Curless Adds Some New Nicknames in QCS Victory & LaSalle Speedway Running IMCA???

Well I spent the weekend in the Wisconsin Dells with the family and we had a blast up there. Once we got back in town, Kyle and I got ahold of my dad and we met up at the Quad City Speedway for some Father's Day racing.

"Low Side Hustler", "Fresh", and "Dougie Fresh" are some nicknames Doug Curless has had over the years and Sunday night he added couple more, "Showstoppa" and "The Show", to the list en route to his IMCA Modified victory.

Curless battled Matt Werner and traded the lead with him several times in the 20 lap feature. Curless ran the bottom like no other Sunday night while Werner was nearly as strong on the top side. The race was caution less until lap 18 which set up a green white checkered finish. Everyone was on the edge of their seat as Curless got out to the lead and after everyone took the white flag the yellow flag waved resulting in a yellow-checkered finish. Werner finished second followed by Bruce Hanford, Ray Cox Jr.(who started 12th), and Greg Durbin.

In the IMCA Late Models Matt Ryan moved his 07 machine to the top side of the track around the half way point of the feature and never looked back. Before that a couple of QCS all-time greats, LeRoy Brenner and Gary Webb, battled for the lead. Both Brenner and Webb would fade back and Travis Denning and Ray Guss Jr. would duke it out for the second spot. Denning would run up against the wall all the way around the track while Guss hugged the tires. Guss would ultimately take second with Denning third followed by Andy Nezworski and Todd Malmstrom.

Rob Henry came from the 10th starting spot to collect another win in the Street Stocks. Korey Peterson and Chad Coyne battled early on for the lead but once Henry was able to reach Peterson and Coyne he motored by them and went on to park the 00 in victory lane. Second was Peterson followed by Coyne, Rick Schriner, and Rob Nylin.

Shon Sanders once again put his #4 in the winners circle after the Mod Lite feature. Mike Pershing and Dan Guss battled side by side for a few laps for second with Pershing eventually taking second. Guss took third followed by Mike Morrow and Jeffrey Peterson.

He's only been back for a couple weeks but Gary Weatherington Jr. looked better then ever Sunday night picking off the "W". Weatherington would run down Brandon Jewell who ran well all race. Jewell would finish second followed by Phil Anderson, Jarett Franzen, and Dave Engelkins.

The 4-Cylinders had another great feature Sunday night. Brandon Dahl and Brandon Setser ran side by side for nearly the entire feature. Dahl would once again win with Cameron Poci getting by Setser on the last lap. Zach Dahl took forth followed by Ken Stogdell.

Once again thank you to K&S Promotions and the Quad City Speedway for allowing Kyle and I to cover racing at our favorite track.

In other exciting news, I will be partnering with Tony Izzo Jr. and Sixteen Promotions to bring an IMCA special event to the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, IL. The event will take place Saturday, August 1st, and feature the IMCA Late Models, IMCA Modifieds, and IMCA Sport Mods. The IMCA Late Models will run for $2,000 to win and $250 to start while the IMCA Modifieds will run for $1,000 to win and $150 to start and the IMCA Sport Mods will run for $400 to win and $75 to start. Also racing will be the UMP Street Stocks and UMP Hornets (4-Cylinders). There will be no entry fee for any classes just a $35 pit pass. Grandstand admission will be $20 with kids 11 & under Free. Stay tuned to the LaSalle Speedway Facebook page and www.lasallespeedway.com for more details.

Hurst & Kay Keep Money Close to Home

Click the logo above to access the Jackson County Speedway website

The best of the best in the IMCA Modifieds and IMCA Late Models took to the 1/4 mile at the Jackson County Speedway Tuesday night for a double main event.

The Hawkeye Dirt Tour, featuring the best IMCA Modifieds in the Midwest, ran their feature first. Denver, Iowa's, Ryan Maitland took control of the lead at the drop of the green flag. Maitland hugged the tires around the bottom of the track and held off an early charge by Ben Chapman. While they were racing up front, Jeremiah Hurst and Justin Kay were navigating through traffic and beginning to gain ground on Maitland. The last several laps or so Hurst in his #41 machine was all over Maitland in the #4. They ran side by side and coming to the checkered flag out of turn four, Hurst got by Maitland, and took home the big payday. Following them in the top five were Kay, who started deep in the field after qualifying through a consolation race, Chapman and Mike Van Genderen.

Then it was IMCA Late Model time with Deery Brothers Summer Series. After the Casey's Pizza top 12 draw was over, defending champion, Justin Kay found himself on the outside of the front row for their main event. Kay didn't immediately take the lead though. He slid back to third at the start of the race but wasted little time finding his groove and before long he was back up front and eventually he was at the point. Kay would dominate the rest of the feature and take home the $3,000 top prize. Dan Shelliam would finish second followed by Tyler Droste, Joe Zrostlik, and Jeff Aikey. With the win, Kay also took over the lead in the Deery Brothers Summer Series point standings from Andy Nezworski.

Due to the local curfew the IMCA Sport Mod was postponed.

I would like to thank Darkside Promotions for their hospitality. Kyle really enjoyed himself and we were able to pick up a couple more stickers for the fridge so it was a fun night for us.

I'm not sure if Kyle and I will end up getting any racing in this weekend. Between the iffy weather and Kyle's little brother, Bennett, being baptized on Sunday I'm not sure if we'll have time. If we can't make any this weekend we'll be back at it next week.

Drama Surrounds 22nd Annual Gary Reinhart Memorial

 

 

Well it was the first real hot evening Sunday night at the Quad City Speedway and by the end of the night tempering would be heating up as well.

 

An impressive field of 24 IMCA Modifieds checked in to try and capture one of the Quad City area's most prestigious races, the Gary Reinhart Memorial. After the heats were completed the field was set for the 22nd annual running of the event. After winning his heat, Milo Veloz Jr. drew the pole position and almost everyone thought it was a sure thing that Veloz would win his second Reinhart Memorial in three years.

 

Moline, Illinois', R.J. Gonzales had other plans though. After several good runs at QCS in the past few weeks, Gonzales took full advantage of his outside front row starting spot. Gonzales and Veloz battled for the lead with Gonzales coming out on top. Gonzales would maintain the lead through lapped traffic, lap after lap, in the caution free main event. The winner of the Davenport Speedway's $2,000 to win, Modified Madness 50, Tyler Droste would run down Gonzales and make several attempts at the lead with no success.

 

Then as the white flag flew with nearly every fan standing, the drama began. Droste got by Gonzales as they entered turn one, Gonzales drove it in as hard as I've seen and made contact with Droste and after that Gonzales was able to get by Droste and take the checkered flag. Droste would cross the line second followed by Veloz, Doug Curless, and Brandon Durbin. 

 

Then more drama ensued as the 39G of Gonzales did not pass post race inspections. The ruling by the track tech was a disqualification but the parts in question have been sent to IMCA for a final ruling. If Gonzales is in fact disqualified then Droste will collect the $1,500 payday, bringing his total to $3,500 from racing his IMCA Modified in the Quad City area in 2015.

 

Another solid field of IMCA Late Models competed in their 25 lap feature with Andy Nezworski picking up his second win in as many nights. Nezworski also won the feature Saturday night at the Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Iowa. Matt Ryan and Ray Guss Jr. charged through the field to finish second and third respectively with Todd Malmstrom forth and Mike Zemo Jr. fifth. Zemo brought out an early caution and powered through the field to collect his top five.

 

Better late then never for Rob Henry in the Street Stock feature. Henry would pick up his second victory in a row at QCS after passing Rob Nylin in dramatic fashion on the white flag lap. Nylin would finish second followed by Mike Anderson, Jarett Franzen, and Korey Peterson.

 

Starting ninth didn't seem to bother Shon Sanders in the Mod Lites. Sander was like a rocket getting to the front. Once he was up front it was clearing sailing for the former track champion. Mike Pershing came home second followed by Bob Miller, Erik Close, and A.J. Pappas.

 

Joe Grant parked his #44 machine in victory lane after holding off Jarett Franzen early on in the race. Franzen held on to second followed by Dave Engelkins, Gary Weatherington Jr. and David Norton.

 

Cameron Poci ran down a strong Brandon Setser in the 4-Cylinder feature and after several second place finishes, came home victorious. Setser crossed the line second followed by Zach Dahl, Ken Stogdell, and Mike Leathers.

 

Like always, thank you Quad City Speedway and K&S Promotions for your hospitality.

 

Kyle and I added several new stickers to our garage racing fridge so overall it was a great weekend for us.



 

 

We'll be heading to the Jackson County Speedway tonight for the Deery Brothers/Hawkeye Dirt Tour races and more then likely the Davenport Speedway on Friday and the Quad City Speedway on Sunday.

Veloz and Curless Steal the Show AGAIN at the Quad City Speedway



Kyle's t-ball team had a make up game Sunday night at six so after the game and a quick dinner we raced up to the Quad City Speedway. With several rainouts over the weekend it was another big car count so we made it just in tonight to see the finish of the Street Stock feature.

In the Street Stock feature it was a familiar face returning to victory lane. Rob Henry spent last season concentrating on his IMCA Modified but in what I believe was his second night out in a new Street Stock, Rob grabbed the lead in the last five laps and won the feature. Jeremy Gustaf took second followed by Jarett Franzen, Korey Peterson, and Rick Schriner.

The Mod Lites ran next and it was a Midwest Mod Lites Regional STARS race meaning a large car count for more money. When they rolled out to line up and Shon Sanders was on the outside of the first row it seemed like it was all but set in stone that he would be the winner. Galesburg, Illinois', Brad Lucy had another idea. Lucy was lined up to the inside of Sanders and at the wave of the green Lucy took the lead and never relinquished it. He would lead it wire to wire, hugging the tires, and holding off everything Sanders could throw at him. Sanders finished second followed by Mike Pershing, who fell back early and work his way all the way up to third by running up against the cushion, Brian Schnell, and Mike Morrow.

The race of the night was next  and it was in the IMCA Modifieds. A strong field of 20 cars took the green for their 20 lap feature. Milo Veloz Jr. wasted little time and by lap five he was at the point. "The Shoe" Jim Sandusky made his 2015 debut Sunday and was running up against the cushion and picking off cars left and right but mechanical issues ended his night. While Veloz was in control out front, Team Nasty (Doug Curless and R.J. Gonzales) were flying through the field on the high side up against the cushion as well. Curless started fifth but fell back to eighth before making his way to the front and his teammate Gonzales had the most impressive run of the night coming from 19th. Curless would catch Veloz and was all over him for the closing laps but Veloz did what he had to do and held off Curless and collected the victory. Curless was second followed Gonzales, Greg Durbin, who started 12th, and Brandon Durbin.

The 4-Cylidners ran next and first two laps were nothing short of crazy. Within the first two laps three cars rolled in turn one and thankfully all the drivers were ok. Once they got going it was another Brandon Dahl show as he again parked the D17 in victory lane. Cameron Poci had a solid second followed by Ken Stogdell, Brandt Cole, and Dustin Porter.

It was the IMCA Sport Mods turn next and Bryan Brinker took the lead and held it until he and Austin Moyer caught lapped traffic and that's when Moyer made his move for the lead and got by Brinker. Moyer led the rest of the way to take the checkered flag. Jarett Franzen would work his way up to second followed by Phil Anderson, Brinker, and Ben Hamburg.

A stout field of 19 IMCA Late Models took the green flag for their 25 lap main event. Early on it was Muscatine, Iowa's, Jonathan Brauns in command. Mike Zemo Jr. had an excellent run, catching Brauns, giving him everything he could handle, and nearly passing him for the lead. Unfortunately, Zemo would get tangled up in turns three and four, with 17 laps down, and bring out the caution. By this time Ray Guss Jr. had worked his up to the front from his eighth starting spot and began challenging Brauns. Guss and Matt Ryan would get by Brauns with Guss holding off Ryan putting the Roberts Motorsports #58 in the winner's circle. Following Ryan in second was Brauns, Leroy Brenner, and Mike Garland.  
 
Then the best part of the night happened. Kyle's favorite driver is Ray Guss Jr. and as we were walking to the pits Kyle asks me if Ray Guss Jr. got a trophy for winning and I said he sure does. Kyle said he wanted to see it and I said if you ask him I guarantee he'll let you see it. So after talking to few other drivers and telling them good job we worked our way over to the Roberts/Guss pit area and Kyle spotted the trophy in their trailer. So we made our way over there and Ray was by the trophy. Kyle told him good job and gave him a high five. Then he asked Ray if he could see the trophy and Ray said sure and then said you know what, you can have it! Kyle was so dang excited! He talked a mile a minute all the way home about the trophy. It was a night I know I won't forget and I'm pretty sure Kyle won't either.

 

 

Like always I want to thank the Quad City Speedway and K&S Promotions for allowing Kyle and I to cover the exciting racing Sunday nights there.

 

Next week we won't make any racing Friday night but hopefully we can make it to the LaSalle Speedway Saturday and the 22nd Annual Gary Reinhart Memorial on Sunday at the Quad City Speedway.