Vinton, IA (Sunday, April 21, 2019) - My three night racing weekend came to an end on Easter Sunday, as I made the trip northwest to the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa for their season opening event. Seven classes were on the card for the night, including the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, Legend Cars, Micro Mods, and Sport Compacts. The Stock Car and Modified features were the final two races to take to the track on the night, and those two alone were well worth the price of admission.
First up on the night was the 10 lap Micro Mod feature, with only five cars signing in for the night. Cole McNeal and Russ Olson drew the front row for the event, with McNeal grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Shawn Fisher and Olson. Fisher would follow in McNeal's tire tracks the entire race, but without any mistakes by McNeal there was no way of getting around him. As McNeal led all 10 laps to picked up the win. Fisher was 2nd, Olson was 3rd, Joren Fisher was 4th, with Matt Post completing the top 5.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stocks, with thirteen of the fourteen coming to the track. Michael Kimm and Jake Benischek led the field to green. But it was third place starter Jacob Floyd who jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Kimm and Bill Bonnett. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 2, as Trenton Neuhous spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart, Brett Vanous, who started 8th, slipped under Floyd coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Three laps later, lap 6, the second and final caution of the race slowed the action. This time a tire was clipped in turn 1 and pushed onto the track to bring out the yellow. Vanous moved back out front on the restart, with Bonnett edging Floyd at the line for the runner up spot. While Vanous pulled away, Bonnett, Floyd, Kimm, and Matt Brown, who started 10th, battled to see who would finish second thru fifth. Without another caution there was no catching Vanous, who cruised to an easy win. Floyd won the battle for 2nd, Bonnett was 3rd, Floyd was 4th, with Brown rounding out the top 5.
Ryan Mech and Dave McCalla led the field of sixteen Legend Cars to green, in their 20 lap feature. But just as the green flag waved the red light came on, as Edward Farrington got upside down in turn 1 and collected Dan Mech and Mike Mueller to bring out the red. All driver's climbed from their cars okay. On the original restart Ryan Mech jumped out to lead lap 1 over Drew Papke, who started 5th, and McCalla. Ryan Mech held the top spot until lap 3, when Papke slipped under him to grab the lead. Papke then tried to pull away from the field, but Ryan Mech would close the gap late in the race. Ryan Mech would run out of laps to challenge Papke for the lead, as Papke went on to take the checkered flag. Mech settled for 2nd, Terry Sahr was 3rd, Kevin Korsmo came from 9th to finish in 4th, with Ryan Sullivan finishing in 5th after starting in 11th.
Sixteen out of the eighteen Sport Compacts that signed in came to the track next for their 14 lap feature, with Adam Gates and Levi Heath drawing the front row. Gates took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Luke Benischek and Heath. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time, when #99 (sorry didn't catch the name) stopped in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gates moved back out front, with Benischek and Heath close behind. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 5, Benischek was able to get under Gates to edge him at the line by inches to take the top spot. Benischek then started to pull away, until he entered lapped traffic on lap 10. This would allow Gates to close in on him, but Gates would run out of laps to challenge Benischek. As Benischek held on to claim the win. Gates settled for 2nd, Mitchell Bunch started 7th and overtook Heath on the final lap to get 3rd, Heath was 4th, with Travis Losenicky coming from 12th to come home in 5th.
The 18 lap IMCA SportMod feature took to the track next, with only twelve of the sixteen cars signed in taking the green flag. Brady Hilmer and James Roose were scheduled to lead the field to green, but when Hilmer was a scratch this would move Tony Olson to the pole position. Tony Olson took advantage of this move by grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Ryan King and Danny Dvorak. The action was slowed on lap 2, when Zach Vasey went over the track in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Tony Olson jumped back out front, with Kyle Olson, who started 7th, and Ben Chapman close behind. One lap later, lap 5, Vasey spun in turn 2 to bring out his second yellow to end his night. Tony Olson once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Kyle Olson and Chapman following. Kyle Olson would stay in Tony Olson's tire tracks, waiting for Tony to slip off the bottom so he could take advantage. But Tony Olson never made the mistake Kyle was looking for, as he led all 18 laps to pick up the win. Kyle Olson was 2nd, Chapman was 3rd, Dvorak was 4th, with Joe Docekal starting 8th and finishing 5th.
Jay Schmidt and Dan Trimble drew the front row for the 18 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with sixteen of the seventeen making the call for the event. On the drop of the green flag Schmidt jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Trimble and John Oliver Jr., who started 5th. While Schmidt worked the bottom of the track, Trimble would try the top to get the lead away. But on lap 12 Trimble slipped over the track in turn 4 and before he came back onto the track he fell back to 10th. One lap later, lap 13, Tyler Travis spun in turn 4 to bring out the one and only caution of the race. On the restart Schmidt held the top spot, with Damon Murty, who started 9th, using the top of the track to edge out Oliver Jr. for the runner up spot. Schmidt, stayed glued to the bottom of the track, that was until lap 16 when he slipped high off tun 2, which allowed Murty to shoot under him going down the backstretch. Murty wasn't able to wrestle the bottom from Schmidt coming off turn 4 for the white flag, so he went to the top going into turn 1. At the same time Oliver Jr. went to the middle, as Schmidt, Oliver Jr. and Murty came off turn 2 three wide. The three would enter turn 3 three wide, with Schmidt and Oliver Jr. coming off turn 4 battling for the win, while Murty slipped to high and went over the track. Schmidt would edge Oliver Jr. out at the line to claim the win. Scooter Dulin took advantage of Murty getting to high off 4 to come around to get 3rd, Murty came back on the track to finish 4th, with Brian Mahlstedt finishing 5th after staring in 8th.
Seventeen of the eighteen IMCA Modifieds came to the track for the final race of the night, with Kyle Brown and Troy Cordes leading the field to the green in the 20 lap event. Brown would grab the lead on lap 1 over Corey Dripps and Cordes. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 5, when Mike Burbridge, who was running 6th, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Brown moved back out front, with Dripps, and Jeff Aikey, who started 14th (more about why he started so far back coming up later), close behind. Dripps would enter turn 3 to come and complete lap 9, and then slid up in front of Brown coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Over the next 5 laps Dripps and Brown would swap slid jobs at each of the race track, with Dripps leading each lap. The battle up front would slow for the second and final time, when Stephen Streeter spun in turn 4 on lap 15 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Aikey went thru the middle of Dripps and Brown coming off turn 4 to lead lap 16. Aikey would hold off challenges from Dripps and Brown over the final laps to pick up the win. Brown was able to clear Dripps for 2nd, Joel Rust came from 8th to finish in 4th, with Brennan Chipp coming home in 5th.
Notes from Vinton: The final checkered flag waved at 7:45 PM, which put everyone back on the road home early on a Sunday night......Dave Eberle started the Legend feature in 15th and finished 6th....Tim Fredericks finished 8th after starting in 13th....Michael Carter came from 16th to finish in 10th......Andrew Swailes started the SportMod feature in 14th and finished 8th......Kevin Rose started the Stock Car feature in 13th and finished 7th....Bob Ahrendsen had troubles after the heat that forced his to scratch from the feature......Jeff Aikey was leading heat race number 2 when he slowed down the backstretch on the white flag lap. This would allow the next 4 cars to go by him, and before he realized the race wasn't over he fell back to fifth, one spot out of the redraw. He would admit in his post race interview that the driver made a mistake in the heat race, by thinking he took the checkered instead of the white flag. He would redeem himself by driving from 14th to the win....Jared VanDeest, who moved up from the SportMod class into the Modified class for 2019, was scheduled to start the Modified feature in 6th. But he would elect to start at the rear. He then drove up to a 6th place finish. Scott Hogan started 17th and finished 7th....Patrick Flannagan had troubles after the heat race that forced him to scratch from the feature.
Thank you to Mick Tier, Mike VanGenderen and the entire staff at the Benton County Speedway for the hospitality!! It sure was nice getting back on the road home by 8 PM, especially for somebody who has a 2.5 hour drive home and has to get up at 5:15 in the morning to go to work!
Monday, April 22, 2019
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Pierce Becomes Three Time Winner of Slocum 50
West Burlington, IA (Saturday, April 20, 2019) - Every year in April many people circle the Slocum 50 race on their calendar when 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa releases their schedule. The 11th Annual Slocum 50 took place on Saturday, April 20th, with a beautiful day and evening greeting all the fans and driver's out to 34 Raceway for the event. One fact people might not realize about the Slocum 50 is in the eleven year history of this race it has never been canceled. That should tell you one young man, by the name of Brent Slocum, is looking down on 34 Raceway on this particular evening.
Thirty-seven Lucas Oil Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA) Late Models, along with 14 305 Sprints and 16 IMCA Stock Cars signed in on the night in homes of parking their cars in victory lane at the end of the night. The 37 Late Models would draw a pill when they checked in, with the lowest 19 put into Group A and the other 18 put in Group B for time trials. Chad Simpson would set fast time in Group A and overall quick time, with a lap of 15.296. While Shannon Babb set fast time in Group B, with a lap of 15.640.
The group A qualifiers were divided into the first two 10 lap heat races, starting straight up by the fastest on the pole. Group B would make up heat race three and four. Out of the four heat races the top four finishers would move directly into the 50 lap Slocum 50 feature, while the remainder of the field would be put into the two B-Mains. Out of those two B-Mains the top three would fill the rest of the 22 car field for the Slocum 50. Two MLRA points provisionals were added to the back to set the 24 car field racing for $10,555 to win and $750 to start.
Heat race one had Chad Simpson and Payton Looney on the front row, with Simpson shooting out into the lead on lap 1. Simpson would go unchallenged to win heat, an earn the pole for the 50 lap Slocum 50. Looney was 2nd, Dennis Erb Jr. finished 3rd, with Will Vaught taking the final transfer spot. Kyle Bronson started 10th and finished 5th, Myles Moos, Jake Neal, Logan Martin, Justin Reed and Mark Burgtorf finished out heat 1.
Ryan Unzicker, the 2015 Slocum 50 winner, started heat 2 on the pole, with Brian Birkhofer scheduled to start next to him on the outside. But Birkhofer, who set the 4th fastest time in Group A time trails on lap 1, got into the front stretch wall hard coming of turn 4 on lap 2. The damaged to the car was to much to continue on the night. So this would move J.C. Wyman to the outside of row 1. Unzicker would take control on lap 1, with Wyman following in second. Wyman would run in the runner up spot until lap 4, when he drifted high going into turn 1 and went over the track. Where he got upside down to bring out the red. He would climb from the car okay. On the restart Unzicker jumped back out front, with Joradn Yaggy, who started 5th, Hudson O'Neal, who started 9th and brought out the yellow on the start when he spun in turn 1 while attempting to go three wide into the corner, and Jay Johnson, who started 8th, battling for the final transfer spots. Unzicker would go on to pick up the win in heat 2. Yaggy was 2nd, O'Neal was 3rd, with Johnson finishing 4th. Jonathan Brauns was 5th, Chase Junghans, who won Friday's opening night MLRA feature at Davenport, was 6th, Jason Feger was 7th, Wyman was credited with 8th, with Birkhofer a did not start in 9th.
Heat race three had Shannon Babb, the defending Slocum 50 winner and fastest of Group B qualifiers, and Jason Frankel on the front row. Babb jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Frankel. Babb would go on to lead all 10 laps to pick up the win, an earn the outside front row for the Slocum 50. Frankel crossed the line in 2nd, Tyler Erb was 3rd, with Chris Simpson claiming the final transfer spot. Jesse Stovall, Rich Bell, Jeremy Grady, Kolby Vandenbergh, and Joseph Gorby, who scracthed from troubles during time trials, finished out the finish in heat 3.
Bobby Pierce, the only two time winner (2014 and 2016) of the Slocum 50, and Garrett Alberson led the field to green in heat race 4. Pierce shot out into the lead on lap 1, with Brian Shirley and Alberson battling for the runner up spot. While the top three raced away from the rest of the field, Mitch McGrath, Jason Rauen and Brandon Sheppard raced for the final transfer spot. Pierce raced to the win in heat 4, with Shirley 2nd, Alberson was 3rd, with McGrath winning the battle for 4th. Rauen, Sheppard, Dave Eckrich, Matthew Mickelson, and Skip Frey rounded out the finish.
The first of two 12 lap B-Mains came to the track, with the top three finishers in both of those filling the back of the field of the Slocum 50. B-Main one had Kyle Bronson and Jonathan Brauns on the front row, with Bronson grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Chase Junghans and Myles Moos. Moos looked to had a transfer spot locked up, when he got into the wall in turn 3 around lap 7 to bring out the caution. On the restart Bronson jumped back out front, with Junghans and Brauns following. While Bronson and Junghans pulled away, the battle for third went on between Braun and Logan Martin, who started 7th. On lap 9 Martin would slid up in front of Braun coming off turn 4 to grab third. But Brauns returned the slid coming off turn 2 to get third back. Than coming to the white flag Martin was able to slid Braun off turn 2 and then held him off to finish third behind Bronson and Junghans. Jake Neal, Justin Reed, Jason Feger, Moos, J.C. Wyman was a scratch after rolling in the heat, Mark Burgtorf had troubles in his heat to scratch, with Brian Birkhofer's night ending in time trials.
B-Main two had Jesse Stovall and Jason Rauen on the front row, with Stovall grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Rauen, Rich Bell and Brandon Sheppard. Rauen, who was running in the final transfer spot, jumped the cushion in turn 3 on lap 8, and would fall back to 6th. This would leave Rich Bell and Dave Eckrich, who started 6th, battle for third. Stovall would hold off Sheppard on the final lap to pick up the win in B-Main two. Eckrich would claim the final transfer spot. Bell, Jeremy Grady, Rauen, Kolby Vandenbergh, Skip Frey, Matthew Mickelson, and Joseph Gorby, who was a scratch after mechanical troubles in time trials, rounded out the finish.
J.C. Wyman and Jeremy Grady were awarded the two MLRA points provisionals to set the field of twenty-four starters for the 50 lap Slocum 50. With the features now set it was time to go racing for the money.
The first feature to take to the track was the 20 lap 305 Sprint Cars, with Nick Eastin, driving Gary Bonar's #97x Sprinter, and Harold Pohren drawing the front row. Pohren took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Eastin and Paul Nienhiser, who started 5th in Caleb Winkel's #5. On lap 3 Nienhiser would over take Eastin for 2nd, then just after the lap was scored complete Nick Guernsey spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pohren jumped back out front, with Nienhiser and Eastin close behind. Nienhiser would follow Pohren around the bottom of the track over the next 6 laps, waiting for him to make a mistake. But going into turn 3 to come and complete lap 11, Nienhiser decided to try the outside to get the lead away from Pohren. Nienhiser would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grab the lead on lap 11. While Nienhiser pulled away, Pohren was left battling Tanner Gebhardt, who started 9th, for the runner up spot. Without a caution to slow the pace, Nienhiser would cruise to the win and claimed the $755 check to go with it. Pohren held off Gebhardt by half a car length to finish in 2nd, Brayden Gaylord was 4th, with Daniel Bergquist coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 50 lap Slocum 50 MLRA Late Model feature, with Chad Simpson and Shannon Babb leading the field to green. Babb used the top of the track to edge out Chad Simpson at the line to lead lap 1, with Ryan Unzicker and Bobby Pierce close behind in 3rd and 4th. Just after lap 1 was scored complete, Kyle Bronson spun in turn 1 to bring out the first caution of the race. On the restart Babb jumped back out front, with Chad Simpson, Unzicker and Pierce still close behind. On lap 6 Pierce was able to slip past Unzicker for 3rd, and then went to work on Chad Simpson for the runner up spot. But the action up front was slowed for the second time of the race on lap 10, when Jay Johnson spun in turn 4 to avoid contact with Brandon Sheppard who slowed to pull into the infield. Babb once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Chad Simpson, Pierce, and now Brian Shirley, who started 8th, close behind.
While Babb set the pace out front, Pierce went to work on Chad Simpson for second. Going into turn 1 to come an complete lap 15, Pierce went low under Chad Simpson and then slid up in front of him coming off turn 2 to get the runner up spot. Pierce then worked on Babb for the lead, while Chad Simpson battled Shirley and Unzicker for 3rd, 4th, and 5th. The action up front was slowed for the third and final time on lap 18, as Husdon O'Neal slowed down the front stretch with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow. On the restart Babb moved back out front, with Pierce, Chad Simpson, Shirley, and Unzicker following. With Babb out front, Pierce and Chad Simpson battled for second. Going into turn 1 to come and complete lap 20, Chad Simpson entered low and then slid up in front of Pierce to take over the runner up spot.
At the halfway point of the race, lap 25, Babb, Chad Simpson and Pierce would break away from the rest of the field. Babb would relinquish lead to Chad Simpson on lap 28, when he entered turn 3 and jumped the cushion to get into the wall. This would allow Chad Simpson to slip under him to take the lead. Five laps later, lap 33, Babb once again jumped the cushion in turn 3 and got into the wall, which allowed Pierce to shoot under him to take over the runner up spot. Pierce would then follow Chad Simpson on the bottom of the track over the next several laps, waiting for Chad Simpson to make a mistake. But when he wasn't able to make the move under Chad Simpson, Pierce decided to go to the top of the track on lap 40 to try and get the top spot. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 43, Pierce would use the momentum to finally take over the lead. Pierce then pulled away over the final laps to claim his third Slocum 50 win in the last 6 years, and claiming another $10,555 check for his efforts. Chad Simpson settled for another 2nd, Babb was 3rd, Chris Simpson charged from 14th to finish 4th to earn the hard charger of the race, with Unzicker crossing the line in 5th.
If you got up and left after the Late Model feature, I hate to tell you that you missed one heck of an IMCA Stock Car feature to finish out the night. The 20 lap event had David Brandies and Kirk Kinsley draw the front row for the event, with Brandies jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Jason See and Jeremy Pundt. See would follow in Brandies tire tracks, that was until lap 10, when disaster would strike See. He would slow coming off turn 4 with a right front flat to bring out the caution. On the restart Brandies moved back out front, with John Oliver Jr., who started 10th, Dustin Griffiths, who started 6th, and Abe Huls, who started 5th, battling for the top spot.
Going into turn 1 to come and complete lap 15, Oliver Jr. went low and then slid up in front of Brandies off turn 2 to grab the top spot. But Brandies would go low in turn 3 and then slid up in front of Oliver Jr. coming off turn 4 to keep the lead the the line. One lap later, lap 16, Huls worked the bottom of the track to make it a three car battle for the lead. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 17, Huls, on the bottom, Brandies, in the middle, and Oliver Jr., up top, were three wide for the top spot. I gave Huls the credit for leading lap 17 by inches. Oliver Jr. would use the top of the track to come around to lead lap 18. Huls would try to get under Oliver Jr. coming off turn four for the checkered flag, but Oliver Jr. held him off at the line to pick up the $555 check. Oliver Jr. was also awarded the hard charger of the race award. Huls finished a close 2nd, Brandies was 3rd, Griffiths was 4th, with Tom Bowling Jr. rounding out the top 5.
Notes from 34: Nick Guernsey recovered from his spin on lap 3 of the 305 Sprint Car feature to come back up to finish in 6th. He also started 13th and passed 7 cars to take home the hard charger award....Dillan Roth, who drove Nick Breuer's #78 Sprinter, only made a lap in the feature due to motor troubles......Garrett Alberson started the Slocum 50 Late Model feature in 12th and finished 6th....Vill Vaught finished 7th after starting in 13th....Chase Junghans passed 10 cars from his 19th place starting spot to come home in 9th....Jesse Stovall started 18th and finished 10th....Hudson O'Neal recovered from his flat tire on lap 18 to come back up to finish 12th....J.C. Wyman, who rolled in his heat race, was able to make repairs and then took a MLRA point provisional to get into the Slocum 50. He would start 23rd and finish 14th....Logan Martin came from 21st to finish in 15th....Rickey Frankel was suppose to start 6th, but after scaling in the heat race he was pushed back to his pit area. Whatever the issue was forced him to scratch from the feature....Payton Looney, was suppose to start 5th in the feature. But during the parade lap he fell to the back of the field, and then pulled off before the green waved......Brandon Rothzen started the Stock Car feature in 9th and finished 6th....Jason Cook came from 12th to finish in 8th....Jeff Mueller started 16th and finished 10th....Kevin Koontz scratched from the feature after damage in a wreck in the heat race.
Thirty-seven Lucas Oil Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA) Late Models, along with 14 305 Sprints and 16 IMCA Stock Cars signed in on the night in homes of parking their cars in victory lane at the end of the night. The 37 Late Models would draw a pill when they checked in, with the lowest 19 put into Group A and the other 18 put in Group B for time trials. Chad Simpson would set fast time in Group A and overall quick time, with a lap of 15.296. While Shannon Babb set fast time in Group B, with a lap of 15.640.
The group A qualifiers were divided into the first two 10 lap heat races, starting straight up by the fastest on the pole. Group B would make up heat race three and four. Out of the four heat races the top four finishers would move directly into the 50 lap Slocum 50 feature, while the remainder of the field would be put into the two B-Mains. Out of those two B-Mains the top three would fill the rest of the 22 car field for the Slocum 50. Two MLRA points provisionals were added to the back to set the 24 car field racing for $10,555 to win and $750 to start.
Heat race one had Chad Simpson and Payton Looney on the front row, with Simpson shooting out into the lead on lap 1. Simpson would go unchallenged to win heat, an earn the pole for the 50 lap Slocum 50. Looney was 2nd, Dennis Erb Jr. finished 3rd, with Will Vaught taking the final transfer spot. Kyle Bronson started 10th and finished 5th, Myles Moos, Jake Neal, Logan Martin, Justin Reed and Mark Burgtorf finished out heat 1.
Ryan Unzicker, the 2015 Slocum 50 winner, started heat 2 on the pole, with Brian Birkhofer scheduled to start next to him on the outside. But Birkhofer, who set the 4th fastest time in Group A time trails on lap 1, got into the front stretch wall hard coming of turn 4 on lap 2. The damaged to the car was to much to continue on the night. So this would move J.C. Wyman to the outside of row 1. Unzicker would take control on lap 1, with Wyman following in second. Wyman would run in the runner up spot until lap 4, when he drifted high going into turn 1 and went over the track. Where he got upside down to bring out the red. He would climb from the car okay. On the restart Unzicker jumped back out front, with Joradn Yaggy, who started 5th, Hudson O'Neal, who started 9th and brought out the yellow on the start when he spun in turn 1 while attempting to go three wide into the corner, and Jay Johnson, who started 8th, battling for the final transfer spots. Unzicker would go on to pick up the win in heat 2. Yaggy was 2nd, O'Neal was 3rd, with Johnson finishing 4th. Jonathan Brauns was 5th, Chase Junghans, who won Friday's opening night MLRA feature at Davenport, was 6th, Jason Feger was 7th, Wyman was credited with 8th, with Birkhofer a did not start in 9th.
Heat race three had Shannon Babb, the defending Slocum 50 winner and fastest of Group B qualifiers, and Jason Frankel on the front row. Babb jumped out into the lead on lap 1 over Frankel. Babb would go on to lead all 10 laps to pick up the win, an earn the outside front row for the Slocum 50. Frankel crossed the line in 2nd, Tyler Erb was 3rd, with Chris Simpson claiming the final transfer spot. Jesse Stovall, Rich Bell, Jeremy Grady, Kolby Vandenbergh, and Joseph Gorby, who scracthed from troubles during time trials, finished out the finish in heat 3.
Bobby Pierce, the only two time winner (2014 and 2016) of the Slocum 50, and Garrett Alberson led the field to green in heat race 4. Pierce shot out into the lead on lap 1, with Brian Shirley and Alberson battling for the runner up spot. While the top three raced away from the rest of the field, Mitch McGrath, Jason Rauen and Brandon Sheppard raced for the final transfer spot. Pierce raced to the win in heat 4, with Shirley 2nd, Alberson was 3rd, with McGrath winning the battle for 4th. Rauen, Sheppard, Dave Eckrich, Matthew Mickelson, and Skip Frey rounded out the finish.
The first of two 12 lap B-Mains came to the track, with the top three finishers in both of those filling the back of the field of the Slocum 50. B-Main one had Kyle Bronson and Jonathan Brauns on the front row, with Bronson grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Chase Junghans and Myles Moos. Moos looked to had a transfer spot locked up, when he got into the wall in turn 3 around lap 7 to bring out the caution. On the restart Bronson jumped back out front, with Junghans and Brauns following. While Bronson and Junghans pulled away, the battle for third went on between Braun and Logan Martin, who started 7th. On lap 9 Martin would slid up in front of Braun coming off turn 4 to grab third. But Brauns returned the slid coming off turn 2 to get third back. Than coming to the white flag Martin was able to slid Braun off turn 2 and then held him off to finish third behind Bronson and Junghans. Jake Neal, Justin Reed, Jason Feger, Moos, J.C. Wyman was a scratch after rolling in the heat, Mark Burgtorf had troubles in his heat to scratch, with Brian Birkhofer's night ending in time trials.
B-Main two had Jesse Stovall and Jason Rauen on the front row, with Stovall grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Rauen, Rich Bell and Brandon Sheppard. Rauen, who was running in the final transfer spot, jumped the cushion in turn 3 on lap 8, and would fall back to 6th. This would leave Rich Bell and Dave Eckrich, who started 6th, battle for third. Stovall would hold off Sheppard on the final lap to pick up the win in B-Main two. Eckrich would claim the final transfer spot. Bell, Jeremy Grady, Rauen, Kolby Vandenbergh, Skip Frey, Matthew Mickelson, and Joseph Gorby, who was a scratch after mechanical troubles in time trials, rounded out the finish.
J.C. Wyman and Jeremy Grady were awarded the two MLRA points provisionals to set the field of twenty-four starters for the 50 lap Slocum 50. With the features now set it was time to go racing for the money.
The first feature to take to the track was the 20 lap 305 Sprint Cars, with Nick Eastin, driving Gary Bonar's #97x Sprinter, and Harold Pohren drawing the front row. Pohren took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Eastin and Paul Nienhiser, who started 5th in Caleb Winkel's #5. On lap 3 Nienhiser would over take Eastin for 2nd, then just after the lap was scored complete Nick Guernsey spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pohren jumped back out front, with Nienhiser and Eastin close behind. Nienhiser would follow Pohren around the bottom of the track over the next 6 laps, waiting for him to make a mistake. But going into turn 3 to come and complete lap 11, Nienhiser decided to try the outside to get the lead away from Pohren. Nienhiser would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grab the lead on lap 11. While Nienhiser pulled away, Pohren was left battling Tanner Gebhardt, who started 9th, for the runner up spot. Without a caution to slow the pace, Nienhiser would cruise to the win and claimed the $755 check to go with it. Pohren held off Gebhardt by half a car length to finish in 2nd, Brayden Gaylord was 4th, with Daniel Bergquist coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 50 lap Slocum 50 MLRA Late Model feature, with Chad Simpson and Shannon Babb leading the field to green. Babb used the top of the track to edge out Chad Simpson at the line to lead lap 1, with Ryan Unzicker and Bobby Pierce close behind in 3rd and 4th. Just after lap 1 was scored complete, Kyle Bronson spun in turn 1 to bring out the first caution of the race. On the restart Babb jumped back out front, with Chad Simpson, Unzicker and Pierce still close behind. On lap 6 Pierce was able to slip past Unzicker for 3rd, and then went to work on Chad Simpson for the runner up spot. But the action up front was slowed for the second time of the race on lap 10, when Jay Johnson spun in turn 4 to avoid contact with Brandon Sheppard who slowed to pull into the infield. Babb once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Chad Simpson, Pierce, and now Brian Shirley, who started 8th, close behind.
While Babb set the pace out front, Pierce went to work on Chad Simpson for second. Going into turn 1 to come an complete lap 15, Pierce went low under Chad Simpson and then slid up in front of him coming off turn 2 to get the runner up spot. Pierce then worked on Babb for the lead, while Chad Simpson battled Shirley and Unzicker for 3rd, 4th, and 5th. The action up front was slowed for the third and final time on lap 18, as Husdon O'Neal slowed down the front stretch with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow. On the restart Babb moved back out front, with Pierce, Chad Simpson, Shirley, and Unzicker following. With Babb out front, Pierce and Chad Simpson battled for second. Going into turn 1 to come and complete lap 20, Chad Simpson entered low and then slid up in front of Pierce to take over the runner up spot.
At the halfway point of the race, lap 25, Babb, Chad Simpson and Pierce would break away from the rest of the field. Babb would relinquish lead to Chad Simpson on lap 28, when he entered turn 3 and jumped the cushion to get into the wall. This would allow Chad Simpson to slip under him to take the lead. Five laps later, lap 33, Babb once again jumped the cushion in turn 3 and got into the wall, which allowed Pierce to shoot under him to take over the runner up spot. Pierce would then follow Chad Simpson on the bottom of the track over the next several laps, waiting for Chad Simpson to make a mistake. But when he wasn't able to make the move under Chad Simpson, Pierce decided to go to the top of the track on lap 40 to try and get the top spot. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 43, Pierce would use the momentum to finally take over the lead. Pierce then pulled away over the final laps to claim his third Slocum 50 win in the last 6 years, and claiming another $10,555 check for his efforts. Chad Simpson settled for another 2nd, Babb was 3rd, Chris Simpson charged from 14th to finish 4th to earn the hard charger of the race, with Unzicker crossing the line in 5th.
If you got up and left after the Late Model feature, I hate to tell you that you missed one heck of an IMCA Stock Car feature to finish out the night. The 20 lap event had David Brandies and Kirk Kinsley draw the front row for the event, with Brandies jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Jason See and Jeremy Pundt. See would follow in Brandies tire tracks, that was until lap 10, when disaster would strike See. He would slow coming off turn 4 with a right front flat to bring out the caution. On the restart Brandies moved back out front, with John Oliver Jr., who started 10th, Dustin Griffiths, who started 6th, and Abe Huls, who started 5th, battling for the top spot.
Going into turn 1 to come and complete lap 15, Oliver Jr. went low and then slid up in front of Brandies off turn 2 to grab the top spot. But Brandies would go low in turn 3 and then slid up in front of Oliver Jr. coming off turn 4 to keep the lead the the line. One lap later, lap 16, Huls worked the bottom of the track to make it a three car battle for the lead. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 17, Huls, on the bottom, Brandies, in the middle, and Oliver Jr., up top, were three wide for the top spot. I gave Huls the credit for leading lap 17 by inches. Oliver Jr. would use the top of the track to come around to lead lap 18. Huls would try to get under Oliver Jr. coming off turn four for the checkered flag, but Oliver Jr. held him off at the line to pick up the $555 check. Oliver Jr. was also awarded the hard charger of the race award. Huls finished a close 2nd, Brandies was 3rd, Griffiths was 4th, with Tom Bowling Jr. rounding out the top 5.
Notes from 34: Nick Guernsey recovered from his spin on lap 3 of the 305 Sprint Car feature to come back up to finish in 6th. He also started 13th and passed 7 cars to take home the hard charger award....Dillan Roth, who drove Nick Breuer's #78 Sprinter, only made a lap in the feature due to motor troubles......Garrett Alberson started the Slocum 50 Late Model feature in 12th and finished 6th....Vill Vaught finished 7th after starting in 13th....Chase Junghans passed 10 cars from his 19th place starting spot to come home in 9th....Jesse Stovall started 18th and finished 10th....Hudson O'Neal recovered from his flat tire on lap 18 to come back up to finish 12th....J.C. Wyman, who rolled in his heat race, was able to make repairs and then took a MLRA point provisional to get into the Slocum 50. He would start 23rd and finish 14th....Logan Martin came from 21st to finish in 15th....Rickey Frankel was suppose to start 6th, but after scaling in the heat race he was pushed back to his pit area. Whatever the issue was forced him to scratch from the feature....Payton Looney, was suppose to start 5th in the feature. But during the parade lap he fell to the back of the field, and then pulled off before the green waved......Brandon Rothzen started the Stock Car feature in 9th and finished 6th....Jason Cook came from 12th to finish in 8th....Jeff Mueller started 16th and finished 10th....Kevin Koontz scratched from the feature after damage in a wreck in the heat race.
Six New Winners Visit Pepsi Lee County Speedway Victory Lane
Donnellson, IA (Friday, April 19, 2019) - So far this season the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa is a perfect four for four in getting in their first scheduled nights of racing, even though mother nature thinks it's early fall instead of early spring. Friday nights action featured seven classes racing on Archie's Service Center Night, with six out of the seven feature winners visiting victory lane for the first time in 2019 at the track. Claiming wins on the night were Jeremish Hurst (I-Smile Silver Late Models), Jarrod Schneiderman (305 Sprint Cars), Mike Mullen (Budwesier IMCA Modifieds), Abe Huls (Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars), Daniel Fellows (Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods), Josh Barnes (Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts), and Ty Wilke (Legend Cars).
The first feature to take to the track was the 15 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts, with Dylan Schantz and David Prim leading the field to green. Schantz would take advantage of his starting spot and grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Cody Bowman and Trent Orwig, who started 6th. The battle up front went two wide over the next 5 laps, as Schantz and Bowman swapped the lead back and forth before Bowman took command of the top spot on lap 5. Two laps later the battle for the lead went three wide, as Josh Barnes, who started 5th, used the top of the track to make it three wide. Barnes would use the momentum off the top of turn two to take over the top spot on lap 7. Then just after the lap was scored complete the first and only caution of the race appeared to slow the action down. Colton Keck would come to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, but now had Jacob Houston, who started 9th, and Bowman glued to his back bumper. Houston, who has won the first three features at the track, tried to get under Barnes over the final laps. But Barnes was able to hold him off to claim his first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Houston settled for second on a left rear flat, Orwig was 3rd, Brandon Reu came from 7th to finish in 4th, with Barry Taft finishing in 5th after starting in 8th.
Next up was the 25 lap Legend Cars feature, with Brian Hanson and Jeremy Meyer drawing the front row for the event. Hanson used his front row draw and jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Meyer and Mike Gilbert. While Hanson worked to hold off Gilbert for the lead, Tim Brockhouse, who started 5th, would move in to challenge for the top spot. On lap 4 Brockhouse would shoot into the lead, with Drew Papke, who started 7th, following him into the runner up spot. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 10, when Meyer spun into the backstretch guardrail to bring out the yellow. On the restart Brockhouse moved back out front, with Papke and Ty Wilke, who started 11th, following close behind. Brockhouse looked like his was in control of the race, when the second and final caution of the race appeared on lap 19, to slow his pace down. Gilbert, who was running 7th, would get sideways down the front stretch and collected Brock Haines to bring out the yellow. On the restart Brockhouse slowed and pulled off the track, which allowed Ryan Sullivan, Papke, and Wilke to race three wide around the track, with Sullivan being credited for leading lap 20. But the next lap, lap 21, Wilke was credited with leading the lap at the strip. The next lap, lap 22, produced a third different leader in the last 3 laps, as Papke took over the lead. Papke would then hold the lead until the final lap, when Wilke slipped past him to take the win. Papke settled for 2nd, Sullivan was 3rd, Mike Mueller started 9th and finished 4th, with Hanson coming home in 5th.
Harold Pohren and Daniel Bergquist led the field to green in the 20 lap 305 Sprint Car feature, with Pohren grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Jarrod Schneiderman and Bergquist. While Pohren worked to hold back Schneiderman for the lead, Tanner Gebhardt, who started 6th, made his way up to make it a three car battle. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 5, when a cone was clipped onto the track to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gebhardt slipped past Pohren to take over the top spot. With Gebhardt setting the pace out front, Schneiderman was working on Pohren for the runner up spot. Finally on lap 13 Schneiderman would over take Pohren to grab second, and then went to work on Gebhardt for the lead. Coming to the white flag Schneiderman went to the bottom off turn 4 to pull even with Gebhardt going into turn 1. Schneiderman would emerge off turn 2 with the lead and then held off Gebhardt off turn 4 to claim his first win of the season at the track. Gebhardt was 2nd, Pohren was 3rd, Brayden Gaylord was 4th, with Dillan Roth rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap I-Smile Silver Late Models, with Brandon Queen and Jeremiah Hurst drawing the front row for the event. Hurst took advantage of his starting spot and grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Queen and Andy Nezworski. On lap 3 Nezworski would clear Queen for the runner up spot and then went to work on Hurst for the lead. While Hurst worked the bottom of the track, Nezworski would work the middle groove to stay on Hurst's back bumper. The battle up front was slowed for the first time on lap 15, when Todd Frank, who was running 5th, spun coming off turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hurst moved back out front, with Nezworski and Queen following. But just after lap 16 was scored complete the second and final caution of the race appeared, as Frank spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Hurst once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Nezworski and Queen still close behind. Despite the efforts of Nezworski over the final laps, Hurst would hold on to pick up his first win at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway this season. Nezworski was 2nd, Queen had a solid run in 3rd, Tommy Elston was 4th, with Brain Harris completing the top 5.
Chad Giberson and Dakota Simmons led the field to green in the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Simmons grabbing the lead on lap 1 over John Oliver Jr. and Dennis LaVeine. While Simmons worked the bottom of the track, Oliver Jr. would work the top. Oliver Jr. would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grabbed the top spot on lap 5. Mike Mullen, who made the pull down from Seymour, Wisconsin, made it a three car battle for the lead, then on lap 8 Mullen made the pass of Oliver Jr. to grab the top spot. Then just after the lap was scored complete, the one and only caution of the race appeared for a cone in turn 1. On the restart Mullen jumped back out front, with Michael Long, who started 8th, and Oliver Jr. close behind. Long tried to keep pace with Mullen over the final half of the race. But Mullen was able to hold on to score his first ever win at the track. Long was 2nd, LaVeine was 3rd, Jeff Waterman was 4th, with Oliver Jr. finishing in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Jerry Jansen and Chad Krogmeier on the front row. Jansen used his starting spot to his advantage by jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Abe Huls, and Krogmeier. One lap later, lap 2, Huls used the bottom of the track to slip under Jansen for the top spot, bringing Jeremy Pundt with him into second. Pundt tried to work under Huls for the lead, as Beau Taylor, who started 8th, moved in to make it a three battle for the top spot. Without Huls slipping up, neither Pundt or Taylor could take advantage. As Huls held them off to claim his second win of the the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Pundt settled for 2nd, Taylor was 3rd, Jansen was 4th, with Derrick Agee coming home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 18 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods, with Brandon Dale and Brandon Lambert leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Dale would jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Daniel Fellows, who started 5th, and Austen Becerra, who started 9th. The action up front was slowed on lap 2, as Brian Bergheger spun coming off turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dale jumped back out front, with Becerra over taking Fellows for the runner up spot. Becerra would try the high line at first to get the lead away from Dale, but on lap 7 he decided to dive low in 4 to try and slip past Dale for the top spot. But Becerra would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Dale once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Fellows and Becerra quickly moving back up to battle for the lead. The top three would race three wide at times, before Fellows emerged with the lead on lap 15. Fellows then pulled away over the final 3 laps to pick up his first win of the season at the track. Dale was 2nd, Becerra finished his challenging night in 3rd, Lambert was 4th, with Bob Cowman finishing in 5th.
The first feature to take to the track was the 15 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts, with Dylan Schantz and David Prim leading the field to green. Schantz would take advantage of his starting spot and grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Cody Bowman and Trent Orwig, who started 6th. The battle up front went two wide over the next 5 laps, as Schantz and Bowman swapped the lead back and forth before Bowman took command of the top spot on lap 5. Two laps later the battle for the lead went three wide, as Josh Barnes, who started 5th, used the top of the track to make it three wide. Barnes would use the momentum off the top of turn two to take over the top spot on lap 7. Then just after the lap was scored complete the first and only caution of the race appeared to slow the action down. Colton Keck would come to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, but now had Jacob Houston, who started 9th, and Bowman glued to his back bumper. Houston, who has won the first three features at the track, tried to get under Barnes over the final laps. But Barnes was able to hold him off to claim his first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Houston settled for second on a left rear flat, Orwig was 3rd, Brandon Reu came from 7th to finish in 4th, with Barry Taft finishing in 5th after starting in 8th.
Next up was the 25 lap Legend Cars feature, with Brian Hanson and Jeremy Meyer drawing the front row for the event. Hanson used his front row draw and jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Meyer and Mike Gilbert. While Hanson worked to hold off Gilbert for the lead, Tim Brockhouse, who started 5th, would move in to challenge for the top spot. On lap 4 Brockhouse would shoot into the lead, with Drew Papke, who started 7th, following him into the runner up spot. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 10, when Meyer spun into the backstretch guardrail to bring out the yellow. On the restart Brockhouse moved back out front, with Papke and Ty Wilke, who started 11th, following close behind. Brockhouse looked like his was in control of the race, when the second and final caution of the race appeared on lap 19, to slow his pace down. Gilbert, who was running 7th, would get sideways down the front stretch and collected Brock Haines to bring out the yellow. On the restart Brockhouse slowed and pulled off the track, which allowed Ryan Sullivan, Papke, and Wilke to race three wide around the track, with Sullivan being credited for leading lap 20. But the next lap, lap 21, Wilke was credited with leading the lap at the strip. The next lap, lap 22, produced a third different leader in the last 3 laps, as Papke took over the lead. Papke would then hold the lead until the final lap, when Wilke slipped past him to take the win. Papke settled for 2nd, Sullivan was 3rd, Mike Mueller started 9th and finished 4th, with Hanson coming home in 5th.
Harold Pohren and Daniel Bergquist led the field to green in the 20 lap 305 Sprint Car feature, with Pohren grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Jarrod Schneiderman and Bergquist. While Pohren worked to hold back Schneiderman for the lead, Tanner Gebhardt, who started 6th, made his way up to make it a three car battle. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 5, when a cone was clipped onto the track to bring out the yellow. On the restart Gebhardt slipped past Pohren to take over the top spot. With Gebhardt setting the pace out front, Schneiderman was working on Pohren for the runner up spot. Finally on lap 13 Schneiderman would over take Pohren to grab second, and then went to work on Gebhardt for the lead. Coming to the white flag Schneiderman went to the bottom off turn 4 to pull even with Gebhardt going into turn 1. Schneiderman would emerge off turn 2 with the lead and then held off Gebhardt off turn 4 to claim his first win of the season at the track. Gebhardt was 2nd, Pohren was 3rd, Brayden Gaylord was 4th, with Dillan Roth rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 20 lap I-Smile Silver Late Models, with Brandon Queen and Jeremiah Hurst drawing the front row for the event. Hurst took advantage of his starting spot and grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Queen and Andy Nezworski. On lap 3 Nezworski would clear Queen for the runner up spot and then went to work on Hurst for the lead. While Hurst worked the bottom of the track, Nezworski would work the middle groove to stay on Hurst's back bumper. The battle up front was slowed for the first time on lap 15, when Todd Frank, who was running 5th, spun coming off turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hurst moved back out front, with Nezworski and Queen following. But just after lap 16 was scored complete the second and final caution of the race appeared, as Frank spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Hurst once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Nezworski and Queen still close behind. Despite the efforts of Nezworski over the final laps, Hurst would hold on to pick up his first win at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway this season. Nezworski was 2nd, Queen had a solid run in 3rd, Tommy Elston was 4th, with Brain Harris completing the top 5.
Chad Giberson and Dakota Simmons led the field to green in the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Simmons grabbing the lead on lap 1 over John Oliver Jr. and Dennis LaVeine. While Simmons worked the bottom of the track, Oliver Jr. would work the top. Oliver Jr. would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grabbed the top spot on lap 5. Mike Mullen, who made the pull down from Seymour, Wisconsin, made it a three car battle for the lead, then on lap 8 Mullen made the pass of Oliver Jr. to grab the top spot. Then just after the lap was scored complete, the one and only caution of the race appeared for a cone in turn 1. On the restart Mullen jumped back out front, with Michael Long, who started 8th, and Oliver Jr. close behind. Long tried to keep pace with Mullen over the final half of the race. But Mullen was able to hold on to score his first ever win at the track. Long was 2nd, LaVeine was 3rd, Jeff Waterman was 4th, with Oliver Jr. finishing in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Jerry Jansen and Chad Krogmeier on the front row. Jansen used his starting spot to his advantage by jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Abe Huls, and Krogmeier. One lap later, lap 2, Huls used the bottom of the track to slip under Jansen for the top spot, bringing Jeremy Pundt with him into second. Pundt tried to work under Huls for the lead, as Beau Taylor, who started 8th, moved in to make it a three battle for the top spot. Without Huls slipping up, neither Pundt or Taylor could take advantage. As Huls held them off to claim his second win of the the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Pundt settled for 2nd, Taylor was 3rd, Jansen was 4th, with Derrick Agee coming home in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 18 lap Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods, with Brandon Dale and Brandon Lambert leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Dale would jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Daniel Fellows, who started 5th, and Austen Becerra, who started 9th. The action up front was slowed on lap 2, as Brian Bergheger spun coming off turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dale jumped back out front, with Becerra over taking Fellows for the runner up spot. Becerra would try the high line at first to get the lead away from Dale, but on lap 7 he decided to dive low in 4 to try and slip past Dale for the top spot. But Becerra would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Dale once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Fellows and Becerra quickly moving back up to battle for the lead. The top three would race three wide at times, before Fellows emerged with the lead on lap 15. Fellows then pulled away over the final 3 laps to pick up his first win of the season at the track. Dale was 2nd, Becerra finished his challenging night in 3rd, Lambert was 4th, with Bob Cowman finishing in 5th.
Friday, April 19, 2019
Slocum 50 Weekend Upon Us
West Burlington, IA (Friday, April 19, 2019) - Saturday night April 20th is a date many people circled on their calendars when 34 Raceway announced their 2019 racing schedule. This night will honor the late Brent Slocum, with the running of the 11th Annual Slocum 50.
Brent Slocum, at the young age of 28, lost his life in a pit accident at 34 Raceway back on June 11, 2005. He started racing in the Limited Late Models at the track at the age of 17, before moving into the Late Model class. He raced weekly at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa and Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois. Brent also followed the Deery Brothers Summer Series. He was a past track champion at 34 Raceway, and was sitting second in Deery Brothers Summer Series at the time of his accident.
Before the start of the 2009 racing season Bradley Stevens, who was a good friend to Bent, and Jessi Mynatt approached Jeff and Amy Laue, Scott and Lorrie Parrish, Tom and Susan Bowling, the owners of 34 Raceway at that time, about starting a memorial race to honor Brent Slocum. Thus the first annual Slocum 50 race was held in 2009, under the Deery Brothers Summer Series banner.
Jason Frankel will forever be know as the first winner of the Slocum 50, as he picked up the checkered flag in the 2009 event. Mark Burgtorf would etch his name as a winner of this annual race, by claiming victory in 2010. Matt Ryan would become a winner of the Slocum 50 in 2011, while Mike Murphy Jr. put this race on his resume as the 2012 winner. The 2013 event would mark the final year it ran under the Deery Brothers Summer Series banner, and Denny Eckrich would be know as the final winner under that banner.
In 2014 they made the decision to switch the Slocum 50 over to a more open Late Model event, as the Corn Belt Clash, American Late Model Series (ALMS) and MARS DIRTcar were now the sanctioning body for this event. It also marked the first year the race boosted a purse of $10,555 to win. Bobby Pierce would put his name in the record books as the first winner of the open Late Model style racing. Ryan Unzicker made a last lap pass of Billy Moyer to win an exciting Slocum 50 in 2015. The 2016 Slocum 50 produced the first and only repeat winner to date, as Bobby Pierce took the checkered flag for the second time in three years. Chris Simpson would become the final winner of the Slocum 50 under the Corn Belt Clash and MARS sanctioning, when he scored the victory in 2017.
Many things changed in 2018 for the Slocum 50, as Bradley Stevens and Jessi Mynatt went from creators of the event to now new owners of 34 Raceway. They would decide to switch the Slocum 50 race under the Lucas Oil Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA) sanctioning. Shannon Babb would put his name in the record books as a first time winner of the Sloucm 50 under the MLRA banner.
Coming up Saturday, April 20th will be the 11th Annual running of the Slocum 50, which will be racing under the MLRA banner once again. Several big name driver's are expected to compete for the $10,555 check, or even a starting spot in the feature that pays no less than $750. Names to expect include past winners Shannon Babb, Chris Simpson, Bobby Pierce and Ryan Unzicker. Others who have the Slocum 50 on their schedule include Chad Simpson, the defending MLRA Champion, Brian Shirley, Jesse Stovall, Dave Eckrich, Will Vaught, Payton Looney, Mason Oberkramer, Tyler Bruening, Spencer Diercks, Mitch McGrath, Tad Pospisil, J.C. Wyman, Jake Neal, Jason Feger, Jeremy Grady, Kolby Vandenbergh, Jimmy Mars, Bob Gardner, and Frank Heckenast Jr. Also with both the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series and World of Outlaws off this weekend Dennis Erb Jr., Chase Junghans, Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Bronson, and Tyler Erb are expected to make a visit to 34 Raceway on Saturday night. Plus I am sure there are a few other local driver's, and many more who will be at the Slocum 50 come Saturday night.
Time trials are set for 6:15 PM. Grandstand admission for this event is only $20 for adults. Every year this event draws a big crowd, so plan to arrive early to get a good parking spot, and a seat in the grandstands!
Of course the Slocum 50 isn't the only event happening this weekend in the area. Tonight, Friday, April 19th, the MLRA opens there 2019 season at the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa. The Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing (SLMR) makes a visit to the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa. You can catch weekly action at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa.
Saturday, April 20th the Deery Brother Summer Series for IMCA Late Models will open there 2019 season at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa. After mother nature took all three events last weekend. It looks like great weather will help them get there season off the ground. More action you can catch on Saturday night is at the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa.
The racing action doesn't stop on Saturday, as you can catch more racing on Sunday at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois. Also racing is the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa, as they try for the third time to get there 2019 season started.
It doesn't matter which event you take in this weekend, just as long as you get out and support your local dirt track!! Hope to see you at the track this weekend!
Thank you Dennis Krieger for the use of the photo!
Before the start of the 2009 racing season Bradley Stevens, who was a good friend to Bent, and Jessi Mynatt approached Jeff and Amy Laue, Scott and Lorrie Parrish, Tom and Susan Bowling, the owners of 34 Raceway at that time, about starting a memorial race to honor Brent Slocum. Thus the first annual Slocum 50 race was held in 2009, under the Deery Brothers Summer Series banner.
Jason Frankel will forever be know as the first winner of the Slocum 50, as he picked up the checkered flag in the 2009 event. Mark Burgtorf would etch his name as a winner of this annual race, by claiming victory in 2010. Matt Ryan would become a winner of the Slocum 50 in 2011, while Mike Murphy Jr. put this race on his resume as the 2012 winner. The 2013 event would mark the final year it ran under the Deery Brothers Summer Series banner, and Denny Eckrich would be know as the final winner under that banner.
In 2014 they made the decision to switch the Slocum 50 over to a more open Late Model event, as the Corn Belt Clash, American Late Model Series (ALMS) and MARS DIRTcar were now the sanctioning body for this event. It also marked the first year the race boosted a purse of $10,555 to win. Bobby Pierce would put his name in the record books as the first winner of the open Late Model style racing. Ryan Unzicker made a last lap pass of Billy Moyer to win an exciting Slocum 50 in 2015. The 2016 Slocum 50 produced the first and only repeat winner to date, as Bobby Pierce took the checkered flag for the second time in three years. Chris Simpson would become the final winner of the Slocum 50 under the Corn Belt Clash and MARS sanctioning, when he scored the victory in 2017.
Many things changed in 2018 for the Slocum 50, as Bradley Stevens and Jessi Mynatt went from creators of the event to now new owners of 34 Raceway. They would decide to switch the Slocum 50 race under the Lucas Oil Midwest Late Model Racing Association (MLRA) sanctioning. Shannon Babb would put his name in the record books as a first time winner of the Sloucm 50 under the MLRA banner.
Coming up Saturday, April 20th will be the 11th Annual running of the Slocum 50, which will be racing under the MLRA banner once again. Several big name driver's are expected to compete for the $10,555 check, or even a starting spot in the feature that pays no less than $750. Names to expect include past winners Shannon Babb, Chris Simpson, Bobby Pierce and Ryan Unzicker. Others who have the Slocum 50 on their schedule include Chad Simpson, the defending MLRA Champion, Brian Shirley, Jesse Stovall, Dave Eckrich, Will Vaught, Payton Looney, Mason Oberkramer, Tyler Bruening, Spencer Diercks, Mitch McGrath, Tad Pospisil, J.C. Wyman, Jake Neal, Jason Feger, Jeremy Grady, Kolby Vandenbergh, Jimmy Mars, Bob Gardner, and Frank Heckenast Jr. Also with both the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series and World of Outlaws off this weekend Dennis Erb Jr., Chase Junghans, Brandon Sheppard, Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Bronson, and Tyler Erb are expected to make a visit to 34 Raceway on Saturday night. Plus I am sure there are a few other local driver's, and many more who will be at the Slocum 50 come Saturday night.
Time trials are set for 6:15 PM. Grandstand admission for this event is only $20 for adults. Every year this event draws a big crowd, so plan to arrive early to get a good parking spot, and a seat in the grandstands!
Of course the Slocum 50 isn't the only event happening this weekend in the area. Tonight, Friday, April 19th, the MLRA opens there 2019 season at the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa. The Malvern Bank Super Late Model Racing (SLMR) makes a visit to the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa. You can catch weekly action at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa.
Saturday, April 20th the Deery Brother Summer Series for IMCA Late Models will open there 2019 season at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa. After mother nature took all three events last weekend. It looks like great weather will help them get there season off the ground. More action you can catch on Saturday night is at the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa.
The racing action doesn't stop on Saturday, as you can catch more racing on Sunday at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois. Also racing is the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa, as they try for the third time to get there 2019 season started.
It doesn't matter which event you take in this weekend, just as long as you get out and support your local dirt track!! Hope to see you at the track this weekend!
Season Points Openers at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway Goes to Waterman, Pundt, Carter and Houston
Donnellson, IA (Friday, April 12, 2019) - According to the calendar it is suppose to be spring outside, but with the brisk strong winds out of the southwest along with temperatures hoovering around the high 40's, it felt more like a late fall or early winter night on Friday, April 12th at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Just as easy as they could have canceled the nights action, Brian and Marcie Gaylord decided to take a chance and go ahead and race, knowing they would have a low turn out in the crowd. Their decision paid off with some great racing action on a smoothly prepared race track. Claiming victories on Happs CNC Performance Engines and KQ92 season points openers were Jeff Waterman (Budweiser IMCA Modifieds), Jeremy Pundt (Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Cars), Brayton Carter (Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMods), and Jake Houston (Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts), with Tommy Elston claiming the win in the I-Smile Silver Late Models.
The first feature to take to the track was the 15 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts, with Brandon Reu and Chuck Fullenkamp drawing the front row. Fullenkamp would edge out Reu at the line by inches to lead lap 1. He then held the top spot until lap 3 when Denny Berghahn, who made the long pull over from Plattsmouth, Nebraska, grabbed the lead away from him. While Berghahn started to put some distance between himself and the battles behind him, all eyes were on Jake Houston. Houston, who was disqualified from his heat race win for illegal tire size, had to start twentieth and was quickly working his way towards the front. On lap 7 Houston took over the runner up spot and then went to work on chasing down Berghahn for the lead. Lapped traffic on lap 9 would slow Berghahn up, which allowed Houston to close to his back bumper. On lap 11 Houston made the move under Berghahn to grab the top spot. Houston then went on to lead the final laps to score his third win in a row at the track. Fullenkamp made a last lap pass to claim 2nd, Berghahn made the long pull pay off with a 3rd place finish, Barry Taft came from 11th to finish 4th, with Reu holding on for 5th.
The Roberts Tire Center IMCA SportMod feature was scheduled to run 18 laps, but with the time limit enforced the event only got 15 laps completed. Andrew Swailes and Adam Birck drew the front row, with Birck jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Brayton Carter, who started 4th, and Austen Becerra, who started 8th. While Birck worked the bottom of the track, Carter would use the top to challenge Birck for the top spot. The battle up front was slowed on lap 3, when Colton Bowman spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Birck moved back out front, with Carter and Brandon Dale close behind. Birck and Carter would race side-by-side for the lead over the next two laps, when Bowman spun in turn 1 to bring out another yellow to slow the action. Carter was able to use the top of the track to edge out Birck at the line to grab the lead on the restart. Birck then tried to work back under Carter over the next four laps, when another caution appeared on lap 11. Debris in turn 2 would bring out the yellow. Four other yellows on the next two laps would bring the time limit up on the race, setting up a green-white-checkered finish on lap 13. On the restart Carter jumped back out front, with Birck looking under him for the lead. But Carter would hold off Birck on the final lap to score the win. Birck was 2nd, Becerra was 3rd, Sean Wyett came from 9th to finish 4th, with James Roose coming home in 5th.
Jeremy Pundt and Michael Larsen drew the front row for the 20 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Pundt grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Larsen and Damon Murty, who started 6th. Just as lap 1 was scored complete Jerry Jansen and Jesse Wegs spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pundt jumped back out front, with Abe Huls, who started 10th, using the top to move into second. While Pundt paced the field out front, Jason Cook, Huls and Damon Murty battle for the runner up spot. The action was slowed for the second and final time on lap 6, when Dallon Murty spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Pundt moved back out front on the restart, with Damon Murty working the middle groove to grab second over Cook. While Pundt worked the bottom of the track, Huls was trying the middle groove to work into second on lap 11. Huls then went to work on Pundt over the final laps, even pulling even with Pundt on the final lap going down the backstretch. Pundt was able to hold off Huls off turn four to pick up his first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Huls was 2nd, Cook was 3rd, Damon Murty was 4th, with Beau Taylor finishing 5th after starting in 7th.
Up next was the 20 lap I-Smile Silver Late Models, with Ray Raker and Tommy Elston drawing the front row. Raker would use his starting spot to edge out Elston to lead lap 1. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution would come out for debris in turn 4. On the restart Brandon Queen spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Elston slip by Raker to take over the top spot. While Elston set a fast pace out front, Jay Johnson, who was working the bottom and middle grooves, Brian Harris, who was working the top, and Chuck Hanna, who was on the bottom, battle for the runner up spot. Without another caution to slow the pace, Elston would pull away to claim his second win of the season. Johnson won the battle for 2nd, Harris was 3rd, Hanna was 4th, with Sam Halstead coming from 7th to finish 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Budweiser IMCA Modifieds, with Dennis LaVeine and Dakota Simmons drawing the front row. LaVeine took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Andrew Schroeder and Simmons. Schroeder would try to look under LaVeine over the next 5 laps, when the first caution of the race appeared on lap 5. Debris in turn 2 would bring out the yellow. On the restart LaVeine jumped back out front, with Jeff Waterman, who started 9th, coming from 5th to second. While LaVeine worked the bottom of the track, Waterman used the top to try and wrestle the lead away from LaVeine. Coming off turn 4 on lap 9 Waterman used the momentum off the top to edge LaVeine at the line to take over the top spot. One lap later, lap 10, the second and final caution of the race came out for a cone in turn 4. Waterman jumped back out front on the restart, with Schroeder and LaVeine battling for second. The final half of the race would go caution free, which allowed Waterman to pull away to claim his first win of the season. LeVeine won the battle for 2nd, John Oliver Jr. came from 6th to edge out a 3rd place finish, Schroeder was 4th, with Austin Howes coming home 5th after starting in 8th.
Notes from LCS: Josh Barnes finished the Sport Compact feature in 7th after starting in 10th....John Gill came from 16th to finish in 11th......Barry Dugan started 14th and finished 11th......Dallon Murty recovered from his spin on lap 6 to come back up to finish in 7th......Brandon Lennox drove Kelly Buckallew's #10 Modified. He would start the feature in 12th and then drove it up to a 6th place finish.
Notes from LCS: Josh Barnes finished the Sport Compact feature in 7th after starting in 10th....John Gill came from 16th to finish in 11th......Barry Dugan started 14th and finished 11th......Dallon Murty recovered from his spin on lap 6 to come back up to finish in 7th......Brandon Lennox drove Kelly Buckallew's #10 Modified. He would start the feature in 12th and then drove it up to a 6th place finish.
Long and Houston Repeat, While Bluhm, Murty and Becerra Become New Winners at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway
Donnellson, IA (Saturday, March 23, 2019) - The second and final night of the 7th Annual Spring Extravaganza was held on Saturday, March 23rd at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa. And with a slight chance of rains moving in sometime in the night, the action would be rushed through as fast as possible to beat any weather. And when the final checkered flag waved it was Michael Long (Budweiser Modifieds) and Jacob Houston (Discount Tire & Service Sport Compacts) who repeated their wins from Friday night. While Dustin Bluhm (I-Smile Silver Late Models), Damon Murty (Donnellson Tire & Service Stock Cars), and Austen Becerra (Roberts Tire Center SportMods) picked up their first wins of the season at the track.
Once again the I-Smile Silver Late Models kicked off the nights action, with Dustin Bluhm and Brandon Queen drawing the front row. Bluhm used his starting spot to his advantage by jumping out front on lap 1 over Jay Johnson and Tommy Elston, who started 5th. With Bluhm out front, Elston was working on Johnson to try and get the second place from him. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 6, as Chris Morefield spun into the turn 4 guardrail to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bluhm moved back out front, with Elston once again trying to get second from Johnson. On lap 8 Elston finally made the move around Johnson and then set his sights on Bluhm for the top spot. While Bluhm worked the bottom of the track, Elston would work the middle to upper groove to try and get by. The momentum almost paid off coming off turn 4 coming to the white flag, as Elston raced Bluhm side-by-side into turn 1. Bluhm was able to hold off Elston down the backstretch. Elston again tried to use the momentum off the top of turn 4 coming to the checkered to get past Bluhm. But Blum was able to hold him off by a car length to claim his first ever win at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway, which was worth $900 thanks to Jimmie Sykes and David Weeks. Elston settled for 2nd, Johnson was 3rd, Denny Woodworth was 4th, with Sam Halstead coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 22 lap Donnellson Tire & Service Stock Cars, with Todd Reitzler and Damon Murty leading the field to green. Reitzler would edge Murty out at the line to lead lap 1, only to have Murty slip back by to lead lap 2. While Murty set the pace out front, the battle was for second between Reitzler, Jeemy Pundt, Derek Green, who started 5th, Cayden Carter, who started 6th, and Abe Huls, who started 7th. Just as Murty started to pull away the first caution of the race would slow him down on lap 5. Chad Krogmeier and Michael Bilyeu collided in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Murty jumped back out front, with Reitzler and Pundt battling for second. Huls would emerge from the pack in the runner up spot on lap 11, and he then quickly closed in on Murty for the lead. Huls would look under Murty over laps 14 thru 17, when the second caution of the race slowed the action. This time Peter Stodgel spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Murty once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Huls and Carter glued to his back bumper. Going into turn 1 on the white flag lap Carter tried to get under Murty, but he would get sideways and collected Jeremy Pundt to bring out the yellow. On the green-white-checkered overtime restart Adam Klocke, who started 15th and was running 4th, and Huls made contact and spun in front of the field to collect four other cars to bring the yellow light back on. The follow attempt of an overtime restart saw Murty jump back out front, and then he held off a last lap challenge from Green to pick up a $1,250 payday. Green settled for 2nd, John Oliver Jr. came from 12th to finish in 3rd, Jay Schmidt started 8th and finished 4th, with Kyle Brown finishing 5th after starting in 9th.
Brandon Dale and Brandon Jewell drew the front row for the 20 lap Roberts Tire Center SportMod feature, with Jewell leading lap 1 by a nose over Dale. Dale would come back to slip past Jewell on lap 2 to take the top spot. With Dale setting the early pace, all eyes were on Austen Becerra, who started 10th, as he was slicing his way through the field. On lap 4 Becerra worked himself into the runner up spot, only to be slowed on the completion of that lap for debris in turn 3. On the restart Becerra shot past Dale to take the top spot, only to be slowed one lap later. As Colton Livezey, who was running 2nd, got into turn 3 to hot and looped it to bring out the caution. On the restart Brandon Lambert spun in turn 2 and collected Brandon Tharp, Bob Cowman and Colton Bowman to bring the yellow light back on. The next restart brought out another caution, as debris in turn 1 slowed the action. Becerra jumped back out front on the third restart, with Dale and Tyler Soppe, who started 7th, following behind. Just as Becerra started to pull away the final caution of the race appeared on lap 9, this time Cowman spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Once again Becerra jumped out front on the restart, with Soppe, Nathan Bringer, who started 8th, and Brayton Carter, who started 11th, battling it out for second. Without another caution to bunch the field back up, Becerra would cruise to an easy win and claim the $1,250 check to go with it. Soppe won the battle for 2nd, Carter was 3rd, Earl Pryor would finish 4th, with Bringer rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 22 lap Budweiser Modified feature, with Mike Van Genderen and Austin Howes leading the field. Howes used the momentum off the top of the track to edge Van Genderen at the line to lead lap 1. But Van Genderen would slip past him on lap 2 to take over the top spot. Michael Long, who started 4th, would over take Howes for the runner up spot on lap 4 and then went to work on Van Genderen for the lead. Long tried to look under Van Genderen over the next 5 laps. But going into turn 3 to complete lap 10 Long would change his entrance, as he went in high and shot to the bottom coming off turn 4. And when Van Genderen left the bottom opening going into turn 1 Long would take advantage by slipping under him to lead lap 11. Van Genderen would keep pace with Long for a couple of laps, before Long pulled away for the sweep of the weekend. Which was worth $1.600 thanks to the extra money from David Weeks. Van Genderen settled for 2nd, Howes was 3rd, Jeremy Mills finished 4th after starting in 7th, with Derrick Stewart coming home in 5th.
The final feature of the night was the 14 lap Discount Tire & Service Sport Compacts. And when twenty-six of the twenty-seven cars signed in came to the track, many people thought this was going to be a caution plagued race. But that was far from the case. Barry Taft and Drake Bohlmeyer drew the front row for the event, with Taft grabbing the lead by inches over Jacob Houston to lead lap 1. Houston would slip past Taft on lap 2 to grab the top spot away. The top five cars would start to pull away from the rest of the field, when the action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 11. Cody Staley would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Houston jumped back out front, with Jason Ash, who started 12th, coming from 5th, to second. Ash would try to get past Houston on the final lap. But Houston would hold him off to score the sweep of the weekend, and collect $400 for his efforts. Ash settled for 2nd, Taft was 3rd, Jeffrey DeLonjay started 7th and finished 4th, with Chris Vannausdle finishing 5th after starting in 10th.
Notes from LCS: Drivers from six states, including Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, and Nebraska, returned for the second and final night of racing for the Spring Extravaganza.......Adam Klocke started the Stock Car feature in 15th and would come home in 6th....Tyler Pickett came from 17th to finish 7th....Peter Stodgel finished 10th after starting in 16th......Cole Queathem would start the SportMod feature in 13th and took home an 8th place finish....Randy LaMar finished 10th after starting in 14th....Brandon Lambert finished 11th after starting in 15th....Patrick Profeta came from 18th to finish in 12th....Andrew Swailes came from 19th to finish in 13th......Bill Roberts Jr. started the Modified feature in 12th and took home a 8th place finish......Oliver Monson started the Sport Compact feature in 9th and then finished 6th....Kimberly Abbott started 13th and finished 7th....Zach Bohlmeyer made the long pull from Beatrice, Nebraska pay off, as he started 26th and would pass 17 cars to come home in 9th....Ricky Miller Jr. finished 10th after starting in 18th....John Gill took home a 13th place finish after starting in 17th...Kyle Roose started 24th and finished 15th....Bruce Hower came from 25th to finish in 16th....Nathan Forey started 21st and finished 17th....Shannon Desherlia finished 18th after starting in 27th....James Haring came from 23rd to finish in 19th.
Notes from LCS: Drivers from six states, including Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota, and Nebraska, returned for the second and final night of racing for the Spring Extravaganza.......Adam Klocke started the Stock Car feature in 15th and would come home in 6th....Tyler Pickett came from 17th to finish 7th....Peter Stodgel finished 10th after starting in 16th......Cole Queathem would start the SportMod feature in 13th and took home an 8th place finish....Randy LaMar finished 10th after starting in 14th....Brandon Lambert finished 11th after starting in 15th....Patrick Profeta came from 18th to finish in 12th....Andrew Swailes came from 19th to finish in 13th......Bill Roberts Jr. started the Modified feature in 12th and took home a 8th place finish......Oliver Monson started the Sport Compact feature in 9th and then finished 6th....Kimberly Abbott started 13th and finished 7th....Zach Bohlmeyer made the long pull from Beatrice, Nebraska pay off, as he started 26th and would pass 17 cars to come home in 9th....Ricky Miller Jr. finished 10th after starting in 18th....John Gill took home a 13th place finish after starting in 17th...Kyle Roose started 24th and finished 15th....Bruce Hower came from 25th to finish in 16th....Nathan Forey started 21st and finished 17th....Shannon Desherlia finished 18th after starting in 27th....James Haring came from 23rd to finish in 19th.
Elston, Long, Huls, Soppe and Houston Open Pepsi Lee County Speedway With Wins
Donnellson, IA (Friday, March 22, 2019) - After a cold and snowy winter many thought there would be no chance of the 2019 racing season getting starting anytime soon in the Midwest. But with a lot of hard work and determination by the crew at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa the opening night of the Fall Extravaganza was put into the books on Friday, March 22nd. Coming away with opening night wins were Tommy Elston (I-Smile Silver Late Models), Michael Long (Budweiser Modifieds), Abe Huls (Donnellson Tire & Service Stock Cars), Tyler Soppe (Roberts Tire Center SportMods), and Jacob Houston (Discount Tire & Service Sport Compacts).
The first feature to take to the track was the 20 lap I-Smile Silver Late Models, with Dustin Bluhm and Sam Halstead drawing the front row. Bluhm would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Halstead and Jay Johnson. The action was slowed for the first time on lap 4, when debris in turn 3 brought out the caution. On the restart Bluhm jumped back out front, with Johnson over taking Halstead for second. Just after the lap was scored complete Bryan Berger spun into the guardrail in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Bluhm again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Johnson and Tommy Elston, who started 5th, close behind. Two more laps would be scored complete when Todd Frank spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow out. On the restart Bluhm jumped back out front with Johnson and Elston still following. Disaster would strike Bluhm on lap 9, when he spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. This would hand the lead over to Johnson on the restart. On that restart Brandon Queen spun in turn 1 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Johnson jump out front, with Halstead and Elston battling for second. Elston would secure the runner up spot on lap 11 and then went to work on Johnson for the top spot. Coming out of turn 4 to complete lap 17 Johnson slid high, which allowed Elston to pull even with him down the front stretch. Elston would come out turn 2 with the lead, and then pulled away over the final laps to pick up the win. Johnson was 2nd, Halstead was 3rd, Bluhm recovered from his spin on lap 9 to come back up to finish 4th, with Berger also recovering from an early spin to finish 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap Roberts Tire Center SportMod feature, with Jeremy Gustaf and Brandon Dale leading the field to green. Dale would edge out Gustaf on lap 1 to grab the lead. While Dale set the pace out front, Gustaf, Nathan Bringer, Tyler Soppe, Daniel Fellows, who started 9th, and Austen Becerra, who started 7th, waged a battle for the runner up spot. Soppe was able to grab the second spot on lap 11 and then went to work on cutting into Dale's lead. On lap 15 Dale started entering lapped traffic, which allowed Soppe to close in on him quickly. Coming off turn 2 to come around to complete lap 16 Dale chose to try the topside to get around some lapped cars. This would allow Soppe to slip under him to grab the top spot away. Soppe then pulled away over the final laps to score his first win at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway, and score the $1,000 check. Becerra made a last lap pass to finish 2nd, Dale was 3rd, Fellows was 4th, with Bringer rounding out the top 5.
Abe Huls and Jay Schmidt drew the front row for the 22 lap Donnellson Tire & Service Stock Car feature, with Schmidt edging out the lead at the stripe on lap 1 over Huls. With Schmidt out front, Huls, John Oliver Jr., Derek Green, Damon Murty, who started 5th, and Todd Reitzler, who started 8th, made it a six car battle up front. Huls would find a groove up top to his liking, which allowed him to challenge Schmidt for the top spot on lap 9. When Schmidt upset the car in turn 3 coming to lap 10, this allowed Huls to shoot under him for the lead. Huls then started to pull away, when the first caution of race appeared on lap 16. Green, who was running fifth, slowed with a right rear flat and couldn't get off the track. On the restart Huls moved back out front, but now had Murty glued to his back bumper. Murty would keep the pressure on Huls over the final laps, but Huls was able to hold on for the $1,000 paycheck. Murty was 2nd, Schmidt held on for 3rd, Oliver Jr. was 4th, with Jeremy Pundt coming from 9th to round out the top 5.
Following the Stock Car feature was the 22 lap Budweiser Modified feature, with Aaron Johnson and Mike Van Genderen leading the field to green. Van Genderen took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Chad Holladay and Jeremy Mills, who started 6th. The lead for Van Genderen lasted until lap 2, as he slowed off turn 4 before pulling into the infield in turn 1. This would hand the lead over to Holladay. With Holladay setting a fast pace out front. Micheal Long, who started 10th, was working his way towards the front. Long would challenge Mills for the runner up spot on lap 6, before over taking him on lap 7. He then went to work on cutting into Holladay's lead. By lap 17 Long had pulled himself up to Holladay's back bumper. Then on lap 19 he made a move off of turn 2 to take the top spot. Long then pulled away to claim the $1,000 top prize. Holladay was 2nd, Mills was 3rd, Dave Wietholder started 8th and finished 4th, with Johnson holding on for 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 14 lap Discount Tire & Service Sport Compacts, with Chris Wilson and Brandon Reu drawing the front row for the event. Reu would use his starting spot to his advantage, as he grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Barry Taft, and Jacob Houston, who started 8th. With Reu out front, Taft and Houston raced side-by-side for the runner up spot. Going into turn four to complete lap 4 Houston got up on two wheels, and with Taft to his outside it would help to settle him back down on all four tires. But as a result of the contact Taft would slow off turn 4 the following lap with a left front flat to bring out the one and only caution of the race. On the restart Reu moved back out front, with Jason Ash, who started 11th, over taking Houston for second. Ash would grab the top spot away from Reu on lap 9. Two laps later Houston made the pass on Reu to take second, and then went to work on Ash for the lead. Going into turn 3 on the final lap Houston got under Ash and then edged him at the line by half a car length to claim the win and the $300 top prize. Ash was 2nd, Reu was 3rd, Chuck Fullenkamp came from 7th to finish in 4th, with Zach Bohlmeyer coming home in 5th.
Notes from LCS: Drivers from six states, including Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Illinois, Missouri,and Nebraska made the pull to the Lee County Speedway to open the 2019 season......Mechanical problems in hot laps forced Adam Birck to scratch from his heat race, this would relegate him to a 15th place starting spot in the feature. Birck would quickly move through the field, cracking the top 10 by lap 1. He would continue to climb slowly through the rest of the top 10, before settling into 6th on lap 8. But without a caution to bunch the field up, Birck would have to settle for a 9th place run......Dan Mackenthun made the pull down from Hamburg, Minnesota to compete in the Stock Cars. He started the feature in 11th and took home a sixth place finish....Derek Green was another Stock Car driver making the pull down from Minnesota. He would battle within the top 5 all race long, that was until lap 16 when he had a right front tire go down. The crew made the tire change and Green returned to the track for the restart. He was able to climb his way back up to 7th in the final 5 laps. Adam Klocke started 13th and finished 9th....Dallon Murty came from 16th to finish 11th....Jared Miller finished 12th after starting in 18th......Jeff Waterman started the Modified feature in 12th, and without a caution to bunch the field up he was only able to climb up to a 7th place finish......Oliver Monson started the Sport Compact feature in 20th and would pass 14 cars to take home a 6th place finish....Kimberly Abbott came from 14th to finish in 8th....Drake Bohlmeyer finished 9th after starting in 16th....John Gill came from 17th to finish in 12th....David Prim started 19th and finished 13th.
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