts have ran 12 times this year and have averaged 9 cars. The payout for 9 cars is $475. If you take 9 cars x 3 per car in the pits that equals 27. Then take 27 x $30 pit pass and you come up with $810. ($475 - $810 = a gain of $335). Even if you take the Sport Compacts average x 1 person per car in the pits this is what you come up with: 9 cars x 30 = $270. ($475 - $270 = a loss of $205). So you can see it is more economical to run the Stock Cars and Sport Compacts with lower car counts, as it will take less people in the stands to cover the loss.
Everybody says improve the track conditions, or raise the purse and cars will come back. That is not a proven fact. Heck the Lee County Speedway (LCS) in Donnellson, Iowa has the best racing surface week in and week out on Friday nights and there car counts have struggled at times this year. The growth of the Crate Late Models at LCS hasn't improved in 2017 over 2016. In 2016 LCS added the Crate Late Models for the first time weekly. And in 2016 they averaged 12.4 cars. 2017 was the second year for the Crates to race weekly at LCS, and this year they have averaged 11.8. That is down about half a car, which isn't much. But where is the growth that everybody keeps talking about?
Then to say raise the purse and cars will come, is another unproven fact. I know a track that added over $2,135 to the purse in there weekly classes over the 2106 payouts. For 2017 they averaged 12.5 Modifieds, 12.9 Stock Cars, 14.9 SportMods, and 14.5 Sport Compacts. Those same classes with less payouts averaged 14 Modifieds, 15.4 Stock Cars, 11.1 SportMods, and 14.9 Sport Compacts. So the only class that showed growth over 2016 was the SportMods. This track ended up paying out $2055 more every night on average in payouts over the 2016 payout. Which meant they needed an additional 206 paid adults in the grandstand just to cover the added purse.
The Farley Speedway, West Liberty Raceway, and Dubuque Speedway all in Eastern Iowa have struggled with car counts this year. Another track that races weekly on Wednesday nights (the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa) is in danger of loosing weekly racing in 2018. Many rumors going around say this track is going to race once a month on Saturday nights in 2018, with NO sanctioning. What is the cause of this, if anybody knew then I am sure they would fix the problem. I for one put some of the blame on social media, yeah I know some will disagree with me on this. But it is very easy and fast for someone who is angry on a call made at the track, track conditions, or something else that made them mad to get on social media to get attention from their friends. But how often do you see those same people posting something positive a track may have done on any given night. Not very often!
My suggestion to these people who say they won't support Quincy Raceways because they have dropped Late Models, or any other track for some reason or the other. If you want your local track to survive then I encourage you to get out there and support them. They only option you will have is to drive hundreds of miles to catch a race or give up going to the races. Because these tracks will not stay open long if they continue to loose money week in and week out. Has any of these negative people who are upset about not having Late Models at Quincy tried to contact the new owners? Have you sat down with and made any suggestions on what can be done to keep theses classes running?
Many people think tracks are raking in the money. Does anybody know exactly what it cost to run a weekly race? You have the purse, employees payouts, sanctioning fees, and insurance just for that night. Before the race night arrives you have fuel for the grader, water trucks, property taxes, sales taxes, expense to buy the food and drinks from the vendors, power bill, and other expenses I am unsure of. A race track is just like a business, and in a business if you don't make some money then the doors don't stay open long.
I hope you think about the impact of not supporting a track, and get out a support one each and every week. Thank you for reading, and I hope to see you at the races!!!
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
Jimmy Gustin Opens Hawkeye Dirt Tour With Win
Vinton, IA (Monday, May 29, 2017) - My plan for Memorial Day Monday was to stay home after my 24 year old nephew, who has been fighting brain cancer for close to 4 years, was taken to the ER late Sunday night after having convulsions and seizures. But both my mom and sister encouraged me to go racing if I had somewhere to go, as that is what my nephew would have wanted also.
So I got in the car and drover northwest to the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa for the 2017 season opener for the Arnold Motor Supply Hawkeye Dirt Tour (HDT) for IMCA Modifieds. Also in action was the IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Micro Mods. After four heat races and two B Mains were ran to trim the 33 Modifieds signed in down to 24 starters, the features were set to take to the track.
The first one up was the 12 lap Micro Mods, with Jeff Davis and Don Erger on the front row. Erger would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Davis and Erick Knutsen. Just after the completion of lap 1 the first caution of the race came out, as Darrick Knutsen spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Erger came to a stop in turn 4 with something breaking in the rear end to bring the yellow light back on, and ending Erger's run up front. The following restart saw Erick Knutsen slip past Davis to grab the lead, with Dallon Murty, who started 5th, in third. Murty would inherit the runner up spot a few laps later, when Davis exited the track with troubles. For the next 5 laps Murty would follow in Erick Knutsen's tire track around the bottom of the track. Then going into turn 3 to complete lap 11, Murty was able to get under Erick Knutsen to take the top spot away. Murty then led the final lap to pick up the win. Erick Knutsen was 2nd, Cole McNeal started 7th and finished 3rd, Scott Beaty came from 10th to finish in 4th, with Matt Post finishing in 5th after starting in 9th.
Up next was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Scooter Dulin and Jeff Mueller drawing the front row. Mueller used his front row starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Dulin and Johnny Spaw, who started 5th. But disaster would strike Dulin on the completion of lap 2, when he got to high going into turn 3 and went over the track to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mueller moved back out front, with Damon Murty and Spaw close behind. Mueller, who was working the top of the track, and Murty, who was using the middle, raced laps 3, 4 and 5 side-by-side, with Mueller using the momentum off the top to hold the lead each lap. The action up front was slowed for the second and final time on lap 8, when Brandon Jacoby spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Mueller once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Murty glued to his back bumper. Murty would try to work under Mueller over the final laps, but Mueller was able to hold him off to pick up the win and the $1,000 top prize to go with it. Murty settled for 2nd, Spaw was 3rd, John Oliver Jr. was 4th, with Bob Ahrendsen coming from 10th to round out the top 5.
Matt Brown and Justin Wacha led the field to green in the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Brown grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Joe Docekal, and Wacha. While everybody went to the bottom of the track, Nathan Ballard, who started 10th, worked the top. Ballard quickly worked himself to the front by taking the lead on lap 6. Just after the completion of lap 6 the first and only caution appeared. Trent Newhaus would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ballard moved back out front, with Brown and Daniel Wauters, who started 8th, following. Ballard then pulled away over the final 9 laps to cruise the win and claim the $500 top prize to go with it. Docekal crossed the line in 2nd, but was disqualified in post race tech. So this would move Brett Vanous to 2nd, Wauters was moved to 3rd, Matt Pohlman was moved to 4th, with Brown moving up to finish 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Ethan Braaksma and Kyle Bentley drawing the front row. Braaksma took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Matt Petrzelka and Bentley. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 5, when Tony Olson, who was running 7th, went over the track in turn 3 and 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Braaksma did a jack rabbit start and caused 4 drivers to collide in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. Those four driver's were given their spots back, while Braaskma was docked 4 spots back to 5th. This would hand the lead over to Petrzelka for the restart, who led Bentley and Tyler Soppe, who started 8th. One more lap, lap 6, complete produced another caution, as Ryan King spun in turn 4 and collected Jami Ritter, Brian Sondag, and Brandon Tharp to bring out the yellow.
Petrzelka jumped back out front on the restart, with Soppe and Joey Schaefer, who started 7th, close behind. While Petrzelka worked the top of the track, Soppe would work the bottom to try and get the lead away over the next 8 laps. But Petrzelka would hold him off. The battle up front was slowed for the final time on lap 15, when Sondag slowed down the front stretch with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow. Petrzelka grabbed the lead on the restart over Soppe and Schaefer. Soppe again tried to work under Petrzelka over the final laps, but Petrzelka was able to hold him off to pick up the win and the $1,000 check to go with it. Soppe settled for 2nd, Schaefer held off Braaksma at the line for 3rd, with Jared VanDeest coming from 11th to round out the top 5.
The 35 lap HDT feature for IMCA Modifieds was up next, with Brandon Maitland and Penokee, Kansas driver Clay Money leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Money, John Emerson, who was driving Shawn Ritter's #7SR Modified, and Maitland raced off turn 4 three wide for the lead on lap 1, with Money edging Emerson and Maitland to lead the lap. Emerson would slip past Money one lap later, lap 2, to take over the top spot. The feature event was slowed for the first and only time on lap 3, when Todd Shute, who was running three wide for the 5th place, was pinched over the track going into turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Emerson jumped back out front, with Jimmy Gustin, who started 7th, and Kelly Shryock, close behind. Gustin then followed in Emerson's tire tracks around the bottom of the track over the next 14 laps, when they entered lapped traffic on lap 18. When Emerson looked high to get around the lapped car, Gustin pounced under him to grab the top spot away on lap 21. While the lead group worked the bottom of the track Hunter Marriott, who started 10th, went to the high side to work his way to fourth. Then Marriott went to the bottom to grab third away from Maitland on lap 26, and then set his sights on the lead duo. Going into turn 1 on the final lap Emerson decided to go high to get by Gustin for the lead, but that moved cost him second. As Marriott slipped past coming off turn 2, and then charged to Gustin's back bumper going into turn 3. But Gustin was able to hold on to claim his the win, which happened to be his 100th in the division. Marriott settled for 2nd, Emerson was 3rd, Shryock was 4th, with Joel Rust coming from 11th to finish in 5th.
Notes from BCS: 33 Modifieds, 25 SportMods, 14 Stock Cars, 13 Hobby Stocks, and 12 Micro Mods made up the 97 cars signed in on the night.....Curtis Rooster started the Stock Car feature in 12th and finished 7th....Scooter Dulin recovered from going over the track in turns 3 & 4 on lap 2 to come back up to finish 9th......Thomas Stevens started the Hobby Stock feature in 12th and finished in 8th......Timmy Current finished 7th in the SportMod feature after starting in 12th....Brian Kauffman passed 10 cars from his 20th place starting spot to come home in 10th....Tony Olson recovered from going over the track in turns 3 & 4 on lap 5 to come back up to finish in 11th....Randy LaMar started 22nd and finished 13th....Brandon Tharp, who started 23rd, recovered from the crash on lap 6 to come back up to finish 14th......The Modified field was brought out to the front stretch before there event, where they were introduced and the top 12 redrew. There was 12 oil filters sill in the box lined up, where the heat winners drew, followed by the second place finishers, and finished with the third place finishers. Tyler Droste and Brandon Maitland were the final two driver's to draw, and who would have believed that the #1 and #12 were left for them. Droste was the first to graw, leaving Maitland what was left. And when Droste pulled his filter out of the box to reveal the #12, this gave Maitland the pole....Kyle Brown started 14th and finished 7th....Droste only got up to 9th....Scott Hogan finished 11th after starting in 15th....Ryan Maitland came from 20th to finish in 12th....Jacob Murray started 19th and finished 13th....Shute recovered from going over the track in turn 3 on lap 3 to come back up to finish in 15th....Corey Dripps started 23rd, after receiving a points provisional from 2016, and finished 16th.
My schedule of racing for this week will kick-off on Thursday, June 1st, as the MLRA Late Models invade the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, MO. A $3,000 top prize awaits the winner. Also in action on the night will be the Modifieds, Stock Cars and SportMods, all racing for $1,000 to win. Plus the Sport Compacts will be racing for $300. The following night, Friday, June 2nd, the MLRA Late Models make their second and final stop at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, IA. UMP Pro Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, and Sport Compacts will all be in action. Hot laps both days will start at 6:45 PM. Then on Saturday, June 3rd I will be back at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, IA for a weekly points night. Hope to see you at one, if not all of these shows!!!
So I got in the car and drover northwest to the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa for the 2017 season opener for the Arnold Motor Supply Hawkeye Dirt Tour (HDT) for IMCA Modifieds. Also in action was the IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, and Micro Mods. After four heat races and two B Mains were ran to trim the 33 Modifieds signed in down to 24 starters, the features were set to take to the track.
The first one up was the 12 lap Micro Mods, with Jeff Davis and Don Erger on the front row. Erger would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Davis and Erick Knutsen. Just after the completion of lap 1 the first caution of the race came out, as Darrick Knutsen spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Erger came to a stop in turn 4 with something breaking in the rear end to bring the yellow light back on, and ending Erger's run up front. The following restart saw Erick Knutsen slip past Davis to grab the lead, with Dallon Murty, who started 5th, in third. Murty would inherit the runner up spot a few laps later, when Davis exited the track with troubles. For the next 5 laps Murty would follow in Erick Knutsen's tire track around the bottom of the track. Then going into turn 3 to complete lap 11, Murty was able to get under Erick Knutsen to take the top spot away. Murty then led the final lap to pick up the win. Erick Knutsen was 2nd, Cole McNeal started 7th and finished 3rd, Scott Beaty came from 10th to finish in 4th, with Matt Post finishing in 5th after starting in 9th.
Up next was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Scooter Dulin and Jeff Mueller drawing the front row. Mueller used his front row starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Dulin and Johnny Spaw, who started 5th. But disaster would strike Dulin on the completion of lap 2, when he got to high going into turn 3 and went over the track to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mueller moved back out front, with Damon Murty and Spaw close behind. Mueller, who was working the top of the track, and Murty, who was using the middle, raced laps 3, 4 and 5 side-by-side, with Mueller using the momentum off the top to hold the lead each lap. The action up front was slowed for the second and final time on lap 8, when Brandon Jacoby spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Mueller once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Murty glued to his back bumper. Murty would try to work under Mueller over the final laps, but Mueller was able to hold him off to pick up the win and the $1,000 top prize to go with it. Murty settled for 2nd, Spaw was 3rd, John Oliver Jr. was 4th, with Bob Ahrendsen coming from 10th to round out the top 5.
Matt Brown and Justin Wacha led the field to green in the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Brown grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Joe Docekal, and Wacha. While everybody went to the bottom of the track, Nathan Ballard, who started 10th, worked the top. Ballard quickly worked himself to the front by taking the lead on lap 6. Just after the completion of lap 6 the first and only caution appeared. Trent Newhaus would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ballard moved back out front, with Brown and Daniel Wauters, who started 8th, following. Ballard then pulled away over the final 9 laps to cruise the win and claim the $500 top prize to go with it. Docekal crossed the line in 2nd, but was disqualified in post race tech. So this would move Brett Vanous to 2nd, Wauters was moved to 3rd, Matt Pohlman was moved to 4th, with Brown moving up to finish 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Ethan Braaksma and Kyle Bentley drawing the front row. Braaksma took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Matt Petrzelka and Bentley. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 5, when Tony Olson, who was running 7th, went over the track in turn 3 and 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Braaksma did a jack rabbit start and caused 4 drivers to collide in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. Those four driver's were given their spots back, while Braaskma was docked 4 spots back to 5th. This would hand the lead over to Petrzelka for the restart, who led Bentley and Tyler Soppe, who started 8th. One more lap, lap 6, complete produced another caution, as Ryan King spun in turn 4 and collected Jami Ritter, Brian Sondag, and Brandon Tharp to bring out the yellow.
Petrzelka jumped back out front on the restart, with Soppe and Joey Schaefer, who started 7th, close behind. While Petrzelka worked the top of the track, Soppe would work the bottom to try and get the lead away over the next 8 laps. But Petrzelka would hold him off. The battle up front was slowed for the final time on lap 15, when Sondag slowed down the front stretch with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow. Petrzelka grabbed the lead on the restart over Soppe and Schaefer. Soppe again tried to work under Petrzelka over the final laps, but Petrzelka was able to hold him off to pick up the win and the $1,000 check to go with it. Soppe settled for 2nd, Schaefer held off Braaksma at the line for 3rd, with Jared VanDeest coming from 11th to round out the top 5.
The 35 lap HDT feature for IMCA Modifieds was up next, with Brandon Maitland and Penokee, Kansas driver Clay Money leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Money, John Emerson, who was driving Shawn Ritter's #7SR Modified, and Maitland raced off turn 4 three wide for the lead on lap 1, with Money edging Emerson and Maitland to lead the lap. Emerson would slip past Money one lap later, lap 2, to take over the top spot. The feature event was slowed for the first and only time on lap 3, when Todd Shute, who was running three wide for the 5th place, was pinched over the track going into turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Emerson jumped back out front, with Jimmy Gustin, who started 7th, and Kelly Shryock, close behind. Gustin then followed in Emerson's tire tracks around the bottom of the track over the next 14 laps, when they entered lapped traffic on lap 18. When Emerson looked high to get around the lapped car, Gustin pounced under him to grab the top spot away on lap 21. While the lead group worked the bottom of the track Hunter Marriott, who started 10th, went to the high side to work his way to fourth. Then Marriott went to the bottom to grab third away from Maitland on lap 26, and then set his sights on the lead duo. Going into turn 1 on the final lap Emerson decided to go high to get by Gustin for the lead, but that moved cost him second. As Marriott slipped past coming off turn 2, and then charged to Gustin's back bumper going into turn 3. But Gustin was able to hold on to claim his the win, which happened to be his 100th in the division. Marriott settled for 2nd, Emerson was 3rd, Shryock was 4th, with Joel Rust coming from 11th to finish in 5th.
Notes from BCS: 33 Modifieds, 25 SportMods, 14 Stock Cars, 13 Hobby Stocks, and 12 Micro Mods made up the 97 cars signed in on the night.....Curtis Rooster started the Stock Car feature in 12th and finished 7th....Scooter Dulin recovered from going over the track in turns 3 & 4 on lap 2 to come back up to finish 9th......Thomas Stevens started the Hobby Stock feature in 12th and finished in 8th......Timmy Current finished 7th in the SportMod feature after starting in 12th....Brian Kauffman passed 10 cars from his 20th place starting spot to come home in 10th....Tony Olson recovered from going over the track in turns 3 & 4 on lap 5 to come back up to finish in 11th....Randy LaMar started 22nd and finished 13th....Brandon Tharp, who started 23rd, recovered from the crash on lap 6 to come back up to finish 14th......The Modified field was brought out to the front stretch before there event, where they were introduced and the top 12 redrew. There was 12 oil filters sill in the box lined up, where the heat winners drew, followed by the second place finishers, and finished with the third place finishers. Tyler Droste and Brandon Maitland were the final two driver's to draw, and who would have believed that the #1 and #12 were left for them. Droste was the first to graw, leaving Maitland what was left. And when Droste pulled his filter out of the box to reveal the #12, this gave Maitland the pole....Kyle Brown started 14th and finished 7th....Droste only got up to 9th....Scott Hogan finished 11th after starting in 15th....Ryan Maitland came from 20th to finish in 12th....Jacob Murray started 19th and finished 13th....Shute recovered from going over the track in turn 3 on lap 3 to come back up to finish in 15th....Corey Dripps started 23rd, after receiving a points provisional from 2016, and finished 16th.
My schedule of racing for this week will kick-off on Thursday, June 1st, as the MLRA Late Models invade the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, MO. A $3,000 top prize awaits the winner. Also in action on the night will be the Modifieds, Stock Cars and SportMods, all racing for $1,000 to win. Plus the Sport Compacts will be racing for $300. The following night, Friday, June 2nd, the MLRA Late Models make their second and final stop at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, IA. UMP Pro Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, and Sport Compacts will all be in action. Hot laps both days will start at 6:45 PM. Then on Saturday, June 3rd I will be back at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, IA for a weekly points night. Hope to see you at one, if not all of these shows!!!
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Madsen Dominates, While Carter Doubles Up at Osky
Oskaloosa, IA (Wednesday, May 24, 2017) - The old saying that "Third Times A Charm" is very true for the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa. As they have tried on two prior Wednesday nights to get the Sprint Invaders show complete, but they both have fallen to rains. Finally this past Wednesday, which was a third attempt, the show was put into the record books.
The 12 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature was the first of seven to take to the track on the night, with Levi Heath and James Roose making up the front row. Heath would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Josh Barnes and Daniel Fellows, who started 8th. On lap 3 both Barnes and Fellows slipped past Heath to move into the first and second spot. Then one lap later, lap 4, Fellows slipped under Barnes coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 5, when Billy Cain dropped alot of fluids down the front stretch and then came to a stop in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fellows moved back out front, with Heath and Jake Benischek, who started 9th, close behind. Fellows then pulled away over the final laps to cruise to his third straight win at the track. Heath was 2nd, Benischek was 3rd, Roose was 4th, with Bryan Claussen coming from 14th to round out the top 5.
Up next was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Louis Lynch and Mike Brown leading the field to green. But just as the green flag was waved the yellow light would come on, as Brown spun in turn 1 and collected Brandon Jay and Mike McClure to bring out the yellow. On the following restart Todd Reitzler took advantage of being moved from 6th to outside of the front row to grab the lead on lap 1 over Lynch and Derrick Agee, who originally started 8th. While Reitzler worked the middle to top of the track, Agee worked the bottom to slip under Reitzler coming off turn 4 for the lead on lap 7. The action up front became a five car battle between Agee, Mike Hughes, Nathan Wood, who started 14th after troubles in his heat, Reitzler and Cayden Carter, who started 9th, on the halfway point. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 10 Hughes was able to get under Agee to take over the top spot. But that lead only lasted 1 lap, as Wood slipped under Hughes coming off turn 2 to grab the lead away on lap 11. Carter made his way into second on lap 13, and then followed in Wood's tire tracks over the next 4 laps. Then going into turn 3 on the final lap Carter went to the middle of the track and came out of turn 4 with the lead to pick up his first win of the season at Oskaloosa. Wood settled for 2nd, Hughes was 3rd, Dustin Griffiths recovered from a flat on the start to come back up to finish 4th, with Reitzler finishing 5th.
Carson McCarl and father Terry McCarl led the field to green in the 25 lap Sprint Invaders feature, with Carson McCarl jumping out front on lap 1 over Terry McCarl and Ian Madsen, who started 6th. The lead trio were setting such a fast pace, that on lap 6 they started to enter lapped traffic. Madsen used the bottom of the track in turn 1 to slip in front of Terry McCarl for second on lap 11. Then used the same move one lap later, lap 12, to take the top spot away from Carson McCarl. Without a caution to slow the pace, there was no catching Madsen, who pulled away to claim the win. Carson McCarl was 2nd, Terry McCarl was 3rd, Jamie Ball started 11th and finished 4th, with Chris Martin coming from 14th to come home in 5th.
The 16 lap IMCA SportMod feature was up next, with Danny Brau and Jack Housley on the front row. Brau took advantage of his front row starting spot to jump out front on lap 1 over Colton Livezey and Carter VanDenBerg, who started 5th. Livezey would use the top of the track coming out of turn 4 to take the top spot away from Brau on lap 2, with VanDenBerg following into second. While Livezey worked the top of the track, VanDenBerg used the bottom to slip under Livezey coming off turn 4 on lap 3 to grab the lead away. But VanDenBerg's lead only lasted 1 lap, as Curtis Van Der Wal, who started 8th, used the top of the track coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot on lap 4 by inches. From there Van Der Wal pulled away in a caution free race to pick up his second win in a row at the track. VanDenBerg was 2nd, Logan Anderson started 6th and finished 3rd, Jason McDaniel came from 7th to finish 4th, with Cory VanZante finishing 5th after starting in 9th.
Steve Jackson and Eric Lundstrom drew the front row for the 16 lap Dirt Truck feature. But it was fourth place starter Brad Moyer who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Jackson and Lundstrom. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 3, when Andrew Clark spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Moyer jumped back out front with Jackson and Lundstrom close behind. While Moyer worked the bottom of the track, Jackson went to the top to try and work past Moyer for the lead. That move paid off on lap 6, as Jackson edged Moyer at the line by inches to take over the top spot. From there Jackson pulled away to claim his second win in a row at Oskaloosa. Moyer was 2nd, Pat Gordon came from 10th to finish in 3rd, Corey Stout was 4th, with Lundstrom rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Christian Huffman and Kirk Puttmann leading the field to green, with Huffman leading lap 1 over Ryan Wells and Mike Kincaid. Wells used the top of the track to take the lead away from Huffman on lap 2. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 4, when Riley Meinders spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Meinders dropped alot of fluid on the track in turn 4 and came to a stop down the middle of the front stretch to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Wells, Bill Bonnett, who started 9th, and Steve Allen race three wide off turn 4, with Wells holding the lead. Puttmann would spin in turn 3 on lap 5 to bring out the yellow and slow the battle up front. On the restart Shannon Anderson, who started 10th, worked the bottom of the track to grab the lead away from Wells and Bonnett. Just as Anderson started to pull away the final caution of the race appeared on lap 12, when Puttmann spun in turn 2 for his second caution of the race. Once again Anderson moved back out front on the restart, with Bonnett and Allen close behind. Bonnett tried to work under Anderson over the final laps, but Anderson would hold him off for his third win in a row at the track. Bonnett was 2nd, Aaron Martin started 8th and finished 3rd, Kincaid recovered from pitting under the lap 4 caution to come back up to finish 4th, with Thomas Stevens coming home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Todd Inman and Jason Murray on the front row. Inman used his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Murray and Cayden Carter, who was behind the wheel of a brand new VanderBuilt car. With Inman using the bottom of the track, Murray used the top to grab the lead on lap 3 coming off turn 4. After the completion of lap 4 disaster would strike Inman, as he got into the guardrail in turn 1 and came to a stop to bring out the yellow. On the restart Murray, Colt Mather and Carter raced three wide off turn 4, with Murray holding on for the lead over Carter and Mather. Carter worked the bottom of the track to slip under Murray for the top spot on lap 8, with Derrick Stewart, who started 7th, moving into second on lap 10. Stewart then tried to cut into Carter's straight-away lead over the next 8 laps, when Scott Dickey got into the guardrail in turn 4 on lap 18 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Stewart and Mather battling for second. Carter would hold on over the final 2 laps to score his first win and second of the night at the track. Stewart settled for 2nd, Mather was 3rd, Todd Shute was 4th, with Brandon Banks coming from 13th to round out the top 5.
The 12 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature was the first of seven to take to the track on the night, with Levi Heath and James Roose making up the front row. Heath would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Josh Barnes and Daniel Fellows, who started 8th. On lap 3 both Barnes and Fellows slipped past Heath to move into the first and second spot. Then one lap later, lap 4, Fellows slipped under Barnes coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 5, when Billy Cain dropped alot of fluids down the front stretch and then came to a stop in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fellows moved back out front, with Heath and Jake Benischek, who started 9th, close behind. Fellows then pulled away over the final laps to cruise to his third straight win at the track. Heath was 2nd, Benischek was 3rd, Roose was 4th, with Bryan Claussen coming from 14th to round out the top 5.
Up next was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Louis Lynch and Mike Brown leading the field to green. But just as the green flag was waved the yellow light would come on, as Brown spun in turn 1 and collected Brandon Jay and Mike McClure to bring out the yellow. On the following restart Todd Reitzler took advantage of being moved from 6th to outside of the front row to grab the lead on lap 1 over Lynch and Derrick Agee, who originally started 8th. While Reitzler worked the middle to top of the track, Agee worked the bottom to slip under Reitzler coming off turn 4 for the lead on lap 7. The action up front became a five car battle between Agee, Mike Hughes, Nathan Wood, who started 14th after troubles in his heat, Reitzler and Cayden Carter, who started 9th, on the halfway point. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 10 Hughes was able to get under Agee to take over the top spot. But that lead only lasted 1 lap, as Wood slipped under Hughes coming off turn 2 to grab the lead away on lap 11. Carter made his way into second on lap 13, and then followed in Wood's tire tracks over the next 4 laps. Then going into turn 3 on the final lap Carter went to the middle of the track and came out of turn 4 with the lead to pick up his first win of the season at Oskaloosa. Wood settled for 2nd, Hughes was 3rd, Dustin Griffiths recovered from a flat on the start to come back up to finish 4th, with Reitzler finishing 5th.
Carson McCarl and father Terry McCarl led the field to green in the 25 lap Sprint Invaders feature, with Carson McCarl jumping out front on lap 1 over Terry McCarl and Ian Madsen, who started 6th. The lead trio were setting such a fast pace, that on lap 6 they started to enter lapped traffic. Madsen used the bottom of the track in turn 1 to slip in front of Terry McCarl for second on lap 11. Then used the same move one lap later, lap 12, to take the top spot away from Carson McCarl. Without a caution to slow the pace, there was no catching Madsen, who pulled away to claim the win. Carson McCarl was 2nd, Terry McCarl was 3rd, Jamie Ball started 11th and finished 4th, with Chris Martin coming from 14th to come home in 5th.
The 16 lap IMCA SportMod feature was up next, with Danny Brau and Jack Housley on the front row. Brau took advantage of his front row starting spot to jump out front on lap 1 over Colton Livezey and Carter VanDenBerg, who started 5th. Livezey would use the top of the track coming out of turn 4 to take the top spot away from Brau on lap 2, with VanDenBerg following into second. While Livezey worked the top of the track, VanDenBerg used the bottom to slip under Livezey coming off turn 4 on lap 3 to grab the lead away. But VanDenBerg's lead only lasted 1 lap, as Curtis Van Der Wal, who started 8th, used the top of the track coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot on lap 4 by inches. From there Van Der Wal pulled away in a caution free race to pick up his second win in a row at the track. VanDenBerg was 2nd, Logan Anderson started 6th and finished 3rd, Jason McDaniel came from 7th to finish 4th, with Cory VanZante finishing 5th after starting in 9th.
Steve Jackson and Eric Lundstrom drew the front row for the 16 lap Dirt Truck feature. But it was fourth place starter Brad Moyer who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Jackson and Lundstrom. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 3, when Andrew Clark spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Moyer jumped back out front with Jackson and Lundstrom close behind. While Moyer worked the bottom of the track, Jackson went to the top to try and work past Moyer for the lead. That move paid off on lap 6, as Jackson edged Moyer at the line by inches to take over the top spot. From there Jackson pulled away to claim his second win in a row at Oskaloosa. Moyer was 2nd, Pat Gordon came from 10th to finish in 3rd, Corey Stout was 4th, with Lundstrom rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Christian Huffman and Kirk Puttmann leading the field to green, with Huffman leading lap 1 over Ryan Wells and Mike Kincaid. Wells used the top of the track to take the lead away from Huffman on lap 2. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 4, when Riley Meinders spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Meinders dropped alot of fluid on the track in turn 4 and came to a stop down the middle of the front stretch to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Wells, Bill Bonnett, who started 9th, and Steve Allen race three wide off turn 4, with Wells holding the lead. Puttmann would spin in turn 3 on lap 5 to bring out the yellow and slow the battle up front. On the restart Shannon Anderson, who started 10th, worked the bottom of the track to grab the lead away from Wells and Bonnett. Just as Anderson started to pull away the final caution of the race appeared on lap 12, when Puttmann spun in turn 2 for his second caution of the race. Once again Anderson moved back out front on the restart, with Bonnett and Allen close behind. Bonnett tried to work under Anderson over the final laps, but Anderson would hold him off for his third win in a row at the track. Bonnett was 2nd, Aaron Martin started 8th and finished 3rd, Kincaid recovered from pitting under the lap 4 caution to come back up to finish 4th, with Thomas Stevens coming home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Todd Inman and Jason Murray on the front row. Inman used his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Murray and Cayden Carter, who was behind the wheel of a brand new VanderBuilt car. With Inman using the bottom of the track, Murray used the top to grab the lead on lap 3 coming off turn 4. After the completion of lap 4 disaster would strike Inman, as he got into the guardrail in turn 1 and came to a stop to bring out the yellow. On the restart Murray, Colt Mather and Carter raced three wide off turn 4, with Murray holding on for the lead over Carter and Mather. Carter worked the bottom of the track to slip under Murray for the top spot on lap 8, with Derrick Stewart, who started 7th, moving into second on lap 10. Stewart then tried to cut into Carter's straight-away lead over the next 8 laps, when Scott Dickey got into the guardrail in turn 4 on lap 18 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Stewart and Mather battling for second. Carter would hold on over the final 2 laps to score his first win and second of the night at the track. Stewart settled for 2nd, Mather was 3rd, Todd Shute was 4th, with Brandon Banks coming from 13th to round out the top 5.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Gundaker, Long and Hoener Go Back-To-Back at Quincy Raceways
Quincy, IL (Sunday, May 21, 2017) - With many, if not all, of the Midwest area tracks falling to rain on Friday and Saturday, the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois was able to get their Sunday night program completed. Despite close to 5 inches of rain falling on the grounds over the days prior, the crew worked all day Sunday to get the grounds ready for racing later that evening. There work would pay off with a very fast and demanding racing surface, which saw three drivers score back-to-back wins, two others picking up repeats wins, and one scoring his first of the season at the track.
The first feature to take to the track on the night was the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compacts, with brothers Casey and Brandon Lambert leading the field to green. Brandon Lambert would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Barry Taft, who started 4th, and Daniel Fellows, who started 5th. Taft worked under Brandon Lambert coming off turn 2 to grab the top spot away on lap 2. But Brandon Lambert would return the pass by slipping under Taft in turn 2 to get the lead back on lap 3. While Brandon Lambert and Taft worked the bottom of the track, Fellows worked the middle groove to make it a three car battle for the top spot. Coming off turn 2 on lap 4, Fellows used the middle groove to get past Taft for second. Then going into turn 3 to complete lap 5, Fellows was able to get up beside Brandon Lambert. Fellows then used the momentum coming off turn 4 to grab the lead away from Brandon Lambert. That would leave Brandon Lambert and Taft to battle for the runner up spot.
Just as Fellows started to pull away from the battle behind him, the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 8. Debris down the front stretch would bring out the yellow. On the restart Fellows moved back out front, with Taft over taking Brandon Lambert for second. Taft then tried to stay within striking distance of Fellows. But Fellows would pull away to pick up his second win of the season at the track. Taft was 2nd, Brandon Lambert was 3rd, Craig Bangert started 7th and finished 4th, with Kimberly Abbott rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap UMP Modified feature, with Brian Wolfmeier and David Wietholder making up the front row. But it was third place starter Michael Long who quickly moved into the lead on lap 1 over Wolfmeier and Wietholder. After the completion of lap 1 disaster would strike Wietholder, as he went into turn 1 to hard and got sideways and killed the motor. As a result Frankie Wellman, who was running 5th, had no where to go and collided with Wietholder to bring out the first caution of the race. On the restart Long jumped back out front, with Allen Weiser, who started 5th, over taking Wolfmeier for the runner up spot. Disaster would strike Wolfmeier after the completion of lap 2, as he spun in turn 1 and collected Chris Spalding, who was running 4th, Spencer Havermale, who was running 5th, and Levi Meally to bring out the second caution.
Long once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Weiser and Wietholder, who charged back through the field after his spin on lap 1, close behind. Two laps later, lap 4, the final caution of the race appeared, as Meally spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Long moved back out front, with Weiser, Wellman, who also recovered from the lap 1 spin, and Wietholder battling for second. With the battle going on for the runner up spot, Long would pull away from the field over the final 16 laps to cruise to his second win in a row at the track. Weiser held on for 2nd, Wietholder was 3rd, Wellman was 4th, with Wolfmeier recovering from his spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish 5th.
McKay Wenger and Dustin Griffin led the field to green in the 25 lap UMP Late Model feature, with Griffin grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Wenger and Gordy Gundaker. Just after the completion of lap 1 the first caution slowed the action, as Denny Woodworth and Jason Frankel collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Griffin jumped back out front, with Gundaker slipping under Wenger for second. The trio then started to pull away from the field, when the second caution slowed the action on lap 5. This time debris down the front stretch brought out the yellow. Griffin once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Gundaker and Wenger close behind. Once again the lead trio started to pull away from the rest of the field, when the third caution appeared on lap 9. Alan Westling slowed in turn 1 with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Griffin moved back out front, with Gundaker and Wenger still close behind. Griffin looked to have the car to beat on this night, until lap 12 that is. He would pull off on the backstretch with a broken gear to end his night. Gundaker would inherit the lead, with Wenger still looking for a way around for the lead. The final caution of the race slowed the action on lap 14, as Rusty Griffaw, who was running 3rd, slowed with a right front broken wheel to bring out the yellow. Gundaker jumped out front on the restart, with Jason Perry over taking Wenger for second. A couple of laps later Wenger used the top of the track to take second back from Perry, and then went to work on Gundaker for the lead. Coming off turn 2 on lap 20 Wenger was able to get under Gundaker. But the two made contact and had to regroup, which slowed their momentum and allowed Perry to join the battle up front. Gundaker was able to hold off all challenges over the final laps to score his second win in a row at Quincy Raceways. Wenger held on for 2nd, Perry was 3rd, Derek Fetter started 9th and finished 4th, with Griffaw recovering from his broken wheel on lap 14 to come back up to round out the top 5.
Up next was the 18 lap SportMod feature, with Austen Becerra and Vance Wilson drawing the front row for the event. Becerra took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Justin Ebbing and Brandon Dale. The lead for Becerra only lasted 1 lap, as Ebbing slipped under him coming off turn 4 to complete lap 2 to take over the top spot. Then 2 laps later, lap 4, the action was slowed for the first time, as Nathan Anders slowed to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mike Goodwin, who was running 5th, spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Brandon Lennox, who started 8th, go three wide to grab the lead over Becerra and Joey Gower.
Becerra stayed glued to Lennox's back bumper over the next 7 laps, before disaster struck him on lap 12. Going into turn 3 Becerra tried to work under Lennox, but hit a hole and got up on two wheels and almost rolled. He would came back down on all four tires to come to a stop in turn 4 and brought out the yellow. Lennox jumped back out front on the restart, with Tanner Klingele, who started 6th, and Ebbing close behind. A couple more laps, lap 14, scored complete brought out the final caution of the race, as Dalton McKenney slowed to a stop in turn 2 with a right rear flat tire to bring out the yellow. Once again Lennox grabbed the lead on the restart, with Klingele and Ebbing following. Klingele tried to keep pace with Lennox over the final laps, but Lennox would pull away to pick up his first win of the season at the track. Klingele was 2nd, Ebbing was 3rd, Wilson was 4th, with Gower finishing in 5th.
Allen Weiser and Tommy Elston made up the front row for the 18 lap UMP Pro Late Model feature, with Elston taking advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Weiser and Brandon Savage. While Elston set a fast pace out front, Denny Woodworth, who suffered a flat tire in the heat race and had to start 7th in the feature, was working his way towards the front. On lap 8 Woodworth worked past Weiser to move into second, but was a full straight-away behind Elston for the lead. When Elston had to come off the bottom of the track on lap 12 to lap some cars, Woodworth was able to quickly close to his back bumper by lap 14. Despite a few challenges over the final laps from Woodworth, Elston was able to hold on to claim his second win of the season at the track. Woodworth was 2nd, Weiser was 3rd, Savage was 4th, with Charles VanZandt coming home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Cars, with Jerry Jansen and Abe Huls on the front row. But it was third place starter Dean Kratzer who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Huls and Jansen. While Kratzer set the pace out front, Brian Hoener worked past Huls into second on lap 7 and then set his sights on Kratzer for the top spot. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 11, Hoener was able to work under Kratzer to grab the lead away. Kratzer tried to battle back over the final laps. But Hoener was able to hold him off to score his second win in a row at Quincy Raceways. Kratzer was 2nd, Huls was 3rd, Beau Taylor was 4th, with Jansen rounding out the top 5.
Notes from Quincy: Russ Coultas started the Modified feature in 10th and finished 6th....Shawn Deering had troubles in time trials and missed his heat. So he started 14th in the feature and drove up to finish 7th....Spencer Havermale recovered from his involvement in the lap 2 crash to come back up to finish in 9th....Kevin Blackburn, who was suppose to start the feature in 11th, slowed to a stop in turn 3 on the parade lap. He was pushed back to the trailer, as the field went green. Then after the completion of lap 1, and under the caution period, Blackurn returned to the track with power. But he was sent back to the pits, as he went to his trailer to work on the car instead of the hot pits....Todd Bates had motor troubles during time trials that forced him to scratch for the night......Bill Kettering Jr. started the Late Model feature in 10th and finished 6th......Jace Gay finished 6th in the SportMod feature after starting in 10th....Mike Goodwin recovered from his spin on the lap 4 restart to come back up to finish in 7th....Dalton McKenney came back up to finish 8th after pitting on lap 14 with a flat tire....Austen Howes and Bobby Anders had troubles in there heats that forced them to scratch from the feature.
The first feature to take to the track on the night was the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compacts, with brothers Casey and Brandon Lambert leading the field to green. Brandon Lambert would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Barry Taft, who started 4th, and Daniel Fellows, who started 5th. Taft worked under Brandon Lambert coming off turn 2 to grab the top spot away on lap 2. But Brandon Lambert would return the pass by slipping under Taft in turn 2 to get the lead back on lap 3. While Brandon Lambert and Taft worked the bottom of the track, Fellows worked the middle groove to make it a three car battle for the top spot. Coming off turn 2 on lap 4, Fellows used the middle groove to get past Taft for second. Then going into turn 3 to complete lap 5, Fellows was able to get up beside Brandon Lambert. Fellows then used the momentum coming off turn 4 to grab the lead away from Brandon Lambert. That would leave Brandon Lambert and Taft to battle for the runner up spot.
Just as Fellows started to pull away from the battle behind him, the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 8. Debris down the front stretch would bring out the yellow. On the restart Fellows moved back out front, with Taft over taking Brandon Lambert for second. Taft then tried to stay within striking distance of Fellows. But Fellows would pull away to pick up his second win of the season at the track. Taft was 2nd, Brandon Lambert was 3rd, Craig Bangert started 7th and finished 4th, with Kimberly Abbott rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap UMP Modified feature, with Brian Wolfmeier and David Wietholder making up the front row. But it was third place starter Michael Long who quickly moved into the lead on lap 1 over Wolfmeier and Wietholder. After the completion of lap 1 disaster would strike Wietholder, as he went into turn 1 to hard and got sideways and killed the motor. As a result Frankie Wellman, who was running 5th, had no where to go and collided with Wietholder to bring out the first caution of the race. On the restart Long jumped back out front, with Allen Weiser, who started 5th, over taking Wolfmeier for the runner up spot. Disaster would strike Wolfmeier after the completion of lap 2, as he spun in turn 1 and collected Chris Spalding, who was running 4th, Spencer Havermale, who was running 5th, and Levi Meally to bring out the second caution.
Long once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Weiser and Wietholder, who charged back through the field after his spin on lap 1, close behind. Two laps later, lap 4, the final caution of the race appeared, as Meally spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Long moved back out front, with Weiser, Wellman, who also recovered from the lap 1 spin, and Wietholder battling for second. With the battle going on for the runner up spot, Long would pull away from the field over the final 16 laps to cruise to his second win in a row at the track. Weiser held on for 2nd, Wietholder was 3rd, Wellman was 4th, with Wolfmeier recovering from his spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish 5th.
McKay Wenger and Dustin Griffin led the field to green in the 25 lap UMP Late Model feature, with Griffin grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Wenger and Gordy Gundaker. Just after the completion of lap 1 the first caution slowed the action, as Denny Woodworth and Jason Frankel collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Griffin jumped back out front, with Gundaker slipping under Wenger for second. The trio then started to pull away from the field, when the second caution slowed the action on lap 5. This time debris down the front stretch brought out the yellow. Griffin once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Gundaker and Wenger close behind. Once again the lead trio started to pull away from the rest of the field, when the third caution appeared on lap 9. Alan Westling slowed in turn 1 with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Griffin moved back out front, with Gundaker and Wenger still close behind. Griffin looked to have the car to beat on this night, until lap 12 that is. He would pull off on the backstretch with a broken gear to end his night. Gundaker would inherit the lead, with Wenger still looking for a way around for the lead. The final caution of the race slowed the action on lap 14, as Rusty Griffaw, who was running 3rd, slowed with a right front broken wheel to bring out the yellow. Gundaker jumped out front on the restart, with Jason Perry over taking Wenger for second. A couple of laps later Wenger used the top of the track to take second back from Perry, and then went to work on Gundaker for the lead. Coming off turn 2 on lap 20 Wenger was able to get under Gundaker. But the two made contact and had to regroup, which slowed their momentum and allowed Perry to join the battle up front. Gundaker was able to hold off all challenges over the final laps to score his second win in a row at Quincy Raceways. Wenger held on for 2nd, Perry was 3rd, Derek Fetter started 9th and finished 4th, with Griffaw recovering from his broken wheel on lap 14 to come back up to round out the top 5.
Up next was the 18 lap SportMod feature, with Austen Becerra and Vance Wilson drawing the front row for the event. Becerra took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Justin Ebbing and Brandon Dale. The lead for Becerra only lasted 1 lap, as Ebbing slipped under him coming off turn 4 to complete lap 2 to take over the top spot. Then 2 laps later, lap 4, the action was slowed for the first time, as Nathan Anders slowed to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mike Goodwin, who was running 5th, spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Brandon Lennox, who started 8th, go three wide to grab the lead over Becerra and Joey Gower.
Becerra stayed glued to Lennox's back bumper over the next 7 laps, before disaster struck him on lap 12. Going into turn 3 Becerra tried to work under Lennox, but hit a hole and got up on two wheels and almost rolled. He would came back down on all four tires to come to a stop in turn 4 and brought out the yellow. Lennox jumped back out front on the restart, with Tanner Klingele, who started 6th, and Ebbing close behind. A couple more laps, lap 14, scored complete brought out the final caution of the race, as Dalton McKenney slowed to a stop in turn 2 with a right rear flat tire to bring out the yellow. Once again Lennox grabbed the lead on the restart, with Klingele and Ebbing following. Klingele tried to keep pace with Lennox over the final laps, but Lennox would pull away to pick up his first win of the season at the track. Klingele was 2nd, Ebbing was 3rd, Wilson was 4th, with Gower finishing in 5th.
Allen Weiser and Tommy Elston made up the front row for the 18 lap UMP Pro Late Model feature, with Elston taking advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Weiser and Brandon Savage. While Elston set a fast pace out front, Denny Woodworth, who suffered a flat tire in the heat race and had to start 7th in the feature, was working his way towards the front. On lap 8 Woodworth worked past Weiser to move into second, but was a full straight-away behind Elston for the lead. When Elston had to come off the bottom of the track on lap 12 to lap some cars, Woodworth was able to quickly close to his back bumper by lap 14. Despite a few challenges over the final laps from Woodworth, Elston was able to hold on to claim his second win of the season at the track. Woodworth was 2nd, Weiser was 3rd, Savage was 4th, with Charles VanZandt coming home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 18 lap IMCA Stock Cars, with Jerry Jansen and Abe Huls on the front row. But it was third place starter Dean Kratzer who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Huls and Jansen. While Kratzer set the pace out front, Brian Hoener worked past Huls into second on lap 7 and then set his sights on Kratzer for the top spot. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 11, Hoener was able to work under Kratzer to grab the lead away. Kratzer tried to battle back over the final laps. But Hoener was able to hold him off to score his second win in a row at Quincy Raceways. Kratzer was 2nd, Huls was 3rd, Beau Taylor was 4th, with Jansen rounding out the top 5.
Notes from Quincy: Russ Coultas started the Modified feature in 10th and finished 6th....Shawn Deering had troubles in time trials and missed his heat. So he started 14th in the feature and drove up to finish 7th....Spencer Havermale recovered from his involvement in the lap 2 crash to come back up to finish in 9th....Kevin Blackburn, who was suppose to start the feature in 11th, slowed to a stop in turn 3 on the parade lap. He was pushed back to the trailer, as the field went green. Then after the completion of lap 1, and under the caution period, Blackurn returned to the track with power. But he was sent back to the pits, as he went to his trailer to work on the car instead of the hot pits....Todd Bates had motor troubles during time trials that forced him to scratch for the night......Bill Kettering Jr. started the Late Model feature in 10th and finished 6th......Jace Gay finished 6th in the SportMod feature after starting in 10th....Mike Goodwin recovered from his spin on the lap 4 restart to come back up to finish in 7th....Dalton McKenney came back up to finish 8th after pitting on lap 14 with a flat tire....Austen Howes and Bobby Anders had troubles in there heats that forced them to scratch from the feature.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Rookie Fellows Continues Hot Streak on a Cold Night in Osky
Oskaloosa, IA (Wednesday, April 27, 2017) - When it comes to the sport of racing one thing that it needs to be able to put on a show is for mother nature to co-operate. And so far in 2017 that hasn't been the case, as if it hasn't been raining the temperatures for the most part have been way below normal.
On Wednesday night I made my way over to the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa for their season opener, which was pushed back one week after being rained out the week before. When I left my home in Monmouth, Illinois the rains began to fall from the sky. And when I got to Ottumwa, Iowa, which is about 30 miles from Oskaloosa, and it was still raining. I began to wonder to myself if I wasn't wasting a trip over. The closer I got to the fairgrounds the lighter the precipitation got.
Just about when hot laps were scheduled to begin, the rains finally stopped. This would cause a slight delay, as the cars had to come onto the track to help get it packed in, in order to get the nights program started. By the time hot laps were over a brisk northern wind kicked up, and the temperature fell to the mid 40's. But the delay from the rains and the cool temperatures were on the back of the mid, as the on track racing made up for it.
The Dirt Trucks, which lost there Friday night weekly track when the Iowa State Fairgrounds did away with the big half mile track at the end of 2016, were added to the schedule this year on a very limited basis. This happened to be one of those nights, with 13 signed in for competition. Steve Jackson, who has raced a Stock Car for many years, drove a second truck for Lou Sipolt. They just happened to draw the front row for the 15 lap feature. On the drop of the green flag the field would fan out three and four wide, with Jackson leading lap 1 over Sipolt and Brad Moyer. But just after the completion of lap 1 the first caution would come out, as Bret Moyer spun down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart the field tried to go three wide down the front stretch. And when contact between Tony Moro and Eric Lundstrom happened right about the flag stand, Moro got sideways. With Lundstrom still on the gas pedal this would send Moro barrel rolling into turn 1. The truck would come to rest on all four wheels, and it took a few minutes before Moro climbed from the truck okay.
Jackson jumped back out front once racing was resumed, with Brad Moyer slipping past Sipolt for second. Moyer would chase Jackson around the 1/2 mile over the final 14 laps. But wasn't able to mount a challenge, as Jackson held on to pick up the win. Brad Moyer was 2nd, Sipolt was 3rd, Anthony Moro was 4th, with Andrew Clark rounding out the top 5. After Corey Stout, who drove a second truck for Pat Gordon and was running 5th, slowed on the final lap with a flat tire.
Up next was the 10 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Levi Heath and Jake Dietrich leading the field to the green flag. But it was third place starter Daniel Fellows, a rookie driver for 2017, slipping under Heath off turn 2 to grab the lead on lap 1. One lap later Dietrich made the pass of Heath to move into the runner up spot, and then went to work on Fellows for the lead. While the lead duo set the pace out front, Josh Barnes, who was driving Barry Taft's #57 on this night, was working his way towards the front from his 10th place starting spot. His progress was helped on lap 5, when Heath, who was running 3rd, pulled out with mechanical troubles. On lap 8 Barnes worked himself into third, but ran out of laps to mount a challenge on the top two. Fellows, who picked up a win on Saturday night at the Eldon Raceway in Eldon, Iowa and again on Sunday at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois, held on to claim his third win in a row in only his fifth start of the season. Dietrich was 2nd, Barnes was 3rd, which made a top three sweep for Team Darkside. Brandon Housley finished 4th, with Cody VanDusen coming from 9th to round out the top 5.
Louis Lynch, the defending track champion, and Jason See led the field to green in the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Lynch moving out front to lead lap 1 over See and Dustin Griffiths, who moved out of the Hobby Stock class and into the Stock Cars for 2017. Griffiths, who started 7th, would slip under Lynch coming off turn 4 on lap 2 to take over the top spot. On lap 3 Mike Hughes, who started 10th, had quickly worked himself into second, with Derick Agee following him. The lead trio followed each other around the bottom of the speedway, and was pulling away from the field by lap 8. As the battle for fourth went 3 wide at times. On laps 13 and 14 Hughes ventured to the middle to groove to try and get past Griffiths, but wasn't able to make the pass.
But when Griffiths bobbled going into turn 2 on lap 15, this allowed Hughes to pull even with him coming off turn 2. They would race side-by-side for a lap, before Hughes got the lead coming to the white flag. Agee was able to get under Griffiths in turn 1 and almost got beside Hughes coming off turn 2. But Hughes would hold him off to pick up the win. Agee was 2nd, Griffiths was 3rd, Todd Reitzler moved into 4th on lap 10 and closed to the leaders back bumper on the final lap to finish a close 4th, with See holding on for 5th.
The 16 lap IMCA SportMod feature was up next, with Colton Livezey and Jason McDaniel on the front row. McDaniel would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Livezey and Curtis Van Der Wal. The fast pace McDaniel's was setting allowed him to come up on slower traffic by lap 9, as he started to pull away from the field. On lap 11 the field was brought back to McDaniel's back bumper, when Matt Beal slowed to a stop in turn 3 to bring out the first and only caution of the race. On the restart McDaniel moved back out front, with Carter VenDenBerg using the top of the track to slip past Van Der Wal for second. Coming to the white flag Van Der Wal was able to slip under VanDenBerg for second, but couldn't mount a challenge on McDaniel over the final lap. As McDaniel claimed the win. Van Der Wal was 2nd, Logan Anderson was 3rd, as VanDenBerg slipped to 4th, with Austin Paul finishing 5th.
Colt Mather and Hunter Marriott raced side-by-side on the opening lap of the 18 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Mather using the momentum off turn 4 to edge Marriott at the line by inches on lap 1. Mather, Marriott and Todd Shute followed in each others tire tracks around the top of the track over the next 16 laps, when the first and only caution slowed the race. Debris in the middle of runs 1 and 2 would bring out the yellow, and set up a two lap shoot out. On the restart Mather jumped back out front, as Shute slipped past Marriott for second going into turn 1. But Marriott would turn back under him coming off turn 2 to get the spot back. But by then Mather pulled out enough to secure the win. Marriott was 2nd, Shute was 3rd, Cayden Carter finished 4th after starting in 9th, with Kelly Shryock coming home 5th in a yellow #21.
The final feature to take to the track was the the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock, with Shannon Anderson moving from third to first on lap 1. Eric Stanton, who took a nasty roll in the season opener at the track in 2016, moved into second on lap 2. The action up front was slowed for only 1 time, as Kelsie Spilman spun in turn 2 on lap 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Anderson moved back out front, with Stanton close behind. While Stanton had to work to hold off Bill Bonnett over the final laps, this would allow Anderson to pull away to claim the win. Stanton held on for 2nd, Bonnett was 3rd, Aaron Martin was 4th, with Scott Shull coming home in 5th.
The forecast for this weekends racing action it currently looking bleak. But let's hope this will change and we can get some racing in somewhere this weekend. Maybe I will see you somewhere along the road at a track near you!
On Wednesday night I made my way over to the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa for their season opener, which was pushed back one week after being rained out the week before. When I left my home in Monmouth, Illinois the rains began to fall from the sky. And when I got to Ottumwa, Iowa, which is about 30 miles from Oskaloosa, and it was still raining. I began to wonder to myself if I wasn't wasting a trip over. The closer I got to the fairgrounds the lighter the precipitation got.
Just about when hot laps were scheduled to begin, the rains finally stopped. This would cause a slight delay, as the cars had to come onto the track to help get it packed in, in order to get the nights program started. By the time hot laps were over a brisk northern wind kicked up, and the temperature fell to the mid 40's. But the delay from the rains and the cool temperatures were on the back of the mid, as the on track racing made up for it.
The Dirt Trucks, which lost there Friday night weekly track when the Iowa State Fairgrounds did away with the big half mile track at the end of 2016, were added to the schedule this year on a very limited basis. This happened to be one of those nights, with 13 signed in for competition. Steve Jackson, who has raced a Stock Car for many years, drove a second truck for Lou Sipolt. They just happened to draw the front row for the 15 lap feature. On the drop of the green flag the field would fan out three and four wide, with Jackson leading lap 1 over Sipolt and Brad Moyer. But just after the completion of lap 1 the first caution would come out, as Bret Moyer spun down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart the field tried to go three wide down the front stretch. And when contact between Tony Moro and Eric Lundstrom happened right about the flag stand, Moro got sideways. With Lundstrom still on the gas pedal this would send Moro barrel rolling into turn 1. The truck would come to rest on all four wheels, and it took a few minutes before Moro climbed from the truck okay.
Jackson jumped back out front once racing was resumed, with Brad Moyer slipping past Sipolt for second. Moyer would chase Jackson around the 1/2 mile over the final 14 laps. But wasn't able to mount a challenge, as Jackson held on to pick up the win. Brad Moyer was 2nd, Sipolt was 3rd, Anthony Moro was 4th, with Andrew Clark rounding out the top 5. After Corey Stout, who drove a second truck for Pat Gordon and was running 5th, slowed on the final lap with a flat tire.
Up next was the 10 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Levi Heath and Jake Dietrich leading the field to the green flag. But it was third place starter Daniel Fellows, a rookie driver for 2017, slipping under Heath off turn 2 to grab the lead on lap 1. One lap later Dietrich made the pass of Heath to move into the runner up spot, and then went to work on Fellows for the lead. While the lead duo set the pace out front, Josh Barnes, who was driving Barry Taft's #57 on this night, was working his way towards the front from his 10th place starting spot. His progress was helped on lap 5, when Heath, who was running 3rd, pulled out with mechanical troubles. On lap 8 Barnes worked himself into third, but ran out of laps to mount a challenge on the top two. Fellows, who picked up a win on Saturday night at the Eldon Raceway in Eldon, Iowa and again on Sunday at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois, held on to claim his third win in a row in only his fifth start of the season. Dietrich was 2nd, Barnes was 3rd, which made a top three sweep for Team Darkside. Brandon Housley finished 4th, with Cody VanDusen coming from 9th to round out the top 5.
Louis Lynch, the defending track champion, and Jason See led the field to green in the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Lynch moving out front to lead lap 1 over See and Dustin Griffiths, who moved out of the Hobby Stock class and into the Stock Cars for 2017. Griffiths, who started 7th, would slip under Lynch coming off turn 4 on lap 2 to take over the top spot. On lap 3 Mike Hughes, who started 10th, had quickly worked himself into second, with Derick Agee following him. The lead trio followed each other around the bottom of the speedway, and was pulling away from the field by lap 8. As the battle for fourth went 3 wide at times. On laps 13 and 14 Hughes ventured to the middle to groove to try and get past Griffiths, but wasn't able to make the pass.
But when Griffiths bobbled going into turn 2 on lap 15, this allowed Hughes to pull even with him coming off turn 2. They would race side-by-side for a lap, before Hughes got the lead coming to the white flag. Agee was able to get under Griffiths in turn 1 and almost got beside Hughes coming off turn 2. But Hughes would hold him off to pick up the win. Agee was 2nd, Griffiths was 3rd, Todd Reitzler moved into 4th on lap 10 and closed to the leaders back bumper on the final lap to finish a close 4th, with See holding on for 5th.
The 16 lap IMCA SportMod feature was up next, with Colton Livezey and Jason McDaniel on the front row. McDaniel would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Livezey and Curtis Van Der Wal. The fast pace McDaniel's was setting allowed him to come up on slower traffic by lap 9, as he started to pull away from the field. On lap 11 the field was brought back to McDaniel's back bumper, when Matt Beal slowed to a stop in turn 3 to bring out the first and only caution of the race. On the restart McDaniel moved back out front, with Carter VenDenBerg using the top of the track to slip past Van Der Wal for second. Coming to the white flag Van Der Wal was able to slip under VanDenBerg for second, but couldn't mount a challenge on McDaniel over the final lap. As McDaniel claimed the win. Van Der Wal was 2nd, Logan Anderson was 3rd, as VanDenBerg slipped to 4th, with Austin Paul finishing 5th.
Colt Mather and Hunter Marriott raced side-by-side on the opening lap of the 18 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Mather using the momentum off turn 4 to edge Marriott at the line by inches on lap 1. Mather, Marriott and Todd Shute followed in each others tire tracks around the top of the track over the next 16 laps, when the first and only caution slowed the race. Debris in the middle of runs 1 and 2 would bring out the yellow, and set up a two lap shoot out. On the restart Mather jumped back out front, as Shute slipped past Marriott for second going into turn 1. But Marriott would turn back under him coming off turn 2 to get the spot back. But by then Mather pulled out enough to secure the win. Marriott was 2nd, Shute was 3rd, Cayden Carter finished 4th after starting in 9th, with Kelly Shryock coming home 5th in a yellow #21.
The final feature to take to the track was the the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock, with Shannon Anderson moving from third to first on lap 1. Eric Stanton, who took a nasty roll in the season opener at the track in 2016, moved into second on lap 2. The action up front was slowed for only 1 time, as Kelsie Spilman spun in turn 2 on lap 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Anderson moved back out front, with Stanton close behind. While Stanton had to work to hold off Bill Bonnett over the final laps, this would allow Anderson to pull away to claim the win. Stanton held on for 2nd, Bonnett was 3rd, Aaron Martin was 4th, with Scott Shull coming home in 5th.
The forecast for this weekends racing action it currently looking bleak. But let's hope this will change and we can get some racing in somewhere this weekend. Maybe I will see you somewhere along the road at a track near you!
Monday, April 24, 2017
Three Exciting Feature Finishes Highlight Quincy Raceways Action
Quincy, IL (Sunday, April 23, 2017) - After taking last Sunday off for Easter, the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois returned to action on Sunday, April 23rd. A beautiful evening in late April helped to produce some great racing action.
On this night the UMP Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars were given the night off, with the 305 Sprints replacing one of the classes. Only five 305 Sprints showed up, which was narrowed to 4 by feature time when Chris Campbell had motor troubles in his heat. Jeff Wilke and Jarrod Schneiderman, driving Roger Grant's #27, led the field to green in the 12 lap feature, with Schneiderman grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Wilke and Justin Standridge. The race would caution free, with Schneiderman pulling away to an easy win. Wilke was 2nd, Standridge was 3rd, with Dylon Tuxhorn 4th, and Campbell credited with 5th.
The UMP Pro (Crate) Late Models returned for the second time in 2017 at Quincy Raceways, with Tommy Elston and Denny Woodworth leading the field to the green in the 20 lap feature. Elston would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out front on lap 1 over Tommy Sheppard Jr. and Woodworth. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time on lap 2, when Derek Sammons spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Elston moved back out front, with Sheppard Jr. and Woodworth battling for second. Woodworth, who was working the top of the track, slipped past Sheppard Jr. for second on lap 6 and then went to work on Elston for the lead. With two laps to go Woodworth was able to close on Elston's back bumper. Then coming off turn 4 to the checkered Woodworth used the momentum off the top to edge Elston at the line by inches to claim the win. Elston settled for 2nd, Sheppard Jr. was 3rd, Vance Wilson was 4th, with Sam Halstead coming home in 5th.
Jeffrey DeLonjay and Darin Weisinger Jr. led the field to green in the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, with DeLonjay leading lap 1 over Weisinger Jr. and David Prim. DeLonjay then held the top spot until lap 3, when Weisinger Jr. slipped under him to take over the lead. While the battle was happening out front, Daniel Fellows, who started 10th, was working his way towards the front. By lap 7 Fellows had worked his way into second. Three laps latter, lap 10, Fellows went to the top to take the lead away from Weisinger Jr. Fellows then held off Jake Dietrich, who started 7th, over the final laps to pick up his second career win (with his first coming on Saturday at the Eldon Raceway in Eldon, Iowa) in only his fourth start of the season. Dietrich was 2nd, Weisinger Jr. was 3rd, Prim was 4th, with Barry Taft coming from 9th to finish in 5th.
Up next was the 25 lap UMP Super Late Model feature, with Jamie Wilson and Rickey Frankel making up the front row. Wilson jumped out front on lap 1 over Denny Woodworth and Frankel. Just as Wilson started to pull away the first and only caution of the race appeared time on lap 9. Justin Reed got into the turn 2 guardrail and ripped the right rear tire off to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wilson moved back out front, with Woodworth and Frankel close behind. Woodwoth, who was working the top of the track, jumped the cushion in turn 1 on lap 13 and fell back to 3rd behind Frankel. This would allow Wilson to put some distance on the battle for second. Three laps later, lap 16, Woodworth was able to get back by Frankel for second, but was a straight-away behind Wilson for the lead. By lap 20 Woodworth had cut the lead in half, and by lap 22 he was on Wilson's back bumper. Going into turn 3 on the final lap Woodworth was able to get up beside Wilson, who was working the bottom. But Wilson was able to hold off Woodworth at the line to claim the win. Woodworth was 2nd, Frankel was 3rd, Alan Westling was 4th, with Dustin Hodges rounding out the top 5.
To say they saved the best for last can be true on this night, as the 18 lap IMCA SportMod took to the track. Tanner Klingele and Justin Bartz made up the front row, with Klingele grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Joey Gower and Austen Becerra. Klingele worked the bottom of the track to hold off Gower, until the first caution on lap 6 slowed the action. Mike Goodwin stopped down the front stretch to bring out the caution. On the restart Klingele moved back out front, with Gower and Becerra still close behind. The second and final caution appeared on lap 10, when Dakota Anderson spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Klingele again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Tony Dunker, who started 8th, using the top of the track to get past Gower for second. While Klingele worked the bottom of the track, Dunker worked the top to pull even with Klingele coming off turn 2 on lap 13. But Klingele was able to pull away coming off the bottom to keep the lead. Then coming off turn 4 to take the white flag Dunker was able to edge Klingele at the line to take over the top spot. The two would race around the track side-by-side on the final lap, with Dunker using the momentum off turn 4 to edge Klingele at the line by .13 seconds to claim the win. Klingele settled for a close 2nd, Gower was 3rd, Justin Ebbing was 4th, with Austin Howes coming from 9th to finish in 5th.
Notes from Quincy: The final checkered flag waved just before 8:30 PM, which helped to get everyone home at a decent time on a Sunday evening. This was helped with only 4 cautions in 90 feature laps.....Rudy Zaragoza made his debut in the UMP Pro Late Model class. He didn't make it to the track in time to run his heat, so he had to start the feature in 11th. He would stay out of trouble to come home in 9th....Brianna Sheppard called the track to check in, in hopes of making it in time to race. But they never made it......The Sport Compact feature went CAUTION FREE!!!....Brandon Lambert was going for the lead in his heat race, when he rolled in turn 4. They were able to fix the car good enough to race the feature, where he finished 10th......Brandon Lennox, who started 7th in the SportMod feature and was up to 3rd by lap 10, pulled out under the caution on lap 10 with front end troubles to end his night in 9th....Bobby Anders, Nathan Anders and Tim Anders all had troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature.
On this night the UMP Modifieds and IMCA Stock Cars were given the night off, with the 305 Sprints replacing one of the classes. Only five 305 Sprints showed up, which was narrowed to 4 by feature time when Chris Campbell had motor troubles in his heat. Jeff Wilke and Jarrod Schneiderman, driving Roger Grant's #27, led the field to green in the 12 lap feature, with Schneiderman grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Wilke and Justin Standridge. The race would caution free, with Schneiderman pulling away to an easy win. Wilke was 2nd, Standridge was 3rd, with Dylon Tuxhorn 4th, and Campbell credited with 5th.
The UMP Pro (Crate) Late Models returned for the second time in 2017 at Quincy Raceways, with Tommy Elston and Denny Woodworth leading the field to the green in the 20 lap feature. Elston would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out front on lap 1 over Tommy Sheppard Jr. and Woodworth. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time on lap 2, when Derek Sammons spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Elston moved back out front, with Sheppard Jr. and Woodworth battling for second. Woodworth, who was working the top of the track, slipped past Sheppard Jr. for second on lap 6 and then went to work on Elston for the lead. With two laps to go Woodworth was able to close on Elston's back bumper. Then coming off turn 4 to the checkered Woodworth used the momentum off the top to edge Elston at the line by inches to claim the win. Elston settled for 2nd, Sheppard Jr. was 3rd, Vance Wilson was 4th, with Sam Halstead coming home in 5th.
Jeffrey DeLonjay and Darin Weisinger Jr. led the field to green in the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, with DeLonjay leading lap 1 over Weisinger Jr. and David Prim. DeLonjay then held the top spot until lap 3, when Weisinger Jr. slipped under him to take over the lead. While the battle was happening out front, Daniel Fellows, who started 10th, was working his way towards the front. By lap 7 Fellows had worked his way into second. Three laps latter, lap 10, Fellows went to the top to take the lead away from Weisinger Jr. Fellows then held off Jake Dietrich, who started 7th, over the final laps to pick up his second career win (with his first coming on Saturday at the Eldon Raceway in Eldon, Iowa) in only his fourth start of the season. Dietrich was 2nd, Weisinger Jr. was 3rd, Prim was 4th, with Barry Taft coming from 9th to finish in 5th.
Up next was the 25 lap UMP Super Late Model feature, with Jamie Wilson and Rickey Frankel making up the front row. Wilson jumped out front on lap 1 over Denny Woodworth and Frankel. Just as Wilson started to pull away the first and only caution of the race appeared time on lap 9. Justin Reed got into the turn 2 guardrail and ripped the right rear tire off to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wilson moved back out front, with Woodworth and Frankel close behind. Woodwoth, who was working the top of the track, jumped the cushion in turn 1 on lap 13 and fell back to 3rd behind Frankel. This would allow Wilson to put some distance on the battle for second. Three laps later, lap 16, Woodworth was able to get back by Frankel for second, but was a straight-away behind Wilson for the lead. By lap 20 Woodworth had cut the lead in half, and by lap 22 he was on Wilson's back bumper. Going into turn 3 on the final lap Woodworth was able to get up beside Wilson, who was working the bottom. But Wilson was able to hold off Woodworth at the line to claim the win. Woodworth was 2nd, Frankel was 3rd, Alan Westling was 4th, with Dustin Hodges rounding out the top 5.
To say they saved the best for last can be true on this night, as the 18 lap IMCA SportMod took to the track. Tanner Klingele and Justin Bartz made up the front row, with Klingele grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Joey Gower and Austen Becerra. Klingele worked the bottom of the track to hold off Gower, until the first caution on lap 6 slowed the action. Mike Goodwin stopped down the front stretch to bring out the caution. On the restart Klingele moved back out front, with Gower and Becerra still close behind. The second and final caution appeared on lap 10, when Dakota Anderson spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Klingele again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Tony Dunker, who started 8th, using the top of the track to get past Gower for second. While Klingele worked the bottom of the track, Dunker worked the top to pull even with Klingele coming off turn 2 on lap 13. But Klingele was able to pull away coming off the bottom to keep the lead. Then coming off turn 4 to take the white flag Dunker was able to edge Klingele at the line to take over the top spot. The two would race around the track side-by-side on the final lap, with Dunker using the momentum off turn 4 to edge Klingele at the line by .13 seconds to claim the win. Klingele settled for a close 2nd, Gower was 3rd, Justin Ebbing was 4th, with Austin Howes coming from 9th to finish in 5th.
Notes from Quincy: The final checkered flag waved just before 8:30 PM, which helped to get everyone home at a decent time on a Sunday evening. This was helped with only 4 cautions in 90 feature laps.....Rudy Zaragoza made his debut in the UMP Pro Late Model class. He didn't make it to the track in time to run his heat, so he had to start the feature in 11th. He would stay out of trouble to come home in 9th....Brianna Sheppard called the track to check in, in hopes of making it in time to race. But they never made it......The Sport Compact feature went CAUTION FREE!!!....Brandon Lambert was going for the lead in his heat race, when he rolled in turn 4. They were able to fix the car good enough to race the feature, where he finished 10th......Brandon Lennox, who started 7th in the SportMod feature and was up to 3rd by lap 10, pulled out under the caution on lap 10 with front end troubles to end his night in 9th....Bobby Anders, Nathan Anders and Tim Anders all had troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature.
Guernsey, Keltner, McDermand; Masengarb, and Abbott Score First Wins of the Season at 34 Raceway
West Burlington, IA (Saturday, April 22, 2017) - After three weeks of special race events at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 22nd began weekly racing action. As Mt. Dew Kick Start helped to bring the action in the seven classes, with five new winners visiting victory lane at the end of the night.
Austen Becerra and Dan Keltner drew the front row for the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature, which was the first to take to the track. Becerra would edge out Keltner at the line by inches to lead lap 1. Then after lap 1 was scored complete the caution came out for debris down the front stretch. At the same time leader Becerra went to the pits to change a flat tire, giving the lead over to Keltner for the restart. On the restart Keltner jumped out front, with Sean Wyett and Andrew Burk following. Another lap scored complete produced another caution, as Dustin Ravelin spun in turn 2 on lap 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Scott Williams spun off turn 1 with front end troubles to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Keltner moved back out front, with Wyett and Burk close behind. The action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 5, when Ravelin stopped in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Keltner again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Wyett and Burk still following. Keltner would pull away over the final 10 laps to pick up his first win of the season at 34 Raceway. Wyett was 2nd, John Oliver Jr. started 10th and finished 3rd, Kyle Hill was 4th, with Becerra recovering from his flat on lap 1 to come back up to finish 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap IMRA Midget feature, with Chase McDermand and Gedd Ross leading the field to the drop of the green flag. McDermand would take advantage of his front row starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Ross and Brent Burrows. While McDermand set a fast pace out front, the battle for second was going on between Ross, Burrows, and Adam Taylor, who started 5th. Taylor was able to slip into the runner up spot on lap 5. But without a caution there was no catching McDermand, who went on to win his first of the season at the track. Taylor was 2nd, Ross was 3rd, Burrows was 4th, with Jeff Mallonee coming home in 5th.
Jake Wenig and Ray Raker drew the front row for the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Wenig moving out front on lap 1 over Raker and Tom Bowling Jr. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time on lap 5, when debris in turn 3 brought out the yellow. On the restart Wenig jumped back out front, with Bowling Jr. and John Oliver Jr., who started 7th, close behind. When Wenig drifted high in turn 4 on lap 7, this would allow Bowling Jr. to slip under him for the lead. A couple of laps later Oliver Jr. was able to clear Wenig for second, and then went to work on Bowling Jr. for the top spot. Oliver Jr. would close to the back bumper of Bowling Jr., with 5 laps to go. He would look under Bowling Jr. over the next few laps, with Bowling Jr. able to hold him off each time. Coming off turn 4 to get the checkers, Oliver Jr. again looked under Bowling Jr. But Bowling Jr. was able to hold him off to claim his second win of the season at 34 Raceway. Oliver Jr. settled for 2nd, Raker was 3rd, Wenig was 4th, with Chad Krogmeier edging out a 5th place finish.
The next feature to take to the track was the 20 lap IMCA Modifieds, with Darrow Lille and Brandon Rothzen leading the field to green. Rothzen jumped out front on lap 1 over Ryan Cook and Bill Roberts Jr., with the action being slowed for the first and only time on lap 3. Jacob Copley spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Rothzen moved back out front, with Roberts Jr. edging Cook for second. While the battle for second going on, Rothzen started to pull away. Cook would close the gap on Rothzen late in the race, but ran out of laps. As Rothzen went on to score his second win of the season at the track. Cook was 2nd, Roberts Jr. was 3rd, Dugan Thye was 4th, with Dennis LaVeine coming from 8th to finish in 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap Mod Lite feature, with Erin Turner and Jason Masengarb drawing the front row. Masengarb would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Turner and Scott Sappington Jr. Masengarb then started to pull away from the battle for second going on behind, when the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 6. Austin Bowling would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Masengarb moved back out front, with Mike Morrill, who started 6th, and Scott Naggatz, who started 5th, close behind. Morrill tried to work the outside to get by Masengarb, but Masengarb was able to hold him off early before pulling away late to claim his first win of the season at the track. Morrill was 2nd, Naggatz was 3rd, Turner was 4th, with Devon Rouse rounding out the top 5.
Wesley Talley and Eric Eye drew the front for for the 15 lap 4 Cylinder feature. But just as the green flag waved the red light came on, as Randy Magnuson rolled in turn 2 to bring out the red. He would climb from his car okay. On the original restart Kimberly Abbott, who started 3rd, grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Lambert and Eye. Then after lap 1 was scored complete Ron Kibbe stopped in turn 2 to bring out the second caution of the race. Abbott once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Lambert and Jerrod Nichols, who started 9th, battling for second. While Abbott pulled away, Nichols tried to look under Lambert for second. Abbott would cruise to her first win of the season at 34 Raceway. Lambert was able to hold off Nichols for 2nd, Larry Miller was 4th, with Eye holding on for 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap 305 Sprints, with Nick Guernsey and Andy Krieger drawing the front row. Krieger would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Guernsey and Shane Quam. Just after lap 1 was scored complete the first and only caution of the race appeared, as Travis Porter stopped in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Krieger jumped back out front, with Guernsey and Quam following. Krieger was setting a fast pace out front, and was pulling away from the field when he pulled off with troubles on lap 19. Which handed the lead over to Guernsey, who went on to lead the final 2 laps to claim his first win of the season at 34 Raceway. Quam was 2nd, Ben Wagoner started 10th and finished 3rd, Tanner Gebhardt was 4th, with Jarrod Schneiderman coming from 8th to finish 5th.
Notes from 34: The IMRA Midget feature went 15 laps CAUTION FREE!!!....Mitchell Davis started 9th and finished 6th....Broc Hunnell started 12th and finished 9th......Cody Washburne started the Stock Car feature in 10th and finished 6th....Derek Schwandt finished 7th after starting in 11th....Mark Bowman and Odie Cook had troubles after their heats that forced them to scratch from the feature......Booby Six started the Modified feature in 9th and finished 6th....Dustin Smith finished 7th after starting in 10th....Creston Williams came from 11th to finish in 8th....Mitch Boles had troubles after his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......David Prim started the Sport Compact feature in 12th and finished 7th....Casey Lambert finished 9th after starting in 13th....David Judd started 14th and finished 11th....Cody Bowman came from 18th to finish in 12th....Kyle Franey, Kevin Favorite, and Wayne Chamblee all had troubles after their heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature......Daniel Bergquist started the 305 Sprint feature in 9th and finished 6th....Colton Fisher finished 10th after starting in 13th....Wyatt Wilkerson started 14th and finished 11th....Brayden Gaylord had motor troubles in hot laps that forced him to scratch for the night.
Halstead, Waterman, Pundt, Dunker, and Taft Become Five New Winners at the Lee County Speedway
Donnellson, IA (Friday, April 21, 2017) - Mother nature has not been on the side of the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa for the first four weeks of racing in 2017, as wet weather was the fight the first three weeks. But this week it was the cool temperatures and breezy conditions that wasn't on there side. The hot racing action helped to keep the fans warm, with five new winners ending up in victory lane at the end of the night.
Daniel Fellows and Barry Taft led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, which was the first to take to the track on this night. Taft would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Kimberly Abbott and David Prim. Just after lap 1 was scored complete the caution would appear, as Mike Hornung Jr. stopped down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Taft moved back out front, with Abbott and Josh Barnes, who started 8th, close behind. Abbott tried to work under Taft over the next 5 laps, when the second caution of the race appeared on lap 6. Hornung Jr. would spin in turn 4 and collected Fellows to bring out the yellow. Taft again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Abbott and Barnes following. Taft, Abbott and Barnes would race the next two laps three wide for the lead, with Taft able to hold them off at the line each lap. While the lead trio battled for the top spot, Jake Dietrich, who started 7th, was working the top of the track to move into the battle. Dietrich would over take Barnes for 2nd on lap 13, and then went to work on Taft for the lead. But Taft was able to hold on over the final laps to claim his first win of the season at the track. Barnes would edge out Dietrich at the line for 2nd, Brandon Reu came from 9th to finish 4th, with Abbott holding on for 5th.
Next to take to the track was the 20 lap UMP Pro Late Model feature, with Derek Liles and Gunner Frank drawing the front row. Liles jumped out front on lap 1 over Gunner Frank and Sam Halstead, and then held it until coming off turn 4 to complete lap 2. Liles would spin in front of the field to bring out the yellow. On the restart Halstead slipped past Gunner Frank to take the top spot, with Todd Frank moving into second. Todd Frank tried to stay in Halstead's tire tracks over the next 6 laps, when the second caution of the race slowed the action. This time Chase Frank spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Halstead jumped back out front on the restart, with Todd Frank and Gunner Frank close behind. Again Todd Frank tried to stay with Halstead, but Halstead started to pull away until the final caution of the race brought the field back to his back bumper on lap 18. Chase Frank spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow for the second time to end his night. On the restart Todd Frank went low going into turn 3 and slid up in front of Halstead, only to have Halstead turn under him to edge him at the line for the lead. Halstead then held him off on the final lap to claim his first win of the season at the track. Tommy Elston came from 9th to edge out Denny Woodworth at the line for 3rd, Liles recovered from his lap 1 spin to come back up to finish 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Les Blakley and Corey Strothman leading the field to green. But it was third place starter Jeremy Pundt who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Abe Huls and Strothman. With Pundt working the bottom of the track, Huls went to the top to try to work past Pundt. But disaster would strike Huls on lap 7 when he got into the guardrail in turn 3 and pulled off with troubles. This would move Jason Cook into second. While Cook tried to cut into Pundt's lead, the battle for third between John Oliver Jr., Strothman, and Jason See went two and three wide at times. Without a caution there was no catching Pundt on this night, as he went on to win his first feature of the year at the track. Cook was 2nd, See won the battle for 3rd, Strothman was 4th, with Oliver Jr. coming home in 5th.
Mitch Boles and Kelly Buckallew led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Boles jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Dennis LaVeine and rookie Modified driver Dakota Simmons, who moved out of the SportMod class for 2017. Coming off turn 2 to complete lap 2, LaVeine went low, Jeff Waterman was in the middle, with Boles up top, to race three wide for the top spot. LaVeine emerged as the new leader on lap 2. LaVeine worked the bottom of the track over the next 3 laps, while Waterman used the top. Which turned out to prevail for Waterman, who grabbed the top spot away from LaVeine coming off turn 4 on lap 6. Waterman then started to pull away, when the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 15 to bring the field back to his back bumper. Boles slowed in turn 4 with troubles to bring out the yellow. On the restart Waterman moved back out front, with LaVeine working to hold off Blake Woodruff, who started 6th, for second. Waterman then led the final 5 laps to score his first win of the season at the track. LaVeine held on for 2nd, Woodruff was 3rd, Bobby Six started 9th and finished 4th, with Simmons rounding out the top 5.
The final feature to take to the track was the 18 lap IMCA SportMods, with Austin Howes and Brandon Symmonds leading the field to green, when Tom Lathrop elected to start in the rear. Howes took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Logan Anderson, who originally started 14th and moved up to 6th on the start, and Symmonds. The action was slowed for the first time on lap 2, when Brandyn Ryan spun in turn 3 and collected Dave Kraus to bring out the yellow. On the restart Howes moved back out front, with Tony Dunker, who started 8th, over taking Anderson for second. Howes, who was running the bottom of the track, then held the top spot until lap 4, when Dunker went high off turn 4 to take over the lead. Just as Dunker started to pull away from the battle behind, the second caution of the race slowed the pace on lap 12. This time debris in turn 1 brought out the yellow. Dunker moved back out front on the restart, with Howes and now John Oliver Jr. close behind. Dunker again started to pull away from the battle behind him, and looked to be heading to the win, when the final caution appeared on lap 17 to set up a overtime finish. But Dunker got a good restart and held on over the final laps to claim his first win of the season at the track. Howes settled for 2nd, Anderson was 3rd, Oliver Jr. was 4th, with Brandon Dale finishing 5th after starting in 9th.
Notes from LCS: Friday's action got started right at 7:30 PM, and the five class program, which included a pit crew challenge at intermission, was completed at 10:01 PM. The excellent track prep helps to produce some of the best racing in the area on Friday nights. That is very cost efficient for the fans to come and enjoy,.....Travis DeMint started the Sport Compact feature in 11th and finished 7th....Daniel Fellows recovered from his involvement in the lap 6 caution to come back up to finish 8th....Mike Hornung Jr. came back from the lap 6 caution to finish 11th....Colton Keck had troubles in his heat that forced him to scratch from the feature......Dean Kratzer started the Stock Car feature in 12th and finished 8th....Scott Jordan had troubles in hot laps that forced him to scratch for the night......Dave Wietholder had troubles in hot laps that forced him to scratch for the night in the Modified class......Austen Becerra started the SportMod feature in 13th and passed 7 cars to come home in 6th....Dan Keltner, who was suppose to start 6th, elected to start at the rear. He would come up to finish 8th....Bob Cowman finished 10th after spinning on lap 17 to set up a two lap overtime finish....Brandon Lennox had troubles after his heat that forced him to scratch from the feature.
Make sure to mark your calendars for Thursday, May 4th, as the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models invade the Lee County Speedway. This will be the first of two visits for 2017.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Quincy Raceways Opener Goes to Schlenk, Elston, Bollinger, Huls, Howes, and Taft
Quincy, IL (Sunday, April 9, 2017) - After having their 2017 racing season fall to rain last Sunday, the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois was able to kick-off their season on Sunday. It also marked the debut of the UMP Pro (Crate) Late Model class to a limited schedule for this season.
The 18 lap IMCA SportMod feature was the first to take to the track, with Brandon Lennox and Joey Gower drawing the front row. But it was third place starter Austin Howes who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Gower and Lennox. Jim Gillenwater, who was running 4th, spun in turn 4 on lap 4 to bring out the first caution of the race. On the restart Howes moved back out front, with Lennox over taking Gower for the runner up spot. Two laps later, lap 6, Tim Anders spun off turn 4 and into the wall to bring the yellow light back on for the second time of the race. Once again Howes grabbed the lead on the restart, with Lennox, Austen Becerra, and Tony Dunker battling for the second spot. Howes started to pull away from the battle going on behind him, when the final caution of the race slowed the action. This time Brandon Symmonds slowed to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Howes jumped back out front, with Lennox and Dunker close behind. Dunker went to the top of the track to clear Lennox for second on lap 16, and then set his sights on Howes, who was running the bottom, for the top spot. But Howes was able to hold him off at the line to claim the win. Dunker was 2nd, Lennox was 3rd, Justin Ebbing, who was suppose to start 9th, had to go to the rear after being pushed out of staging climbed his way up to finish 4th, with Becerra rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap UMP Pro Late Model feature, with AJ May, the 2016 UMP Pro Late Model National Champion, and Tommy Elston leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Elston would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over May and Denny Woodworth. Just after the completion of lap 1 the first caution appeared, as Derek Sammons spun off turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Sam Halstead, who was running 4th, spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Elston move back out front, with Woodworth over taking May for second. Elston then started to pull away from the battle behind him, when he encountered a couple of lapped cars racing side-by-side. This would allow Woodworth and May to cut into his straight-away lead. In fact Woodworth was able to pull up next to Elston down the front stretch on lap 17. But Elston would slice his way through the lapped cars coming off turn 2, and was able to hold on over the final laps to pick up the win. Woodworth was 2nd, May was 3rd, Tommy Sheppard Jr was 4th, with Halstead recovering from his spin on the lap 1 restart to come back up to 5th.
Russ Coultas and Rick Conoyer made up the front row for the 20 lap UMP Modified feature, when Ray Bollinger, who won the first heat race, rolled a 6 to invert the first 3 rows of the feature. Conoyer would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Coultas and Shawn Deering. While everyone went to the bottom of the track, Jason Frankel, who started 5th, decided to try the top. The move would pay off early, as he moved into second on lap 4. But on lap 12 he slipped over the track in turn 1 and fell back to 4th. After seeing how well the top worked for Frankel, Bollinger and Dave Wietholder, who started 7th, went to the top to try and work their way towards the front. On lap 15 Bollinger pulled into the runner up spot, but was a full straight-away behind Conoyer for the lead. Coming off turn 4 on the white flag lap, Bollinger was able to slip past Conoyer for the lead, and then held him off on the final lap to pick up the win. Conoyer was 2nd, Wietholder was 3rd, Deering was 4th, with Frankel coming home in 5th.
The 25 lap UMP Super Late Model feature was up next, with Rusty Schlenk and McKay Wenger leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Schlenk jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Jason Perry and Wenger. Wenger used the top of the track to over take Perry for the runner up spot on lap 2, and then tried to keep pace with Schlenk. Even though Schlenk entered lapped traffic on lap 11, and with out a caution to slow him down, there was no catching Schlenk on this night. He would cruise to an easy win. Followed by Wenger in 2nd, Denny Woodworth in 3rd, Alan Westling started 7th and finished 4th, with Justin Reed coming from 8th to round out the top 5.
Despite the IMCA Stock Car field only having four start the race, after Rudy Zaragoza hit the wall hard in the heat race and had to scratch from the feature, the action up front was very entertaining for the first half of the 12 lap race. Jerry Jansen and Abe Huls drew the front row, with Jansen edging out Huls at the line to lead lap 1. Jansen then held the lead until lap 3, when Huls used the top of the track to take over the top spot. This would leave Jansen to have to defend off Michael Larsen and Brian Hoener, for the runner up spot. While Huls started to pull away, the battle for second went two and three wide at times. That was until late in the race when Larsen pulled off with a right rear flat. This would leave Jansen and Hoener left to battle for second, as Huls held on to claim the win. Hoener edged out Jansen at the line by inches for 2nd, Jansen was 3rd, Larsen was credited with 4th, with Zaragoza credited with 5th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compacts, with Colton Kleck and Wesley Talley leading the field to green, after outside front row starter Andrew Hughes was a scratch. But it was fourth place starter Barry Taft who shot out into the lead on lap 1 over Craig Bangert, who started 6th, and Darin Weisinger Jr., who started 7th. Weisinger Jr.'s run up front came to an end on lap 4, when he pulled off with a right front flat. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 8, when Brandon Lambert slowed to a stop in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Taft jumped back out front, with Bangert and Brandon Reu, who started 10th, now running third. While Bangert tried to work under Taft over the final laps, Reu had to fight off Jake Dietrich for the third spot. But Taft was able to hold off Bangert at the line to pick up the win. Bangert settled for 2nd, Dietrich edged out Reu at the line for 3rd, giving Reu 4th, with Kimberly Abbott coming from 11th to finish in 5th.
Notes from Quincy: 17 IMCA Sport Compacts, 15 IMCA SportMods, 14 UMP Pro Late Models, 12 UMP Super Late Models, 11 UMP Modifieds, and 5 IMCA Stock Cars made up the 73 cars signed in on opening night......Jim Gillenwater recovered from his spin on lap 4 of the SportMod feature to come back up to finish 6th....Chuck Ancell climbed back into a race car after several years, and finished 9th after starting in 15th....Nathan Anders had troubles after his heat race to for him to scratch from the feature......Brandon Savage moved out of the Stock Car class to the Pro Late Models for 2017. He looked real racy in finishing in 7th....Josh Jackson started 11th and finished 8th....Trent Grotz started 12th and finished 9th......Donovan Lodge finished 7th in the Modified feature after starting in 11th......Clint Kirkham drove a car for Charles VanZandt in the Super Late Model feature. Where he started 12th and finished 9th....Rickey Frankel had troubles in the heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Casey Lambert started 9th in the Sport Compact feature and finished 6th....Mike Hornung Jr. came from 13th to finish in 9th....Ashton Blain finished 10th after starting in 14th....Andrew Hughes, Josh Barnes and Jeffrey DeLonjay all had troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature....While Aylssa Steele rolled a couple time in her heat race to force her to scratch from the feature. She did climb from the car okay.
This Friday the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa will try for the third time to get their 2017 racing season started, as the two day Spring Extravaganza fell to rain. This will also mark the first night that the Crate Late Models will be sanctioned by UMP. Also racing will be the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, and IMCA Sport Compacts. If you haven't been to the Lee County Speedway, then I would encourage you to come check it out. The racing is always entertaining, and at a cheap price of $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, students 11-17 $5, and kids 10 & under FREE to get into the grandstands with Late Models racing weekly. The fairboard has also did some upgrades over the winter, with a new kitchen and bathrooms put up in the pits. As well as a new PA system being installed.
Then on Saturday is the event everyone looks forward to every year, that is the "Slocum 50" at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. This is the 9th year friends and family have put together this race to honor Brent Slocum, who lost his life in a pit accident several years ago at the track. With the help of many sponsors and contributors the Open Late Model purse will again pay $10,555 to win. But the to start the 50 lap feature it has been raised to $750. The 305 Sprints will be going for $1,555 to win, while the IMCA Stock Cars will race for $1,055 to win.
We need everyone to think go vibes for the weekend, as mother nature keeps hinting on the "R" word for the next 3 days. Let's hope to go racing this weekend!!!
The 18 lap IMCA SportMod feature was the first to take to the track, with Brandon Lennox and Joey Gower drawing the front row. But it was third place starter Austin Howes who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Gower and Lennox. Jim Gillenwater, who was running 4th, spun in turn 4 on lap 4 to bring out the first caution of the race. On the restart Howes moved back out front, with Lennox over taking Gower for the runner up spot. Two laps later, lap 6, Tim Anders spun off turn 4 and into the wall to bring the yellow light back on for the second time of the race. Once again Howes grabbed the lead on the restart, with Lennox, Austen Becerra, and Tony Dunker battling for the second spot. Howes started to pull away from the battle going on behind him, when the final caution of the race slowed the action. This time Brandon Symmonds slowed to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Howes jumped back out front, with Lennox and Dunker close behind. Dunker went to the top of the track to clear Lennox for second on lap 16, and then set his sights on Howes, who was running the bottom, for the top spot. But Howes was able to hold him off at the line to claim the win. Dunker was 2nd, Lennox was 3rd, Justin Ebbing, who was suppose to start 9th, had to go to the rear after being pushed out of staging climbed his way up to finish 4th, with Becerra rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap UMP Pro Late Model feature, with AJ May, the 2016 UMP Pro Late Model National Champion, and Tommy Elston leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Elston would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over May and Denny Woodworth. Just after the completion of lap 1 the first caution appeared, as Derek Sammons spun off turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Sam Halstead, who was running 4th, spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Elston move back out front, with Woodworth over taking May for second. Elston then started to pull away from the battle behind him, when he encountered a couple of lapped cars racing side-by-side. This would allow Woodworth and May to cut into his straight-away lead. In fact Woodworth was able to pull up next to Elston down the front stretch on lap 17. But Elston would slice his way through the lapped cars coming off turn 2, and was able to hold on over the final laps to pick up the win. Woodworth was 2nd, May was 3rd, Tommy Sheppard Jr was 4th, with Halstead recovering from his spin on the lap 1 restart to come back up to 5th.
Russ Coultas and Rick Conoyer made up the front row for the 20 lap UMP Modified feature, when Ray Bollinger, who won the first heat race, rolled a 6 to invert the first 3 rows of the feature. Conoyer would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Coultas and Shawn Deering. While everyone went to the bottom of the track, Jason Frankel, who started 5th, decided to try the top. The move would pay off early, as he moved into second on lap 4. But on lap 12 he slipped over the track in turn 1 and fell back to 4th. After seeing how well the top worked for Frankel, Bollinger and Dave Wietholder, who started 7th, went to the top to try and work their way towards the front. On lap 15 Bollinger pulled into the runner up spot, but was a full straight-away behind Conoyer for the lead. Coming off turn 4 on the white flag lap, Bollinger was able to slip past Conoyer for the lead, and then held him off on the final lap to pick up the win. Conoyer was 2nd, Wietholder was 3rd, Deering was 4th, with Frankel coming home in 5th.
The 25 lap UMP Super Late Model feature was up next, with Rusty Schlenk and McKay Wenger leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Schlenk jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Jason Perry and Wenger. Wenger used the top of the track to over take Perry for the runner up spot on lap 2, and then tried to keep pace with Schlenk. Even though Schlenk entered lapped traffic on lap 11, and with out a caution to slow him down, there was no catching Schlenk on this night. He would cruise to an easy win. Followed by Wenger in 2nd, Denny Woodworth in 3rd, Alan Westling started 7th and finished 4th, with Justin Reed coming from 8th to round out the top 5.
Despite the IMCA Stock Car field only having four start the race, after Rudy Zaragoza hit the wall hard in the heat race and had to scratch from the feature, the action up front was very entertaining for the first half of the 12 lap race. Jerry Jansen and Abe Huls drew the front row, with Jansen edging out Huls at the line to lead lap 1. Jansen then held the lead until lap 3, when Huls used the top of the track to take over the top spot. This would leave Jansen to have to defend off Michael Larsen and Brian Hoener, for the runner up spot. While Huls started to pull away, the battle for second went two and three wide at times. That was until late in the race when Larsen pulled off with a right rear flat. This would leave Jansen and Hoener left to battle for second, as Huls held on to claim the win. Hoener edged out Jansen at the line by inches for 2nd, Jansen was 3rd, Larsen was credited with 4th, with Zaragoza credited with 5th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compacts, with Colton Kleck and Wesley Talley leading the field to green, after outside front row starter Andrew Hughes was a scratch. But it was fourth place starter Barry Taft who shot out into the lead on lap 1 over Craig Bangert, who started 6th, and Darin Weisinger Jr., who started 7th. Weisinger Jr.'s run up front came to an end on lap 4, when he pulled off with a right front flat. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 8, when Brandon Lambert slowed to a stop in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Taft jumped back out front, with Bangert and Brandon Reu, who started 10th, now running third. While Bangert tried to work under Taft over the final laps, Reu had to fight off Jake Dietrich for the third spot. But Taft was able to hold off Bangert at the line to pick up the win. Bangert settled for 2nd, Dietrich edged out Reu at the line for 3rd, giving Reu 4th, with Kimberly Abbott coming from 11th to finish in 5th.
Notes from Quincy: 17 IMCA Sport Compacts, 15 IMCA SportMods, 14 UMP Pro Late Models, 12 UMP Super Late Models, 11 UMP Modifieds, and 5 IMCA Stock Cars made up the 73 cars signed in on opening night......Jim Gillenwater recovered from his spin on lap 4 of the SportMod feature to come back up to finish 6th....Chuck Ancell climbed back into a race car after several years, and finished 9th after starting in 15th....Nathan Anders had troubles after his heat race to for him to scratch from the feature......Brandon Savage moved out of the Stock Car class to the Pro Late Models for 2017. He looked real racy in finishing in 7th....Josh Jackson started 11th and finished 8th....Trent Grotz started 12th and finished 9th......Donovan Lodge finished 7th in the Modified feature after starting in 11th......Clint Kirkham drove a car for Charles VanZandt in the Super Late Model feature. Where he started 12th and finished 9th....Rickey Frankel had troubles in the heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Casey Lambert started 9th in the Sport Compact feature and finished 6th....Mike Hornung Jr. came from 13th to finish in 9th....Ashton Blain finished 10th after starting in 14th....Andrew Hughes, Josh Barnes and Jeffrey DeLonjay all had troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature....While Aylssa Steele rolled a couple time in her heat race to force her to scratch from the feature. She did climb from the car okay.
This Friday the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa will try for the third time to get their 2017 racing season started, as the two day Spring Extravaganza fell to rain. This will also mark the first night that the Crate Late Models will be sanctioned by UMP. Also racing will be the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, and IMCA Sport Compacts. If you haven't been to the Lee County Speedway, then I would encourage you to come check it out. The racing is always entertaining, and at a cheap price of $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, students 11-17 $5, and kids 10 & under FREE to get into the grandstands with Late Models racing weekly. The fairboard has also did some upgrades over the winter, with a new kitchen and bathrooms put up in the pits. As well as a new PA system being installed.
Then on Saturday is the event everyone looks forward to every year, that is the "Slocum 50" at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. This is the 9th year friends and family have put together this race to honor Brent Slocum, who lost his life in a pit accident several years ago at the track. With the help of many sponsors and contributors the Open Late Model purse will again pay $10,555 to win. But the to start the 50 lap feature it has been raised to $750. The 305 Sprints will be going for $1,555 to win, while the IMCA Stock Cars will race for $1,055 to win.
We need everyone to think go vibes for the weekend, as mother nature keeps hinting on the "R" word for the next 3 days. Let's hope to go racing this weekend!!!
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Mueller Only Driver to Sweep "Memphis Spring Nationals"
Memphis, MO (Saturday, March 18, 2017) - Saturday night was the final night of the "Memphis Spring Nationals" at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri presented by J&J Ag. And with temperatures expected to fall in the 30's, the nights action was moved up an hour from the scheduled time. That move paid off with a fast paced show, as the first green flag waved at 5:55 PM and the final checkered flag falling at 8:20 pm.
The 14 lap Hobby Stock feature was the first to take to the track, with Scott Shull and Daniel Wauters drawing the front row. Wauters would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Nathan Ballard, who started 4th, and Shull. But his lead only last for 1 lap, as Ballard went to the very top of the track coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot on lap 2. Ballard then started to pull away, as Wauters, Shull and Damon Murty, who won Friday nights feature in Bill Bonnett's #19, battled for the runner up spot. Without a caution there was no catching Ballard, who cruised to an easy win. Shull won the battle for 2nd, Wauters held on for 3rd, Murty was 4th, with Mike Kincaid coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 18 lap SportMod feature, with Jason McDaniel and Tyler Soppe leading the field to the drop of the green flag. McDaniel jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Soppe and Carter VanDenBerg. Just as McDaniel started to put some distance on the battle behind him, the first caution of the race appeared on lap 5. Brandon Symmonds would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart VanDenBerg slid up in front of McDaniel coming off turn 2 to grab the lead going down the backstretch. But third place runner Soppe would drive it hard into turn 3 on the bottom and slid up in front of VanDenBerg coming off turn 4 to take the lead. Three laps later, lap 9, the second and final caution of race came out for debris in turn 2.
Soppe moved back out front on the restart, while Brandon Lennox, who started 20th and used the bottom of the track to get to the front, over took VanDenBerg for second. Lennox then followed in Soppe's tire tracks over the next 5 laps, when he got sideways in turn 3 and fell back to 3rd. This would allow Soppe to pull away over the final 3 laps to pick up the $1,500 top prize. McDaniel was 2nd, Lennox was 3rd, VanDenBerg was 4th, with Brayton Carter, who won Friday night, rounding out the top 5.
Michael Larsen and Dustin Griffiths drew the front row for the 20 lap Stock Car feature, with Griffiths grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Jeff Mueller, who started 4th, and Damon Murty, who started 6th. Griffiths, who was working the top of the track, then held off Mueller, who was working the bottom, until lap 5 when Mueller slipped under him coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Just after the completion of lap 5 the first caution of the race appeared, as Cody Washburne spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mueller jumped back out front, as Murty and Mike Hughes went to the bottom of the track to get past Griffiths for second and third. While the lead trio worked the bottom of the track, Cayden Carter, who started 10th, worked the top of the track to move into fourth by the midway portion of the race.
The action up front was slowed for the second time, as Washburne spun in turn 4 on lap 12 to bring out his second involvement caution to end his night. Mueller once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Murty and Carter glued to his back bumper. Murty and Carter tried to get under Mueller over the next 4 laps, when the final caution appeared on lap 17 to set up a 3 lap shootout. This time Larsen would spin in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mueller moved back out front, with Carter slipping past Murty for the runner up spot. Despite several challenges from Carter over the final laps, Mueller was able to hold on to claim his second win of the weekend and the $1,500 top prize to go with it. Carter settled for 2nd, Murty was 3rd, Hughes was 4th, with Griffiths holding on for 5th.
Up next was the 14 lap Sport Compact feature, with Brandon Lambert and Steven Struck leading the field to the drop of the green. Struck took advantage of his draw to jump out front on lap 1 over Brandon Lambert and Casey Lambert. While Struck worked the top of the track, with Brandon Lambert following in his tire tracks, Brandon Reu, who started 9th, was working his way towards the front by using the bottom of the track. On lap 8, Reu would slip under Brandon Lambert for the runner up spot and then went to work on Struck for the lead. Struck and Reu would come off turn 4 on lap 11 side-by-side, with Reu grabbing the top spot away from Struck on lap 12. Reu then held off Struck over the final 2 laps of the caution free race to pick up the win. But Reu was later disqualified in tech for a ported cylinder head. This would give Struck the win. Brandon Lambert held off Cody VanDusen, who started 8th, on the final lap to be moved up to 2nd. VanDusen was moved to 3rd, Luke Benischek was moved to 4th, with Levi Heath being moved to 5th after starting in 12th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 25 lap Modifieds, with Friday nights winner Hunter Marriott and Blake Woodruff drawing the front row. Marriott quickly shot out into the lead on the drop of the green flag, with Colt Mather and Cayden Carter close behind. While Marriott was setting a fast pace around the top of the track, Kyle Brown, who started 10th, was using the bottom of the track to work his way towards the front. Marriott started to enter lapped traffic on lap 10, which slowed his pace down. On lap 16, Brown worked his way into the runner up spot and then went to work on chasing down Marriott for the lead. Marriott and Brown came off turn 4 on lap 21 side-by-side, with Brown grabbing the top spot away on lap 22. Brown then held on over the final 3 laps of the caution free race to pick up the win and the $2,000 top prize. Marriott was 2nd, Carter was 3rd, Kelly Shryock was 4th, with Kurt Kile coming from 12th, for the second night in a row, to finish in 5th.
The Scotland County Speedway will now sit idol until Thursday, June 1st, when the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models take to the big wide 3/8th mile. Joining the Late Models will be the Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods and Sport Compacts. Coming up this weekend, Friday, March 24th and Saturday, March 25th, will be the 5th Annual "Spring Extravaganza" at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. Check out the tracks website at www.leecountyspeedway.com for more information.
Notes from SCS night 2: 23 Modifieds, 23 Stock Cars, 21 Sport Compacts, 20 SportMods, and 10 Hobby Stocks made up the 97 cars signed in for the final night of the "Memphis Spring Nationals"......Dylan Nelson started the Hobby Stock feature in 10th and finished 6th......Brian Efkamp finished 8th in the SportMod feature after starting in 11th....Scott Walker once again drove his son Ryan Walker's #9w car and finished 12th....Brandon Symmonds recovered from his spin on lap 5 to come back up to finish in 14th....Dakota Anderson had troubles after his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Kyle Frederick from Oconto, Wisconsin finished 7th in the Stock Car feature after starting in 11th....Nathan Wood came from 12th to finish in 8th....Jason Cook finished 9th after starting in 16th....Tyler Pickett passed 10 cars from his 22nd place starting spot to come home in 12th....Dean Kratzer started 23rd and finished 18th......Dustin Forbes started the Sport Compact feature in 14th and finished 8th....Travis Tedrow passed 10 cars from his 21st place starting spot to finish in 11th....Alvin Cooney finished 12th after starting in 16th....David Prim came from 17th to finish in 13th....Alyssa Steele started 19th and finished 14th....Cameron Poci had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Andrew Schroeder started the Modified feature in 11th and finished 6th....Tyler Droste charged from 22nd to finish in 8th....Jeff Waterman finished 9th after starting in 14th....Jason Murray passed 13 cars from his 23rd place starting spot to come home in 10th....Jardin Fuller started 16th and finished 12th....David Wietholder for the second night in a row had troubles in hot laps that forced him to scratch for the night.
The 14 lap Hobby Stock feature was the first to take to the track, with Scott Shull and Daniel Wauters drawing the front row. Wauters would take advantage of his front row start to grab the lead on lap 1 over Nathan Ballard, who started 4th, and Shull. But his lead only last for 1 lap, as Ballard went to the very top of the track coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot on lap 2. Ballard then started to pull away, as Wauters, Shull and Damon Murty, who won Friday nights feature in Bill Bonnett's #19, battled for the runner up spot. Without a caution there was no catching Ballard, who cruised to an easy win. Shull won the battle for 2nd, Wauters held on for 3rd, Murty was 4th, with Mike Kincaid coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 18 lap SportMod feature, with Jason McDaniel and Tyler Soppe leading the field to the drop of the green flag. McDaniel jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Soppe and Carter VanDenBerg. Just as McDaniel started to put some distance on the battle behind him, the first caution of the race appeared on lap 5. Brandon Symmonds would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart VanDenBerg slid up in front of McDaniel coming off turn 2 to grab the lead going down the backstretch. But third place runner Soppe would drive it hard into turn 3 on the bottom and slid up in front of VanDenBerg coming off turn 4 to take the lead. Three laps later, lap 9, the second and final caution of race came out for debris in turn 2.
Soppe moved back out front on the restart, while Brandon Lennox, who started 20th and used the bottom of the track to get to the front, over took VanDenBerg for second. Lennox then followed in Soppe's tire tracks over the next 5 laps, when he got sideways in turn 3 and fell back to 3rd. This would allow Soppe to pull away over the final 3 laps to pick up the $1,500 top prize. McDaniel was 2nd, Lennox was 3rd, VanDenBerg was 4th, with Brayton Carter, who won Friday night, rounding out the top 5.
Michael Larsen and Dustin Griffiths drew the front row for the 20 lap Stock Car feature, with Griffiths grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Jeff Mueller, who started 4th, and Damon Murty, who started 6th. Griffiths, who was working the top of the track, then held off Mueller, who was working the bottom, until lap 5 when Mueller slipped under him coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Just after the completion of lap 5 the first caution of the race appeared, as Cody Washburne spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mueller jumped back out front, as Murty and Mike Hughes went to the bottom of the track to get past Griffiths for second and third. While the lead trio worked the bottom of the track, Cayden Carter, who started 10th, worked the top of the track to move into fourth by the midway portion of the race.
The action up front was slowed for the second time, as Washburne spun in turn 4 on lap 12 to bring out his second involvement caution to end his night. Mueller once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Murty and Carter glued to his back bumper. Murty and Carter tried to get under Mueller over the next 4 laps, when the final caution appeared on lap 17 to set up a 3 lap shootout. This time Larsen would spin in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mueller moved back out front, with Carter slipping past Murty for the runner up spot. Despite several challenges from Carter over the final laps, Mueller was able to hold on to claim his second win of the weekend and the $1,500 top prize to go with it. Carter settled for 2nd, Murty was 3rd, Hughes was 4th, with Griffiths holding on for 5th.
Up next was the 14 lap Sport Compact feature, with Brandon Lambert and Steven Struck leading the field to the drop of the green. Struck took advantage of his draw to jump out front on lap 1 over Brandon Lambert and Casey Lambert. While Struck worked the top of the track, with Brandon Lambert following in his tire tracks, Brandon Reu, who started 9th, was working his way towards the front by using the bottom of the track. On lap 8, Reu would slip under Brandon Lambert for the runner up spot and then went to work on Struck for the lead. Struck and Reu would come off turn 4 on lap 11 side-by-side, with Reu grabbing the top spot away from Struck on lap 12. Reu then held off Struck over the final 2 laps of the caution free race to pick up the win. But Reu was later disqualified in tech for a ported cylinder head. This would give Struck the win. Brandon Lambert held off Cody VanDusen, who started 8th, on the final lap to be moved up to 2nd. VanDusen was moved to 3rd, Luke Benischek was moved to 4th, with Levi Heath being moved to 5th after starting in 12th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 25 lap Modifieds, with Friday nights winner Hunter Marriott and Blake Woodruff drawing the front row. Marriott quickly shot out into the lead on the drop of the green flag, with Colt Mather and Cayden Carter close behind. While Marriott was setting a fast pace around the top of the track, Kyle Brown, who started 10th, was using the bottom of the track to work his way towards the front. Marriott started to enter lapped traffic on lap 10, which slowed his pace down. On lap 16, Brown worked his way into the runner up spot and then went to work on chasing down Marriott for the lead. Marriott and Brown came off turn 4 on lap 21 side-by-side, with Brown grabbing the top spot away on lap 22. Brown then held on over the final 3 laps of the caution free race to pick up the win and the $2,000 top prize. Marriott was 2nd, Carter was 3rd, Kelly Shryock was 4th, with Kurt Kile coming from 12th, for the second night in a row, to finish in 5th.
The Scotland County Speedway will now sit idol until Thursday, June 1st, when the Lucas Oil MLRA Late Models take to the big wide 3/8th mile. Joining the Late Models will be the Modifieds, Stock Cars, SportMods and Sport Compacts. Coming up this weekend, Friday, March 24th and Saturday, March 25th, will be the 5th Annual "Spring Extravaganza" at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. Check out the tracks website at www.leecountyspeedway.com for more information.
Notes from SCS night 2: 23 Modifieds, 23 Stock Cars, 21 Sport Compacts, 20 SportMods, and 10 Hobby Stocks made up the 97 cars signed in for the final night of the "Memphis Spring Nationals"......Dylan Nelson started the Hobby Stock feature in 10th and finished 6th......Brian Efkamp finished 8th in the SportMod feature after starting in 11th....Scott Walker once again drove his son Ryan Walker's #9w car and finished 12th....Brandon Symmonds recovered from his spin on lap 5 to come back up to finish in 14th....Dakota Anderson had troubles after his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Kyle Frederick from Oconto, Wisconsin finished 7th in the Stock Car feature after starting in 11th....Nathan Wood came from 12th to finish in 8th....Jason Cook finished 9th after starting in 16th....Tyler Pickett passed 10 cars from his 22nd place starting spot to come home in 12th....Dean Kratzer started 23rd and finished 18th......Dustin Forbes started the Sport Compact feature in 14th and finished 8th....Travis Tedrow passed 10 cars from his 21st place starting spot to finish in 11th....Alvin Cooney finished 12th after starting in 16th....David Prim came from 17th to finish in 13th....Alyssa Steele started 19th and finished 14th....Cameron Poci had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Andrew Schroeder started the Modified feature in 11th and finished 6th....Tyler Droste charged from 22nd to finish in 8th....Jeff Waterman finished 9th after starting in 14th....Jason Murray passed 13 cars from his 23rd place starting spot to come home in 10th....Jardin Fuller started 16th and finished 12th....David Wietholder for the second night in a row had troubles in hot laps that forced him to scratch for the night.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Marriott, Mueller, Carter, Murty, and Barnes Score "Memphis Spring Nationals" Opening Night Wins
Memphis, MO (Friday, March 17, 2017) - St. Patrick's Day 2017 turned out to be the season kick-off for the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. As J&J Ag helped present the "Memphis Spring Nationals", on what started out to be a decent night and turned into somewhat of a brisk cool evening.
The 14 lap Sport Compact feature started the night off, with Brandon Reu and Levi Heath drawing the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Josh Barnes who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Reu and Brandon Lambert. Just after the completion of lap 1, Casey Lambert slowed to a stop in turn 1 to bring out the caution. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Reu and Brandon Lambert close behind. Three laps later, on lap 5, Brandon Lambert's night came to an abrupt stop. As he came to a stop in turn 3 with fire coming out of the rear of the car. Barnes once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Reu and now Jake Benischek, who started 14th, following close behind. Neither Reu nor Benischek could find away around Barnes, who held on to pick up the win. Reu settled for 2nd, Luke Benischek was 3rd, Heath was 4th, with Kenny Smith rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap Stock Car feature, with Cayden Carter and Jeff Mueller drawing the front row. Mueller would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Mike Hughes and John Oliver Jr. The action up front was slowed only 1 time, as Tyler Pickett spun in turn 4 on lap 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mueller jumped back out front, with Hughes and Carter following close behind. Hughes and Carter would follow in Mueller's tire tracks around the top of the speedway over the final 17 laps, and was waiting for him to make a mistake. But Mueller would hold them off to pick up the $1,000 top prize. Hughes was 2nd, Carter was 3rd, Damon Murty started 10th and finished 4th, with Todd Reitzler coming from 12th to finish in 5th.
The SportMod 18 lap feature was next to take to the track, with Brayton Carter using his front row starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Tyler Soppe and Brandon Lennox. Just after the completion of lap 1, the caution would appear to slow the action down. As Jake Whittington and Kevin Dickey spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Lennox getting by Soppe for the runner up spot. Carter then started to pull away from the battle behind, when a second caution appeared on lap 7. This time Brian Efkamp spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Carter jumped out front on the restart, with Lennox and Carter VanDenBerg, who started 11th, moving into third. Two laps later, on lap 9, Jason McDaniel spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on.
Carter would grab the lead on the restart, with Lennox, VanDenBerg, Soppe, Austin Luellen battling for the runner up spot. With the battle going on behind him, Carter started to pull away. Carter's almost straight-away was erased on lap 13, when Jami Ritter spun in turn 1 and collected Whittington to bring out the final caution of the race. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Soppe going from fourth to second to get around Lennox and VanDenBerg. There was no catching Carter, as he pulled away over the final 7 laps to pick up the $1,000 top prize. Soppe held on for 2nd, Lennox was 3rd, VanDenBerg was 4th, with Luellen coming home in 5th.
Only 9 Hobby Stocks showed up for night 1, with Damon Murty, who was driving Bill Bonnett's #19 car, moving out front on the drop of the green flag in the 14 lap race. Just like the Stock Car feature, August Bach and Scott Shull followed in Murty's tire tracks around the top of the speedway and was waiting for him to make a mistake. But disaster would strike Bach on lap 12 when he got into the backstretch guardrail and rolled to bring out the red. Bach would climb from his car okay. On the restart Murty jumped back out front, with Shull and Mike Kincaid close behind. Murty would hold off a last lap challenge from Shull to claim the win. Shull settled for 2nd, Kincaid was 3rd, Dylan Nelson was 4th, with Daniel Wauters rounding out the top 5.
The 25 lap Modified feature was the last to take to the track, with Cayden Carter and Michael Dotson leading the field to the green flag. But just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as David Snyder lost a drive shaft down the front stretch to bring out the caution. On the restart Carter would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Hunter Marriott and Shawn Ritter. Marriott would slid up in front of Carter coming off turn 4 to take the lead away on lap 2. The trio would then start to pull away from the rest of the field. Carter was able to get up beside Marriott for the top spot, as they entered lapped traffic on lap 13. But when Dotson spun in turn 4 on lap 14 that would slow the action down and bring the field back to the top two's back bumper.
On the restart Ritter spun in turn 1 and collected Johnny Wyman to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Marriott jump back out front, with Carter, Kelly Shryock, who started 9th, and Clint Luellen battling for the runner up spot. Just like before the caution appeared, Marriott and Carter started to pull away from the battle behind them. And once again they would enter lapped traffic on lap 22, which allowed Carter to get up beside Marriott. But Marriott was able to hold him off over the final lap to pick up the $1,000 check. Carter was 2nd, Luellen was 3rd, Kurt Kile started 12th and finished 4th, with Shryock coming home in 5th.
Notes from SCS night 1: 26 Modifieds, 26 Stock Cars, 23 Sport Compacts, 20 SportMods, and 9 Hobby Stocks made up the 104 cars signed in for competition......Travis Tedrow passed 12 cars from his 20th place starting spot in the Sport Compact feature to come home in 8th....Alyssa Steele started 13th and finished 9th....Ashton Blain came from 17th to finish 11th....Mike Hornung Jr. finished 12th after starting in 21st....Jaden DeLonjay came from 23rd to finish 15th....Jake Benischek was running 3rd when he pulled off on the last lap to finish 16th....Jeffrey DeLonjay was suppose to start 12th, but had troubles after the heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Dustin Griffith started the Stock Car feature in 11th and finished 6th....Kyle Frederick, who made the long pull down from Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, finished 9th after starting in 15th....Tyler Pickett, who spun on lap 3 to bring out the caution, recovered to come home in 14th....Dallon Murty, Damon Murty's 13 year old son, raced his dads back-up car and elected to start from the rear. He would come up to finish in 15th....Chase Exline started 22nd and finished 16th....Odie Cook, Dan Gordon, and Greg Harsch all had troubles in the heat that forced them to scratch from the B-Main for a chance to move onto the feature......Brandon Dale finished 8th in the SportMod feature after starting in 12th....Scott Walker, who drove his son's Ryan Walker's #9w, started 18th and passed 9 cars to come home in 9th....Kevin Dickey recovered from being involved in the lap 1 caution to come back up to finish 10th....Colton Livezey, Andrew Swailes, and Austen Becerra all had troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature......Colt Mather started the Modified feature in 11th and finished 7th....Jardin Fuller passed 10 cars from his 18th place starting spot to come home in 8th....Matt Fulton finished 10th after starting 13th....Blake Woodruff passed 9 cars from his 20th place starting spot to finish 9th....Zach Rawlins started 21st and finished 13th....Andrew Schroeder, who started 7th and was up to 3rd, pulled off under the lap 14 caution with right front troubles to end his night in 16th....Michael Long had engine troubles in hot laps and scratched for the night....David Wietholder also had troubles in hot laps that forced him to scratch for the night.
The 14 lap Sport Compact feature started the night off, with Brandon Reu and Levi Heath drawing the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Josh Barnes who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Reu and Brandon Lambert. Just after the completion of lap 1, Casey Lambert slowed to a stop in turn 1 to bring out the caution. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Reu and Brandon Lambert close behind. Three laps later, on lap 5, Brandon Lambert's night came to an abrupt stop. As he came to a stop in turn 3 with fire coming out of the rear of the car. Barnes once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Reu and now Jake Benischek, who started 14th, following close behind. Neither Reu nor Benischek could find away around Barnes, who held on to pick up the win. Reu settled for 2nd, Luke Benischek was 3rd, Heath was 4th, with Kenny Smith rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap Stock Car feature, with Cayden Carter and Jeff Mueller drawing the front row. Mueller would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Mike Hughes and John Oliver Jr. The action up front was slowed only 1 time, as Tyler Pickett spun in turn 4 on lap 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Mueller jumped back out front, with Hughes and Carter following close behind. Hughes and Carter would follow in Mueller's tire tracks around the top of the speedway over the final 17 laps, and was waiting for him to make a mistake. But Mueller would hold them off to pick up the $1,000 top prize. Hughes was 2nd, Carter was 3rd, Damon Murty started 10th and finished 4th, with Todd Reitzler coming from 12th to finish in 5th.
The SportMod 18 lap feature was next to take to the track, with Brayton Carter using his front row starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Tyler Soppe and Brandon Lennox. Just after the completion of lap 1, the caution would appear to slow the action down. As Jake Whittington and Kevin Dickey spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Lennox getting by Soppe for the runner up spot. Carter then started to pull away from the battle behind, when a second caution appeared on lap 7. This time Brian Efkamp spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Carter jumped out front on the restart, with Lennox and Carter VanDenBerg, who started 11th, moving into third. Two laps later, on lap 9, Jason McDaniel spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on.
Carter would grab the lead on the restart, with Lennox, VanDenBerg, Soppe, Austin Luellen battling for the runner up spot. With the battle going on behind him, Carter started to pull away. Carter's almost straight-away was erased on lap 13, when Jami Ritter spun in turn 1 and collected Whittington to bring out the final caution of the race. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Soppe going from fourth to second to get around Lennox and VanDenBerg. There was no catching Carter, as he pulled away over the final 7 laps to pick up the $1,000 top prize. Soppe held on for 2nd, Lennox was 3rd, VanDenBerg was 4th, with Luellen coming home in 5th.
Only 9 Hobby Stocks showed up for night 1, with Damon Murty, who was driving Bill Bonnett's #19 car, moving out front on the drop of the green flag in the 14 lap race. Just like the Stock Car feature, August Bach and Scott Shull followed in Murty's tire tracks around the top of the speedway and was waiting for him to make a mistake. But disaster would strike Bach on lap 12 when he got into the backstretch guardrail and rolled to bring out the red. Bach would climb from his car okay. On the restart Murty jumped back out front, with Shull and Mike Kincaid close behind. Murty would hold off a last lap challenge from Shull to claim the win. Shull settled for 2nd, Kincaid was 3rd, Dylan Nelson was 4th, with Daniel Wauters rounding out the top 5.
The 25 lap Modified feature was the last to take to the track, with Cayden Carter and Michael Dotson leading the field to the green flag. But just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as David Snyder lost a drive shaft down the front stretch to bring out the caution. On the restart Carter would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Hunter Marriott and Shawn Ritter. Marriott would slid up in front of Carter coming off turn 4 to take the lead away on lap 2. The trio would then start to pull away from the rest of the field. Carter was able to get up beside Marriott for the top spot, as they entered lapped traffic on lap 13. But when Dotson spun in turn 4 on lap 14 that would slow the action down and bring the field back to the top two's back bumper.
On the restart Ritter spun in turn 1 and collected Johnny Wyman to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Marriott jump back out front, with Carter, Kelly Shryock, who started 9th, and Clint Luellen battling for the runner up spot. Just like before the caution appeared, Marriott and Carter started to pull away from the battle behind them. And once again they would enter lapped traffic on lap 22, which allowed Carter to get up beside Marriott. But Marriott was able to hold him off over the final lap to pick up the $1,000 check. Carter was 2nd, Luellen was 3rd, Kurt Kile started 12th and finished 4th, with Shryock coming home in 5th.
Notes from SCS night 1: 26 Modifieds, 26 Stock Cars, 23 Sport Compacts, 20 SportMods, and 9 Hobby Stocks made up the 104 cars signed in for competition......Travis Tedrow passed 12 cars from his 20th place starting spot in the Sport Compact feature to come home in 8th....Alyssa Steele started 13th and finished 9th....Ashton Blain came from 17th to finish 11th....Mike Hornung Jr. finished 12th after starting in 21st....Jaden DeLonjay came from 23rd to finish 15th....Jake Benischek was running 3rd when he pulled off on the last lap to finish 16th....Jeffrey DeLonjay was suppose to start 12th, but had troubles after the heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Dustin Griffith started the Stock Car feature in 11th and finished 6th....Kyle Frederick, who made the long pull down from Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, finished 9th after starting in 15th....Tyler Pickett, who spun on lap 3 to bring out the caution, recovered to come home in 14th....Dallon Murty, Damon Murty's 13 year old son, raced his dads back-up car and elected to start from the rear. He would come up to finish in 15th....Chase Exline started 22nd and finished 16th....Odie Cook, Dan Gordon, and Greg Harsch all had troubles in the heat that forced them to scratch from the B-Main for a chance to move onto the feature......Brandon Dale finished 8th in the SportMod feature after starting in 12th....Scott Walker, who drove his son's Ryan Walker's #9w, started 18th and passed 9 cars to come home in 9th....Kevin Dickey recovered from being involved in the lap 1 caution to come back up to finish 10th....Colton Livezey, Andrew Swailes, and Austen Becerra all had troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature......Colt Mather started the Modified feature in 11th and finished 7th....Jardin Fuller passed 10 cars from his 18th place starting spot to come home in 8th....Matt Fulton finished 10th after starting 13th....Blake Woodruff passed 9 cars from his 20th place starting spot to finish 9th....Zach Rawlins started 21st and finished 13th....Andrew Schroeder, who started 7th and was up to 3rd, pulled off under the lap 14 caution with right front troubles to end his night in 16th....Michael Long had engine troubles in hot laps and scratched for the night....David Wietholder also had troubles in hot laps that forced him to scratch for the night.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
A Look Back at 2016
Monmouth, IL (Thursday, March 16, 2017) - For the many of you who know me, know how much I spend my time trying to make sure the sport we all enjoy survives for years to come. But during the 2016 racing season I discovered how hard it is to please everyone, and how much social media is going to kill off this sport.
Many times during 2016 I contemplated walking away from this sport that has been a part of my life for 30 years. I also found out who my true friends and supporters are through the good and bad times. Thanks to the many good people I have gotten to know through those 30 years, they showed me over the final three months of the season what great times can still be had.
My 2016 number came in with 80 race nights attended, with most of them coming at the three tracks I worked at during the season. The most being at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa with 17 nights, followed by another track I worked most the season at with 11, and then finishing off with 10 at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois. Coming in next was the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa with 6 nights. A track I returned to working at on Friday nights late in the season, and will be returning to again in 2017. Another track coming in with 6 nights was the Boone Speedway in Boone, Iowa, where I attended the week long IMCA Super Nationals. The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa was next with 5 nights, and was followed by the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri with 4 nights. Also with 4 nights was the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, where I attended the NASCAR weekend. Other tracks with multiple nights include the Dirt Track at Charlotte, North Carolina with 3 nights of the World Finals events, The Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa and the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa both with 2 nights. Then my final event of 2016 was taking in the two nights of racing inside the Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Finally the tracks I went to on a single night included the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa, the Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois, the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois, the Knox County Fair race in Knoxville, Illinois, the Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Illinois, and the Eldon Raceway in Eldon, Iowa. One last track that I made 1 visit to, which was also the first ever visit to this track, was the Beatrice Speedway in Beatrice, Nebraska.
The following subject matter may be controversial to some of you, but it is something that should be talked about. For several years the major sanctioning bodies have awarded national champions in each of their divisions. And each of those sanctioning bodies have a different way in determining who will be crowned national champions. Is there a correct way to go about determining these nationals champions? One can say yes, and another person may say no. But there is one sanctioning body that does it in a way to promote not only winning races, but winning track championships along the way. While another one awards bonus points to a competitor for the car counts they race against. One may ask why I bring this up, well let me fill you in.
Everybody knows the main reason why a racer takes to the track each night, and that is to hopefully end up in victory lane at the end of that night. The UMP DIRTcar Racing uses a driver's best 30 races towards earning points for the national points chase. And in 2016 Michael Long of Fowler, Illinois ended up in victory lane more than 30 times, which one would thought he would have maxed out his best 30 finishes in the national title. But unfortunately he didn't win the UMP National Championship, he came in a close second to Highland, Illinois native Mike Harrison. Harrison only ended up in victory lane 21 times, which was 9 less than what Long won towards the national title. One might ask how is that possible.
Well what made up the difference was the bonus points award for competing against 20 to 25+ cars in an event. Long, who punches a time clock at work, had to hope each weekend race that he showed up at had more than 20 cars to compete against. Unfortunately that wasn't the case many a times during the season. On the other hand Harrison, who is a farmer, was able to pick and choose the races he wanted to compete in during the season. As a result the majority of his wins came with 20 to 25+ cars to earn the maximum points towards the national championship. So one may ask is UMP set up for a weekend racer or for one who can travel throughout the season.
This Friday, March 17th and Saturday, March 18th kicks off the 2017 racing season in my area, as the "Spring Nationals" takes place at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. The Modifieds, Stock Cars and SportMods will race Friday for $1,000 to win. Then if you raced on Friday the Modifieds will have a shot at $2,000 to win on Saturday, the Stock Cars and SportMods will have a chance at $1,500 to win. Otherwise if you can only race Saturday, the Modifieds, Stock Cars, and SportMods will race for $1,000 to win. Both nights will also feature racing in the Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts, with both shooting for a top prize of $300 to win each night. For more information about the "Spring Nationals" you can call Mike Van Genderen at 641-521-0330, or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Scotland-County-Speedway-531042493650646/.
There is plenty of weekly and special events planned for the 2017 season, and to make it easy for one to plan there schedule you are encouraged to check out the calendar page on Positively Racing at http://www.positivelyracing.com/calendar.shtml. But we remind you that schedules are subject to change without notice, so make sure you call or check the tracks website before attending a race.
Many times during 2016 I contemplated walking away from this sport that has been a part of my life for 30 years. I also found out who my true friends and supporters are through the good and bad times. Thanks to the many good people I have gotten to know through those 30 years, they showed me over the final three months of the season what great times can still be had.
My 2016 number came in with 80 race nights attended, with most of them coming at the three tracks I worked at during the season. The most being at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa with 17 nights, followed by another track I worked most the season at with 11, and then finishing off with 10 at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois. Coming in next was the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa with 6 nights. A track I returned to working at on Friday nights late in the season, and will be returning to again in 2017. Another track coming in with 6 nights was the Boone Speedway in Boone, Iowa, where I attended the week long IMCA Super Nationals. The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa was next with 5 nights, and was followed by the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri with 4 nights. Also with 4 nights was the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, where I attended the NASCAR weekend. Other tracks with multiple nights include the Dirt Track at Charlotte, North Carolina with 3 nights of the World Finals events, The Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa and the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa both with 2 nights. Then my final event of 2016 was taking in the two nights of racing inside the Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Finally the tracks I went to on a single night included the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa, the Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois, the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois, the Knox County Fair race in Knoxville, Illinois, the Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Illinois, and the Eldon Raceway in Eldon, Iowa. One last track that I made 1 visit to, which was also the first ever visit to this track, was the Beatrice Speedway in Beatrice, Nebraska.
The following subject matter may be controversial to some of you, but it is something that should be talked about. For several years the major sanctioning bodies have awarded national champions in each of their divisions. And each of those sanctioning bodies have a different way in determining who will be crowned national champions. Is there a correct way to go about determining these nationals champions? One can say yes, and another person may say no. But there is one sanctioning body that does it in a way to promote not only winning races, but winning track championships along the way. While another one awards bonus points to a competitor for the car counts they race against. One may ask why I bring this up, well let me fill you in.
Everybody knows the main reason why a racer takes to the track each night, and that is to hopefully end up in victory lane at the end of that night. The UMP DIRTcar Racing uses a driver's best 30 races towards earning points for the national points chase. And in 2016 Michael Long of Fowler, Illinois ended up in victory lane more than 30 times, which one would thought he would have maxed out his best 30 finishes in the national title. But unfortunately he didn't win the UMP National Championship, he came in a close second to Highland, Illinois native Mike Harrison. Harrison only ended up in victory lane 21 times, which was 9 less than what Long won towards the national title. One might ask how is that possible.
Well what made up the difference was the bonus points award for competing against 20 to 25+ cars in an event. Long, who punches a time clock at work, had to hope each weekend race that he showed up at had more than 20 cars to compete against. Unfortunately that wasn't the case many a times during the season. On the other hand Harrison, who is a farmer, was able to pick and choose the races he wanted to compete in during the season. As a result the majority of his wins came with 20 to 25+ cars to earn the maximum points towards the national championship. So one may ask is UMP set up for a weekend racer or for one who can travel throughout the season.
This Friday, March 17th and Saturday, March 18th kicks off the 2017 racing season in my area, as the "Spring Nationals" takes place at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. The Modifieds, Stock Cars and SportMods will race Friday for $1,000 to win. Then if you raced on Friday the Modifieds will have a shot at $2,000 to win on Saturday, the Stock Cars and SportMods will have a chance at $1,500 to win. Otherwise if you can only race Saturday, the Modifieds, Stock Cars, and SportMods will race for $1,000 to win. Both nights will also feature racing in the Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts, with both shooting for a top prize of $300 to win each night. For more information about the "Spring Nationals" you can call Mike Van Genderen at 641-521-0330, or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Scotland-County-Speedway-531042493650646/.
There is plenty of weekly and special events planned for the 2017 season, and to make it easy for one to plan there schedule you are encouraged to check out the calendar page on Positively Racing at http://www.positivelyracing.com/calendar.shtml. But we remind you that schedules are subject to change without notice, so make sure you call or check the tracks website before attending a race.
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