Marshalltown, IA (Friday, August 30, 2019) - The regular weekly points season at the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa ended last Friday, August 23rd. But their 2019 season didn't come to an end, as Friday, August 30th they held their annual Showdown in MoTown. Which gave the racers traveling to the Boone Speedway in Boone, Iowa for the IMCA Super Nationals a place to race for some extra money.
One hundred and three cars signed in for the night, not counting the 11 Cruisers cars that were also on the card. Out of those 103 teams there was twelve states represented, including Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, California, Colorado, Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and New York. After seventeen qualifying events were completed, including two Modified B-Mains, to help set the starting line ups for the features. It was time to go feature racing.
First to take to the track was the 15 lap Dirt Trucks, with Myles Michehl and Jeff Johnson leading the field to green. Michehl took advantage of his drawing spot to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Johnson and Jeff Frevert. Johnson would tried to keep pace with Michehl over the next 7 laps. But he would spin in turn 4 on lap 8 to bring out the caution. On the restart Michehl jumped back out front, with Frevert and Shonn Mapes following close behind. While Frevert tried to mount a challenge on Michehl for the top spot, Johnson was working his way back to the front. On lap 11 Johnson would take over the third spot, but was a straight-away behind the top two runners with only 4 laps to go. Michehl would work the middle groove of the track, while Frevert worked the bottom line. Frevert tried to get under Michehl coming off turn 4 to the checkered flag. But Michehl was able to hold him off at the line to claim the win, his 8th overall on the season. Frevert settled for 2nd, Johnson recovered from his spin to finish 3rd, Bryan Spangler started 9th and finished 4th, with Del Enos rounding out the top 5.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Blake Henry and Scott Ellis drawing the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Jeff Ware from Columbus, Nebraska, who happens to be the current IMCA National Hobby Stock points leader, grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Ellis and Aaron Rudolph. The action was slowed for the first time of the event on lap 3, as Andy Peck spun in turn 1 and collected Preston Merical to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ware jumped back out front, with Tyler Ollendieck, who started 6th, and Eric Stanton, who started 7th, moving into the second and third spots. While Ware paced the field out front, Stanton was trying to get under Ollendieck to grab the runner up spot. But Ollendieck was able to hold him off each lap at the line. That was until the second caution of the event for a spin in turn 4 by Brian Stevens and Jeremiah Andrews on lap 9 set up a restart. Ware would jump back out front on the restart, but Stanton was able to over take Ollendieck for the runner up spot. Disaster would strike Ollendieck on lap 11, as contact from William Klosterman, who started 8th, sent Ollendieck spinning into the front stretch billboards to bring out the yellow. Both cars were sent to the tail for the restart. On the restart Ware once again grabbed the top spot, but had Stanton banging on his back bumper. Ware, who was working the top of the track, had Stanton looking under him coming off the corners for the final laps. But Ware would use the momentum off the top to keep the lead at the line. That was until turn 4 coming to the checkered flag. Ware got sideways, which allowed Stanton to shoot under him for his second win at Marshalltown in only two starts this year. Rudolph was 2nd, Bill Bonnett was 3rd, Ware recovered from almost spinning in turn 4 to cross the line in 4th, with Henry coming home in 5th.
Jason Hall and Janae Gustin led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature. But just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Dustin Dreesman and Dennis Stewart spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart third place starter Brayton Carter grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Gustin and Hall. But his lead only lasted for one lap, as Gustin got under him to take the spot spot on lap 2. While Gustin worked to hold off Carter for the lead, Tyler Soppe, who currently sits second in the IMCA Northern SportMod National points, was working his way towards the front from his 9th place starting spot. On lap 5 Soppe found his way into fourth, and was helped on lap 10 to catch the top three with a caution. The caution was for Stewart, who pounded the front stretch concrete wall and came to a stop in turn 1. Gustin would jump back out front on the restart, with Carter and Soppe close behind. Carter would follow in Gustin's tire tracks around the bottom of the speedway over the next seven laps, waiting for her to make a mistake. But when she didn't, and the laps winding down, Carter decided to go to the top to try and get the lead away. The momentum off the top allowed Carter to get up next to Gustin down the straight-away. But Gustin was able to hit her marks over the final lap to score her second win of the season at the track. Carter was 2nd, Soppe was 3rd, Hall was 4th, with Columbus, Nebraska's Brian Osantowski finishing in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature, with Lamar, Colorado's Andel Munoz and Bakersfield, California's Wayne Dotson drawing the front row. The field would race four wide off turn 4 for the lead on lap 1, with Todd Reitzler emerging to lead the lap over Munoz and Dotson. The two and three wide action was slowed on lap 4, when Dotson got into Munoz in turn 4, which sent Munoz spinning to bring out the yellow. On the restart Reitzler jumped back out front, with Elijah Zevenbergen, who started 10th, and Jesse Sobbing now following. The pace that Reitzler was setting put him into lapped traffic on lap 16. But he would get a clear track just after the lap was scored complete, as Sobbing stopped down the backstretch with troubles to bring out the yellow. On the restart Roger Ciesielski, who started 17th and had worked his way to 10th, rolled off the top of the track in turn 1 to bring out the red. He would climb from his car okay. The following restart saw Reitzler move back out front, but he had Zevenbergen and Damon Murty, who started 9th, battling side-by-side behind him for the runner up spot. Murty's hopes for a win came to an end on lap 18, as he went low in turn 1 to try and get under Reitzler for the lead. But something broke in the right front, and shot him up the track in turn 2 where he came to a stop to bring out the yellow. Reitzler again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Zevenbergen and the 2019 Marshalltown Speedway Track Champion Steve Meyer, who started 8th, close behind. Going into turn 3 to come around for the white flag, Zevenbergen drove it in hard on the bottom and then slid up in front of Reitzler coming off turn 4. But Reitzler would cross under him to keep the lead going into turn 1. Reiztler would bobble in turn 2, which allowed Zevenbergen to draw even with him going into turn 3. Zevenbergen tried to slid up in front of Reitzler coming off turn 4 for the checkers, but he wasn't able to clear him. As Reiztler held him off at the stripe to score his third win of the season at Marshalltown. Zevenbergen settled for a close 2nd, Meyer was 3rd, Jeff Wollam was 4th, with Curt Hook coming from 12th to round out the top 5.
The 25 lap IMCA Modified feature would end the night, with Cayden Carter and Abilene, Texas' Chris Elliott leading the field to the green. Carter took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Elliott and Joel Rust, who started 5th. The lead for Carter lasted until lap 4, when Rust was able to get past him for the top spot. The action was slowed for the first time of the event on lap 9, as Todd Shute slipped off the track in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Carter got back around Rust to get the lead back. But Rust would use the bottom of the track coming off turn 4 on lap 11 to get the top spot back away from Carter. Rust then started to pull away, until he entered heavy lapped traffic on lap 20. This would allow Carter to close back in on his back bumper. But when Jarett Franzen spun in turn 1 on lap 23 to bring out the final caution, that was all Rust needed. As he grabbed the lead on the restart and then held on for his eighth win of the season at the track, and claimed the $1,000 top prize to go with it. It was also his second win in his last three starts, to go along with a second place finish, to keep his momentum going into the IMCA Super Nationals next week. Carter was 2nd, Jeff Aikey started 16th and over took Cody Laney on the final lap to finish 3rd, with Kelly Shryock rounding out the top 5.
Notes from Marshalltown: 36 Modifieds, 22 Hobby Stocks, 18 Stock Cars, 18 SportMods, 11 Cruisers, and 9 Dirt Trucks made up the 114 cars in the pits.....Colby Kaspar from Columbus, Nebraska started the Hobby Stock feature in 9th and finished 6th....Gary Ollendieck passed 11 cars from his 18th place starting spot to come home in 7th....Dustin Thompson started 17th and finished 8th...Brandan Long finished 9th after starting in 12th....William Klosterman recovered from his involvement in the lap 11 caution to come back up to finish 12th....Breyden Forbes finished 15th after starting in 21st....Jeremiah Andrews recovered from his spin on lap 9 to come back up to finish 14th......Bo Partain from Casa Grande, Arizona started the SportMod feature in 17th and would come home in 9th......David Atcher finished 6th in the Stock Car feature after starting in 11th....Brian Blessington came from 13th to finish in 7th....Eric Hamilton from Hanford, California started 14th and would come home in 10th....Crystal, Michigan's Robert Brillhart started 16th and finished 11th....Jody York from Lubbock, Texas would finish 12th after starting in 15th......Chris Zogg started the Modified feature in 17th and then passed 10 cars to come home in 7th....Ryan McDaniel from Olivehurst, California finished 9th after starting in 12th....Benton, Arkansas' Andrew Armstrong came from 15th to finish 11th....Zachary Madrid from Tucson, Arizona finished 12th after starting in 19th....Todd Shute recovered from going off the track in turn 2 on lap 9 to come back up to finish 13th....Chowchilla, California's Randy Brown came from 21st to finish in 14th....Austin Paul, who made a last lap pass in the B-Main to get the final transfer spot, started 23rd and finished 18th....Chase Alves from Peoria, Arizona came home 20th after starting in 24th....Thor Anderson, T.J. Wyman, Jesse Belez, Rod Clement, who got upside down in his B-Main, Jacob Murray, Richie Gustin, who had engine troubles in his heat and was a scratch from his B-Mian, Riley Simmons, Jared Van Deest, Mark Griffin, Scott Simatovich, Garret Wilson and Kenny Wyman Jr. were the 12 Modifieds who watched the feature from the trailer.
I would like to thank Toby Kruse, Jerry Vansickel and the entire Marshalltown Speedway staff for allowing me to come up and cover the action. The track was smooth and very fast all night long, with no breaks in the action to slow the night down.
The Marshallton Speedway has one more event left on their calendar for the 2019 season, and that will take place on September 12th - 14th. It will be the 13th Annual World Nationals, which pays the IMCA Modifieds $10,000 to win. For more information about that event, please check out their website at www.marshalltownspeedway.com.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Monday, August 26, 2019
Rust, Schafroth and Carter Among Super Sunday Winners at Stuart
Stuart, IA (Sunday, August 25, 2019) - With the regular Wednesday night points season coming to an end at the Stuart International Speedway in Stuart, Iowa back on August 7th, track owner / promoter Mike Van Genderen decided to try a Super Sunday show. What was original scheduled for Sunday, August 16th, was rescheduled for Sunday, August 23rd, after rains that morning forced the event to be postponed.
After checking the forecast for Stuart before leaving home, I jumped into my car to make the 4 hour driver northwest. The driver up was mostly cloudy the entire way, that was until about 20 miles east of Stuart on I-80. Where I ran into some rain showers. A quick check of the radar showed some showers just south of the area. But it was moving northeast, and looked to be avoiding Stuart. Which happened to be the case, as I pulled into town the rains had stopped.
The 1/4 mile track had plenty of moisture in it early on, which produced some very fast racing action. After eleven heat races were completed it was time to go feature racing in the 5 division event.
First up was the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Curtis Masterson and Zak Sickles drawing the front row for the event. Masterson took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Mitchell Bunch, who was behind the wheel of a white #7 machine rather than his normal yellow and black #83B car, and Tyler Fiebelkorn. The action was slowed on lap 4, as debris in turn 2 brought out the first yellow. On the restart Bunch went to the top of the track and used the momentum out of turn 4 to edge out Masterson at the line by a bumper. Then just after the lap was scored complete, Colton Garside spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Jordan Ford would get sideways in turn 1 on the restart, and collected Chris Bozarth and Gardise to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Bunch jump back out front, with Masterson and Fiebelkorn close behind. Another lap scored complete produced the final caution of the event, as Nikole Kimmel spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bunch moved back out front, with both Fiebelkorn and Logan Richards, who started 10th, over taking Masterson to give chase of Bunch. But without another caution to slow the pace, Bunch would pull away to claim his fifth win of the season at the track. Richards was 2nd, Nathan Castellano, who started 7th, was 3rd, Fiebelkorn was 4th, with Masterson holding on for 5th.
Up next was the 16 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Michael Murphy and Zach Hemmingsen leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Murphy used his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Cox and Hemmingsen. The lead for Murphy lasted until lap 4, when Cox used the momentum off the top of the track coming out of turn 4 to take the top spot. Cox, who worked the top of the track, and Hemmingsen, who was working the bottom, raced side-by-side around the 1/4 mile track from laps 6 thru 10. With Cox being scored the leader at the stripe each of those laps. All the while, Chuck Madden Jr. was lurking in third and looking for room to get the lead. When Cox drifted high coming off turn 4, that is all Hemmingsen needed to grab the lead. Hemmingsen then held off a last lap charge from Madden Jr. to score his first win of the season at Stuart. Madden Jr. settled for a close 2nd, John Watson came from 8th to finish 3rd, Curt Reed was 4th, with Corey Madden finishing 5th after starting in 10th.
While the Hobby Stock feature turned out to be top dominate, the 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature was bottom dominate. Chris Burke and Daniel Baudler drew the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Brayton Carter who went thru the middle of both coming off turn 2 to grab the lead on lap 1 over Mitchell Morris and Burke. Morris, who was running 2nd, would spin in front of the field in turn 4 and collected Chase Rudolf to bring out the first yellow of the race. Rudolf's night would ended early, as the contact resulted in a broken right front. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Baudler and Burke following. Carter's fast pace would allow him to pull away from the rest of the field. But when Burke slowed to a stop down the front stretch with a left front flat, to bring out the second and final caution of the event on lap 11. This would bring the field back to Carter's back bumper for the restart. On the restart Carter jumped back out front, but now had Columbus, Nebraska's David Johnson, who started 9th, and Baudler close behind. Johnson tried to stay close to Carter over the final laps. But Carter was just to fast on this night, as he claimed his fifth win in seven starts at Stuart. Johnson was 2nd, Baudler was 3rd, Colton Nelson started 11th and finished 4th, with Garrett Nelson coming home in 5th.
The 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature had some troubles getting into a rhythm, as four cautions waved in the first six laps. Andrew Burg and Chad Legere drew the front row for the event. But just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Anthony Goldsberry and Terry Pruitt collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Under the caution Brandon Pruitt headed to the work area to change a right front flat. On the original restart Legere went to the bottom coming off turn 4 to edge out Burg at the line by inches to lead lap 1. But Burg would use the momentum off the top to take the top spot away on lap 2. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 3 Legere would drift high and when he tried to come down to avoid the wall, he got turned into the front stretch wall and collected Terry Pruitt to bring out the caution. Marcus Fagan took advantage of Burg's bobble on the restart to grab the lead over Buck Schafroth, who started 5th, and Keith Simmons. Then just after the lap was scored complete Dustin Reeh spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fagan moved back out front, with Schafroth and Burg following close behind. While Schafroth tried to work under Fagan for the lead, Josh Daniels, who started 12th, Jeremy Gettler, and Burg raced three wide going into turn 3 for third on lap 6. Coming off turn 4 Gettler would loose the handle and spun, and then collected Adam Klocke to bring out the yellow.
Fagan once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Schafroth and Burg close behind. Schafroth went back to trying to get under Fagan for the top spot, but Fagan was able to hold him off each lap. That was until coming off turn 4 to complete lap 10, Schafroth finally got under him to grab the lead away. Two laps later Terry Pruitt spun in turn 3 and collected Gettler to bring out the yellow. On the restart Schafroth moved back out front, with Fagan and Josh Daniels giving chase. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 16, as Tyler Nelsen spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Schafroth grabbed the lead on the restart, with Brandon Pruitt, who charged thru the field after changing a tire under the first yellow of the race, over taking Fagan for the runner up spot. But Brandon Pruitt wasn't able to mount a challenge on Schafroth, who held on to claim his sixth win of the year at Stuart. Brandon Pruitt was 2nd, Fagan was 3rd, Josh Daniels was 4th, with Burg holding on for 5th.
The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature was the final event to take to the track, with Tony Hilgenberg and Garett Wilson drawing the front row. Wilson took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Hilgenberg and Josh Gilman. While most of the driver's went to the bottom of the track, sixth place starter Joel Rust worked the top of the track. His choice would pay off for him on lap 3, as he used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take over the top spot. After grabbing the lead Rust then went to the bottom of the track to pace the field. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 7, as Jesse Dennis slowed down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Rust moved back out front, with Cody Laney, who started 8th, and Gilman following. Rust would hit his marks on the bottom of the track over the final half of the race to pull away for an easy win. Which happened to be his first win in his first ever visit to Stuart. Laney was 2nd, Kelly Shryock came from 10th to finish 3rd, Gilman was 4th, with Todd Shute finishing 5th.
Notes from Stuart: The final checkered flag waved at 8:15 PM, which helped to get everyone back home in a decent hour on a Sunday night......Ryan Brown started the Sport Compact feature in 12th and would come home in 8th....Frank Mills finished 12th after starting in 16th......Adam Ayers came from 14th in the Hobby Stock feature to come home in 6th....Brandon Long finished 8th after starting in 12th....Michael Murphy was running 4th, when he pulled off on lap 14 with troubles......Mitchell Morris recovered from his spin on lap 1 of the SportMod feature to come back up to finish 6th......Brock Badger started the Stock Car feature in 13th and finished 6th....Bob Daniels finished 8th after starting in 17th....Ben Walding came from 15th to finish in 9th....Dustin Reeh recovered from his spin on lap 3 to come back up to finish 10th....Tyler Nelsen, who started 18th, also recovered from a spin on lap 16 to come back to finish 11th.
I would like to thank Mike Van Genderen and his crew for allowing me to come up to cover the action at Stuart International Speedway. The next event at Stuart will be a two day show on Friday September 20th and Saturday, September 21st. Stay tuned to their website and Facebook page for details, as they come available.
My up coming weekend plans are to head to the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa on Friday, August 30th for the Showdown in MoTown. Then on Saturday, August 31st it will be over to the Boone Speedway in Boone, Iowa for the Prelude to the Super Nationals. Sunday, September 1st and Monday, September 2nd are still up in the air. Maybe I will see you somewhere this weekend, if not at least get out and support a racing event at a track near you!
After checking the forecast for Stuart before leaving home, I jumped into my car to make the 4 hour driver northwest. The driver up was mostly cloudy the entire way, that was until about 20 miles east of Stuart on I-80. Where I ran into some rain showers. A quick check of the radar showed some showers just south of the area. But it was moving northeast, and looked to be avoiding Stuart. Which happened to be the case, as I pulled into town the rains had stopped.
The 1/4 mile track had plenty of moisture in it early on, which produced some very fast racing action. After eleven heat races were completed it was time to go feature racing in the 5 division event.
First up was the 15 lap IMCA Sport Compact feature, with Curtis Masterson and Zak Sickles drawing the front row for the event. Masterson took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Mitchell Bunch, who was behind the wheel of a white #7 machine rather than his normal yellow and black #83B car, and Tyler Fiebelkorn. The action was slowed on lap 4, as debris in turn 2 brought out the first yellow. On the restart Bunch went to the top of the track and used the momentum out of turn 4 to edge out Masterson at the line by a bumper. Then just after the lap was scored complete, Colton Garside spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Jordan Ford would get sideways in turn 1 on the restart, and collected Chris Bozarth and Gardise to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Bunch jump back out front, with Masterson and Fiebelkorn close behind. Another lap scored complete produced the final caution of the event, as Nikole Kimmel spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bunch moved back out front, with both Fiebelkorn and Logan Richards, who started 10th, over taking Masterson to give chase of Bunch. But without another caution to slow the pace, Bunch would pull away to claim his fifth win of the season at the track. Richards was 2nd, Nathan Castellano, who started 7th, was 3rd, Fiebelkorn was 4th, with Masterson holding on for 5th.
Up next was the 16 lap IMCA Hobby Stock feature, with Michael Murphy and Zach Hemmingsen leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Murphy used his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Cox and Hemmingsen. The lead for Murphy lasted until lap 4, when Cox used the momentum off the top of the track coming out of turn 4 to take the top spot. Cox, who worked the top of the track, and Hemmingsen, who was working the bottom, raced side-by-side around the 1/4 mile track from laps 6 thru 10. With Cox being scored the leader at the stripe each of those laps. All the while, Chuck Madden Jr. was lurking in third and looking for room to get the lead. When Cox drifted high coming off turn 4, that is all Hemmingsen needed to grab the lead. Hemmingsen then held off a last lap charge from Madden Jr. to score his first win of the season at Stuart. Madden Jr. settled for a close 2nd, John Watson came from 8th to finish 3rd, Curt Reed was 4th, with Corey Madden finishing 5th after starting in 10th.
While the Hobby Stock feature turned out to be top dominate, the 20 lap IMCA SportMod feature was bottom dominate. Chris Burke and Daniel Baudler drew the front row for the event. But it was fourth place starter Brayton Carter who went thru the middle of both coming off turn 2 to grab the lead on lap 1 over Mitchell Morris and Burke. Morris, who was running 2nd, would spin in front of the field in turn 4 and collected Chase Rudolf to bring out the first yellow of the race. Rudolf's night would ended early, as the contact resulted in a broken right front. On the restart Carter moved back out front, with Baudler and Burke following. Carter's fast pace would allow him to pull away from the rest of the field. But when Burke slowed to a stop down the front stretch with a left front flat, to bring out the second and final caution of the event on lap 11. This would bring the field back to Carter's back bumper for the restart. On the restart Carter jumped back out front, but now had Columbus, Nebraska's David Johnson, who started 9th, and Baudler close behind. Johnson tried to stay close to Carter over the final laps. But Carter was just to fast on this night, as he claimed his fifth win in seven starts at Stuart. Johnson was 2nd, Baudler was 3rd, Colton Nelson started 11th and finished 4th, with Garrett Nelson coming home in 5th.
The 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature had some troubles getting into a rhythm, as four cautions waved in the first six laps. Andrew Burg and Chad Legere drew the front row for the event. But just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Anthony Goldsberry and Terry Pruitt collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Under the caution Brandon Pruitt headed to the work area to change a right front flat. On the original restart Legere went to the bottom coming off turn 4 to edge out Burg at the line by inches to lead lap 1. But Burg would use the momentum off the top to take the top spot away on lap 2. Then coming off turn 4 to complete lap 3 Legere would drift high and when he tried to come down to avoid the wall, he got turned into the front stretch wall and collected Terry Pruitt to bring out the caution. Marcus Fagan took advantage of Burg's bobble on the restart to grab the lead over Buck Schafroth, who started 5th, and Keith Simmons. Then just after the lap was scored complete Dustin Reeh spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Fagan moved back out front, with Schafroth and Burg following close behind. While Schafroth tried to work under Fagan for the lead, Josh Daniels, who started 12th, Jeremy Gettler, and Burg raced three wide going into turn 3 for third on lap 6. Coming off turn 4 Gettler would loose the handle and spun, and then collected Adam Klocke to bring out the yellow.
Fagan once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Schafroth and Burg close behind. Schafroth went back to trying to get under Fagan for the top spot, but Fagan was able to hold him off each lap. That was until coming off turn 4 to complete lap 10, Schafroth finally got under him to grab the lead away. Two laps later Terry Pruitt spun in turn 3 and collected Gettler to bring out the yellow. On the restart Schafroth moved back out front, with Fagan and Josh Daniels giving chase. The final caution of the race appeared on lap 16, as Tyler Nelsen spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Schafroth grabbed the lead on the restart, with Brandon Pruitt, who charged thru the field after changing a tire under the first yellow of the race, over taking Fagan for the runner up spot. But Brandon Pruitt wasn't able to mount a challenge on Schafroth, who held on to claim his sixth win of the year at Stuart. Brandon Pruitt was 2nd, Fagan was 3rd, Josh Daniels was 4th, with Burg holding on for 5th.
The 20 lap IMCA Modified feature was the final event to take to the track, with Tony Hilgenberg and Garett Wilson drawing the front row. Wilson took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Hilgenberg and Josh Gilman. While most of the driver's went to the bottom of the track, sixth place starter Joel Rust worked the top of the track. His choice would pay off for him on lap 3, as he used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take over the top spot. After grabbing the lead Rust then went to the bottom of the track to pace the field. The action was slowed for the first and only time on lap 7, as Jesse Dennis slowed down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Rust moved back out front, with Cody Laney, who started 8th, and Gilman following. Rust would hit his marks on the bottom of the track over the final half of the race to pull away for an easy win. Which happened to be his first win in his first ever visit to Stuart. Laney was 2nd, Kelly Shryock came from 10th to finish 3rd, Gilman was 4th, with Todd Shute finishing 5th.
Notes from Stuart: The final checkered flag waved at 8:15 PM, which helped to get everyone back home in a decent hour on a Sunday night......Ryan Brown started the Sport Compact feature in 12th and would come home in 8th....Frank Mills finished 12th after starting in 16th......Adam Ayers came from 14th in the Hobby Stock feature to come home in 6th....Brandon Long finished 8th after starting in 12th....Michael Murphy was running 4th, when he pulled off on lap 14 with troubles......Mitchell Morris recovered from his spin on lap 1 of the SportMod feature to come back up to finish 6th......Brock Badger started the Stock Car feature in 13th and finished 6th....Bob Daniels finished 8th after starting in 17th....Ben Walding came from 15th to finish in 9th....Dustin Reeh recovered from his spin on lap 3 to come back up to finish 10th....Tyler Nelsen, who started 18th, also recovered from a spin on lap 16 to come back to finish 11th.
I would like to thank Mike Van Genderen and his crew for allowing me to come up to cover the action at Stuart International Speedway. The next event at Stuart will be a two day show on Friday September 20th and Saturday, September 21st. Stay tuned to their website and Facebook page for details, as they come available.
My up coming weekend plans are to head to the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa on Friday, August 30th for the Showdown in MoTown. Then on Saturday, August 31st it will be over to the Boone Speedway in Boone, Iowa for the Prelude to the Super Nationals. Sunday, September 1st and Monday, September 2nd are still up in the air. Maybe I will see you somewhere this weekend, if not at least get out and support a racing event at a track near you!
Monday, August 12, 2019
Nienhiser, Harrison, and Reed Go Back To Back at Jacksonville Speedway
Jacksonville, IL (Sunday, August 11, 2019) - The Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Illinois usually runs a limited Friday night schedule, which doesn't allow me to visit this track very much due to my other commitments. But when they decided to run a few Sunday night events I decided to make the drive south this past Sunday to take in one of those nights.
I arrived at 5:30 PM, just as hot laps started. With racing action following shortly after. The six division program was ran thru in about 2 hours and 45 minutes, as the final checkered flag waved at 8:45 PM. Which put me back on the road home by 8:50 PM, and with an hour and 45 minute drive home I was very thankful for the fast pace night. As the work alarm goes off at 5:30 AM.
The 22 lap Midget feature took to the track first, with CJ Leary and Shelby Bosie leading the field to green. Leary used his starting spot to his advantage by jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Bosie and Sam Johnson. The action was slowed for the first and only time of the event on lap 2, as Kevin Battlefield spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Leary moved back out front, with Bosie and Johnson following. The fast pace that Leary was setting would put him in lapped traffic on lap 9. While he maneuvered thru the lapped traffic, the battle was going on behind him for the runner up spot between Bosie, Johnson and Jake Neuman, who started 5th. The three way battle for second would allow Leary to pull away for an easy win. Neuman won the battle for 2nd, Bosie was 3rd, Johnson was 4th, with Austin O'Dell coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap Midwest Big Ten Series for the DIRTcar UMP Pro Late Models, with Dakota Ewing and Cody Maguire making up the front row. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as Colby Sheppard, Colby Billington, and Andy Minett collided in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Maguire used the momentum off the top to edge out the lead on lap 1 over Ewing and Jose Parga. After lap 1 was scored complete another caution appeared, as Blake Dameny, Kyle Vandorn, and Tucker Finch collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Maguire moved back out front on the restart, with Ewing and Parga close behind.While Maguire slipped up in the cushion coming off turn 4, Ewing would shoot under him to take over the top spot on lap 3. Then after the lap was scored complete, third place running Parga spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ewing jumped back out front, with Jake Little, who started 7th, and Brandon Eskew, who started 5th, both over taking Maguire for second and third. The final caution of the race would appear just after the lap was scored complete. This time Lucas Pace spun in turn 2 and collected Parga to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Ewing moved back out front, with Eskew and Maguire getting by Little. As Little got sideways in turn 1 and before he got it collected he fell back to fourth. With Ewing working the top of the track, Little would work the bottom to climb his way back into the runner up spot by the halfway mark. Little would close to within Ewing's back bumper coming to the white flag. But Ewing was able to hold him off to pick up the win. Little settled for 2nd, Parga recovered from his spin on lap 3 and again on lap 4 to come back up to 3rd, Maguire was 4th, with Sheppard recovering from his involvement in the crash on the start to come back up to finish 5th.
The 20 lap 305 Sprint Car feature took to the track next, and it would go green to checkered without a caution. Robbie Standridge and Dylan Tuxhorn would lead the field to green, with Standridge grabbing the lead on lap 1 over 410 Sprint Car driver Paul Nienhiser and Tuxhorn. While Standridge worked the top of the track, Nienhiser went to the bottom to try and get the lead away. Just like the early leader in the Pro Late Model feature, Standridge bobbled in the cushion coming off turn 4 to complete lap 7. Which allowed Nienhiser to shoot under him to take over the top spot. From there to the checkered there was no catching Nienhiser, who cruised to his second 305 Sprint win in the past two Sunday events at the Jacksonville Speedway. Standridge was 2nd, Ben Wagoner finished 3rd, Garrett Duff started 9th and finished 4th, with Tyler Duff coming home in 5th.
With only six of the eight UMP Modifieds coming out for their feature event, it would be cut from 20 to 15 laps. Mike Harrison and Tommy Sheppard made up the front row for the event, with Harrison winning the battle to the top of the track going into turn 1 to come around to lead lap 1 over Sheppard and Ryan Blakeman. The only thing to slow Harrison down on this night were the two cautions for the same car spinning. The first was on lap 3, as Cody Stilwell spun in turn 4. One lap later, lap 4, Stilwell spun again in turn 4 to bring out his final yellow. On the restarts Harrison grabbed the lead over Sheppard and Blakeman. From there Harrison would cruise to his second win in a row at the Jacksonville Speedway. Sheppard was 2nd, Blakeman was 3rd, Jimmy Miller was 4th, with Stilwell credited with 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap UMP Street Stock feature, with Terry Reed and Robert Cottom leading the field to green. Cottom used the momentum off the top of the track to grab the lead on lap 1 over Reed and Kyle Anderson. The lead for Cottom would come to an end on the completion of lap 2, as he slowed in turn 2 and then pulled into the infield on the backstretch to end his night. This would hand the lead over to Reed on lap 3. The action was slowed on lap 5, as Mike Bulpitt spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Russell Coultas spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Reed jump back out front, with Anderson and Rudy Zaragoza close behind. Just after the lap was scored complete, Coultas spun down the backstretch to bring out his second yellow of the event to end his night. Reed would jump back out front on the restart, with Anderson working to hold off Zaragoza for the runner up spot. Despite Reed entering lapped traffic with two laps to go, he would easily pull away to score his second win in a row at the track. Anderson held on for 2nd, Mike Jackson, who started 6th, used the lapped traffic coming off turn 4 to edge out Zaragoza for 3rd, with Wes Biesenthal coming from 8th to finish in 5th.
The 12 lap UMP Hornet feature was the last event to take to the track, with Matt Mackey and Danny Oates making up the front row. Mackey took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Oates and Cody Schmick. While Oates was working to hold back Schmick for the runner up spot, Mackey would pull away. Without a caution to bunch up the field, Mackey would cruise to an easy win. Oates held on for 2nd, Schmick was 3rd, Bill Basso was 4th, with Josh Dove finishing in 5th.
Notes from Jacksonville: Broc Hunnell started the Midget feature in 10th and would finish 6th....Mitchell Davis had troubles getting the car fired for the heat race, so he was relegated to start the feature in 13th. He them moved up 4 spots to take home a 9th place finish......Blake Dameny recovered from his involvement in the lap 1 crash to come back up to finish 6th in the Pro Late Model feature....Tucker Finch also recovered from his involvement in the lap 1 crash to come back up to finish 7th....Lucas Pace recovered from his spin on lap 4 to come back up to finish 8th....Brandon Eskew, who was running 3rd, pulled off on lap 18 with troubles to end his run up front......Matt Fair started the 305 Sprint Car feature in 11th and would bring home an 8th place finish......Steve Theivagt had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the Modified feature......Chad Myers had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the Street Stock feature.
I would like to THANK Ken Dobson and his crew at the Jacksonville Speedway for allowing me to come down and cover the action! If the schedule works out, I might look at making a return trip before the 2019 season comes to a close.
I arrived at 5:30 PM, just as hot laps started. With racing action following shortly after. The six division program was ran thru in about 2 hours and 45 minutes, as the final checkered flag waved at 8:45 PM. Which put me back on the road home by 8:50 PM, and with an hour and 45 minute drive home I was very thankful for the fast pace night. As the work alarm goes off at 5:30 AM.
The 22 lap Midget feature took to the track first, with CJ Leary and Shelby Bosie leading the field to green. Leary used his starting spot to his advantage by jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Bosie and Sam Johnson. The action was slowed for the first and only time of the event on lap 2, as Kevin Battlefield spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Leary moved back out front, with Bosie and Johnson following. The fast pace that Leary was setting would put him in lapped traffic on lap 9. While he maneuvered thru the lapped traffic, the battle was going on behind him for the runner up spot between Bosie, Johnson and Jake Neuman, who started 5th. The three way battle for second would allow Leary to pull away for an easy win. Neuman won the battle for 2nd, Bosie was 3rd, Johnson was 4th, with Austin O'Dell coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 20 lap Midwest Big Ten Series for the DIRTcar UMP Pro Late Models, with Dakota Ewing and Cody Maguire making up the front row. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as Colby Sheppard, Colby Billington, and Andy Minett collided in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Maguire used the momentum off the top to edge out the lead on lap 1 over Ewing and Jose Parga. After lap 1 was scored complete another caution appeared, as Blake Dameny, Kyle Vandorn, and Tucker Finch collided in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Maguire moved back out front on the restart, with Ewing and Parga close behind.While Maguire slipped up in the cushion coming off turn 4, Ewing would shoot under him to take over the top spot on lap 3. Then after the lap was scored complete, third place running Parga spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Ewing jumped back out front, with Jake Little, who started 7th, and Brandon Eskew, who started 5th, both over taking Maguire for second and third. The final caution of the race would appear just after the lap was scored complete. This time Lucas Pace spun in turn 2 and collected Parga to bring out the yellow.
On the restart Ewing moved back out front, with Eskew and Maguire getting by Little. As Little got sideways in turn 1 and before he got it collected he fell back to fourth. With Ewing working the top of the track, Little would work the bottom to climb his way back into the runner up spot by the halfway mark. Little would close to within Ewing's back bumper coming to the white flag. But Ewing was able to hold him off to pick up the win. Little settled for 2nd, Parga recovered from his spin on lap 3 and again on lap 4 to come back up to 3rd, Maguire was 4th, with Sheppard recovering from his involvement in the crash on the start to come back up to finish 5th.
The 20 lap 305 Sprint Car feature took to the track next, and it would go green to checkered without a caution. Robbie Standridge and Dylan Tuxhorn would lead the field to green, with Standridge grabbing the lead on lap 1 over 410 Sprint Car driver Paul Nienhiser and Tuxhorn. While Standridge worked the top of the track, Nienhiser went to the bottom to try and get the lead away. Just like the early leader in the Pro Late Model feature, Standridge bobbled in the cushion coming off turn 4 to complete lap 7. Which allowed Nienhiser to shoot under him to take over the top spot. From there to the checkered there was no catching Nienhiser, who cruised to his second 305 Sprint win in the past two Sunday events at the Jacksonville Speedway. Standridge was 2nd, Ben Wagoner finished 3rd, Garrett Duff started 9th and finished 4th, with Tyler Duff coming home in 5th.
With only six of the eight UMP Modifieds coming out for their feature event, it would be cut from 20 to 15 laps. Mike Harrison and Tommy Sheppard made up the front row for the event, with Harrison winning the battle to the top of the track going into turn 1 to come around to lead lap 1 over Sheppard and Ryan Blakeman. The only thing to slow Harrison down on this night were the two cautions for the same car spinning. The first was on lap 3, as Cody Stilwell spun in turn 4. One lap later, lap 4, Stilwell spun again in turn 4 to bring out his final yellow. On the restarts Harrison grabbed the lead over Sheppard and Blakeman. From there Harrison would cruise to his second win in a row at the Jacksonville Speedway. Sheppard was 2nd, Blakeman was 3rd, Jimmy Miller was 4th, with Stilwell credited with 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap UMP Street Stock feature, with Terry Reed and Robert Cottom leading the field to green. Cottom used the momentum off the top of the track to grab the lead on lap 1 over Reed and Kyle Anderson. The lead for Cottom would come to an end on the completion of lap 2, as he slowed in turn 2 and then pulled into the infield on the backstretch to end his night. This would hand the lead over to Reed on lap 3. The action was slowed on lap 5, as Mike Bulpitt spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Russell Coultas spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Reed jump back out front, with Anderson and Rudy Zaragoza close behind. Just after the lap was scored complete, Coultas spun down the backstretch to bring out his second yellow of the event to end his night. Reed would jump back out front on the restart, with Anderson working to hold off Zaragoza for the runner up spot. Despite Reed entering lapped traffic with two laps to go, he would easily pull away to score his second win in a row at the track. Anderson held on for 2nd, Mike Jackson, who started 6th, used the lapped traffic coming off turn 4 to edge out Zaragoza for 3rd, with Wes Biesenthal coming from 8th to finish in 5th.
The 12 lap UMP Hornet feature was the last event to take to the track, with Matt Mackey and Danny Oates making up the front row. Mackey took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Oates and Cody Schmick. While Oates was working to hold back Schmick for the runner up spot, Mackey would pull away. Without a caution to bunch up the field, Mackey would cruise to an easy win. Oates held on for 2nd, Schmick was 3rd, Bill Basso was 4th, with Josh Dove finishing in 5th.
Notes from Jacksonville: Broc Hunnell started the Midget feature in 10th and would finish 6th....Mitchell Davis had troubles getting the car fired for the heat race, so he was relegated to start the feature in 13th. He them moved up 4 spots to take home a 9th place finish......Blake Dameny recovered from his involvement in the lap 1 crash to come back up to finish 6th in the Pro Late Model feature....Tucker Finch also recovered from his involvement in the lap 1 crash to come back up to finish 7th....Lucas Pace recovered from his spin on lap 4 to come back up to finish 8th....Brandon Eskew, who was running 3rd, pulled off on lap 18 with troubles to end his run up front......Matt Fair started the 305 Sprint Car feature in 11th and would bring home an 8th place finish......Steve Theivagt had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the Modified feature......Chad Myers had troubles in his heat race that forced him to scratch from the Street Stock feature.
I would like to THANK Ken Dobson and his crew at the Jacksonville Speedway for allowing me to come down and cover the action! If the schedule works out, I might look at making a return trip before the 2019 season comes to a close.
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Ryan, Morris, and Hitt Among Winners at the Davenport Speedway
Davenport, IA (Friday, August 9, 2019) - After taking two weeks off for the Mississippi Valley Fair, the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa returned to weekly action on Friday, August 9th. And since the weekly track I work at on Friday nights took a scheduled night off, and the other track that runs a part time schedule cancelled their events on Friday, I decided to make the trip north to catch the action at Davenport. This would be my first visit of the 2019 season, and I wasn't at the least disappointed.
Ricky Kay and his crew put on a fast pace program, with the final checkered flag waving at 9:45 PM. Which is quit well considering they start hot laps at 6:30 PM, and racing begins around 7 PM. So the five division program was ran thru in about 2 hours and 45 minutes. The track was smooth, and slick, with the exception of one bad spot in the middle of the track coming off turn 4. But you could still race two and even three wide around the quarter mile track. After talking with Ricky, he contributed the smooth slick track to Al Dlouhy. Most call him "Dr. Dirt", as he prepares a smooth slick track at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa.
The first feature to take to the track was the 12 lap 4-Cylinders, with Shawn McDermott and Brad McDermott leading the field to the green flag. Shawn McDermott took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Nick Proehl, who started 5th, and Joe Zrostlik, who started 10th. The lead for Shawn McDermott only lasted for 1 lap, as Proehl got under him coming off turn 2 to take over the top spot on lap 2. Two laps later, lap 4, Zrostlik slipped past Shawn McDermott for the runner up spot, and then went to work on trying to chase down Proehl. But the race would go caution free, which allowed Proehl to go on to claim the win. Zrostlik was 2nd, Shawn McDermott was 3rd, Tim Sibley started 9th and finished 4th, with Todd Sibley coming from 8th to round out the top 5.
Up next was the 15 lap Street Stock feature, with Shad Murphy and Austin Riggs making up the front row. Coming across the line to complete lap one Rick Schriner, Riggs, and Jeffrey Peterson were three wide at the line. And it was to close for me to make a call on who led lap 1. Riggs would emerge from the pack to lead lap 2. But Joe Bonney, who started 6th, used the middle of the track coming off turn 4 to edge out into the lead on lap 3. Riggs, who was working the bottom, and Booney, who was working the middle and top of the track, would cross the line even on lap 4, with Bonney credited with leading the lap. The action was slowed on the completion of lap 4, as Murphy spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bonney jumped back out front, with Riggs and Tony VonDresky, who started 9th, close behind. Another lap was scored complete, when the second caution of the race appeared on lap 6. This time Cary Brown spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Bonney once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with VonDresky and Jesse Owens, who started 8th, following.
With lap 7 scored complete the third caution came out, as Jeff Struck Jr. spun off turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bonney moved back out front, with VonDresky and Owens glued to his back bumper. While Bonney worked the top of the track, VonDresky worked the bottom to try and get the top spot away from Bonney. But Bonney was able to edge out the lead at the strip over laps 8 and 9. Then on lap 10 Bonney decided to change his line by going to the bottom. This would force VonDresky to go to the top to try and get the lead, but Bonney was able to hold him off at the line on laps 10 and 11. But VonDresky used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take over the top spot on lap 12. Then just after the lap was scored complete the fourth caution appeared to slow the action. This time Schriner spun off the top of the track in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. VonDresky would jump back out front on the restart, with Owens over taking Bonney for the runner up spot. Just when it looked like VonDresky would hold on for the win, the final caution of the race appeared on lap 14. Randy LaMar would spin in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. In the past at Davenport once the field took the white flag the yellow and checkered flags would wave to put an end to the race. But with a new promoter, they now run a green-white-checkered overtime finish. On that restart VonDresky jumped back out front, with Owens and VonDresky racing side-by-side for second. The two wide battle for second allowed VonDresky to hold on for the win. Owens won the battle for 2nd, Bonney was 3rd, Nick Hixson came from 10th to finish 4th, with Jeremy Marquette starting in 12th and finishing 5th.
Joe Ross and Chuck Hanna drew the front row for the 25 lap Late Model feature. But just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as contact from Chad Holladay sent Ross spinning in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. With both drivers going to the back for the restart, this put Hanna and Todd Van Tassel on the front row for the original restart. Hanna took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Andy Nezworski, who started 5th, and Shaune Lewis, who started 6th. While Hanna worked to hold off Nezworski and Matt Ryan, who started 7th, Justin Kay was working his way towards the front. Kay had troubles in his heat race that forced him to start 11th. By lap 4 he worked himself into the top 5, and then 4 laps later, lap 8, he was up to 4th. Meanwhile Nezworski got under Hanna coming off turn 2 to come around to complete lap 15. As he, Hanna, and Ryan raced down the backstretch three wide, with Nezworski emerging off turn 4 with the lead. One lap later, lap 16, Ryan used the middle of the track coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot from Nezworski. Ryan then held off a last lap challenge from Nezworski to claim the win. Nezworski settled for a close 2nd, Hanna held on for 3rd, Kay was 4th, with Lewis coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Ryan Reed and Doug Burkhead leading the field to green. Just as the green waved the caution light came on, as Matt Irwin spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Reed jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Aaron Hitt and Burkhead. The action was slowed on lap 3, as Rance Powell, who was running 3rd, spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Reed moved back out front on the restart, with Burkhead and Hitt battling for the runner up spot. Hit, who was working the top of the track, used the momentum off turn 4 on lap 8 to grab the top spot away from Reed. Two laps later, lap 10, another caution appeared to slow the action. This time Scott Blake spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hitt jumped back out front, with Reed working to hold off Ryan Walker, who started 7th. for the runner up spot. Just as the lap was scored complete the final caution of the race came out, as Dakota Cole spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Hitt grabbed the lead on the restart, with Reed and Walker continuing to battle for second. Coming off turn 4 to get the white flag Walker was able to get to the outside of Hitt, as the two raced into turn 1. Walker's bid for a win would end in turn 1, as he slipped over the top of the track. And before he could get back onto the track in turn 2 he fell back to 11th. This would allow Hitt to go onto to pick up the win. Jerry Miles came from 9th to finish 2nd, Ben Chapman came from 10th to finish 3rd, Reed held on for 4th, with Matt Fulton coming from 8th to finish 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap IMCA Modifieds, with Jason Pershy and Joe Beal making up the front row. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as debris in turn 2 would bring out the yellow. On the original restart Pershy grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Mitch Morris and Beal. The lead for Pershy last until lap 4, when Morris got under him coming off turn 2 to come around to take the top spot. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution appeared, as Todd Dykema spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Morris moved back out front on the restart, with Eric Barnes, who started 8th, and Bruce Hanford close behind. While Morris worked the bottom of the track, Barnes went to the top. Barnes would use the momentum off the top to grab the top spot away from Morris on lap 9. Just as Barnes started to put some distance on the field, the caution came out on lap 13. Nick Hillyer would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Hanford and Morris battling for the runner up spot. Again Barnes started to pull away, when the final caution of the race appeared on lap 17. This time Timmy Current, who was running 9th, and Greg Durbin, who started 23rd and was up to 10th, collided in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Once again Barnes jumped back out front on the restart, with Morris and Hanford following close behind. Coming off turn 4 to the white flag, Morris used the momentum off the top to grab the lead away from Barnes. Morris then held on to score the win. Chris Zogg started 10th and finished 2nd, Barnes held on for 3rd, John Oliver Jr., who is chasing the IMCA National Rookie Title, started 12th and finished 4th, with Hanford holding on for 5th.
Notes from Davenport: Jason Rhoads started the 4-Cylinder feature in 11th and would come up to finish 7th....Thomas Adams had troubles in his heat that forced him to scratch from the feature......Gene Ehlers started the Street Stock feature in 16th and then passed 10 cars to come home in 6th....Jeff Struck Jr. recovered from his spin on lap 7 to come back up to finish 7th....Randy LaMar came back from his spin on lap 14 to come back up to finish 8th....Erick Turner came from 15th to finish in 9th......Dave Stichter started the Late Model feature in 9th and finished 6th......Brandon Jewell came from 11th in the SportMod feature to finish in 6th....Mike Haines finished 8th after starting in 16th....Joe Nemitz started 15th and finished 9th....Matt Irwin, who started 13th, recovered from his spin on the start to come back up to finish 10th......Craig Crawford started the Modified feature in 17th and finished 8th....Tony VonDresky started 16th and finished 10th....Mike Goben came from 19th to finish 13th....Matt Stein finished 15th after starting in 18th....Richard Nelson came from 24th to finish 19th.
I would like to THANK Ricky Kay and his crew for the great hospitality. If you haven't been to the Davenport Speedway, I would encourage to take in one of their final two regular nights in August. They have a great payout and run a fast pace night of racing!
Ricky Kay and his crew put on a fast pace program, with the final checkered flag waving at 9:45 PM. Which is quit well considering they start hot laps at 6:30 PM, and racing begins around 7 PM. So the five division program was ran thru in about 2 hours and 45 minutes. The track was smooth, and slick, with the exception of one bad spot in the middle of the track coming off turn 4. But you could still race two and even three wide around the quarter mile track. After talking with Ricky, he contributed the smooth slick track to Al Dlouhy. Most call him "Dr. Dirt", as he prepares a smooth slick track at the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa.
The first feature to take to the track was the 12 lap 4-Cylinders, with Shawn McDermott and Brad McDermott leading the field to the green flag. Shawn McDermott took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Nick Proehl, who started 5th, and Joe Zrostlik, who started 10th. The lead for Shawn McDermott only lasted for 1 lap, as Proehl got under him coming off turn 2 to take over the top spot on lap 2. Two laps later, lap 4, Zrostlik slipped past Shawn McDermott for the runner up spot, and then went to work on trying to chase down Proehl. But the race would go caution free, which allowed Proehl to go on to claim the win. Zrostlik was 2nd, Shawn McDermott was 3rd, Tim Sibley started 9th and finished 4th, with Todd Sibley coming from 8th to round out the top 5.
Up next was the 15 lap Street Stock feature, with Shad Murphy and Austin Riggs making up the front row. Coming across the line to complete lap one Rick Schriner, Riggs, and Jeffrey Peterson were three wide at the line. And it was to close for me to make a call on who led lap 1. Riggs would emerge from the pack to lead lap 2. But Joe Bonney, who started 6th, used the middle of the track coming off turn 4 to edge out into the lead on lap 3. Riggs, who was working the bottom, and Booney, who was working the middle and top of the track, would cross the line even on lap 4, with Bonney credited with leading the lap. The action was slowed on the completion of lap 4, as Murphy spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bonney jumped back out front, with Riggs and Tony VonDresky, who started 9th, close behind. Another lap was scored complete, when the second caution of the race appeared on lap 6. This time Cary Brown spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. Bonney once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with VonDresky and Jesse Owens, who started 8th, following.
With lap 7 scored complete the third caution came out, as Jeff Struck Jr. spun off turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Bonney moved back out front, with VonDresky and Owens glued to his back bumper. While Bonney worked the top of the track, VonDresky worked the bottom to try and get the top spot away from Bonney. But Bonney was able to edge out the lead at the strip over laps 8 and 9. Then on lap 10 Bonney decided to change his line by going to the bottom. This would force VonDresky to go to the top to try and get the lead, but Bonney was able to hold him off at the line on laps 10 and 11. But VonDresky used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to take over the top spot on lap 12. Then just after the lap was scored complete the fourth caution appeared to slow the action. This time Schriner spun off the top of the track in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. VonDresky would jump back out front on the restart, with Owens over taking Bonney for the runner up spot. Just when it looked like VonDresky would hold on for the win, the final caution of the race appeared on lap 14. Randy LaMar would spin in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. In the past at Davenport once the field took the white flag the yellow and checkered flags would wave to put an end to the race. But with a new promoter, they now run a green-white-checkered overtime finish. On that restart VonDresky jumped back out front, with Owens and VonDresky racing side-by-side for second. The two wide battle for second allowed VonDresky to hold on for the win. Owens won the battle for 2nd, Bonney was 3rd, Nick Hixson came from 10th to finish 4th, with Jeremy Marquette starting in 12th and finishing 5th.
Joe Ross and Chuck Hanna drew the front row for the 25 lap Late Model feature. But just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as contact from Chad Holladay sent Ross spinning in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. With both drivers going to the back for the restart, this put Hanna and Todd Van Tassel on the front row for the original restart. Hanna took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Andy Nezworski, who started 5th, and Shaune Lewis, who started 6th. While Hanna worked to hold off Nezworski and Matt Ryan, who started 7th, Justin Kay was working his way towards the front. Kay had troubles in his heat race that forced him to start 11th. By lap 4 he worked himself into the top 5, and then 4 laps later, lap 8, he was up to 4th. Meanwhile Nezworski got under Hanna coming off turn 2 to come around to complete lap 15. As he, Hanna, and Ryan raced down the backstretch three wide, with Nezworski emerging off turn 4 with the lead. One lap later, lap 16, Ryan used the middle of the track coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot from Nezworski. Ryan then held off a last lap challenge from Nezworski to claim the win. Nezworski settled for a close 2nd, Hanna held on for 3rd, Kay was 4th, with Lewis coming home in 5th.
Up next was the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Ryan Reed and Doug Burkhead leading the field to green. Just as the green waved the caution light came on, as Matt Irwin spun in turn 3 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Reed jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Aaron Hitt and Burkhead. The action was slowed on lap 3, as Rance Powell, who was running 3rd, spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Reed moved back out front on the restart, with Burkhead and Hitt battling for the runner up spot. Hit, who was working the top of the track, used the momentum off turn 4 on lap 8 to grab the top spot away from Reed. Two laps later, lap 10, another caution appeared to slow the action. This time Scott Blake spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Hitt jumped back out front, with Reed working to hold off Ryan Walker, who started 7th. for the runner up spot. Just as the lap was scored complete the final caution of the race came out, as Dakota Cole spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Hitt grabbed the lead on the restart, with Reed and Walker continuing to battle for second. Coming off turn 4 to get the white flag Walker was able to get to the outside of Hitt, as the two raced into turn 1. Walker's bid for a win would end in turn 1, as he slipped over the top of the track. And before he could get back onto the track in turn 2 he fell back to 11th. This would allow Hitt to go onto to pick up the win. Jerry Miles came from 9th to finish 2nd, Ben Chapman came from 10th to finish 3rd, Reed held on for 4th, with Matt Fulton coming from 8th to finish 5th.
The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap IMCA Modifieds, with Jason Pershy and Joe Beal making up the front row. Just as the green flag was waved the caution light would come on, as debris in turn 2 would bring out the yellow. On the original restart Pershy grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Mitch Morris and Beal. The lead for Pershy last until lap 4, when Morris got under him coming off turn 2 to come around to take the top spot. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution appeared, as Todd Dykema spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Morris moved back out front on the restart, with Eric Barnes, who started 8th, and Bruce Hanford close behind. While Morris worked the bottom of the track, Barnes went to the top. Barnes would use the momentum off the top to grab the top spot away from Morris on lap 9. Just as Barnes started to put some distance on the field, the caution came out on lap 13. Nick Hillyer would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Barnes moved back out front, with Hanford and Morris battling for the runner up spot. Again Barnes started to pull away, when the final caution of the race appeared on lap 17. This time Timmy Current, who was running 9th, and Greg Durbin, who started 23rd and was up to 10th, collided in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Once again Barnes jumped back out front on the restart, with Morris and Hanford following close behind. Coming off turn 4 to the white flag, Morris used the momentum off the top to grab the lead away from Barnes. Morris then held on to score the win. Chris Zogg started 10th and finished 2nd, Barnes held on for 3rd, John Oliver Jr., who is chasing the IMCA National Rookie Title, started 12th and finished 4th, with Hanford holding on for 5th.
Notes from Davenport: Jason Rhoads started the 4-Cylinder feature in 11th and would come up to finish 7th....Thomas Adams had troubles in his heat that forced him to scratch from the feature......Gene Ehlers started the Street Stock feature in 16th and then passed 10 cars to come home in 6th....Jeff Struck Jr. recovered from his spin on lap 7 to come back up to finish 7th....Randy LaMar came back from his spin on lap 14 to come back up to finish 8th....Erick Turner came from 15th to finish in 9th......Dave Stichter started the Late Model feature in 9th and finished 6th......Brandon Jewell came from 11th in the SportMod feature to finish in 6th....Mike Haines finished 8th after starting in 16th....Joe Nemitz started 15th and finished 9th....Matt Irwin, who started 13th, recovered from his spin on the start to come back up to finish 10th......Craig Crawford started the Modified feature in 17th and finished 8th....Tony VonDresky started 16th and finished 10th....Mike Goben came from 19th to finish 13th....Matt Stein finished 15th after starting in 18th....Richard Nelson came from 24th to finish 19th.
I would like to THANK Ricky Kay and his crew for the great hospitality. If you haven't been to the Davenport Speedway, I would encourage to take in one of their final two regular nights in August. They have a great payout and run a fast pace night of racing!
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