Sheppard Wins Another Barn Burner at Davenport

Davenport, IA (Tuesday, July 28, 2020) - On Tuesday night the World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model Series returned to the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa, after having a two day event at the track back in late May. This time however fans were allowed into the grandstands, and what a crowd it was to witness another great finish in the 50 lap Late Model feature.

The night would get started with World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Models qualifying, and with 29 cars signed in on the night the field was divided into two groups. Jimmy Owens set the overall quick time and also set a new track record in Group A, with a time of 13.979. While Brandon Sheppard clocked in at 14.039 to be quick time in Group B. Late Model group qualifying was followed up by 3 heats races in the IMCA SportMods, as 24 cars signed in for competition. Following those heat races were the four 10 lap Late Model heats, with the top 4 from each transfering into the 50 lap feature.

Heat race 1 had Jimmy Owens and Chris Simpson on the front row, with Owens jumping out front on 1. Simpson tried to keep pace with Owens throughout the 10 lap event, but Owens would pull away to win. Simpson was 2nd, Rich Bell was 3rd, with Dave Eckrich finishing in the final transfer spot. Matt Furman, Justin Kay, Allen Weisser, who pulled out early with mechanical troubles, and Mike Guldenpfenning, who was a scratch, rounded out heat 1....Chad Simpson and Chase Junghans led the field to green in heat race 2, with Chad Simpson grabbing the lead on lap 1. Chad Simpson would hold off Junghans at the line to pick up the win in heat 2. Bobby Pierce came from 6th to finish 3rd, with Garrett Alberson claiming the final transfer spot. Jason Rauen, Daniel Hilsabeck and Gary Webb rounded out heat 2.

Brandon Sheppard and Scott Bloomquist made up the front row for heat race 3, with Sheppard moving out front on lap 1. While Sheppard paced the field out front, Spencer Diercks was showing the fast way around the track was the high side. Midway thru the race Diercks was working to the outside of Bloomquist for the final transfer spot in turn 3, when Bloomquist drifted up the track and forced Diercks to spin off the top of turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Sheppard jumped back out front, with Darrell Lanigan, who started 5th and was working the top, close behind him. Sheppard would pull away in the final laps to pick up the win. Lanigan was 2nd, Ricky Weiss was 3rd, with Bloomquist holding on for the final transfer spot. Boom Briggs, Diercks, and Joel Callahan rounded out heat 3....Heat race number 4 had Cade Dillard and series rookie Ashton Winger on the front row, with Dillard grabbing the lead on lap 1. Dillard would go on to lead all 10 laps to claim the win. Winger was 2nd, Jimmy Mars was 3rd, with Dennis Erb Jr. coming from 7th to pick up the final transfer spot. Jeremiah Hurst, Brent Larson and Shane Clanton finished out heat 4.

After a brief break to do the feature redraw for the top four rows, the 10 lap Last Chance Showdown for the Late Models was up next. Matt Furman and Boom Briggs led the field to green, with Furman jumping out front on lap 1. Furman would lead all 10 laps to claim the win. Jason Rauen was 2nd, Briggs was 3rd, Justin Kay was 4th, Brent Larson was 5th, with Spencer Diercks taking the final transfer spot. But with all series regulars qualifying thru the heats and/or the last chance showdown, Jeremiah Hurst and Daniel Hilsabeck, who finished 7th and 8th, would be awarded the two provisionals. Shane Clanton, Gary Webb, Joel Callahan, Allen Weisser, and Mike Guldenpfenning completed the finish of the last chance showdown.

Jarett Franzen and Kevin Goben drew the front row for the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature. Just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as Kevin Rasdon spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Franzen jumped out front, with Matt Fulton and Goben following. While Franzen, who was working the bottom, set the pace out front, Fulton, who was also on the bottom, and  Ryan Walker, another driver working the bottom, battled Ben Chapman, who started 6th and was working the top of the track, and Shane Paris, who started 8th and was also working the top. On lap 9 Walker clipped an infield tire and broke a left front tie rod, and despite the left front facing the infield he would continue to muscle the car to battle with Paris for the fourth spot. Just when it looked the rest of the event would go caution free, Terry Stevens spun in turn 3 on lap 11 to bring out the yellow. On the restart the field tried to race four wide off turn 4, which didn't work out. As Chance Huston got into the left rear of Paris, who ended up spinning down the front stretch and collected Paul Howard, Jared Waterman and Kyle Eller to bring the yellow light back on. Franzen jumped back out front on the restart, with Fulton and Chapman close behind. With the top 5 cars now all working the bottom of the track, Franzen would hit his marks over the final laps to score his second win in a row at the track. Fulton was 2nd, Chapman was 3rd, Walker muscled his left front broken car to a 4th place finish, with Dustin Schram coming from 13th to round out the top 5.

 The 50 lap World of Outlaws Morton Buildings Late Model feature was the final race to take to the track on the night, with Cade Dillard and Chad Simpson drawing the front row for the event. Chad Simpson took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Dillard and Chris Simpson. With Chad Simpson working the top of the track, Dillard would work the bottom to try and get the top spot away. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 6, Dillard finally got the drive off the bottom to grab the lead away from Chad Simpson. Eight laps later, lap 14, Dillard starting entering the back of the field, which allowed Brandon Sheppard and Jimmy Owens to close to his back bumper.

Going into turn 3 to come around to complete lap 19, Dillard would go out of his realm and shifted to the top of the track to work thru some lapped traffic. This would open the bottom up for Sheppard, who come off turn 4 with the lead. After taking the lead Sheppard shifted back to the top of the track, while Dillard went back to the bottom. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 24, as Scott Bloomquist slowed with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow. On the restart Rich Bell, who was running 11th, spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on.

The following restart saw Sheppard move back out front, with Dillard and Owens glued to his back bumper. Three laps later, lap 28, the final caution of the race appeared, as debris in turn 2 brought out the yellow. Once again Sheppard jumped back out front on the restart, with Dillard and Owens still close behind. Sheppard, who was pounding what little cushion was left on the top of the track, and Dillard, who worked the bottom, raced side-by-side around the 1/4 mile track on laps thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three and thirty-four. With Sheppard edging out Dillard by inches at the line each lap to keep the lead.

Then on lap 35 Sheppard went to the bottom of the track to slow down Dillard's momentum. But Dillard would go to the top to counter Sheppard's move. The two would swap grooves on lap 36, with Dillard edging out Sheppard at the line to take over the top spot. But Sheppard would use the momentum off the top of the track coming out of turn 4 to take the lead back from Dillard on lap 38.  Dillard would come back on the bottom to take the top spot back on lap 39.

From there Dillard started to build up the biggest lead of the race, that was until lap 45 when he got held up by lapped traffic. Coming off turn 2 to come around to complete lap 46 Sheppard used the top to get by Dillard, who was held up by Daniel Hilsabeck, for the lead. Going into turn 3 on the final lap Sheppard went to the bottom of the track to slow Dillard's momentum, which paid off with another win. Dillard held off Owens, who was coming off the top, to finish 2nd, Jimmy Mars came from 12th to finish 4th, with Chris Simpson holding on for 5th.

Jeremiah Hurst passed 17 cars from his 23rd place starting spot to come home in 6th, Bobby Pierce finished 7th after starting in 11th, Darrell Lanigan was 8th, Dennis Erb Jr. came from 16th to finish 9th, with Chase Junghans completing the top 10.

A big shout out to Ricky and Brenda Kay, along with the World of Outlaws crew, as the final checkered flag waved at 9:30 PM on a Tuesday night. I would also like to thank them for the great hospitality. I just hope I can get back to the Davenport Speedway one more time before the end of the 2020 season.

Friday, July 31st I will be off to the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa, as the Darkside Promotions team of Ryan Duhme and Timmy Current present the 27th Annual Gary Reinhart Memorial. The highlight of the night will be the Modifieds racing for $1,500 to win. Also in action is the Street Stocks, SportMods, Mod Lites / Micros, 4 Stocks and A.I.R.S. Maybe I will see you there!!

Back-To-Back "Slocum 50" Victories For Pierce

West Burlington, IA (Friday, July 3, 2020) - Just like everyone else, when 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa releases their schedule for the new racing season, the one date that is circled on the calendar is when the "Slocum 50" will be ran. The originally scheduled date of April 18th was forced to be postponed due to the COVID-19 restrictions. And since there was already a second MLRA Late Model event scheduled for Friday, July 3rd at the track, the decision was made to just make that evening the make-up for the "Slocum 50".

The evening would get started with the 35 MLRA Late Models signed in being split into two groups for time trial qualifying, to help determine their starting spots for their heat races.. Group A cars would make up heats 1 and 2, while Group B would make up heats 3 and 4. Brian Birkhofer would set fast time in Group A with a lap of 15.547, which was also the overall quick time. Group B fast qualifier was Chad Holladay, with a lap of 15.655.

Brian Birkhofer and Payton Looney led the field to green in heat 1. But a no start slowed the first attempt of a green flag. The second attempt saw Birkhofer and Looney racing into turn 1 to get to the high side. And when Birkhofer slid up the track it forced Looney over the track, where he came to a stop in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. A third attempt now had Birkhofer and Jeremiah Hurst on the front row, after Looney was sent to the back for bringing out the yellow. Birkhofer would power past Hurst going into turn 1 to lead lap 1. Husrt followed him over the 10 lap race. But never could mount a challenge, as Birkhofer held on for the win. Husrt was 2nd, Johnny Scott was 3rd, with Matt Furman securing the fourth and final transfer spot. Jordan Yaggy, Looney, Jason Feger, Spencer Diercks, and Skip Frey rounded out the field.

Heat race 2 saw Mike Spatola and Tony Jackson Jr. on the front row. Jackson Jr. took advantage of his outside front row start to grab the lead on lap 1. Just like Hurst did in the first heat, Spatola would follow Jackson Jr. over the 10 lap event. But Spatola wasn't able to mount a challenge, as Jackson Jr. went on to score the win. Spatola was 2nd, Chris Simpson was 3rd, with Mason Oberkramer holding off a closing Brian Shirley for the final transfer spot. Behind Shirley was Dave Eckrich, Jonathan Brauns, Brennon Willard, and Mitch McGrath.

Chad Holladay and Shannon Babb made up the front row for heat race number 3, with Babb powering off the top to grab the lead on lap 1. Babb then went on to lead all 10 laps to pick up the win. McKay Wenger crossed the line in 2nd, Holladay was 3rd, with Rickey Frankel holding off a closing Tim Manville to claim the final transfer spot. Behind Manville was Rich Bell, Myles Moos, Brandon Queen, and Mark Burgtorf.

The fourth and final heat race had Tony Toste and Bobby Pierce leading the field to green. Pierce used his outside front row starting spot to his advantage, by powering out into the lead on lap 1. Chad Simpson would follow him into the runner up spot. But Pierce was to strong in the 10 lap event, as he pick up the win. Chad Simpson was 2nd, Toste held on for 3rd, with Kolby Vandenbergh taking the final transfer spot. Jason Papich, Garrett Alberson, Justin Duty and Jay Johnson rounded out the field.

After the four heat races were completed, it was time to run the 2 B-Mains to determine the final starters in the 50 lap "Slocum 50" feature. B-Main number 1 had Jordan Yaggy and Brian Shirley on the front row. Shirley grabbed the lead on the drop of the green flag, with Yaggy working the bottom to try and challenge him. But it would cost Yaggy, as Dave Eckrich and Jason Feger used the top of the track to power past Yaggy for second and third. Shirley would go unchallenged, as he went on to pick up the win. Eckrich and Feger crossed the line in the final transfer spots. Yaggy, Skip Frey, Brennon Willard, Spencer Diercks, Jonathan Brauns, Payton Looney and Mitch McGrath completed the finishing order.

B-Main number 2 had Tim Manville and Jason Papich leading the field to green, with Manville powering past Papich to grab the lead on lap 1. Manville then went on to lead all 10 laps to claim the win. Garrett Alberson was 2nd, with a slowing Papich holding off a fast closing Myles Moos on the final lap to take the final transfer spot. Behind Moos was Jay Johnson, Brandon Queen, Justin Duty, Rich Bell, and Mark Burgtorf. Series provisionals were given to Payton Looney, Mitch McGrath, Justin Duty and Brennon Willard.

With all the qualifying events completed the 20 lap IMCA Stock Car feature came to the track first, with Chad Krogmeier and John Oliver Jr. drawing the front row. But power steering problems that they didn't have enough time to fix it correctly, forced Oliver Jr. to scratch from the event. This would move Jeremy Pundt to the outside of the front row for the start. Krogmeier would edge out Pundt and Jason Cook at the line to lead lap 1. Then just after lap 1 was scored complete the caution would plague the race over the next 8 laps. Debris on the front stretch, which results from contact between Abe Huls and Matt Picray, brought out the first caution. As a result of the contact Huls had to head to the pits to get his right front flat changed. He would rejoin the field in the back for the restart. With all the yellows over the next 7 laps, it would help Huls charged back through the field to join Pundt, David Brandies, who started 9th, Cook and Krogmeier in a great battle for the top spot. Pundt was able to hold back all challenges until lap 10, when Brandies used the momentum off the top of turn 4 to edge out in front of Pundt.

The side-by-side actin up front was slowed for the final time on lap 15, as debris down the backstretch brought out the yellow. On the final restart Brandies jumped back out front, with Pundt working to hold back Cook. Cook was able to clear Pundt for the runner up spot, with about 2 laps to go and then went to work on Brandies for the win. But all Cook was able to do was race up to Brandies back bumper coming off turn 4 for the checkered flag. As Brandies held on for the win. Pundt was 3rd, Huls finished in 4th, with Krogmeier coming home in 5th.

Up next was the 50 lap "Slocum 50" feature, with Brian Birkhofer and Shannon Babb leading the field to the drop of the green flag. Birkhofer would lead the field down the front stretch and into turn 1. But Babb would use the momentum off the top of turn 2 to lead lap 1. While Babb worked the top of the track, Tony Jackson Jr. worked the bottom. On lap 4 Jackson Jr. shot under Babb coming off turn 4 to grab the top spot. Then just as Jackson Jr. started to enter lap traffic on lap 8, Chad Holladay would spin in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Jackson Jr. jumped back out front on the restart, while Birkhofer used the momentum off the top of the track to take the runner up spot from Babb. Two laps later, lap 11, Babb was able to get back past Birkhofer for the second spot, and then set his sights on Jackson Jr.

The fast pace Jackson Jr. was setting would put him into lapped traffic on lap 17. While Babb struggled to put a lap on Tony Toste, Bobby Pierce would close in on him to challenge for the runner up spot. Pierce would finally take advantage of the lapped car to take over second on lap 30. Two laps later, lap 32, Pierce got by the final lapped car that was between him and Jackson Jr. But by then Jackson Jr. had built up a full straight-away lead. It appeared Pierce was cutting into Jackson Jr.'s lead, but he needed a caution to help him out. And that is exactly what he got on lap 41, when Brian Shirley slowed in turns 1 and 2 to bring out the yellow.

Jackson Jr. jumped back out front on the restart, while Babb used the momentum off the top of the track to get second from Pierce. But when Babb jumped the cushion in turn 3 on lap 43, this allowed Pierce to go back by for the runner up spot. Once again Piece had some work to do to chase down Jackson Jr. But disaster would strike Jackson Jr. on lap 46, as his car sputtered down the front stretch and slowed down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. After reading on Facebook this morning it was discovered that Jackson Jr. broke a fuel pump bracket that cost him his shot at his first "Slocum 50" title and the $10,555 check to go with it.

Pierce inherited the lead on the restart, with Babb and Birkhofer looking to challenge him for the top spot. Coming to the white flag Babb had the momentum coming off the top of the track and would challenge Pierce going into turn 1. But Babb had to jam on the brakes to keep from making contact with Pierce. Babb would recover to try and use the top coming out of turn 4 for the checkers. But when Pierce slid up in front of him off turn 4, Babb had to turn back under him. Pierce was able to hold off Babb by a half a car length to become the first diver to win back-to-back "Slocum 50" events. Pierce is also the only driver to win the race more then once, as it was his fourth win in the twelve year history. Birkhofer finished in 3rd, Jeremiah Hurst was 4th, with Chris Simpson coming from 11th to round out the top 5. Johnny Scott finished 6th after starting in 9th, Spatola was 7th, current MLRA points leader Chad Simpson was 8th, Garrett Alberson won the hard charger award, after starting in 20th and coming home in 9th, with Tim Manville completing the top 10 from his 18th place starting spot.

The 20 lap 305 Sprint Car feature was the final race of the night, with Nathan Murders and Dan Keltner drawing the front row. Murders took advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Cody Wehrle and Keltner. Wehrle was able to clear Murders for the top spot on lap 2. The action was slowed for the first time on lap 6, when Wyatt Wilkerson went for a 360 spin to bring out the yellow. On the restart Wehrle moved back out front, with Keltner and Murders following. Wehrle would start to pull away from the field, when Matt Krieger and Devon Rouse made contact and collected Blaine Jamison in turn 4 on lap 11. Even though they all continued on, they all would slow to bring out the yellow for safety reasons. Once again Wehrle grabbed the lead on the restart, with Keltner and Murders behind. While Keltner and Murders battled for second, Wehrle would pull away to an easy win. Murders won the battle for 2nd, Keltner was 3rd, Dugan Thye crossed the line in 4th, but was docked one spot for jumping the final restart. This would move Nick Guernsey up to the fourth spot.

Another "Slocum 50" event was put into the books, and another one that didn't disappoint. I can't wait until the date for the 2021 edition is announced! I would like to say thank you to Brad Stevens, Jessi Mynatt, and the entire 34 Raceway crew for the great hospitality!

I plan on taking the rest of this holiday weekend off. Right now the plan is to make the trip over to the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa next Thursday, July 9th for the Dale DeFrance Memorial race. It will also be the 500th and final Summer Series race, with Darrel DeFrance being honored as the only driver to attend all 500 events.

Until then, please get out and support your local track!

Pershy Tops Strong Modified Field at the Davenport Speedway

Davenport, IA (Friday, July 2, 2020) - I want to start off by asking everyone to keep the Lewis family in your thoughts and prayers. As Shaune Lewis passed away inside of his IMCA Late Model at the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa. Many of us might not have known Shaune, but he was part of our racing family, and his family could use you thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May you RIP #44x.

Here is Shaune Lewis in action a couple of weeks ago at the Davenport Speedway. 

With the Davenport Speedway running another Thursday night program, I decided to make the short hour trip north to cover the action. I arrived shortly before hot laps were set to begin to find 163 cars, made up of 44 SportMods, 38 Modifieds, 26 Sport Compacts, 24 Late Models, 22 Street Stocks, and 9 Hobby Stocks, jammed into the back pit area. After the 19 heats races and 4 B-Mains were completed to help set the starting line-ups for the feature events, it was time to go feature racing.

Twenty-three of the twenty-six Sport Compacts that were signed in took to the track first for their 12 lap feature, with David Prim and Todd Sibley drawing the front row. Just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Blake Dotson spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart it was third place starter Jake Benischek who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Prim and Brandon Dahl, who started 7th. One lap later, lap 2, the second caution of the race appeared, as Austin Nelan spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Benischek jumped back out front on the restart, with Dahl and Shawn McDermott, who started 10th, both over taking Prim for second and third. The third caution of the race slowed the action on lap 4, as Garrett Duncan and Brad McDermott spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. Once again Benischek grabbed the lead on the restart, with Dahl and Shawn McDermott close behind. Just after the lap was scored complete the yellow light came on, as debris in turn 4 brought out the yellow. On the restart Benischek jumped back out front, with Dahl and McDermott following. As the rest of the field raced two and even three wide for positions behind him, Benischek started to pull away. Then just as it looked like Benischek would pull away for an easy win, the final caution of the race appeared on lap 10. Debris in turn 1 would bring out the yellow and set up a two lap dash to the finish. On the restart Benischek went low, Dahl used the middle, while Shawn McDermott went high, as the three raced off turn 4 for the white flag three wide. Shawn McDermott would edge out the other two at the line to lead lap 11. Then coming off turn 4 for the checkered flag Benischek tried to slid up in front of Shawn McDermott, but the momentum off the top allowed Shawn McDermott to edge out Benischek at the line by inches to claim the win. Dustin Forbes got by Dahl on the final lap to come home in 3rd, with Cyle Hawkins completing the top 5.

The IMCA Hobby Stocks were added to the program for tonight, with only 9 cars signing in for competition. Kaden Reynolds and Kile Vohringer led the field to green for their 10 lap feature event, with Reynolds grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Dakota Simonsen and Jake Benischek. Without a caution to bunch the field up, there was no challenging Reynolds on this night. As he pulled away to pick up the win. Simonsen was 2nd, Benischek was 3rd, Vohringer was 4th, with Steve Cox rounding out the top 5.

Rick Schriner and Frank Waters led the field to green in the scheduled 15 lap Street Stock feature, with Schriner using his draw to his advantage to lead lap 1 over Robert Cottom and Waters. As Schriner paced the field out front, the battled behind him for positions went two and three wide. The action was slowed on lap 4, when Gene Ehlers spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Cottom used the middle groove to edge out in front of Schriner to grab the top spot, and then started to pull away from the battles behind him. Cottom's pace was slowed on lap 9, when Alex Pappas spun in turn 3 to bring out the caution. Once again Cottom jumped back out front on the restart, with Joe Bonney, who started 7th, over taking Schriner for the runner up spot. Cottom then had to work to hold off Bonney, until another caution appeared on lap 12. This time Nick Proehl and Mike Anderson got together in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Jeff Struck Jr. and Erick Turner spun in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. This also brought an end to the time limit, as it was announced the next yellow or the checkered flag would end the race. The following restart saw Bonney get under Cottom coming off turn 2 and then edging him out at the line to grab the top spot, with eighteenth place starter Donnie Louck close behind. Just after the lap was scored complete Chase Zaruba and Nick Claussen spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow and checkered flags. Bonney was declared the winner, Cottom was 2nd, Louck was 3rd, Schriner was 4th, with Kyle Anderson, who made the pull over from Crown Point, Indiana, coming from 16th to finish in 5th.

Up next was the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature, with Gage Neal and Ryan Walker drawing the front row for the event. Neal took advantage of his draw to jump out into the lead on lap 1 over Walker and Ben Chapman. Just after the lap was scored complete the caution appeared, as Doug Burkhead and Jared Waterman spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Neal jumped back out front, with Chapman edging out Walker for the runner up spot. Neal would pace the field out front, while the battles behind him went two and three wide. The action up front was slowed for the second time of the race on lap 8, as Waterman spun in turn 4 to bring out the caution. On the restart Matt Fulton, who was battling for the top 5, went over the track in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw disaster strike the leader, as Neal went over the track in turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the third attempt of a restart Tony Olson used the topside momentum to edge out Chapman for the lead. While Olson worked the top of the track, Chapman worked the bottom groove, as the two raced side-by-side around the 1/4 mile track over the final laps. Coming off turn 4 to the checkered flag, Olson once again used the momentum off the top to edge out Chapman at the line to claim the win. Walker was 3rd, Shane Paris came from 12th to finish 4th, with Jarett Franzen completing the top 5.

Ryan Duhme and Jason Pershy led the field to green in the 20 lap IMCA Modified feature, with Duhme grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Pershy and Brandon Durbin. Duhme, who was running the bottom, and Pershy, who was using the top of the track, raced side-by-side around the track over the next 7 laps, with Duhme edging out the lead at the line each lap. Then on lap 8, Pershy was able to edge out front to take the top spot away from Duhme. While Pershy paced the field out front, Duhme, Durbin and Spencer Diercks, who started 8th, battle three wide for the runner up spot. With the three wide battle going on behind him, Pershy was able to pull away in a caution free race to pick up the win and the $1,000 top prize to go with it. Durbin won the battle for 2nd, Duhme was 3rd, Diercks was 4th, with Jeff Larson coming from 10th to finish 5th.

Out of respect for the Lewis family the IMCA Late Model driver's decided to postpone their feature event. So stay tuned to the Davenport Speedway's Facebook page and website for an announced make-up date. I would like to put any rumors or speculations to rest about the Lewis fatality. There was no racing accident or incident that caused his passing. He has some kind of a medical thing attack him as they were going down the backstretch to come to green in the heat race. When all of a sudden his car shot off to the right and got into Eric Pollard's left rear, and then continued to shoot off the 1/4 mile and coming to a rest on the backstretch of the half mile. Again I ask you to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

After the end of the night I was able to have a short conversation with Ricky Kay, and he expressed to me how disappointed he was on the night. As much as they tried to keep moisture in the track and the dust settled, nothing worked. Which is understandable, with temperatures in the low 90's and high humidity with heat index's in the mid to upper 90's it is a hard battle to win. But the feature races did produce two, three and four wide racing at times, with the high line a fine line to race on. Every track, and I mean every track, experiences a bad night. But they all rebound and move on. And I know Kay and his crew will do that, as it has shown all year with the big car counts and racing completed by curfew. I hope to get back to the Davenport Speedway before the 2020 season ends, as every time I am able to get up their I am greeted by Kay and his crew!

Tonight it's off to 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa for the make-up of the "Slocum 50". The COVID-19 restrictions forced the original date to be postponed, and with an already scheduled MLRA race on July 3rd at the track they decided to make it the "Slocum 50" event. Tonight's action will honor Brent Slocum with a $10,555 to win Late Model feature. The 305 Sprints and IMCA Stock Cars will also be in action. I hope to see you there!