Baby It's Cold Outside

With an overnight low predicted to be 24 degrees here in southeast Iowa on this Friday night I am glad that both the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson and the Davenport Speedway have cancelled their events. Otherwise I would not have been able to resist going, but hey that's how us die-hard race fans can be, especially here early in a new season. For those of you who are going to bust the frost, literally, tonight in Marshalltown I applaud you. Dress warm and take your goggles because that north wind is going to be blowing right at you!

I hope to get my chance to challenge the weather tomorrow night when the Deery Brothers Summer Series for IMCA Late Models will open its 2016 campaign at the West Liberty Raceway. Temps are predicted to be about five to ten degrees warmer than tonight and the wind shifts to a southerly direction and calms to about ten to fifteen miles per hour. Yes, it will still take every bit of warm weather gear that I have at the ready in the trunk of my car, but it should be a fabulous show at the historic half-mile Saturday night. Plus, I get my first shot at a Simmons Promotions tenderloin for the year! Best tenderloin in Iowa, somebody should enter them into that contest that the Iowa Pork Association has each year as I live a few miles from a former champion and I still prefer the sandwich at the track.

If you went to the races last weekend and survived then you are probably ready for this weekend as well. During his weekly Dirt Late Model Live show Tuesday night Dirt On Dirt's Michael Rigsby described the conditions at Farmer City as some of the toughest that he has ever experienced. Despite the cold temperatures and the strong winds though, the place was packed and the racing looked fantastic for the annual Illini 100. Saturday night's preliminary feature saw nine lead changes in the first ten laps of the race as Ryan Unzicker and Brandon Overton battled it out, but eventually it was Josh Richards who took the lead and the $6,000 win. Richards came back on Sunday to capture the $15,000 finale with Pierce as the runner-up. Scott Bloomquist made the long pull to Farmer City after racing with the Lucas Oil series in Phenix City, Alabama, the night before to finish third, the same position he finished at the East Alabama Speedway behind Jonathan Davenport and Jared Landers. Love him or hate him, you have to respect the effort put in by the veteran driver to make the overnight trip.

As I alluded to in my previous Notebook, I had a little better weather to deal with last weekend as my wife and I journeyed to the Dominican Republic to attend the wedding of our friends' daughter. It was a fantastic trip as not only was the wedding beautiful, but several of our friends as well as our oldest son and his wife also made the trip so there were about sixty of us taking full advantage of an all-inclusive resort. Hopefully some of that warm weather will filter its way into Iowa again soon!

We returned home late Monday and it was interesting to sift through the results of the events that were run over the weekend. Of course only the Frostbuster opener at Osky was able to be completed before the cold front pushed through and it looks like that threat of weather kept the car counts down a bit. The rescheduled events at Marshalltown, Boone and Vinton are set for this weekend.

Sammy Swindell drove A.G. Rains' car to victory in the NSL 360 National race at the Randolph County Raceway in Moberly, Missouri, on Saturday night collecting the $7,500 top prize and on Sunday night 18-year-old Chris Martin captured the season opener for the Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders at 34 Raceway in Burlington. The NSL 360's and the Sprint Invaders were set to run together tonight in Donnellson and the National Sprint League 410's were looking to open their season at 34 Raceway tomorrow night, but as mentioned earlier both shows have been cancelled due to cold and windy conditions. Sprint Car engines don't like the cold! It will be difficult to say the least for either event to be rescheduled without conflicting with Knoxville which opens next Saturday as well as the Jackson Motorplex, the "home track" of the NSL that races on Friday nights. The next event for the Sprint Invaders will be Wednesday May 4th at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa.

Looks like several of the IMCA drivers who were likely coming to Iowa for the Frostbusters last weekend ended up in Salina, Kansas, Friday and Saturday night for the Salina Speedway's Race Fest.
Jordan Grabouski swept both nights in the Modifieds while North Dakota travelers Jason Wolla, Justin Medler and Jeremy Sorenson all ran in the top ten on Friday night. Wolla ran fifth on Saturday night as well.

In the Sport Mods Daniel Gottschalk was the winner on Friday night with Zach McKinnon from Wisconsin running second. Nebraska's Nelson Vollbrecht was third followed by Tim Echevarria and Ryan Moser from Engelwood, Colorado. That same top five repeated itself on Saturday night in the exact same order.

Shannon Anderson won the Hobby Stock feature at Salina on Friday night and then continued his trip a bit further south to win the regular season opener at Dodge City Raceway Park on Saturday.

Bundle up if you are headed out for a race this weekend and take comfort in knowing the the extended forecast, as of right now at least, is calling for temperatures in the 70's for next weekend. The updated Back Stretch National Dirt Late Model points follow......

		The "Back Stretch"
		Dirt Late Model Points
Pos.		Driver	Hometown	Points
1	.	Jonathan Davenport	Blairsville GA	89
2	.	Josh Richards	Shinnston WV	70
3	.	Scott Bloomquist	Mooresburg TN	56
4	.	Darrell Lanigan	Union KY	29
5	.	Brian Shirley	Chatham IL	27
6	.	Jared Landers	Batesville AR	26
7	.	Chris Madden	Gray Court SC	23
8	.	Dale McDowell	Chickamauga GA	22
9	.	Shane Clanton	Locust Grove GA	22
10	.	Donald McIntosh	Dawsonville GA	19
11	.	Brandon Overton	Appling GA	17
12	.	Brandon Sheppard	New Berlin IL	17
13	.	Don O'Neal	Martinsville IN	16
14	.	Jimmy Owens	Newport TN	16
15	.	Bobby Pierce	Oakwood IL	14
16	.	Mike Marlar	Winfield TN	14
17	.	Tim McCreadie	Watertown NY	14
18	.	Casey Roberts	Toccoa GA	13
19	.	Dennis Erb Jr.	Carpentersville IL	13
20	.	Frank Heckenast Jr.	Orland Park IL	13
21	.	Randy Weaver	Crossville TN	12
22	.	Eddie Carrier Jr.	Salt Rock WV	11
23	.	Gregg Satterlee	Rochester Mills PA	11
24	.	Ross Bailes	Clover SC	9
25	.	Chris Ferguson	Mount Holly NC	8
26	.	Cory Hedgecock	Louden TN	8
27	.	Jason Covert	York Haven PA	8
28	.	Rick Eckert	York PA	8
29	.	Riley Hickman	Ooletwah TN	8
30	.	Tony Jackson Jr.	Lebanon MO	8
31	.	Billy Moyer Jr.	Batesville AR	7
32	.	Jason Hiett	Lincoln AL	7
33	.	Jason Papich	Santa Maria CA	7
34	.	Ricky Thornton Jr.	Chandler AZ	7
35	.	Tim Dohm	Cross Lanes WV	7
36	.	John Ownbey	Cleveland TN	6
37	.	Mark Whitener	Middleburg FL	6
38	.	Mason Zeigler	Chalk Hill PA	6
39	.	Steve Francis	Ashland KY	6
40	.	Boom Briggs	Bear Lake PA	5
41	.	Dan Tipton		5
42	.	David Brannon	Elora TN	5
43	.	Dean Bowen	Whiteville NC	5
44	.	Ivedent Lloyd Jr.	Ocala FL	5
45	.	Kyle Bronson	Brandon FL	5
46	.	Mike Lupfer	Shermansdale PA	5
47	.	Shannon Babb	Mowequa IL	5
48	.	Cody Mahoney	Madison IN	4
49	.	Dennis Franklin	Gaffney SC	4
50	.	Devin Moran	Dresden OH	4
51	.	Don Shaw	Ham Lake MN	4
52	.	Dylan Ames		4
53	.	Ronny Lee Hollingsworth	Northport AL	4
54	.	Rusty Schlenk	Jackson MI	4
55	.	Ryan Gustin	Marshalltown IA	4
56	.	Ryan Unzicker	El Paso IL	4
57	.	Willie Milliken		4
58	.	Billy Moyer	Batesville AR	3
59	.	Bobby Hogge IV	Salinas CA	3
60	.	Chad Zobrist	Highland IL	3
61	.	Dustin Linville	Bryantsville KY	3
62	.	Greg Johnson	Bedford IN	3
63	.	Jack Sullivan	Greenbriar AR	3
64	.	Jason Jameson	Lawrenceburg IN	3
65	.	Jason Trammell		3
66	.	Jimmy Mars	Elk Mound WI	3
67	.	Josh Hall		3
68	.	Kyle Van Sickle	Jacksonville FL	3
69	.	Rich Bell	Sheffield IL	3
70	.	Richard Frost	Clarksville TN	3
71	.	Steve Casebolt	Richmond IN	3
72	.	Tanner English	Benton KY	3
73	.	Timothy Culp	Sheridan AR	3
74	.	Tommy Kerr	Maryville TN	3
75	.	Tony Toste	Arroyo Grande CA	3
76	.	Tyler Carpenter	Parkersburg WV	3
77	.	Andy Haus	Hamburg PA	2
78	.	Austin Kirkpatrick	Ocala FL	2
79	.	Austin Rettig	Sikeston MO	2
80	.	B.J. Robinson	Blanchard LA	2
81	.	Bub McCool	Vicksburg MS	2
82	.	Chris Simpson	Marion IA	2
83	.	Dale Hollidge	Mechanicsville MD	2
84	.	David McCoy	Franklin NC	2
85	.	Earl Pearson Jr.	Jacksonville FL	2
86	.	Frankie Coates		2
87	.	Garrett Alberson	Las Cruces NM	2
88	.	Johnny Pursley	Clover SC	2
89	.	Jordy Nipper	Gray GA	2
90	.	Josh Putnam	Killen AL	2
91	.	Josh Rice	Verona KY	2
92	.	Kenny Collins	Colbert GA	2
93	.	Kyle Beard	Trumann AR	2
94	.	Kyle Hardy	Stephens City VA	2
95	.	Matt Cosner		2
96	.	Michael Chilton	Salvisa KY	2
97	.	Ray Cook	Brasstown NC	2
98	.	Rhett Carter	Blackshear GA	2
99	.	Robbie Starnes	Baytown TX	2
100	.	Rodney Sanders	Happy TX	2
101	.	T.J. Reaid		2
102	.	Tim Manville	Highland IL	2
103	.	Tyler Crowder		2
104	.	Zack Dohm	Cross Lanes WV	2

Tuesday Notebook: March 29, 2016

Usually I would be busy watching the weather forecasts as we are now one day in front of the IMCA Frostbusters and four days away from the season opener for the Shottenkirk.com Sprint Invaders, however an invitation last Fall to a destination wedding this weekend has me watching weather of a much different kind than what appears to be headed for the upper Midwest the next five days. Yes, I wish that I could be at all the events that are scheduled for the next four nights, but no I will not miss the new "drama" that seems to go with racing when less than perfect weather becomes a factor.

It literally made me sick to my stomach to see all of the comments on Facebook as Mike Van Genderen and the Lee County Speedway tried their best to beat the weather and get both days of the Spring Extravaganza into the books last weekend. First it was all of the naysayers preaching how there was no way that this show would be able to be run and sadly they were correct about Friday, but before they can go around saying "I told you so", they were wrong about Saturday. Yes, it was disappointing when they had to cancel Friday's racing shortly after 3 p.m. as it became obvious that the track was not going to iron in, but the only thing that management could have remotely been wrong about was being so confident in an earlier post stating that everything was going to be fine. I can understand that people were upset and there were some people who voiced their displeasure in a mature and respectful way, but some of the comments were just so incredibly stupid that it made me wonder if they were being made tongue in cheek. No, if the first night of a two-day show where both nights are separate shows gets cancelled, the second night does not pay double! Are you joking, or do you just not understand the concept of revenues and expenses?

Then on Saturday there were several people who must have earned their degree in Meterology overnight who implied that anybody who was planning on going to Donnellson that night must be an idiot who cannot read a radar. So how did that work out for you?

I was not able to attend Saturday's show, but I was so glad that Mike and the crew were able to race and that the pits were full and the stands were busy given all of the crap that was spewed on Facebook leading up to it. I have made a promise that I will not subject myself to reading the comments again or I may have a hard time looking at certain people in the eye.

Joe Kosiski and the folks at the I-80 Speedway didn't like the forecast six days out and so they pulled the plug on this coming weekend's Spring Meltdown featuring the MLRA Late Models. I don't blame him, I saw the forecast a few days ago as well and despite what all of the social media "experts" have to say not a single one of them have any money at risk in the decision. I don't like sitting in the stands at any kind of event when the wind is gusting up to forty miles per hour even if the temperatures are in the 80's, let alone the 40's or 50's.

Of course this then starts some people on the discussion of whether or not we should even have events scheduled before May due to the unpredictable Spring weather. Apparently these people have short memories or they just never heard that the Spring Nationals in Beatrice drew over 300 cars and that Saturday night's edition of the Thaw Brawl produced the biggest crowd ever at the LaSalle Speedway according to promoter Tony Izzo Jr.

It has been a long time since I have made it over to LaSalle and I was very impressed with the racing action on Friday night. After toying with some Sunday night racing last year the track that once ran a weekly Saturday night program has cut back to special events only in 2016 and hopefully the Thaw Brawl will be a nice start to a successful year on the balance sheet. Some tracks just are not in the right situation to have a weekly show so "specials only" may be something that we see more of going forward.

So by now I'm sure that you know the winners and the stories from around the region, but perhaps here are a couple of items that you might have missed.

Two of the best UMP Modified drivers in the country each recorded two victories over the weekend. Defending UMP National Champion Mike Harrison won both nights during the Thaw Brawl in LaSalle against solid fields while Quincy's Michael Long cleaned house around the St. Louis area winning Friday night at Tri-City Speedway and Saturday at I-55 Raceway.

There were only three UMP Late Models signed into race at the Clarksville Speedway in Tennessee Saturday night with veteran driver Richard Frost taking the win.

The NSL's move into the 360 Winged Sprint Car division got its start this past weekend with a double header at 81 Speedway near Wichita and it was Derek Hager of Marion, Arkansas, winning both nights. Saturday's show paid $10,000-to-win and he defeated the likes of Brian Brown and Danny Lasoski. Checking today's "Cash Bowl" standings though it would appear that only four drivers satisfied all of the requirements to earn points.

Jonathan Davenport won again this past weekend. That's not really big news any more, except he did it this time behind the wheel of Randy Weaver's car #116 to take the $4,000 top prize in Senoia, Georgia.

Other than the updated National Late Model Points below, that's all that I have this time around. Hopefully you will get to see some racing around here over the next five nights but, if a promoter should happen to make the decision to pull the plug, just remember that he paid for the right to make that call.

		The "Back Stretch"
		Dirt Late Model Points
Pos.		Driver	Hometown	Points
1	.	Jonathan Davenport	Blairsville GA	80
2	.	Josh Richards	Shinnston WV	58
3	.	Scott Bloomquist	Mooresburg TN	44
4	.	Darrell Lanigan	Union KY	27
5	.	Brian Shirley	Chatham IL	26
6	.	Dale McDowell	Chickamauga GA	21
7	.	Shane Clanton	Locust Grove GA	19
8	.	Chris Madden	Gray Court SC	17
9	.	Jared Landers	Batesville AR	17
10	.	Brandon Overton	Appling GA	16
11	.	Don O'Neal	Martinsville IN	16
12	.	Donald McIntosh	Dawsonville GA	15
13	.	Tim McCreadie	Watertown NY	14
14	.	Brandon Sheppard	New Berlin IL	13
15	.	Casey Roberts	Toccoa GA	13
16	.	Dennis Erb Jr.	Carpentersville IL	13
17	.	Frank Heckenast Jr.	Orland Park IL	13
18	.	Jimmy Owens	Newport TN	13
19	.	Gregg Satterlee	Rochester Mills PA	11
20	.	Eddie Carrier Jr.	Salt Rock WV	10
21	.	Mike Marlar	Winfield TN	9
22	.	Ross Bailes	Clover SC	9
23	.	Chris Ferguson	Mount Holly NC	8
24	.	Cory Hedgecock	Louden TN	8
25	.	Jason Covert	York Haven PA	8
26	.	Rick Eckert	York PA	8
27	.	Tony Jackson Jr.	Lebanon MO	8
28	.	Bobby Pierce	Oakwood IL	7
29	.	Jason Papich	Santa Maria CA	7
30	.	Randy Weaver	Crossville TN	7
31	.	Ricky Thornton Jr.	Chandler AZ	7
32	.	Riley Hickman	Ooletwah TN	7
33	.	Jason Hiett	Lincoln AL	6
34	.	John Ownbey	Cleveland TN	6
35	.	Mark Whitener	Middleburg FL	6
36	.	Mason Zeigler	Chalk Hill PA	6
37	.	Steve Francis	Ashland KY	6
38	.	Billy Moyer Jr.	Batesville AR	5
39	.	Boom Briggs	Bear Lake PA	5
40	.	David Brannon	Elora TN	5
41	.	Dean Bowen	Whiteville NC	5
42	.	Ivedent Lloyd Jr.	Ocala FL	5
43	.	Kyle Bronson	Brandon FL	5
44	.	Shannon Babb	Mowequa IL	5
45	.	Cody Mahoney	Madison IN	4
46	.	Dennis Franklin	Gaffney SC	4
47	.	Devin Moran	Dresden OH	4
48	.	Don Shaw	Ham Lake MN	4
49	.	Rusty Schlenk	Jackson MI	4
50	.	Ryan Gustin	Marshalltown IA	4
51	.	Bobby Hogge IV	Salinas CA	3
52	.	Dustin Linville	Bryantsville KY	3
53	.	Jason Jameson	Lawrenceburg IN	3
54	.	Jimmy Mars	Elk Mound WI	3
55	.	Kyle Van Sickle	Jacksonville FL	3
56	.	Rich Bell	Sheffield IL	3
57	.	Ronny Lee Hollingsworth	Northport AL	3
58	.	Steve Casebolt	Richmond IN	3
59	.	Tanner English	Benton KY	3
60	.	Timothy Culp	Sheridan AR	3
61	.	Tony Toste	Arroyo Grande CA	3
62	.	Willie Milliken		3
63	.	Andy Haus	Hamburg PA	2
64	.	Austin Kirkpatrick	Ocala FL	2
65	.	B.J. Robinson	Blanchard LA	2
66	.	Bub McCool	Vicksburg MS	2
67	.	Chris Simpson	Marion IA	2
68	.	Dale Hollidge	Mechanicsville MD	2
69	.	David McCoy	Franklin NC	2
70	.	Dylan Ames		2
71	.	Frankie Coates		2
72	.	Johnny Pursley	Clover SC	2
73	.	Jordy Nipper	Gray GA	2
74	.	Josh Putnam	Killen AL	2
75	.	Kenny Collins	Colbert GA	2
76	.	Kyle Beard	Trumann AR	2
77	.	Matt Cosner		2
78	.	Michael Chilton	Salvisa KY	2
79	.	Ray Cook	Brasstown NC	2
80	.	Rhett Carter	Blackshear GA	2
81	.	Richard Frost	Clarksville TN	2
82	.	Robbie Starnes	Baytown TX	2
83	.	Rodney Sanders	Happy TX	2
84	.	T.J. Reaid		2
85	.	Tyler Carpenter	Parkersburg WV	2
86	.	Tyler Crowder		2