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.
Monday, July 30, 2018
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
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!!!
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!!!
Monday, July 9, 2018
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Brown Tops Stellar Field at "Hogan Memorial"
Vinton, IA (Tuesday, July 3, 2018) - Earlier in the year when the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa released their 2018 racing season schedule, I immediately circled Tuesday July 3rd. As the track would play host to the 24th Annual Hogan Memorial. A race that the Hogan family works hard at throughout the year to get sponsors to put up a lucrative payout for the IMCA Modifieds, as well as the IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, and IMCA Hobby Stocks.
The hard work and dedication of the Hogan family would pay off, as 135 cars jammed the pit area and a standing room only crowd turned out to witness some great racing action. After 15 heat races and 2 B-Mains were completed to help set the starting line ups for the features, it was time to go feature racing.
The first feature to take to the track was the 12 lap Micro Mods, with Russ Olson and Dallon Murty drawing the front row for the event. Murty would take advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Don Erger and Olson. Erger tried to keep pace with Murty over the next few laps, when the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 4. Debris down the backstretch would bring out the yellow. On the restart Murty jumped back out front, with Erger and Cole McNeal close behind. The fast pace that Murty was sitting allowed him to pull away over the final half of the race to claim his 3rd win of the season at Vinton. Erger was 2nd, McNeal was 3rd, Matt Post was 4th, with Kaden Reynolds coming from 10th to finish in 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap Sport Compact feature, with Barry Taft and Brett Marshall leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Taft used his starting spot to his advantage by grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Josh Barnes and Marshall. Barnes would try to work under Taft over the next 5 laps, as Marshall followed close behind waiting for either driver to make a mistake so he could take advantage of it. But Taft was able to hold them off each lap, that was until lap 7. Coming off turn 2 to complete lap 7, Taft would leave enough room on the top of the track for Barnes to shoot by him for the lead. Taft and Marshall both tried to work under Barnes over the next 5 laps, when the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 12 to slow the action. Cody Brewster slowed to a stop in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Marshall over taking Taft for second. Going into turn 3 on the final lap Marshall entered low and then slid up in front of Barnes to briefly take the lead. As Barnes turned back under him coming off turn 4 and then held on to pick up his first win at the Benton County Speedway in his first visit this season. Marshall settled for 2nd, Taft was 3rd, Jake Benischek finished 4th after starting in 9th, with the #1 (sorry didn't catch the name) rounding out the top 5.
Dan Trimble and John Oliver Jr. led the field to green in the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature event, with Oliver Jr. grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Jay Schmidt and Trimble. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 4, when Damon Murty went off the backstretch and came to a stop next to the corn field to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. jumped back out front, with Trimble edging out Schmidt for the runner up spot. One lap later, lap 6, Cody Frerichs and Norman Chesmore got together going down the backstretch, with Frerichs spinning to bring out the yellow. Oliver Jr. once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Jeff Mueller, who started 9th, using the bottom of the track to over take Schmidt for second. Murty's hope for a win would come to an end on lap 8, as after going off the backstretch on lap 4 to bring out a caution and restarting at the tail. Murty, who had worked himself back up to 6th, went over the track in turn 3 to bring out his second yellow to end his night. On the restart Oliver Jr. jumped back out front, with Mueller and Schmidt following close behind. Over the next two laps Oliver Jr. and Mueller raced side-by-side around the track for the lead, with Mueller using the bottom to finally wrestle the top spot away from Oliver Jr. on lap 11. Mueller then pulled away over the final laps to score his first "Hogan Memorial" win in the Stock Cars. Oliver Jr. was 2nd, Schmidt was 3rd, Todd Reitzler finished 4th, with Johnny Spaw coming from 8th to finish in 5th.
The 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature was up next, with Justin Wacha and Dylan Nelson, who was making his first ever visit to the track, drawing the front row for the event. Wacha took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Nelson and Leah Wroten. While Wacha worked the bottom of the track, Nelson went to the top to try and get around Wacha for the lead. The battle up front was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 5, when Cody Williams, who made the pull up from Minneapolis, Kansas, went over the track in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wacha jumped back out front, with Nelson and Wroten close behind. Just after the lap was scored complete, Luke Bird would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Wacha grabbed the lead on the restart, with Nelson and Nathan Ballard, who started 9th, following close behind. Nelson, who was using the top of the track, finally used the momentum coming off turn 4 to take the top spot away from Wacha on lap 8. The third caution of the race appeared on lap 11, as Breydon Forbes spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Jacob Floyd spun in turn 4 and collected Williams to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Nelson jump back out front, with Ballard and Brett Vanous glued to his back bumper. Ballard would follow in Nelson's tire tracks on top of the track over the final laps, waiting for Nelson to make a mistake. But Nelson would race the final laps without making that mistake to score his first ever win at the track. Ballard settled for 2nd, Vanous was 3rd, Scott Pippert drove the #17k usually driven by Kyle Parizek to a 4th place finish after starting in 12th, with Wroten holding on for 5th.
Twenty-eight IMCA SportMods took to the track next for their 20 lap feature. Two cautions before a lap was scored complete was the only thing that slowed the race, as after that they raced the 20 laps caution free. The first caution was credited to Tony Olson, who started 3rd and spun in turn 2 on the start to bring out the yellow. On the second attempt of a start Andy Hunter spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. A third attempt at a start saw Daniel Fellows, who started on the pole, move out into the lead on lap 1 over Austen Becerra, who started next to him, and Joe Docekal. Fellows then held the top spot until lap 5, when Docekal worked under him to edge him out at the line by inches. While Docekal worked the bottom of the track, Becerra would work the top of the track to try and keep pace with Docekal. When Docekal tried to look under the heavy lapped traffic in front of him on lap 15, this would allow Becerra go around him on the topside to take over the top spot. Becerra then held on over the final 5 laps to score his first ever "Hogan Memorial" win in a SportMod. He would celebrate after taking the checkered flag by going off the track down the backstretch and driving thru the corn field. Docekal settled for 2nd, Tyler Soppe was 3rd after stating in 6th, Austin Howes started 9th and finished 4th, with Jake McBirnie coming from 10th to come home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 50 lap IMCA Modified "Hogan Memorial", with Dennis LaVeine and Jeff Aikey drawing the front row. Aikey used his starting spot to his advantage, as he jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Richie Gustin and Kelly Shryock. Gustin, who was working the bottom of the track, would try to work under Akiey over the next 3 laps, as the two raced around the quarter mile track side-by-side with Aikey holding the lead at the stripe each lap. That was until lap 5, when Gustin edged out front to take over the top spot. But Aikey would use the momentum off the top of the track to grab the lead back on lap 6. Gustin stayed committed to the bottom, as the two entered lapped traffic on lap 16. This would allow Troy Cordes, who started 5th, and Hunter Marriott, who started 8th, to close in on the battle for the lead. On lap 21 Gustin used the lapped traffic to work under Akiey for the lead. Two laps later, Cordes over took Aikey for the runner up spot, with Marriott moving into third on lap 24. Coming to the crossed flags Gustin led the field, with Marriott over taking Cordes for 2nrd, as the yellow waved. The cars were brought to a stop on the front stretch, and then the crews were allowed five minutes to make an adjustments for the final 25 laps to the finish.
On the restart Cordes used the momentum off the top of the track to go around Gustin and Marriott for the top spot. While Kyle Brown, who originally started in the 10th spot and worked his way to 5th by the 25 lap caution, squeezed between Marriott and the wall down the front stretch to take over third. The action up front was slowed on lap 31, when Patrick Flannagan spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Cordes once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Gustin and Brown battling for the runner up spot. On lap 33 Brown would edge out second from Gustin, and then went to work on Cordes for the top spot. With the top of the speedway being the dominating way around the track, all Cordes needed to do was hit his marks over the final 17 laps to keep Brown at bay. But going into turn 3 to complete lap 44 Cordes dropped the right rear off the top of the track, which allowed Brown to go by for the top spot. Brown then held on over the final laps to score his first "Hogan Memorial" win and the $2,683 check to go with it. Marriott got by Cordes late to finish 2nd, Cordes was 3rd, Gustin was 4th, with Chris Simpson rounding out the top 5.
Notes from Vinton: 40 Modifieds, 28 SportMods, 24 Hobby Stocks, 18 Stock Cars, 15 Sport Compacts, and 10 Micro Mods made up the 135 cars from four states and Australia....Since the Micro Mods were not giving hot laps or a heat race, they gave them a few hot laps before going green in there feature. As a result J.C. Floyd would loose an engine and had to scratch from the start of the feature......Luke Benischek started the Sport Compact feature in 12th and then passed 6 cars to finish 6th....Adam Gates finished 8th after starting in 11th....Bill Whalen Jr. started 13th and finished 9th....Dillon Embree came from 15th to finish in 10th......Scooter Dulin started the Stock Car feature in 11th and then finished 7th....Jared Daggertt finished 9th after starting in 14th....Norman Chesmore recovered from his involvement in the lap 6 caution to come back up to finish 10th....Shane Ebaugh started 18th and finished 11th......Mike Kincaid started the Hobby Stock feature in 7th and would finish there. But on the start of the feature a car got sideways in front of him and he hits the brakes to avoid hitting it, as a result he fell to the back. He then worked his way back up to finish 7th....Justin Ginther finished 9th after starting in 15th....David Simpson started 19th and finished 12th....Jacob Floyd recovered from his spin on the lap 12 restart to come back up to finish 13th....Breydon Forbes recovered from his spin on lap 11 to come back up to finish 15th....Scott Siems started 21st and finished 16th....Kenzie Ritter finished 17th after starting in 22nd......Colby Fett started the SportMod feature in 11th and then finished 7th....Kyle Olson finished 8th after starting in 13th....Sam Wieben started 18th and finished 9th....Gage Neal finished 10th after starting in 14th....Ben Chapman started 19th and finished 11th....Tony Olson recovered from his spin on the start to come back up to finish 14th....Dustin Schram passed 11 cars from his 26th place starting spot to come home in 15th....Joey Schaefer came from 25th to finish 16th....Austin Heacock finished 18th after starting in 27th......Cayden Carter passed 13 cars from his 19th place starting spot to come home in 6th in the Modified feature....Todd Shute finished 8th after starting in 17th....Corey Dripps started 16th and finished 10th....Brad Dierks finished 11th after starting in 21st....Jarrett Brown started 18th and finished 13th....J.D. Auringer received a past "Hogan Memorial" winner provisional and started 26th. He then passed 11 cars to come home in 15th....Ronn Lauritzen finished 17th after starting in 23rd.....Darin Duffy went over the track in turn 3 during his heat race and then rolled a couple of times. He would make repairs in time to start 12th in the second B-Main, where they were only taking the top 4. He would manage to race his way up to 6th, and fell two spot shy of making the A-Main....Andy Edwards, Travis Denning, Kip Siems, Austin Emry, Dennis Betzer, Matt Short, Milo Veloz, Carter VanDenBerg, Kurt Kile, Kyle Madden, Creston Williams, Josh Star, Rod Clement were among the drivers who didn't qualify for the Modified feature.
I would like to say THANK YOU to the Hogan family for allowing me to be a supporter of this great event for the second year now. Also a big THANK YOU to the staff at the Benton County Speedway for the hospitality.
With the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa off this Friday night, it looks like I will have a Friday night off. Perhaps if I do decide to go anywhere on Friday, it will be to spectate. Then on Saturday a friend and myself will be adventuring north to the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota. This will be the first ever visit to this track, as they host the "Gopher 50" featuring the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Models. Also in action will be the USRA Modifieds battling for $5,000, with a chance to earn a $5,000 bonus from a sponsor if they start 11th or 12th in the feature an win. I am so looking forward to this trip, as I have been by the track a couple of times when I traveled to Rochester, Minnesota with the family to celebrate my late nephews celebration in finishing up radiation for brain cancer.
Then if I return in time on Sunday, and feel like making the 2 hour drive south to Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois. I will be taking in the Hell Tour for UMP Late Models, the Summit UMP Modifieds and SportMod races. At last check, sponsors have added money into the SportMod purse to make it $2,000 to win.
The hard work and dedication of the Hogan family would pay off, as 135 cars jammed the pit area and a standing room only crowd turned out to witness some great racing action. After 15 heat races and 2 B-Mains were completed to help set the starting line ups for the features, it was time to go feature racing.
The first feature to take to the track was the 12 lap Micro Mods, with Russ Olson and Dallon Murty drawing the front row for the event. Murty would take advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Don Erger and Olson. Erger tried to keep pace with Murty over the next few laps, when the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 4. Debris down the backstretch would bring out the yellow. On the restart Murty jumped back out front, with Erger and Cole McNeal close behind. The fast pace that Murty was sitting allowed him to pull away over the final half of the race to claim his 3rd win of the season at Vinton. Erger was 2nd, McNeal was 3rd, Matt Post was 4th, with Kaden Reynolds coming from 10th to finish in 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap Sport Compact feature, with Barry Taft and Brett Marshall leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Taft used his starting spot to his advantage by grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Josh Barnes and Marshall. Barnes would try to work under Taft over the next 5 laps, as Marshall followed close behind waiting for either driver to make a mistake so he could take advantage of it. But Taft was able to hold them off each lap, that was until lap 7. Coming off turn 2 to complete lap 7, Taft would leave enough room on the top of the track for Barnes to shoot by him for the lead. Taft and Marshall both tried to work under Barnes over the next 5 laps, when the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 12 to slow the action. Cody Brewster slowed to a stop in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Marshall over taking Taft for second. Going into turn 3 on the final lap Marshall entered low and then slid up in front of Barnes to briefly take the lead. As Barnes turned back under him coming off turn 4 and then held on to pick up his first win at the Benton County Speedway in his first visit this season. Marshall settled for 2nd, Taft was 3rd, Jake Benischek finished 4th after starting in 9th, with the #1 (sorry didn't catch the name) rounding out the top 5.
Dan Trimble and John Oliver Jr. led the field to green in the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature event, with Oliver Jr. grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Jay Schmidt and Trimble. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 4, when Damon Murty went off the backstretch and came to a stop next to the corn field to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. jumped back out front, with Trimble edging out Schmidt for the runner up spot. One lap later, lap 6, Cody Frerichs and Norman Chesmore got together going down the backstretch, with Frerichs spinning to bring out the yellow. Oliver Jr. once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Jeff Mueller, who started 9th, using the bottom of the track to over take Schmidt for second. Murty's hope for a win would come to an end on lap 8, as after going off the backstretch on lap 4 to bring out a caution and restarting at the tail. Murty, who had worked himself back up to 6th, went over the track in turn 3 to bring out his second yellow to end his night. On the restart Oliver Jr. jumped back out front, with Mueller and Schmidt following close behind. Over the next two laps Oliver Jr. and Mueller raced side-by-side around the track for the lead, with Mueller using the bottom to finally wrestle the top spot away from Oliver Jr. on lap 11. Mueller then pulled away over the final laps to score his first "Hogan Memorial" win in the Stock Cars. Oliver Jr. was 2nd, Schmidt was 3rd, Todd Reitzler finished 4th, with Johnny Spaw coming from 8th to finish in 5th.
The 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature was up next, with Justin Wacha and Dylan Nelson, who was making his first ever visit to the track, drawing the front row for the event. Wacha took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Nelson and Leah Wroten. While Wacha worked the bottom of the track, Nelson went to the top to try and get around Wacha for the lead. The battle up front was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 5, when Cody Williams, who made the pull up from Minneapolis, Kansas, went over the track in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wacha jumped back out front, with Nelson and Wroten close behind. Just after the lap was scored complete, Luke Bird would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Wacha grabbed the lead on the restart, with Nelson and Nathan Ballard, who started 9th, following close behind. Nelson, who was using the top of the track, finally used the momentum coming off turn 4 to take the top spot away from Wacha on lap 8. The third caution of the race appeared on lap 11, as Breydon Forbes spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Jacob Floyd spun in turn 4 and collected Williams to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Nelson jump back out front, with Ballard and Brett Vanous glued to his back bumper. Ballard would follow in Nelson's tire tracks on top of the track over the final laps, waiting for Nelson to make a mistake. But Nelson would race the final laps without making that mistake to score his first ever win at the track. Ballard settled for 2nd, Vanous was 3rd, Scott Pippert drove the #17k usually driven by Kyle Parizek to a 4th place finish after starting in 12th, with Wroten holding on for 5th.
Twenty-eight IMCA SportMods took to the track next for their 20 lap feature. Two cautions before a lap was scored complete was the only thing that slowed the race, as after that they raced the 20 laps caution free. The first caution was credited to Tony Olson, who started 3rd and spun in turn 2 on the start to bring out the yellow. On the second attempt of a start Andy Hunter spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. A third attempt at a start saw Daniel Fellows, who started on the pole, move out into the lead on lap 1 over Austen Becerra, who started next to him, and Joe Docekal. Fellows then held the top spot until lap 5, when Docekal worked under him to edge him out at the line by inches. While Docekal worked the bottom of the track, Becerra would work the top of the track to try and keep pace with Docekal. When Docekal tried to look under the heavy lapped traffic in front of him on lap 15, this would allow Becerra go around him on the topside to take over the top spot. Becerra then held on over the final 5 laps to score his first ever "Hogan Memorial" win in a SportMod. He would celebrate after taking the checkered flag by going off the track down the backstretch and driving thru the corn field. Docekal settled for 2nd, Tyler Soppe was 3rd after stating in 6th, Austin Howes started 9th and finished 4th, with Jake McBirnie coming from 10th to come home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 50 lap IMCA Modified "Hogan Memorial", with Dennis LaVeine and Jeff Aikey drawing the front row. Aikey used his starting spot to his advantage, as he jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Richie Gustin and Kelly Shryock. Gustin, who was working the bottom of the track, would try to work under Akiey over the next 3 laps, as the two raced around the quarter mile track side-by-side with Aikey holding the lead at the stripe each lap. That was until lap 5, when Gustin edged out front to take over the top spot. But Aikey would use the momentum off the top of the track to grab the lead back on lap 6. Gustin stayed committed to the bottom, as the two entered lapped traffic on lap 16. This would allow Troy Cordes, who started 5th, and Hunter Marriott, who started 8th, to close in on the battle for the lead. On lap 21 Gustin used the lapped traffic to work under Akiey for the lead. Two laps later, Cordes over took Aikey for the runner up spot, with Marriott moving into third on lap 24. Coming to the crossed flags Gustin led the field, with Marriott over taking Cordes for 2nrd, as the yellow waved. The cars were brought to a stop on the front stretch, and then the crews were allowed five minutes to make an adjustments for the final 25 laps to the finish.
On the restart Cordes used the momentum off the top of the track to go around Gustin and Marriott for the top spot. While Kyle Brown, who originally started in the 10th spot and worked his way to 5th by the 25 lap caution, squeezed between Marriott and the wall down the front stretch to take over third. The action up front was slowed on lap 31, when Patrick Flannagan spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Cordes once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Gustin and Brown battling for the runner up spot. On lap 33 Brown would edge out second from Gustin, and then went to work on Cordes for the top spot. With the top of the speedway being the dominating way around the track, all Cordes needed to do was hit his marks over the final 17 laps to keep Brown at bay. But going into turn 3 to complete lap 44 Cordes dropped the right rear off the top of the track, which allowed Brown to go by for the top spot. Brown then held on over the final laps to score his first "Hogan Memorial" win and the $2,683 check to go with it. Marriott got by Cordes late to finish 2nd, Cordes was 3rd, Gustin was 4th, with Chris Simpson rounding out the top 5.
Notes from Vinton: 40 Modifieds, 28 SportMods, 24 Hobby Stocks, 18 Stock Cars, 15 Sport Compacts, and 10 Micro Mods made up the 135 cars from four states and Australia....Since the Micro Mods were not giving hot laps or a heat race, they gave them a few hot laps before going green in there feature. As a result J.C. Floyd would loose an engine and had to scratch from the start of the feature......Luke Benischek started the Sport Compact feature in 12th and then passed 6 cars to finish 6th....Adam Gates finished 8th after starting in 11th....Bill Whalen Jr. started 13th and finished 9th....Dillon Embree came from 15th to finish in 10th......Scooter Dulin started the Stock Car feature in 11th and then finished 7th....Jared Daggertt finished 9th after starting in 14th....Norman Chesmore recovered from his involvement in the lap 6 caution to come back up to finish 10th....Shane Ebaugh started 18th and finished 11th......Mike Kincaid started the Hobby Stock feature in 7th and would finish there. But on the start of the feature a car got sideways in front of him and he hits the brakes to avoid hitting it, as a result he fell to the back. He then worked his way back up to finish 7th....Justin Ginther finished 9th after starting in 15th....David Simpson started 19th and finished 12th....Jacob Floyd recovered from his spin on the lap 12 restart to come back up to finish 13th....Breydon Forbes recovered from his spin on lap 11 to come back up to finish 15th....Scott Siems started 21st and finished 16th....Kenzie Ritter finished 17th after starting in 22nd......Colby Fett started the SportMod feature in 11th and then finished 7th....Kyle Olson finished 8th after starting in 13th....Sam Wieben started 18th and finished 9th....Gage Neal finished 10th after starting in 14th....Ben Chapman started 19th and finished 11th....Tony Olson recovered from his spin on the start to come back up to finish 14th....Dustin Schram passed 11 cars from his 26th place starting spot to come home in 15th....Joey Schaefer came from 25th to finish 16th....Austin Heacock finished 18th after starting in 27th......Cayden Carter passed 13 cars from his 19th place starting spot to come home in 6th in the Modified feature....Todd Shute finished 8th after starting in 17th....Corey Dripps started 16th and finished 10th....Brad Dierks finished 11th after starting in 21st....Jarrett Brown started 18th and finished 13th....J.D. Auringer received a past "Hogan Memorial" winner provisional and started 26th. He then passed 11 cars to come home in 15th....Ronn Lauritzen finished 17th after starting in 23rd.....Darin Duffy went over the track in turn 3 during his heat race and then rolled a couple of times. He would make repairs in time to start 12th in the second B-Main, where they were only taking the top 4. He would manage to race his way up to 6th, and fell two spot shy of making the A-Main....Andy Edwards, Travis Denning, Kip Siems, Austin Emry, Dennis Betzer, Matt Short, Milo Veloz, Carter VanDenBerg, Kurt Kile, Kyle Madden, Creston Williams, Josh Star, Rod Clement were among the drivers who didn't qualify for the Modified feature.
I would like to say THANK YOU to the Hogan family for allowing me to be a supporter of this great event for the second year now. Also a big THANK YOU to the staff at the Benton County Speedway for the hospitality.
With the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa off this Friday night, it looks like I will have a Friday night off. Perhaps if I do decide to go anywhere on Friday, it will be to spectate. Then on Saturday a friend and myself will be adventuring north to the Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota. This will be the first ever visit to this track, as they host the "Gopher 50" featuring the World of Outlaws Craftsman Late Models. Also in action will be the USRA Modifieds battling for $5,000, with a chance to earn a $5,000 bonus from a sponsor if they start 11th or 12th in the feature an win. I am so looking forward to this trip, as I have been by the track a couple of times when I traveled to Rochester, Minnesota with the family to celebrate my late nephews celebration in finishing up radiation for brain cancer.
Then if I return in time on Sunday, and feel like making the 2 hour drive south to Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois. I will be taking in the Hell Tour for UMP Late Models, the Summit UMP Modifieds and SportMod races. At last check, sponsors have added money into the SportMod purse to make it $2,000 to win.
Waterman From Spinning to Winning in IMCA Modifieds at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway
Donnellson, IA (Friday, June 29, 2018) - The track crew at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa had to over come mother nature in the past two days. It started on late Thursday afternoon when more than 1" was dumped on the grounds after a strong thunderstorm went thru the area. Then on Friday the crew had to work thru high heat index's and humidity to get the track ready for Friday's Pilot Grove Savings Bank Night. There was still some soft spots in the track from last weeks conditions, but the driver's were able to provided the fans with some great two and three wide racing.
The 14 lap Armstrong Tractor IMCA Sport Compact feature was up first, with Jacob Houston and Mike Reu leading the field to green. Mike Reu took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Reu and Barry Taft, who started 5th. Brandon Reu, Barry Taft and Mike Reu raced three wide off turn 4 on lap 3 for the lead, with Brandon Reu edging out front to be credited with leading the lap. Brandon Reu then held the lead until lap 6, when Taft slipped under him for the top spot. But Brandon Reu would slip back under Taft coming off turn 4 to lead lap 7. Taft then used the momentum off the top of the track to grab the lead back on lap 8. Then despite being challenged from Brandon Reu over the final laps, Taft would hold on to claim his sixth win of the season at the track. Brandon Reu was 2nd, Kimberly Abbott was 3rd, Houston was 4th, with Kenny Smith coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 18 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA SportMod feature, with Jim Walker and Michael Benjamin on the front row. But it was fourth place starter Austen Becerra who shot out into the lead on lap 1 over Daniel Fellows, who started 5th, and Brandon Dale, who started 7th. While Becerra set the pace out front, Fellows and Dale raced side-by-side for the runner up spot. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 10, as Walker spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Becerra jumped back out front, with Dale, Fellows and Brandon Lennox, who started 8th, racing for the runner up spot. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 13 Lennox, Fellows and Dale raced three wide for second, with Lennox edging them out to move into second. Lennox then went to work on Becerra for the win. But Becerra would hold him off to pick up his second win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Lennox was 2nd, Austin Howes started 6th and finished 3rd, Dale was 4th, with Fellows rounding out the top 5.
Chad Krogmeier and Jeremy Pundt led the field to green in the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Pundt using his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over John Oliver Jr. and Krogmeier. The action up front was slowed on lap 2, as Eric Glass spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Glass spun in turn 1 to bring the yellow light back on, and ending his night. The following restart saw Pundt jump back out front, with Oliver Jr. and Abe Huls, who started 5th, close behind. On lap 4 Huls went to the top of the track to go from third into the lead, with Oliver Jr. slipping under Pundt to take over the second spot. While Huls started to pull away, Pundt tried to work back under Oliver Jr. for second. Without another caution to bunch up the field, Huls would pull away for his third win of the season at the track. Oliver Jr. held on in the battle for 2nd, Pundt settled for 3rd, Jason Cook finished 4th, with Scott Jordan coming home in 5th after starting in 7th.
Up next was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Mitch Boles and Dennis LaVeine making up the front row. LaVeine used his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Boles and Dakota Simmons. Disaster would strike Boles and Jeff Waterman, who was running 5th, on lap 2, as Boles got sideways in turn 4 and Waterman having nowhere to go made contact and spinning to bring out the yellow. On the restart LaVeine moved back out front, with Simmons and Larry Herring battling for the runner up spot. While LaVeine paced the field out front, all eyes were on Waterman, who was working his way back to the front. On the halfway point of the race Waterman would over take Herring for second, and then went to work on LaVeine for the top spot. Two laps later, lap 12, Waterman used the top of the track to over take LaVeine for the lead. Waterman then went on to claim his fifth win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. LaVeine was 2nd, Herring was 3rd, Bill Roberts Jr. came from 9th to finish in 4th, with Dean McGee finishing 5th after starting in 7th.
When Chase Frank dropped a driveshaft in his heat and was unable to make repairs, and Darin Weisinger Jr. electing to go to the rear in the 20 lap Steffes Late Model feature, this would move Aric Becker and Gunner Frank to the front row for the event. Gunner Frank used the move to move out into the lead on lap 1 over Becker and Todd Frank. Ron Boyse, who started 7th, quickly worked his way into second on lap 3 and then went to work on Gunner Frank for the top spot. But the action up front was slowed on lap 7 when Sam Halstead spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gunner Frank jumped back out front, with Todd Frank over taking Boyse for second. On lap 11 Tommy Elston, who started 9th and was working the top of the track, moved into second and then went to work on Gunner Frank for the lead. Elston would try the top and bottom of the track to wrestle the lead away from Gunner Frank over the next four laps. But Gunner Frank would hold him off each lap, that was until lap 16 when Elston finally was able to make the pass. Elston then pulled away over the final laps to score his second win in a row and third overall at the track. Boyse would grab the 2nd spot, Gunner Frank was 3rd, Todd Frank was 4th, with Halstead recovering from his spin on lap 7 to come back up to finish 5th.
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