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.

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!