Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Tuesday Notebook: April 29, 2014

The four-race weekend that I had hoped for ended up being just two, but they were two good ones at Bloomfield and West Liberty. I was all set to head out the door around 1:30 on Sunday to make the drive to Fairbury until one last look at the radar revealed some new thunderstorm development moving from south to north. It was the right decision to stay home as the race was eventually rained out and a few hours later we had some excitement in our neighborhood as lightning struck a tree just across the street from our home.

This cut off low pressure system is supposed to keep things cool, damp and breezy through most of the week putting the first appearance of the Late Models at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa in jeopardy on Wednesday night. Hopefully things will improve by the weekend and everybody can get their shows in as we head into the month of May. My primary target for the weekend will be on Sunday night as the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models will converge on the Quad City Speedway in East Moline for the Hershel Roberts Memorial.

A few items of note as I scanned the results from this past weekend.....

Adam Gates made the five and a half hour pull from Cedar Rapids to Granite City, Illinois, payoff by winning the $1,000 to prize for the Hornet feature at Tri-City Speedway Friday night. Thirty-eight cars signed in including one driver who pulled all the way down from Muskegon, Michigan. Looks like Austin Kaplan was there as well driving Josh Modde's #30x out of Des Moines, but he failed to qualify for the feature.

I know that the division that a driver chooses to run in is often dictated by that driver's budget, but I love it when drivers who enjoy success in one support division move on, or "graduate" to another. Nick Roberts of Des Moines made the move from Sport Mods to Modifieds in 2014 and it did not take him long to score his first feature win as he won the season opener at the Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City on Saturday night. Another driver who has switched classes in 2014 is Devin Smith of Lake City, Iowa. The driver who has won or shared the All Iowa Points Hobby Stock championship each of the last four years has moved on to the Stock Car division and has already posted a couple of top-five finishes. I would be surprised if his first Stock Car win does not come soon.

Honestly I have been shocked at some of the low car counts that I have seen here in the early season. Usually numbers like this are found during the dog days of summer when drivers might be low on funds and decide to take a month or two break before returning to action in late August or during the Fall specials season, not at the season opening events when you typically see some of your highest car counts of the year. A track in eastern Iowa opened up this past weekend with just thirty-eight cars in five classes while another in Wisconsin only drew thirty-three in four divisions. Down near Kansas City the Central Missouri Speedway in Warrensburg reopened after a two-year hiatus and despite paying a weekly purse of $1,000-to-win for the Modifieds only fourteen drivers showed up on Saturday night. And this was after nearby Valley Speedway that also races on Saturday nights dropped the division after only get six Modifieds each of the past two weeks.

If the car counts are this low now, I shudder to think of where they will be come summertime.

The Iowastockcars forum board got all fired up again this weekend with the all be it brief return of Johnny Oberthein and his post "This and That Observations". I equate Johnny's "raceaholic" persona to the villain in pro wrestling who you don't know whether you should love him or loathe him. He does make some good points and I truly believe that he wants to see the sport succeed, but he just has a way of grating on you after awhile. One thing that he loves to do is to provide some vague statistics that would support a point that he wants to make, but when you challenge those statistics or ask for further details he comes back with "we should respect each others opinions." Case in point from his latest which has now grown to three pages of back and forth he states "Hornet/4cyls continue to grow with 4 area tracks getting 20 or more cars a week" and of course there is no way to challenge him on that statement without it somehow being construed as an attack on him personally. 34 Raceway in Burlington has averaged just under 22 cars in each of the division's three appearances so far, but I would have no clue what other three tracks he might be referring to. and then again, who knows what his definition of "in the area" would be? The fact that I am even writing about this shows the effect that he has on the board, much more entertaining though than the rookie Sport Compact driver threatening to claim an entire car so that he can learn about the setup secrets of a successful driver!

Believe it or not it is just a coincidence that I follow up comments on a guy who advocates the growth of Four Cylinders with this next topic, but I thought that Ron Meyer made some great points that were backed up with some believable numbers in his April 27th entry to "The Rest of The Dirt" titled "Turbulence" in regard to support classes (he uses a different term for them) that do not appeal to the general fan and how that may be one of the reasons for more and more empty seats at weekly shows. I must admit that I made the conscious decision several years ago to focus on specials in part due to this.

The World of Outlaws Sprint Car feature was cut short at 24-laps on Friday night at Salina Highbanks Speedway in Oklahoma when officials determined that track conditions were too "locked down" and abrasive on tires. Joey Saldana took the win that jumped him up to the top of the point standings. Sammy Swindell took the win at I-55 in Pevely on Saturday night.

Following are the All Missouri Points through the month of April.


Missouri Points
Late Model
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Shane Essary Galena 16
2 . Vance Wilson Bowling Green 15
3 . Randy Korte Highland IL 13
4 . Tim Manville Highland IL 13
5 . Darrell Mooneyham Aurora 11
6 . Terry Phillips Springfield 11
7 . Dwight Niehoff Lockwood 10
8 . Michael Kloos Trenton IL 9
9 . Cole Wells Galena 8
10 . Mike Vanderiet Jr. Mexico 8
11 . Tony Jackson Jr. Lebanon 8
12 . Jim Moon Mount Auburn IL 7
13 . Ron McQuerry St. Albans 7
14 . Zeke Langley Ashland 7
15 . Jake Williams Lockwood 6
16 . Jesse Stovall Galena 6
17 . Jim Shereck St. Charles 6
18 . Tommy Cordray Browning 6
19 . Bobby Pierce Oakwood IL 5
20 . Denny Woodworth Mendon IL 5
21 . Jeremy Payne Springfield 5
22 . Steve Sheppard Jr. New Berlin IL 5
23 . Tommy Weder Jr. Woodward OK 5
24 . Bobby Maggard Jr. Springfield 4
25 . Chris Brown Spring TX 4
26 . Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville IL 4
27 . Dewayne Kiefer St. Genevieve 4
28 . Ethan Young Harrisonville 4
29 . Jeff Roth 4
30 . Jon Melloway Hallsville 4
31 . Jon Binning Warrensburg 4
32 . Justin Asplin Birch Tree 4
33 . Ryan Gustin Marshalltown IA 4
34 . Alan Westling Fulton 3
35 . Brian Diveley Springfield IL 3
36 . Chad Simpson Marion IA 3
37 . Chad Zobrist Highland IL 3
38 . Greg Kimmons Pleasant Plains IL 3
39 . Jimmy Mars Elk Mound WI 3
40 . Ken Rumble 3
41 . Mark Voigt Marine IL 3
42 . Mike Hammerle St. Charles 3
43 . Payton Looney Republic 3
44 . Steve Leach Stanton IL 3
45 . Brad Looney Republic 2
46 . Brian Schutt Lebanon 2
47 . Chase Junghans Manhattan KS 2
48 . Chris Cox Jefferson City 2
49 . Garrett Essary Galena 2
50 . John Gardner Jr. Germantown IL 2
51 . Kenny Mudd Winfield 2
52 . Larry Winn Columbia 2
53 . Scott Weber Festus 2
54 . Shannon Babb Mowequa IL 2
55 . Trace Westling Fulton 2
56 . Travis Dickes Madison NE 2
57 . Chuck Comer Joplin 1
58 . John Driskell 1
59 . Jason Zobrist Highland IL 1
60 . John Driskill 1
61 . Kevin Coyne Kingsville 1
62 . Kyle Beard Trumann AR 1
63 . Scott Schmitt Tonica IL 1
64 . Terry Gallaher Hannibal 1
65 . Will Vaught Seneca 1

Missouri Points
Winged Sprints (410 & 360)
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Josh Fisher Smithton 12
2 . Mitchell Moore Edgerton KS 8
3 . Randy Martin California 7
4 . Jerod Roller Hernando MS 5
5 . Joey Montgomery Fredericktown 5
6 . Jonathan Cornell Sedalia 5
7 . Sammy Swindell Bartlett TN 5
8 . Sean McClelland Tulsa OK 5
9 . Greg Wilson Benton Ridge OH 4
10 . Danny Lasoski Dover 4
11 . Dustin Morgan Tulsa OK 4
12 . Joey Saldana Brownsburg IN 4
13 . Tommy Worley Jr. Bismarck 4
14 . Anthony Nicholson Bartlett TN 3
15 . Donny Schatz Fargo ND 3
16 . Kent Buckley 3
17 . Mike Goodman Broken Arrow OK 3
18 . Cody Baker Lone Jack 2
19 . Curtis Evans Norborne 2
20 . David Gravel Watertown CT 2
21 . Kasey Burch Farmington 2
22 . Kyle Bellm Nixa 2
23 . Seth Bergman Snohomish WA 2
24 . Terry Gray Memphis TN 2
25 . Tyler Blank California 2
26 . Daryn Pittman Owasso OK 1
27 . Alex Sewell Broken Arrow OK 1
28 . Chris Morgan Topeka KS 1
29 . Derek Hager Marion AR 1
30 . Joey Boyd Farmington 1


Missouri Points
Modified
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Mitch Keeter Webb City 29
2 . Jason Russell Henley 22
3 . Terry Schultz Sedalia 20
4 . Bobby Pearish Joplin 18
5 . Gunner Martin Blue Springs 16
6 . Jody Tillman West Branson 16
7 . Michael Long Quincy IL 16
8 . Zachary Sanders Kearney 15
9 . Trevor Hunt Liberty 14
10 . Dennis Elliott Mount Ayr IA 13
11 . Rusty Griffaw Festus 13
12 . David Wietholder Liberty IL 11
13 . Dean Wille Warrensburg 11
14 . Johnny Bone Jr. Pea Ridge AR 11
15 . Jon Sheets Nevada 11
16 . Cody Conner DeSoto 10
17 . Dean Hoffman 10
18 . Jeremy Payne Springfield 10
19 . Tim Setzer Archie 10
20 . Brian Green Pierce City 9
21 . Gary Blackburn Jr. Fulton 8
22 . Steve Muilenberg Sparta 8
23 . Travis Smith Parsons KS 8
24 . Daryl Hay Doniphan 7
25 . Ken Schrader Concord NC 7
26 . Matthew Rodgers 7
27 . Mickey Burrell Fair Grove 7
28 . Paul Reeder 7
29 . Robbie Test Jefferson City 7
30 . Chris Spaulding Wellsville 6
31 . Jerry Lankton Lampe 6
32 . Justin Allen Ashland 6
33 . Tim Hancock Mt. Olive IL 6
34 . Walter Dunn Grandin 6
35 . Aaron Marrant Orrick 5
36 . Chris Nichols 5
37 . Danny Scrogham Peculiar 5
38 . Dustin Casselberry 5
39 . Jackie Dalton Carthage 5
40 . Jamie Daughetee 5
41 . Jeff Asher Ironton 5
42 . Jerry Morgan Fort Scott KS 5
43 . Jesse Willard Pleasanton KS 5
44 . Jon Gray Joesboro AR 5
45 . Josh Russell Festus 5
46 . Kenny Wallace Concord NC 5
47 . Matt Eaton Park Hills 5
48 . Nick Pence Raymore 5
49 . Ray Walsh St. Louis 5
50 . Rob Pendegrass O'Fallon 5
51 . Rodney Sanders Happy TX 5
52 . Ronnie Woods Mexico 5
53 . Scott Crigler Alton 5
54 . Troy Grotz Quincy IL 5
55 . Tyler Diebert Highland IL 5
56 . Brent Holman Rogers AR 4
57 . Brent Thompson Park Hills 4
58 . Corey Daugherty Blue Mound IL 4
59 . Darren Shaw Lathrop 4
60 . Darwin Karau Kasson MN 4
61 . Keith Pratt Quincy IL 4
62 . Kevin Morrow Bronaugh 4
63 . Lucas Lee Paris TN 4
64 . Matt Dotson Clark 4
65 . Matt Mevert Steeleville IL 4
66 . Zack Vanderbeek Oskaloosa IA 4
67 . Chad Thompson Louisburg KS 3
68 . Greg Swaringim Bismark 3
69 . Jacob Poel Spring Lake MI 3
70 . Jeremy Rasmussen 3
71 . Joe Bradshaw Sedalia 3
72 . Kevin Blackburn Fulton 3
73 . Logan Martin West Plains 3
74 . Matt Gilbertson Montevideo MN 3
75 . Nick Ivy 3
76 . Robbie Bryant Willard 3
77 . Scottie Bough Nevada 3
78 . Shad Badder Oak Grove 3
79 . Steven Glenn Hamilton 3
80 . Terry Kirk Urbana 3
81 . Stormy Scott Las Cruces NM 3
82 . Ben Reed Munford TN 2
83 . Billy Smith Park Hills 2
84 . C. Cole 2
85 . Chris Tonoli Hermitage 2
86 . Daniel Anders Joplin 2
87 . Danny DeMasters Neosho 2
88 . Kevin McGinnis Edwardsville KS 2
89 . Kyle Slagle Pierce City 2
90 . Lucas Schott Chatfield MN 2
91 . Mark Miner Arnold 2
92 . Ricky Horton High Ridge 2
93 . Rustin Miller Houston 2
94 . Steve Stotler O'Fallon 2
95 . Trevor Latham 2
96 . Tyler Schmidt Easton KS 2
97 . Dylan Smith Osceola NE 2
98 . Craig Halderman Holts Summit 1
99 . Brian Bielong Summerfield IL 1
100 . Brock Bauman Eureka IL 1
101 . Chase Jones Eldorado Springs 1
102 . Jim Black Bonne Terre 1
103 . Jim Body Diamond 1
104 . Jim Moody Odessa 1
105 . John Allen Chanute KS 1
106 . Kameron Grindtsaff Independence 1
107 . Patrick Mahnken Fulton 1
108 . Preston Serratt Dyersburg TN 1
109 . Raymond Gilbert Archie 1
110 . Ronnie Vernon Friendship TN 1
111 . Rooster Griffin 1
112 . Ryan Schaffer Corning IA 1
113 . Tim Galvan Edwardsville KS 1
114 . Tim Radford Piedmont 1
115 . Rick Conoyer 1
116 . Tyler Wolf 1



Missouri Points
Limited Modifieds
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Chad Clancy Smithville 21
2 . Trevor Drake Webb City 16
3 . Jeff Yates Troy 15
4 . J.C. Morton Springfield 14
5 . Brad Smith Belton 13
6 . Chad Lebsock Centralia 13
7 . Chad Staus Otterville 13
8 . Jim Lafferty Jr. Carlinville 12
9 . Kris Jackson Lebanon 12
10 . Ryan Middaugh Fulton 12
11 . Logan Martin West Plains 11
12 . Jason Brigman West Plains 10
13 . Randy Ainsworth Excelsior Springs 10
14 . Rex Merritt Billings 10
15 . Andy Bryant Fort Scott KS 9
16 . Blake David Fulton 9
17 . Chris Cain Columbia 9
18 . Cody Jolly Jasper 9
19 . David Melloway Hallsville 9
20 . Doug Keller St. Joseph 9
21 . Jacob Ebert Oak Grove 9
22 . Toby Thompson Mountain Grove 9
23 . Mike Higley Tecumseh KS 8
24 . Shawn Strong Republic 8
25 . Steve Muilenberg Sparta 7
26 . Tim Phillips Fort Scott KS 7
27 . Chad Feather Kearney 6
28 . Chris Hawkins Neosho 6
29 . Craig Roden Montgomery City 6
30 . Kyle Stolzer St. Genevieve 6
31 . Matthew Rose Liberal 6
32 . Mike Striegel Hermitage 6
33 . Dean Wille Warrensburg 5
34 . Gene Sisco Alton  5
35 . James Mirts Auxvasse 5
36 . John Calcott Ottawa KS 5
37 . Kevin Morrow Pekin IL 5
38 . Kevin Blackburn Fulton 5
39 . Lennie Coats Joplin 5
40 . Mike Camarillo Webb City 5
41 . Robbie Hamlett 5
42 . Ryan Edde Urbana 5
43 . Ryan Eilers Highland IL 5
44 . Shane Blair 5
45 . Travis Johnson 5
46 . Yancy Shepard Smithville 5
47 . Tyler Newman 5
48 . Andrew Allen 4
49 . Bobby Williams Pittsburg 4
50 . Curt Myers 4
51 . Cody Brill Harrisonville 4
52 . Dakota Foster Garner KS 4
53 . Gene Claxton Kansas City 4
54 . Jeremy Pittsenbarger Cameron 4
55 . Jim Cameron Cameron 4
56 . Kelly Estey 4
57 . Olen Stephens Warrensburg 4
58 . Randall Schiffelbein Jr. Tecumseh KS 4
59 . Rusty Forrest Ozark 4
60 . Scotty Martin Independence 4
61 . Shawn Knuckles 4
62 . Spencer Stephens Buckner 4
63 . Bill Crane Blue Springs 3
64 . Dan Wheeler Savage MN 3
65 . Gary Oliver Warrenton 3
66 . Jack Lancaster Hermitage 3
67 . Jeremy Price Gladstone 3
68 . Jody Tillman West Branson 3
69 . Jon Vanminsel 3
70 . Johnny McGinnis Hardin 3
71 . Josh Sissom 3
72 . Justin Rigel 3
73 . Michael Barrett St. Charles 3
74 . Mike Savage Annapolis 3
75 . Shawn Burns Overland Park KS 3
76 . Blake Ellis Sarcoxie 2
77 . Chad Neill 2
78 . Chuck Melloway Hallsville 2
79 . Clint Baker Meadville 2
80 . Dan Wade Wright City 2
81 . Jamie Robards 2
82 . Jeremy Greenwalt 2
83 . Joe Walker 2
84 . Kameron Grindtsaff Independence 2
85 . Kenny Shaw Bunker Hill IL 2
86 . Shawn Burns Overland Park KS 2
87 . Tony Myers Alton 2
88 . Truman Asher St. Joseph 2
89 . Adam Hall 1
90 . Billy Street Joplin 1
91 . Chris Martin Lee's Summit 1
92 . Cory Crapser Chippewa Falls WI 1
93 . Dan Bimson St. Peters 1
94 . Cullen Thompson Hermann 1
95 . Derrick Mahoney Liberty 1
96 . Dustin Shaw 1
97 . Jacob Bleess Chatfield MN 1
98 . Jason Carptner 1
99 . Jeff Frowhitter Dittmer 1
100 . Jim Blaine Oak Grove 1
101 . Jon Melloway Hallsville 1
102 . Kodi Savage 1
103 . Mike Bruner Lake St. Louis 1
104 . Michael Bixby Harrisonville 1
105 . Nic Bennett Edwardsville KS 1
106 . Rob Vanmil 1
107 . Ryan Stacye Fair Grove 1

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