IMCA-type Late Models were the headliners and with $1,600 on the line for the winner the show would have probably drawn thirty cars if not for a couple of stray rain showers in Davenport Friday evening that washed away the Deery show that was then rescheduled for the same night as this event. Still it was a solid field of sixteen that took the green for the 35-lap finale with pole-sitter Ron Klein getting the early advantage. Veteran driver Greg Kastli blew past Klein on a lap three restart only to have Luke Goedert drive by him for the lead on lap five. Kastli came charging back on the outside to regain the lead on lap eight while Goedert kept the heat on the veteran by working the extreme bottom line. As that battle for the lead continued Tyler Bruening was the man on the move after starting eighth on the grid. As one of the drivers with perfect attendance on the Deery series through Labor Day I was a bit surprised to see Bruening here, but his choice of events would seem to payoff from a cash flow standpoint as he took the lead from Kastli on lap seventeen and then drove away for the convincing victory. Goedert would prevail for the runner-up spot, Dan Shelliam moved from a fifth row start to take third followed by Kastli and Joel Callahan. Prior to the start of this event the Late Model drivers did a four-wide parade lap each carrying a small flag of the United States in recognition of the tenth anniversary of 9/11. And as the parade lap went by the flagstand announcer Doug Collins pointed out the amazing coincidence that the time on the scoreboard clock was exactly 9:11 p.m.
Late Model drivers worked four different lines around the speedway during the final race of the night and, in the race just before them, the Modifieds also reminded me why Dubuque is one of my favorites as the three-wide race for second over the final laps had me on the edge of my seat. No surprise that Ron Barker rocketed from a row two start to the lead at the drop of the green for the twenty-lap main event, but it was a surprise when Barker’s #37B faltered after a lap eight restart as he faded back into the pack and eventually dropped out on lap fourteen. Matt Crist had put on quite a show earlier in the night using the high line to come from the back to the front in his heat race and in the feature that same line was working for him again as he snared the lead from Barker at the mid-race point. With Crist setting a torrid pace, the battle for second was the one to watch as Mike Burbridge and Mark Schulte raced side-by-side for several laps. With four laps remaining J.D. Auringer made that a three-car battle as he continued his march from back to front after dropping out of his heat race. Auringer used the extreme top of the speedway to his advantage and he moved to second with two laps remaining and Crist still half a straightaway ahead of him. On the final lap Auringer pulled to within two car lengths entering turn three, but Crist did not falter and held off Auringer for the win. Burbridge edged out Schulte for third while pole-sitter Brian Webb completed the top five.
Thirty Sport Compacts signed in to do battle for the $1,000 top prize in the John Flury Memorial race and it was Jacob Ellithorpe who went flag-to-flag virtually unchallenged for the win. The action was furious behind him though with plenty of door banging action as drivers raced three-wide several times for the second spot. Brian Klein prevailed in that battle as he was the runner-up with Joe Zrostlik coming from a ninth row starting spot to take third. Brannon Bechen was part of that three-wide battle mid-race before cutting a tire, but he returned from the back of the pack to take fourth while Gary Peiffer finished in fifth. Brad Chandler was part of that battle for second until he cut a tire with two laps remaining and faded to the back.
The Street Stock feature started off on a sour note as Jerry Miles and Joe Bonney tangled exiting turn two racing for the lead on the first lap and both drivers were sent to the rear for the restart. Contact between the two again caused a caution on lap two and during the realignment the two sat side-by-side and, hopefully, agreed that enough was enough and they would now go racing. Back up front it was Terry Rittmer who was leading the pack before Current All Iowa Points leader Timmy Current drove past him on lap five. Current held his line through a series of restarts and when the sixth caution of the race came out following the white flag the event was called complete with Current taking the win. Rittmer would take the second-place money with Chip Kohl in third, while the truce worked out well for Bonney and Miles as they came back to finish fourth and fifth.
Brannon Bechen went flag-to-flag to take an apparent win in the Hobby Stock feature, but it was later announced that he had been disqualified putting Jeremy Campbell on top of the final rundown. Kile Vohringer was second, Vince Bucholz third and Bill Bonnett was credited with fourth.
The Sport Mod main started off the list of six features and it was a good one featuring four lead changes over the twelve-lap distance. Hope Schmerbach led lap one before Nick Marolf flew by her on the second circuit. Yes, you read that right, Late Model driver Nick Marolf was driving the #25 SportMod usually driven by Austin Moyer who I am guessing will soon be Nick’s brother-in-law and he moved to the lead on lap two with Josh Sherbon in hot pursuit. When Marolf pushed up the track in turn four, Sherbon drove under him to lead lap six and seven before Nick came back to the front on lap eight, but when Marolf pushed again in turn four on lap nine that was all that Sherbon needed to take the lead and the win just ahead of Marolf. Kyle Hoffman finished in the third spot, Hope Schmerbach was fourth and Matt Miller completed the top five.
The fair board and all of its volunteers should be thanked for all of their efforts as this was a well-presented show featuring just under 100 race cars on an absolutely perfect night weather wise. The crowd was solid, but not as big as I honestly expected given the level of community involvement. Hopefully they did raise some good money to go towards the lights as it is definitely VERY dark in turn two and on down the back straightaway. If you are going to have three and four-wide racing, you want to make darn sure that all of the fans get a great view of it under those bright Musco lights!
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| It was a gorgeous night for racing in Dubuque |
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| It is easy to see why this event was needed. See how dark it is in turn two? |
It struck me that there seemed to be a lot of former All Iowa Points champions in action tonight and looking back in the records today, my hunch was right. Eight former champions raced tonight including Mark Schulte, Ron Barker, Greg Kastli, Brannon Bechen, Joe Zrostlik, Jim Brokus, Scott Welsh and Dan Shelliam. Plus, if they hold on over the next six weeks you can add Timmy Current and either Nathan Chandler or Brad Chandler to that list. I now wonder if I have attended a race night that had as many or more AIP champs in action on the same night?
The Yankee Dirt Track Classic in Farley takes center stage this week and there are several other specials around the Midwest as well. Get on out and support the track of your choice!
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