Vaught Thrills the Crowd at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway

Donnellson, IA (Friday, August 31, 2018) - Mother nature not only tried once, but twice, but three times to put a damper on Friday nights action at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. But with persistence and patience by everyone they were able to get the racing action, presented by Floyd's E-Z Way Container Services, completed. On the card for the night was the rescheduled Lucas Oil MLRA Late Model event that was rained out back on Thursday, May 3rd. Also joining the action was the 305 Sprint Cars, Discount Tire & Service SportMods and Armstrong Tractor Sport Compacts.

The first feature to take to the track on the night was the the 16 lap Armstrong Tractor Sport Compacts, with Barry Taft and Josh Barnes scheduled to start on the front row. But when Barnes had problems after his heat race he would run home to bring another car, as a result he would have to go to the rear of the field. This would move David Prim to the outside of the front row for the drop of the green flag. Taft would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jake Dietrich, who started 6th, and Prim. While Taft worked to hold off the challenges of Dietrich, Barnes was quickly working his way towards the front. By lap 4 Barnes worked his way into third, and then went to work on Taft and Dietrich. The top three drivers would race around the 3/8th mile three wide for the top spot several times over laps 5 thru 9, with Taft able to hold the lead at the line each lap. Then on lap 10 Barnes was able to edge out front to take over the lead. Barnes then pulled away over the final laps, of a caution free race, to score the $500 top prize. Taft held off Dietrich to claim 2nd, Dietrich was 3rd, Alyssa Steele started 10th and finished 4th, with Brandon Reu completing the top 5.

Up next was the 40 lap Lucas Oil MLRA Late Model feature, with Tony Jackson Jr. and Matt Furman leading the field to green. Jackson Jr. jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Furman and Justin Zeitner. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution light came on, as Jeff Roth slowed in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Jackson Jr. moved back out front, with Furman and Will Vaught, who shot from fifth into third, glued to his back bumper. Just as Jackson Jr. started to put some distance on the second place runner, the caution came out on lap 6 to slow his pace. This time Jay Johnson slowed in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Jackson Jr. once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Furman and Vaught continuing to follow him closely. Again Jackson Jr. would start to pull away from the battle for second, when Dave Eckrich, who was running 5th, slowed to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the yellow on lap 14. On the restart Vaught put a thrilling move going into turn 3 to come out of turn 4 with the lead over Jackson Jr. and Furman. Then after the lap was scored complete Jackson Jr.'s run up front came to an end, as he slowed in turn 3 with a left rear flat.

Vaught jumped out front on the restart, with Furman working to hold back Payton Looney, who started 9th, in the battle for the runner up spot. Three more laps were scored complete when another caution waved on lap 19 for J.C. Wyman, who slowed in turn 4. Once again Vaught jumped back out front on the restart, with Looney over taking Furman for second. On lap 21 Jackson Jr. would explode a driveshaft down the front stretch to bring out another yellow. On the restart Jeremy Grady did a complete 360 spin off turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Vaught grab the lead, with Looney and now Chad Simpson, who started 11th, following close behind. Looney and Simpson would try to keep pace with Vaught over the next 4 laps, when the final caution of the race appeared on lap 26. Mark Burgtorf slowed off turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Vaught jumped back out front on the restart, with Looney working on him for the lead, and at the same time trying to hold back Simpson for second. Both Looney and Simpson would stay close to Vaught over the final laps, but neither could mount a challenge for the top spot. As Vaught held on to pick up the win and the $3,000 check to go with it. Looney was 2nd, Simpson was 3rd, Furman was 4th, with Zeitner coming home in 5th.

Jarrod Schneiderman and Dan Keltner drew the front row for the 20 lap 305 Sprint Car feature, with Keltner grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Schneiderman and Brayden Gaylord, who started 6th. The lead for Keltner only lasted for 1 lap, as Schneiderman used the bottom of the track to grab the top spot away on lap 2. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time on lap 3, as Joe Simbro spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Schneiderman jumped back out front, with Keltner and Gaylord close behind. Keltner, who was working the top of the track, was able to pull up beside Schneiderman, who was running the bottom, on lap 5. Then coming off turn four to complete lap 6, Keltner used the momentum off the topside to edge out the lead. Schneiderman would stay close to Keltner over the final laps. Despite Keltner entering lapped traffic on lap 12, he was able to hold off Schneiderman to claim the win and the $600 top prize. Schneiderman was 2nd, Tanner Gebhardt was 3rd, Gaylord was 4th, with Harold Pohren completing the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Discount Tire & Service SportMods, with Daniel Fellows and Tim Plummer leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Fellows jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Plummer and Nathan Bringer. While Fellows paced the field out front, Bringer, Plummer, Austen Becerra, and Adam Birck raced two and three wide at times for the runner up spot. Becerra would emerge from that battle to take second on lap 3, and then went to work on Fellows for the lead. Becerra, who was working the top of the track, would use the momentum off the topside to get up beside Fellows, who was running the bottom, on lap 6. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 8 Becerra shot from the top of turn 3 to slip under Fellows to grab the top spot. Becerra then started to pull away from the field, when on about lap 14 he lost power steering. This would allow Fellows to close in on him coming to the white flag. Fellows try one last lap pass, but Becerra would hold him off in a caution free race to pick up the $1,000 win. Fellows was 2nd, Brayton Carter finished 3rd after starting in 8th, Bringer was 4th, with Birck rounding out the top 5.

Wehrle's First Sprint Invaders Win Comes at 34 Raceway

West Burlington, IA (Saturday, August 18, 2018) - On Saturday night August 18th the Sprint Invaders made their third stop of the season at 34 Raceway, which was also their second race of the weekend after a stop at the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa on Friday night. The nights action would not only honor the late Brian Hetrick, who was a past 305 Sprint champion at 34 Raceway, but it was a night to remember Larry Beckman, who has provided 34 Raceway with tow and push trucks for many, many years.

With twenty-four Sprint Cars signed in for the night there was 4 heats races, a B-Main and dash ran to determine the 20 car starting field for the 25 lap A-Feature. Plus there was 4 heat races ran in the three support classes. Then an intermission was held for a huge candy dash. With all of this complete it was time to go feature racing.

The 12 lap Mini Hauler Truck feature was up first, with Dakota Fenton and Lake Carlson drawing the front row for the event. Dakota Fenton took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Drake Fenton and John Helenthal. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on the completion of lap 1, when Colton Bowman spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dakota Fenton moved back out front, with Drake Fenton and Helenthal following close behind. Another lap scored complete produced another caution, as Billy Stanford slowed to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Dakota Fenton grabbed the lead on the restart, as the rest of the field went two and three wide with plenty of bumping and banging. As a result Jacob Ruble, who started 7th, and Colton Bowman, who brought out the yellow on lap 1, emerged as the second and third place runners. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 5, as debris in turn 1 brought out the yellow. On the restart Dakota Fenton moved back out front, with Ruble and Drake Fenton close behind. Ruble would look under Dakota Fenton over the final laps, but Dakota was able to hold him off to pick up the win. Ruble was 2nd, Drake Fenton was 3rd, Cody Bowman was 4th, with Colton Bowman rounding out the top 5.

Up next was the 12 lap Mod Lite feature, with Mike Morill and Devon Rouse leading the field to green. Morrill would edge out Rouse and Jason Masengarb at the line to lead lap 1. Morrill then started to pull away from the rest of the field. Without a caution there was no catching Morrill, as he cruised to an easy win. The Mod Lites have made 6 appearances at 34 Raceway in 2018, and Morrill has won all 6 features. Masengarb was 2nd, Rouse was 3rd, Wyatt Wilkerson was 4th, with Michael Dominguez coming home in 5th.

Cody Wehrle and McKenna Haase led the field to green in the 25 lap Sprint Invaders feature, with Wehrle grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Haase and Daniel Bergquist. With Wehrle setting such a fast pace he would start to enter lapped traffic on lap 5. The lapped traffic would help Paul Nienhiser, who started 6th, over take Haase for the runner up spot on lap 6. As Wehrle got into more lapped traffic, Nienhiser would quickly close in on his back bumper. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 14, Wehrle went high to clear a lapped car and made contact with Nienhiser's left front. As a result Nienhiser spun into the wall to bring out the first caution of the race. On the restart Wehrle jumped back out front, with Haase and Bergquist following. Once again the pace that Wehrle was setting put him into lapped traffic on lap 18. One lap later, lap 19, disaster would strike Bergquist, as he slowed to a stop in turn 1 after loosing a motor while running third to bring out the yellow. Wehrle grabbed the lead on the restart, with Haase and Dustin Clark close behind. With an open track in front of him there was no catching Wehrle, who went on to score his first Sprint Invaders feature win. Haase finished 2nd, Clark was 3rd, Tanner Gebhardt started 10th and finished 4th, with Randy Martin rounding out the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Dennis LaVeine and Dustin Smith drawing the front row. Smith used his starting spot to his advantage, as he jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over LaVeine and Dakota Simmons. LeVeine would try to work under Smith over the next 12 laps, but Smith would hold him off each lap. That was until lap 13 when Smith drifted high off turn 2, which allowed LaVeine to shoot by him for the top spot. LaVeine then pulled away over the final laps of a caution free race to score the $1,000 victory. Smith was 2nd, Simmons was 3rd, Bill Roberts Jr. was 4th, with Dean McGee coming home in 5th.

Notes from 34: John Schulz started the Sprint feature in 12th and then finished 6th....Jarrod Schneiderman came from 11th to finish 7th....Josh Schneiderman finished 8th after starting in 14th....Justin Buchholz came from the B-Main to start 18th in the A-Feature. He would pass 7 cars to finish 11th and picked up the hard charger award....Dugan Thye, who was driving Nick Breuer's #78 305 Sprint, made his second feature start in a row. He would start 15th and finished 12th....Harold Pohren, who won the B-Main and started 17th, would finish 13th....Colton Fisher finished 14th after starting in 19th....Doug Sylvester, who started 21st after Brayden Gaylord Racing put up the extra money for the extra car to start the feature, would come home in 15th....Joe Laue, Dave Getchell, and Matt Krieger were the cars who didn't make the A-Feature.

Huls Scores His 100th IMCA Sanctioned Stock Car Win at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway

Donnellson, IA (Friday, August 17, 2018) - For the second year in a row mother nature tried to put a damper on the mid August Sprint Invaders show at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. But even with an inch of rain on Thursday and more rain around the area on Friday, the track crew was able to get the track in shape to race. At the end of the night action, that was presented by Midwest Performance & Power and Wilson Brothers BBQ, one driver earned his third career win at the track, another scored his first career win, with another claiming his first win of the season at the speedway. While three others won for multiple times this year, one of which was his 100th IMCA sanctioned win.

The first feature to take to the track was the 14 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts, with Jacob Houston and Jake Dietrich leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Dietrich would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Houston and Brandon Reu. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 2, as Adam Christy slowed in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dietrich moved back out front, with Reu taking the runner up spot from Houston. Reu then tried to work under Dietrich for the top spot over the next 3 laps. When the second caution of the race appeared on lap 6 to slow the action. Debris in turn 2 would bring out the yellow. Once again Dietrich jumped back out front on the restart, with Reu, Kimberly Abbott, and Barry Taft battling behind him. That action up front was slowed for the final time of the race on lap 9, as the fire crew had to go to the pits to attend to a fire on Houston's car. On the restart Dietrich moved back out front, with Reu, Taft and Abbott glued to his back bumper. Reu would try to get under Dietrich for the top spot over the final laps. But Dietrich was able to hold him off to score his first career win. Brandon Reu was 2nd, Taft was 3rd, Abbott was 4th, with Mike Reu rounding out the top 5.

Up next was the 18 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMod feature, with Jim Powell and Bob Cowman leading the field to green. But just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Brandon Dale, Adam Birck, Steven Berry and Brandon Symmonds collided in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the following original restart Daniel Fellows shot from his fourth place starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jeff Frana and Sean Wyett, who started 7th. Fellows then started to pull away from the rest of the field, when the second caution of the race appeared on lap 5 to slow him down. Doug Begheger would spin in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fellows jumped back out front, with Austen Becerra and Wyett following behind him. Becerra tried the top and low side of the track to get the top spot away from Fellows over the next 6 laps. When another caution would slow the action, as Brian Bergheger would spin in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Fellows moved back out front on the restart, with Becerra and Wyett looking for a way around him. The battle up front was slowed for the final time on lap 16, as Brian Bergheger got sideways in front of the leaders coming off turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fellows jumped out front and then held off Becerra and Wyett to claim his fourth win of the season at the track. Becerra was 2nd, Wyett was 3rd, Cowman was 4th, with Frana coming home in 5th.

Dustin Clark and Jon Agan led the field to green in the 25 lap Sprint Invaders feature. But it was third place starter Randy Martin who would grab the lead on lap 1 over Clark and Agan. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 2, as Damian Getchell lost an engine off turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Martin jumped back out front, with Paul Nienhiser, who started 7th in Scott Bonar's #50 machine, over taking Agan, whose nose wing came loose, for the runner up spot. Nienhiser then try to keep pace with Martin, when the second caution appeared on lap 6 to slow the action. This time Agan spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Martin grabbed the lead on the restart, with Nienhiser and Cody Wehrle glued to his back bumper.

Martin would start to enter lapped traffic on lap 12, which allowed Nienhiser to close in on him. Then on lap 13 Nienhiser would use the lapped traffic to take the top spot away. One lap later, lap 14, McKenna Haase, who started 9th and was running 4th, slowed to a stop down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. Nienhiser grabbed the lead on the restart, with Martin and Wehrle trying to keep pace with him. Just when it looked like Nienhiser would hold on over the final laps to pick up the win, the final caution of the race appeared on lap 19. Bailey Goldesberry and Dugan Thye collided in turn 3 to bring out the yellow, and setting up a six lap dash to the win. On the restart Nienhiser jumped back out front, with Martin looking under him for the lead. Going into turn 3 to come around to complete lap 22, Martin drove it hard into the turn and then slid up in front of Nienhiser coming off turn 4 to grab the top spot away. Martin then pulled away over the final laps to claim his third career Sprint Invaders win at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Nienhiser was 2nd, Wehrle was 3rd, Jarrod Schneiderman came from 11th to finish in 4th, with Clark finishing 5th.

Up next was the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Kevin Koontz and Cody McClure making up the front row. But it was fourth place starter John Oliver Jr. who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Koontz and Chad Krogmeier. As Oliver Jr. set the pace out front, the rest of the field would battle two and even three wide behind him. Abe Huls, who started 5th and fell back to sixth on lap 1, would work himself into the runner up spot on lap 5 and then went to work on Oliver Jr. for the top spot. Huls would try to work under Oliver Jr., as the two raced side-by-side around the 3/8th's mile. But Oliver Jr. was able to hold him off, that was until lap 12. Huls would edge out front, as Oliver Jr. try to fight back. Oliver Jr. stayed glued to Huls back bumper over the final laps, but was unable to get by Huls for the win. As Huls held on for his sixth win of the season at the track, but most importantly it was his 100th carer IMCA sanctioned Stock Car feature win. Oliver Jr. was 2nd, Jeremy Pundt was 3rd, Beau Taylor came from 8th to finish in 4th, with Krogmeier rounding out the top 5.

Dean McGee and Dennis LaVeine led the field to green in the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with McGee using his starting spot to his advantage to lead lap 1 over LaVeine and Bill Roberts Jr. Just after lap was scored complete the first and only caution of the race appeared, as debris in turn 1 brought out the yellow. On the restart Roberts Jr. shot under McGee to take over the top spot, with LaVeine following him into the runner up spot. LaVeine tried to work under Roberts Jr. over the next three laps, but Roberts Jr. would hold him off each time. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 5 Roberts Jr. drifted high, which allowed LaVeine to shoot by for the lead. LaVeine then drifted high coming off turn 2 to allow Roberts Jr. to shoot back by him to take the top spot back on lap 7. Roberts Jr. then held off LaVeine and Jeff Waterman over the final laps to score his fourth win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. LaVeine was 2nd, Waterman was 3rd, McGee was 4th, with Larry Herring making a last lap pass to finish 5th.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap Steffes Late Models, with Brandon Queen and Jeff Guengerich on the front row for the event. Guengerich would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Sam Halstead and Queen. While Guengerich set a fast pace out front, Tommy Elston, who started 5th, worked himself into the runner up spot on lap 3. Elston then went to work into cutting into Guengerich's lead. But without a caution to slow the action, and even with Guengerich having to maneuver some lapped cars, Elston would run out of time. As Guengerich held on to claim his first win of the season at the track. Elston settled for 2nd, Ron Boyse was 3rd, Halstead was 4th, with Queen coming home in 5th.

Kile Family Brings Hope Back to Racing at the West Liberty Raceway

West Liberty, IA (Saturday, August 11, 2018) - Back during the off season when many tracks were releasing their 2018 racing schedules, many people wondered why there was no scheduled put out for the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa. Everyone would speculate, and many even thought they knew the reasons, but nothing was ever published by the group that held the lease for the track in 2018 on the reasons why there would be no racing at the West Liberty Raceway.

Just when it looked like the track located on the Muscatine County Fairgrounds would sit idol for the 2018 season, along came Eldon, which most know as "Bud", Kile. He owns and operates Kile Motorsports, which sells many parts and accessories for all your racing needs, stepped up and put together a one race deal. The original date that was released for the event was in conflict with another event, so they pushed it back to Saturday, August 11th. He would offer a $2,000 top prize to the Modifieds, $1,000 to win the Late Models, $700 to win for the Stock Cars and SportMods, and $300 to win the Sport Compacts.

The efforts of the Kile family and everyone else associated with this event paid off. As 143 race teams and more than 3,000 people in the grandstands packed into the fairgrounds to show their support. After 17 heat races and 4 B-Mains to help set the fields, it was time to go feature racing.

Up first was the 20 lap Stock Car feature, with Matt Picray and Brad Tyler leading the field to green. Picray took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Damon Murty and Tyler. The lead for Picray only lasted for 1 lap, as Murty slipped under him to take over the top spot on lap 2. While Murty set a fast pace out front, John Oliver Jr., who started 7th, Tyler, Tom Cannon, and David Brandies, who started 8th, raced two wide for positions third thru sixth. Without a caution to bunch the field up, there was no catching Murty. As he cruised to an easy win and picked up the $700 top prize. Picray was 2nd, Oliver Jr. was 3rd, Brandies was 4th, with Corey Strothman coming home in 5th.

Alex Hayes and Shawn Slaughter made up the front row for the 15 lap Sport Compact feature. But it was third place starter Cody VanDusen who edged out the lead on lap 1 by inches over Hayes and Steven Struck, as the three raced down the front straightaway three wide. Hayes would get past VanDusen to take the top spot on lap 2. But that only lasted for 1 lap, as Struck got under him coming off turn 4 to lead lap 4. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on the completion of lap 3, as VanDusen slowed to a stop in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Struck jumped back out front, with Hayes and Cody Phillips following close behind. Another lap scored complete, lap 4, another caution appeared, as Ashley Reuman stopped in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Struck moved back out front on the restart, with Phillips and Ryan Walker, who started 9th, close behind. While Struck set the pace out front, Kyle Boyd over took Phillips and Walker to move into the runner up spot on lap 6. Then just after lap 6 was scored complete, Hayes would slow to a stop down the front stretch to bring out the final caution of the race. On the restart Struck jumped back out front, with Boyd and Phillips following. Boyd tried to keep pace with Struck, but Struck was to strong on this night as he pulled away for the $300 victory. Boyd was 2nd, Darin Smith started 7th and finished 3rd, Walker was 4th, with Phillips holding on for 5th.

The 25 lap SportMod feature was next, with Cody Harris and Charlie Weber drawing the front row. Harris would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out front on lap 1 over Jarrett Franzen and Weber. While Harris paced the field out front, Dalton Simonsen, who started 7th, and Brayton Carter, who started 12th, were working their way towards the front. Simonsen would slip under Harris coming off turn 4 to grab the top spot away from him on lap 13. Two laps later, lap 15, Carter would work himself into second. But before the lap was scored complete the first and only caution of the race appeared to put him back in third for the restart. Kyle Eller spun in turn 1 on lap 14 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Simonsen moved back out front, with Carter and Kurt Kile, who was driving Troy Philpott's #11B car, close behind. Carter would follow in Simonsen's tire tracks over the next 5 laps. Then coming off turn 2 to complete lap 21, Carter was able to slip under Simonsen to take over the top spot. Carter then held off Simonsen over the final laps to pick up the win and the $700 top prize to go with it. Simonsen settled for 2nd, Kile was 3rd, Logan Anderson was 4th, with Tim Plummer rounding out the top 5.

Chris Horn and Chad Holladay made up the front row for the 30 lap Late Model feature, with Holladay jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Horn and Nick Marolf. The action was slowed for the first time of the event on lap 2, as Jay Johnson slowed to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Holladay, who was running the low to middle groove, and Andy Eckrich, who was up top, raced side-by-side around the 1/2 mile, with Holladay leading by inches at the line. Eckrich would finally use the momentum off the top of the track to grab the top spot on lap 5 by inches. The pace that Eckrich was setting would put him into lapped traffic by lap 10. One lap after entering lapped traffic, lap 11, Eckrich would be slowed for a caution. Curran Becker slowed to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Holladay used the top of the track to get up beside Eckrich for the lead. But at the strip Eckrich would hold the top spot, that was until lap 13. Holladay was able to use the momentum off the top of turn 2 to take over the lead. On lap 19 Holladay would enter lapped traffic, and then on lap 21 he went low going into turn 3 to lap Aric Becker. I couldn't tell if there was any contact between the two, as Becker spun to the top of the track and was hit by Justin Kay, who was running 4th after starting in 10th, to bring out a yellow. Holladay grabbed the lead on the restart, with Eckrich and Horn close behind. Eckrich would stay close to Holladay over the final laps, but Holladay was able to hold on to pick up the win and the $1,000 check to go with it. Andy Eckrich was 2nd, Horn was 3rd, Denny Eckrich started 11th and finished 4th, with Marolf coming home in 5th.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 30 lap Modified feature, with Jeff Larson and Chris Zogg leading the field to green. Larson took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Zogg, and Dan Brockert. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 3, as Jacob Murray slowed to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Kurt Kile, Brad Dierks, Larry Herring, Steve Johnson, Gus Hughes, Derrick Stewart, and Bruce Hanford were collected in a wreck in turn 1 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Larson jump back out front, with Jarrett Brown, who started 5th, and Chad Holladay, who started 7th, close behind. While the top three battled, Justin Kay, who started 8th, was working his way into the battle. On lap 9 Brown used the bottom of the track coming off turn 4 to grab the lead away from Larson. But that lead only lasted until turn 2, as Kay slipped under him coming off turn 2 to come around to lead lap 10. Kay then started to pull away from the field, when he entered lapped traffic on lap 20. This would slow his process enough to allow Brown and Holladay to close in on him on lap 25. But Kay would use a couple of other lapped cars to hold them off and claim the $2,000 victory. Brown was 2nd, Holladay was 3rd, Zogg was 4th, with Kenny Kostenbader crossing the line in 5th. But when the final results came out, it showed Kostenbader credited with 26th. After doing some checking, I found out that he was disqualified for being light at the scales. This would move Chris Simpson up to 5th, after starting in 13th.

Notes fro WL: 40 SportMods, 39 Modifieds, 25 Sport Compacts, 21 Late Models, and 18 Stock Cars made up the 143 cars signed in for the night......Jesse Owens started the Stock Car feature in 10th and would finish 7th....John Hemsted came from 16th to finish in 9th....Brandon Jay finished 10th after starting in 14th....Scott Jordan was a scratch......Seth Keiser started the Sport Compact feature in 12th and would come home in 7th....Tyler Rock finished 10th after starting in 15th....Dustin Frymoyer started 14th and finished 11th....Cody Bowman finished 12th after starting in 20th....Cody VanDusen returned to the track one lap down after bringing out the caution on lap 3. He would be credited with a 13th place finish....Chris Maxwell started 23rd and finished 14th......Blaine Webster finished the SportMod feature in 6th after starting in 11th....Shane Paris, who won one of the B-Mains, started 14th and finished 7th....Mitch Monternanch came from 16th to finish in 9th....Brandon Dale charged from his 25th place starting spot to come home in 10th....Austin Heacock started 20th and finished 11th....Brandon Banks, who was driving Andrew Swailes #13s car, finished 14th after starting in 18th....Sklyer Harroun finished 16th after starting in 19th....Jarrett VanDenBerg charged from 26th to finish in 17th....Brandon Schulties finished 18th after starting in 24th....Scott Brau started 22nd and finished 19th......Ron Boyse finished 7th in the Late Model feature after starting in 13th....Derrick Stewart drove Nick Marolf's back-up car and would start the feature in 19th. He then passed 10 cars to come home in 9th....Tim Simpson started 17th and finished 12th....Steve Hunter finished 15th after starting in 18th....Cord Williams, who moved up from the Street Stock class, started 21st and finished 16th....Nick Marolf started the Modified feature in 12th and finished 7th....Eric Barnes charged from 20th to finish 8th....Logan Anderson came from 17th to finish in 10th....Dakota Hayden finished 11th after starting in 16th....Jeff Waterman started 21st and finished 12th....Jerry Luloff came from 26th to finish in 14th....Derek Walker finished 15th after starting in 25th.

The only down fall on the night was that the final checkered flag waved at around 12:30 AM. Could there be a few things done to help speed up the night? Maybe some of them would include cutting the laps given for hot laps, adopting a "one spin an your in" rule in the heat and B-Mains, divide the classes up to separate those who ran two classes. Yeah, I know that is tough because you had drivers running SportMods and Modifieds, and drivers who ran Late Models and Modifieds. Even though the wait time between the Late Model feature ending and the Modified feature beginning was only about 15 minutes, any saved time is big. Finally one other thing maybe to cut time from victory lane photos. Again I know it is nice to let the crowd come out and join the winner's for pictures is important. But to allow them to stand and chat is valuable down time lost.

With the great turn out does this mean West Liberty is showing this is the kind of support you could get on a weekly program? I am not certain of that, as a nice payout was posted to attract the drivers. What would happen if a weekly payout was offered weekly or bi-weekly? Could you attract the same support? Do you sanction the track? Or go non sanctioned and offer a draw / redraw program? I think if you have a positive and friendly staff, like Kile put together, that would help to keep the momentum going for how long who knows.

For the drivers in and around the West Liberty Raceway, let's hope this night shows what the future may have to offer for somebody in 2019!!!

VanDenBerg, Huls and Carter Claim $1,000 Victories at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway

Memphis, MO (Friday, August 10, 2018) - Back on Friday, July 13th the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway located on the Scotland County Fairgrounds in Memphis, Missouri tried to host a fair race. But mother nature had other ideas, as rain showers moved thru the area shortly after the gates were opened and forced the night to be canceled. It was then announced on their Facebook page a few days later that the event would be made up on Friday, August 10th. It turned out to be a beautiful night for racing, as 84 cars checked in for competition that was being presented by Double D Excavating and Poe Puppies.

The 12 lap Sport Compact was first to take to the track, with Dylan Schantz and Kevin Garrett drawing the front row for the race. When the green flag waved the field would race five wide going into turn 1, with Brandon Reu emerging out of turn 2 to lead lap 1 over Josh Barnes, who started 5th, and Kyle Boyd. While Reu raced around the bottom of the track, Barnes and Boyd raced side-by-side around the top. Barnes would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grab the lead away from Reu on lap 2. Barnes then had to work to hold off Reu and Kimberly Abbott, who started 6th, over the rest of the race to claim his second win in a row at the track. Reu was 2nd, Abbott was 3rd, Barry Taft came from 9th to finish 4th, with Boyd rounding out the top 5.

There might have only been five Hobby Stocks turn out, but the race up front over the final half of the race was intense. Dustin Griffiths and Mike Kincaid let the field to green in the 10 lap affair, with Griffiths grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Kincaid and Scott Shull. With Griffiths working the low side of the speedway, Kincaid would venture up top to try an wrestle the lead away from Griffiths. The two would cross the line dead even on lap 6, with Kincaid edging out front to lead lap 7. Then coming to the white flag Griffiths drove it hard into turn 3 and the drifted up in front of Kincaid coming off turn 4 to grab the top spot back. But Kincaid would try to get under Griffiths going into turn 1, and when a little contact was made it would cut down Kincaid's right rear tire. Which allowed Griffiths to go on to score the win. Shull was 2nd, Josh Modde was 3rd, Kincaid limped to a 4th place finish, with Cody Winn finishing in 5th.

Kevin Koontz and Brett Lowry led the field to green in the 20 lap Stock Car feature. Lowry would take advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1, as the rest of the field behind him raced two and three wide for positions. The action up front was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 3, as Scott Jordan, who was running 6th, spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Lowry jumped back out front, with John Oliver Jr., who started 6th, and Abe Huls, who started 9th, now glued to his back bumper. Oliver Jr. would slip past Lowry on lap 5 to take the top spot away, with Huls following him into second one lap later. Huls then tried to get under Oliver Jr. over the next 9 laps, only to be slowed by a caution on lap 15. Cody McClure slowed to a stop in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. moved back out front, with Huls and Beau Taylor, who started 7th, following closely. As the field completed lap 16, Huls tried once again to work under Oliver Jr. going into turn 1. But Oliver Jr. was able to hold him off. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 18 Huls went to the middle of the track to try and make the pass going into turn 1. Huls would emerge from turn 2 with the lead, and then held on for the $1,000 victory. Taylor was 2nd, Derrick Agee charged from 15th to finish 3rd, Brandon Savage started 8th and finished 4th, with Dean Kratzer coming home in 5th.

The 20 lap Modified feature was up next, with Carter VanDenBerg and Jardin Fuller drawing the front row. VanDenBerg would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Dakota Simmons and Fuller. While VanDenBerg set the pace out front, Michael Long, who started 8th, was quickly working his way towards the front. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 5, when Scott Bryant spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart VanDenBerg moved back out front, with Long over taking Simmons for second. VanDenBerg then started to put some distance between himself and Long, when the second caution of the race appeared on lap 12. Jared Fuller would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. VanDenBerg once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Long and Jesse Dennis, who started 11th, taking over the third spot. Long and Dennis tried to keep pace with VanDenBerg, but he once again started to pull away. Only to be slowed one final time on lap 18, as Bryant spun in turn 4 to set up a green-white-checkered finish. On the restart VanDenBerg moved back out front, with Long and Logan Anderson, who started 7th, glued to his back bumper. VanDenBerg would hold them off to pick up the win and the $1,000 check to go with it. Long was 2nd, Anderson was 3rd, Simmons was 4th, with Johnny Wyman completing the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap SportMods, with Austin Howes and Adam Birck making up the front row. Howes used his starting spot to his advantage, by jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Austin Becerra and Birck. On lap 2, coming to complete lap 3, disaster would strike Becerra, as he got high in turn 3 and went over the track to bring out the yellow. On the restart Tyler Lewis, who was running 10th, got bottled up and spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Howes jump back out front, with Brayton Carter, who started 8th, over taking Birck for the runner up spot. While Howes worked the bottom of the speedway, Carter went to the top. Carter would use the momentum off the top of the track to take the top spot away from Howes on lap 6. Three laps later, lap 9, Brandon Symmonds would spin in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Birck and Howes racing side-by-side for the second spot. The action up front was slowed on lap 11, as Steve Berry spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. Carter once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Birck and Howes continuing their battle for the runner up spot. Just when it looked like Cater would pull away to an easy win, the final caution of the race appeared on lap 16. Casey Lancaster would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter jumped back out front, with Howes over taking Birck for second. While Howes and Birck battled for the runner up spot, Carter would pull away to claim the $1,000 victory. Birck edged out Howes for 2nd, with Howes 3rd, Daniel Fellows was 4th, with Brandon Lennox coming from 11th to finish in 5th.

Anderson's First Career Modified Feature Win Comes at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway

Donnellson, IA (Friday, August 3, 2018) - With the calendar turning to August this week, that only means the 2018 season for track points at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway is about over. After the completion of Friday nights Archie's Auto Service Night there is only two point nights left, August 17th and 24th. Two driver's claimed their fist wins of the season at the track, while one of those was their first career in the division. The other three driver's earned repeat wins on the season.

The 14 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compact feature was the first to take to the track, with Kenny Smith and Jake Dietrich leading the field to green. Dietrich used his starting spot to his advantage, by jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Josh Barnes and Smith. On lap 3 Barnes would slip past Dietrich to take over the top spot, with Barry Taft, who started 9th, over taking Dietrich for the runner up spot one lap later. Taft then tried to work under Barnes over the final laps. But Barnes would hold him off to pick up his third win of the season at the track. Taft settled for 2nd, Kimberly Abbott finished 3rd after starting in 8th, Brandon Reu was 4th, with Smith rounding out the top 5.

Up next was the 18 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMod feature, with Jim Walker and Jim Powell making up the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Austin Howes who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Walker and Brandyn Ryan. Then just as Howes started to pull away from the field, the first caution of the race appeared on lap 8. Austen Becerra, who was running 3rd, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Howes jumped back out front, but now had Daniel Fellows, who started 7th, and Adam Birck, who started 9th, glued to his back bumper. The action up front was slowed for the second time of the race on lap 11, when Bob Cowman spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Howes once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Fellows and Birck continuing to follow. Fellows tried to work under Howes over the next 4 laps, when another caution slowed the action on lap 16. Powell would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Howes moved back out front, with Fellows and Becerra, who recovered from his spin on lap 8, close behind. Just after the lap was scored complete another caution came out, as Jeff Frana spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Disaster would strike to top two runners on the restart, as contact between Fellows and Howes sent Howes spinning in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the following restart Birck jumped out front, with Brandon Dale, who started 8th, and Becerra following. Birck would hold on over the final laps to claim his first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Dale was 2nd, Becerra was 3rd, Ryan was 4th, with Cowman recovering from his spin on lap 11 to come back up to finish in 5th.

Kevin Koontz and Dean Kratzer led the field to green in the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Kratzer edging out Darin Thye and Abe Huls, who started 8th, to lead lap 1. Thye would edge out Kratzer at the line to take the top spot away on lap 2. But Huls would take over the lead from Thye on lap 3. The only thing to slow Huls down on the night, was the first and only caution of the race on lap 6. Cody McClure would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Huls jumped back out front, with Jeremy Pundt, who started 5th, and John Oliver Jr., who started 7th, following. While the battle went two wide for the runner up spot Huls would pull away. Oliver Jr. would edge out Pundt for second on lap 9, and then went to work on cutting into Huls lead. But without another caution to slow Huls down, there was no catching him. As he pulled away to pick up his fifth win of the season at the track. Oliver Jr. was 2nd, Beau Taylor finished 3rd, Pundt was 4th, with Brandon Savage coming from 9th to round out the top 5.

Up next was the 20 lap Steffes Late Model feature, with Cliff Powell and Darin Weisinger Jr. making up the front row. Powell took advantage of his starting spot to hold off Jeff Guengerich by inches to lead lap 1. But Guengerich would grab the top spot away from Powell on lap 2. Three laps later, lap 5, Sam Halstead, who started 7th, worked under Guengerich coming off turn 4 to grab the lead. Halstead then started to pull away, as Chuck Hanna, who started 9th, was working his way towards the front. Hanna would take over the second spot on lap 10, and then went to work on cutting into Halstead's lead. On lap 16 Halstead would enter lapped traffic, which allowed Hanna to close in on him quickly. But Hanna would run out of laps to challenge Halstead, who went on to win his second in a row and third overall at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Hanna settled for 2nd, Tommy Elston came from 8th to finish in 3rd, Todd Frank was 4th, with Ron Boyse coming home in 5th.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with Levi Smith and Kelly Buckallew bringing the field to green. But it was fifth place starter Logan Anderson, who started 5th, that edged Smith at the line by inches on the bottom to lead lap 1. Jeff Waterman, who started 7th, would take over the runner up spot on lap 2, and then followed in Anderson's tire tracks over the next 11 laps. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time on lap 13, as Buckallew spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Anderson jumped back out front, with Waterman and Bill Roberts Jr. close behind. While Anderson worked the bottom of the speedway, Waterman worked the middle of turns 1 & 2 and the top in turns 3 & 4. Coming to the wave of the green flag, signaling two laps to go, Waterman used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to get up beside Anderson down the front stretch. But then going into turn 3 to come to the white flag Waterman drifted high in turn 4, which allowed Anderson to put a couple of car lengths between them going into turn 1. Waterman wouldn't give up on the high side, as he used it going into turn 3 on the final lap. He then used the momentum off turn 4 to try one last attempt to get the win, but Anderson was able to hold him off to score his first career Modified feature win. Waterman settled for 2nd, Roberts Jr. was 3rd, Dennis LaVeine started 8th and finished 4th, with John Oliver Jr., who started 9th after a late driver change in Bill Baker's #03B machine, finishing in 5th.

Swindell Grabs All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Main at 34 Raceway

West Burlington, IA (Sunday, July 29, 2018) - For the second year in a row the Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Cars made a visit to 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. Sunday nights event brought an end to the four race swing, as Thursday they made a stop at the Angell Park Speedway in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Before traveling to the Jackson Motorplex in Jackson, Minnesota for a Friday night race, and then over to the Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, Iowa on Saturday night.

Ryan Smith would top the field on Thursday, as Kerry Madsen came into 34 Raceway as the winner of the past two events on Friday and Saturday. The question on the night would be could Madsen win three in a row, or perhaps could Smith earn his second win on the four day swing. Thirty-two 410 Sprint Cars signed in, which were divided into 8 groups of  for time trials to determine their starting spots in the heat races. Rico Abreu was quick time in Group 1 with a time of 12.675. Ryan Smith topped Group 2 with a time of 12.590. Group 3 went to Spencer Bayston with a time of 12.376. While Cory Eliason topped Group 4 and was over quick time, with a time of 12.236.

The top four times in the four groups, that made up the heat races, were then inverted to set the line ups. Joey Saldana took advantage of his invert in heat 1 to claim the victory. Austin McCarl also took advantage of his heat race invert to win heat 2. Carson Macedo was the third driver to win a heat race from the pole. While Sammy Swindell broke the trend by winning heat race 4 from the outside of the front row. The top two from each heat race, along with the top two from overall time trials who advanced into the A-Feature through their respective heat races would make up the two 4 lap dashes. The odd number qualifiers would draw a starting spot for dash 1, while the even number qualifiers drew a spot for dash 2. Cale Conley would go on to win Dash 1, which also put him on the pole for the 30 lap A-Feature. Cory Eliason claimed the win in Dash 2 and earned the outside of the front row for the A-Feature.

With the top 5 out of the 4 heat races earning a starting spot in the 30 lap A-Feature, the remaining 12 cars would take to the track for the B-Feature. The top 4 cars out of the B-Feature would set the 24 car field for that A-Feature. Ryan Smith would go on to win the B-Feature, with Jac Haudenschild, Paul Nienhiser, and Chad Kemenah coming from 8th to grab the final transfer spot.

Now with qualifying all in the books, it was time to go feature racing. The 12 lap Mini Hauler Trucks would come out first, with Timothy Weyls and Drake Fenton drawing the front row for the event. Fenton used his starting spot to his advantage, as he grabbed the lead on lap 1 over John Helenthal and Lance Applegarth. Just as it looked like Fenton would pull away to an easy win, the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 8. Hogan Brockert wnet off the track in turn 2 and got into the pit wall to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fenton jumped back out front, with Helenthal and Applegarth close behind. Fenton would hold on over the final laps to claim the win. Helenthal was 2nd, Applegarth was 3rd, Dylan Reverend was 4th, with Lake Carlson rounding out the top 5.

Cale Conley and Cory Eliason led the field to green in the 30 lap Arctic Cat All Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Car feature. Conley took advantage of his starting spot to jump out front on lap 1 over Eliason and Kerry Madsen. With the track staying heavy all night the pace that the front runners were running put them into lapped traffic on lap 4. Eliason would use the slower traffic coming off turn 4 on lap 5 to take over the top spot from Conley. While Eliason continued to work the heavy lapped traffic, Conley, Sammy Swindell and Madsen would close in on his back bumper. The action up front was slowed for the first time, as Carl Bowser climbed the wall in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Eliason moved back out front, with Conley and Swindell close behind.

Once again the fast pace that the leaders were setting put them into lapped traffic on lap 15. Swindell would use the lap cars to grab the runner up spot away from Conley on lap 17. Then just after that lap was scored complete the second caution of the race appeared. Jake Blackhurst slowed to a stop in turn 2 with a blown right rear tire to bring out the yellow. Eliason once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Swindell and Conley following close behind. Just as it looked like Eliason would pull away fro the win, he would enter lapped traffic on lap 26. This would allow Swindell to close in on him quickly. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 27, Swindell went low to clear the lapped traffic and then emerged down the backstretch with the lead. One lap later, lap 28, Willie Croft climbed the wall down the backstretch and then came to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the final yellow. On the restart Swindell jumped back out front, with Eliason and Carson Macedo, who started 9th, trying to grab the lead away from Swindell. But Swindell would hold on over the final laps to claim the win and the $5,000 check to go with it. Eliason was 2nd, Macedo was 3rd, Conley held on for 4th, with Madsen completing the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track was the 12 lap Mod Lites, with Mike Morrill and Joel Huggins leading the field to green. Huggins would edge out Morrill at the line to lead lap 1, with Wyatt Wilkerson close behind in third. Coming out of turn 4 to complete lap 3, Huggins went to the middle of the track and left the top open for Morrill. And Morrill would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 to edge Huggins out at the line to take over the top spot. Morrill then cruised to his fifth win in five feature events at 34 Raceway. Huggins was 2nd, Wilkerson was 3rd, Devon Rouse was 4th, with Michael Dominguez rounding out the top 5.

Notes from 34: Parker-Price Miller started the 410 Sprint feature in 12th and finished 8th....Rico Abreu finished 9th after starting in 13th....Tony Stewart came from 18th to finish in 11th....Jac Haudenschild passed 9 cars from his 22nd place starting spot to come home in 13th. He would win the hard charger award....Paul Nienhiser finished 15th after starting in 23rd....Sammy Walsh, Bill Balog, Josh Schneiderman, Bobby Mincer, Tyler Esh, Jordyn Brazier, and Ryan Jamison were among the drivers who didn't qualify for the A-Feature....Lynton Jeffrey had troubles in his qualifying group that forced him to load up and head home early......Jason Masengarb and R.J. Gonzales would load up and go home before the Mod Lite feature.

Gaylord and Brown Finally Break Into Pepsi Lee County Speedway Victory Lane

Donnellson, IA (Friday, July 27, 2018) - After severe thunderstorms and tornado's raced across Iowa last Thursday, July 19th that damaged the fairgrounds, which forced last Friday nights action to be cancelled. The Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa got everything put back together to get back to racing on Wilson Brothers BBQ and Catering Night. At the end of the night two drivers scored their career first feature wins at the track, while four other drivers visited victory lane for another time in 2018.

The 14 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compact feature was the first to take to the track, with Kenny Smith and Mike Reu leading the field to green. Mike Reu used his starting spot to his advantage, as he jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Kimberly Abbott and Brandon Reu. But that lead only lasted for 1 lap, as Abbott slipped by to grab the top spot away on lap 2. Mike Reu would try to work back under Abbott, but also had to try and hold off Barry Taft for the runner up spot. Taft would over take Mike Reu for second on lap 6, and then went to work on chasing down Abbott for the lead. But without a caution to slow the event, Abbott would go on to win her third feature of the season at the track. Taft was 2nd, Mike Reu was 3rd, Darin Smith started 8th and edged out Brandon Reu for 4th, with Brandon Reu rounding out the top 5.

Up next was the 18 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMod feature, with Bob Cowman and Austen Becerra making up the front row. Just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Daniel Fellows spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart John Renier would spin in turn 4 to bring the yellow back out. The following original restart saw Becerra grab the lead on lap 1 over Cowman and Austin Howes. Then just after lap 1 was scored complete Kyle Hamelton would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Becerra jumped back out front on the restart, with Adam Birck and Howes following close behind. Birck would try to work under Becerra, when the action was slowed on lap 16 to set up a two lap finish. Contact between Brandon Dale and Howes, who were battling for 5th, sent both drivers spinning in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Becerra moved back out front, with Birck and Sean Wyett, who started 9th, close behind. Birck would try to get under Becerra over the final lap, but Becerra was able to hold him off to claim his third win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Birck was 2nd, Wyett was 3rd, Brandyn Ryan finished 4th after starting in 8th, with Fellows recovering from his spin on the start to come back up to finish 5th.

Kevin Koontz and Chad Krogmeier led the field to green in the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, when Eric Glass elected to go to the rear. But it was third place starter Beau Taylor who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Krogmeier and Jeremy Pundt. Pundt would over take Krogmeier for second on lap 2, and then tried to work under Taylor. At the same time John Oliver Jr., who started 7th, worked himself into third on lap 3, and was trying to get under Pundt for second. On lap 14 Oliver Jr. would slip under Pundt for the runner up spot and then two laps later, lap 16, he would slip under Taylor for the lead. Taylor then had to work to hold back Pundt for second. As Oliver Jr. would go on to lead the final laps to pick up his third win at the track. Pundt won the battle for 2nd, Taylor was 3rd, Jason Cook was 4th, with Krogmeier finishing in 5th.

The 20 lap 305 Sprint feature was up next, with Joe Simbro and Brayden Gaylord drawing the front row. Simbro took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Gaylord and Joe Laue. Laue, who was running the top of the track, used the momentum off the top coming out of turn 4 to grab the lead away from Simbro on lap 3. One lap later, lap 4, Mason Campbell, who started 6th, worked himself into second and then went to work on Laue for the lead. But disaster would strike Campbell and Harold Pohren on lap 7, as Campbell slowed in turn 4 with mechanical troubles. Pohren, who was glued to his back bumper, had no where to go and went over Campbell's left rear to get upside down to bring out the red. Pohren would climb from his car okay. On the restart Gaylord shot under Laue to take over the top spot, with Laue and Simbro following. Before lap 9 was scored complete, Simbro did a 360 spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Gaylord once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Laue and Bailey Goldesberry, who started 7th, close behind. While Gaylord started to pull away, the battle was for second between Laue and Goldesberry. Goldesberry was able to grab the runner up spot from Laue on lap 18, but ran out of laps to chase down Gaylord. As Gaylord went on to claim his first ever 305 Sprint feature at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Goldesberry was 2nd, Laue was 3rd, Jarrod Schneiderman was 4th, with Dave Getchell coming from 8th to finish 5th.

Scott Boles and Craig Spegal led the field to green in the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Boles jumping out front on lap 1 over Jeff Waterman, who started 6th, and Dean McGee. Just after lap 1 was scored complete Dustin Crear came to a stop in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Waterman would over take Boles for the lead, as McGee followed him into second. While Waterman started to pull away, Jarrett Brown, who started 8th, and Colby Springsteen, who started 7th, were trying to work themselves to the front. On lap 6 Brown would slip past McGee for second, while Springsteen moved into third on lap 10. They both then went to work on chasing down Waterman for the top spot. Brown would chase down Waterman on lap 15, and then coming to the wave of the green flag, Brown went high in turn 3 and then cut to the bottom coming off turn 4 to edge out front on lap 18. Brown then held off Waterman over the final lap to claim his first ever feature win at the track. Waterman was 2nd, Springsteen was 3rd, McGee was 4th, with John Oliver Jr., who was driving Dennis LaVeine's #71, coming from 10th to finish in 5th.

The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Steffes Late Models, with Jeff Guengerich and Sam Halstead making up the front row. Halstead used his starting spot to his advantage by grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Guengerich and Tommy Elston. Just after lap 1 was scored complete Todd Frank slowed in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Halstead jumped back out front, with Elston and Guengerich close behind. Elston then tried to work under Halstead over the entire race, but Halstead was able to hold him off to pick up his second win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Elston was 2nd, Guengerich was 3rd, Ron Boyse was 4th, with Vance Wilson coming home in 5th.

Scelzi Repeats at Dubuque Fair Sprint Invaders Event

Dubuque, IA (Tuesday, July 24, 2018) - The Sprint Invaders made their final stop at a county fair in 2018 on Tuesday, July 24th at the Dubuque Fairgrounds Speedway in Dubuque, Iowa. Joining the Sprint Cars on what they called open wheel Tuesday, was the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA SportMods.

With 14 Sprint Cars signed in for the nights action, it was determined that two sets of heat races would be ran to help determine the feature line up. The first two heat races would be lined up by the pill number they drew when they first signed in for the night. After those heat races were ran, the second set of heats would be inverted by their passing points from the first set of heats. There was only one catch, in order to keep your starting spot in the second heat you must have finished your first heat race. Otherwise you would have to go to the rear of the second heat.

Once both rounds of heat races were completed, then the passing points that driver's earned in each round were added together. This would help determine which 6 driver's would make-up the Shake-Up Dash, with the rest of the field lined up by passing points. Since the heat race winners were guaranteed a starting spot in the Shake-Up Dash, and there was no repeat heat race winners in both rounds of heat races. The four heat race winners and the two highest in combined passing points would draw for their starting spot in that dash. Dominic Scelzi would draw the pole and then led all 6 laps to pick up the win. He then drew a 4, which put him starting 4th in the A-Feature.

The first feature to take to the track was the 20 lap IMCA Modifieds, with Tyler Madigan and Matt Gansen drawing the front row for the event. Gansen used his starting spot to his advantage by jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Jed Freiburger and Madigan. Gansen, Madigan, Austin Moyer, Freiburger and Darin Duffy raced two wide three rows deep for the top spot. Meanwhile Jeff Larson, who started 12th, was working the top of the track to join the battle. Disaster would strike Duffy, who was running 6th, on lap 5, as he got on the binders hard to avoid Larson who dove under him going into turn 1 and then spun to bring out the yellow. On the restart Moyer, Gansen, and Madigan raced three wide off turn 4 for the lead, with Madigan edging out front at the line. As Madigan worked to hold off the pack, Larson's run to the front continued. On lap 10 he would use the top of the track to work himself into second. Then one lap later, lap 11, David McClain would spin in turn 4 to bring out the caution.

On the restart Larson would spin in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on, and then had to go to the rear. The following restart saw Madigan jump back out front, with Moyer and Mark Schulte, who started 9th, following close behind. The caution would appear on lap 13 to slow the action, as Scott Riechers spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gansen, who was running 5th, spun in turn 1 and collected Jason Schueller to bring the yellow light back on. Both cars were battling within the top seven, but suffered to much damage to continue. The following restart saw Madigan hold the top spot by inches over Moyer, as the two raced off turn four side-by-side. Moyer, who was on the bottom, grabbed the lead by inches on lap 15. But one lap later, lap 16, disaster would strike him, as he spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. With the leader spinning, this would put Freiburger and Madigan side-by-side on the front row for the restart. On that restart Madigan edged out Freiburger to grab the lead and then held him off over the final lap to pick up the win. Freiburger was a close 2nd, Schulte was 3rd, Bryce Garnhart started 14th and finished 4th, while Larson recovered from his spin on lap 11 to come back up to finish 5th.

Jake Murphy and Jerry Miles drew the front row for the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light came back on, as Scott Busch slowed down the front stretch with mechanical troubles to bring out the yellow. On the restart Tim Casper spun in turn 1 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw third place starter Jason Roth grab the lead on lap 1 over Murphy and Miles. Debris in turn 4 on lap 4 would bring out another yellow. Then more debris in turn 1 on the restart would bring the yellow light back on. On the next restart Roth jumped back out front, with Gage Neal, who started 6th, and Tyler Soppe, who started 9th, glued to his back bumper. Neal, who was running the top of the track, used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to edge out Roth at the line to lead lap 6. But as they came around to complete lap 7, Neal would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow.

Soppe and Roth would start on the front row side-by-side for the restart, with Roth using the top of the track to edge out Soppe at the line for the lead. Just as the lap was scored complete, Richard Nelson spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. Roth moved back out front on the restart, with Miles and Soppe close behind. Roth then started to pull away from the battle for the runner up spot behind, when the final caution of the race appeared on lap 11. Casper would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Roth jumped out front on the restart, with Miles and Soppe continuing their battle for second. While Miles and Soppe battled for second, Roth would go on to claim the win. Soppe won the battle for 2nd, Miles was 3rd, Troy Bauer passed 14 cars from his 18th place starting spot to come home in 4th, with Murphy finishing 5th.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 30 lap Sprint Invaders, with Bill Balog and Jarrod Schneiderman leading the field to green. Balog took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Sammy Walsh and Schneiderman. Then just after the lap was scored complete Jon Agan and Rob Weuve got together in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Balog jumped back out front, with Walsh and Schneiderman following. Balog then started to pull away from the field, when the second caution of the race appeared on lap 11. Walsh, who was running 2nd, spun in turn 4 to avoid a lapped car to bring out the yellow. Once again Balog grabbed the lead on the restart, with Dominic Scelzi and Tanner Gebhardt, who started 7th, close behind. Scelzi, who was running the bottom, would edge out Balog at the line to take over the top spot on lap 13.

On lap 15 the third caution of the race appeared, as Cody Wehrle did a 360 in turn 4 and Justin Buchholz spun to bring out the yellow. Scelzi moved back out front on the restart, with Balog and Gebhardt following. Just as it looked like Scelzi would pull away to pick up the win, the final caution of the race came out on lap 24 to bring the field back to his back bumper. Walsh would spin in turn 4 to bring out his second yellow to end his night. On the restart Scelzi moved back out front, with Balog and Gebhardt close behind. While Scelzi worked the bottom of the track, Balog worked the top of the track to try and wrestle the lead away. But Scelzi would hold him off over the final laps to score his second Sprint Invaders fair race win in a row at Dubuque, as he was the winner in 2017. Balog was 2nd, Gebhardt was 3rd, Ryan Jamison started 10th and finished 4th to earn the hard charger award, with Jamie Ball coming home in 5th.

Notes from Dubuque: Darin Duffy recovered from his spin on lap 5 of the Modified feature to come back up to finish 6th....Ryan DeShaw was running 4th, when he got into the wall in turn 4 on the last lap and fell back to 7th at the finish....Derek Thompson started 17th and finished 8th....Mike Weidemann finished 9th after starting in 13th....David McClain, who started 15th, recovered from his spin on lap 11 to come back up to finish 11th....Scott Riechers who spun on lap 13 came back up to finish 13th....Sean Rupp started 19th and finished 15th....John Campbell and Rod McDonald had troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature......Gage Neal recovered from his spin on lap 6 of the SportMod feature to come back up to finish 7th....Austin Heacock finished 8th after starting in 15th....Justin Becker came from 16th to finish 9th....Rusty DeShaw started 14th and finished 10th......Cody Wehrle recovered from his lap 15 spin in the Sprint Invaders feature to come back up to finish 6th....Daniel Bergquist finished 9th after starting in 14th....Harold Pohren started 13th and finished 10th.

Springsteen Becomes a New Winner During the Lee County Fair Night

Donnellson, IA (Thursday, July 12, 2018) - Iowa's oldest running county fair, the Lee County Fair in Donnellson, Iowa, kicked off on Wednesday, with the stock car races being the grandstand attraction on Thursday night. When the final checkered flag waved about 9:40 PM three driver's extended there winning streaks, another claimed his second win of the season, and another won for the first time this season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway.

The first feature to take to the track was the 14 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compacts, with Mike Hornung Jr. and Brandon Reu drawing the front row. But on the drop of the green the yellow light would come on, as Hornung Jr. got sideways in turn 1 and collected Kenny Smith to bring out the yellow. This would move Mike Reu to the pole position for the restart, and he would take advantage of this move to grab the lead on lap 1 over Josh Barnes, who started 7th, and Brandon Reu. Mike Reu then held the top spot until lap 3, when Barnes slipped by for the lead. While Barnes set the pace out front, Barry Taft, who started 8th, worked himself into the runner up spot on lap 8 and then went to work in cutting into Barnes' lead. Just when it looked like Barnes would hold Taft off to pick up the win, Barnes would slow in turn 4, which handed the lead over to Taft. Taft then held off Kimberly Abbott, who started 5th, to claim his third win in a row and seventh of the season at the track. Abbott was 2nd, Mike Reu was 3rd, Jake Dietrich was 4th, with Brandon Reu rounding out the top 5.

Up next was the 18 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMod feature, with Bob Cowman and Brandon Dale drawing the front row for the event. Dale used his starting spot to his advantage, as he jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Lennox and Austen Becerra. Then just after lap 1 was scored complete the caution would come out for Daniel Campbell, who stopped in turn 2. On the restart Dale moved back out front, with Lennox and Becerra close behind. The action up front was slowed for the second and final time of the race on lap 3. Campbell once again stopped in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Dale jumped back out front on the restart, with Lennox and Becerra following. Lennox would try the low side of the speedway and the top of the track to get the lead away from Dale over the final laps. But Dale was able to hold him off to pick up his second win of the season at the track. Lennox was 2nd, Adam Birck was 3rd, Blaine Webster started 9th and finished 4th, with Daniel Fellows coming from 10th to finish in 5th.

Jeremy Pundt and John Oliver Jr. drew the front row for the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Oliver Jr. grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Abe Huls and Pundt. While Oliver Jr. worked the bottom of the track, Huls would work the top side, as the two raced side-by-side around the 3/8th mile. Oliver Jr. would hold the lead at the line each lap, that was until lap 4, when Huls edged him out to take over the top spot. Huls then started to pull away, as Oliver Jr. tried to hold off Pundt for the runner up spot. Pundt would slip under Oliver Jr. on lap 13 and then went to work on chasing down Huls for the lead. But without a caution there was no catching Huls, who went on to win his second in a row and fourth overall at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Pundt was, 2nd, Oliver Jr. was 3rd, Jason Cook was 4th, with Chad Krogmeier finishing 5th after starting in 8th.

Up next was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Mitch Boles and Colby Springsteen leading the field to green. Springsteen would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Boles and Dakota Simmons. Disaster would strike Boles on lap 3, as the motor locked up on his car and caused him to spin down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Springsteen jumped back out front, with Simmons and Bill Roberts Jr. following close behind. Springsteen then started to put some distance between himself and the battle behind him. David Brown, who started 6th, slipped into the runner up spot on lap 10, with Jeff Waterman, who started 9th, following him into third. Those two driver's then went to work on cutting into Springsteen's lead. Coming to the white flag, Brown, who was working the bottom, and Waterman, who was working the top, had cut the lead down to a car lengths. But Springsteen was able to hold on to claim his first win of the season at the track. Brown was 2nd, Waterman was 3rd, Simmons was 4th, with Bruce Hanford coming from 10th to finish 5th.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap Steffes Late Model, with Ron Boyse and Dayton Lynch drawing the front row. Boyse would use his starting to his advantage, as he grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Rob Toland and Tommy Elston. While Boyse worked the bottom of the track, Elston would work the top to try and get the lead away from Boyse. Boyse was able to hold him off each lap, that was until lap 8 when Elston used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to edge out Boyse at the line for the top spot. Elston then pulled away over the final laps to score his third win in a row and fourth overall at the track. Boyse was 2nd, Toland was 3rd, Sam Halstead started 7th and finished 4th, with Todd Frank holding on to finish a close 5th.

Agan Cruises to Bloomfield Sprint Invaders Win

Bloomfield, IA (Thursday, July 19, 2018) - The middle to late part of July is full of county fairs in the state of Iowa. In which three Sprint Invaders races on the schedule are held at these county fairs. And Thursday, July 19th was on exception, as the Invaders made a stop at the Davis County Fair in Bloomfield, Iowa.

As I was leaving home and heading to the west, my weather AP on my phone went off to tell me that most of Iowa was just put under a tornado watch. The closer I got to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa the darker the skies were getting. I then sent a message to somebody who I knew was already at Bloomfield to see what the weather was like. The response I got, followed by a photo, showed partly skies and no rain yet. Then as I drove thru Bonaparte, Iowa my weather AP on my phone went off again. This time to tell me I was in an area that was under a tornado warning. I then thought to myself that I was making the 2 hour drive for nothing.

But another check with my contact in Bloomfield still said and showed the skies were partly cloudy. So I continued on towards the fairgrounds. As I arrived the skies started to darken to the northeast. Then just before hot laps a brief shower moved over the grounds. Which caused a brief delay in the starting time, as the crew had to do some repacking.

Twenty-six, the most of any event held so far in 2018, Sprint Cars signed in for the night. They would draw for their starting spot in one of the three heat races. The heat race winners, along with the next 13 in passing points going directly into the A Feature. The remaining 10 cars were scheduled to run a B-Main, with the top 4 transferring into the back of the A Feature. But before the B-Main was run, the Shake-Up Dash would come to the track to set the first three rows of the A Feature. Mason Dainel of Springville, California would go onto to win the Shake-Up Dash, and then drew a number 5 to start 5th in the A Feature.

In that Shake-Up Dash Brayden Gaylord hit the turn 1 guardrail hard and almost got upside down to bring out the red. He would climb from his heavily damaged car okay, but unfortunately was forced to scratch from the A Feature. With Gaylord's scratch and the scratch with motor problems by Dominic Scelzi from Fresno, Calfornia, who was driving Scott Bonar's #50 for the night and was one of the cars who qualified thru passing points from the heat races, would mean that instead of 4 coming out of the B-Main it would now be 6. The 10 cars scheduled to run the B-Main was pushed out onto the track next. But when Kelly Graham, Ryan Jamison, Dave Keperling, and Rob Weuve all scratched from mechanical troubles, this would leave 6 cars on the track. Since 6 was what was being transferred into the A Feature, the decision was made to scratch the -Main and add the 6 cars on the track to the back of the A-Feature.

With all the qualifying complete it was time to bring the 16 lap Stock Car feature to the track, with $1,000 awaiting the winner. Abe Huls and Tom Bowling Jr. would draw the front row for the event. Huls took advantage of his drawing spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Bowling Jr. and Dustin Griffiths. Just as Huls started to pull away from the battle for second behind him, the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 7. Garrett Alexander would slow to a stop in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bowling Jr. would look under Huls for the top spot, but Huls would hang on to keep the lead. The move by Bowling Jr. would allow Griffiths to use the top of the track to take the runner up spot from Bowling Jr. Brett Lowry and Mike Hughes, who started 8th, would join the battle for second, which allowed Huls to pull away again. Huls would go on to lead all 16 laps to claim the win and the $1,000 top prize. Griffiths held on for 2nd, Lowry was 3rd, Bowling Jr. was 4th, with Hughes coming home in 5th.

Complete Stock Car results - A-Feature: 1. Abe Huls, Carthage, IL; 2. Dustin Griffiths, Hedrick, IA; 3. Brett Lowry, Ottumwa, IA; 4. Tom Bowling Jr., Danville, IA; 5. Mike Hughes, What Cheer, IA; 6. Howard Gordon, Oskaloosa, IA; 7. Nathan Wood, Sigourney, IA; 8. Jason See, Albia, IA; 9. Cody McClure, Bloomfield, IA; 10. Kevin Koontz, Memphis, MO; 11. Garrett Alexander, Lucas, IA; 12. Spenscer Hopwood, Ottumwa, IA; 13. Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA

The 25 lap Sprint Invaders feature was the final event of the night, with Jon Agan and Randy Martin leading the field to green. Agan used his staring spot to his advantage, as he jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Martin and Cody Wehrle. The fast pace that Agan was setting would put him into lapped traffic on lap 4. Despite the heavy lapped traffic there looked like would slow Agan down. That was until lap 15, when he went to lap the 9th place car of Sawyer Phillips. Phillips would go over easy in turn 3 and brought out the red. He would climb from his car okay. On the restart Agan moved back out front, with Martin and Jarrod Schneiderman following. Once again Agan was setting such a fast pace, that on lap 20 he entered lapped traffic. But that wasn't enough to allow Martin to close in on him, as Agan cruised to an easy win. Martin was 2nd, Mason Daniel was 3rd, Schneiderman was 4th, with Jamie Ball rounding out the top 5.

Notes from Bloomfield: Howard Gordon started the Stock Car feature in 10th and would finish 6th....Jason See was scheduled to start 7th, but had to go to the rear after being pushed out of staging. He would climb up to an 8th place finish....Cody McClure finished 9th after starting in 12th......Sammy Walsh started the Sprint Invaders feature in 10th and would finish 7th....John Schulz came from 12th to finish in 8th....Ayrton Gennetten came from 20th to finish in 11th to earn the hard charger....Justin Buchholz finished 13th after starting in 18th....Harold Pohren started 17th and finished 14th.

Waking up Friday morning and checking out social media, I seen several videos and photos of the some of the damage caused by the storms that rolled thru the State of Iowa on Thursday night. Marshalltown, Pella and surrounding cities experienced tornado's  and suffered most from the storms. The Lee County fairgrounds in Donnellson, Iowa had fencing, signs, tree limbs and a couple of power poles snapped at the facilities, which forced them to cancel their weekly racing program on Friday night. Here is hoping those effected by the storms can get things cleaned up and put back together real soon!!!

Shirley and Harrison Continue Winning on "The Hell Tour"

Quincy, IL (Sunday, July 8, 2018) - I wasn't really sure on where to, or even how to, begin this write up. So I decided to just start from the time arrived. After driving home Sunday after staying over night Saturday in New Hampton, Iowa, from making my first ever trip up to Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota. I decided to make the two hour drive down to Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois, as they played host to "The Hell Tour" featuring the UMP Late Models and UMP Modifieds, along with the IMCA SportMods joining the program.

I arrived about an hour earlier than the advertised 6:15 PM hot lap time, so that I could walk thru the pits to see who was there and to stop and chat with some people I haven't seen all season. I was met by the pit entrance by fellow Positively Racing columnist Danny Rosencrans. We talked about a wide variety things, all racing related, for about 30 minutes, before Danny headed to the grandstand to find him a seat. While I headed to the pits to see what kind of a turned there was. After completing my pit walk, I was kind of disappointed in the 21 Late Models, well actually 22 with a very late arrival, 19 Modifieds and 16 SportMods.

With a quick check of the time on my cell phone, I then grabbed something to drink and headed towards the infield of the track to get my camera ready for hot laps. As I approach the top edge of the track, I could see about a half of a dozen packing vehicles out packing in the track. A quick look around the track, I knew right away that hot laps would not begin at the scheduled 6:15 time. Only about a groove and a half of the topside of the track was packed in, while the remaining three quarters of the track still needed some work. About 45 minutes went by, and several calls on the PA system in the pits to try and get cars to come out to help put the final touches on the track so the night could get started. But only about 6 of the 56 cars in the pits would come out to show support of the tracks effort to get things ready.

Some might blame the track for over watering the track. But with the sun, humidity and a breeze blowing, I believe the track wanted to provide the driver's and the big crowd on hand a fast and dust free racing experience. Some of the blame could be put on the UMP DIRTcar series officials, by not going around and forcing their driver's to get out there and help. If all the cars in the pits came out and made a couple of trips around the track, things could have gotten started faster.

Finally at about 7:20 PM hot laps were called for the SportMods, even though the bottom quarter of the track still needed some packing. About a dozen of the 16 SportMods signed in came to the track to hot lap, and the driver's were given some extra laps to try and blow off the track. Next up was scheduled to be Late Model hot laps. But not 1 car was sitting in staging to come onto the track. About ten minutes went by, and again several calls on the PA system in the pits to get them to come to the track. One last threat to fore go there hot laps, they finally decided to come to the track. Late Model hot laps was followed up by Modified hot laps / qualifying. Which was then followed by Late Model qualifying.

Opening ceremonies were completed, and now it was time to go racing to help determine the starting line-ups for the feature events. Three Modified heats, three Late Model heats and two SportMod heats were completed in a timely manner. Then about a twenty minute intermission took place.

It was around 9:20 PM and the 25 lap UMP Modified feature took to the track, with Dave Wietholder and Mike McKinney leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Wietholder used his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over McKinney and Mike Harrison, who started 4th. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 4, when Charles Baker, Russ Coultas and Rusty Griffaw collided in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wietholder jumped back out front, with McKinney and Harrison glued to his back bumper. One lap later, lap 6, the second caution of the event appeared, as Gary Bentley spun in turn 4 and collected Joey Gower to bring out the yellow. Wietholder once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with McKinney and Harrison battling it out for the runner up spot. Harrison slipped past McKinney for second on lap 20, when McKinney got to high off turn 2. Two laps later, lap 22, Harrison went from the bottom of the track in turn 3 and slid up in front of Wietholder off turn 4 to take over the top spot.

Disaster would strike the second place runner of Wietholder, third place runner of McKinney, and fourth place runner of Michael Long on lap 23. Coming off turn 4 McKinney got into Wietholder's driver's door, which resulted in Wietholder getting turned towards the infield. Wietholder's front would clip Long's right rear, which turned Long head onto the wall under the flagstand to bring out the yellow. Long would climb from his car okay. Despite damage to Wietholder's front end and McKinney's right front, to the surprise of me, both driver's were given their spots back for the restart. On that restart Harrison moved back out front, with Rick Stevenson, who started 9th, taking advantage of Wietholder's and McKinney's damaged cars to take over the runner up spot. But there was no catching Harrison, who held on for his fifth win of the season on the Summit Modified Nationals Tour. Stevenson was 2nd, McKinney held on for 3rd, Phil Dixon came from 7th to finish in 4th, with Kevin Blackburn finishing 5th after starting in 10th.

Rusty Schlenk and Frank Heckenast Jr. drew the front row for the 40 lap UMP Late Model feature, with Heckenast Jr. taking advantage of his starting spot to move out front on lap 1 over Schlenk and Shannon Babb. With the track still tacky, the front runners would catch the back of the field on lap 3. The fast pace was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 12, when Mark Burgtorf, who was running 8th, slowed with troubles down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Heckenast Jr. jumped back out front, with Babb and Brian Shirley now glued to his back bumper. Shirley would slip past Babb for second on lap 15 and then went to work on Heckenast Jr. for the top spot.

The action up front was slowed for the second time of the event on lap 18, as Gordy Gundaker slowed to a stop on the bottom of turn 4 with engine troubles to bring out the yellow. Once again Heckenast jr. jumped back out front on the restart, with Shirley and Babb close behind. Shirley, who found something on the bottom, was able to slip past Heckenast Jr. on lap 21 to grab the lead. One lap later, lap 22, David Jaeger slowed in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Shirley jumped back out front on the restart, with Heckenast Jr. working to hold back Babb for second. Just when Shirley started to pull away from the battle for second behind him, another caution appeared to slow the action. This time debris in turn 1 on lap 30 would bring out the yellow. Shirley once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Heckenast Jr. and Babb continuing their battle for second. On lap 35 Babb used the momentum off the top of the track to finally clear Heckenast Jr for the runner up spot. But two laps later, lap 37, it appeared as something in the right front of Bab's car broke. Which handed second back to Heckenast Jr. But without another caution there would be no way of catching Shirley.

That caution would appear on lap 39, as Derek Fetter, who arrived to the track at intermission and started the feature in 22nd and was running 9th, slowed to a stop in turn 1 with troubles to bring out the yellow. Under caution second place runner Heckenast Jr. pulled into the infield with troubles. The one lap dash to the win saw Shirley grab the win and then held on to claim his third "Hell Tour" win of the season. Steven Roberts started 6th and finished 2nd, Schlenk was 3rd, Jason Feger was 4th, with Brian Diveley coming from 12th to finish 5th.

Even though it was approaching the 11 o'clock hour, and knowing I had a two hour drive home and also knowing I had to get up at about 5:15 AM to go to work. I decided to stick around to take in the 30 lap IMCA SportMod, which paid $2,000 to win thanks to many sponsors. Just like the Late Model feature, the SportMod feature was caution plagued. Daniel Fellows and surprise visitor Brayton Carter, out of Oskaloosa, Iowa, led the field to green, with Fellows edging out Carter and Nathan Bringer to lead lap 1.  The first caution of the race appeared on lap 6, when Justin Bartz stopped off the top side of turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fellows moved back out front, with Bringer edging out Carter at the line by inches to take second. One lap later, lap 8, another caution came out, as Adam Birck and Brandon Lennox got together in turn 1 battling for fourth and collected Austin Howes to bring out the yellow.

Fellows would move back out front on the restart, with Carter getting back by Bringer for second. Another caution came out on lap 11, as Darin Peters spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Fellows grabbed the lead on the restart, with Carter and Bringer continuing the battle for the runner up spot. The action was slowed for the fourth time on lap 15, when Brandyn Ryan spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Fellows grabbed the lead on the restart, with Austen Becerra, who started 7th, over taking Carter and Bringer to move into second. One lap later, lap 17, Peters spun in turn 1 to bring out his second caution. But apparently there is no two spin rule, as he was left on the track for the restart.

On the restart Fellows moved back out front, with Becerra and Bringer following him closely. Just as Fellows started to pit some distance on the battle behind him, another caution slowed him down on lap 25. This time Ryan spun in turn 3 to bring out his second caution. But just like Peters, he was left on the track for the restart. On that restart Becerra entered low in turn 1 and slid up in front of Fellows coming off turn 2. But Fellows would turn back under Becerra coming off the corner to keep the lead. Just after the lap was scored complete, another caution came out to slow the action. Tanner Klingele, who was battling in the top 5, spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. Fellows moved back out front on the restart, with Becerra and Bringer looking for a way around Fellows for the top spot. It then looked like Fellows was headed for the biggest win of his career in the SportMod division, when a caution on the white flag set up a one lap dash to the finish. Peters, who had spun twice earlier in the feature and should have been sent pit side, spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the final restart Fellows was able to jump back out front and held on to claim his biggest win. I was in such a hurry to get to the car, that I forgot to write down the finish. But I think Bringer held on for 2nd, Becerra was 3rd, Lennox came back up to finish 4th, with Carter rounding out the top 5.