Open Late Models Return to Davenport's 1/2 Mile

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One of the most anticipated races in the Quad City area every year are the open late models on the historic half mile at the Davenport Speedway. This year the best open late models that the Corn Belt Clash and MARS Series could offer did not disappoint. The mix of 36 open late models was comprised of seasoned Davenport Speedway half milers and several drivers that had never seen the track before.

The track was in wonderful shape after the heats races, which were won by Marshalltown, Iowa's, Ryan Gustin, Lebannon, Missouri's, Brandon McCormick, Mount Vernon, Iowa's, Chad Simpson, and Happy, Texas', Rodney Sanders and consolation races by Birch Tree, Missouri's, Justin Asplin and Las Cruces, New Mexico's, Garrett Alberson, and the stage was set for a barn burner.

"The River City Hustler" Ray Guss Jr. started on the pole, after accumulating the most passing points in the heat races, and the defending Corn Belt Clash champion Chad Simpson to his outside. Growing up I was always a Ronnie Weedon fan and a Ray Guss Jr. fan. So after watching Guss go from 8th to 2nd on the Davenport 1/2 mile it took me back to the days in the Precision Performance #50 and after that when he went out on his own in the #12.

Guss immediately grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag and was a man on a mission. Simpson was able to keep up but not get close enough to make a move for lead. On lap 12 Simpson finally got his chance when Guss got tangled up with a lapped. Simpson took over the lead while Guss had to pull into the pits but he was able to return. Simpson would go pretty much untouched the rest of the way. The real show was El Paso, Illinois', Ryan Unzicker. After suffering mechanical problems earlier in the night and not being able to run his heat, Unzicker would be force to take a provisional and start dead last in the feature. Unzicker would have an incredible run and make it all the way up to the 4th when the checkered flag waved in the 35 lap main event from his 25th starting spot. Simpson would park his #25 in victory lane followed by Gustin, Jason Utter, Unzicker, and Jesse Stovall (who started 14th).

In the IMCA Modifieds, after a lap 5 caution, Davenport, Iowa's, Bruce Hanford took off and dominated the final 10 laps of their feature event. Steve Johnson had second place sown up and the real battle was third between Scotty Powell, Matt Werner, and Bob Dominacki. On the white flag lap, Werner was able to make the move for third with Powell taking fourth followed by Dominacki. The heat race winners were Johnson and Werner.

A few years ago you couldn't beat Jeff Stevens in a Street Stock. Friday night Stevens returned to that form driving the Jesse Owen's owned #95. Stevens took control of the lead from his outside front row starting spot and never looked back. Keith Blum tried everything he had to make a race of it on the last lap but he tagged the wall in turn one ending his shot at the lead. Stevens would take victory followed by Blum, Cary Brown, Donnie Louck, and Cord Williams. Heat winners were Blum and Louck.

Unfortunately, Sunday night's Corn Belt Clash vs. MARS race was canceled due to rain. They are working on rescheduling it.

Once again I can not thank Bob Wagener and Carrie Rouse enough for their hospitality.

Next week I won't be able to make it to the Davenport Speedway but I will be at the Quad City Speedway on Sunday. See you at the track!



Click on the logo to access the Quad City Speedway website