It's that time of year again when drivers put those finishing touches on their cars and get set to begin the journey that is points racing in the Quad Cities. These drivers will scarifies their Friday and/or Sunday nights from the end of April until the end of August in the quest to be named Track Champion. Many drivers like, the Hall of Famer, Gary Webb have done it 17 times at the Quad City Speedway alone but there are many that will never win one but none the less they'll be out there week in and week out. So I thought I'd take a little time and do a preview and make some predictions for the 2015 points racing season at the Davenport Speedway and Quad City Speedway.
Here's my 2015 points chase preview for the Davenport Speedway:
- 4-Stocks - Last season Brandon Dahl collected his first of two career track championships in 2014 at the Davenport Speedway and the way the 2015 is starting off it is real hard to pick against him. His brother Zach Dahl will always be a threat as a former track champion himself. Brandon "The Kid" Setser has stepped his game up this off season and will be up towards the front of a lot of features. You also can't count out the Benischek boys, Jake & Luke, either. My prediction for the 2015 Davenport Speedway 4-Stock Track Champion is Zach Dahl (Its my turn this year bro)
- IMCA SportMods - Last season Bryce Garnhart dominated the division by winning six features and his second consecutive track championship. He'll be hard to pick against this season but out of all the divisions in the Quad City area, the IMCA SportMod division has grown the must which means more competition for Garnhart. Maquoketa's Jarett Franzen will be running weekly at the Davenport Speedway with closing of the Cedar County Raceway and I believe he'll pick off a few features. A young driver I'll be keeping my eye on will be Jake Morris. The son of many time track champion and feature winner, Jeff Morris, and brother of IMCA Modified driver Mitch Morris. Jake will have all the support and knowledge he'll need coming from his pit each week. A few other drivers to watch will be Jayson Wiggins, Jacob Beal, Joe Grant, Doug Burkhead, and Henry Carson. My predictions for the 2015 Davenport Speedway IMCA SportMod Track Champion is Jake Morris. (First of many to come in his career I'm sure)
- Street Stocks - It's the few, the proud, the Street Stocks. At one time in the Quad City area the Street Stock division approached 20 cars whether it was Friday or Sunday night. That number has shrunk but the racing is as exciting as ever. Last season Donnie Louck won the title with three feature wins. Louck will once again be hard to beat but he will definitely have his hands full with Cary Brown, Perry Gellerstedt, Kevin Dickey, Keith Blum, Phil Anderson, Cord Williams, Rick Schriner, and the 2014 Cedar County Raceway Street Stock track champion, Jarett Franzen. There's also drivers like Jeremy Gustaf and Rob Nylin that may not be every week but when they are will be running up front. My prediction for the 2015 Davenport Speedway Street Stock Track Champion is Phil Anderson. (In honor of Steven Jackson and Keith Jackson)
- IMCA Modifieds - With the Cedar County Raceway closing this off season, I could see the IMCA Modified car count at the Davenport Speedway over the 30 mark and probably closer to 40 more times then not. With that being said, there are a lot of drivers that could walkaway champion when it's all said and done. Bob Dominacki and his son Rob Dominacki will be point battling this season. Bob has been a mainstay at Davenport for many years now and Rob is still earning his stripes with one of the best drivers around guiding him along the way. Its quite the list of potential champs with Mitch Morris, Chris Zogg, Brad Tyler, Doug Crampton, Scotty Powell, Tony VonDresky, Nick Hixson, Joe Beal, Craig Crawford, Brian Bushong, Terry Rentfro, Bruce Fosdyck, and Matt Werner. My prediction for the 2015 Davenport Speedway IMCA Modified Track Champion is Doug Crampton (back to back track championships)
- IMCA Late Models - Some people might think I'm dumb and wasting time typing up a preview for this divisions. I've heard things like "Its a no brainer" and "Murf (Mike Murphy Jr.) isn't racing so there isn't anyone to beat him". The reigning and defending IMCA Late Model National Champion will be as tough as ever this season but his competitors are no slouches. Andy Nezworski is one of the competitors. Nezworski has recommitted himself to Late Model racing in 2015 and I see him winning at least a few features this year. The likes of Todd Malmstrom, Mike Garland, Mike Zemo Jr., Matt Ryan, Nate Beuseling, Brunson Behning, and Chuck Hanna. I haven't heard what Ray Guss Jr.'s plans are for 2015 but if he's in the pits at Davenport on any given Friday night he's a contender for the "W". My prediction for the 2015 Davenport Speedway IMCA Late Model Track Champion is Nate Beuseling. (I can see Nate finishing in the top 5 nearly every week)
Now lets tackle the Quad City Speedway:
- 4-Cylinders - It's kind of the same cast of characters as Davenport (the Dahl boys & Setser) with Cameron Poci, Dustin Forbes, Shawn Pappas, and Jake Smith added in. Poci, Forbes, and Pappas are forces each week and Smith has a new ride this year that is lightening fast. Another driver that will be up front each Sunday night is "The Beard" Steven Spiker. He captured his first career victory last season on the last night of racing. I'm sure that taste is still in his mouth and he's hungry for more. My prediction for the 2015 Quad City Speedway 4-Cylinder Track Champion is Steven Spiker. (Fear The Beard)
- Mod Lites - Well Shon Sanders is back this year so there's your champ, right? Not so fast! If Sanders is able to do it, it won't be easy at all. Mike Pershing already has 2 feature wins this season (non-point races) and Bob Miller (former Late Model driver) has looked good. Erik Close has ran well early on this season too. Mod Lite mainstays Brian Schnell, Brad Lucy, A.J. Pappas, and Dan Guss will be tough as well. Andy Warner and Mike Morrow will throw their names in the hat as well. My prediction for the 2015 Quad City Speedway Mod Lite Track Champion is Shon Sanders (after last season's injury I think he'll be a man on a mission)
- IMCA SportMods - Well every wins this championship will make history as the first every Quad City Speedway IMCA SportMod Track Champion. Former Street Stock Track Champion, Emily Gade, will make her return to the bullring, but this time, in the SportMod division and you know she'll be up front a lot. Brandon Jewell and Jarett Franzen will be up front with her as well. Other possible drivers to watch for are Timmy Current, Joe Grant, Doug Burkhead, Jon Scott, and Chad Vroman. My prediction for the very first 2015 Quad City Speedway IMCA SportMod Track Champion is Jarett Franzen. (He's running 2 cars dang near every night, one of them has to win a championship, right?)
- Street Stocks - These guys bring down the house almost every time they run their features. I would think Keith Blum would be the front runner for this season but Rob Nylin can never be counted out at QCS. Perry Gellerstedt and Jeremy Gustaf will win a couple features and of course, the grandfather of this division, Rick Schriner will be a threat each week. Other drivers like Mike and Mark Anderson have stepped their games up this and will be tough each Sunday. My prediction for the 2015 Quad City Speedway Track Champion is Keith Blum (Don't mess with "The Pitbull")
- IMCA Modifieds - Two weeks ago at QCS these guys put on one of the best features I've seen in a long time. This will be the most competitive division at QCS in 2015. I mean with guys like Greg Durbin, Brandon Durbin, Doug Crampton, Matt Werner, Milo Veloz Jr. Leland & Brian Bushong, Doug Curless, R.J. Gonzales, T.J. Patz, and Terry Rentfro you never who's going to win from week to week. I haven't heard plans from defending champ Ray Cox Jr. or Jason Pershy or Todd Dykema. It will be a fun year in the IMCA Modifieds. My prediction for the 2015 Quad City Speedway IMCA Modified Track Champion is Matt Werner. (Monkey off his back!)
- IMCA Late Models - With the defending track champ, apparently, not racing in 2015 the door is wide open in this division. The 2013 track champ, Todd Malmstrom, would appear to be the front runner but don't count out Mike Garland. Garland has a lot of racing and feature wins under his belt. Jon Brauns will be tough at QCS if he runs weekly there too. Mike Zemo Jr., LeRoy Brenner, Eric Sanders, Shawn Mulvany and B.J. Jackson will be right up there with them too. Of course there will always be those pop in drivers that will shake things up. My prediction for the 2015 Quad City Speedway IMCA Late Model Track Champion is Mike Garland. (He's back!)
What do you get for being Track Champion? Drivers in the Street Stocks, 4-Cylinders/4-Stocks, and Mod Lites get a trophy at the track banquet at the end of the year. For the IMCA sanctioned classes (Late Models, Modifieds, & SportMods) there is a banquet at the end of the year, hosted by IMCA, and some money, trophies, and jackets are awarded but for most drivers it is not about that. It's the honor and prestige that for one summer, you were the best in your division, and that 20 years from now you say "I was the 2015 Track Champion".
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