A late afternoon thundershower caused a three and a half hour delay, but drivers and fans persisted to complete the opening night program of the World 100 at the Eldora Speedway Thursday night and well into Friday morning.
The 108 car roster included several "Big E" first timers and in fact fast qualifier Michael Norris of Sarver, Pennsylvania, was one of those event rookies. Announcer James Essex noted earlier that one of the reasons that Norris made the trip was the new tire rules that limited the number of compounds that could be used and, more importantly, would not allow any cutting or siping.
Chris Simpson started the night out in fine style driving his Iowa Hawkeye themed wrap to victory in the first of ten heat races, but the outcome was not the same for his brother. Chad was way out in front of the fifth qualifier when he slapped the wall in turns one and two after taking the white flag. Simpson's car slowed to a stop causing a yellow and he went from being a feature qualifier to the back of a B-Main in the matter of a few seconds. Chris would come back later to finish sixth in the first 25-lap feature afer starting tenth and he is being touted as a "dark horse" for Saturday's grand finale.
Darrell Lanigan's nightmare of a season continued when a head gasket issue scratched him from a row two start in the second heat race. What looked like a dream pairing of the many time World of Outlaw champion with Clint Bowyer Racing and a switch to the Lucas Oil Series has definitely not lived up to expectations in 2016.
Sixteen-year-old Hudson O'Neal, the son of Don O'Neal, was impressive running second to R.J. Conley in the third heat race, but the youngster hopped the cushion on the opening lap of the first feature and dropped from a second row start to finish eleventh.
Another teenager who is the son of a dirt track legend, Bobby Pierce had his night go south during the seventh heat race when a broken fan blade forced him to give up a transfer position.
It has been more than a decade since Rob Toland has made the trip to Eldora, but on the momentum of his 2016 IMCA Late Model National Championship the veteran driver bolted in the big motor and came east, A strong qualifying effort landed Toland on the pole of the eighth heat with some stiff competition and even though he could not fight off Doug Drown, Don O'Neal and Jonathan Davenport, Toland did hang on for the fourth and final transfer spot. Toland would then finish 21st in the second feature of the night.
Shannon Babb gave a preview of what was to come later in the morning when he came from outside of the four car invert to win the ninth heat race. Babb had started sixth on the grid and blew by this year's Dream 100 champ Dennis Erb Jr.
Heat races ended at 1:00 a.m. and the first B-Main did not take the green until 1:30 as the cushion was dragged and rolled in.
Matt Miller does not travel like he used to,but his Rick DeLong owned #3 is always strong at Eldora and he would win the first 25-lap feature holding back both Babb and Erb at the checkers. The two Illinois drivers closed in on Miller quickly during the closing laps with lapped traffic in play and, in fact, Erb had a run on the leader entering the final two turns. But with Brian Ruhlman racing in Erb's lower line, not only did it keep Erb from competing the slider on Miller, it would cost him the second spot as well. Billy Moyer in his final World 100 effort finished fourth and Shane Clanton sporting a wrap that pays tribute to the late Grant Junghans was fifth.
Even though his season has been solid, Don O'Neal has not won a race since January in Arizona, but he would end that drought in convincing fashion during the second 25-lap feature. Starting from the outside of row one O'Neal drove away from the field to post the victory although he would have been in big trouble had there been a late caution. Jonathan Davenport was by far the fastest car on the track at the checkers as he came from fourteenth to run second with Josh Richards and Chris Madden next in line. DeKalb, Illinois, driver Mike Mataragas was solid in his first Eldora appearance holding down the fifth spot after earning the pole position. Mataragas has been a consistent winner at the Sycamore Speedway near his hometown when they run the "4-Bar Late Models", but this was his first exposure to the big stage.
It was a long night here at Eldora and while the World 100 was able to overcome Mother Nature on opening night, she might just have some more punch to bring to the fight on both Friday and Saturday.
I was planning to head to the Jacksonville Speedway tonight for the MOWA Sprints and POWRi Midget doubleheader, but the rain has already created an interesting scenario on this Friday morning. Apparently POWRi has announced that they will not be racing tonight due to the inclement weather, but the track has not yet cancelled the show. They will update the status later today, but if they do race the show will not include the midgets.
Since tonight is doubtful, my hopes are now pinned to Sunday when the Big Ten UMP Late Model Series rolls into the Quincy Raceways. Perhaps I will see you there!
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