Sunday, July 21, 2019

Blakley, Taft and Mother Nature Wins at 34 Raceway

West Burlington, IA (Saturday, July 20, 2019) - What started out as a hot and humid Saturday night, turned out to be a race to beat mother nature at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. Before the regular scheduled nights events could begin there was a make-up feature for the IMCA Stock Cars and IMCA Sport Compacts from Saturday, July 6th to be ran first.

As the skies started to darken to the northwest, the 15 lap make-up feature for the IMCA Stock Cars came to the track. Jason Cook and Les Blakley led the field to green, with Blakley grabbing the advantage on lap 1 over Fenton and Shane Richardson. Blakley started to pull away from the battle for the runner up spot going on behind him, when a caution appeared on lap 6 to slow his pace. Jeremy Pundt spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Blakley jumped back out front, with Cook and David Brandies, who started 7th, following. While Cook tried to keep pace with Blakley, Brandies was trying to hold off John Oliver Jr., who started 8th, in the battle for third. Coming to the white flag Cook was able to close within a car length of Blakley, but Blakley would hold him off to claim his first career Stock Car feature win. Cook settled for 2nd, Oliver Jr. won the battle for 3rd, Brandies was 4th, with Richardson coming home in 5th.

Up next was the 12 lap make-up feature for the IMCA Sport Compacts, with Colton Keck and Cody Bowman on the front row. Bowman took advantage of his starting spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Keck and Larry Miller. The action up front was slowed on lap 2, as Jerrod Nichols got into the wall in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bowman jumped back out front, with Keck working to hold off Barry Taft, who started 8th, for the runner up spot. Taft would get by Keck for second on lap 8, and then went to work Bowman for the top spot. Going into 3 on the final lap it looked like Bowman would get help from lapped traffic to help him score his first career Sport Compact feature win. But coming off turn 4 Bowman's car stalled, which allow Taft to go by on the outside to score his second win of the season at 34 Raceway. Keck was 2nd, Bowman got his car going to cross the line 3rd, Miller was 4th, with Jason Ash rounding out the top 5.

Just when the heat races for the regular scheduled night events were set to begin, lightning strikes close in the area forced the track to clear the grandstand area. Which would put the night in a holding pattern. At nine o'clock the decision was made to cancel the night, as rains started to approach. This would mean in 18 race night events scheduled so far in 2019, this would be the 9 rain out. A practice day in mid march and a Figure 8 Series event at the end of May would bring the total rains out for 34 Raceway to 11.

Wednesday, July 24th will kick off a busy week of racing in our area. You can catch the World of Outlaw Late Models, along with Modifieds and SportMods at the Davenport Speedway. Or you can see the Sprint Invaders, along with Modifieds, SportMods, and INEX Legend Cars at the Dubuque County Speedway in Dubuque, Iowa during the fair.



Thursday, July 25th the Jackson County Fair race night will be held at the Maquoketa Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa. The IMCA Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks, 4-Cylinders and INEX Legend Cars will be racing.

On Friday, July 26th the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa plays host to the Gary Reinhart Memorial. The Modifieds will battle for a possible $2,500 to win ($1,500 to win the A-Feature and $1,000 to win the King of the Hill race). Also racing will be the Stock Cars/Street Stocks and Sport Mods going for $500 to win. Battling for $250 to win will be the Mod Lites/Micro Mods and 4 Stocks. Also racing on the night is the A.I.R.S. cars.


Saturday, July 27th the Pepsi Lee County Speedway hosts the Inaugural Mi-Summer Shootout. As the IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Stock Cars, and IMCA SportMods are highlighted on this night. All three classes will be racing for $1,500 to win and $150 to start the feature. Also racing on this night will be the IMCA Late Models, which are going for a top prize of $1,000, and the Midgets. All class will be draw/redraw, with IMCA national, state, regional, and rookie points being awarded.

The week will come to a close on Sunday, July 28th at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa. The Ollie's Bargain Outlet All-Star Circuit of Champions 410 Sprint Cars make a visit to the track. This event will be paying $26,000 to win for the 410 Sprint Cars, in support of the Rayce Rudeen Foundation. In support of the 410 Sprint Cars will be the IMCA Stock Cars, racing for $1,000 to win.

It's hard to think the 2019 season is starting to wind down. So please get out and support these races if you can. Hope to see you at a track soon!

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