Leighton Jr. Surprises Iowa With Malvern Bank Win at the Davenport Speedway

d Davenport, IA (Saturday, August 15, 2020) - Night two of the doubleheader featuring the Malvern Bank Super Late Model East Series took place on Saturday at the Davenport Speedway in Davenport, Iowa, with 31 Late Models returning. Lavista, Nebraska racer Bill Leighton Jr. would surprise the Iowans by claiming the $5,000 victory on this night.

The night would start off with Dave Eckrich setting the fast time in qualifying, with a lap of 14.979 around the 1/4 mile track. Andy Eckrich, Justin Kay, Charlie McKenna, and Curt Schroeder would then pick up the four heat race wins. While Nick Marolf scored the win in the semi event. After ten heat races and two semis in support competition, it was time to go feature racing.

Up first was the 15 lap Street Stock feature, with Jeff Struck Jr. and Jesse Owen drawing the front row. Struck Jr. took advantage of his draw to lead lap 1 over Owen and Joe Bonney. The action was slowed on lap 5, when Jacob Beal spun in turn 2 and collected Nick Proehl to bring out the yellow. On the restart Struck Jr. jumped back out front, with Bonney and Rob Henry close behind. While Struck Jr. stayed glued to the bottom of the track, Bonney decided to try the middle to the top of the track to get by Struck Jr. But when he would loose ground he decided to go back to the bottom to try and work under Struck Jr. The second and final caution of the race appeared on lap 11, when Austin Riggs spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow.  On the restart Nick Hixson, who was up top, Stuck Jr., who was on the bottom, and Bonney, who was in the middle, raced three wide for the lead, with Hixson grabbing the top spot by inches. Hixson, who was the only driver to get the top to work in his advantage, would hold off Struck Jr. over the final laps to pick up his fourth win of the season at the track. Bonney was 3rd, Owen was 4th, with Henry completing the top 5.

Lane Wise and Thomas Adams led the field to green in the 12 lap Sport Compact feature, with Adams jumping out into the lead on lap 1 over Dustin Begyn and Wise. While Adams set the pace out front, Shane Kelly, who started 10th, and Jimmy Dutlinger, who started 11th, were working their way towards the front. But without a caution there was no catching Adams, as he went on to claim his first win of the season at the Davenport Speedway. Kelly was 2nd, Dutlinger was 3rd, Cody Staley came from 8th to finish in 4th, with Shawn McDermott rounding out the top 5.

Up next was the 40 lap Malvern Bank Super Late Model East Series feature, with Spencer Dierks and Bill Leighton Jr. on the front row. Dierks took advantage of his starting spot to grab the top spot on lap 1 over Charlie McKenna and Matt Ryan. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 7, Ryan, who was on the bottom, Leighton Jr., who was in the middle, and Dierks, who was up top, raced three wide off the corner, with Ryan edging out front to lead the lap. Ryan then had to work to hold off Leighton Jr. over the next three laps, as the two raced side-by-side. Leighton Jr. would use the middle groove to edge Ryan out at the line to grab the top spot on lap 11. Seven laps later, lap 18, Leighton Jr. would start to enter lap traffic.

Jeff Aikey, who started 7th, worked himself into the runner up spot on lap 22, but by then Leighton Jr. had built up a 5.2 second lead. One of two things were obvious, either Leighton Jr. slowed his pace down or the lap traffic was holding him up. Because on lap 30 Aikey had trimmed 3 seconds off the lead, which was down to 2.2. It got even closer on lap 35, as Aikey looked under Leighton Jr. coming off turn 4, with Leighton Jr. holding the lead by .17 seconds. After that close call Leighton Jr. either got the signals from his crew or he decided to pick up his pace, as he pulled away in the caution free race to win by 2.8 seconds. Aikey settled for 2nd, Richie Gustin came from 9th to finish 3rd, Ryan was 4th, with Justin Kay finishing 5th after starting in 11th. Jason Hahne was 6th after starting 10th, Dierks was 7th, McKenna was 8th, Dave Eckrich was 9th, with Tad Pospisil completing the top 10.

Logan Veloz and Bryan Moreland drew the front row for the 15 lap IMCA SportMod feature. Just as the green flag waved the yellow light would come on, as Andrew Francis spun in turn 1 to bring out the caution. On the original restart Veloz jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Moreland and Shane Paris. Moreland's run up front came to an end on lap 6, when he spun down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Veloz moved back out front, with Paris and Jeremy Gustaf, who started 7th, glued to his back bumper. One more lap scored complete, lap 8, Francis spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow, which ended his night with two solo cautions. On the restart Brad Salisberry spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. This would bring out the yellow and checkered flags, as the time limit was up on this race. Veloz would score his first win of the season at the Davenport Speedway. Paris was 2nd, Gustaf was 3rd, Logan Anderson started 8th and finished 4th, with Ryan Walker completing the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track was the 20 lap IMCA Modifieds, with Dustin Smith and Jason Bahrs making up the front row. But it was third place starter, and the current IMCA national points leader, Tom Berry Jr. who shot to the front to lead lap 1 over Smith and Bahrs. The fast pace that Berry Jr. was setting would put him into lap traffic on lap 7. An unfortunately it was lap traffic that cost Berry Jr. the win on this night, as he got into Matt Stein on lap 15. With both spinning in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Chris Simpson, who started 7th and was running 2nd, inherited the lead on the restart, with Eric Barnes, who started 9th, and Ryan Duhme, who started 11th, following. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 18 Bryce Garnhart, who started 10th in Travis Denning's #56D machine, was looking under Duhme. And his right front got stuck under the left rear of Duhme's car, causing both to spin to bring out the yellow. And with the 10:30 PM curfew only a minute away, and the amount of time it was taking to get the cars unhooked the yellow checkered was thrown on this race. Simpson picked up the win, Barnes was 2nd, Kollin Hibdon came from 12th to finish 2nd, Chris Zogg finished 4th after starting in 14th, with Dennis LaVeine coming home in 5th after starting in 8th.

I know some people were upset that the last two features were called before all laps were scored complete. But what people don't know is the Davenport Speedway in under a strict curfew of 10:30 PM by the city. If they race past that time, then they will receive a fine. Could there have been things done to maybe prevent them from reaching the curfew. Perhaps they could have started one hour earlier then the previous night. Or maybe run a semi in the SportMods and only start 20 cars. And driver's it's very helpful to you to make sure you have a working raceceiver every time you pull out onto the race track. It really helps to get you realigned under cautions. And another thing that will help to get you in the correct running order, is to get single file as soon as the caution flies. No matter if you feel you are ahead of the car you are side by side with, it is important to get single file. You will get moved into your correct position before going back to green. But that is just my observations on this night.

A THANK YOU goes out to Ricky and Brenda Kay, and all the crew at the Davenport Speedway for the hospitality once again. I believe K-Promotions only has two races left on the 2020 season at the Davenport Speedway, so I encourage you to get out their over the next two Friday nights to take in the action.

Rust Scores Reinhart Memorial Win in Tipton

Tipton, IA (Friday, July 31, 2020) - After two weeks of hot and humid conditions mother nature finally provided us with a beautiful night for racing. My Friday night adventure took me to the Cedar County Raceway in Tipton, Iowa, as the Darkside Promotions team of Ryan Duhme and Timmy Current held the 27th Annual Gary Reinhart Memorial.

A nice mix of Mod Lites and Micro Mods took to the track first for their 15 lap feature, with Logan Takes and Michael Dominguez drawing the front row. But it was fourth place starter Chad Dugan who shot out into the lead on lap 1 over Darrick Knutsen and Dominguez. While Dugan set a very fast pace out front, Knutsen, RJ Gonzales, Matt Dugan, and Don Erger battled for the runner up spot. Gonzales, who started 6th, emerged with the runner up spot on the white flag lap, but didn't get a chance to chase down Chad Dugan for the lead. As Chase Brunscheen spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow and checkered flag. I don't think Gonzales would have been able to chase down Chad Dugan on the final lap around the 1/4 mile, because Chad Dugan had built up a full straight-away lead. Chad Dugan was credited with the win, Gonzales was 2nd, Knutsen was 3rd, Matt Dugan started 9th and was 4th, with Erger finishing 5th.

The 12 lap A.I.R.S. (American Iron Racing Series) feature was up next, with Ron Cook and Dave Meyer leading the field to green. Cook would take advantage of his draw to grab the lead on lap 1 over Matt Hudspeth and Meyer. The action up front was slowed on lap 3, when Dan Kessler went over the track in turn 2 to bring out the caution. On the restart Bruce Yoerger, Brian Gade, and Mike Arp collided in turn 4 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart saw Cook jump back out front, with Hudspeth and Walt King close behind. Just as the top three cars were putting on a great battle for the top spot, another caution appeared on lap 7 to slow the action. This time Tim Bader stopped in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Cook once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Hudspeth and King following. The final caution of the race appeared after the lap was scored complete, as Jeff Hollenbeck spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Cook moved back out front, with Hudspeth and King still following. While Cook worked the bottom to middle grooves of the track, Hudspeth worked the top to try and get the lead. But Cook was able to edge him out at the line each lap to keep the top spot. That was until coming out of turn 4 for the checkered, as Hudspeth got the momentum off the top to edge out Cook at the line to claim the win. Bart Miller started 10th and finished 3rd, Scott Fridley passed 15 cars from his 19th place starting spot to come home in 4th, with King holding on for 5th.

Bryton Benhart and Drew Wise drew the front row for the 10 lap 4 Stock feature. But it was third place starter Josh Starr who grabbed the lead on lap 1 over Jake Benischek and Benhart. Just after lap 1 was scored complete the red flag waved, as Dalton Unruh rolled in turn two to bring out the red. He would climb from his car okay. When the field went back to yellow to get realigned for the restart, the second place car of Benischek wouldn't fire back up and was pushed to the pits to end his run at a victory. On the restart Starr moved back out front, with Jack Fitzgibbon and Wise following. While Starr pulled away from the rest of the field, Fitzgibbon and Brandon Dahl, who started 11th, waged a side-by-side battle for the runner up spot. Without a caution in the late stages of the race there was no catching Starr on this night, as he cruised to an easy win. Fitzgibbon edged out Dahl at the line to claim the runner up spot, Shawn McDermott came from 10th to finish 4th, with Cyle Hawkins coming home 5th after starting in 12th.

The 15 lap SportMod feature was up next and they would have troubles getting consecutive laps ran, as four cautions in the first 5 laps slowed the action. Ben Chapman and Justin Becker led the field to green, with Chapman leading lap 1 over Becker and Bob Silaggi. Aaron Hitt would spin in turn 4 after the completion of lap 1 to bring out the first caution. On the restart both Silaggi and Josh Most shot under Chapman to move into the lead and runner up spots. Then on lap 3 Most got under Silaggi to take over the top spot. After lap 3 was scored complete Sean Rupp, Randy Farrell and Brad Salisberry spun in turn 4 to bring out the third caution of the race. Most jumped back out front on the restart, with Silaggi and Becker close behind. One more lap complete, lap 5, and the final caution of the race appeared, as Jared Waterman slowed down the front stretch with mechanical troubles to bring out the yellow. On the final restart Most moved back out front, with Silaggi and Becker close behind. While Most worked the bottom of the track, Tyler Soppe, who started 6th, and Brayton Carter, who started 10th, were working the top to work their way towards the front. The fast pace that Most was setting was slowed slightly with 5 laps to go, as he caught the back of the field that happened to be racing around the same bottom groove he was. This would allow Soppe to close in using the top. But Soppe would run out of laps to mount a challenge on the final laps, as Most held on to pick up the win. Soppe settled for 2nd, Silaggi held off Carter for 3rd, with Becker finishing 5th.

Nick Hixson and Donnie Louck drew the front row for the Street Stock / Stock Car 15 lap feature, with Louck edging out Hixson at the line by inches to lead lap 1. Hixson worked the top of the track to try and get past Louck over the next few laps, but Louck was able to hold him off. That was until lap 5 when Hixson finally used the momentum off the top to clear Louck for the top spot. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution would appear, as Greg Gill, who was driving Timmy Current's #22 Stock Car, clipped a tire in turn 4 and was helped around to bring out the yellow. On the restart Louck used the bottom to edge out Hixson at the line to get the lead back. But Hixson would use the top to get the top spot back on lap 7. Hixson then started to pull away from Louck over the final laps. The race would finish under yellow-checkered, as Jacob Ellithorpe tried to get under Jesse Owens, battling for fourth, coming off turn 4 for the checkered and would get into him. This would cause both to spin to bring out the yellow and checkered. Hixson claim the win, Louck was 2nd, Jeff Struck Jr. was 3rd after starting in 7th, Mike Anderson came from 9th to finish 4th, with Kyle Merkes rounding out the top 5.

The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 30 lap 27th Annual Gary Reinhart Memorial for Modifeds, with $1,500 awaiting the winner of this event. Michael Long and Jim Sandusky led the stellar field of driver's to the green flag, with Long leading lap 1 over Ethan Braaksma and Chris Zogg. Then just after the lap was scored complete the caution would appear, as Dustin Morden spun down the backstretch to bring out the yellow. On the restart Braaksma, who was on the bottom, edged out Long at the line to take over the top spot. The pace Braaksma was setting early would put him into lapped traffic on lap 10. But he would get a clear track shortly after he caught the tail of the field, as Nick Hillyer spun in turn 2 to bring out the caution. Joel Rust, who started 8th, and restarted 4th used the bottom groove to drive past the top three to take over the lead. Rust then started to pull away from the several two wide battles going on behind him, when the final caution of the race appeared on lap 18 to bunch the field back up. Once again Hillyer would spin in turn 2 to bring out his second yellow to end his night. On the restart Rust moved back out front, with Braaksma and Long battling for the runner up spot. With Braaksma, Long, Kollin Hibdon, who started 10th, Jeff Aikey, Chris Simpson and Justin Kay, who started 24th after troubles in the heat race, all battling for the runner up spot, this would allow Rust to start to pull away again. But he would enter heavy lapped traffic late in the race, which allowed the field to cut into his lead. But without a caution to bunch the field up, Rust was able to hold on to claim the win and the $1,500 check to go with it. Braaksma won the battle for 2nd, Hibdon was 3rd, Kay was 4th, with Long holding on for 5th.

A 10 lap SportMod non-qualifiers race was held at the end of the night, with Ryan Schilling cruising to an easy win. The battle for second thru fifth however was a good one, with Bryan Ritter holding off Terry Stevens, Michael Heister and Anthony Haines to claim the spot.

The one hundred thirty-six car twenty-six race program, which included 24 Modifeds, 17 Street Stock/Stock Cars, 21 4 Stocks, 17 Mod Lites/Micro Mods, 22 A.I.R.S. and 35 SportMods, started with hot laps shortly after 6:30 PM and was completed with the final checkered flag waving minutes after 11 PM. And once again "The doctor of dirt" Al Dlouhy, with the help of Ricky Kay, the promoter of the Davenport Speedway, prepped a smooth and slick racing surface that produced plenty of two and even three wide racing.

I would like to say THANK YOU to the Darkside Promotions team of Ryan Duhme and Timmy Current and their entire staff for the great hospitality. I look forward to getting back up to Tipton at least one night of the Fall Bash on October 1-3.

Tonight it's off to the Pepsi Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa to work the "Drive For 5" qualifying night. The Late Models, Modifieds, Stock Cars and SportMods are all racing for $1,000 to win, while the IMRA Midgets are gunning for $500 to win and the Sport Compacts are racing for $400 to win. Perhaps I will see you there!