Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Final Arkansas Points For 2024

With the traditional two-day show on Thanksgiving weekend at the Diamond Park Speedway the 2024 racing season in Arkansas has come to a close and this is the eighth year that we have tracked the points for the five standard divisions using the same 5-point scale that we use for the All Iowa Points.

Actually, for the Stock Cars, this is just year number four for the Arkansas Points and Chris Dollarhide is a first-time champion edging out the 2023 champ Joe Payne by nine points. Dollarhide was an eight-time feature winner in 2024 in fourteen top five finishes while Payne picked up four wins in his twelve points earning outings. Josh Rankin takes the podium in third after winning once in his nine top five finishes. 


In the Late Models Steven Crocker used his fourteen feature wins in seventeen top fives to earn his third straight, and fourth overall Arkansas Points title. Southern Missouri driver Kevin Collins ranks second also scoring points in seventeen events with four of them being victories while Heath Davenport takes third with six wins in eleven top five finishes. 


With eleven wins in fifteen top five outings, Derek Hagar repeats his Winged Sprint Car Arkansas Points title easily outdistancing runner-up Keith Ainsworth who scored points in nine events with three of them being victories. Third goes to Dalton Davis who picked up four wins in eight top five finishes.
 

Western Arkansas driver Carl McDade scores his second straight and third overall Arkansas Points title in the Modified class as the Crawford County Speedway regular was a six-time winner as he scored points on twenty race nights. Oklahoma based driver Eddie Martin lands in second with three wins in fourteen top fives and two-time Limited Modified champion Jason Snodgrass takes third in these standings winning five times in fourteen top five finishes. 


Grant Williams is the sixth different champion over the past six years in the Limited Modified division as he captured two checkered flags in his fifteen top five outings. Two-time Arkansas Points champion Shannon Weese had seven wins in eleven top fives, but has to settle for second while Brent Willyard takes third winning once in his twelve top fives. 



We will be back next week with the Missouri Points and in two weeks the racing will be completed in Texas. After that we will roll all of the states together for our ninth annual Best of the Midwest standings right here on the Back Stretch.

Arkansas Points
Stock Cars Final 2024
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Chris Dollarhide Little Rock 54
2 . Joe Payne Concord 43
3 . Josh Rankin Alexander 29
4 . Stephen Morrow Batesville 28
5 . Steven Brewster Greenbrier 27
6 . Patrick Linn Little Rock 22
7 . Dustin Stuart Benton 20
8 . Jason Hefley Austin 20
9 . Darin Long Jacksonville 19
10 . Emmett Lawson Alexander 18
11 . Tate Elkins Solgohachia 17
12 . Tony Anglin Walnut Ridge 17
13 . Roger Witt Batesville 15
14 . Randy Weaver Little Rock 14
15 . Tommy New Dover 14
16 . T.J. Herndon Atwood TN 13
17 . Hayden Linn Little Rock 11
18 . Hayden Hartwick Heber Springs 10
19 . Jeremy Tharp Bald Knob 10
20 . Noah Burlison Malvern 9
21 . John Bubbus Bauxite 8
22 . Conner Kuykendall Little Rock 7
23 . Peyton Taylor Batesville 7
24 . Richie Tosh Salado 7
25 . Scooter Scruggs Little Rock 7
26 . Lynnsee Provence Little Rock 6
27 . Ben Necessary Bauxite 5
28 . Jeremy Russell Brookland 5
29 . Keaton Atkinson Hot Springs 5
30 . Zane DeVilbiss Farmington NM 5
31 . Curtis Cook Conway 4
32 . Drew Armstrong Alexander 4
33 . Troy Jerovetz Iowa Falls IA 4
34 . Jack Sullivan Greenbriar 3
35 . Lynn Hefley Cabot 3
36 . Wayne Brooks Bald Knob 3
37 . William Aycock Benton 3
38 . Caleb Davis Vilonia 2
39 . Dale Nelson Milan TN 2


Arkansas Points
Late Model Final 2024
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Steven Crocker Jonesboro 80
2 . Kevin Collins West Plains MO 67
3 . Heath Davenport Yellville 48
4 . Gavin Jordan Jonesboro 42
5 . Henry Gustavus Bartlett TN 37
6 . Mark Tackitt Bakersfield MO 37
7 . Geoff Aitken Pottsville 32
8 . Chris Reed Rison 24
9 . John Hill Jonesboro 23
10 . Chandler Petty Cabot 22
11 . Chris Jones Neelyville MO 21
12 . Eddie Hoyer Plumerville 21
13 . Devon Andrews Wynne 19
14 . Kanyan Methvin Yellville 19
15 . Eric Perry Ward 18
16 . Kyle Downs Brookland 18
17 . Bryce Clark Conway 16
18 . Jay Croney West Plains MO 16
19 . Bryan Glaze Little Rock 15
20 . Hunter Duren Yellville 15
21 . Kyle Beard Trumann 14
22 . Mark Byram Trumann 14
23 . Derrick Nichols Warren 12
24 . Mike Carr Lake Cormorant MS 12
25 . B.J. Robinson Bossier City LA 11
26 . Billy Moyer Batesville 11
27 . Chance Mann Newport 11
28 . John Aitken West Plains MO 11
29 . Jon Mitchell Texarkana 10
30 . Joseph Long Bauxite 10
31 . Robby Moore Poplar Bluff MO 10
32 . Scott Crigler Alton MO 10
33 . Brandon Poppenheimer Nesbit MS 9
34 . Ethan Dotson Bakersfield CA 9
35 . J.C. Waller Atoka TN 9
36 . Joey Smith West Plains MO 9
37 . Logan Martin West Plains MO 9
38 . Michael King Jr. Eldorado 9
39 . Rodney Melvin Benton IL 9
40 . Stormy Scott Las Cruces NM 9
41 . Tanner English Benton KY 8
42 . Tim McCreadie Watertown NY 8
43 . Heath Stephens 7
44 . Cole Murphy Caulfield MO 6
45 . Dustin Holmes Murfreesboro 6
46 . Kris Lloyd Peach Orchard 6
47 . Mason Oberkramer Broseley MO 6
48 . Matthew Tribble Pocahontas 6
49 . Payton Freeman Commerce GA 6
50 . Ricky Thornton Jr. Martinsville IN 6
51 . Brandon Baldridge Alton MO 5
52 . Brandon Carpenter Coldwater MS 5
53 . Carl Murphy Caulfield MO 5
54 . Keaton Atkinson Hot Springs 5
55 . Mark Jordan Paragould 5
56 . Matt Cooper McKenzie TN 5
57 . Matthew Brocato Muscle Shoals AL 5
58 . Morgan Bagley Gladewater TX 5
59 . Peyton Foster Floral 5
60 . Tim Steinhaus Mountain Home 5
61 . Tyler Stevens Searcy 5
62 . Ashton Winger Hampton GA 4
63 . Bobby Allen Mason TN 4
64 . Blake Tracer Rector 4
65 . Charlie Cole Wynne 4
66 . Chuck Comer Joplin MO 4
67 . D.J. Burke West Plains MO 4
68 . Dale McDowell Chickamauga GA 4
69 . Jonathan Davenport Blairsville GA 4
70 . Mike Koch Mountain Home 4
71 . Nick Kurtz Greenville MI 4
72 . Rich Mathis Rector 4
73 . Shawn Mann Searcy 4
74 . Spencer Hughes Meridian MS 4
75 . Ben Waggoner Mount Vernon 3
76 . Dempsey Thompson Norfork 3
77 . Dillon McCowan Urbana MO 3
78 . Garrett Alberson Las Cruces NM 3
79 . Jake Elam Senatobia MS 3
80 . Jamie Elam Senatobia MS 3
81 . Jax Redline Amarillo IX 3
82 . Jeff Edwards Mountain View 3
83 . Justin Kraft West Plains MO 3
84 . Ky Madden Yellville 3
85 . Michael George Jonesboro 3
86 . Riley Lewis Marianna 3
87 . Sawyer Crigler Alton MO 3
88 . Seth Reed Rison 3
89 . Shane Hebert Lafayette LA 3
90 . Tim Petty Niangua MO 3
91 . Wesley Hamilton Malvern 3
92 . Bobby Skinner Moody MO 2
93 . Dillon Knight Burlison TN 2
94 . Eli Ross Muskogee OK 2
95 . Evan Groves Harrison 2
96 . Jace Parmley Neosho MO 2
97 . Jason Prentice Vanndale 2
98 . Jeff Cloninger Oppelo 2
99 . Jerry Croney West Plains MO 2
100 . Marvin Forrest 2
101 . Mark Martin Atkins 2
102 . Mike Marlar Winfield TN 2
103 . Preston Jaymes Mountain Home 2
104 . Shane Stephens Arlington TN 2
105 . Terry Gray Munford TN 2
106 . Brian Rickman Columbus MS 1
107 . Brian Woodard Ripley TN 1
108 . Cody Acklin Calico Road 1
109 . Dale Howard Byhalia MS 1
110 . Dustin Atkinson Lebanon MO 1
111 . Hudson O'Neal Martinsville IN 1
112 . Jamey Dalton 1
113 . Jarret Stuckey Shreveport LA 1
114 . Marvin Forrest 1
115 . Landon Mielke Jonesboro 1
116 . Nathan Brown Marion 1
117 . Scott Bell East Prairie MO 1
118 . Shane Hight Bono 1
119 . Steve Stultz Peoria AZ 1
120 . Tyler Clem St. Petersburg FL 1


Arkansas Points
Winged Sprints Final 2024
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Derek Hagar Marion 67
2 . Keith Ainsworth Munsford TN 36
3 . Dalton Davis Lakeland TN 30
4 . Howard Moore Memphis TN 26
5 . Dale Howard Byhalia MS 23
6 . Marshall Skinner Marion 22
7 . Corey Ray Olive Branch MS 20
8 . Tyler Whatley Millington TN 19
9 . Jordon Mallett Greenbriar 14
10 . Corey Bailey Coldwater MS 13
11 . Sammy Swindell Germantown TN 13
12 . Sam Hafertepe Jr. Sunnyvale TX 12
13 . Ayden Gatewood Caruthersville MO 11
14 . B.J. Simmerman Batesville MS 11
15 . Blake Hahn Sapulpa OK 8
16 . Cody Gardner Benton 8
17 . Eddie Gallagher Olive Branch MS 8
18 . Matt Covington Glenpool OK 8
19 . Brad Bowden Hernando MS 7
20 . Ernie Ainsworth Bartlett TN 7
21 . Hayden Martin Olive Branch MS 7
22 . Ronny Howard Nesbit MS 7
23 . Tucker Boulton Brighton TN 7
24 . Brandon Hanks Burlison TN 6
25 . Chad Jones Memphis TN 6
26 . Carson Macedo Lemoore CA 5
27 . Chase Howard Nesbit MS 5
28 . Hank Davis Sand Springs OK 5
29 . Rees Moran Tulsa OK 5
30 . Todd Bradford Arlington TN 5
31 . Austin Mundie Crandall TX 4
32 . David Gravel Watertown CT 4
33 . Dusty Young Benton 4
34 . Gage Montgomery Fredericktown MO 4
35 . Noah Gass Mounds OK 4
36 . Seth Bergman Snohomish WA 4
37 . Tanner Thorson Broken Arrow OK 4
38 . Conner Wray Olive Branch MS 3
39 . Hayden Brinkley Bono 3
40 . John Carney II El Paso TX 3
41 . Kenny Coke Olive Branch MS 3
42 . Koty Adams Haughton LA 3
43 . Kyle Jones Kennedale TX 3
44 . Sheldon Haudenschild Wooster OH 3
45 . Tyler Courtney Indianapolis IN 3
46 . Wade Buttrey Fairview TN 3
47 . Zach Pringle Benton 3
48 . Alex Lyles Arlington TN 2
49 . Ayrton Gennetten Versailles MO 2
50 . Brad Sweet Grass Valley CA 2
51 . Logan Schuchart Hanover PA 2
52 . Landon Crawley Benton 2
53 . Brady Baker Alexander 1
54 . Bill Balog North Pole AK 1
55 . Cole Macedo Lemoore CA 1
56 . Ethan Jones Sarah MS 1
57 . Landon Britt Memphis TN 1
58 . Terry Gray Batlett TN 1


Arkansas Points
Modified Final 2024
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Carl McDade Mulberry 75
2 . Eddie Martin Stilwell OK 56
3 . Jason Snodgrass Mountain Home 54
4 . Chad Williams Lake City 53
5 . Dillon Knight Burlison TN 52
6 . Keith Brown Jr. Greenbriar 51
7 . Shane Hight Bono 48
8 . Ashton Wilkey Batesville 39
9 . Roger Witt Batesville 36
10 . Brandon Poppenheimer Nesbit MS 35
11 . J.T. Goodson Little Rock 35
12 . Spencer Hartwick Quitman 34
13 . Dustin Tiger West Plains MO 33
14 . Justin Crow Centerville 33
15 . Kanyan Methvin Yellville 32
16 . Matthew Bolton Van Buren 32
17 . Brint Hartwick Quitman 31
18 . Sam Osman Spiro OK 31
19 . Dallas Everrett Cabot 29
20 . Tim Hogan Jonesboro 28
21 . Adam Maple Batesville 27
22 . Chanley Purtteman Brookland 26
23 . Drake Findley Bryant 26
24 . Jacob Davison Paragould 26
25 . Pappie Leonard Ravenden 26
26 . Wendell Wallace Greenbriar 26
27 . Cayden Mitchell Holcomb MO 25
28 . Andrew Moreno Jonesboro 24
29 . Brandon Smith Floral 23
30 . Jeff Taylor Cave City 23
31 . Wesley Wise Perryville 23
32 . Nathan Hagar Adair OK 22
33 . Tanner Barnhart North Little Rock 22
34 . Clay Caldwell Arlington TN 21
35 . Johnny Gustavus West Memphis 21
36 . Colby Richardson West Memphis 20
37 . Curtis Cook Conway 20
38 . Timothy Casey Finch 20
39 . Tyler Wolff Fayetteville 20
40 . Casey Findley Bryant 19
41 . Troy Martin Jr. Wagoner OK 18
42 . Carson Wyatt Brookland 17
43 . Landon Mielke Jonesboro 17
44 . Timothy Culp Prattsville 16
45 . C.J. Davison Jr. Marion 15
46 . Justin Jarrett Maynard 15
47 . T.J. Miller West Plains MO 15
48 . Troy Dow Munford TN 15
49 . Tom Berry Jr. Marshalltown IA 15
50 . Brad Calhoun Jacksonville 14
51 . Dennis Kimbrough Byhalia MS 14
52 . Peyton Taylor Batesville 14
53 . Grayson Moore Jonesboro 13
54 . Jacob Combs Paragould 13
55 . Ben Tackitt Viola 12
56 . Jason Eddy East End 12
57 . Paul Reeder Malden MO 12
58 . Wayne Brooks Bald Knob 12
59 . Chad Phillips Cabot 11
60 . Chuck Sanders Little Rock 11
61 . Travis Agee Paragould 11
62 . Keaton Atkinson Hot Springs 10
63 . Richard Crow Centerville 10
64 . Richard Grissum Yellville 10
65 . Terrell Chastain Jonesboro 10
66 . J.T. Pierce Wilson 9
67 . Richie Tosh Salado 9
68 . Trevor Neville Mackinaw IL 9
69 . Garrett Taylor Jacksonville 8
70 . Jason Foster Springdale 8
71 . Ken Schrader Fenton MO 8
72 . Mike Cook Conway 8
73 . Mike McKinney Plainfield IL 8
74 . Chase Hatton De Berry TX 7
75 . Chris Junkersfeld Pocahontas 7
76 . John Waugh Batesville 7
77 . Mike Powers Burlison TN 7
78 . Ryan Rasberry Salina OK 7
79 . Seth Salter Batesville 7
80 . Austin Rettig Sikeston MO 6
81 . Chris Carter Redfield 6
82 . Dalton McKenzie Van Buren 6
83 . Dennis Schoenfeld Van Buren 6
84 . Josh Asher West Fork 6
85 . Lynnsee Provence Little Rock 6
86 . Mike Hansen Dickinson ND 6
87 . Otis Lester Hernando MS 6
88 . Tanner Fletcher Finch 6
89 . Travis Mosley Batesville 6
90 . Cody Thompon Sioux City IA 6
91 . Caleb Jones Sikeston MO 5
92 . Dustin Hyde Texarkana TX 5
93 . Hunter Alls Jonesboro 5
94 . Jacob Campbell Hackett 5
95 . Jake Davis Hackett 5
96 . Jake Huckaby Texarkana TX 5
97 . John Briggs Harrison 5
98 . John Smelley Longview TX 5
99 . Kyle Beard Trumann 5
100 . Mike Striegel Hermitage MO 5
101 . Nathan Brown Marion 5
102 . Raymond Merrill Salisaw OK 5
103 . Ryan Middaugh Fulton MO 5
104 . Troy Schaberg Amity 5
105 . Bailey Turner Hooks TX 4
106 . Brandon Bass Arlington TN 4
107 . Charlie Mefford Belton KY 4
108 . Dean Wilder Doniphan MO 4
109 . Jeremy Dalton Holly Springs MS 4
110 . Jesse Stovall Billings MO 4
111 . John John Montgomery Bethel Heights 4
112 . Jon Mitchell Texarkana TX 4
113 . Lonnie sitzes West Plains MO 4
114 . Mark Tackitt Bakersfiled MO 4
115 . Ricky Anderson Velvet Ridge 4
116 . Rusty Rosson Mountain Home 4
117 . Slade Hartwick Quitman 4
118 . Terry Phillips Springfield MO 4
119 . Tyson Franks Batesville 4
120 . Zeke McKenzie Claypool IN 4
121 . Anthony Croney West Plains MO 3
122 . Billy Tribble Southaven MS 3
123 . Bryan Wiggins Leachville 3
124 . Chad Murray Paragould 3
125 . Cole Murphy Caulfield MO 3
126 . Craig Vaughn 3
127 . Dale Howard Byhalia MS 3
128 . Dakota Eisley Texarkana 3
129 . Devin Murphy Myrtle MO 3
130 . Fred Ramsey Fayetteville 3
131 . Jamey Dalton 3
132 . Jesse Tackitt Viola 3
133 . Luke Aitken West Plains MO 3
134 . Matthew Canfield West Fork 3
135 . Monte McCollum Van Buren 3
136 . Rick Rasberry Bentonville 3
137 . Ricky Engles Mt. Pleasant 3
138 . Shane Harris Sheridan 3
139 . Tyson Keeney Hot Springs 3
140 . Vernon Flournoy Fort Gibson OK 3
141 . Tim Ward Harcourt IA 3
142 . Andreew Rossum Texarkana TX 2
143 . Blake Burns Jonesboro 2
144 . Bradley Hooks Paragould 2
145 . Cameron Gillmore Amarillo TX 2
146 . Cody Burgess Pocahontas 2
147 . Jeremy LaCoe Lincoln 2
148 . Jessie Rhoades Hartshome OK 2
149 . Kaleb Gallaway Rogers 2
150 . Lucas Lee Paris TN 2
151 . Mike Morris Hooks TX 2
152 . Matthews Combs Paragould 2
153 . Raymond Gustavus Jr. West Memphis 2
154 . Remington Watson Alma 2
155 . Shane Mendoza Atoka TN 2
156 . Shawn Knuckles Poplar Bluff MO 2
157 . Thomas Smith Frayser TN 2
158 . Tim Leonard Ravenden 2
159 . Ty Clemens Belgrade MT 2
160 . Weston Holman Springdale 2
161 . Aiden Farris 1
162 . Blake Bass Arlington TN 1
163 . Chad Isbell Beebe 1
164 . Clark Evans Carlisle 1
165 . Dakota Essman Spiro OK 1
166 . Hunt Gossum 1
167 . Jacob Twomney Carthage TX 1
168 . James Drummond Mountainburg 1
169 . Jeremy Russell Brookland 1
170 . Justin Whitehead Texarkana TX 1
171 . Matthew West Wilmar 1
172 . Mark Norris Searcy 1
173 . Rodney Sanders Happy TX 1
174 . Ryan Williams Fort Smith 1
175 . Tanner Black Otis KS 1
176 . Tate Elkins Solgohachia 1


Arkansas Points
Limited Modifieds Final 2024
Pos. Driver Hometown Points
1 . Grant Williams Arkoma OK 50
2 . Shannon Weese Van Buren 47
3 . Brent Willyard Van Buren 35
4 . Tye Hollingsworth Springdale 23
5 . Chris Powell Rogers 22
6 . Talvin Hayes Little Rock 18
7 . Jonathan Ferrari Alma 16
8 . Justin Whitehead Texarkana TX 15
9 . Tigger Callahan Clarksville 15
10 . Ayden Stanton West Fork 11
11 . Jake Davis Hackett 10
12 . Caleb Pence Sallisaw OK 9
13 . Colby Mewborn Texarkana TX 9
14 . Andy Hooten Conway 8
15 . Skeet Amason New Boston TX 8
16 . Colby Williams Sibley LA 7
17 . Daniel Tarkington Checotah OK 7
18 . Dustin Leatherman Muskogee OK 7
19 . Martin Hemphill Spiro OK 7
20 . Jeremy Howell Kinta 6
21 . Andy Aust Bentonville 5
22 . Chase Hatton De Berry TX 5
23 . Dylan Reynolds Barling 5
24 . Eddie Martin Stilwell OK 5
25 . Jared Ricketts Decatur 5
26 . Kaleb Jones Bloomfield MO 5
27 . Kort Morgan Muskogee OK 5
28 . Patrick Lewis Wellsville MO 5
29 . Bailey Turner Hooks TX 4
30 . Bobby Williams Hermitage MO 4
31 . Hank Long Stilwell OK 4
32 . Jake Huckaby Texarkana TX 4
33 . Kris Jackson Lebanon MO 4
34 . Shay Hardin Strickler 4
35 . Aaron Roy Texarkana TX 3
36 . Andrew Rossum Texarkana 3
37 . Britton Moore Texarkana 3
38 . Conner Williams Sibley LA 3
39 . Cory Neil Jr. Bridge City TX 3
40 . Ty O'Neal Muskogee OK 3
41 . Brandon Reynolds Lamar 2
42 . Brodey Slader Muskogee OK 2
43 . Chad Reid Yukon OK 2
44 . Chad Thomsen Watts OK 2
45 . Kale Murphrey Tullos LA 2
46 . Matthew Shenberger Sharon OK 2
47 . Michael Buzan Wilburton OK 2
48 . Stefan Palmer Lowell 2
49 . Dustin Taylor Texarkana TX 1
50 . Jax Redline Amarillo TX 1
51 . Johnny Gregory Alma 1
52 . Jon Mitchell Texarkana TX 1
53 . Justin Grisson Vilonia 1
54 . Mike Anderson Muskogee OK 1
55 . Robert Leamons Berryville 1


Tuesday, November 26, 2024

A Quick Review of 2024 On The Back Stretch

As I checked back on this similar entry from 2023, I see that I had set a goal of forty-five race nights. That would have been just three higher than my all-time low of forty-two since I obtained my driver's license in 1979, so I am very happy to say that I blew right by that goal with a total of fifty-two events in 2024.

Our season started with a "surprise" event on March 3rd at the Park Jefferson Speedway in the southeast tip of South Dakota and it wrapped up with our annual trip to the Turkey Bowl at the Springfield Raceway on November 16th. After seeing races in only three states last year, we boosted that to seven in 2024 by slinging dirt in South Dakota, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Our 2024 tour took us to twenty-seven different dirt tracks, as for the second year in a row I did not meet my goal of seeing at least one race on pavement, but I did get to one new track for me in what was a very special evening. My son Morgan and my three-year-old grandson Wilder met Christine and I at the Kokomo Speedway in Indiana the night before we were starting a seven day family beach vacation in Michigan and it would be Wilder's first-ever race! He was so excited that he did not nap during the ten hour drive, so while he did not last long, he had a good time before Grandma took him to the hotel and the next day he was asking "when can go the races again?" 

Usually the Knoxville Raceway leads the way when it comes to the number of nights that I have attended, but with that beach vacation coming during the 360 Nationals weekend, and then with another social event scheduled on the Late Model Nationals weekend, my only four nights at Knoxville came during the 410 Nationals. That means my "home track" of 34 Raceway will lead the way in 2024 as I spent seven nights there with each of them on the microphone for at least some of the evening. A highlight was when I was able to join James Essex and Dustin Jarrett on the live broadcast of the postponed Slocum 50 that was now contested as a Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series event through MavTv on Flo. It was my first time to use the headset and television monitor with a producer talking to me as well and she was a definitely a pro making my time as the lead go smoothly during the support class action. The Lucas Oil Late Models will be back at 34 Raceway on July 10th and I hope that I have the opportunity to be part of the team once again.

It is rare that I write a blog from a night that I announce as I leave the notebook in the car and that is why you don't see a link for a story from 34, but that doesn't mean that we didn't have some fun, especially when long-time racer Dennis LaVeine hosted a "free night" courtesy of his business LaVeine Sanitation. Not only were the stands packed, but the pits were full as well with drivers coming from far and wide to a part of this special show.

Second on my list was the Davenport Speedway with five nights including an SLMR event that was pushed from Friday to Monday, and yes I did do a bit of a report from 34 in this link as well. We were also there to catch the season opener where Mitch Morris made his Late Model debut with a victory and for two nights of MLRA racing in September. With that series now extinct, it will be interesting to see if and how Davenport fills the void for their Super Late Model fans in 2025.

With Mike Van Genderen and Dana Benning at the reigns, it was an easy choice for me to make the trip north to the Independence Motor Speedway four times in 2024 and I always enjoys my trips to both Vinton and Donnellson as I was at the Benton County Speedway and the Lee County Speedway three times each. I spent two nights each at Memphis, Bloomfield, Stuart, Oskaloosa and Tipton, while I made it for one night of racing at Spoon River, East Moline, Quincy, Dubuque, West Liberty, Columbus Junction, Peoria, Farley, Jacksonville, Eagle, Maquoketa, Valley and Tri-State.

Even though I still went to fifty-two nights, I do feel that I was a bit more selective and I definitely took advantage of my three streaming subscriptions by not making some road trips on a weeknight that I would have definitely considered in the past. I look for that trend to continue in 2025 as I will still keep my goals of seeing at least one race on pavement and attending an event or two at a track that I have not yet been to. By the way, that trip to Kokomo was my 221st different track in twenty-five states.

Finally, the highlight of my 2024 season came on Saturday November 2nd when I was inducted into the Iowa Racing Hall of Fame. It was a spectacular evening that I will never forget and I look forward to being there going forward to honor and welcome each new class.

Be sure to keep checking in over the coming weeks as the Back Stretch will be busy with the state points from Arkansas, Missouri and Texas. Then we will have our annual "Best of the Midwest" standings followed by a bit of a surprise. We will then top off the year as we always do with our updated Cumulative All Iowa Points standings in all nine divisions featuring drivers from the year 2000 through 2024.

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!