Tipton, IA (Friday, October 5, 2019) - For the second night in a row the small grounds at the Cedar County Fairgrounds in Tipton, Iowa was packed full of race cars, their pit crews, fans, campers, and track crew. As the Darkside Promotions Team of Ryan Duhme and Timmy Current presented the second night of the "Fall Bash", with 250 cars signed in for action.
Once hot laps began at 6 PM, the 45 race event night went non stop, with the exception of any cautions or red flags that would slow the action. The twenty-nine heat races and ten B-Mains, that were ran to help set up the six twenty-four starting field features, were clicked off in just over six and a half hours. As the final checkered flag waved at 12:42 AM.
Just after all qualifying events were completed, the 20 lap Street Stock feature came to the track first. Austin Riggs and Jesse Owen drew the front row, with Riggs grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Owen and Cary Brown. After lap 1 was scored complete, Chad Coyne would spin in turn 2 to bring out the caution. On the restart Nick Hixson, who started 6th, used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grab the lead away from Riggs. Nixson then started to pull away from the action behind him, when the second caution of the race appeared on lap 7. This time David Short, who made the long pull over from Winamac, Indiana, slowed to a stop down the middle of the backstretch to bring out the yellow. Hixson once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Jeff Struck Jr., who started 8th, and Owen over taking Riggs for second and third. One more lap scored complete produced another caution, as Riggs, who was running 4th, slipped over the track in turns 1 and 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bobby Keller from Lake Station, Indiana spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Hixson move back out front, with Struck Jr. and Owen following. Struck Jr. tried to stay in Hixson's tire tracks over the next several laps. But he would slip over the track in turns 1 and 2 and fell back to fourth with a handful of laps left. This allowed Hixson to pull away for the win. Joe Bonney, who started 10th, finished 2nd, Owen was 3rd, Struck Jr. was 4th, with Crown Point, Indiana's Kyle Anderson coming from 9th to finish 5th.
Up next was the 10 lap 4-Stock feature, with John Hempstead and Jake Benischek drawing the front row for the event. Just as the green flag waved the red light would come on, as Austin Reuman took a nasty roll in turn 2 to bring out the red. Austin would climb from his car okay. On the original restart Benischek took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Reu and Nick Proehl, who started 6th. While Benischek paced the field out front, Reu and Proehl battled side by side for the runner up spot. That was until lap 4, when Reu pulled into the infield with troubles. Proehl now went to work Benischek for the top spot. Coming to the white flag Proehl closed to Benischek's back bumper and was ready to make a last lap attempt to grab the win. But when Jacob Welter spun in turn 4 after the white flag was scored complete, this brought the race to an end with a yellow checkered. Benischek claimed the win, Proehl was 2nd, Dustin Forbes was 3rd, Eric Stogdell finished 4th after starting in 9th, with Cyle Kawkins coming from 8th to round out the top 5.
A mixed field of twenty-four Mod Lites and Micro Mods came to the track next for there 15 lap feature, with Chad Dugan and Randy Bryan leading the field to the green. Dugan used his draw to his advantage by jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Cole McNeal and Jeremy Schaufenbuel, who started 7th. Just after lap 1 was scored complete the yellow would come out, as Dave Nelson spun in turn 1 to bring out the caution. On the restart Dugan moved back out front, with McNeal and Schaufenbuel close behind. The fast pace that Dugan was setting was slowed on lap 4, when Schaufenbuel, who was running 3rd, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Dugan grabbed the lead on the restart, with McNeal and Don Erger now following him. Without another caution to slow the action, Dugan would pull away for an easy win. McNeal was 2nd, RJ Gonzales came from 10th to finish in 3rd, John Griffin of Caledonia, Minnesota finished 4th after starting in 8th, with Bryan holding on for 5th.
The 20 lap Stock Car feature had troubles getting there race completed, as it was plagued with 8 cautions throughout the event. Dallon Murty and Chad Krogmeier drew the front row for the event, with Murty grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Krogmeier and John Oliver Jr. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 4, as Jay Schmidt spun in turn 1 and collected Reece Norton, Kyle Merkes, Chris Luloff and Austin Kemper to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dallon Murty jumped back out front, with John Oliver Jr. and Damon Murty, who started 10th, following. Then just after the lap was scored complete another caution appeared, as Norton stopped down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. Dallon Murty once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Oliver Jr. and Damon Murty still following. While the top three worked the top of the track, Jeff Mueller, who started 11th, was working his way towards the front using the bottom. On lap 8 Mueller would slip under Dallon Murty to take over the top spot. Six laps, lap 14, later disaster would strike Dallon Murty, as he lost a left rear tire in turn 4 and at the same time Luloff would spin in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. Mueller grabbed the lead on the restart, with Elijah Zevenbergen, who started 14th, over taking Oliver Jr. for the runner up spot.
Another lap scored complete produced another yellow, as Todd Reitzler and Tom Cannon got together in turn 4 and spun to bring out the yellow. On the restart a tire was clipped onto the track in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Mueller move back out front, with Oliver Jr. getting the runner up spot back from Zevenbergen. Just after the lap was scored complete another yellow came out, as Merkes spun in turn 1 to bring the yellow out. Mueller again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Tony Von Dresky, who started 15th in Donnie Louck's #31 machine, and Schmidt, who recovered from his spin on lap 4, now glued to his back bumper. Von Dresky would try to get under Mueller, while Schmidt tried the outside coming to the white flag to get the top spot from Mueller. But when Reitzler barreled rolled of the track in turns 1 and 2 to bring out the red, it would bring out the yellow checkered flag. Reitzler would climb from his car okay. As Mueller was awarded the win, Von Dresky was 2nd, Schmidt was 3rd, David Brandies drove Harold O'Brien's #83 from a 21st place starting spot to 4th, with Zevenbergen holding on for 5th.
Jared Jones and Doug Burkhead led the field to green in the 20 lap SportMod feature. But when Jones spun in turn 1 before the lap could be scored complete to bring out the yellow, this would move Burkhead and Jake McBirnie to the front row for the restart. On the restart Jerry Miles, Johnathon Logue and TJ Fortman got together in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. A third attempt of a start resulted in another yellow, as Jones spun in turn 4 to bring out his second solo yellow to end his night. Once a lap was scored complete, McBirnie would be scored as the leader over Burkhead and Ryan Maitland. The fast pace McBirnie was setting allowed him to start to pull away from the battles going on behind him. On lap 14, just as McBirnie started to enter lapped traffic, the final caution of the event came out, as Gage Neal spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. McBirnie would jump back out front on the restart, with Maitland, Kyle Olson, who started 7th, and Brayton Carter, who started 10th, raced three wide for the runner up spot. While the battle for the runner up spot continued, this would allow McBirnie to pull away for the win. Olson won the battle for 2nd, Carter was 3rd, Maitland was 4th, with Jarett Franzen coming from 9th to finish 5th.
The 30 lap Modified feature was the last race to take to the track for the night, with Brad Dierks and Pahrump, Nevada's Kollin Hibdon drawing the front row. Dierks used his starting spot to his advantage, as he grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Hibdon and Joel Rust. The action was slowed for the first time of the race on lap 3, as Richie Gustin spun in turn 2 and collected Jeff Aikey to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dierks jumped back out front, with Rust over taking Hibdon for the runner up spot. Another lap, lap 5, scored complete produced the final caution of the night, as Eric Barnes slowed to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Dierks once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Rust and Kyle Brown, who started 6th, close behind. Rust would look under Dierks going into the corners over the next 8 laps, but Dierks would use the momentum coming off the top to keep the lead on the straight-away's. The lead duo would enter lapped traffic on lap 16, and would begin to pull away from the battle going on behind them. While Dierks and Rust battled for the lead, Cayden Carter, who started 14th, climbed into the third spot on lap 19. On lap 23 Rust got the mistake he was waiting for, as Dierks slid off the track in turns 1 and 2. Which allowed Rust to shoot by him for the lead. Rust then pulled away over the final laps to score another win. Dierks was 2nd, Brown was 3rd, Hibdon was 4th, with Troy Cordes coming home in 5th.
Notes from Tipton: 72 SportMods, 60 Modifieds, 33 4-Stocks, 31 Mod Lite/Micro Mods, 30 Stock Cars and 24 Street Stocks made up the 250 cars signed in for night 2 of the Fall Bash......Dwayne Smith Jr. started the Street Stock feature in 11th and would finish 6th....Mike Anderson came from 20th to finish in 7th....Randy LaMar finished 9th after starting in 18th....Chad Coyne recovered from his spin on lap 1 to come back up to finish 10th....Rick Schriner started 22nd and finished 11th....Bobby Keller recovered from his spin on lap 9 to come back up to finish 12th....Zachary Zuberbier, who traveled from Kingston, Illinois, had troubles in his heat that forced him to scratch from the feature......Shawn McDermott started the 4-Stock feature in 19th and then took home a 6th place finish....Tyler Shady started 11th and finished 7th....Josh Lane started 13th and finished 8th....Ashton Blain came from 17th to finish in 9th....Drew Wise finished 11th after starting in 21st....Lane Wise started 22nd and finished 12th....Thomas Adams and Ken Stogdell, who were the last two to qualify out of the B-Main, had troubles that forced them to scratch from the feature......Michael Minnier started the Mod Lite/Micro Mods feature in 11th and then brought home a 6th place finish....Russ Olson came from 12th to finish in 7th....Mike Zemo Jr. started 13th and finished 8th....Jon Padilla finished 10th after starting in 16th....Michael Dominquez came from 17th to finish 11th....Mike Morrow started 20th and finished 12th....Charlie Brown came from 18th to finish in 14th....Dave Nelson recovered from his spin on lap 1 to come back up to finish 15th....Rob Guss started 23rd and finished 18th....Austin Hayes came from 24th to finish 19th......Dan Mackenthun started the Stock Car feature in 12th and brought home a 7th place finish....Shane Richardson passed 14 cars from his 22nd place starting spot to finish 8th....Austin Kemper also passed 14 cars from his 23rd place starting spot to come home in 9th....Kyle Merkes, who started 17th, recovered from the wreck on lap 1 and his spin on lap 17 to come back up to finish 12th....Russell Dame Jr. finished 13th after starting in 24th....John Oliver Jr., who was running 2nd, pulled off under the lap 17 caution with troubles to end his night in 15th......Carter VanDenBerg started the SportMod feature in 13th and would bring home a 7th place finish....Austen Becerra came from 14th to finish 8th....Dylan VanWyk was running 5th when he slipped over the track in turns 1 and 2 on lap 18 and fell back to a 9th place finish....Dakota Hayden, who started 24th in Ryan Walker's #9w machine, would come home in 15th....Bob Silaggi started 23rd and finished 18th......Shane DeMey started the Modified feature in 16th and then passed 10 cars to come home in 6th....Tyler Soppe, who was driving the #2019 ....Mark Schulte finished 10th after starting in 15th....Tyler Madigan came from 17th to finish in 12th....David Brown started 22nd and came home in 13th....Chris Lawrence started 23rd and finished 14th....Brandon Durbin finished 15th after starting in 21st....Cayden Carter, who was battling for second on lap 23, pulled off with troubles on lap 24 to be credited with a 17th place finish.
I would like to say what a GREAT JOB Timmy Current and Ryan Duhme did at bringing 228 cars on Thursday night and another 250 cars on Friday to the small town of Tipton, Iowa for the 2019 Fall Bash. They also put together a GREAT crew to keep the program moving. With Thursday nights 42 race program being ran in about 6 hours, while Friday nights 45 race program was completed in just over 6.5 hours. The third and final night of the Fall Bash would fall to rains on Saturday night. But they are already planning for the 2020 Fall Bash.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Rust Keeps Momentum Going With Win at Marshalltown
Marshalltown, IA (Friday, August 30, 2019) - The regular weekly points season at the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa ended last Friday, August 23rd. But their 2019 season didn't come to an end, as Friday, August 30th they held their annual Showdown in MoTown. Which gave the racers traveling to the Boone Speedway in Boone, Iowa for the IMCA Super Nationals a place to race for some extra money.
One hundred and three cars signed in for the night, not counting the 11 Cruisers cars that were also on the card. Out of those 103 teams there was twelve states represented, including Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, California, Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and New York. After seventeen qualifying events were completed, including two Modified B-Mains, to help set the starting line ups for the features. It was time to go feature racing.
First to take to the track was the 15 lap Dirt Trucks, with Myles Michehl and Jeff Johnson leading the field to green. Michehl took advantage of his drawing spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Johnson and Jeff Frevert. Johnson would tried to keep pace with Michehl over the next 7 laps. But he would spin in turn 4 on lap 8 to bring out the caution. On the restart Michehl jumped back out front, with Frevert and Shonn Mapes following close behind. While Frevert tried to mount a challenge on Michehl for the top spot, Johnson was working his way back to the front. On lap 11 Johnson would take over the third spot, but was a straight-away behind the top two runners with only 4 laps to go. Michehl would work the middle groove of the track, while Frevert worked the bottom line. Frevert tried to get under Michehl coming off turn 4 to the checkered flag. But Michehl was able to hold him off at the line to claim the win, his 8th overall on the season. Frevert settled for 2nd, Johnson recovered from his spin to finish 3rd, Bryan Spangler started 9th and finished 4th, with Del Enos rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Blake Henry and Scott Ellis drawing the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Jeff Ware from Columbus, Nebraska, who happens to be the current IMCA National Hobby Stock points leader, grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Ellis and Aaron Rudolph. The action was slowed for the first time of the event on lap 3, as Andy Peck spun in turn 1 and collected Preston Merical to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ware jumped back out front, with Tyler Ollendieck, who started 6th, and Eric Stanton, who started 7th, moving into the second and third spots. While Ware paced the field out front, Stanton was trying to get under Ollendieck to grab the runner up spot. But Ollendieck was able to hold him off each lap at the line. That was until the second caution of the event for a spin in turn 4 by Brian Stevens and Jeremiah Andrews on lap 9 set up a restart. Ware would jump back out front on the restart, but Stanton was able to over take Ollendieck for the runner up spot. Disaster would strike Ollendieck on lap 11, as contact from William Klosterman, who started 8th, sent Ollendieck spinning into the front stretch billboards to bring out the yellow. Both cars were sent to the tail for the restart. On the restart Ware once again grabbed the top spot, but had Stanton banging on his back bumper. Ware, who was working the top of the track, had Stanton looking under him coming off the corners for the final laps. But Ware would use the momentum off the top to keep the lead at the line. That was until turn 4 coming to the checkered flag. Ware got sideways, which allowed Stanton to shoot under him for his second win at Marshalltown in only two starts this year. Rudolph was 2nd, Bill Bonnett was 3rd, Ware recovered from almost spinning in turn 4 to cross the line in 4th, with Henry coming home in 5th.
Jason Hall and Janae Gustin led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature. But just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Dustin Dreesman and Dennis Stewart spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart third place starter Brayton Carter grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Gustin and Hall. But his lead only lasted for one lap, as Gustin got under him to take the spot spot on lap 2. While Gustin worked to hold off Carter for the lead, Tyler Soppe, who currently sits second in the IMCA Northern SportMod National points, was working his way towards the front from his 9th place starting spot. On lap 5 Soppe found his way into fourth, and was helped on lap 10 to catch the top three with a caution. The caution was for Stewart, who pounded the front stretch concrete wall and came to a stop in turn 1. Gustin would jump back out front on the restart, with Carter and Soppe close behind. Carter would follow in Gustin's tire tracks around the bottom of the speedway over the next seven laps, waiting for her to make a mistake. But when she didn't, and the laps winding down, Carter decided to go to the top to try and get the lead away. The momentum off the top allowed Carter to get up next to Gustin down the straight-away. But Gustin was able to hit her marks over the final lap to score her second win of the season at the track. Carter was 2nd, Soppe was 3rd, Hall was 4th, with Columbus, Nebraska's Brian Osantowski finishing in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Lamar, Colorado's Andel Munoz and Bakersfield, California's Wayne Dotson drawing the front row. The field would race four wide off turn 4 for the lead on lap 1, with Todd Reitzler emerging to lead the lap over Munoz and Dotson. The two and three wide action was slowed on lap 4, when Dotson got into Munoz in turn 4, which sent Munoz spinning to bring out the yellow. On the restart Reitzler jumped back out front, with Elijah Zevenbergen, who started 10th, and Jesse Sobbing now following. The pace that Reitzler was setting put him into lapped traffic on lap 16. But he would get a clear track just after the lap was scored complete, as Sobbing stopped down the backstretch with troubles to bring out the yellow. On the restart Roger Ciesielski, who started 17th and had worked his way to 10th, rolled off the top of the track in turn 1 to bring out the red. He would climb from his car okay. The following restart saw Reitzler move back out front, but he had Zevenbergen and Damon Murty, who started 9th, battling side-by-side behind him for the runner up spot. Murty's hopes for a win came to an end on lap 18, as he went low in turn 1 to try and get under Reitzler for the lead. But something broke in the right front, and shot him up the track in turn 2 where he came to a stop to bring out the yellow. Reitzler again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Zevenbergen and the 2019 Marshalltown Speedway Track Champion Steve Meyer, who started 8th, close behind. Going into turn 3 to come around for the white flag, Zevenbergen drove it in hard on the bottom and then slid up in front of Reitzler coming off turn 4. But Reitzler would cross under him to keep the lead going into turn 1. Reiztler would bobble in turn 2, which allowed Zevenbergen to draw even with him going into turn 3. Zevenbergen tried to slid up in front of Reitzler coming off turn 4 for the checkers, but he wasn't able to clear him. As Reiztler held him off at the stripe to score his third win of the season at Marshalltown. Zevenbergen settled for a close 2nd, Meyer was 3rd, Jeff Wollam was 4th, with Curt Hook coming from 12th to round out the top 5.
The 25 lap IMCA Modified feature would end the night, with Cayden Carter and Abilene, Texas' Chris Elliott leading the field to the green. Carter took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Elliott and Joel Rust, who started 5th. The lead for Carter lasted until lap 4, when Rust was able to get past him for the top spot. The action was slowed for the first time of the event on lap 9, as Todd Shute slipped off the track in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter got back around Rust to get the lead back. But Rust would use the bottom of the track coming off turn 4 on lap 11 to get the top spot back away from Carter. Rust then started to pull away, until he entered heavy lapped traffic on lap 20. This would allow Carter to close back in on his back bumper. But when Jarett Franzen spun in turn 1 on lap 23 to bring out the final caution, that was all Rust needed. As he grabbed the lead on the restart and then held on for his eighth win of the season at the track, and claimed the $1,000 top prize to go with it. It was also his second win in his last three starts, to go along with a second place finish, to keep his momentum going into the IMCA Super Nationals next week. Carter was 2nd, Jeff Aikey started 16th and over took Cody Laney on the final lap to finish 3rd, with Kelly Shryock rounding out the top 5.
Notes from Marshalltown: 36 Modifieds, 22 Hobby Stocks, 18 Stock Cars, 18 SportMods, 11 Cruisers, and 9 Dirt Trucks made up the 114 cars in the pits.....Colby Kaspar from Columbus, Nebraska started the Hobby Stock feature in 9th and finished 6th....Gary Ollendieck passed 11 cars from his 18th place starting spot to come home in 7th....Dustin Thompson started 17th and finished 8th...Brandan Long finished 9th after starting in 12th....William Klosterman recovered from his involvement in the lap 11 caution to come back up to finish 12th....Breyden Forbes finished 15th after starting in 21st....Jeremiah Andrews recovered from his spin on lap 9 to come back up to finish 14th......Bo Partain from Casa Grande, Arizona started the SportMod feature in 17th and would come home in 9th......David Atcher finished 6th in the Stock Car feature after starting in 11th....Brian Blessington came from 13th to finish in 7th....Eric Hamilton from Hanford, California started 14th and would come home in 10th....Crystal, Michigan's Robert Brillhart started 16th and finished 11th....Jody York from Lubbock, Texas would finish 12th after starting in 15th......Chris Zogg started the Modified feature in 17th and then passed 10 cars to come home in 7th....Ryan McDaniel from Olivehurst, California finished 9th after starting in 12th....Benton, Arkansas' Andrew Armstrong came from 15th to finish 11th....Zachary Madrid from Tucson, Arizona finished 12th after starting in 19th....Todd Shute recovered from going off the track in turn 2 on lap 9 to come back up to finish 13th....Chowchilla, California's Randy Brown came from 21st to finish in 14th....Austin Paul, who made a last lap pass in the B-Main to get the final transfer spot, started 23rd and finished 18th....Chase Alves from Peoria, Arizona came home 20th after starting in 24th....Thor Anderson, T.J. Wyman, Jesse Belez, Rod Clement, who got upside down in his B-Main, Jacob Murray, Richie Gustin, who had engine troubles in his heat and was a scratch from his B-Mian, Riley Simmons, Jared Van Deest, Mark Griffin, Scott Simatovich, Garret Wilson and Kenny Wyman Jr. were the 12 Modifieds who watched the feature from the trailer.
I would like to thank Toby Kruse, Jerry Vansickel and the entire Marshalltown Speedway staff for allowing me to come up and cover the action. The track was smooth and very fast all night long, with no breaks in the action to slow the night down.
The Marshallton Speedway has one more event left on their calendar for the 2019 season, and that will take place on September 12th - 14th. It will be the 13th Annual World Nationals, which pays the IMCA Modifieds $10,000 to win. For more information about that event, please check out their website at www.marshalltownspeedway.com.
One hundred and three cars signed in for the night, not counting the 11 Cruisers cars that were also on the card. Out of those 103 teams there was twelve states represented, including Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, California, Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and New York. After seventeen qualifying events were completed, including two Modified B-Mains, to help set the starting line ups for the features. It was time to go feature racing.
First to take to the track was the 15 lap Dirt Trucks, with Myles Michehl and Jeff Johnson leading the field to green. Michehl took advantage of his drawing spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Johnson and Jeff Frevert. Johnson would tried to keep pace with Michehl over the next 7 laps. But he would spin in turn 4 on lap 8 to bring out the caution. On the restart Michehl jumped back out front, with Frevert and Shonn Mapes following close behind. While Frevert tried to mount a challenge on Michehl for the top spot, Johnson was working his way back to the front. On lap 11 Johnson would take over the third spot, but was a straight-away behind the top two runners with only 4 laps to go. Michehl would work the middle groove of the track, while Frevert worked the bottom line. Frevert tried to get under Michehl coming off turn 4 to the checkered flag. But Michehl was able to hold him off at the line to claim the win, his 8th overall on the season. Frevert settled for 2nd, Johnson recovered from his spin to finish 3rd, Bryan Spangler started 9th and finished 4th, with Del Enos rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Blake Henry and Scott Ellis drawing the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Jeff Ware from Columbus, Nebraska, who happens to be the current IMCA National Hobby Stock points leader, grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Ellis and Aaron Rudolph. The action was slowed for the first time of the event on lap 3, as Andy Peck spun in turn 1 and collected Preston Merical to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ware jumped back out front, with Tyler Ollendieck, who started 6th, and Eric Stanton, who started 7th, moving into the second and third spots. While Ware paced the field out front, Stanton was trying to get under Ollendieck to grab the runner up spot. But Ollendieck was able to hold him off each lap at the line. That was until the second caution of the event for a spin in turn 4 by Brian Stevens and Jeremiah Andrews on lap 9 set up a restart. Ware would jump back out front on the restart, but Stanton was able to over take Ollendieck for the runner up spot. Disaster would strike Ollendieck on lap 11, as contact from William Klosterman, who started 8th, sent Ollendieck spinning into the front stretch billboards to bring out the yellow. Both cars were sent to the tail for the restart. On the restart Ware once again grabbed the top spot, but had Stanton banging on his back bumper. Ware, who was working the top of the track, had Stanton looking under him coming off the corners for the final laps. But Ware would use the momentum off the top to keep the lead at the line. That was until turn 4 coming to the checkered flag. Ware got sideways, which allowed Stanton to shoot under him for his second win at Marshalltown in only two starts this year. Rudolph was 2nd, Bill Bonnett was 3rd, Ware recovered from almost spinning in turn 4 to cross the line in 4th, with Henry coming home in 5th.
Jason Hall and Janae Gustin led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature. But just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Dustin Dreesman and Dennis Stewart spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart third place starter Brayton Carter grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Gustin and Hall. But his lead only lasted for one lap, as Gustin got under him to take the spot spot on lap 2. While Gustin worked to hold off Carter for the lead, Tyler Soppe, who currently sits second in the IMCA Northern SportMod National points, was working his way towards the front from his 9th place starting spot. On lap 5 Soppe found his way into fourth, and was helped on lap 10 to catch the top three with a caution. The caution was for Stewart, who pounded the front stretch concrete wall and came to a stop in turn 1. Gustin would jump back out front on the restart, with Carter and Soppe close behind. Carter would follow in Gustin's tire tracks around the bottom of the speedway over the next seven laps, waiting for her to make a mistake. But when she didn't, and the laps winding down, Carter decided to go to the top to try and get the lead away. The momentum off the top allowed Carter to get up next to Gustin down the straight-away. But Gustin was able to hit her marks over the final lap to score her second win of the season at the track. Carter was 2nd, Soppe was 3rd, Hall was 4th, with Columbus, Nebraska's Brian Osantowski finishing in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Lamar, Colorado's Andel Munoz and Bakersfield, California's Wayne Dotson drawing the front row. The field would race four wide off turn 4 for the lead on lap 1, with Todd Reitzler emerging to lead the lap over Munoz and Dotson. The two and three wide action was slowed on lap 4, when Dotson got into Munoz in turn 4, which sent Munoz spinning to bring out the yellow. On the restart Reitzler jumped back out front, with Elijah Zevenbergen, who started 10th, and Jesse Sobbing now following. The pace that Reitzler was setting put him into lapped traffic on lap 16. But he would get a clear track just after the lap was scored complete, as Sobbing stopped down the backstretch with troubles to bring out the yellow. On the restart Roger Ciesielski, who started 17th and had worked his way to 10th, rolled off the top of the track in turn 1 to bring out the red. He would climb from his car okay. The following restart saw Reitzler move back out front, but he had Zevenbergen and Damon Murty, who started 9th, battling side-by-side behind him for the runner up spot. Murty's hopes for a win came to an end on lap 18, as he went low in turn 1 to try and get under Reitzler for the lead. But something broke in the right front, and shot him up the track in turn 2 where he came to a stop to bring out the yellow. Reitzler again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Zevenbergen and the 2019 Marshalltown Speedway Track Champion Steve Meyer, who started 8th, close behind. Going into turn 3 to come around for the white flag, Zevenbergen drove it in hard on the bottom and then slid up in front of Reitzler coming off turn 4. But Reitzler would cross under him to keep the lead going into turn 1. Reiztler would bobble in turn 2, which allowed Zevenbergen to draw even with him going into turn 3. Zevenbergen tried to slid up in front of Reitzler coming off turn 4 for the checkers, but he wasn't able to clear him. As Reiztler held him off at the stripe to score his third win of the season at Marshalltown. Zevenbergen settled for a close 2nd, Meyer was 3rd, Jeff Wollam was 4th, with Curt Hook coming from 12th to round out the top 5.
The 25 lap IMCA Modified feature would end the night, with Cayden Carter and Abilene, Texas' Chris Elliott leading the field to the green. Carter took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Elliott and Joel Rust, who started 5th. The lead for Carter lasted until lap 4, when Rust was able to get past him for the top spot. The action was slowed for the first time of the event on lap 9, as Todd Shute slipped off the track in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter got back around Rust to get the lead back. But Rust would use the bottom of the track coming off turn 4 on lap 11 to get the top spot back away from Carter. Rust then started to pull away, until he entered heavy lapped traffic on lap 20. This would allow Carter to close back in on his back bumper. But when Jarett Franzen spun in turn 1 on lap 23 to bring out the final caution, that was all Rust needed. As he grabbed the lead on the restart and then held on for his eighth win of the season at the track, and claimed the $1,000 top prize to go with it. It was also his second win in his last three starts, to go along with a second place finish, to keep his momentum going into the IMCA Super Nationals next week. Carter was 2nd, Jeff Aikey started 16th and over took Cody Laney on the final lap to finish 3rd, with Kelly Shryock rounding out the top 5.
Notes from Marshalltown: 36 Modifieds, 22 Hobby Stocks, 18 Stock Cars, 18 SportMods, 11 Cruisers, and 9 Dirt Trucks made up the 114 cars in the pits.....Colby Kaspar from Columbus, Nebraska started the Hobby Stock feature in 9th and finished 6th....Gary Ollendieck passed 11 cars from his 18th place starting spot to come home in 7th....Dustin Thompson started 17th and finished 8th...Brandan Long finished 9th after starting in 12th....William Klosterman recovered from his involvement in the lap 11 caution to come back up to finish 12th....Breyden Forbes finished 15th after starting in 21st....Jeremiah Andrews recovered from his spin on lap 9 to come back up to finish 14th......Bo Partain from Casa Grande, Arizona started the SportMod feature in 17th and would come home in 9th......David Atcher finished 6th in the Stock Car feature after starting in 11th....Brian Blessington came from 13th to finish in 7th....Eric Hamilton from Hanford, California started 14th and would come home in 10th....Crystal, Michigan's Robert Brillhart started 16th and finished 11th....Jody York from Lubbock, Texas would finish 12th after starting in 15th......Chris Zogg started the Modified feature in 17th and then passed 10 cars to come home in 7th....Ryan McDaniel from Olivehurst, California finished 9th after starting in 12th....Benton, Arkansas' Andrew Armstrong came from 15th to finish 11th....Zachary Madrid from Tucson, Arizona finished 12th after starting in 19th....Todd Shute recovered from going off the track in turn 2 on lap 9 to come back up to finish 13th....Chowchilla, California's Randy Brown came from 21st to finish in 14th....Austin Paul, who made a last lap pass in the B-Main to get the final transfer spot, started 23rd and finished 18th....Chase Alves from Peoria, Arizona came home 20th after starting in 24th....Thor Anderson, T.J. Wyman, Jesse Belez, Rod Clement, who got upside down in his B-Main, Jacob Murray, Richie Gustin, who had engine troubles in his heat and was a scratch from his B-Mian, Riley Simmons, Jared Van Deest, Mark Griffin, Scott Simatovich, Garret Wilson and Kenny Wyman Jr. were the 12 Modifieds who watched the feature from the trailer.
I would like to thank Toby Kruse, Jerry Vansickel and the entire Marshalltown Speedway staff for allowing me to come up and cover the action. The track was smooth and very fast all night long, with no breaks in the action to slow the night down.
The Marshallton Speedway has one more event left on their calendar for the 2019 season, and that will take place on September 12th - 14th. It will be the 13th Annual World Nationals, which pays the IMCA Modifieds $10,000 to win. For more information about that event, please check out their website at www.marshalltownspeedway.com.
Monday, August 26, 2019
Rust, Schafroth and Carter Among Super Sunday Winners at Stuart
Stuart, IA (Sunday, August 25, 2019) - With the regular Wednesday night points season coming to an end at the Stuart International Speedway in Stuart, Iowa back on August 7th, track owner / promoter Mike Van Genderen decided to try a Super Sunday show. What was original scheduled for Sunday, August 16th, was rescheduled for Sunday, August 23rd, after rains that morning forced the event to be postponed.
After checking the forecast for Stuart before leaving home, I jumped into my car to make the 4 hour driver northwest. The driver up was mostly cloudy the entire way, that was until about 20 miles east of Stuart on I-80. Where I ran into some rain showers. A quick check of the radar showed some showers just south of the area. But it was moving northeast, and looked to be avoiding Stuart. Which happened to be the case, as I pulled into town the rains had stopped.
The 1/4 mile track had plenty of moisture in it early on, which produced some very fast racing action. After eleven heat races were completed it was time to go feature racing in the 5 division event.
First up was the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Curtis Masterson and Zak Sickles drawing the front row for the event. Masterson took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Mitchell Bunch, who was behind the wheel of a white #7 machine rather than his normal yellow and black #83B car, and Tyler Fiebelkorn. The action was slowed on lap 4, as debris in turn 2 brought out the first yellow. On the restart Bunch went to the top of the track and used the momentum out of turn 4 to edge out Masterson at the line by a bumper. Then just after the lap was scored complete, Colton Garside spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Jordan Ford would get sideways in turn 1 on the restart, and collected Chris Bozarth and Gardise to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Bunch jump back out front, with Masterson and Fiebelkorn close behind. Another lap scored complete produced the final caution of the event, as Nikole Kimmel spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bunch moved back out front, with both Fiebelkorn and Logan Richards, who started 10th, over taking Masterson to give chase of Bunch. But without another caution to slow the pace, Bunch would pull away to claim his fifth win of the season at the track. Richards was 2nd, Nathan Castellano, who started 7th, was 3rd, Fiebelkorn was 4th, with Masterson holding on for 5th.
Up next was the 16 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Michael Murphy and Zach Hemmingsen leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Murphy used his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Cox and Hemmingsen. The lead for Murphy lasted until lap 4, when Cox used the momentum off the top of the track coming out of turn 4 to take the top spot. Cox, who worked the top of the track, and Hemmingsen, who was working the bottom, raced side-by-side around the 1/4 mile track from laps 6 thru 10. With Cox being scored the leader at the stripe each of those laps. All the while, Chuck Madden Jr. was lurking in third and looking for room to get the lead. When Cox drifted high coming off turn 4, that is all Hemmingsen needed to grab the lead. Hemmingsen then held off a last lap charge from Madden Jr. to score his first win of the season at Stuart. Madden Jr. settled for a close 2nd, John Watson came from 8th to finish 3rd, Curt Reed was 4th, with Corey Madden finishing 5th after starting in 10th.
While the Hobby Stock feature turned out to be top dominate, the 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature was bottom dominate. Chris Burke and Daniel Baudler drew the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Brayton Carter who went thru the middle of both coming off turn 2 to grab the lead on lap 1 over Mitchell Morris and Burke. Morris, who was running 2nd, would spin in front of the field in turn 4 and collected Chase Rudolf to bring out the first yellow of the race. Rudolf's night would ended early, as the contact resulted in a broken right front. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Baudler and Burke following. Carter's fast pace would allow him to pull away from the rest of the field. But when Burke slowed to a stop down the front stretch with a left front flat, to bring out the second and final caution of the event on lap 11. This would bring the field back to Carter's back bumper for the restart. On the restart Carter jumped back out front, but now had Columbus, Nebraska's David Johnson, who started 9th, and Baudler close behind. Johnson tried to stay close to Carter over the final laps. But Carter was just to fast on this night, as he claimed his fifth win in seven starts at Stuart. Johnson was 2nd, Baudler was 3rd, Colton Nelson started 11th and finished 4th, with Garrett Nelson coming home in 5th.
The 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature had some troubles getting into a rhythm, as four cautions waved in the first six laps. Andrew Burg and Chad Legere drew the front row for the event. But just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Anthony Goldsberry and Terry Pruitt collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Under the caution Brandon Pruitt headed to the work area to change a right front flat. On the original restart Legere went to the bottom coming off turn 4 to edge out Burg at the line by inches to lead lap 1. But Burg would use the momentum off the top to take the top spot away on lap 2. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 3 Legere would drift high and when he tried to come down to avoid the wall, he got turned into the front stretch wall and collected Terry Pruitt to bring out the caution. Marcus Fagan took advantage of Burg's bobble on the restart to grab the lead over Buck Schafroth, who started 5th, and Keith Simmons. Then just after the lap was scored complete Dustin Reeh spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fagan moved back out front, with Schafroth and Burg following close behind. While Schafroth tried to work under Fagan for the lead, Josh Daniels, who started 12th, Jeremy Gettler, and Burg raced three wide going into turn 3 for third on lap 6. Coming off turn 4 Gettler would loose the handle and spun, and then collected Adam Klocke to bring out the yellow.
Fagan once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Schafroth and Burg close behind. Schafroth went back to trying to get under Fagan for the top spot, but Fagan was able to hold him off each lap. That was until coming off turn 4 to complete lap 10, Schafroth finally got under him to grab the lead away. Two laps later Terry Pruitt spun in turn 3 and collected Gettler to bring out the yellow. On the restart Schafroth moved back out front, with Fagan and Josh Daniels giving chase. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 16, as Tyler Nelsen spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Schafroth grabbed the lead on the restart, with Brandon Pruitt, who charged thru the field after changing a tire under the first yellow of the race, over taking Fagan for the runner up spot. But Brandon Pruitt wasn't able to mount a challenge on Schafroth, who held on to claim his sixth win of the year at Stuart. Brandon Pruitt was 2nd, Fagan was 3rd, Josh Daniels was 4th, with Burg holding on for 5th.
The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature was the final event to take to the track, with Tony Hilgenberg and Garett Wilson drawing the front row. Wilson took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Hilgenberg and Josh Gilman. While most of the driver's went to the bottom of the track, sixth place starter Joel Rust worked the top of the track. His choice would pay off for him on lap 3, as he used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take over the top spot. After grabbing the lead Rust then went to the bottom of the track to pace the field. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 7, as Jesse Dennis slowed down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Rust moved back out front, with Cody Laney, who started 8th, and Gilman following. Rust would hit his marks on the bottom of the track over the final half of the race to pull away for an easy win. Which happened to be his first win in his first ever visit to Stuart. Laney was 2nd, Kelly Shryock came from 10th to finish 3rd, Gilman was 4th, with Todd Shute finishing 5th.
Notes from Stuart: The final checkered flag waved at 8:15 PM, which helped to get everyone back home in a decent hour on a Sunday night......Ryan Brown started the Sport Compact feature in 12th and would come home in 8th....Frank Mills finished 12th after starting in 16th......Adam Ayers came from 14th in the Hobby Stock feature to come home in 6th....Brandon Long finished 8th after starting in 12th....Michael Murphy was running 4th, when he pulled off on lap 14 with troubles......Mitchell Morris recovered from his spin on lap 1 of the SportMod feature to come back up to finish 6th......Brock Badger started the Stock Car feature in 13th and finished 6th....Bob Daniels finished 8th after starting in 17th....Ben Walding came from 15th to finish in 9th....Dustin Reeh recovered from his spin on lap 3 to come back up to finish 10th....Tyler Nelsen, who started 18th, also recovered from a spin on lap 16 to come back to finish 11th.
I would like to thank Mike Van Genderen and his crew for allowing me to come up to cover the action at Stuart International Speedway. The next event at Stuart will be a two day show on Friday September 20th and Saturday, September 21st. Stay tuned to their website and Facebook page for details, as they come available.
My up coming weekend plans are to head to the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa on Friday, August 30th for the Showdown in MoTown. Then on Saturday, August 31st it will be over to the Boone Speedway in Boone, Iowa for the Prelude to the Super Nationals. Sunday, September 1st and Monday, September 2nd are still up in the air. Maybe I will see you somewhere this weekend, if not at least get out and support a racing event at a track near you!
After checking the forecast for Stuart before leaving home, I jumped into my car to make the 4 hour driver northwest. The driver up was mostly cloudy the entire way, that was until about 20 miles east of Stuart on I-80. Where I ran into some rain showers. A quick check of the radar showed some showers just south of the area. But it was moving northeast, and looked to be avoiding Stuart. Which happened to be the case, as I pulled into town the rains had stopped.
The 1/4 mile track had plenty of moisture in it early on, which produced some very fast racing action. After eleven heat races were completed it was time to go feature racing in the 5 division event.
First up was the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Curtis Masterson and Zak Sickles drawing the front row for the event. Masterson took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Mitchell Bunch, who was behind the wheel of a white #7 machine rather than his normal yellow and black #83B car, and Tyler Fiebelkorn. The action was slowed on lap 4, as debris in turn 2 brought out the first yellow. On the restart Bunch went to the top of the track and used the momentum out of turn 4 to edge out Masterson at the line by a bumper. Then just after the lap was scored complete, Colton Garside spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Jordan Ford would get sideways in turn 1 on the restart, and collected Chris Bozarth and Gardise to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Bunch jump back out front, with Masterson and Fiebelkorn close behind. Another lap scored complete produced the final caution of the event, as Nikole Kimmel spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bunch moved back out front, with both Fiebelkorn and Logan Richards, who started 10th, over taking Masterson to give chase of Bunch. But without another caution to slow the pace, Bunch would pull away to claim his fifth win of the season at the track. Richards was 2nd, Nathan Castellano, who started 7th, was 3rd, Fiebelkorn was 4th, with Masterson holding on for 5th.
Up next was the 16 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Michael Murphy and Zach Hemmingsen leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Murphy used his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Cox and Hemmingsen. The lead for Murphy lasted until lap 4, when Cox used the momentum off the top of the track coming out of turn 4 to take the top spot. Cox, who worked the top of the track, and Hemmingsen, who was working the bottom, raced side-by-side around the 1/4 mile track from laps 6 thru 10. With Cox being scored the leader at the stripe each of those laps. All the while, Chuck Madden Jr. was lurking in third and looking for room to get the lead. When Cox drifted high coming off turn 4, that is all Hemmingsen needed to grab the lead. Hemmingsen then held off a last lap charge from Madden Jr. to score his first win of the season at Stuart. Madden Jr. settled for a close 2nd, John Watson came from 8th to finish 3rd, Curt Reed was 4th, with Corey Madden finishing 5th after starting in 10th.
While the Hobby Stock feature turned out to be top dominate, the 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature was bottom dominate. Chris Burke and Daniel Baudler drew the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Brayton Carter who went thru the middle of both coming off turn 2 to grab the lead on lap 1 over Mitchell Morris and Burke. Morris, who was running 2nd, would spin in front of the field in turn 4 and collected Chase Rudolf to bring out the first yellow of the race. Rudolf's night would ended early, as the contact resulted in a broken right front. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Baudler and Burke following. Carter's fast pace would allow him to pull away from the rest of the field. But when Burke slowed to a stop down the front stretch with a left front flat, to bring out the second and final caution of the event on lap 11. This would bring the field back to Carter's back bumper for the restart. On the restart Carter jumped back out front, but now had Columbus, Nebraska's David Johnson, who started 9th, and Baudler close behind. Johnson tried to stay close to Carter over the final laps. But Carter was just to fast on this night, as he claimed his fifth win in seven starts at Stuart. Johnson was 2nd, Baudler was 3rd, Colton Nelson started 11th and finished 4th, with Garrett Nelson coming home in 5th.
The 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature had some troubles getting into a rhythm, as four cautions waved in the first six laps. Andrew Burg and Chad Legere drew the front row for the event. But just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Anthony Goldsberry and Terry Pruitt collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Under the caution Brandon Pruitt headed to the work area to change a right front flat. On the original restart Legere went to the bottom coming off turn 4 to edge out Burg at the line by inches to lead lap 1. But Burg would use the momentum off the top to take the top spot away on lap 2. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 3 Legere would drift high and when he tried to come down to avoid the wall, he got turned into the front stretch wall and collected Terry Pruitt to bring out the caution. Marcus Fagan took advantage of Burg's bobble on the restart to grab the lead over Buck Schafroth, who started 5th, and Keith Simmons. Then just after the lap was scored complete Dustin Reeh spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fagan moved back out front, with Schafroth and Burg following close behind. While Schafroth tried to work under Fagan for the lead, Josh Daniels, who started 12th, Jeremy Gettler, and Burg raced three wide going into turn 3 for third on lap 6. Coming off turn 4 Gettler would loose the handle and spun, and then collected Adam Klocke to bring out the yellow.
Fagan once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Schafroth and Burg close behind. Schafroth went back to trying to get under Fagan for the top spot, but Fagan was able to hold him off each lap. That was until coming off turn 4 to complete lap 10, Schafroth finally got under him to grab the lead away. Two laps later Terry Pruitt spun in turn 3 and collected Gettler to bring out the yellow. On the restart Schafroth moved back out front, with Fagan and Josh Daniels giving chase. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 16, as Tyler Nelsen spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Schafroth grabbed the lead on the restart, with Brandon Pruitt, who charged thru the field after changing a tire under the first yellow of the race, over taking Fagan for the runner up spot. But Brandon Pruitt wasn't able to mount a challenge on Schafroth, who held on to claim his sixth win of the year at Stuart. Brandon Pruitt was 2nd, Fagan was 3rd, Josh Daniels was 4th, with Burg holding on for 5th.
The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature was the final event to take to the track, with Tony Hilgenberg and Garett Wilson drawing the front row. Wilson took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Hilgenberg and Josh Gilman. While most of the driver's went to the bottom of the track, sixth place starter Joel Rust worked the top of the track. His choice would pay off for him on lap 3, as he used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take over the top spot. After grabbing the lead Rust then went to the bottom of the track to pace the field. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 7, as Jesse Dennis slowed down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Rust moved back out front, with Cody Laney, who started 8th, and Gilman following. Rust would hit his marks on the bottom of the track over the final half of the race to pull away for an easy win. Which happened to be his first win in his first ever visit to Stuart. Laney was 2nd, Kelly Shryock came from 10th to finish 3rd, Gilman was 4th, with Todd Shute finishing 5th.
Notes from Stuart: The final checkered flag waved at 8:15 PM, which helped to get everyone back home in a decent hour on a Sunday night......Ryan Brown started the Sport Compact feature in 12th and would come home in 8th....Frank Mills finished 12th after starting in 16th......Adam Ayers came from 14th in the Hobby Stock feature to come home in 6th....Brandon Long finished 8th after starting in 12th....Michael Murphy was running 4th, when he pulled off on lap 14 with troubles......Mitchell Morris recovered from his spin on lap 1 of the SportMod feature to come back up to finish 6th......Brock Badger started the Stock Car feature in 13th and finished 6th....Bob Daniels finished 8th after starting in 17th....Ben Walding came from 15th to finish in 9th....Dustin Reeh recovered from his spin on lap 3 to come back up to finish 10th....Tyler Nelsen, who started 18th, also recovered from a spin on lap 16 to come back to finish 11th.
I would like to thank Mike Van Genderen and his crew for allowing me to come up to cover the action at Stuart International Speedway. The next event at Stuart will be a two day show on Friday September 20th and Saturday, September 21st. Stay tuned to their website and Facebook page for details, as they come available.
My up coming weekend plans are to head to the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa on Friday, August 30th for the Showdown in MoTown. Then on Saturday, August 31st it will be over to the Boone Speedway in Boone, Iowa for the Prelude to the Super Nationals. Sunday, September 1st and Monday, September 2nd are still up in the air. Maybe I will see you somewhere this weekend, if not at least get out and support a racing event at a track near you!
Monday, August 12, 2019
Nienhiser, Harrison, and Reed Go Back To Back at Jacksonville Speedway
Jacksonville, IL (Sunday, August 11, 2019) - The Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Illinois usually runs a limited Friday night schedule, which doesn't allow me to visit this track very much due to my other commitments. But when they decided to run a few Sunday night events I decided to make the drive south this past Sunday to take in one of those nights.
I arrived at 5:30 PM, just as hot laps started. With racing action following shortly after. The six division program was ran thru in about 2 hours and 45 minutes, as the final checkered flag waved at 8:45 PM. Which put me back on the road home by 8:50 PM, and with an hour and 45 minute drive home I was very thankful for the fast pace night. As the work alarm goes off at 5:30 AM.
The 22 lap Midget feature took to the track first, with CJ Leary and Shelby Bosie leading the field to green. Leary used his starting spot to his advantage by jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Bosie and Sam Johnson. The action was slowed for the first and only time of the event on lap 2, as Kevin Battlefield spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Leary moved back out front, with Bosie and Johnson following. The fast pace that Leary was setting would put him in lapped traffic on lap 9. While he maneuvered thru the lapped traffic, the battle was going on behind him for the runner up spot between Bosie, Johnson and Jake Neuman, who started 5th. The three way battle for second would allow Leary to pull away for an easy win. Neuman won the battle for 2nd, Bosie was 3rd, Johnson was 4th, with Austin O'Dell coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap Midwest Big Ten Series for the DIRTcar UMP Pro Late Models, with Dakota Ewing and Cody Maguire making up the front row. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as Colby Sheppard, Colby Billington, and Andy Minett collided in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Maguire used the momentum off the top to edge out the lead on lap 1 over Ewing and Jose Parga. After lap 1 was scored complete another caution appeared, as Blake Dameny, Kyle Vandorn, and Tucker Finch collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Maguire moved back out front on the restart, with Ewing and Parga close behind.While Maguire slipped up in the cushion coming off turn 4, Ewing would shoot under him to take over the top spot on lap 3. Then after the lap was scored complete, third place running Parga spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ewing jumped back out front, with Jake Little, who started 7th, and Brandon Eskew, who started 5th, both over taking Maguire for second and third. The final caution of the race would appear just after the lap was scored complete. This time Lucas Pace spun in turn 2 and collected Parga to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Ewing moved back out front, with Eskew and Maguire getting by Little. As Little got sideways in turn 1 and before he got it collected he fell back to fourth. With Ewing working the top of the track, Little would work the bottom to climb his way back into the runner up spot by the halfway mark. Little would close to within Ewing's back bumper coming to the white flag. But Ewing was able to hold him off to pick up the win. Little settled for 2nd, Parga recovered from his spin on lap 3 and again on lap 4 to come back up to 3rd, Maguire was 4th, with Sheppard recovering from his involvement in the crash on the start to come back up to finish 5th.
The 20 lap 305 Sprint Car feature took to the track next, and it would go green to checkered without a caution. Robbie Standridge and Dylan Tuxhorn would lead the field to green, with Standridge grabbing the lead on lap 1 over 410 Sprint Car driver Paul Nienhiser and Tuxhorn. While Standridge worked the top of the track, Nienhiser went to the bottom to try and get the lead away. Just like the early leader in the Pro Late Model feature, Standridge bobbled in the cushion coming off turn 4 to complete lap 7. Which allowed Nienhiser to shoot under him to take over the top spot. From there to the checkered there was no catching Nienhiser, who cruised to his second 305 Sprint win in the past two Sunday events at the Jacksonville Speedway. Standridge was 2nd, Ben Wagoner finished 3rd, Garrett Duff started 9th and finished 4th, with Tyler Duff coming home in 5th.
With only six of the eight UMP Modifieds coming out for their feature event, it would be cut from 20 to 15 laps. Mike Harrison and Tommy Sheppard made up the front row for the event, with Harrison winning the battle to the top of the track going into turn 1 to come around to lead lap 1 over Sheppard and Ryan Blakeman. The only thing to slow Harrison down on this night were the two cautions for the same car spinning. The first was on lap 3, as Cody Stilwell spun in turn 4. One lap later, lap 4, Stilwell spun again in turn 4 to bring out his final yellow. On the restarts Harrison grabbed the lead over Sheppard and Blakeman. From there Harrison would cruise to his second win in a row at the Jacksonville Speedway. Sheppard was 2nd, Blakeman was 3rd, Jimmy Miller was 4th, with Stilwell credited with 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap UMP Street Stock feature, with Terry Reed and Robert Cottom leading the field to green. Cottom used the momentum off the top of the track to grab the lead on lap 1 over Reed and Kyle Anderson. The lead for Cottom would come to an end on the completion of lap 2, as he slowed in turn 2 and then pulled into the infield on the backstretch to end his night. This would hand the lead over to Reed on lap 3. The action was slowed on lap 5, as Mike Bulpitt spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Russell Coultas spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Reed jump back out front, with Anderson and Rudy Zaragoza close behind. Just after the lap was scored complete, Coultas spun down the backstretch to bring out his second yellow of the event to end his night. Reed would jump back out front on the restart, with Anderson working to hold off Zaragoza for the runner up spot. Despite Reed entering lapped traffic with two laps to go, he would easily pull away to score his second win in a row at the track. Anderson held on for 2nd, Mike Jackson, who started 6th, used the lapped traffic coming off turn 4 to edge out Zaragoza for 3rd, with Wes Biesenthal coming from 8th to finish in 5th.
The 12 lap UMP Hornet feature was the last event to take to the track, with Matt Mackey and Danny Oates making up the front row. Mackey took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Oates and Cody Schmick. While Oates was working to hold back Schmick for the runner up spot, Mackey would pull away. Without a caution to bunch up the field, Mackey would cruise to an easy win. Oates held on for 2nd, Schmick was 3rd, Bill Basso was 4th, with Josh Dove finishing in 5th.
Notes from Jacksonville: Broc Hunnell started the Midget feature in 10th and would finish 6th....Mitchell Davis had troubles getting the car fired for the heat race, so he was relegated to start the feature in 13th. He them moved up 4 spots to take home a 9th place finish......Blake Dameny recovered from his involvement in the lap 1 crash to come back up to finish 6th in the Pro Late Model feature....Tucker Finch also recovered from his involvement in the lap 1 crash to come back up to finish 7th....Lucas Pace recovered from his spin on lap 4 to come back up to finish 8th....Brandon Eskew, who was running 3rd, pulled off on lap 18 with troubles to end his run up front......Matt Fair started the 305 Sprint Car feature in 11th and would bring home an 8th place finish......Steve Theivagt had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the Modified feature......Chad Myers had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the Street Stock feature.
I would like to THANK Ken Dobson and his crew at the Jacksonville Speedway for allowing me to come down and cover the action! If the schedule works out, I might look at making a return trip before the 2019 season comes to a close.
I arrived at 5:30 PM, just as hot laps started. With racing action following shortly after. The six division program was ran thru in about 2 hours and 45 minutes, as the final checkered flag waved at 8:45 PM. Which put me back on the road home by 8:50 PM, and with an hour and 45 minute drive home I was very thankful for the fast pace night. As the work alarm goes off at 5:30 AM.
The 22 lap Midget feature took to the track first, with CJ Leary and Shelby Bosie leading the field to green. Leary used his starting spot to his advantage by jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Bosie and Sam Johnson. The action was slowed for the first and only time of the event on lap 2, as Kevin Battlefield spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Leary moved back out front, with Bosie and Johnson following. The fast pace that Leary was setting would put him in lapped traffic on lap 9. While he maneuvered thru the lapped traffic, the battle was going on behind him for the runner up spot between Bosie, Johnson and Jake Neuman, who started 5th. The three way battle for second would allow Leary to pull away for an easy win. Neuman won the battle for 2nd, Bosie was 3rd, Johnson was 4th, with Austin O'Dell coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap Midwest Big Ten Series for the DIRTcar UMP Pro Late Models, with Dakota Ewing and Cody Maguire making up the front row. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as Colby Sheppard, Colby Billington, and Andy Minett collided in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Maguire used the momentum off the top to edge out the lead on lap 1 over Ewing and Jose Parga. After lap 1 was scored complete another caution appeared, as Blake Dameny, Kyle Vandorn, and Tucker Finch collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Maguire moved back out front on the restart, with Ewing and Parga close behind.While Maguire slipped up in the cushion coming off turn 4, Ewing would shoot under him to take over the top spot on lap 3. Then after the lap was scored complete, third place running Parga spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ewing jumped back out front, with Jake Little, who started 7th, and Brandon Eskew, who started 5th, both over taking Maguire for second and third. The final caution of the race would appear just after the lap was scored complete. This time Lucas Pace spun in turn 2 and collected Parga to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Ewing moved back out front, with Eskew and Maguire getting by Little. As Little got sideways in turn 1 and before he got it collected he fell back to fourth. With Ewing working the top of the track, Little would work the bottom to climb his way back into the runner up spot by the halfway mark. Little would close to within Ewing's back bumper coming to the white flag. But Ewing was able to hold him off to pick up the win. Little settled for 2nd, Parga recovered from his spin on lap 3 and again on lap 4 to come back up to 3rd, Maguire was 4th, with Sheppard recovering from his involvement in the crash on the start to come back up to finish 5th.
The 20 lap 305 Sprint Car feature took to the track next, and it would go green to checkered without a caution. Robbie Standridge and Dylan Tuxhorn would lead the field to green, with Standridge grabbing the lead on lap 1 over 410 Sprint Car driver Paul Nienhiser and Tuxhorn. While Standridge worked the top of the track, Nienhiser went to the bottom to try and get the lead away. Just like the early leader in the Pro Late Model feature, Standridge bobbled in the cushion coming off turn 4 to complete lap 7. Which allowed Nienhiser to shoot under him to take over the top spot. From there to the checkered there was no catching Nienhiser, who cruised to his second 305 Sprint win in the past two Sunday events at the Jacksonville Speedway. Standridge was 2nd, Ben Wagoner finished 3rd, Garrett Duff started 9th and finished 4th, with Tyler Duff coming home in 5th.
With only six of the eight UMP Modifieds coming out for their feature event, it would be cut from 20 to 15 laps. Mike Harrison and Tommy Sheppard made up the front row for the event, with Harrison winning the battle to the top of the track going into turn 1 to come around to lead lap 1 over Sheppard and Ryan Blakeman. The only thing to slow Harrison down on this night were the two cautions for the same car spinning. The first was on lap 3, as Cody Stilwell spun in turn 4. One lap later, lap 4, Stilwell spun again in turn 4 to bring out his final yellow. On the restarts Harrison grabbed the lead over Sheppard and Blakeman. From there Harrison would cruise to his second win in a row at the Jacksonville Speedway. Sheppard was 2nd, Blakeman was 3rd, Jimmy Miller was 4th, with Stilwell credited with 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap UMP Street Stock feature, with Terry Reed and Robert Cottom leading the field to green. Cottom used the momentum off the top of the track to grab the lead on lap 1 over Reed and Kyle Anderson. The lead for Cottom would come to an end on the completion of lap 2, as he slowed in turn 2 and then pulled into the infield on the backstretch to end his night. This would hand the lead over to Reed on lap 3. The action was slowed on lap 5, as Mike Bulpitt spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Russell Coultas spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Reed jump back out front, with Anderson and Rudy Zaragoza close behind. Just after the lap was scored complete, Coultas spun down the backstretch to bring out his second yellow of the event to end his night. Reed would jump back out front on the restart, with Anderson working to hold off Zaragoza for the runner up spot. Despite Reed entering lapped traffic with two laps to go, he would easily pull away to score his second win in a row at the track. Anderson held on for 2nd, Mike Jackson, who started 6th, used the lapped traffic coming off turn 4 to edge out Zaragoza for 3rd, with Wes Biesenthal coming from 8th to finish in 5th.
The 12 lap UMP Hornet feature was the last event to take to the track, with Matt Mackey and Danny Oates making up the front row. Mackey took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Oates and Cody Schmick. While Oates was working to hold back Schmick for the runner up spot, Mackey would pull away. Without a caution to bunch up the field, Mackey would cruise to an easy win. Oates held on for 2nd, Schmick was 3rd, Bill Basso was 4th, with Josh Dove finishing in 5th.
Notes from Jacksonville: Broc Hunnell started the Midget feature in 10th and would finish 6th....Mitchell Davis had troubles getting the car fired for the heat race, so he was relegated to start the feature in 13th. He them moved up 4 spots to take home a 9th place finish......Blake Dameny recovered from his involvement in the lap 1 crash to come back up to finish 6th in the Pro Late Model feature....Tucker Finch also recovered from his involvement in the lap 1 crash to come back up to finish 7th....Lucas Pace recovered from his spin on lap 4 to come back up to finish 8th....Brandon Eskew, who was running 3rd, pulled off on lap 18 with troubles to end his run up front......Matt Fair started the 305 Sprint Car feature in 11th and would bring home an 8th place finish......Steve Theivagt had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the Modified feature......Chad Myers had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the Street Stock feature.
I would like to THANK Ken Dobson and his crew at the Jacksonville Speedway for allowing me to come down and cover the action! If the schedule works out, I might look at making a return trip before the 2019 season comes to a close.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Ryan, Morris, and Hitt Among Winners at the Davenport Speedway
Davenport, IA (Friday, August 9, 2019) - After taking two weeks off for the Mississippi Valley Fair, the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa returned to weekly action on Friday, August 9th. And since the weekly track I work at on Friday nights took a scheduled night off, and the other track that runs a part time schedule cancelled their events on Friday, I decided to make the trip north to catch the action at Davenport. This would be my first visit of the 2019 season, and I wasn't at the least disappointed.
Ricky Kay and his crew put on a fast pace program, with the final checkered flag waving at 9:45 PM. Which is quit well considering they start hot laps at 6:30 PM, and racing begins around 7 PM. So the five division program was ran thru in about 2 hours and 45 minutes. The track was smooth, and slick, with the exception of one bad spot in the middle of the track coming off turn 4. But you could still race two and even three wide around the quarter mile track. After talking with Ricky, he contributed the smooth slick track to Al Dlouhy. Most call him "Dr. Dirt", as he prepares a smooth slick track at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa.
The first feature to take to the track was the 12 lap 4-Cylinders, with Shawn McDermott and Brad McDermott leading the field to the green flag. Shawn McDermott took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Nick Proehl, who started 5th, and Joe Zrostlik, who started 10th. The lead for Shawn McDermott only lasted for 1 lap, as Proehl got under him coming off turn 2 to take over the top spot on lap 2. Two laps later, lap 4, Zrostlik slipped past Shawn McDermott for the runner up spot, and then went to work on trying to chase down Proehl. But the race would go caution free, which allowed Proehl to go on to claim the win. Zrostlik was 2nd, Shawn McDermott was 3rd, Tim Sibley started 9th and finished 4th, with Todd Sibley coming from 8th to round out the top 5.
Up next was the 15 lap Street Stock feature, with Shad Murphy and Austin Riggs making up the front row. Coming across the line to complete lap one Rick Schriner, Riggs, and Jeffrey Peterson were three wide at the line. And it was to close for me to make a call on who led lap 1. Riggs would emerge from the pack to lead lap 2. But Joe Bonney, who started 6th, used the middle of the track coming off turn 4 to edge out into the lead on lap 3. Riggs, who was working the bottom, and Booney, who was working the middle and top of the track, would cross the line even on lap 4, with Bonney credited with leading the lap. The action was slowed on the completion of lap 4, as Murphy spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bonney jumped back out front, with Riggs and Tony VonDresky, who started 9th, close behind. Another lap was scored complete, when the second caution of the race appeared on lap 6. This time Cary Brown spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Bonney once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with VonDresky and Jesse Owens, who started 8th, following.
With lap 7 scored complete the third caution came out, as Jeff Struck Jr. spun off turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bonney moved back out front, with VonDresky and Owens glued to his back bumper. While Bonney worked the top of the track, VonDresky worked the bottom to try and get the top spot away from Bonney. But Bonney was able to edge out the lead at the strip over laps 8 and 9. Then on lap 10 Bonney decided to change his line by going to the bottom. This would force VonDresky to go to the top to try and get the lead, but Bonney was able to hold him off at the line on laps 10 and 11. But VonDresky used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take over the top spot on lap 12. Then just after the lap was scored complete the fourth caution appeared to slow the action. This time Schriner spun off the top of the track in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. VonDresky would jump back out front on the restart, with Owens over taking Bonney for the runner up spot. Just when it looked like VonDresky would hold on for the win, the final caution of the race appeared on lap 14. Randy LaMar would spin in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. In the past at Davenport once the field took the white flag the yellow and checkered flags would wave to put an end to the race. But with a new promoter, they now run a green-white-checkered overtime finish. On that restart VonDresky jumped back out front, with Owens and VonDresky racing side-by-side for second. The two wide battle for second allowed VonDresky to hold on for the win. Owens won the battle for 2nd, Bonney was 3rd, Nick Hixson came from 10th to finish 4th, with Jeremy Marquette starting in 12th and finishing 5th.
Joe Ross and Chuck Hanna drew the front row for the 25 lap Late Model feature. But just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as contact from Chad Holladay sent Ross spinning in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. With both drivers going to the back for the restart, this put Hanna and Todd Van Tassel on the front row for the original restart. Hanna took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Andy Nezworski, who started 5th, and Shaune Lewis, who started 6th. While Hanna worked to hold off Nezworski and Matt Ryan, who started 7th, Justin Kay was working his way towards the front. Kay had troubles in his heat race that forced him to start 11th. By lap 4 he worked himself into the top 5, and then 4 laps later, lap 8, he was up to 4th. Meanwhile Nezworski got under Hanna coming off turn 2 to come around to complete lap 15. As he, Hanna, and Ryan raced down the backstretch three wide, with Nezworski emerging off turn 4 with the lead. One lap later, lap 16, Ryan used the middle of the track coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot from Nezworski. Ryan then held off a last lap challenge from Nezworski to claim the win. Nezworski settled for a close 2nd, Hanna held on for 3rd, Kay was 4th, with Lewis coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Ryan Reed and Doug Burkhead leading the field to green. Just as the green waved the caution light came on, as Matt Irwin spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Reed jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Aaron Hitt and Burkhead. The action was slowed on lap 3, as Rance Powell, who was running 3rd, spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Reed moved back out front on the restart, with Burkhead and Hitt battling for the runner up spot. Hit, who was working the top of the track, used the momentum off turn 4 on lap 8 to grab the top spot away from Reed. Two laps later, lap 10, another caution appeared to slow the action. This time Scott Blake spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hitt jumped back out front, with Reed working to hold off Ryan Walker, who started 7th. for the runner up spot. Just as the lap was scored complete the final caution of the race came out, as Dakota Cole spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Hitt grabbed the lead on the restart, with Reed and Walker continuing to battle for second. Coming off turn 4 to get the white flag Walker was able to get to the outside of Hitt, as the two raced into turn 1. Walker's bid for a win would end in turn 1, as he slipped over the top of the track. And before he could get back onto the track in turn 2 he fell back to 11th. This would allow Hitt to go onto to pick up the win. Jerry Miles came from 9th to finish 2nd, Ben Chapman came from 10th to finish 3rd, Reed held on for 4th, with Matt Fulton coming from 8th to finish 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap IMCA Modifieds, with Jason Pershy and Joe Beal making up the front row. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as debris in turn 2 would bring out the yellow. On the original restart Pershy grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Mitch Morris and Beal. The lead for Pershy last until lap 4, when Morris got under him coming off turn 2 to come around to take the top spot. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution appeared, as Todd Dykema spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Morris moved back out front on the restart, with Eric Barnes, who started 8th, and Bruce Hanford close behind. While Morris worked the bottom of the track, Barnes went to the top. Barnes would use the momentum off the top to grab the top spot away from Morris on lap 9. Just as Barnes started to put some distance on the field, the caution came out on lap 13. Nick Hillyer would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Hanford and Morris battling for the runner up spot. Again Barnes started to pull away, when the final caution of the race appeared on lap 17. This time Timmy Current, who was running 9th, and Greg Durbin, who started 23rd and was up to 10th, collided in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Once again Barnes jumped back out front on the restart, with Morris and Hanford following close behind. Coming off turn 4 to the white flag, Morris used the momentum off the top to grab the lead away from Barnes. Morris then held on to score the win. Chris Zogg started 10th and finished 2nd, Barnes held on for 3rd, John Oliver Jr., who is chasing the IMCA National Rookie Title, started 12th and finished 4th, with Hanford holding on for 5th.
Notes from Davenport: Jason Rhoads started the 4-Cylinder feature in 11th and would come up to finish 7th....Thomas Adams had troubles in his heat that forced him to scratch from the feature......Gene Ehlers started the Street Stock feature in 16th and then passed 10 cars to come home in 6th....Jeff Struck Jr. recovered from his spin on lap 7 to come back up to finish 7th....Randy LaMar came back from his spin on lap 14 to come back up to finish 8th....Erick Turner came from 15th to finish in 9th......Dave Stichter started the Late Model feature in 9th and finished 6th......Brandon Jewell came from 11th in the SportMod feature to finish in 6th....Mike Haines finished 8th after starting in 16th....Joe Nemitz started 15th and finished 9th....Matt Irwin, who started 13th, recovered from his spin on the start to come back up to finish 10th......Craig Crawford started the Modified feature in 17th and finished 8th....Tony VonDresky started 16th and finished 10th....Mike Goben came from 19th to finish 13th....Matt Stein finished 15th after starting in 18th....Richard Nelson came from 24th to finish 19th.
I would like to THANK Ricky Kay and his crew for the great hospitality. If you haven't been to the Davenport Speedway, I would encourage to take in one of their final two regular nights in August. They have a great payout and run a fast pace night of racing!
Ricky Kay and his crew put on a fast pace program, with the final checkered flag waving at 9:45 PM. Which is quit well considering they start hot laps at 6:30 PM, and racing begins around 7 PM. So the five division program was ran thru in about 2 hours and 45 minutes. The track was smooth, and slick, with the exception of one bad spot in the middle of the track coming off turn 4. But you could still race two and even three wide around the quarter mile track. After talking with Ricky, he contributed the smooth slick track to Al Dlouhy. Most call him "Dr. Dirt", as he prepares a smooth slick track at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa.
The first feature to take to the track was the 12 lap 4-Cylinders, with Shawn McDermott and Brad McDermott leading the field to the green flag. Shawn McDermott took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Nick Proehl, who started 5th, and Joe Zrostlik, who started 10th. The lead for Shawn McDermott only lasted for 1 lap, as Proehl got under him coming off turn 2 to take over the top spot on lap 2. Two laps later, lap 4, Zrostlik slipped past Shawn McDermott for the runner up spot, and then went to work on trying to chase down Proehl. But the race would go caution free, which allowed Proehl to go on to claim the win. Zrostlik was 2nd, Shawn McDermott was 3rd, Tim Sibley started 9th and finished 4th, with Todd Sibley coming from 8th to round out the top 5.
Up next was the 15 lap Street Stock feature, with Shad Murphy and Austin Riggs making up the front row. Coming across the line to complete lap one Rick Schriner, Riggs, and Jeffrey Peterson were three wide at the line. And it was to close for me to make a call on who led lap 1. Riggs would emerge from the pack to lead lap 2. But Joe Bonney, who started 6th, used the middle of the track coming off turn 4 to edge out into the lead on lap 3. Riggs, who was working the bottom, and Booney, who was working the middle and top of the track, would cross the line even on lap 4, with Bonney credited with leading the lap. The action was slowed on the completion of lap 4, as Murphy spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bonney jumped back out front, with Riggs and Tony VonDresky, who started 9th, close behind. Another lap was scored complete, when the second caution of the race appeared on lap 6. This time Cary Brown spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Bonney once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with VonDresky and Jesse Owens, who started 8th, following.
With lap 7 scored complete the third caution came out, as Jeff Struck Jr. spun off turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bonney moved back out front, with VonDresky and Owens glued to his back bumper. While Bonney worked the top of the track, VonDresky worked the bottom to try and get the top spot away from Bonney. But Bonney was able to edge out the lead at the strip over laps 8 and 9. Then on lap 10 Bonney decided to change his line by going to the bottom. This would force VonDresky to go to the top to try and get the lead, but Bonney was able to hold him off at the line on laps 10 and 11. But VonDresky used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take over the top spot on lap 12. Then just after the lap was scored complete the fourth caution appeared to slow the action. This time Schriner spun off the top of the track in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. VonDresky would jump back out front on the restart, with Owens over taking Bonney for the runner up spot. Just when it looked like VonDresky would hold on for the win, the final caution of the race appeared on lap 14. Randy LaMar would spin in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. In the past at Davenport once the field took the white flag the yellow and checkered flags would wave to put an end to the race. But with a new promoter, they now run a green-white-checkered overtime finish. On that restart VonDresky jumped back out front, with Owens and VonDresky racing side-by-side for second. The two wide battle for second allowed VonDresky to hold on for the win. Owens won the battle for 2nd, Bonney was 3rd, Nick Hixson came from 10th to finish 4th, with Jeremy Marquette starting in 12th and finishing 5th.
Joe Ross and Chuck Hanna drew the front row for the 25 lap Late Model feature. But just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as contact from Chad Holladay sent Ross spinning in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. With both drivers going to the back for the restart, this put Hanna and Todd Van Tassel on the front row for the original restart. Hanna took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Andy Nezworski, who started 5th, and Shaune Lewis, who started 6th. While Hanna worked to hold off Nezworski and Matt Ryan, who started 7th, Justin Kay was working his way towards the front. Kay had troubles in his heat race that forced him to start 11th. By lap 4 he worked himself into the top 5, and then 4 laps later, lap 8, he was up to 4th. Meanwhile Nezworski got under Hanna coming off turn 2 to come around to complete lap 15. As he, Hanna, and Ryan raced down the backstretch three wide, with Nezworski emerging off turn 4 with the lead. One lap later, lap 16, Ryan used the middle of the track coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot from Nezworski. Ryan then held off a last lap challenge from Nezworski to claim the win. Nezworski settled for a close 2nd, Hanna held on for 3rd, Kay was 4th, with Lewis coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Ryan Reed and Doug Burkhead leading the field to green. Just as the green waved the caution light came on, as Matt Irwin spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Reed jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Aaron Hitt and Burkhead. The action was slowed on lap 3, as Rance Powell, who was running 3rd, spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Reed moved back out front on the restart, with Burkhead and Hitt battling for the runner up spot. Hit, who was working the top of the track, used the momentum off turn 4 on lap 8 to grab the top spot away from Reed. Two laps later, lap 10, another caution appeared to slow the action. This time Scott Blake spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hitt jumped back out front, with Reed working to hold off Ryan Walker, who started 7th. for the runner up spot. Just as the lap was scored complete the final caution of the race came out, as Dakota Cole spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Hitt grabbed the lead on the restart, with Reed and Walker continuing to battle for second. Coming off turn 4 to get the white flag Walker was able to get to the outside of Hitt, as the two raced into turn 1. Walker's bid for a win would end in turn 1, as he slipped over the top of the track. And before he could get back onto the track in turn 2 he fell back to 11th. This would allow Hitt to go onto to pick up the win. Jerry Miles came from 9th to finish 2nd, Ben Chapman came from 10th to finish 3rd, Reed held on for 4th, with Matt Fulton coming from 8th to finish 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap IMCA Modifieds, with Jason Pershy and Joe Beal making up the front row. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as debris in turn 2 would bring out the yellow. On the original restart Pershy grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Mitch Morris and Beal. The lead for Pershy last until lap 4, when Morris got under him coming off turn 2 to come around to take the top spot. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution appeared, as Todd Dykema spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Morris moved back out front on the restart, with Eric Barnes, who started 8th, and Bruce Hanford close behind. While Morris worked the bottom of the track, Barnes went to the top. Barnes would use the momentum off the top to grab the top spot away from Morris on lap 9. Just as Barnes started to put some distance on the field, the caution came out on lap 13. Nick Hillyer would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Hanford and Morris battling for the runner up spot. Again Barnes started to pull away, when the final caution of the race appeared on lap 17. This time Timmy Current, who was running 9th, and Greg Durbin, who started 23rd and was up to 10th, collided in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Once again Barnes jumped back out front on the restart, with Morris and Hanford following close behind. Coming off turn 4 to the white flag, Morris used the momentum off the top to grab the lead away from Barnes. Morris then held on to score the win. Chris Zogg started 10th and finished 2nd, Barnes held on for 3rd, John Oliver Jr., who is chasing the IMCA National Rookie Title, started 12th and finished 4th, with Hanford holding on for 5th.
Notes from Davenport: Jason Rhoads started the 4-Cylinder feature in 11th and would come up to finish 7th....Thomas Adams had troubles in his heat that forced him to scratch from the feature......Gene Ehlers started the Street Stock feature in 16th and then passed 10 cars to come home in 6th....Jeff Struck Jr. recovered from his spin on lap 7 to come back up to finish 7th....Randy LaMar came back from his spin on lap 14 to come back up to finish 8th....Erick Turner came from 15th to finish in 9th......Dave Stichter started the Late Model feature in 9th and finished 6th......Brandon Jewell came from 11th in the SportMod feature to finish in 6th....Mike Haines finished 8th after starting in 16th....Joe Nemitz started 15th and finished 9th....Matt Irwin, who started 13th, recovered from his spin on the start to come back up to finish 10th......Craig Crawford started the Modified feature in 17th and finished 8th....Tony VonDresky started 16th and finished 10th....Mike Goben came from 19th to finish 13th....Matt Stein finished 15th after starting in 18th....Richard Nelson came from 24th to finish 19th.
I would like to THANK Ricky Kay and his crew for the great hospitality. If you haven't been to the Davenport Speedway, I would encourage to take in one of their final two regular nights in August. They have a great payout and run a fast pace night of racing!
Monday, July 29, 2019
Carter, Huls, and Anderson Take Mid-Summer Shootout Cash at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway
Donnellson, IA (Saturday, July 27, 2019) - After having to take a week off because of excessive heat warnings, the Pepsi Lee County Speedway return to action with a rare Saturday night program. J.J. Nichting and Chem GRO AG Center, along with many other contributing sponsors, helped to present the Inaugural Mid-Summer Shootout on Saturday, July 27th. One Hundred and twenty-one race teams jammed the pit area in hopes of taking home the big prize money that was up for grabs.
After seventeen qualifying races were completed to help set the feature starting line-ups, the 15 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compact feature took to the track first. Cody Bowman and Brandon Reu would draw the front row for the event. Just as the green flag waved the caution would come out, as contact between Josh Barnes and Brandon Allison sent Allison spinning in turn 3. On the original restart William Michel spun into the guardrail in turn 3 to bring the yellow light back on. A third attempt of a start saw Reu grab the lead on lap 1 over Jason Ash and Bowman. The action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 3, as Ryan Havel spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Reu jumped back out front on the restart, with Chuck Fullenkamp, who started 9th, and Ash following close behind. While Reu worked to hold off Fullenkamp and Ash, Barnes was working his way back to the front, as on lap 8 he joined the battle for the top spot. Reu, Fullenkamp, Ash and Barnes raced two and even three wide for the lead on laps 9 thru 11. On lap 12 Barnes emerged from the battle to take over the top spot, in which he held until the checkered flag. Fullenkamp made a last lap pass of Reu to finish 2nd, Reu was 3rd, Jacob Houston, who 10th in Barry Taft's #57 machine, finished 4th, with Ash rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap Engler USAC IMRA Midget Series feature, with Andy Baugh and Devin Fegger leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Baugh took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Fegger and Mark McMahill. Fegger would try to look under Baugh over the next several laps, before the first caution appeared on lap 12 to slow the action. Tori Smith, who was running 9th, spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Baugh moved back out front, with McMahill and Jacob Sollenberger following. Two laps, lap 15, later another caution waved, as Tracy Hull, who was running 6th, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Baugh once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Fegger and Sollenberger still close behind. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 17, as Jace Sparks spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Baugh jumped back out front on the restart, with Fegger and Sollenberger following. Fegger would try to get under Baugh over the final laps. But coming off turn 4 to get the checkered flag he went to the top to try and get the win. But Baugh would hold him off at the line to claim the win. Fegger settled for a close 2nd, Tyler Roth came from 7th to finish 3rd, Sollenberger was 4th, with Kevin Battefeld coming home in 5th.
Barry Dugan and Logan Anderson drew the front row for the 22 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMod feature, with Anderson grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Sean Wyett and Carter VanDenBerg. Just as Anderson started to pull away from the battles behind them, the first and only caution of the event appeared on lap 5. Dan Brockert slowed in turn 2 with troubles to bring out the yellow. On the restart Anderson moved back out front, with VanDenBerg over taking Wyett for the runner up spot. VanDenBerg would follow in Anderson's tire tracks over the next 3 laps, when Austin Becerra joined the battle on lap 9. The top three cars would pull away from the rest of the side-by-side battles behind them. VanDenBerg and Becerra weren't able to mount a challenge on Anderson over the final laps. As Anderson held on for the win and the $1,500 top prize to go with it. VanDenBerg was 2nd, Becerra was 3rd, Blaine Webster was 4th, with Brayton Carter coming from 12th to finish in 5th.
The 22 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature was up next, and it would go green to checkered without a single caution. Les Blakley and Dallon Murty led the field to green, with Blakley grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Jason Cook and Dallon Murty. Cook would grab the lead from Blakley on lap 2, as Abe Huls, who was working the top of the track, slipped into the runner up spot. On lap 4 Huls used the momentum off the top of the track to take over the top spot. While Cook worked the bottom to try and get the lead back from Huls, who was working the top, Damon Murty would use the middle of the track to make it a three car battle for the lead on lap 8. These three driver's raced three wide around the 3/8th's mile track over the final half of the race, with Huls being scored the leader at the line each lap. Coming off turn 4 to get the checkered flag, Damon Murty made one last attempt to clear Huls. But Huls would use the momentum off the top to edge him out at the line to claim the win and the $1,500 check to go with it. Damon Murty was 2nd, Cook was 3rd, Shawn Ritter was 4th, with Cayden Carter rounding out the top 5.
Mike Smith and Jeff Guengerich drew the front row for the 20 lap I-Smile Silver IMCA Late Model feature, and just like the Stock Car feature the Late Model feature went green to checkered without a single caution. Guengerich would use his draw to his advantage to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Smith and Tommy Elston. Elston would slip under Smith on lap 4 to take over the runner up spot, and then went to work on Guengerich for the top spot. Over the next 10 laps Elston followed in Guengerich's tire tracks, waiting for him to make a mistake to then grab the lead. But Guengerich stayed smooth, until he entered lapped traffic on lap 14. Elston used the lapped cars to his advantage, as he got by Guengerich in turn 2 to grab the lead. Elston then held on over the final laps to score the win and the $1,000 top prize to go with it. Andy Eckrich got past Guengerich on the final lap to get 2nd, Guengerich held on for 3rd, Matt Ryan started 9th and finished 4th, with Chuck Hanna coming home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 25 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with Kelly Shryock and Mitch Boles leading the field to green. Shryock took advantage of is starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Cayden Carter and Boles. On lap 4 Shryock slipped up the track in turn 4, which allowed Carter to slip past him for the top spot. The pace was slowed for the first time on lap 10, when Chris Zogg stopped down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Shryock and David Brown following. Debris on lap 12 would slow the action for the second time of the race. Carter once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Kyle Brown over taking David Brown for third. Then just after the lap was scored complete, Dean McGee, Derrick Stewart, Mike Guldenpfenning, and Levi Smith collided under the flag stand to bring out the caution. On the restart Carter jumped back out front, with Shryock and Kyle Brown close behind. Two laps, lap 16, later DJ Shannon, who was running 4th, slowed in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Once again Carter moved back out front on the restart, with Shryock and Kyle Brown following. Carter would then go on to lead the final laps to claim the win and the $1,500 check to go with it. Shryock was 2nd, Kyle Brown was 3rd, David Brown was 4th, with Boles finishing a strong 5th.
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Blakley, Taft and Mother Nature Wins at 34 Raceway
West Burlington, IA (Saturday, July 20, 2019) - What started out as a hot and humid Saturday night, turned out to be a race to beat mother nature at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. Before the regular scheduled nights events could begin there was a make-up feature for the IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Sport Compacts from Saturday, July 6th to be ran first.
As the skies started to darken to the northwest, the 15 lap make-up feature for the IMCA Stock Cars came to the track. Jason Cook and Les Blakley led the field to green, with Blakley grabbing the advantage on lap 1 over Fenton and Shane Richardson. Blakley started to pull away from the battle for the runner up spot going on behind him, when a caution appeared on lap 6 to slow his pace. Jeremy Pundt spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Blakley jumped back out front, with Cook and David Brandies, who started 7th, following. While Cook tried to keep pace with Blakley, Brandies was trying to hold off John Oliver Jr., who started 8th, in the battle for third. Coming to the white flag Cook was able to close within a car length of Blakley, but Blakley would hold him off to claim his first career Stock Car feature win. Cook settled for 2nd, Oliver Jr. won the battle for 3rd, Brandies was 4th, with Richardson coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 12 lap make-up feature for the IMCA Sport Compacts, with Colton Keck and Cody Bowman on the front row. Bowman took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Keck and Larry Miller. The action up front was slowed on lap 2, as Jerrod Nichols got into the wall in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bowman jumped back out front, with Keck working to hold off Barry Taft, who started 8th, for the runner up spot. Taft would get by Keck for second on lap 8, and then went to work Bowman for the top spot. Going into 3 on the final lap it looked like Bowman would get help from lapped traffic to help him score his first career Sport Compact feature win. But coming off turn 4 Bowman's car stalled, which allow Taft to go by on the outside to score his second win of the season at 34 Raceway. Keck was 2nd, Bowman got his car going to cross the line 3rd, Miller was 4th, with Jason Ash rounding out the top 5.
Just when the heat races for the regular scheduled night events were set to begin, lightning strikes close in the area forced the track to clear the grandstand area. Which would put the night in a holding pattern. At nine o'clock the decision was made to cancel the night, as rains started to approach. This would mean in 18 race night events scheduled so far in 2019, this would be the 9 rain out. A practice day in mid march and a Figure 8 Series event at the end of May would bring the total rains out for 34 Raceway to 11.
Wednesday, July 24th will kick off a busy week of racing in our area. You can catch the World of Outlaw Late Models, along with Modifieds and SportMods at the Davenport Speedway. Or you can see the Sprint Invaders, along with Modifieds, SportMods, and INEX Legend Cars at the Dubuque County Speedway in Dubuque, Iowa during the fair.
Thursday, July 25th the Jackson County Fair race night will be held at the Maquoketa Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa. The IMCA Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, 4-Cylinders and INEX Legend Cars will be racing.
On Friday, July 26th the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa plays host to the Gary Reinhart Memorial. The Modifieds will battle for a possible $2,500 to win ($1,500 to win the A-Feature and $1,000 to win the King of the Hill race). Also racing will be the Stock Cars/Street Stocks and Sport Mods going for $500 to win. Battling for $250 to win will be the Mod Lites/Micro Mods and 4 Stocks. Also racing on the night is the A.I.R.S. cars.
Saturday, July 27th the Pepsi Lee County Speedway hosts the Inaugural Mi-Summer Shootout. As the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA SportMods are highlighted on this night. All three classes will be racing for $1,500 to win and $150 to start the feature. Also racing on this night will be the IMCA Late Models, which are going for a top prize of $1,000, and the Midgets. All class will be draw/redraw, with IMCA national, state, regional, and rookie points being awarded.
The week will come to a close on Sunday, July 28th at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. The Ollie's Bargain Outlet All-Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Cars make a visit to the track. This event will be paying $26,000 to win for the 410 Sprint Cars, in support of the Rayce Rudeen Foundation. In support of the 410 Sprint Cars will be the IMCA Stock Cars, racing for $1,000 to win.
It's hard to think the 2019 season is starting to wind down. So please get out and support these races if you can. Hope to see you at a track soon!
As the skies started to darken to the northwest, the 15 lap make-up feature for the IMCA Stock Cars came to the track. Jason Cook and Les Blakley led the field to green, with Blakley grabbing the advantage on lap 1 over Fenton and Shane Richardson. Blakley started to pull away from the battle for the runner up spot going on behind him, when a caution appeared on lap 6 to slow his pace. Jeremy Pundt spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Blakley jumped back out front, with Cook and David Brandies, who started 7th, following. While Cook tried to keep pace with Blakley, Brandies was trying to hold off John Oliver Jr., who started 8th, in the battle for third. Coming to the white flag Cook was able to close within a car length of Blakley, but Blakley would hold him off to claim his first career Stock Car feature win. Cook settled for 2nd, Oliver Jr. won the battle for 3rd, Brandies was 4th, with Richardson coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 12 lap make-up feature for the IMCA Sport Compacts, with Colton Keck and Cody Bowman on the front row. Bowman took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Keck and Larry Miller. The action up front was slowed on lap 2, as Jerrod Nichols got into the wall in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bowman jumped back out front, with Keck working to hold off Barry Taft, who started 8th, for the runner up spot. Taft would get by Keck for second on lap 8, and then went to work Bowman for the top spot. Going into 3 on the final lap it looked like Bowman would get help from lapped traffic to help him score his first career Sport Compact feature win. But coming off turn 4 Bowman's car stalled, which allow Taft to go by on the outside to score his second win of the season at 34 Raceway. Keck was 2nd, Bowman got his car going to cross the line 3rd, Miller was 4th, with Jason Ash rounding out the top 5.
Just when the heat races for the regular scheduled night events were set to begin, lightning strikes close in the area forced the track to clear the grandstand area. Which would put the night in a holding pattern. At nine o'clock the decision was made to cancel the night, as rains started to approach. This would mean in 18 race night events scheduled so far in 2019, this would be the 9 rain out. A practice day in mid march and a Figure 8 Series event at the end of May would bring the total rains out for 34 Raceway to 11.
Wednesday, July 24th will kick off a busy week of racing in our area. You can catch the World of Outlaw Late Models, along with Modifieds and SportMods at the Davenport Speedway. Or you can see the Sprint Invaders, along with Modifieds, SportMods, and INEX Legend Cars at the Dubuque County Speedway in Dubuque, Iowa during the fair.
Thursday, July 25th the Jackson County Fair race night will be held at the Maquoketa Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa. The IMCA Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, 4-Cylinders and INEX Legend Cars will be racing.
Saturday, July 27th the Pepsi Lee County Speedway hosts the Inaugural Mi-Summer Shootout. As the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA SportMods are highlighted on this night. All three classes will be racing for $1,500 to win and $150 to start the feature. Also racing on this night will be the IMCA Late Models, which are going for a top prize of $1,000, and the Midgets. All class will be draw/redraw, with IMCA national, state, regional, and rookie points being awarded.
The week will come to a close on Sunday, July 28th at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. The Ollie's Bargain Outlet All-Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Cars make a visit to the track. This event will be paying $26,000 to win for the 410 Sprint Cars, in support of the Rayce Rudeen Foundation. In support of the 410 Sprint Cars will be the IMCA Stock Cars, racing for $1,000 to win.
It's hard to think the 2019 season is starting to wind down. So please get out and support these races if you can. Hope to see you at a track soon!
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Howes Scores First Career Modified Win at Scotland County Fair
Memphis, MO (Friday, July 12, 2019) - The Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri returned to action on Friday, July 12th, after having four weeks off since their last race night. This time the racing action was held during the Scotland County Fair. After the final checkered waved one driver scored their first career win in there division, another one picked up their first win in fifteen years since there last win, and three others driver's won for the multiple times at the track.
Only three Hobby Stocks signed in for competition, with one of those loosing a drive shaft in hot laps to end their night early. So with two cars taking to the track for the feature it was down to who finished the race to determine the winner. Rick Van Dusseldorp took a commanding lead early in the event. When Jason Rindom excited the track with troubles on lap 7 the checkered flag was waved for Van Dusseldorp. Who said in victory lane that it had been 15 years since his last feature victory.
Barry Taft and Brandon Reu led the field to green in the 12 lap Sport Compact feature, with Reu grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Taft and Dylan Schantz. Taft would try to work under Reu over the next 5 laps, but Reu was able to hold him off each time at the line. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 6, Taft was able to get up beside Reu. The two would drag race down the long front stretch, with Reu still holding the top spot by inches. Over the next 5 laps Taft waited for Reu to slip up off the bottom, but again Reu was able to hold back Taft. Taft would make one final attempt to get by Reu for the win coming off turn 4. But Reu held him at bay to claim his third win in a row at the track. Taft settled for 2nd, Jeffrey DeLonjay finished 3rd, Jaden DeLonjay started 8th and finished 4th, with Schantz holding on for 5th.
The 15 lap Stock Car feature was up next, with John Oliver Jr. and Beau Taylor making up the front row. Oliver Jr. took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Taylor and Chad Krogmeier. Disaster would strike Krogmeier on lap 2, as he spun in turn 1 and collected Dean Kratzer to bring out the yellow. On the restart Oliver Jr. jumped back out front, with Taylor working to hold back Abe Huls for the runner up spot. While Taylor and Huls battled for second, Oliver Jr. started to put some distance between himself and that battle. On lap 12 Huls was finally able to get past Taylor for second, and they tried to chase down Oliver Jr. for the win. But Huls would run out of laps, as Oliver Jr. went on to claim his second win in a row at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway. Huls was 2nd, Taylor was 3rd, Nathan Wood was 4th, with Pete Stogdel coming from 9th to finish in 5th.
Up next was the 18 lap SportMod feature, with Blaine Webster and Jeff Frana leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But it was third place starter Daniel Fellows who shot into the lead on lap 1 over Webster and Frana. The action up front was slowed on lap 4, as Levi Long and Mack Ray collided in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Austen Becerra, who started 15th after losing a drive shaft in his heat race, spun from his 6th place running spot to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Fellows moved back out front, with Brandon Dale and Bobby Six, who both started in row three, close behind. After another lap was scored complete another caution appeared, as Colton Livezey, who was running 7th, slowed to a stop down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. Fellows once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Six and Dale battling for the runner up spot. While the battle for second went on between Six, Dale, and Adam Birck, who started 12th, Fellows started to pull away from the field. Just when it looked like Fellows would cruise to the win, the final caution of the race came out on lap 16. Debris down the backstretch would bring out the yellow, and bring the field back to Fellows' back bumper. On the restart Fellows jumped back out front, with Birck and Six following close behind. Birk stayed in Fellows' tire tracks, but wasn't able to mount a challenge over the final four laps. As Fellows went on to pick up his second win in a row at the track. Birck was 2nd, Six was 3rd, Dale was 4th, with Becerra recovering from his early troubles to come home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Modifieds, with Jared Fuller and Dugan Thye drawing the front row. Just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as Scott Bryant spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Fuller used his starting spot to his advantage to grab the lead on lap 1 over Thye and Dalton McKenney. As the field was coming off turn 4 to complete lap 2, a few cars got stacked up in front of Jeff Waterman, who was running 4th, and he got on the brakes hard to avoid contact. As a result he spun down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fuller moved back out front, with McKenney and Thye following. Another lap was scored complete before the second and final caution of the race appeared. Bryant would spin in turn 2 to bring out his second caution to end his night. Fuller once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Austin Howes, who started 8th, and Brandon Lennox, who started 14th, close behind. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 5, Howes was able to get under Fuller and then would edge him at the line by half a car length to take over the top spot. At the halfway point in the race Lennox was able to get past Fuller for the runner up spot, and then went to work on Howes for the lead. Howes got the break he needed through lapped traffic on lap 15, as he was able to put some distance between himself and Lennox. This would allow Howes to go on to lead the final laps to score his first career Modified win. Lennox settled for 2nd, Dakota Simmons started 7th and finished 3rd, Thye held on for 4th, with Kiel Morton finishing in 5th.
The next race event at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri will be on Friday, August 9th. To keep up with all the events at the track, be sure you like their Facebook page.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Pepsi Scotland County Speedway, Memphis, Missouri
July 12, 2019 - Scotland County Fair Night
Modifieds
A-Feature: 1. Austin Howes, Memphis, MO; 2. Brandon Lennox, New London, MO; 3. Dakota Simmons, Douds, IA; 4. Dugan Thye, Burlington, IA; 5. Kiel Morton, LaPata, MO; 6. Craig Spegal, New London, MO; 7. Fisher Reese, Memphis, MO; 8. Jerry Asher, Kirksville, MO; 9. Jared Fuller, Memphis, MO; 10. Steve Pumphrey, Fairfield, IA; 11. Dalton McKenney, Clarksville, MO; 12. Scott Bryant, Baring, MO; 13. Jeff Waterman, Quincy, IL; 14. David Snyder, Greentop, MO; 15. Chase Breid, Madison, MO; 16. Tristen Fuller, Memphis, MO
Heat 1: 1. Jeff Waterman; 2. Dalton McKenney; 3. Dakota Simmons; 4. Dugan Thye; 5. Chase Breid; 6. Fisher Reese; 7. David Snyder; 8. Scott Bryant
Heat 2: 1. Austin Howes; 2. Jared Fuller; 3. Craig Spegal; 4. Kiel Morton; 5. Steve Pumphrey; 6. Jerry Asher; 7. Brandon Lennox; 8. Tristen Fuller
Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 2. Abe Huls, Carthage, IL; 3. Beau Taylor, Canton, MO; 4. Nathan Wood, Sigourney, IA; 5. Pete Stogdel, Fowler, IL; 6. Les Blakley, Fairfield, IA; 7. Kevin Koontz, Memphis, MO; 8. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 9. Dean Kratzer, Ft. Madison, IA
Heat: 1. John Oliver Jr.; 2. Beau Taylor; 3. Abe Huls; 4. Chad Krogmeier; 5. Nathan Wood; 6. Les Blakley; 7. Dean Kratzer; 8. Kevin Koontz; 9. Pete Stogdel
SportMods
A-Feature: 1. Daniel Fellows, Keokuk, IA; 2. Adam Birck, Canton, MO; 3. Bobby Six, Keokuk, IA; 4. Brandon Dale, Arbela, MO; 5. Austin Becerra, Carthage, IL; 6. Blaine Webster, Ottumwa, IA; 7. Brandyn Ryan, Coatsburg, IL; 8. Brandon Lambert, Carthage, IL; 9. Tim Dawson, Callao, MO; 10. Michael Benjamin, Montrose, IA; 11. Hugh Eddy, Milan, MO; 12. Jeff Frana, Ottumwa, IA; 13. Levi Long, Payson, IL; 14. John M. Anderson, Kirksville, MO; 15. Colton Livezey, New Sharon, IA; 16. Jim Walker, Mystic, IA; 17. Kevin Skaggs, Kirksville, MO; 18. Mack Ray, Fayette, MO; 19. Thomas Bridgeman, Moulton, IA; 20. Michael Holcomb, Brachear, MO
Heat 1: 1. Bobby Six; 2. Brandyn Ryan; 3. Brandon Dale; 4. Mack Ray; 5. Michael Benjamin; 6. John M. Anderson; 7. Thomas Bridgeman
Heat 2: 1. Colton Livezey; 2. Adam Birck; 3. Tim Dawson; 4. Jeff Frana; 5. Hugh Eddy; 6. Brandon Lambert; 7. Kevin Skaggs
Heat 3: 1. Blaine Webster; 2. Daniel Fellows; 3. Michael Holcomb; 4. Jim Walker; 5. Austin Becerra; 6. Levi Long
Hobby Stocks
A-Feature: 1. Rick Van Dusseldorp, Oskaloosa, IA; 2. Jason Rindom, Moberly, MO; 3. Jadyn Stevens, Hedrick, IA
Heat: 1. Rick Van Dusseldorp; 2. Jason Rindom; 3. Jadyn Stevens
Sport Compacts
A-Feature: 1. Brandon Reu, Donnellson, IA; 2. Barry Taft, Argyle, IA; 3. Jeffrey DeLonjay, Quincy, IL; 4. Jaden DeLonjay, Quincy, IL; 5. Dylan Schantz, Luray, MO; 6. Alvin Cooney, Mexico, MO; 7. Kevin Garrett, Bloomfield, IA; 8. Jason Ash, Burlington, IA; 9. Kimberly Abbott, Camp Point, IL; 10. Zyan Tripplett, Edina, MO
Heat 1: 1. Barry Taft; 2. Brandon Reu; 3. Jeffrey DeLonjay; 4. Dylan Schantz; 5. Kevin Garrett
Heat 2: 1. Jason Ash; 2. Kimberly Abbott; 3. Alvin Cooney; 4. Jaden DeLonjay; 5. Zyan Tripplett
Lennox Claims First Career IMCA Modified Win
Donnellson, IA (Thursday, July 11, 2019) - It was Lee County Fair week, Iowa's oldest running county fair, at the Lee County Fairgrounds in Donnellson, Iowa. And Thursday night was set aside for racing action, as the Sprint Invaders highlighted the nights activities. At the end of the night two driver's won for the first time of the season at the track, while three others claimed multiple wins at the track on the season.
The 15 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compact feature was the first to take to the track, with Chuck Fullenkamp and Jason Ash leading the field to green. Ash would use his starting spot to his advantage to grab the lead on lap 1 over Fullenkamp and Josh Barnes, who started 6th. The lead for Ash only lasted for 1 lap, as Barnes used the momentum off the top of the track to take the top spot away on lap 2. While Barnes paced the field out front, Ash, Fullenkamp, Barry Taft, and Trent Orwig battled for the runner up spot. The action was slowed for the one and only time on lap 11, as TJ Weyls slowed down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Fullenkamp, Taft, Ash and Orwig following close behind. Despite a few challenges over the final laps from Fullenkamp, Barnes would hold him off to pick up his third win on the season at the track. Fullenkamp was 2nd, Orwig was 3rd, Taft was 4th, with Ash rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 18 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Brandon Lennox and Dalton McKenney making up the front row. Lennox took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over McKenney and John Oliver Jr. On lap 2 Oliver Jr. would slip past McKenney to take over the runner up spot, and then went to work on Lennox for the lead. Over the next several laps Oliver Jr. tried to work under Lennox for the top spot. But Lennox was able to hold him off in the caution free event to score his first career IMCA Modified win. Oliver Jr. was 2nd, Jeff Waterman came from 7th to finish 3rd, Austin Howes started 8th and finished 4th, with Dennis LaVeine coming from 9th to come home in 5th.
Riley Goodno and Ayrton Gennetten led the field to green in the 20 lap Sprint Invaders feature, with Gennetten jumping out front on lap 1 over Goodno and Mason Daniel, who started 5th. Then just after lap 1 was scored complete the first and only caution of the race appeared, as Colton Fisher spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gennetten moved back out front, with Daniel over taking Goodno for the runner up spot. The pace that Gennetten was setting would put him into lapped traffic on lap 9. Two laps later, lap 11, a lapped car got sideways in front of him and he had to check up to avoid contact. This would allow Daniel to charge past him for the top spot. Daniel then pulled away thru heavy lapped traffic to claim his first career Sprint Invaders win. Gennetten was 2nd, Jamie Ball finished 3rd after starting in 6th, Chris Martin passed 12 cars from his 16th place starting spot to come home in 4th, with Goodno holding on for 5th.
Just like the Modified feature, the 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature went green-to-checkered without a caution. Jeremy Pundt and Les Blakley would make up the front row, with Pundt jumping out front on lap 1 over Blakley and Jason Cook. While most of the field worked the bottom of the track, Abe Huls, who started 5th, would work the middle groove to work himself into second on lap 7. Two laps later, lap 9, Huls worked around Pundt coming off turn 2 to take over the top spot. Cook would follow Huls into the runner up spot at the same time. Over the final laps Cook tried to work under Huls for the lead. But Huls was able to hold him off to claim his fourth win on the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Cook was 2nd, Pundt was 3rd, Blakley was 4th, with Chad Krogmeier finishing in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 18 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods, with Ron Kibbe and Barry Dugan making up the front row for the event. Kibbe used his starting spot to his advantage to grab the lead on lap 1 over Austen Becerra and Sean Wyett, who started 5th. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 4, when Brian Bergheger slowed in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Kibbe jumped back out front, with Wyett over taking Becerra for second. Another lapped scored complete produced another yellow, as Colton Bowman spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Wyett would slip past Kibbe on the restart to take over the top spot. Then after another lap was scored complete, Kyle Hamelton spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wyett jumped back out front, with Becerra and Blaine Webster, who started 8th, close behind. On lap 11 Becerra would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 to edge Wyett out at the line to take over the lead. The battle up front was slowed on lap 14, as Bowman spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow and ending his night. On the restart Bergheger spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on, and that would end his night. The next restart saw Becerra jumped back out front, with Wyett and Webster close behind. Another lapped scored complete produced the final caution, as Kibbe spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow and setting up a two lap dash to the finish. Becerra grabbed the lead on the restart, with Wyett and Webster following. Despite a challenge from Wyett over the final lap, Becerra was able to hold him off to score his third win of the season at the track. Wyett settled for 2nd, Webster was 3rd, Daniel Fellows came from 10th to finish in 4th, with Dan Brockert coming home in 5th.
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