Droste Money in the Modified Madness

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All week Kyle was excited to go to the races and he kept telling me he was going and then Friday rolls around and Dad takes a back seat to hang out with his cousin, Charlie. On a positive note I saved some money on buying M&M's.

An impressive 51 IMCA Modifieds checked into the pits at the Davenport Speedway Friday night to compete for $2,000 to win in the Modified Madness. After five heat races and three consolation races, 24 cars took the green flag for the 50 lap main event. Former Modified Madness champion, Milo Veloz Jr., took control of the lead right away. Jeremiah Hurst shot up to second from his fifth and began working over Veloz bumper. Veloz was running the very bottom of the track, hugging the tires/cones and lap after lap Hurst tried to get by Veloz but to no avail. Around the lap 15 marks Veloz started to build a lead but lapped traffic cut his lead back down and on lap 30 Hurst actually took the lead but it only lasted through turns one and two and Veloz took it back. A few laps later, Waterloo, Iowa's, Tyler Droste maneuvered is #92 pass Hurst and began working on Veloz. On lap 36, Droste got under Veloz and looked like he was going to get to first but Veloz slammed the door on him and remained at the point. Then with five laps to go Droste was once again able to get under Veloz and this time he powered by the #43 before the door slammed. Droste would lead the final laps and pocket the $2,000 paycheck. Veloz finished second followed by Hurst, Todd "Felix" Dart, and Richie Gustin, who qualified for the 50 lapper through a consolation race and started 15th.

In the IMCA Late Model feature it was the same old song and dance as Justin Kay used the first 11 laps to navigate the #15K from the 12th starting spot to the lead. Kay would go unchallenged the rest of way and take home the victory. Ray Guss Jr. had a very solid second place followed by Brian Harris, Matt Ryan, and Andy Nezworksi.

****BREAKING NEWS**** An orange car won the 4 Stock feature Friday night! It took Brandon Dahl one lap to get to the lead and he never looked back. A great race for second took place after that with Jake Benischek, Brandon Setser, Zach Dahl, and Josh Riley battling it out. Zach Dahl would take second followed by Benischek, Setser, and Riley.

The IMCA Sport Mod and Street Stock features were not ran due to curfew and will be made up next Friday night.

Thank you to Bob Wagener and DRT TRAK Inc. for their hospitality once again. Always a great time!

Up next will be the 22nd Annual Gary Reinhart Memorial at the Quad City Speedway tomorrow night, May 24th. Visit www.qcspeedwayracing.com for more info regarding Sunday night's special.

Kyle Hines Makes Debut at QCS



Sunday night at the Quad City Speedway in addition to the six divisions in action the highly anticipated box cars were in action. Several age groups competed, including two heats in the ultra competitive five year old division. Kyle Hines made his long awaited racing debut in the five year olds heat one in his brand new RGB (Roberts/Guss/Beuseling) Super Box Late Model. Kyle's box car was half red with a 58 like the Roberts/Guss IMCA Late Model and half black with a 46 like Nate Beuseling's IMCA Late Model. The flagman gave the instruction and after a countdown from five the green waved and apparently none of the kids listened to those instruction and instead rounding one of the helpers and coming back they started running the entire front stretch, almost getting to turn one before they stopped and began to sprint all the way back. Kyle would cross the line forth. Kyle ran a strong race and with a better set up from his crew chief, he will be back and better then ever next time.



As for the big cars, some familiar faces returned to victory lane, getting the monkeys off their backs. In the IMCA Late Models it was Todd Malmstrom returning his 75M machine to victory lane for the second time in 2015, after holding off a very strong Matt Ryan. Ryan has been on a tear lately and he tried several times coming out of turn four to get by Malmstrom on the very bottom but Malmstrom would not be denied. Travis Denning had an excellent run finishing third followed by Gary Webb and Mike Garland.

In the IMCA Modifieds, Matt Werner finally parked his Meier Construction #93 in the winner's circle. In 2015, Werner and his team have had there ups and downs and looked like the car beat to on many nights at Davenport and QCS but couldn't seem to get that elusive "W". Sunday night was a different story as Werner dominated final 10 laps of the 20 lap and picked up the win. Colona's Chris Lawrence had a solid run finishing second followed Jason Pershy, who started 11th, Greg Durbin, who started 15th, and Terry Rentfro.

Controversy surrounded the Street Stocks Sunday night. Korey Peterson appeared to make a triumphant return to the Street Stock, after a brief run in the IMCA Late Models, leading all 15 laps of the feature but unfortunately his 6K machine did not pass the post race inspection so Rock Island's Rick Schriner was awarded the victory and Jarett Franzen, who Schriner battled with throughout the feature, took second. Rob Henry finished behind Franzen but his car was also disqualified in the post race inspection so Randy Lamar was awarded third.

The IMCA Sport Mods put on probably the best race of the night with Austin Moyer and Bryce Garnhart battling it out lap after lap. Garnhart wasted little bolting to the front and grabbing the lead while Moyer, who was making his QCS debut, charged through the field from his 10th starting spot. Before long Garnhart and Moyer were all over each fighting for the lead. Moyer would get by Garnhart and put #2X Gade Race Engines car in victory lane. Garnhart finished second followed by Jarett Franzen, John Irwin, and Joe Grant.

Shon Sanders won again in the Mod Lites but it wasn't a walk in the park like the last couple Sundays. Clinton's Mike Morrow looked like he had the feature win locked up after leading the first 10 laps but on lap 11 Sanders would get by Morrow and go on to win. Morrow would take second followed by Brian Schnell, Erik Close, and Brad Lucy.

In the 4-Cylinders an orange car won again, shocking right? This time it was Zach Dahl piloting the D23 car from the 8th spot, through the field, and into the winner's circle. The top five cars were neck and neck for the first six laps but after a caution on lap six the field got spread out with Dahl winning followed by Dustin Forbes, Ken Stogdell, Cody Brewster, and Brandt Cole.

Thanks again to the K&S Promotions and the Quad City Speedway for allowing Kyle and myself to cover the races at QCS.

This coming weekend is a huge weekend for the IMCA Modifieds in the Quad City area. Friday night the Davenport Speedway is hosting their annual $2,000 to win Modified Madness special. Saturday night Darkside Promotions at the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa, are running $2,000 to win IMCA Modifieds. Then Sunday night is the Gary Reinhart Memorial at the Quad City Speedway paying $1,000 to win for the IMCA Modifieds. Kyle and I will be watching some racing this weekend we just don't know where yet. More then likely we will be doing the Friday and Sunday thing since Mom will be out of town Saturday so Kyle and I will be on Bennett (future box car racer in the Hines family) duty.





QCS Honors Hershel Roberts

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Its hard to believe it has been four years since the Hall of Famer, Hershel Roberts, passed away after an illustrious racing career and a courageous battle with cancer. Hershel was an amazing person and the epitome of what a race car driver should be on and off the track.

 

Sunday night the Quad City Speedway and the area racing community honored Hershel with the fifth annual Hershel Roberts Memorial featuring the IMCA Late Model Deery Brothers Summer Series. Also on the card were the IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Mod Lites.

 

I showed Kyle the Hall of Famer banner with Hershel on it by the concession stand at QCS and explained who Hershel was and the night was about him. They had a lot of Hershel memorabilia on display which Kyle thought was cool.

 



 

The first feature of the night was Street Stock 15 lap feature. Street Stock racing at the Davenport Speedway and Quad City Speedway this season has been top notch and Sunday night was more of the same. East Moline, IL's, Mike Anderson took the early lead and appeared to have the car to beat but after leading several laps his five year old motor let go ending his night. Perry Gellerstedt took over the lead from there, even with his right front suspension heavily damaged. Jarett Franzen would give Gellerstedt everything he could handle including running side by side with him for the final three laps. Gellerstedt would collect the "W", which I predicted on Facebook, with Franzen second followed by Chance Huston, Kevin Dickey, and Randy Lamar.

 

The Mod Lites were up next and it was the same old song and dance. Shon Sanders in his #4 machine led all 12 laps, winning in convincing fashion. Brad Lucy finished second followed by Mike Pershing, and Bob Miller. Dan Guss was the hard charger of the race coming from the 13th starting spot to finish fifth.

 

Once again the IMCA Modifieds had the fans on the edge of their seats for the finish of their 20 lap feature. Colona, IL's, Milo Veloz Jr. drew outside front row for the feature and he used that starting spot to take control of the lead at the grab of the green. Veloz held off an early challenge by Matt Werner while Doug Crampton and Greg Durbin were making their way to the front. The field was bunched up after the yellow flag waved with six laps to go. This was the opportunity Durbin had been waiting for all race. Durbin continued to run his normal line, as close to the tires as possible, and coming to the white flag Durbin got by Veloz and went on to win his third race in a row at QCS. Veloz took second followed by Crampton, Brandon Durbin, and Werner.

 



 

Then it was main event time, 58 laps of Deery Brothers Summer Series action, the Hershel Roberts Memorial. The large crowd new this was going to be ten times better then Mayweather-Pacquiao fight with a field full of heavyweights and horsepower. Ray Guss Jr., in Hershel's historic #58, drew the pole with the reigning and defending IMCA National Champion, Justin Kay to his outside. Kay would get by Guss on the first lap and like most Deery races in recent memory appeared to be the man to beat. Cedar Falls, IA's, Jeff Aikey kept up with Kay and as they got into heavy lapped traffic, Aikey was able to get under Kay and take over the lead. The multi-time Deery Brothers Summer Series and IMCA National Champion went on to lead the final 45 laps, piloting his #77 machine like a maestro through lapped traffic, and win the fifth annual Hershel Roberts Memorial. Seeing Aikey win at QCS took me back to a season he ran there every Sunday in the black car with the whiteish color #77. There was one night Aikey and Junior Shickel battled the entire feature for the lead, trading first place several times. Aikey ended up winning and Shickel brought his white car with the blue #S-10 over and they took photos together in victory lane. Aikey has always been a favorite of mine since that night and its nice to see one Iowa's greatest drivers add this race win to his already impressive resume.

 

Any who, Kay would finish second followed Matt Ryan, who came all the way from the 13th starting spot, Guss, and Andy Nezworski. Matt Ryan has been on an absolute tear as of late. He won last Sunday at QCS, Friday at Davenport, and Saturday at the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa.

 

Racing continues next Sunday at QCS with racing in all six divisions. Visit www.qcspeedwayracing.com for more details.

 

Kyle and I will more then likely be taking next weekend off. Work will prevent me from heading to Davenport Friday and with Sunday being Mother's Day I doubt we'll be able to make it. 

2015 Point Battles Begin at the Davenport Speedway

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A stellar field of cars in all divisions, including 42 IMCA Modifieds, started their quest to be crowned 2015 Davenport Speedway Track Champion. I wasn't even sure if I could make it but luckily I was able to get off work early so I shot over to the track, with the wife's approval of course.

The first feature of the night was the was the 15 lap Street Stock feature. Donnie Louck wasted little time, three laps, moving from his seventh starting spot to the lead. Cary Brown, who started 11th, was charging through the field, but a flat tire sent him to the pits. Brown had a little stroke of luck when the yellow came out right when he was about to get back on the track, allowing him to tag onto the back of the pack. The car and driver of the night though was the #86 of Nick Claussen. He started 13th and on lap 13 he took the lead and went on to pick up us first career feature win. Brown would make his way back through the field and cross the line second followed by Louck, Perry Gellerstedt, and Randy Lamar.

It was the IMCA Late Models turn with their, 23 car, 25 lap feature. Matt Ryan continued his hot streak he started last Sunday at the Quad City Speedway and led every lap Friday night to take home the win. Ray Guss Jr. got Andy Nezworski at the line for second with Jay Johnson forth and Joe Zrostlik fifth. After seeing Ryan in his last two races, it seems like he will be a force to be reckon with this season.

The 4-Stocks were up next and it was a heated battle. For the majority of the race you could throw a blanket over the top five cars. A caution with two laps to go made things even more excited. Brandon Dahl would edge out his brother Zach Dahl with Jake Benischek third followed by his brother Luke Benischek and Allen Morris.

The field of 42 IMCA Modifieds was trimmed down to 24 for their 20 lap feature. Tony VonDresky, running the bottom side of the track, dominated the final 13 laps and parked his #88 in victory lane. Bruce Hanford, who led early on, was second followed by Mitch Morris, Jeremy Marquette, and Scotty Powell.

The final feature of the night was for the IMCA SportMods and it was Tony Olson from the get go. Olson immediately jumped out to a big lead and went on  to score the victory. Even former track champion, Bryce Garnhart, couldn't run him down. Garnhart would finish second followed by Jarett Franzen, who started 13th, Mike McGarry, and Henry Carson.

Racing continues Friday, May 8th, at the Davenport Speedway when the open late models of the Lucas Oil MLRA take to the 1/4 mile. Also racing will be the IMCA Modifieds, Street Stocks, IMCA SportMods, and 4-Stocks. Check www.davenportspeedway.com for more details. 

Next up will be the Quad City Speedway Sunday with Kyle for the Hershel Roberts Memorial featuring the IMCA Late Model Deery Brothers Summer Series.