Sandusky Still Has It

It was a gorgeous evening in East Moline, IL, at the Quad City Speedway and on this night the Quad City area racing community honored one of their legends, Ronnie Weedon, who unexpectedly passed away in 2005.

The main event of the evening was the 9th Annual Ronnie Weedon Memorial featuring the IMCA Modifieds in a 25 lap feature paying $1,000 to the winner. A solid field of 21 cars took the green flag with Colona's Milo Veloz Jr. grabbing the early lead. Even though it was only a few laps into the feature it looked like it was Veloz's race to lose especially when Quad City Speedway front-runner, Greg Durbin, spun out while running second with right front damaged that ended his night. Veloz quest for his 5th Weedon Memorial victory would not be as a few laps later he would lose a drive shaft. With the leader out that meant a double front row for the restart with two drivers that had run against Weedon in years past, Ray Cox Jr. and Jim Sandusky. Cox and Sandusky would battle with R.J. Gonzales and Matt Werner for the top four spots. Sandusky would take over the lead and run a flawless race the rest of the way. Sandusky adds this race to an already impressive resume. Brandon Durbin who started 8th would charge through for second followed by Matt Werner, Ray Cox Jr. and R.J. Gonzales. 

The IMCA Late Models had everyone on the edge of their seats Sunday night. Silvis' Todd Malmstrom wasted little time flying through the field from his 8th starting to take the lead. After some early race bad luck, Mike Murphy Jr., found himself at the back of pack but by the halfway point he was up to second with his sights set on Malmstrom. With five laps to go Murphy was all over Malmstrom and that's when he made his move the lead. Murphy would lead the rest of the way for another Quad City Speedway victory. 

Keith Blum continued his streak in the Street Stocks. Rick Schriner led the first 12 laps and early on looked untouchable but Blum and Dwayne Smith Jr. ran Schriner down. Schriner, Smith, and Blum ran three wide for the lead with Blum finally taking over the lead with three laps to go. Blum would make it three wins in a row at QCS with Schriner second followed by Smith, Rob Nylin, and Jarett Franzen.

In the 4-Cylinders it looked like "The Beard"  Steven Spiker was going to collect his first career win but Brandon Dahl had different ideas. Spiker and B. Dahl would race each other hard early with B. Dahl assuming the lead and then pulling away from the field. Spiker would hold onto second followed by Zach Dahl, Dustin Forbes, and Shawn Pappas.

It was a Sidewinder Chassis kind of feature in the Mod Lites. The top three finishes in the Mod Lite feature were running Sidewinder Chassis. Shon Sanders shot out to the lead early on with Rock Island's Bryan Brinker right on his bumper. Sanders  would hold off Brinker. Mike Pershing would take third, coming from the back of the pack, Dan would take fourth followed by Brian Schnell.

 Overall it was a great night at the races (even if my son, Kyle, ditched me). It was a well ran program on a very smooth track. The final feature of the night took the checkered flag at 8:45pm.