Dubuque, IA (Sunday, May 26, 2019) - Since I had Monday off for the Memorial Day holiday, I decided to make the 2.5 hour trip up to the Dubuque County Fairgrounds Speedway in Dubuque, Iowa to take in their weekly Sunday night program. The only other chance I get to get up to Dubuque is when the Sprint Invaders visit during the fair.
The long drive paid off, as for the second night in a row for me, 110+ cars signed in for competition. To be exact, there were 116 total. After 17 qualifying events, to help set the feature line ups it was time to go feature racing.
Up first was the 15 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Kyle Merkes and Cole Mather leading the field to green. Merkes used his starting spot to his advantage to jump out front on lap 1 over Mather and Donnie Louck. The action up front was slowed on lap 3, when Zoe Zrostlik, who was running 3rd, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Merkes jumped back out front, with Mather and Chris Luloff close behind. While Merkes worked the bottom of the speedway, Mather would work the middle groove to try and get the lead away from Merkes. The groove would pay off for Mather, as he got the top spot away from Merkes on lap 5. Two laps later, lap 7, Chase Zaruba spun in turn 2 to bring out the caution. Mather once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Merkes and Luloff battling for second. With the battle for second going on, Mather would pull away to score his second win in a row at the track. Merkes won the battle for 2nd, Zrostlik recovered from his spin on lap 3 to grab the 3rd spot from Luloff coming off turn 4 on the last lap, with Louck coming home in 5th.
The first of two 20 lap IMCA SportMod features took to the track next, with Rusty DeShaw and Austin Heacock drawing the front row. DeShaw took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jerry Miles and and Heacock. Then just after the lap was scored complete, Gage Neal would spin in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart DeShaw jumped back out front, with Miles and Heacock close behind. The action was slowed on lap 5, when Darren Clendenen Jr., Elijah Koenig and Jesse Goedert collide in turn 1 to bring out the caution. DeShaw once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Miles and Heacock following. Miles tried to work under DeShaw over the next 4 laps, but DeShaw was able to hold him off each lap. That was until comig off turn 2 to complete lap 10, Miles was able to clear DeShaw for the top spot. But when Goedert spun in turn 1 before the lap was scored complete, this would give the lead back to DeShaw for the restart. On the restart DeShaw shot back out front, with Tyler Soppe, who started 12th and was using the bottom of the track in turn 1 & 2 and the top of the track in turns 3 &4, to take over the runner up spot from Miles. The battle up front was slowed on lap 11, as Jacob Arp spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow.
On the restart KC Ansel spun in turn 1 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Koenig and Arp spin in turn 4 to bring the caution back out. This would bring the caution limit to this race, so from here on out when the caution appears a lap would be added to the number of laps scored complete. DeShaw jumped back out front on the next restart, with Soppe and Miles following close behind. Another lapped scored complete produced another caution, as Arp, Goedert, and Koenig collided in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. While under caution Miles, who was running 3rd, pulled into the infield to get his left rear flat tire changed. On the restart DeShaw moved back out front, with Soppe and now Heacock challenging him for the lead. Soppe tried to work under DeShaw for the next two laps, when a caution on lap 17 slowed the action. This time debris in turn 3 would bring out the yellow. On the restart DeShaw drifted high coming off turn 4, which allowed Soppe to shoot under him to take over the top spot. Disaster would strike DeShaw on the white flag lap, as he spun in turn 2 and collected Jacob Ellithorpe and Mitch Manternach to bring out the caution. On the green-white-checkered overtime restart Soppe jumped back out front, with Austin Schrage over taking Heacock for second. Schrage would try to use the momentum off turn 4 on the last lap to steal the win away from Soppe. But Soppe would hold on to pick up his second win in a row at the track and second of the weekend, as he claimed the win Saturday night in Maquoketa, Iowa. Schrage settled for 2nd, Heacock was 3rd, Andrew Burk started 15th and took home a 4th place finish, with Justin Becker coming from 23rd to round out the top 5.
Jacob Welter and John Campbell led the field to green in the 12 lap 4-Cylinders feature. But it was third place starter Nick Proehl who jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Campbell and Welter. Without a caution to slow the action down, Proehl would cruise to an easy win. Campbell was 2nd, Welter was 3rd, Tyler Shady crossed the line in a cloud of smoke to finish 4th, with Jeff Henderson finishing in 5th.
The 9:1 Limited Late Model feature took to the track next, with Jeff Parks and Mike Mills drawing the front row for the event. Mills took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over DJ Sweet and Parks. While Mills set a fast pace out front, Jason Robbins, who started 5th, over took Sweet for the runner up spot on lap 3. On lap 8 Sweet was able to grab the runner up spot back from Robbins, and then tried to chase down Mills for the lead. But without a caution there was no catching Mills, who won by a straight-away. Sweet was 2nd, Robbins was 3rd, Rich Picha was 4th, with Parks holding on for 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Austin Blume and Jarrett Franzen leading the field to the drop of the green flag. But just as the green flag was waved the yellow light would come on, as Sean Rupp spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the following original restart Bryce Garnhart, who started 4th, spun in turn 1 and collected Jason Schueller to bring the yellow light back on. Another original restart produced another caution, as Nick Marolf, Travis Denning, Troy Bauer, and Dustin Wilwert collided in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the fourth original restart Franzen jumped out front, with Matt Short and Austin Moyer following. While Franzen worked the bottom of the track, all eyes were on Jeff Larson, who started 8th. Larson used the bottom of the track in turns 1 & 2 and then went to the high side in turns 3 &4 to work his way towards the front. The momentum off the top of turn 4 paid off for Larson on lap 10, as he over took Franzen for the lead. From there on out there was no catching Larson, as he cruised to his second win in a row at the track and second on the weekend, as he pick up the win on Saturday night in Maquoketa, Iowa. Moyer was 2nd, Tyler Madigan started 7th and finished 3rd, Franzen was 4th, with Mark Schulte coming home in 5th.
Only 4 IMCA Hobby Stocks signed in for the night, with Brandon White and Daniel Wauters on the front row for the 10 lap feature. Wauters took advantage of his starting spot to moved out front on lap 1 over White and Dakota Simonsen. The action up front was slowed on lap 5, as Justin Morhardt spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wauters jumped back out front, with Simonsen and White close behind. Simonsen would stay in Wauters tire tracks over the final laps, but wasn't able to mount a challenge. As Wauters held on for his first win of the season at the track. Simonsen was 2nd, White was 3rd, with Morhardt completing the top 4.
The second 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature was up next, and the field was inverted by the amount of cars who finished the first feature on the lead lap. That would turn out to be 12, which put Cam Reimers and Matt Bennett on the front row. Reimers used his front row starting spot to his advantage to grab the lead on lap 1 over KC Ansel and Kevin Goben. While Reimers worked the bottom of the track and was starting to pull away from the field, all eyes were on Austin Heacock and Tyler Soppe. Heacock, who started 10th, was working the middle to top grooves to work his way to the front. It only took Heacock 7 laps to get into the runner spot. Meanwhile Soppe had motor troubles after the checkered flag in the first feature, and used his back up car to run the second feature. He would give up his 12th place starting spot and had to start 24th for switching cars. By the halfway mark, lap 10, Soppe had climbed his way into 8th. Both driver's benefited from the only caution of the race on lap 11, as Reimers had build up a full straight-away lead over the rest of the field. Jacob Ellithorpe would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow, and also brought the field back to Reimers' back bumper. On the restart Heacock used the middle of the track coming off turn 4 to grab the top spot away from Reimers. One lap later, lap 13, Soppe moved into 4th. Reimers would stay close to Heacock over the final laps, but wasn't able to mount a challenge. As Heacock held on for the win, and broke Soppe's winning streak. Reimers settled for 2nd, Soppe was 3rd, Ansel was 4th, with Austin Schrage coming from 11th to finish in 5th.
The IMCA Late Models were scheduled to have this night off, as the Deery Brothers Summer Series had an event scheduled at the Quad City Speedway in East Moline, Illinois. But after rains overnight and early Sunday morning that event was canceled. This prompted Nick McCrady to add them to Sunday nights show, with NO track points being awarded. The move would pay off, as twenty-three cars signed in on the night. Jeremiah Hurst and 15 year old Logan Duffy drew the front row for the 25 lap feature. Just as the green flag waved the caution light came on, as Eric Pollard, who started 6th, spun in turn 1 and collected Lake Knutti to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Hurst jumped out front on lap 1 over Duffy and Matt Ryan. Then after lap 1 was scored complete, Pollard spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. Mike Guldenpfenning, who was running 4th, spun in turn 3 on the restart to bring the yellow light back on. On the following restart Hurst moved back out front, with Ryan and Terry Neal, who started 7th, over taking Duffy for second and third. The man on the move early on was Justin Kay, he started 9th and was using the middle of the track in turns 1 & 2 and the topside in turns 3 & 4 to work his way towards the front. On lap 4 Kay found himself in the third running spot. Two laps later, lap 6, Tegan Evans spun down the middle of the front stretch to bring out the caution.
Hurst jumped back out front on the restart, with Ryan and Kay battling side-by-side for the runner up spot. Then just after the lap was scored complete, David McClain would spin in turn 2 to bring out a caution. On the restart Hurst once again grabbed the lead, with Ryan and Kay continuing their battle for second. Kay would use the momentum off top of turn 4 on lap 10 to finally grab the runner up spot from Ryan, and then went to work on Hurst for the lead. The action up front was slowed on lap 14, when Darren Mish spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pollard, Ryan Hill, McClain, and Todd Van Tassel collided in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The final restart saw Hurst move back out front, with Kay and Ryan following. While Hurst hugged the bottom of the track, Kay would use the bottom in turns 1 & 2 and the topside in turns 3 & 4 to mount a challenge on Hurst. But Kay would drift high in turn 4 on lap 20, which allowed Hurst to pull away for his second win in a row at the track. Kay settled for 2nd, Ryan was 3rd, Andy Nezworski started 10th and finished 4th, with BJ Jackson rounding out the top 5.
Notes from Dubuque: 38 SportMods, 28 Modifieds, 23 Late Models, 9 Stock Cars, 8 9:1 Limited Late Models, 6 4-Cylinders, and 4 Hobby Stocks made up the 116 cars sing in for competition.......Matt Hudspeth started the Stock Car feature in 9th and would finish 6th......Kyle Hoffman won B Main #1 of the SportMods, and then started the feature in 13th. He would come home 6th....Brandon Setser finished 8th after stating in 15th....Kevin Goben came from 21st to finish in 9th....KC Ansel, who started 20th, recovered from his spin on lap 11 to come back up to finish in 10th....Cam Reimers came from 17th to finish in 12th, the final car on the lead lap....Matt Stagman finished 16th after starting in 24th......Ryan Picha and Kyle Harwick had troubles in the heat that forced them to scratch from the 9:1 Limited Late Model feature......Jed Freiburger started the Modified feature in 13th and would come home in 6th....Chris Zogg finished 7th after starting in 11th....Bryce Garnhart recovered from his spin on the start to come back up to finish 8th....Travis Denning, who started 14th, recovered from being involved in a crash on one of the original restarts to come back up to finish 10th....Steve Johnson started 18th and finished 12th....Sean Rupp, who started 19th, recovered from his spin on the start to come back up to finish in 13th......Gage Neal started the second SportMod feature in 22nd. He would pass 16 cars to come home in 6th....Jerry Miles started 15th and finished 9th....Jason Roth passed 13 cars from his 23rd place starting spot to come home in 10th....Wes Digman finished 12th after starting in 18th....TJ Fortmann was added to the back of the field, when four cars were a scratch from damages in the first feature. He would come home in 15th, after starting in 25th....Rusty DeShaw, Jacob Arp, Elijah Koenig and Jesse Goedert had to much damages from the first feature and were forced to scratch from the second feature......Luke Merfeld started the Late Model feature in 17th and would pass 11 cars to come home in 6th....Todd Malmstrom started 14th and finished 9th....Darren Mish, who started 22nd, recovered from his spin on lap 14 to come back up to finish in 11th....Jason Rauen had troubles in his heat race and was a scratch from the feature.
Hot laps were delayed about 30 minutes, as the track was watered heavily to keep the dust down from the strong stiff wind and the bright sunlight. This would mean the heat races didn't start until 6:30 PM. They would run 17 qualifying events in about 3 hours. With no break in the action, the features rolled to the track around 9:20 PM. The eight feature events would be ran through in about 2 hours, as the final checkered flag waved at 11:20 PM. Despite a few hick-ups along the way, I was happy to see how quickly the 8 feature events ran.
I would like to THANK Nick McCrady and the staff at the Dubuque County Fairgrounds Speedway for the hospitality. I would especially like to say THANK YOU to Late Model driver Don Pataska and his crew. They were pitted down in the infield in turn 2, where I went to snap some photos during hot laps. They were kind enough to offer to put my camera bag and sweatshirt in their truck to keep them from getting dirty. They also told me if I would like to stand on top of their trailer or in the back of their truck to shoot some photos, I was more then happy to do so. But it didn't end there, as they offered me to help myself to anything in their cooler. It is nice to have such great people treat a total stranger like myself who was 2.5 hours from home!
Monday, May 27, 2019
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Soppe Remains Undefeated in SportMods at Maquoketa
Maquoketa, IA (Saturday, May 25, 2019) - With everything getting rained out on Friday night in my area, I decided to find a place that might happen to race on Saturday night. But with more rains over night Friday the choices were getting narrowed down. I did find a track within 100 miles of me racing, and it was a track that I haven't been to for a couple of years. So I decided to make the trip up to the Maquoketa Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa.
After seeing the pictures of what the track looked like after heavy rains moved through the grounds on Friday, one would have thought there was no chance of them being able to race. But the crew worked into the night Friday and Saturday morning to pump the water that was standing on the bottom half of the track off. And with all the water that was standing, one would assume after they pumped it all off it would be rough down there. But that was far from the case, as the race track was nice and smooth from top to bottom. Which produced several two, three and even four wide races throughout the night.
The 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature was the first to take to the track, with Tom Schmitt and Jimmy Comins scheduled to start on the front row. But Schmitt was offered a challenge to go to the rear for some bonus money if he came back up to win. He took the challenge, which moved Chase Zaruba to the pole. Zaruba took advantage of the move to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Comins and Tim Bader. Just after lap 1 was scored complete, Jared Miller spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Zaruba jumped back out front, with Comins and Donnie Louck, who started 7th, close behind. One lap later, lap 3, Louck got under Zaruba coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot, with Johnny Spaw, who started 6th, following him into second. The next lap, lap 4, Schmitt worked his way into third, by mostly using the top of the track. Spaw tried to work under Louck over the next 8 laps, as Schmitt worked the top side to make it a three car shootout for the win. But the action up front slowed on lap 12, when Chris Hinrichs spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Louck jumped back out front on the restart, with Schmitt slipping under Spaw to grab the runner up spot. But Spaw would get under Schmitt the following lap to grab second back, and then went to work on Louck for the lead. Coming off turn 2 to complete lap 16 Spaw was able to get under Louck and then made the pass coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Spaw then held off Louck and Schmitt to claim the win. Louck was 2nd, Schmitt was 3rd, Scott Jordan came from 9th to finish in 4th, with Shane Richardson finishing 5th after starting in 10th.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Bobby Taggert and Logan Veloz leading the field to green. But it was third place starter Jacob Ellithorpe who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Rusty DeShaw and Jerry Miles. The action was slowed on lap 2, when Justin Becker spun off the top of the track in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Ellithorpe jumped back out front on the restart, with Miles and Tyler Soppe, who started 10th, close behind. One lap later, lap 4, Miles got under Ellithorpe to take over the top spot. Soppe would follow him into second one lap later, lap 5. While Miles worked the bottom of the track, Soppe was using the topside to try and wrestle the lead away from Miles. The battle up front was slowed on lap 8, when T.J. Fortmann went over the track in turns 3 & 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Miles moved back out front, with Soppe and Gage Neal, who started 8th, making it a three car battle for the top spot. On lap 10 Soppe used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take the top spot. Miles tried to work under him over the final laps. But Soppe was able to hold him off to claim his third win in a row at the track. Miles was 2nd, Neal was 3rd, DeShaw was 4th, with Veloz rounding out the top 5.
Korey Lana and John Campbell led the field to the green flag in the 12 lap 4-Cylinder feature, with Lana grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Campbell and Ashley Reuman. Lana would hold the top sot until lap 5, when Mitch Bielenberg slipped by for the lead. Without a caution there was no catching Bielenberg, as he cruised to an easy win in the caution free race. Seth Schall came from 9th to finish in 2nd, Tyler Shady finished 3rd after starting in 6th, Lana was 4th, with Reuman coming home in 5th.
The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature was up next, with Jarrett Franzen and Steve Johnson making up the front row. Just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as T.J. Patz and George Spence III got together in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dustin Morden stopped on the top of turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Franzen jump out front to lead lap 1 over Johnson and Bryce Garnhart, who started 8th. Two laps later, lap 3, Morden would stop on the topside of turn 4 to bring out his second yellow of the race to end his night. Franzen moved back out front on the restart, with Garnhart edging out Johnson for second. The action was slowed for the final time on lap 5, when Tyler Madigan spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Jeff Larson, who started 9th, used the top of the track to take over the top spot, with Franzen and Garnhart close behind. Larson was hooked up on this night, as he pulled away from the field to pick up the win. Garnhart was 2nd, Johnson was 3rd, Ray Cox Jr. was 4th, with Matt Short rounding out the top 5.
Stanley Leonard and Shane Oberbreckling led the field to green in the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Oberbreckling edging out Leonard and Brandon White to lead lap 1. Leonard would get under Oberbreckling to take the lead away on lap 2. Two laps later, lap 4, the battle up front would slow, as Randy LaMar spun in turn 2 and collected Roger Winkers to bring out the yellow. On the restart Kile Vohringer, who started 9th, used the top of the track to take over the top spot, with Daniel Wauters, who started 8th, and Leonard following. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution came on, as Bobby Taggert spun in turn 2 and collected White to bring out the yellow. Kile Vohringer moved back out front on the restart, with Wauters and Dakota Simonsen, who started 16th, close behind. One lap later, lap 12, Lane Vohringer spun in turn 4 to bring out the final caution of the race. On the restart Kile Vohringer jumped back out front, with Wauters and Simonsen challenging him. But Kile Vohringer was able to hold them off to claim the win. Wauters was 2nd, Randy Byerly finished 3rd after starting in 6th, Simonsen was 4th, with Leah Wroten finishing in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 25 lap IMCA Late Models, with Todd Malmstrom and Andy Nezworski drawing the front row for the event. Nezworski used his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Malmstrom and Matt Ryan. The action up front was slowed on lap 2, as Donnie Pataska spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Nezworski jumped back out front, with Malmstrom and Ryan close behind. The fast pace that Nezworski was setting put him in lapped traffic by lap 15, which allowed Ryan to close to his back bumper on lap 17. Then Stacy Griffis wnet off the track in turn 4 on lap 17 to bring out the yellow, and giving Nezworski a clear track for the restart. On the restart Lake Knutti went over the track in turn 1 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Nezworski move back out front, with Jeremiah Hurst, who started 6th, over taking Ryan for the runner up spot. Hurst would stay in Nezworski's tire track over the final laps, but wasn't able to mount a challenge. As Nezworski held on for the win. Hurst was 2nd, Jeff Aikey, who was driving Rick Dralles' #1D car, started 8th and finished 3rd, Ryan was 4th, with Malmstrom coming home in 5th.
Notes from Maquoketa: 31 SportMods, 21 Modifieds, 21 4-Cylinders, 17 Late Models, 17 Hobby Stocks, and 13 Stock Cars made up the 120 cars signed in on the night....Even with all the racing the action started at 6:30 PM, with the final checkered flag waving at 10:28 PM......Bruce Current started the SportMod feature in 9th and would finish 6th....Brandon Setser finished 8th after starting in 13th....Justin Becker recovered from his spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish 11th....Scott Williams got the last transfer spot out of B-Main #1. He would start 19th and finished 12th....Drew Burk won B-Main #2, but had troubles after the race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Nick Proehl started the 4-Cylinder feature in 20th and would pass 14 cars to take home a 6th place finish....Justin Vargason started 15th and finished 10th....Cody Staley came from 18th to finish in 12th....Jamie Wood finished 13th after starting in 17th....Thomas Adams and Dustin Forbes both had troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature......Dustin Wilwert finished 6th in the Modified feature after starting in 14th....Tom Pestka started 19th and finished 12th....Richard Nelson came from 18th to finish in 14th....Jason Schueller was running 10th when he pulled off on lap 17 to end his night in 15th....George Spence III sytarted 21st and had worked his was up to 10th by lap 10, when he went off the track down the backstretch to end his night in 16th....Adam Peschek started 17th and worked his way up to 12th. When he pulled off on lap 8 with a right front flat to end his night in 17th......Brett Vanous started the Hobby Stock feature in 17th and would come home in 7th....Dawson Bowling finished 9th after starting in 15th....Gatlin Leythm finished 11th in the Late Model feature after starting in 14th.
I would like to say THANK You to Nick McCrady and his staff at the Maquoketa Speedway for the great hospitality! I will definitely be making plans to return again before the end of the 2019 season ends.
After seeing the pictures of what the track looked like after heavy rains moved through the grounds on Friday, one would have thought there was no chance of them being able to race. But the crew worked into the night Friday and Saturday morning to pump the water that was standing on the bottom half of the track off. And with all the water that was standing, one would assume after they pumped it all off it would be rough down there. But that was far from the case, as the race track was nice and smooth from top to bottom. Which produced several two, three and even four wide races throughout the night.
The 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature was the first to take to the track, with Tom Schmitt and Jimmy Comins scheduled to start on the front row. But Schmitt was offered a challenge to go to the rear for some bonus money if he came back up to win. He took the challenge, which moved Chase Zaruba to the pole. Zaruba took advantage of the move to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Comins and Tim Bader. Just after lap 1 was scored complete, Jared Miller spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Zaruba jumped back out front, with Comins and Donnie Louck, who started 7th, close behind. One lap later, lap 3, Louck got under Zaruba coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot, with Johnny Spaw, who started 6th, following him into second. The next lap, lap 4, Schmitt worked his way into third, by mostly using the top of the track. Spaw tried to work under Louck over the next 8 laps, as Schmitt worked the top side to make it a three car shootout for the win. But the action up front slowed on lap 12, when Chris Hinrichs spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Louck jumped back out front on the restart, with Schmitt slipping under Spaw to grab the runner up spot. But Spaw would get under Schmitt the following lap to grab second back, and then went to work on Louck for the lead. Coming off turn 2 to complete lap 16 Spaw was able to get under Louck and then made the pass coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Spaw then held off Louck and Schmitt to claim the win. Louck was 2nd, Schmitt was 3rd, Scott Jordan came from 9th to finish in 4th, with Shane Richardson finishing 5th after starting in 10th.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Bobby Taggert and Logan Veloz leading the field to green. But it was third place starter Jacob Ellithorpe who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Rusty DeShaw and Jerry Miles. The action was slowed on lap 2, when Justin Becker spun off the top of the track in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Ellithorpe jumped back out front on the restart, with Miles and Tyler Soppe, who started 10th, close behind. One lap later, lap 4, Miles got under Ellithorpe to take over the top spot. Soppe would follow him into second one lap later, lap 5. While Miles worked the bottom of the track, Soppe was using the topside to try and wrestle the lead away from Miles. The battle up front was slowed on lap 8, when T.J. Fortmann went over the track in turns 3 & 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Miles moved back out front, with Soppe and Gage Neal, who started 8th, making it a three car battle for the top spot. On lap 10 Soppe used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take the top spot. Miles tried to work under him over the final laps. But Soppe was able to hold him off to claim his third win in a row at the track. Miles was 2nd, Neal was 3rd, DeShaw was 4th, with Veloz rounding out the top 5.
Korey Lana and John Campbell led the field to the green flag in the 12 lap 4-Cylinder feature, with Lana grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Campbell and Ashley Reuman. Lana would hold the top sot until lap 5, when Mitch Bielenberg slipped by for the lead. Without a caution there was no catching Bielenberg, as he cruised to an easy win in the caution free race. Seth Schall came from 9th to finish in 2nd, Tyler Shady finished 3rd after starting in 6th, Lana was 4th, with Reuman coming home in 5th.
The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature was up next, with Jarrett Franzen and Steve Johnson making up the front row. Just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as T.J. Patz and George Spence III got together in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Dustin Morden stopped on the top of turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Franzen jump out front to lead lap 1 over Johnson and Bryce Garnhart, who started 8th. Two laps later, lap 3, Morden would stop on the topside of turn 4 to bring out his second yellow of the race to end his night. Franzen moved back out front on the restart, with Garnhart edging out Johnson for second. The action was slowed for the final time on lap 5, when Tyler Madigan spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Jeff Larson, who started 9th, used the top of the track to take over the top spot, with Franzen and Garnhart close behind. Larson was hooked up on this night, as he pulled away from the field to pick up the win. Garnhart was 2nd, Johnson was 3rd, Ray Cox Jr. was 4th, with Matt Short rounding out the top 5.
Stanley Leonard and Shane Oberbreckling led the field to green in the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Oberbreckling edging out Leonard and Brandon White to lead lap 1. Leonard would get under Oberbreckling to take the lead away on lap 2. Two laps later, lap 4, the battle up front would slow, as Randy LaMar spun in turn 2 and collected Roger Winkers to bring out the yellow. On the restart Kile Vohringer, who started 9th, used the top of the track to take over the top spot, with Daniel Wauters, who started 8th, and Leonard following. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution came on, as Bobby Taggert spun in turn 2 and collected White to bring out the yellow. Kile Vohringer moved back out front on the restart, with Wauters and Dakota Simonsen, who started 16th, close behind. One lap later, lap 12, Lane Vohringer spun in turn 4 to bring out the final caution of the race. On the restart Kile Vohringer jumped back out front, with Wauters and Simonsen challenging him. But Kile Vohringer was able to hold them off to claim the win. Wauters was 2nd, Randy Byerly finished 3rd after starting in 6th, Simonsen was 4th, with Leah Wroten finishing in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 25 lap IMCA Late Models, with Todd Malmstrom and Andy Nezworski drawing the front row for the event. Nezworski used his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Malmstrom and Matt Ryan. The action up front was slowed on lap 2, as Donnie Pataska spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Nezworski jumped back out front, with Malmstrom and Ryan close behind. The fast pace that Nezworski was setting put him in lapped traffic by lap 15, which allowed Ryan to close to his back bumper on lap 17. Then Stacy Griffis wnet off the track in turn 4 on lap 17 to bring out the yellow, and giving Nezworski a clear track for the restart. On the restart Lake Knutti went over the track in turn 1 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Nezworski move back out front, with Jeremiah Hurst, who started 6th, over taking Ryan for the runner up spot. Hurst would stay in Nezworski's tire track over the final laps, but wasn't able to mount a challenge. As Nezworski held on for the win. Hurst was 2nd, Jeff Aikey, who was driving Rick Dralles' #1D car, started 8th and finished 3rd, Ryan was 4th, with Malmstrom coming home in 5th.
Notes from Maquoketa: 31 SportMods, 21 Modifieds, 21 4-Cylinders, 17 Late Models, 17 Hobby Stocks, and 13 Stock Cars made up the 120 cars signed in on the night....Even with all the racing the action started at 6:30 PM, with the final checkered flag waving at 10:28 PM......Bruce Current started the SportMod feature in 9th and would finish 6th....Brandon Setser finished 8th after starting in 13th....Justin Becker recovered from his spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish 11th....Scott Williams got the last transfer spot out of B-Main #1. He would start 19th and finished 12th....Drew Burk won B-Main #2, but had troubles after the race that forced him to scratch from the feature......Nick Proehl started the 4-Cylinder feature in 20th and would pass 14 cars to take home a 6th place finish....Justin Vargason started 15th and finished 10th....Cody Staley came from 18th to finish in 12th....Jamie Wood finished 13th after starting in 17th....Thomas Adams and Dustin Forbes both had troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the feature......Dustin Wilwert finished 6th in the Modified feature after starting in 14th....Tom Pestka started 19th and finished 12th....Richard Nelson came from 18th to finish in 14th....Jason Schueller was running 10th when he pulled off on lap 17 to end his night in 15th....George Spence III sytarted 21st and had worked his was up to 10th by lap 10, when he went off the track down the backstretch to end his night in 16th....Adam Peschek started 17th and worked his way up to 12th. When he pulled off on lap 8 with a right front flat to end his night in 17th......Brett Vanous started the Hobby Stock feature in 17th and would come home in 7th....Dawson Bowling finished 9th after starting in 15th....Gatlin Leythm finished 11th in the Late Model feature after starting in 14th.
I would like to say THANK You to Nick McCrady and his staff at the Maquoketa Speedway for the great hospitality! I will definitely be making plans to return again before the end of the 2019 season ends.
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Van Wyk Scores First Career SportMod Win at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway
Memphis, MO (Friday, May 17, 2019) - Mother nature hasn't been to kind to the Midwest so far this season, as the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri has tried two other times to get their first race completed. But rains during both of those scheduled days would force them to cancel those events. Finally, on Friday May 17th all of the rains stayed north of the Iowa / Missouri border, which helped to draw 91 teams to the grounds for competition.
The 14 lap Sport Compact feature was up first, with Ryan Lewis and Josh Barnes drawing the front row. Barnes took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jake Houston, who started 5th, and Barry Taft, who started 6th. While Barnes worked the bottom and middle grooves of the track, Houston tried the high side to get around Barnes for the top spot. Barnes was able to hold him off, that was until lap 4 when Houston used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to grab the lead. One lap later, lap 5, debris in turn 4 would bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes went to the top coming out of turn 4 to get the lead back from Houston. Houston then tried to work under Barnes over the next lap, but Barnes was able to hold him off. That was until lap 8 when Houston was able to get under Barnes coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. One lap later, lap 9, Barnes slowed to a stop in turn 4 to bring out the caution, and ended his run up front. On the restart Houston got into Brandon Reu, which cut down his right front tire. This would allow Reu to grab the lead over Taft and Isaiah Penton. Reu then held off a late challenge from Penton to claim the win. Penton settled for 2nd, Brandon Allison came from 8th to finish 3rd, Tyler Haring started 12th and finished 4th, with Taft slowing on the final lap and managing to cross the line in 5th.
Abe Huls and Beau Taylor led the field to green in the 18 lap Stock Car feature, with Huls jumping out front to lead lap 1 over Taylor and Cayden Carter. Huls then started to pull away from the rest of the field, when the first of two cautions appeared on lap 6. Todd Reitzler spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Huls moved back out front, with Carter and John Oliver Jr., who started 7th, following close behind. Two laps later, lap 9, Michael Larsen slowed in turn 3 to bring out the final caution of the race. Huls once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Carter and Oliver Jr. close behind. Over the next 8 laps Carter tried to get under Huls coming off turn 4, but Huls was able to hold him off each lap. Then going into turn 3 on the final lap Carter was able to get up beside Huls, as the two raced side-by-side off turn 4. Carter would edge out Huls at the line by a nose to claim the win. Huls settled for a close 2nd, Oliver Jr. was 3rd, Derrick Agee started 11th and finished 4th, with Reitzler recovering from his spin on lap 6 to come back up to finish 5th.
Up next was the 16 lap SportMod feature, with Daniel Fellows and Bobby Six drawing the front row. Six would take advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Fellows and young rookie Dylan Van Wyk. The action up front was slowed for the first and only time of the race on lap 5, as John M. Anderson and Corey Cooper spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Six jumped back out front, with Van Wyk and Brandon Dale following. Van Wyk went to the top of the track coming out of turn 2 to go three wide down the backstretch through lapped traffic, and then came out of turn 4 with the lead on lap 10. Brayton Carter, who started 8th, took the runner up spot late in the race, but wasn't able to challenge Van Wyk for the lead. As Van Wyk went on to score his first career SportMod feature win in his rookie season. Carter was 2nd, Six was 3rd, Logan Anderson was 4th, with Adam Birck coming from 10th to round out the top 5.
Andrew Schroeder and Dugan Thye led the field to green in the 20 lap Modified feature, with Schroeder moving out front to lead lap 1 over Derrick Stewart and Thye. Stewart would stay in Schroeder's tire tracks over the next 5 laps, when the first and only caution of the race appeared on lap 6. Debris in turn 4 would bring out the yellow. On the restart Schroeder jumped back out front, with Cayden Carter, who started 8th, over taking Stewart for the runner up spot. Carter then tried to work under Schroeder over the next 5 laps, with Schroeder holding him off each lap. That was until lap 13, when Carter got under Schroeder coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Carter then pulled away over the final laps to pick up the win, which was also his second win of the night after claiming the Stock Car feature win. Schroeder was 2nd, Stewart was 3rd, Zack VanderBeek finished 4th after starting in 11th, with Brandon Lennox coming from 13th to complete the top 5.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 14 lap Hobby Stocks, with Dustin Griffiths and Derek Kirkland making up the front row. Griffiths took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Josh Modde and Mike Kincaid. While Griffiths pulled away, Modde, Kincaid and Kirkland battled for the runner up spot. Kirkland was able to take over second on lap 3, and then went to work on chasing down Griffiths. But without a caution, there was no catching Griffiths. Who cruised to an easy win. Kirkland was 2nd, Modde, was 3rd, Kincaid was 4th, with Eric Knutson coming home in 5th.
Notes from Memphis: 26 SportMods, 22 Modifieds, 18 Sport Compacts, 16 Stock Cars and 9 Hobby Stocks made up the 91 cars signed in on the night......William Michel started the Sport Compacts feature in 13th and would come up to finish 6th....Jaden DeLonjay arrived at the track just as the heats came to the track, so he would miss his heat. He then started 15th and would bring home a 8th place finish....Rachel Kile finished 9th after starting in 14th....Tanner Burton had troubles in his heat race and was a scratch from the feature......Tyler Moore finished the Stock Car feature in 7th after starting in 13th....Pete Stogdel started 14th and finished 8th......Casey Lancaster started the SportMod feature in 13th and then came up to finish 7th....Trent Brink finished 8th after starting in 17th....Jeff Frana started 20th and would come home in 9th....Ryan Harris started 19th and would finish in 10th....Tony Johnson came from 16th to finish in 11th....Levi Long started 18th and finished 12th....Corey Cooper, who started 24th, recovered from his involvement in the only caution on lap 5 to come back up to finish 14th....Daniel Fellows was battling inside the top 5 all race, but broke coming out of turn 4 on the final lap an was credited with 15th....Austen Becerra started 23rd and climbed up to 12th before the lap 5 caution. But would later pull off with over heating issues to end his night in 16th....Chris Archer finished 17th after starting in 23rd....Brandon Dale battled for the lead on lap 9. But would pull off a few laps later with troubles to end his night in 18th....David Snyder had troubles in his heat race and was a scratch from the feature......Kurt Kile started the Modified feature in 12th and then passed 6 cars to finish 6th....Jared Fuller broke in his race and then loaded up. They then drove right outside of the track to the shop to get another car, where he started 22nd in the feature. He then passed 12 cars to bring home a 10th place finish....Charles Baker started 20th and finished 11th....Bill Baker finished 12th after starting in 16th.
The next event scheduled at the Pepsi Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri will be on Friday, June 14th. This coming Memorial Day weekend has plenty of racing action to take in. Let's just hope mother nature will co-operate!
Saturday, May 18, 2019
O'Neal Takes Win In Lucas Oil Return to 34 Raceway
West Burlington, IA (Thursday, May 16, 2019) - When you read the headline your first thoughts might be that veteran racer Don O'Neal took home the checkered flag on Thursday, May 16th at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. But in all reality it was his eighteen year old son, Hudson O'Neal who actually drove to victory lane and taking home the $10,000 top prize.
It's been since 2011 since the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series made a stop at the 3/8th's mile track, located just on the outside of the small town of Middletown, Iowa. Well that all changed on Thursday night, as Bradley Stevens and Jessi Mynatt, in their second year as owners of 34 Raceway, brought the series back. The weather forecasts earlier in the week called for warmer temperatures and high humidity, but no chance of rain. Well part of that forecast changed by race time on Thursday, as it was hot and humid. But the chances of rain showers increased after 10 PM.
Thirty-six open Late Models signed in for competition, but Matt Mickelson didn't have the proper safety systems installed on his car that Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series requires. So he had to load his car up and pull out of the events, leaving thirty-five set for time trials, heats, B-Mains, and a feature. All thirty-five driver's drew a pill number at the Lucas Oil trailer when the checked in for competition. They were then split into two groups, Group A and Group B. Group A would time trial first, and they would make up heat races 1 and 2. Current Lucas Oil points leader Jonathan Davenport set fast time in Group A, with a lap of 14.581. Then Group B would come out, as they made up heats 3 and 4. Tim McCreadie was the fastest in Group B, and overall quick timer, with a lap of 14.466.
The heat races were lined straight up by fastest times, with the top 4 finishers in each of the four heat races moving directly into the 50 lap A Main. The remainder of the field were put into two B-Mains. Jonathan Davenport started heat 1 on the pole and jumped out into the lead on lap 1. He would pull away to pick up the win, which earned him the pole for the 50 lap A Main. Billy Moyer Jr. was 2nd, Chase Junghans was 3rd, with Tyler Erb rounding out the transfer cars in 4th...Heat 2 saw outside front row starter Earl Pearson Jr. grab the lead on lap 1. He would lead all 10 laps to pick up the win. Josh Richards came from 4th to finish 2nd, Devin Moran was 3rd, with Chris Simpson completing the top 4....Tyler Bruening got the lead from his outside front row starting spot in heat 3, and then went on to pick up the win. Which put him on the outside of row one for the A Main. Don O'Neal was 2nd, Tim McCreadie was 3rd, with Kyle Bronson finishing in the final transfer spot in 4th....Heat 4 saw veteran racer Billy Moyer grab the ead on lap 1 from his outside front row starting spot. He would go onto lead all 10 laps to claim the win. Hudson O'Neal was 2nd, Shannon Babb was 3rd, with Jimmy Owens completing the top 4....Two 12 lap B-Mains were next, with the top 3 finishers moving into the A Main. The first B-Main saw Bobby Pierce grab the early lead. He lead until about midway through the race, as Frank Heckenast Jr., who started 4th, slipped past for the lead. Heckenast Jr. then held off Pierce to pick up the win. Spencer Diercks started 8th and clawed his way up to a third place finish, which was the final transfer spot....Shannon Buckingham shot to the lead on the start of B-Main 2. He then cruised to an easy win. Chad Simpson, driving Larry Morning's #1 Late Model, finished 2nd, with Stormy Scott holding on for the final transfer spot in 3rd....Jason Jameson would be awarded a Lucas Oil provisional, while Allen Murray earned the fastest time provisional to set the field of 24 cars for the A-Main.
Now that the qualifying events were completed, it was time to go feature racing. The 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature was up first, with Shane Richardson and Les Blakley making up the front row. Blakley took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jason Cook and Jeremy Pundt. Just after the lap was scored complete the caution appeared, as Tom Bowling Jr. slowed in turn 4 with a left rear flat. On the restart Brandon Rothzen and Matt Gavin got off the track in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The next restart saw Brett Timmerman loop it in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. On the next restart Blakley jumped back out front, with Cook and Pundt close behind. One lap later, lap 3, Pundt and John Oliver Jr., who started 9th, over took Cook to move into second and third. Pundt then went to the bottom coming off turn 4 to edge out Blakley at the line to lead lap 4. A couple of laps later Oliver Jr. was able to clear Blakley to take over the runner up spot, and then went to work on Pundt for the top spot. Pundt, who was working the middle groove of the track was able to hold off Oliver Jr. over the next 12 laps, and looked like he would hold him off if he hit his marks on the final 2 laps. But coming off turn 4 to get the white flag, Pundt slid up the track, which allowed Oliver Jr. to shoot under him to grab the lead. Oliver Jr. then held on over the final lap to score his third win in three races at 34 Raceway. Pundt was 2nd, Bolwing Jr. recovered from his flat on lap 1 to come back up to finish 3rd, Richardson was 4th, with Chad Krogmeier, who started 13th, being the final car to cross the line in 5th.
Jonathan Davenport and Tyler Bruening led the field to green in the 50 lap Lucas Oil Late Molde Dirt Series feature, with Davenport grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Bruening and Billy Moyer. Then just after lap 1 was scored complete the first of many cautions appeared, as Tim McCreadie slowed in turn 2 with a left front flat and nose damage. On the restart Davenport jumped back out front, with Moyer over taking Bruening for the runner up spot. The fast pace Davenport was setting put him into lapped traffic on lap 8. But when Jason Jameson spun in turn 3 on lap 8, this would give Davenport a clear track for the restart. Davenport would move back out front on the restart, with Moyer and now Don O'Neal, who started 6th, close behind him. Again Davenport entered lapped traffic on lap 15, which would allow Don O'Neal to close on his back bumper on lap 19. Over the next 5 laps Don O'Neal would look under Davenport in turns 3 & 4, but Davenport was able to use the momentum off the the top of 4 to keep the lead at the stripe each lap. The action up front was slowed on lap 23, when fifth place running Bruening spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Bobby Pierce, Frank Heckenast Jr., Devin Moran and Jameson piled it up in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. While under caution Moyer, who was running 4th, pulled in to end his run up front. Also, Kyle Bronson, who was running 9th after starting in 14th, went to the pits. He would return to the track for the restart. On the following restart Davenport jumped back out front, with Don O'Neal battling teammate Josh Richards, who started 7th, for the second spot. After the lap was scored complete, Earl Pearson Jr., who was running 8th, slowed in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Davenport once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with father and son Don and Hudson O'Neal, who started 8th, battling for the runner up spot. Two laps later, lap 27, Chase Junghans, who was running 7th after starting in 12th, went over the track in turn 2 to avoid a spinning Jameson to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hudson O'Neal tried to go from the bottom of the track to the tp in turns 1 & 2 to slid up in front of Davenport. But Davenport was able to clear Hudson coming off turn 2 to keep the lead. The action up front was slowed on lap 28, when 10th place runner Billy Moyer Jr. slowed in turn 2 with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow.
Don O'Neal tried the same move his son did on the last restart, by going low in turn 1 and trying to slid up coming off turn 2. But both Davenport and Hudson O'Neal were able to squeeze past Don to keep the lead and the runner up spot. With Hudson and Don O'Neal running side-by-side for the runner up spot on laps 34, 35, and 36, this would allow Davenport to start to put some distance between the battle. But when Bruening slowed in turn 3 with a right rear flat on lap 37 to bring out the yellow, this would bring the field back to Davenport's back bumper. On the restart Tyler Erb, who was running 6th, got up on two wheels in turn 1 and when he came back down he spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Davenport move back out front, with Hudson and Don O'Neal close behind. Don O'Neal would work the bottom of the track and tried to get under Davenport coming off the corners over the next 8 laps. But Davenport was able to keep the lead at the line each lap. Then going into turn 1 to come around to complete lap 48, Don O'Neal would slid up the track coming off turn 2. He would pitch the car sideways off turn 2, and with Davenport on the gas he would get into Don O'Neal's left rear. His nose would cause Don to slow to a stop in turn 3 with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hudson O'Neal got under Davenport to take over the top spot. Coming off turn 4 to get the double checkers Hudson O'Neal drifted high, which gave Davenport the shot he needed to shoot under him for the win. But Davenport's car got upset and wasn't able to take advantage, as Hudson O'Neal drove to the win and the $10,000 check to go with it. Davenport was 2nd, Josh Richards was 3rd, Kyle Bronson recovered from going into the pits on lap 23 to come back up to finish 4th, with Earl Pearson Jr. coming back up to 5th after slowing on lap 24.
The final feature to take to the track was the scheduled 12 lap Mini Hauler Trucks, with Billy Stanford and Jack Broeg drawing the front row for the event. Stanford took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Broeg and John Helenthal. On lap 2 Broeg got sideways coming off turn 4 and collected Drake Fenton to bring out the yellow. Helenthal inherited the lead on the restart, with Stanford and Jerad Ruble following. Just after lap 3 was scored complete, Lake Carlson and Dakota Fenton both got upside down off the track in turn 1 to bring out the red. Both driver's climbed out okay. Now with only three trucks left on the track, the feature would only run 5 more laps. Helenthal grabbed the lead on the restart, with Ruble and Stanford close behind. Helenthal then looked like he would go onto the pick up the win. But when he got high coming off turn 4 to get the checkered flag, this allowed Ruble to get under him. But when Helenthal turned the wheel to the left to keep his truck off the wall, he got into the side of Ruble. And both trucks looked like they would spin. But Ruble was able to get his straighten out first to cross the line for the win. Helenthal crossed in 2nd. Stanford was credited with 3rd, Carlson was credited with 4th, with Dakota Fenton getting credited with 5th.
Notes from 34: Chase Junghans finished 7th, after being involved in the lap 27 caution....Shannon Buckingham started 18th, after winning B-Main 2, and would come home in 8th....Tyler Bruening recovered from his flat on lap 37 to come back up to finish 9th...Devin Moran came back to 10th, after being in the wreck on the lap 23 restart....Billy Moyer Jr. receovered from his flat on lap 28 to come back up to finish 11th....Jimmy Owens started 16th and finished 12th....Stormy Scott took the last transfer spot in B-Main 2 and started 22nd. He would climb his way to a 13th place finish....Jason Jameson, who took a series point provisional and started 23rd, recovered from his lap 23 and 27 involvements in cautions to finish 15th.
I would like to say THANK YOU to Bradley Stevens and Jessi Mynatt for the great hospitality!!!
Food for thought, mother nature hasn't been to good to the tracks in the Midwest so far this season. With many weeks or more of rains then sun, it creates a challenge to be able to prep the grounds to be able to even put on a show of this magnitude. To me one of the toughest jobs at a race track is the track preps guys. Not every week are they going to hit it 100%, but when they don't it is to bad social media has to take it out on them. I personally don't like a rough race track, like most of use don't. But it is okay to have a rough track if it produces a decent race, like we seen Thursday at 34 Raceway. It could have easily been a single the file, no passing race. And then image what kind of negativity you would have seen on social media. With that I want to applaud the crew at 34 Raceway for trying their best, it would have been easy to just throw in the towel. But that wasn't their attitude. Keep plugging away, and pay NO attention to social media, it can be brutal at times!
It's been since 2011 since the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series made a stop at the 3/8th's mile track, located just on the outside of the small town of Middletown, Iowa. Well that all changed on Thursday night, as Bradley Stevens and Jessi Mynatt, in their second year as owners of 34 Raceway, brought the series back. The weather forecasts earlier in the week called for warmer temperatures and high humidity, but no chance of rain. Well part of that forecast changed by race time on Thursday, as it was hot and humid. But the chances of rain showers increased after 10 PM.
Thirty-six open Late Models signed in for competition, but Matt Mickelson didn't have the proper safety systems installed on his car that Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series requires. So he had to load his car up and pull out of the events, leaving thirty-five set for time trials, heats, B-Mains, and a feature. All thirty-five driver's drew a pill number at the Lucas Oil trailer when the checked in for competition. They were then split into two groups, Group A and Group B. Group A would time trial first, and they would make up heat races 1 and 2. Current Lucas Oil points leader Jonathan Davenport set fast time in Group A, with a lap of 14.581. Then Group B would come out, as they made up heats 3 and 4. Tim McCreadie was the fastest in Group B, and overall quick timer, with a lap of 14.466.
The heat races were lined straight up by fastest times, with the top 4 finishers in each of the four heat races moving directly into the 50 lap A Main. The remainder of the field were put into two B-Mains. Jonathan Davenport started heat 1 on the pole and jumped out into the lead on lap 1. He would pull away to pick up the win, which earned him the pole for the 50 lap A Main. Billy Moyer Jr. was 2nd, Chase Junghans was 3rd, with Tyler Erb rounding out the transfer cars in 4th...Heat 2 saw outside front row starter Earl Pearson Jr. grab the lead on lap 1. He would lead all 10 laps to pick up the win. Josh Richards came from 4th to finish 2nd, Devin Moran was 3rd, with Chris Simpson completing the top 4....Tyler Bruening got the lead from his outside front row starting spot in heat 3, and then went on to pick up the win. Which put him on the outside of row one for the A Main. Don O'Neal was 2nd, Tim McCreadie was 3rd, with Kyle Bronson finishing in the final transfer spot in 4th....Heat 4 saw veteran racer Billy Moyer grab the ead on lap 1 from his outside front row starting spot. He would go onto lead all 10 laps to claim the win. Hudson O'Neal was 2nd, Shannon Babb was 3rd, with Jimmy Owens completing the top 4....Two 12 lap B-Mains were next, with the top 3 finishers moving into the A Main. The first B-Main saw Bobby Pierce grab the early lead. He lead until about midway through the race, as Frank Heckenast Jr., who started 4th, slipped past for the lead. Heckenast Jr. then held off Pierce to pick up the win. Spencer Diercks started 8th and clawed his way up to a third place finish, which was the final transfer spot....Shannon Buckingham shot to the lead on the start of B-Main 2. He then cruised to an easy win. Chad Simpson, driving Larry Morning's #1 Late Model, finished 2nd, with Stormy Scott holding on for the final transfer spot in 3rd....Jason Jameson would be awarded a Lucas Oil provisional, while Allen Murray earned the fastest time provisional to set the field of 24 cars for the A-Main.
Now that the qualifying events were completed, it was time to go feature racing. The 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature was up first, with Shane Richardson and Les Blakley making up the front row. Blakley took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jason Cook and Jeremy Pundt. Just after the lap was scored complete the caution appeared, as Tom Bowling Jr. slowed in turn 4 with a left rear flat. On the restart Brandon Rothzen and Matt Gavin got off the track in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The next restart saw Brett Timmerman loop it in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. On the next restart Blakley jumped back out front, with Cook and Pundt close behind. One lap later, lap 3, Pundt and John Oliver Jr., who started 9th, over took Cook to move into second and third. Pundt then went to the bottom coming off turn 4 to edge out Blakley at the line to lead lap 4. A couple of laps later Oliver Jr. was able to clear Blakley to take over the runner up spot, and then went to work on Pundt for the top spot. Pundt, who was working the middle groove of the track was able to hold off Oliver Jr. over the next 12 laps, and looked like he would hold him off if he hit his marks on the final 2 laps. But coming off turn 4 to get the white flag, Pundt slid up the track, which allowed Oliver Jr. to shoot under him to grab the lead. Oliver Jr. then held on over the final lap to score his third win in three races at 34 Raceway. Pundt was 2nd, Bolwing Jr. recovered from his flat on lap 1 to come back up to finish 3rd, Richardson was 4th, with Chad Krogmeier, who started 13th, being the final car to cross the line in 5th.
Jonathan Davenport and Tyler Bruening led the field to green in the 50 lap Lucas Oil Late Molde Dirt Series feature, with Davenport grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Bruening and Billy Moyer. Then just after lap 1 was scored complete the first of many cautions appeared, as Tim McCreadie slowed in turn 2 with a left front flat and nose damage. On the restart Davenport jumped back out front, with Moyer over taking Bruening for the runner up spot. The fast pace Davenport was setting put him into lapped traffic on lap 8. But when Jason Jameson spun in turn 3 on lap 8, this would give Davenport a clear track for the restart. Davenport would move back out front on the restart, with Moyer and now Don O'Neal, who started 6th, close behind him. Again Davenport entered lapped traffic on lap 15, which would allow Don O'Neal to close on his back bumper on lap 19. Over the next 5 laps Don O'Neal would look under Davenport in turns 3 & 4, but Davenport was able to use the momentum off the the top of 4 to keep the lead at the stripe each lap. The action up front was slowed on lap 23, when fifth place running Bruening spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Bobby Pierce, Frank Heckenast Jr., Devin Moran and Jameson piled it up in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. While under caution Moyer, who was running 4th, pulled in to end his run up front. Also, Kyle Bronson, who was running 9th after starting in 14th, went to the pits. He would return to the track for the restart. On the following restart Davenport jumped back out front, with Don O'Neal battling teammate Josh Richards, who started 7th, for the second spot. After the lap was scored complete, Earl Pearson Jr., who was running 8th, slowed in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Davenport once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with father and son Don and Hudson O'Neal, who started 8th, battling for the runner up spot. Two laps later, lap 27, Chase Junghans, who was running 7th after starting in 12th, went over the track in turn 2 to avoid a spinning Jameson to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hudson O'Neal tried to go from the bottom of the track to the tp in turns 1 & 2 to slid up in front of Davenport. But Davenport was able to clear Hudson coming off turn 2 to keep the lead. The action up front was slowed on lap 28, when 10th place runner Billy Moyer Jr. slowed in turn 2 with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow.
Don O'Neal tried the same move his son did on the last restart, by going low in turn 1 and trying to slid up coming off turn 2. But both Davenport and Hudson O'Neal were able to squeeze past Don to keep the lead and the runner up spot. With Hudson and Don O'Neal running side-by-side for the runner up spot on laps 34, 35, and 36, this would allow Davenport to start to put some distance between the battle. But when Bruening slowed in turn 3 with a right rear flat on lap 37 to bring out the yellow, this would bring the field back to Davenport's back bumper. On the restart Tyler Erb, who was running 6th, got up on two wheels in turn 1 and when he came back down he spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Davenport move back out front, with Hudson and Don O'Neal close behind. Don O'Neal would work the bottom of the track and tried to get under Davenport coming off the corners over the next 8 laps. But Davenport was able to keep the lead at the line each lap. Then going into turn 1 to come around to complete lap 48, Don O'Neal would slid up the track coming off turn 2. He would pitch the car sideways off turn 2, and with Davenport on the gas he would get into Don O'Neal's left rear. His nose would cause Don to slow to a stop in turn 3 with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hudson O'Neal got under Davenport to take over the top spot. Coming off turn 4 to get the double checkers Hudson O'Neal drifted high, which gave Davenport the shot he needed to shoot under him for the win. But Davenport's car got upset and wasn't able to take advantage, as Hudson O'Neal drove to the win and the $10,000 check to go with it. Davenport was 2nd, Josh Richards was 3rd, Kyle Bronson recovered from going into the pits on lap 23 to come back up to finish 4th, with Earl Pearson Jr. coming back up to 5th after slowing on lap 24.
The final feature to take to the track was the scheduled 12 lap Mini Hauler Trucks, with Billy Stanford and Jack Broeg drawing the front row for the event. Stanford took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Broeg and John Helenthal. On lap 2 Broeg got sideways coming off turn 4 and collected Drake Fenton to bring out the yellow. Helenthal inherited the lead on the restart, with Stanford and Jerad Ruble following. Just after lap 3 was scored complete, Lake Carlson and Dakota Fenton both got upside down off the track in turn 1 to bring out the red. Both driver's climbed out okay. Now with only three trucks left on the track, the feature would only run 5 more laps. Helenthal grabbed the lead on the restart, with Ruble and Stanford close behind. Helenthal then looked like he would go onto the pick up the win. But when he got high coming off turn 4 to get the checkered flag, this allowed Ruble to get under him. But when Helenthal turned the wheel to the left to keep his truck off the wall, he got into the side of Ruble. And both trucks looked like they would spin. But Ruble was able to get his straighten out first to cross the line for the win. Helenthal crossed in 2nd. Stanford was credited with 3rd, Carlson was credited with 4th, with Dakota Fenton getting credited with 5th.
Notes from 34: Chase Junghans finished 7th, after being involved in the lap 27 caution....Shannon Buckingham started 18th, after winning B-Main 2, and would come home in 8th....Tyler Bruening recovered from his flat on lap 37 to come back up to finish 9th...Devin Moran came back to 10th, after being in the wreck on the lap 23 restart....Billy Moyer Jr. receovered from his flat on lap 28 to come back up to finish 11th....Jimmy Owens started 16th and finished 12th....Stormy Scott took the last transfer spot in B-Main 2 and started 22nd. He would climb his way to a 13th place finish....Jason Jameson, who took a series point provisional and started 23rd, recovered from his lap 23 and 27 involvements in cautions to finish 15th.
I would like to say THANK YOU to Bradley Stevens and Jessi Mynatt for the great hospitality!!!
Food for thought, mother nature hasn't been to good to the tracks in the Midwest so far this season. With many weeks or more of rains then sun, it creates a challenge to be able to prep the grounds to be able to even put on a show of this magnitude. To me one of the toughest jobs at a race track is the track preps guys. Not every week are they going to hit it 100%, but when they don't it is to bad social media has to take it out on them. I personally don't like a rough race track, like most of use don't. But it is okay to have a rough track if it produces a decent race, like we seen Thursday at 34 Raceway. It could have easily been a single the file, no passing race. And then image what kind of negativity you would have seen on social media. With that I want to applaud the crew at 34 Raceway for trying their best, it would have been easy to just throw in the towel. But that wasn't their attitude. Keep plugging away, and pay NO attention to social media, it can be brutal at times!
Sunday, May 12, 2019
Simmons Scores First Career IMCA Modified Win at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway
Donnellson, IA (Friday, May 10, 2019) - After having a week off due to the saturated grounds, the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa returned to action on Friday, May 10th. Even though mother nature tried early in the week to put a damper on this weeks action, with enough sun and wind the grounds dried out enough for the track crew to get on it to worked it in. After the nights action that was sponsored by Darkside Tint & Graphix and Driftwood 13, three drivers claimed their first of the season at the track, one of those scoring his first career in his class, while three others picked up multiple wins.
The first feature to take to the track was the 18 lap Robert's Tire Center IMCA SportMods, with Kyle Hamelton and Brian Bergheger scheduled to start on the front row. But when Hamleton was a scratch, this would move Ron Kibbe to the pole for the event. Despite starting in the seventh spot, Daniel Fellows shot to the front to lead lap 1 over Kibbe and Austen Becerra. The action up front was slowed on lap 2, when Bergheger spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fellows jumped back out front, with Becerra and Brandon Dale, who started 12th, close behind. While Becerra and Dale raced for the runner up spot, Fellows would start to pull away. Just as it looked like Fellows would cruise to an easy win, the second caution of the race appeared on lap 14 to bring the field back to his back bumper. Becerra, who was running 2nd, slowed in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Fellows once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Dale and Sean Wyett, who started 8th, battling for the runner up spot. As they battled for second, Fellows would go on to pick up his third win in a row at the track. Dale won the battle for 2nd, Wyett was 3rd, Kibbe was 4th, with Tom Lathrop coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 18 lap 305 Sprint feature, with Dan Keltner and Harold Pohren drawing the front row. Keltner would take advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Tanner Gebhardt and Pohren. The fast pace Keltner was setting would allow him to build up a straight-away lead by lap 10. But with 5 laps to go Gebhardt was staring to cut into the gap. And with two laps to go Gebhardt was within two car lengths of Keltner. Despite Gebhardt's late charge, Keltner was able to hold on to claim his first win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Gebhardt settled for a close 2nd, Jeff Wilke was 3rd, Pohren was 4th, with Joe Laue finishing 5th.
Derrick Agee and Beau Taylor led the field to green in the 18 lap Donnellson Tire & Service IMCA Stock Car feature, with Agee grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Jeremy Pundt and Abe Huls. While Agee paced the field out front, David Brandies, who started 5th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 3 Brandies got past Pundt for the runner up spot, and then went to work on Agee for the top spot. Agee, who was working the top, and Brandies, who was on the bottom, raced laps 5 thru 8 side-by-side, with Agee maintaining the lead at the strip each lap. Then coming off turn 4 Brandies was able to edge Agee out at the line to take over the top spot. Agee would stay in Brandies tire tracks over the final laps. But wasn't able to mount a challenge, as Brandies went on to score his first win of the season at the track. Agee was 2nd, Pundt was 3rd, Huls was 4th, with Taylor holding on for 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap Discount Tire & Service IMCA Sport Compacts, with Dylan Schantz and David Prim making up the front row. But it was fifth place starter Josh Barnes who quickly shot to the front to lead lap 1 over Schantz and Alyssa Steele. The action up front was slowed on lap 4, when Barry Taft, who was running 4th, slowed in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes jumped back out front, with Jacob Houston, who started 9th, and Brandon Ruffcorn, who started 10th, close behind. Barnes would have to work to hold off Houston and Ruffcorn for the top spot. When the action was slowed for the second time of the race on lap 7, as Larry Miller stopped in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Barnes once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Houston and Ruffcorn staying close behind. Ruffcorn's run up front came to an end on lap 11, as he slowed in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Houston and Brandon Reu, who started 8th, following. Houston tried to work under Barnes over the final laps, but Barnes would hold him off to claim his second win of the season at the track. Houston was 2nd, Reu was 3rd, Schantz was 4th, with Taft recovering from his yellow on lap 4 to come back up to finish in 5th.
Levi Smith and Dakota Simmons led the field to green in the Budweiser IMCA Modified feature, with Simmons grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Bill Roberts Jr. and Smith. Simmons then started to pull away from the rest of the field, when the first and only caution appeared on lap 8. A cone was clipped onto the track in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Simmons jumped back out front, with Roberts Jr. and John Oliver Jr., who started 6th, close behind. Oliver Jr. would get past Roberts Jr. on lap 10, but by then Simmons had built up a straight-away lead. Coming to the white flag, Oliver Jr. had cut Simmons lead down to about three car lengths. But that was as close as he could get, as Simmons went on to claim his first career Modified win. Oliver Jr. was 2nd, Dennis LaVeine was 3rd, Roberts Jr. was 4th, with Jeff Waterman completing the top 5.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap I-Smile Silver IMCA Late Models, with Stacy Griffis and Tommy Elston drawing the front row. But when Griffis was a scratch this would move Darin Weisinger Jr. to the pole. Elston took advantage of his draw to jump out front on lap 1 over Ray Raker and Brandon Queen. Brian Harris, who started 6th, took the runner up spot on lap 2, but by then Elston had pulled out to a big lead. It looked like Elston would cruise to an easy win, when the first and only caution of the race came out on lap 15. Queen spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow, and also brought the field back to Elston's back bumper. On the restart Elston moved back out front, with Harris and Ron Boyse, who started 7th, close behind. Harris would stay in Elston's tire tracks over the final laps. But wasn't able to mount a challenge, as Elston picked up his third win of the season at the Pepsi Lee County Speedway. Harris was 2nd, Boyse was 3rd, Sam Halstead finished 4th after starting in 8th, with Jay Johnson coming from 10th to finish in 5th.
This week is going to be a busy week, as it kicks off Thursday, May 16th at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series makes a return to the 3/8th's mile track, since it's last visit back in 2011. Jonathan Davenport leads the series point standings. With Earl Pearson Jr., Tyler Erb, Devin Moran, Josh Richards, Tim McCreadie, Jimmy Owens, Don O'Neal, Hudson O'Neal, Kyle Bronson, Billy Moyer Jr., Jason Jameson, Shanon Buckingham, Ryan King, and Stormy Scott the only driver's with perfect attendance so far in 2019. You can also expect drivers Frank Heckenast Jr., Bobby Pierce, Chad Simpson, Chris Simpson, Jay Johnson, Shannon Babb, Jimmy Mars, and more.
Then on Friday, May 17th it's up to the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa for the season opener for the Sprint Invaders. After the first two events fell to mother nature, I am hopeful we can get the 2019 started this Friday!
My Saturday and Sunday adventures are up in the air for right now. So until then, I hope to see you at the track real soon!
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Pierce Completes MLRA Weekend Sweep
Quincy, IL (Sunday, May 5, 2019) - On Sunday, May 5th the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois welcomed the Lucas Oil MLRA Series for the first time ever. After a stop in Stuart, Iowa on Thursday night and a trip to West Liberty, Iowa on Saturday night attrition played a tole on the car count. Out of the eighteen driver's signed in, only 6 remained with perfect attendance on the MLRA Series.
The 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature was up first, with Adam Birck and Justin Ebbing leading the field to green. Birck took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Ebbing and Austen Becerra. Just after lap 1 was scored the first of many cautions appeared, as Brandon Niekamp spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Birck jumped back out front, with Ebbing and Becerra close behind. Randy Dickman would spin in turn 4 on the completion of lap 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Becerra lost the handle of his race car and spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Birck move back out front, with Daniel Fellows, who started 6th, and Terry Wilson, who started 7th, both getting by Ebbing to take over second and third. One lap later, lap 6, Austin Poage spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Birck grabbed the lead on the restart, with Fellows and Ebbing now following him. Then just after the lap was scored complete another caution appeared, as Matthew Edler went over the track in turns 1 and 2 to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Birck moved back out front, with Fellows and Ebbing close behind. Once again just after the lap was completed, another caution came out. Poage spun in turn 4 to bring out his second caution of the race to end his night. Birck once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Ebbing and Wilson getting by Fellows for second and third. Disaster would strike Fellows on lap 10, as Tanner Klingele got into his right rear coming off turn 4. The contact would turn Fellows head on to the front stretch wall and then collected Adam Niekamp to bring out the yellow. Fellows would climb from his heavily damaged car okay. On the restart Birck jumped back out front, with Ebbing and Wilson following. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 13, as Nathan Bringer, who was running 4th, spun off the top of the track in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Birck once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Ebbing and Wilson close behind. Birck would go on to lead the final laps to pick up the win. Ebbing was 2nd, Wilson was 3rd, Klingele was 4th, Bringer was 5th, Matthew Edler was 6th, with Kelly Bartz finishing 7th, the final car left on the track out of the sixteen starters.
Up next was the 40 lap MLRA Late Model feature, with Kyle Bronson and Bobby Pierce making up the front row for the event. Pierce would use his starting spot to his advantage to grab the lead on lap 1 over Bronson and Brian Shirley. The fast pace that Pierce was setting early on would put him in lapped traffic on lap 7. While Pierce struggled to maneuver thru the lapped traffic, Bronson and Shirley would close to his back bumper on lap 15. Two laps later Bronson slipped high in turn 1, which allowed Shirley to get by for the runner up spot. By the midway of the race the track locked down around the top of the track, which would show the patience of Pierce to get by lapped traffic over the next 16 laps. On several laps Pierce would slow going into the corners to maintain the high side of the track, even as lapped traffic ran his line. This would allow Shirley to look under Pierce coming off the corners. But with the track be top dominate, Shirley couldn't make the pass. Pierce would get the clear track his was looking for on lap 36, when Joseph Gorby spun in turn 4 to bring out the only caution of the race. On the restart Pierce jumped back put front, with Shirley and Dennis Erb Jr. following. Pierce then went on to lead the final laps to make a clean sweep of the weekend with the MLRA Series. Shirley was 2nd, Erb Jr. was 3rd, Bronson was 4th, with Logan Martin being the highest MLRA regular finisher in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the scheduled 18 lap IMCA Stock Car/Street Stock feature. But after lap 11 and 9 cautions the event was time limited out. Craig Bangert and Scott Jordan would lead the field to the green flag, but just as the green was waved the yellow light came on. Bangert was called for jumping the start and was sent to the rear of the field. This would move Beau Taylor to the pole for the next restart. On the restart Kyler Girard and Bangert got stuck together in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The next restart saw Taylor take advantage of being moved to the pole, by jumping out front on lap 1 over Jordan and Jesse Wegs. The action was slowed on lap 4, when Micheal Larsen went over the track in turns 3 and 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pete Stodgel and Larsen spun in turn 3 to bring the yellow light back on. Taylor would grab the lead on the next restart, with Jordan and Wegs following. One lap later, lap 6, Jacob Bowen spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. Taylor once again jumped out into the lead on the restart, with Jordan and Shane Richardson, who started 8 and was the only driver working the bottom of the track, following.
Bangert had worked his way back up to 7th on lap 8, after being sent to the rear on the start for jumping, but he would go over the track in turns 1 and 2 and fell back to 10th. One lap later, lap 9, he then spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Taylor moved back out front, with Jordan and Wegs close behind. Then just after the lap was scored complete another caution appeared, as Bowen spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Taylor once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Jordan and Wegs still following. Just after the lap was scored complete Stodgel and Bangert spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. This would brig the event to an end, as the time limit was up. Taylor was given the win. Jordan was 2nd, Wegs was 3rd, Richardson was 4th, with Dakota Girard coming home in 5th.
I would like to thank Jason Goble and his staff at the Quincy Raceways for allowing me to come down and cover the action. The next open Late Model event scheduled in Quincy is on July 7th, when the UMP Summernationals Tour makes a late stop at the track.
The 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature was up first, with Adam Birck and Justin Ebbing leading the field to green. Birck took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Ebbing and Austen Becerra. Just after lap 1 was scored the first of many cautions appeared, as Brandon Niekamp spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Birck jumped back out front, with Ebbing and Becerra close behind. Randy Dickman would spin in turn 4 on the completion of lap 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Becerra lost the handle of his race car and spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Birck move back out front, with Daniel Fellows, who started 6th, and Terry Wilson, who started 7th, both getting by Ebbing to take over second and third. One lap later, lap 6, Austin Poage spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Birck grabbed the lead on the restart, with Fellows and Ebbing now following him. Then just after the lap was scored complete another caution appeared, as Matthew Edler went over the track in turns 1 and 2 to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Birck moved back out front, with Fellows and Ebbing close behind. Once again just after the lap was completed, another caution came out. Poage spun in turn 4 to bring out his second caution of the race to end his night. Birck once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Ebbing and Wilson getting by Fellows for second and third. Disaster would strike Fellows on lap 10, as Tanner Klingele got into his right rear coming off turn 4. The contact would turn Fellows head on to the front stretch wall and then collected Adam Niekamp to bring out the yellow. Fellows would climb from his heavily damaged car okay. On the restart Birck jumped back out front, with Ebbing and Wilson following. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 13, as Nathan Bringer, who was running 4th, spun off the top of the track in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Birck once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Ebbing and Wilson close behind. Birck would go on to lead the final laps to pick up the win. Ebbing was 2nd, Wilson was 3rd, Klingele was 4th, Bringer was 5th, Matthew Edler was 6th, with Kelly Bartz finishing 7th, the final car left on the track out of the sixteen starters.
Up next was the 40 lap MLRA Late Model feature, with Kyle Bronson and Bobby Pierce making up the front row for the event. Pierce would use his starting spot to his advantage to grab the lead on lap 1 over Bronson and Brian Shirley. The fast pace that Pierce was setting early on would put him in lapped traffic on lap 7. While Pierce struggled to maneuver thru the lapped traffic, Bronson and Shirley would close to his back bumper on lap 15. Two laps later Bronson slipped high in turn 1, which allowed Shirley to get by for the runner up spot. By the midway of the race the track locked down around the top of the track, which would show the patience of Pierce to get by lapped traffic over the next 16 laps. On several laps Pierce would slow going into the corners to maintain the high side of the track, even as lapped traffic ran his line. This would allow Shirley to look under Pierce coming off the corners. But with the track be top dominate, Shirley couldn't make the pass. Pierce would get the clear track his was looking for on lap 36, when Joseph Gorby spun in turn 4 to bring out the only caution of the race. On the restart Pierce jumped back put front, with Shirley and Dennis Erb Jr. following. Pierce then went on to lead the final laps to make a clean sweep of the weekend with the MLRA Series. Shirley was 2nd, Erb Jr. was 3rd, Bronson was 4th, with Logan Martin being the highest MLRA regular finisher in 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the scheduled 18 lap IMCA Stock Car/Street Stock feature. But after lap 11 and 9 cautions the event was time limited out. Craig Bangert and Scott Jordan would lead the field to the green flag, but just as the green was waved the yellow light came on. Bangert was called for jumping the start and was sent to the rear of the field. This would move Beau Taylor to the pole for the next restart. On the restart Kyler Girard and Bangert got stuck together in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The next restart saw Taylor take advantage of being moved to the pole, by jumping out front on lap 1 over Jordan and Jesse Wegs. The action was slowed on lap 4, when Micheal Larsen went over the track in turns 3 and 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pete Stodgel and Larsen spun in turn 3 to bring the yellow light back on. Taylor would grab the lead on the next restart, with Jordan and Wegs following. One lap later, lap 6, Jacob Bowen spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. Taylor once again jumped out into the lead on the restart, with Jordan and Shane Richardson, who started 8 and was the only driver working the bottom of the track, following.
Bangert had worked his way back up to 7th on lap 8, after being sent to the rear on the start for jumping, but he would go over the track in turns 1 and 2 and fell back to 10th. One lap later, lap 9, he then spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Taylor moved back out front, with Jordan and Wegs close behind. Then just after the lap was scored complete another caution appeared, as Bowen spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Taylor once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Jordan and Wegs still following. Just after the lap was scored complete Stodgel and Bangert spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. This would brig the event to an end, as the time limit was up. Taylor was given the win. Jordan was 2nd, Wegs was 3rd, Richardson was 4th, with Dakota Girard coming home in 5th.
I would like to thank Jason Goble and his staff at the Quincy Raceways for allowing me to come down and cover the action. The next open Late Model event scheduled in Quincy is on July 7th, when the UMP Summernationals Tour makes a late stop at the track.
Monday, May 6, 2019
Another MLRA Victory For Pierce
West Liberty, IA (Saturday, May 5, 2019) - Saturday's Lucas Oil MLRA stop at the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa was suppose to be the third of the four night swing thru the area. But heavy rains all week forced the cancellation of Friday's events at the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa, thus this event ended up being the second stop.
With all the rain the grounds received during the week the infield was still saturated, forcing many of the teams to pit in the outer pit area. Some even had to pit in the grassy area just south of the pit entrance. As far as the track was concerned, I walked across it in turns 1 and 2 to get into the infield and it was packed in hard. But unfortunately as the night went along the air temperatures got cooler, which brought the moisture back up thru the track. Turns 1 and 2 held up rather well, while turns 3 and 4 was where the driver's got challenged. All in all the driver's did the best they could to give the fans that packed the grandstands a show.
The 12 lap Stock Car feature was up first, with David Brandies and Jeff Struck Jr. drawing the front row for the event. Brandies took advantage of his staring spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Struck Jr. and John Oliver Jr., who started 5th. By the time Oliver Jr. got by Struck Jr. for the runner up spot on lap 2, Brandies had already built up a straight-away lead. On lap 8 Oliver Jr. cut Brandies lead down to two car lengths, and then coming off turn 4 Oliver Jr. used the bottom of the track to edge Brandies out at the line to lead the lap. Brandies would come back on the top of the track to take the lead back on lap 11, as the white flag was displayed. Despite Oliver Jr.'s best efforts of getting under Brandies coming off turn 4, Brandies would hold him off by half a car length to pick up the win. Michael Peterson started 6th and finished 3rd, Johnny Spaw, who started 9th, went thru the middle of Jared Miller, and Jason See to claim the 4th spot.
Up next was the scheduled 40 lap MLRA Late Model feature, but due to the track conditions the driver's and staff agreed to cut the feature down to 25 laps. Chad Simpson, by virtue of starting 8th in heat race 3 and then driving to the front to pick up the win, earned the pole, with Bobby Pierce to his outside. Pierce used his starting spot to his advantage to jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Chad Simpson and Will Vaught. While Pierce set the fast pace out front, Hudson O'Neal, who started 8th, was slowing trying to work his way towards the front. By lap 6 Pierce had already started to enter lapped traffic, but just after the lap was scored complete the first caution of the race waved. As Jeremy Grady slowed down the front stretch to bring out the yellow, and slowed Pierce's pace down. On the restart Pierce moved back out front, with Chad Simpson and Vaught close behind. One lap later, lap 8, Jordan Yaggy got sideways down the front stretch in front of Dave Wada, who had nowhere to go, and then got into the side of Yaggy. The contact sent Yaggy flipping from the flagstand to the beginning of turn 1 to bring out the red. Yaggy would climb from his mangled #77 okay!
Pierce once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Chad Simpson and now O'Neal following. While Pierce started to pull away, O'Neal was working on Chad Simpson for the runner up spot. O'Neal would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 on lap 17 to finally clear Chad Simpson for second. Then just after the lap was scored complete, Dave Eckrich blew a left rear tire down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart O'Neal slowed down the backstretch with a right rear tire going down, to bring the yellow light back on. On the following restart Pierce jumped back out front, with Vaught and Jake Neal, who started 9th, both getting by Chad Simpson for second and third. Vaught would stay on Pierce's back bumper until lap 20, when he drifted high coming off turn 4 and had to get out of the gas to keep from getting into the wall. This would allow Pierce to pull away over the final 5 laps to score his second MLRA win on the weekend. Vaught finished 2nd, Chad Simpson was 3rd, Jason Rauen was 4th, with Neal coming home in 5th.
The 10 lap American Iron Racing Series (A.I.R.S.) feature took to the track next, with Dan Kessler and Bruce Yoerger leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Yoerger would grab the lead on lap 1 over Kessler and Ron Barker, who started in 6th in Keith Simmons #38 machine. The lead for Yoerger only lasted for 2 laps, as Barker powered by to grab the top spot on lap 3. While Barker started to pull away, Kessler, Matt Hudspeth, Yoerger, and RJ Lank raced two wide for positions two thru fifth. That was until lap 7, when Lank, Yoerger, Brian Gade, and Justin Stock piled up in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barker moved back out front and then cruised to an easy win. Hudspeth was 2nd, Kessler was 3rd, Bart Miller was 4th, with Dennis Etten finishing in 5th.
Levi Laymon and Brandon Dale drew the front row for the 15 lap SportMod feature, but it was sixth place starter Dan Brockert who shot out into the lead on lap 1 over Logan Anderson, who started 9th, and Matt Fulton. Anderson would slip past Brockert on lap 2, and then after the lap was scored complete the caution appeared. Kevin Goben slowed in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Anderson moved back out front, with Dale and Shane Paris, who started 8th, close behind. The pace Anderson was setting put him into lapped traffic on lap 9, and then he was slowed for the final time of the race on lap 10. As Andrew Swailes slowed down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. Once again Anderson jumped back out front on the restart, with Paris and Austin Heacock, who started 10th, trying to keep pace with Anderson. But on this night there was no keeping up with Anderson, as he cruised to an easy win. Paris settled for 2nd, Fulton was 3rd, Dale was 4th, with Heacock holding on for 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Modifieds, with Terry Rentfro and Chris Zogg on the front row. Zogg took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Chad Holladay, who started 7th, and Kurt Kile. Just after the lap was scored complete the caution light came on, as Jordan Walker slowed in turns 1 and 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Zogg jumped back out front, with Kile over taking Holladay for the runner up spot. The action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 5, when Brandon Banks slowed in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Zogg once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Kile and Justin Kay, who started 6th, following. On lap 8 Kay would slip past Kile to take over the runner up spot, and then went to work on chasing down Zogg. Kay could only get to about three car lengths of Zogg, as Zogg went on to claim the win. Kay settled for 2nd, Kile was 3rd, Dakota Hayden started 11th and finished 4th, with Jarrett Brown finished 5th after starting in 8th.
I would like to thank Bob Wagoner, Carrie Rouse and their entire staff for bringing some races back to the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa on a limited schedule in 2019. The next event scheduled is on Saturday, May 18th, as the Modified Madness takes to the big 1/2 mile.
With all the rain the grounds received during the week the infield was still saturated, forcing many of the teams to pit in the outer pit area. Some even had to pit in the grassy area just south of the pit entrance. As far as the track was concerned, I walked across it in turns 1 and 2 to get into the infield and it was packed in hard. But unfortunately as the night went along the air temperatures got cooler, which brought the moisture back up thru the track. Turns 1 and 2 held up rather well, while turns 3 and 4 was where the driver's got challenged. All in all the driver's did the best they could to give the fans that packed the grandstands a show.
The 12 lap Stock Car feature was up first, with David Brandies and Jeff Struck Jr. drawing the front row for the event. Brandies took advantage of his staring spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Struck Jr. and John Oliver Jr., who started 5th. By the time Oliver Jr. got by Struck Jr. for the runner up spot on lap 2, Brandies had already built up a straight-away lead. On lap 8 Oliver Jr. cut Brandies lead down to two car lengths, and then coming off turn 4 Oliver Jr. used the bottom of the track to edge Brandies out at the line to lead the lap. Brandies would come back on the top of the track to take the lead back on lap 11, as the white flag was displayed. Despite Oliver Jr.'s best efforts of getting under Brandies coming off turn 4, Brandies would hold him off by half a car length to pick up the win. Michael Peterson started 6th and finished 3rd, Johnny Spaw, who started 9th, went thru the middle of Jared Miller, and Jason See to claim the 4th spot.
Up next was the scheduled 40 lap MLRA Late Model feature, but due to the track conditions the driver's and staff agreed to cut the feature down to 25 laps. Chad Simpson, by virtue of starting 8th in heat race 3 and then driving to the front to pick up the win, earned the pole, with Bobby Pierce to his outside. Pierce used his starting spot to his advantage to jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Chad Simpson and Will Vaught. While Pierce set the fast pace out front, Hudson O'Neal, who started 8th, was slowing trying to work his way towards the front. By lap 6 Pierce had already started to enter lapped traffic, but just after the lap was scored complete the first caution of the race waved. As Jeremy Grady slowed down the front stretch to bring out the yellow, and slowed Pierce's pace down. On the restart Pierce moved back out front, with Chad Simpson and Vaught close behind. One lap later, lap 8, Jordan Yaggy got sideways down the front stretch in front of Dave Wada, who had nowhere to go, and then got into the side of Yaggy. The contact sent Yaggy flipping from the flagstand to the beginning of turn 1 to bring out the red. Yaggy would climb from his mangled #77 okay!
Pierce once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Chad Simpson and now O'Neal following. While Pierce started to pull away, O'Neal was working on Chad Simpson for the runner up spot. O'Neal would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 on lap 17 to finally clear Chad Simpson for second. Then just after the lap was scored complete, Dave Eckrich blew a left rear tire down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart O'Neal slowed down the backstretch with a right rear tire going down, to bring the yellow light back on. On the following restart Pierce jumped back out front, with Vaught and Jake Neal, who started 9th, both getting by Chad Simpson for second and third. Vaught would stay on Pierce's back bumper until lap 20, when he drifted high coming off turn 4 and had to get out of the gas to keep from getting into the wall. This would allow Pierce to pull away over the final 5 laps to score his second MLRA win on the weekend. Vaught finished 2nd, Chad Simpson was 3rd, Jason Rauen was 4th, with Neal coming home in 5th.
The 10 lap American Iron Racing Series (A.I.R.S.) feature took to the track next, with Dan Kessler and Bruce Yoerger leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Yoerger would grab the lead on lap 1 over Kessler and Ron Barker, who started in 6th in Keith Simmons #38 machine. The lead for Yoerger only lasted for 2 laps, as Barker powered by to grab the top spot on lap 3. While Barker started to pull away, Kessler, Matt Hudspeth, Yoerger, and RJ Lank raced two wide for positions two thru fifth. That was until lap 7, when Lank, Yoerger, Brian Gade, and Justin Stock piled up in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barker moved back out front and then cruised to an easy win. Hudspeth was 2nd, Kessler was 3rd, Bart Miller was 4th, with Dennis Etten finishing in 5th.
Levi Laymon and Brandon Dale drew the front row for the 15 lap SportMod feature, but it was sixth place starter Dan Brockert who shot out into the lead on lap 1 over Logan Anderson, who started 9th, and Matt Fulton. Anderson would slip past Brockert on lap 2, and then after the lap was scored complete the caution appeared. Kevin Goben slowed in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Anderson moved back out front, with Dale and Shane Paris, who started 8th, close behind. The pace Anderson was setting put him into lapped traffic on lap 9, and then he was slowed for the final time of the race on lap 10. As Andrew Swailes slowed down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. Once again Anderson jumped back out front on the restart, with Paris and Austin Heacock, who started 10th, trying to keep pace with Anderson. But on this night there was no keeping up with Anderson, as he cruised to an easy win. Paris settled for 2nd, Fulton was 3rd, Dale was 4th, with Heacock holding on for 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap Modifieds, with Terry Rentfro and Chris Zogg on the front row. Zogg took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Chad Holladay, who started 7th, and Kurt Kile. Just after the lap was scored complete the caution light came on, as Jordan Walker slowed in turns 1 and 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Zogg jumped back out front, with Kile over taking Holladay for the runner up spot. The action up front was slowed for the final time on lap 5, when Brandon Banks slowed in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Zogg once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Kile and Justin Kay, who started 6th, following. On lap 8 Kay would slip past Kile to take over the runner up spot, and then went to work on chasing down Zogg. Kay could only get to about three car lengths of Zogg, as Zogg went on to claim the win. Kay settled for 2nd, Kile was 3rd, Dakota Hayden started 11th and finished 4th, with Jarrett Brown finished 5th after starting in 8th.
I would like to thank Bob Wagoner, Carrie Rouse and their entire staff for bringing some races back to the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa on a limited schedule in 2019. The next event scheduled is on Saturday, May 18th, as the Modified Madness takes to the big 1/2 mile.
Friday, May 3, 2019
Pierce Rockets to MLRA Win at Stuart
Stuart, IA (Thursday, May 2, 2019) - When Mike VanGenderen purchased the Stuart International Speedway in Stuart, Iowa during the winter months of 2018, and then released a schedule for the 2019 racing season I circled Thursday, May 2nd as an event to attend. It would be the inaugural visit for the MLRA Late Models, and ironically it was my first ever visit to the track.
The 1/4 mile track is nestled on the northwest edge of a town of 1,700 people. When I arrived to the facilities I was surprised at just how small of an area the entire grounds sits on. Part of the spectator parking lot was blocked off to accommodate the big haulers of the MLRA Late Models, which made it tight parking for the spectators. By the time the heat races were set to roll off, the grounds were jam packed.
The pit area was over filled with 24 MLRA Late Models, 26 IMCA SportMods, 22 IMCA Hobby Stocks, and 18 IMCA Stock Cars to bring the total car count to 90. After 3 Hobby Stock heats, 3 MLRA heats, 3 Stock Cars heats and 4 SportMod heats, the features were set to take to the track after a brief track prep secession.
Twenty of the twenty-two IMCA Hobby Stocks came to the track first for their 16 lap feature, with Richard Pahlka Jr. and Chuck Madden Jr. leading the field to green. Madden Jr. took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jack Phillips and Shannon Anderson. Madden Jr., who worked the top of the track, Phillips, who was in the middle, and Anderson, who was on the bottom, raced three wide for the top spot on laps 5 and 6. On lap 7 Anderson shot off the bottom coming off turn 4 to take the lead. Two laps later, lap 9, Anderson started to enter lap traffic. The lapped traffic would allow Madden Jr. to stay within striking distance of Anderson over the final laps. But Anderson would hold him off in a caution free race to pick up the win. Madden Jr. settled for 2nd, Phillips was 3rd, Dylan Nelson started 8th and finished 4th, with Adam Ayers coming from 10th to finish in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with sixteen of the eighteen cars signed in taking to the track. Jeremy Gettler and Buck Schafroth would lead the field to the drop of the green flag, with Gettler edging out Schafroth and Todd VanEaton to lead lap 1. Gettler would hold the top spot until lap 4, when he got high coming off turn 2. Which allowed Schafroth to shoot under him coming off turn 4 to take over the lead. Just as Gettler, Schafroth, and VanEaton raced three wide going into turn 3, the first caution of the race slowed the action up front. Debris in turn 1 would bring out the yellow. On the restart Schafroth jumped back out into the lead, with VanEaton working to hold off Mike Nichols, who started 8th. VanEaton's run up front came to an end on lap 11, as he slowed off turn 4 and dropped a driver shaft down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. Schafroth once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Nichols and Kyle Brown, who started 12th, close behind. As the laps wound down, Nichols started to look under Schafroth coming off turn 2 for the lead. But Schafroth would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 to keep the lead at the strip. On the white flag lap Nichols once again looked under Schafroth coming off turn 2 and then raced him side-by-side going into turn 3. But when Nichols got up on two wheels, this allowed Schafroth to go on to claim the win. Shawn Ritter, who started 17th, shot under Nichols off turn 4 to grab 2nd, Nichols finished 3rd after settling down on all 4 wheels, Brown was 4th, with Josh Daniels rounding out the top 5.
Peyton Looney and Tyler Bruening led the field to green in the 40 lap MLRA Late Model feature, with Looney grabbing the advantage on lap 1 over Bruening and Will Vaught. The action was slowed on lap 3 when Dave Eckrich spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Looney jumped back out front, with Bruening, Vaught and Chris Simpson hot on his heels. Disaster would strike Looney coming off tun 2, as he slowed with engine troubles to end his run up front. While many eyes were on the battle up front, Bobby Pierce, who started 13th, had worked his way to 9th by the caution on lap 4. Bruening inherited the lead on the restart, with Vaught and Chris Simpson battling side-by-side for the runner up spot. Chris Simpson would use the bottom of the track to edge out Vaught at the line to grab second, but Vaught used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to get second back on lap 9. Then just after the completion of lap 9 the caution appeared, as Jake Neal slowed to a stop at the exit of the track in turn 4. The red was displayed shortly after track crews got to him to allow the ambulance and fire crew to go up and check on him. After talking with a corner worker, I was told something hit him in his face mask and pushed it up against his nose. When he took off his helmet, there appeared to be some blood dripping from his nose. Neal stayed strapped in the car as the ambulance crew attended to him. His crew would run to the hauler to grab another helmet, as Neal wanted to race the rest of the feature out.
Meanwhile Pierce, who was 9th under the lap 4 caution, was now up to 7th under the lap 9 caution. On the restart Bruening moved back out front, with Vaught and Chris Simpson continuing their battle for the runner up spot. Just after the lap was scored complete, another caution appeared. This time Jesse Stovall, who started 16th and was running 8th, spun in the middle of turns 3 and 4, as a result of a left rear flat, and collected 9th place runner Andrew Kosiski, who had nowhere to go, to bring out the yellow. Pierce utilizing the top of the track to get two more cars before the yellow flag waved, and was now running 5th. Bruening once again jumped out front on the restart, with Chris Simpson and Pierce following close behind. While Chris Simpson worked the low line of the track, Pierce was up top, as the two battled side-by-side for the runner up spot. Pierce would finally clear Chris Simpson on lap 14, and then went to work on Bruening for the top spot. Bruening was also working the bottom of the track, which gave Pierce the line he preferred up top. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 16, Pierce used the momentum off the top to grab the lead away from Bruening. By the halfway mark of the race, Pierce started to enter lapped traffic. Which wasn't slowing him down, as he started to pull away from the field. It appeared the only thing to slow Pierce down for the last half of the race would be another caution. Well that happened on lap 29, as debris in turn 2 brought out the final yellow. On the restart Pierce jumped back out front, with Bruening, Vaught, and Chris Simpson battling for second. With Pierce setting the pace out front, Chris Simpson was able to work under both Vaught and Bruening to grab the runner up spot with a handful of laps left. But he would run out of time to challenge Pierce for the top spot. As Pierce went on to claim the win, his second with the MLRA this season. Chris Simpson was 2nd, Bruening was 3rd, Vaught was 4th, with Jordan Yaggy completing the top 5.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap IMCA SportMods, with Blair Simmons and Brett Vanderheiden making up the front row. These guys would struggle early to get the race going, as four cautions were waved before 2 laps were scored complete. But once they got their rhythm going, fifth place starter, Hunter Longnecker established himself as the front runner, with Vanderheiden and Johnathon Logue, who started 11th, close behind. Longnecker started to pull away from the field, even as he entered lapped traffic on lap 10. But his pace was slowed on lap 11, as Simmons and Daniel Hagen spun in turn 1 to bring out the final caution of the race. On the restart Longnecker moved back out front, with Tyler Inman, who started 6th, and Vanderheiden close behind. While the rest of the field raced four wide off turn 2. Longnecker would hold the top spot until lap 14, as Inman was able to get under him coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Inman then held on over the final laps to pick up the win. Longnecker settled for 2nd, Brayton Carter came from 8th to finish in 3rd, Austin Kaplan finished 4th after starting in 10th, with Jake McBirnie coming from 12th to round out the top 5.
Notes from Stuart: Corey Madden started the Hobby Stock feature in 12th and finished 6th....John Watson came from 11th to finish 7th....Rusty Giles passed 11 cars from his 21st place starting spot to finish in 10th....Miciah Hidlebaugh finished 14th after starting in 22nd....Greg Gilbert and Brandon Cox were both a scratch from the feature, after the wreck in the heat race......Brock Badger and Bryan Snell both had mechanical troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the Stock Car feature......Billy Moyer started the MLRA feature in 10th and finished 6th....Chad Simpson passed 12 cars from his 19th place starting spot to come up to finish 7th....Mitch McGrath also passed 12 cars from his 20th place starting spot to finish 8th....Richie Gustin started 15th and finished 9th....Logan Martin started 21st and passed 11 cars to finish in 10th....Jake Neal recovered from his need of medical attention on lap 9 to come back up to finish in 11th....J.C. Wyman finished 13th after starting in 17th....Joseph Gorby came out during the pace laps, but went back to the pits before the green flag was waved....Spencer Diercks loaded up after hot laps with engine troubles to scratch for the night......Johnathon Logue finished 6th in the SportMod feature after starting in 11th....Cody Thompson, who started 13th, recovered from a spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish 8th....Garrett Nelson also recovered from a spin on lap 1 to come back up to finish 9th....Kody Havens recovered from a caution on lap 1 to come back up to finish in 10th....Chris Burke started 17th and finished 11th....Bryan Morris finished 15th after starting in 20th....Daniel Hagen, who started 23rd, recovered from his involvement in the lap 11 caution to come back up to finish 16th....Mark Menard started started 26th and finished 18th....Matt Hays had troubles in his heat that forced him to scratch from the feature.
I would like to thank Mike VanGenderen and his staff at the Stuart International Speedway for the great hospitality. I was very impressed with the racing on the 1/4 mile, and WOW was it a fast track!
The MLRA Late Models were scheduled to go to the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa tonight, Friday, May 3rd. But with all the rain eastern Iowa received this week, the grounds were to saturated to race. So the event was canceled. The series now takes a night off before going to the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa on Saturday, May 4th. Before ending there weekend at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois on Sunday, May 5th. Look for more coverage from both of those events here on Sunday and Monday.
The 1/4 mile track is nestled on the northwest edge of a town of 1,700 people. When I arrived to the facilities I was surprised at just how small of an area the entire grounds sits on. Part of the spectator parking lot was blocked off to accommodate the big haulers of the MLRA Late Models, which made it tight parking for the spectators. By the time the heat races were set to roll off, the grounds were jam packed.
The pit area was over filled with 24 MLRA Late Models, 26 IMCA SportMods, 22 IMCA Hobby Stocks, and 18 IMCA Stock Cars to bring the total car count to 90. After 3 Hobby Stock heats, 3 MLRA heats, 3 Stock Cars heats and 4 SportMod heats, the features were set to take to the track after a brief track prep secession.
Twenty of the twenty-two IMCA Hobby Stocks came to the track first for their 16 lap feature, with Richard Pahlka Jr. and Chuck Madden Jr. leading the field to green. Madden Jr. took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Jack Phillips and Shannon Anderson. Madden Jr., who worked the top of the track, Phillips, who was in the middle, and Anderson, who was on the bottom, raced three wide for the top spot on laps 5 and 6. On lap 7 Anderson shot off the bottom coming off turn 4 to take the lead. Two laps later, lap 9, Anderson started to enter lap traffic. The lapped traffic would allow Madden Jr. to stay within striking distance of Anderson over the final laps. But Anderson would hold him off in a caution free race to pick up the win. Madden Jr. settled for 2nd, Phillips was 3rd, Dylan Nelson started 8th and finished 4th, with Adam Ayers coming from 10th to finish in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with sixteen of the eighteen cars signed in taking to the track. Jeremy Gettler and Buck Schafroth would lead the field to the drop of the green flag, with Gettler edging out Schafroth and Todd VanEaton to lead lap 1. Gettler would hold the top spot until lap 4, when he got high coming off turn 2. Which allowed Schafroth to shoot under him coming off turn 4 to take over the lead. Just as Gettler, Schafroth, and VanEaton raced three wide going into turn 3, the first caution of the race slowed the action up front. Debris in turn 1 would bring out the yellow. On the restart Schafroth jumped back out into the lead, with VanEaton working to hold off Mike Nichols, who started 8th. VanEaton's run up front came to an end on lap 11, as he slowed off turn 4 and dropped a driver shaft down the front stretch to bring out the yellow. Schafroth once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Nichols and Kyle Brown, who started 12th, close behind. As the laps wound down, Nichols started to look under Schafroth coming off turn 2 for the lead. But Schafroth would use the momentum off the top of turn 4 to keep the lead at the strip. On the white flag lap Nichols once again looked under Schafroth coming off turn 2 and then raced him side-by-side going into turn 3. But when Nichols got up on two wheels, this allowed Schafroth to go on to claim the win. Shawn Ritter, who started 17th, shot under Nichols off turn 4 to grab 2nd, Nichols finished 3rd after settling down on all 4 wheels, Brown was 4th, with Josh Daniels rounding out the top 5.
Peyton Looney and Tyler Bruening led the field to green in the 40 lap MLRA Late Model feature, with Looney grabbing the advantage on lap 1 over Bruening and Will Vaught. The action was slowed on lap 3 when Dave Eckrich spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Looney jumped back out front, with Bruening, Vaught and Chris Simpson hot on his heels. Disaster would strike Looney coming off tun 2, as he slowed with engine troubles to end his run up front. While many eyes were on the battle up front, Bobby Pierce, who started 13th, had worked his way to 9th by the caution on lap 4. Bruening inherited the lead on the restart, with Vaught and Chris Simpson battling side-by-side for the runner up spot. Chris Simpson would use the bottom of the track to edge out Vaught at the line to grab second, but Vaught used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to get second back on lap 9. Then just after the completion of lap 9 the caution appeared, as Jake Neal slowed to a stop at the exit of the track in turn 4. The red was displayed shortly after track crews got to him to allow the ambulance and fire crew to go up and check on him. After talking with a corner worker, I was told something hit him in his face mask and pushed it up against his nose. When he took off his helmet, there appeared to be some blood dripping from his nose. Neal stayed strapped in the car as the ambulance crew attended to him. His crew would run to the hauler to grab another helmet, as Neal wanted to race the rest of the feature out.
Meanwhile Pierce, who was 9th under the lap 4 caution, was now up to 7th under the lap 9 caution. On the restart Bruening moved back out front, with Vaught and Chris Simpson continuing their battle for the runner up spot. Just after the lap was scored complete, another caution appeared. This time Jesse Stovall, who started 16th and was running 8th, spun in the middle of turns 3 and 4, as a result of a left rear flat, and collected 9th place runner Andrew Kosiski, who had nowhere to go, to bring out the yellow. Pierce utilizing the top of the track to get two more cars before the yellow flag waved, and was now running 5th. Bruening once again jumped out front on the restart, with Chris Simpson and Pierce following close behind. While Chris Simpson worked the low line of the track, Pierce was up top, as the two battled side-by-side for the runner up spot. Pierce would finally clear Chris Simpson on lap 14, and then went to work on Bruening for the top spot. Bruening was also working the bottom of the track, which gave Pierce the line he preferred up top. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 16, Pierce used the momentum off the top to grab the lead away from Bruening. By the halfway mark of the race, Pierce started to enter lapped traffic. Which wasn't slowing him down, as he started to pull away from the field. It appeared the only thing to slow Pierce down for the last half of the race would be another caution. Well that happened on lap 29, as debris in turn 2 brought out the final yellow. On the restart Pierce jumped back out front, with Bruening, Vaught, and Chris Simpson battling for second. With Pierce setting the pace out front, Chris Simpson was able to work under both Vaught and Bruening to grab the runner up spot with a handful of laps left. But he would run out of time to challenge Pierce for the top spot. As Pierce went on to claim the win, his second with the MLRA this season. Chris Simpson was 2nd, Bruening was 3rd, Vaught was 4th, with Jordan Yaggy completing the top 5.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap IMCA SportMods, with Blair Simmons and Brett Vanderheiden making up the front row. These guys would struggle early to get the race going, as four cautions were waved before 2 laps were scored complete. But once they got their rhythm going, fifth place starter, Hunter Longnecker established himself as the front runner, with Vanderheiden and Johnathon Logue, who started 11th, close behind. Longnecker started to pull away from the field, even as he entered lapped traffic on lap 10. But his pace was slowed on lap 11, as Simmons and Daniel Hagen spun in turn 1 to bring out the final caution of the race. On the restart Longnecker moved back out front, with Tyler Inman, who started 6th, and Vanderheiden close behind. While the rest of the field raced four wide off turn 2. Longnecker would hold the top spot until lap 14, as Inman was able to get under him coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot. Inman then held on over the final laps to pick up the win. Longnecker settled for 2nd, Brayton Carter came from 8th to finish in 3rd, Austin Kaplan finished 4th after starting in 10th, with Jake McBirnie coming from 12th to round out the top 5.
Notes from Stuart: Corey Madden started the Hobby Stock feature in 12th and finished 6th....John Watson came from 11th to finish 7th....Rusty Giles passed 11 cars from his 21st place starting spot to finish in 10th....Miciah Hidlebaugh finished 14th after starting in 22nd....Greg Gilbert and Brandon Cox were both a scratch from the feature, after the wreck in the heat race......Brock Badger and Bryan Snell both had mechanical troubles in their heat races that forced them to scratch from the Stock Car feature......Billy Moyer started the MLRA feature in 10th and finished 6th....Chad Simpson passed 12 cars from his 19th place starting spot to come up to finish 7th....Mitch McGrath also passed 12 cars from his 20th place starting spot to finish 8th....Richie Gustin started 15th and finished 9th....Logan Martin started 21st and passed 11 cars to finish in 10th....Jake Neal recovered from his need of medical attention on lap 9 to come back up to finish in 11th....J.C. Wyman finished 13th after starting in 17th....Joseph Gorby came out during the pace laps, but went back to the pits before the green flag was waved....Spencer Diercks loaded up after hot laps with engine troubles to scratch for the night......Johnathon Logue finished 6th in the SportMod feature after starting in 11th....Cody Thompson, who started 13th, recovered from a spin on lap 2 to come back up to finish 8th....Garrett Nelson also recovered from a spin on lap 1 to come back up to finish 9th....Kody Havens recovered from a caution on lap 1 to come back up to finish in 10th....Chris Burke started 17th and finished 11th....Bryan Morris finished 15th after starting in 20th....Daniel Hagen, who started 23rd, recovered from his involvement in the lap 11 caution to come back up to finish 16th....Mark Menard started started 26th and finished 18th....Matt Hays had troubles in his heat that forced him to scratch from the feature.
I would like to thank Mike VanGenderen and his staff at the Stuart International Speedway for the great hospitality. I was very impressed with the racing on the 1/4 mile, and WOW was it a fast track!
The MLRA Late Models were scheduled to go to the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa tonight, Friday, May 3rd. But with all the rain eastern Iowa received this week, the grounds were to saturated to race. So the event was canceled. The series now takes a night off before going to the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa on Saturday, May 4th. Before ending there weekend at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois on Sunday, May 5th. Look for more coverage from both of those events here on Sunday and Monday.
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