Final Michigan Points for 2022

Michigan is the first of the fourteen states that we track using the standard 5-point scale system to close out its 2022 racing season and with it we already have a leading contender for one of our Best of the Midwest champions.

Using the opportunity at times to race in two classes on the same night, Collin Thirlby picked up twenty-one feature wins in thirty-six top five finishes to win his first Michigan Modified Points championship in this the seventh year of tabulation. Tracks such as Merritt and Tri-City run both the UMP Modifieds and the IMCA rules "B-Modifieds" on the same night, so with two cars at his disposal it gave the Traverse City driver quite an advantage over the rest of the drivers across the state. Two-time and defending champion A.J. Ward parked his IMCA Modified in victory lane fourteen times in thirty-six top fives to finish in second this year while Jacob Poel makes the podium with five wins in twenty-five top five runs.

From the Collin Thirlby Racing Facebook page - Johnny B Imagery

Lake City's Eric Spangler earns his second Michigan state Late Model championship after winning nine times in thirty-one top five finishes. Spangler's signature win came on August 6th when he held off national star Devin Moran to take the $34,000 top prize at Merritt's annual Wood Tic 100. His previous Michigan state title was in 2017. Chad Finley ranks second on this list on the strength of eight wins in nineteen top five finishes and there are some more Late Model fans around the state of Iowa who know his name now after he made the show on all three nights of the World of Outlaws sanctioned Hoker 150 in Davenport. Rich Neiser improves for spots from last year's standings to finish third with seven wins in nineteen top fives.

From the Eric Spangler Racing Facebook page

From the Max Stambaugh Facebook page

Ohio's Max Stambaugh repeats his 2021 championship in the Michigan Winged Sprint Cars winning four times in nineteen top fives to dominate the division. After ranking sixteenth last year, Tylar Rankin jumps up to second with four wins in twelve top fives and Florida transplant Danny Sams III joins the podium with two wins among his thirteen top five feature efforts.

With the final races of the year set to run in the Dakotas this coming weekend, look for the wrap up of both states early next week here on the Back Stretch. Then on Wednesday morning we will start out coverage of the 2022 USRA Nationals from the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri.

Michigan Points

Late Model Final 2022

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Eric Spangler Lake City 102

2 . Chad Finley Lansing 78

3 . Rich Neiser Fruitport 72

4 . Dona Marcoullier Houghton Lake 64

5 . Logan Nickerson Vestaburg 64

6 . Travis Stemler Ionia 60

7 . Brandon Thirlby Traverse City 57

8 . Derrick Hilliker Midland 56

9 . Greg Gokey Buckley 51

10 . Scott Baker Ionia 34

11 . Cody Bauer Farwell 32

12 . Ryan Lanphierd Midland 31

13 . David Hilliker Midland 28

14 . Steve Fairbanks Twin Lake 28

15 . Rusty Schlenk McClure OH 27

16 . J.R. Hotovy Hartford 21

17 . Nick Kurtz Greenville 18

18 . Ryan Vanderveen Six Lakes 18

19 . Andrew Terrill Sanford 17

20 . Andy Sprague Muskegon 17

21 . Jimmy Gallagher St. Johns 15

22 . Rachel Carpenter Laingsburg 15

23 . Taylor Wiles Hubbardston 14

24 . J.C. Witherspoon Kinde 13

25 . Kyle Borgman Muskegon 13

26 . Billy Moyer Jr. Batesville AR 12

27 . Nate Hurley Brown City 12

28 . Tom Sprague Jr. Muskegon 12

29 . Garrett Wiles Hubbardson 11

30 . Matthew Sprague Muskegon 11

31 . Michael Archer Jackson 11

32 . Devin Moran Dresden OH 9

33 . Justin White Benton Harbor 9

34 . Phil Ausra Dowagiac 9

35 . Riley Bowen Sheridan 9

36 . Brennan Bowen Sheridan 8

37 . Logan Love Vestaburg 8

38 . Mike Vandermark Jr. Cedar Springs 8

39 . Alex Hupert Augres 7

40 . Bill Bray Spring Lake 7

41 . Bry Johnson Lowell 7

42 . Dave Baker Grand Rapids 7

43 . Dean Huizenga Belmont 7

44 . Roger Wing Middleton 7

45 . Curtis Roberts Coleman 6

46 . Rob Taylor Muskegon 6

47 . Wade Witherspoon Owendale 6

48 . Carl Ries Blanchard 5

49 . David Mielke Gladwin 5

50 . Derek Passenier Muskegon 5

51 . Jeep VanWormer Pinconning 5

52 . Nick Ely Muskegon 5

53 . Rich Dawson Lowell IN 5

54 . Rodney Laney 5

55 . Brad Bates Twin Lake 4

56 . Chad White Steveville 4

57 . Dillon Kohn Sheridan 4

58 . Eric Meyers Lake Odessa 4

59 . Kevin Juusola Muskegon 4

60 . Kurt Mesman Wyoming 4

61 . Megan Sanders Lexington KY 4

62 . Rich Bell Sheffield IL 4

63 . Ryan Paradise St. Johns 4

64 . Rylee Knoll Lake 4

65 . Chase Burda Columbiaville 3

66 . Herb Reich Ann Arbor 3

67 . Ryan Unzicker El Paso IL 3

68 . Tom Dusen Muskegon 3

69 . Chris Rinard Ithaca 2

70 . Colin Shipley Weston OH 2

71 . Devin Shiels Britton 2

72 . James Gallagher St. Johns 2

73 . Joe Pomeroy Cass City 2

74 . Payton Freeman Commerce GA 2

75 . Tyler Norton Midland 2

76 . Brian Juusola Muskegon 1

77 . Brian Ruhlman Clark Lake 1

78 . Dave Bowen Sterling 1

79 . Jacob Poel Spring Lake 1

80 . Joe Godsey Bedford IN 1

81 . John Bell 1

82 . Ronnie Smith Grand Rapids 1

83 . Ryan Missler Bellevue OH 1

84 . Scott Wenell 1

85 . Zach Calkins Milford 1

Michigan Points

Modified Final 2022

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Collin Thirlby Traverse City 154

2 . A.J. Ward Ionia 140

3 . Jacob Poel Spring Lake 86

4 . Jeff Reay Portland 82

5 . Mitchell Hunt Greenville 81

6 . Myron DeYoung Stanton 71

7 . Austin Harnick Clare 62

8 . Chad Bennett Caro 62

9 . Chad Bauer Farwell 56

10 . Brenten DeYoung Crystal 52

11 . Josh Lolmaugh Columbia City IN 41

12 . Todd Sherman Churubusco IN 39

13 . Brody Bowser Stanton 38

14 . Garrett Bennett Davison 37

15 . Nate Jones Alma 36

16 . Jeff Erickson Jr. Muskegon 35

17 . Robby Henderson Angola IN 35

18 . Jerry Hunt Kent City 34

19 . John McCaul Montague 34

20 . Charlie Mihacsi Sebewaing 33

21 . Corey Bevard Union City 30

22 . Richie Haynes 29

23 . Kody Johnson Vestaburg 28

24 . Kendall Morrison Bay City 26

25 . Kyle Osentoski Owendale 25

26 . Chad Spencer Kingston 24

27 . Dillon Gentry Ionia 24

28 . Mark Anderson Lowell 24

29 . Scott Payton Gaylord 24

30 . Aaron Raby Carson City 23

31 . Casey Smith Portland 23

32 . Dillon Nusbaum Spencerville IN 23

33 . Joe Rokos Interlochen 23

34 . Steve Shellenberger Marshall 23

35 . Rich Robinson Sr. Shepherd 22

36 . Rick Swartout Union City 22

37 . David VanGuilder Marshall 21

38 . Blake Edmonds Muir 20

39 . Chad Wernette Sheridan 20

40 . Chase Rosebrugh West Branch 20

41 . Cody Goodwin 20

42 . Kevin Reeve Hanover 19

43 . Jake Thompson Birch Run 18

44 . Nathan Patrick Pewamo 18

45 . Mike Epplett Muskegon 17

46 . Caleb Kill Mcbain 16

47 . Shannon Fisk Lowell 16

48 . Brendan Powell Harrison 15

49 . Brian Brindley West Branch 15

50 . Richie Sutherland Merritt 14

51 . Ryan Heskett North Muskegon 14

52 . Austin Wonch Stanton 13

53 . Chance Allen Alma 13

54 . Curt Spalding Watervliet 13

55 . Derek Losh Rensselaer IN 13

56 . Gary Vandermark Lowell 13

57 . Johnny DeYoung Sheridan 13

58 . C.J. Reisbig Ionia 12

59 . Frank Marshall Valparaiso IN 12

60 . Loren Short Clio 11

61 . Bryan Hofbauer Ionia 10

62 . Andy Galgoci 9

63 . James Beaulieu Chatham ON 9

64 . John Goodrich Mcbain 9

65 . Kevin Cavanaugh Muskegon 9

66 . Logan Beckwith IV Hanover 9

67 . Wyatt Baker Manton 9

68 . Brent Banning West Branch 8

69 . Terry Walch 8

70 . Bobby Stremme South Bend IN 7

71 . Jaycob Truemner Imlay 7

72 . John Clark Twin Lake 7

73 . Garrett Rons Livonia 6

74 . Jacob Flickinger Gaylord 6

75 . Kevin Miller Mount Pleasant 6

76 . Bree Brasington Sheridan 5

77 . Chad May Rockford 5

78 . Clayton Smith Taylor 5

79 . Gavin Hunyady Fenton 5

80 . Tyler Spalding Watervliet 5

81 . Zac Gilliland Muir 5

82 . Billy Frey Grand Rapids 4

83 . Brady Hollenbeck Greenville 4

84 . Brian Ruhlman Clark Lake 4

85 . Calvin Stemler Ionia 4

86 . Casey Keyosky Clinton Township 4

87 . Craig Vance Midland 4

88 . Ken Ziegler Ovid 4

89 . Logan Beckwith III Hanover 4

90 . Mike Shanteau Weidman 4

91 . Mike Vandermark Jr. Cedar Springs 4

92 . Nick Putnam Kawkawlin 4

93 . Tanner Pray Mt. Morris 4

94 . Tyler Morehouse Ashley IN 4

95 . Bill Delonge Hesperia 3

96 . Chase Burda Columbiaville 3

97 . David Reay Portland 3

98 . Deuane Morley Clark Lake 3

99 . Matt Bouschor Traverse City 3

100 . Montgomery Johnson Eagle 3

101 . Ronnie Vannatter 3

102 . Terry Sroufe Huntington IN 3

103 . Zeke McKenzie Claypool IN 3

104 . Adam Hardy 2

105 . Bill Endert Mayville 2

106 . Brian Przepiora Jr. 2

107 . Dan Wierman Traverse City 2

108 . Darick Guikema Muskegon 2

109 . Dylan Woodling Warsaw IN 2

110 . Jeremy Kok Wayland 2

111 . John Person Rothbury 2

112 . Justin Gilmore 2

113 . Ken Schrader Fenton MO 2

114 . Kevin Giles Twin Lake 2

115 . Kevin Strehlke Buckley 2

116 . Matthew Lambrecht Watervliet 2

117 . Ted Cooper Whitehall 2

118 . Zac Gilliard 2

119 . Adam Hammer Traverse City 1

120 . Austin Dryer Hillsdale 1

121 . Brandon Taipalus Muskegon 1

122 . Chaz Pry Clio 1

123 . Curtis Dancer 1

124 . Daryl Lehn Traverse City 1

125 . Don Sautter Bay City 1

126 . John McClure Clarksville 1

127 . Kenneth Boersma Lapeer 1

128 . Rich Robinson Jr. Mt. Pleasant 1

129 . Richard Cebula 1

130 . Richard Swan Olivet 1

131 . Steven Pena Coloma 1

132 . Tom Sprague Jr. Muskegon 1

133 . William Endert III Caro 1

Michigan Points

Winged Sprints Final 2022

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Max Stambaugh Lima OH 65

2 . Tyler Rankin Coldwater 41

3 . Danny Sams III Engelwood FL 39

4 . Dustin Daggett Grand Ledge 38

5 . Phil Gressman Helena OH 27

6 . Josh Turner Osseo 23

7 . Jason Blonde Litchfield 22

8 . Logan Easterday Coldwater 21

9 . Zane Devault Plymouth IN 21

10 . Nate Dussel Bradner OH 19

11 . Boston Mead Onsted 18

12 . Brad Lamberson Parma 16

13 . Gregg Dalman Bellevue 16

14 . Trey McGranahan Avon IN 16

15 . Zac Broughman Pittsford 12

16 . Jared Horstman Cloverdale OH 10

17 . Dylan Westbrook Scotland ON 9

18 . Quentin Blonde Litchfield 8

19 . Keith Sheffer Jr. Jerome 7

20 . Mark Aldrich Addison 7

21 . Ricky Peterson Rawson OH 7

22 . Ryan Ruhl Coldwater 7

23 . Thomas Schinderle Warren 6

24 . Jett Mann Goshen IN 5

25 . Justin Peck Monrovia IN 5

26 . Noah Dunlap Wapakoneta OH 5

27 . Zeth Sabo Fremont OH 5

28 . Chase Dunham Leipsic OH 4

29 . Tyler Courtney Indianapolis IN 4

30 . Cole Macedo Lemorre CA 3

31 . Hunter Schuerenberg Sikeston MO 3

32 . Adam Cruea Troy OH 2

33 . Brady Locke Quincy 2

34 . Conner Morrell Bradenton FL 2

35 . Mike Schumacher Constantine 2

36 . Reece Saldana Pittsboro IN 2

37 . Zeb Wise Angola IN 2

38 . A.J. Aldrich Dundee 1

39 . Alex Aldrich Brooklyn 1

40 . Corbin Gurley Hebron IN 1

41 . Kyle Locke Quincy 1

42 . Kyle Poortenga Woodland 1

43 . Lee Jacobs Holmesville OH 1

44 . Parker Price-Miller Kokomo IN 1

45 . Steve Irwin Fenton 1

Clanton Cruises To Knoxville Late Model Nationals Opening Night Victory

It was a high speed ride around the rim of the Sprint Car Capital of the World Thursday night as Shane Clanton went flag to flag for victory in the opener for the Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals. The cushion was tall and fast on this night and while a few drivers in the back half of the field were able to stick the bottom and make a pass here and there, up front it was either a slide job or fall in line for the twenty-five laps of green flag racing.

Clanton started from the pole position, drove low into turn one and then slid to the cushion in front of Tad Pospisil to hold the lead down the back stretch as drivers behind him shuffled for early advantages on the fast racing surface. Caution would wave early in the race when Chris Madden slowed on lap three and could not limp into the infield and following the restart it would be Hudson O'Neal setting up to make a run at the leader. O'Neal's attempt at a slide job in turns one and two came up short on lap eight and two laps later O'Neal's night would come to an end with transmission issues.

Shane Clanton on point - Barry Johnson photo

For this restart it would be Jonathan Davenport and Earl Pearson Jr. setting up shop behind the leader and just when it looked like Davenport might get the bottom to work to take over second, EPJ sailed around him on the top side to take up the chase of Clanton. Brandon Sheppard was the driver on the move after starting tenth using some big sliders in turns three and four to gain positions and once he got to fourth it was going to be interesting to see if he would make a similar run at Davenport.

That slider attempt came about five laps from the finish, but when Brandon could see that he did not have "Superman" cleared he backed out of it and then tried to regain momentum. Meanwhile up front Clanton had to leave the top a couple of times to get around lapped traffic in the closing laps, but it is much easier to slide a car that is a lap slower than you and Shane completed the moves with precision to score the win.

Pearson, Davenport and Sheppard were all within striking distance at the checkers while Kyle Strickler moved from twelfth to finish fifth. Tim McCreadie and Jimmy Owens were next in line followed by Ryan Gustin who had started from the inside of row seven. Brian Shirley followed him forward from fifteenth to finish ninth while Chase Junghans completed the top ten.

Knoxville Knotes......The format for the Late Model Nationals is similar to the Sprint Car Nationals, but with two big differences. The Late Models race both qualifying nights with their best point total being used to set Saturday's lineups. And the field is split into two groups each night meaning that two drivers earn 200 each for setting fast time in their group, so the point spread from time trials is not as pronounced as the Sprint Car Nationals. The top six cars are inverted for each of the six heat races with the top three finishers making the A-Main and the remainder having to come out of one of two B-Mains to set the twenty-four car field. In my opinion, with 48 cars in attendance they should run it the same as they do with the Sprint Cars; everybody qualifies as one, five heats with an eight car invert and the top four making the A. Do that and let the bitchin' begin! But hey, the cream will rise to the top on Saturday night just the same way that it does in August......The quick qualifier from group one, Spencer Hughes could only gain one spot in the first heat race while up front Shane Clanton gave a preview of things to come passing Ross Robinson on the final lap to take the win....Chris Madden clocked in 14th best in group one and that landed him on the front row for the second heat where he then ran away and hid from the rest of the field. The driver to watch here was Justin Zeitner who started sixth after being second quick in qualifying. Using the high line Zeitner quickly charged up to second and then held on to that spot until the checkers despite showing smoke over the final two laps. Unfortunately that would force him to a backup car dropping him form a fourth row start in the feature back to the tail where he would later record a DNF. Despite that, Zeitner's 448 points ranked him seventeenth on night one which might be enough to lock him into Saturday night's main event.....In the third heat as Ryan Gustn ran away with the win Tim McCreadie passed Tim Lance mid-race to come from sixth to third.....Brandon Overton was quick time overall and the best in group two, but when he jumped the cushion in turn three and slapped the guardrail on the opening lap, he was playing catch up the rest of the way. Earl Pearson Jr. dropped Daniel Hilsabeck out of the top three with five laps to go and Overton was only able to get to fourth sending him to the second B-Main.....Aaron Marrant's car showed some smoke during hot laps, qualifying and all twelve laps of the fifth heat that he would win, but it was nothing compared to what billowed out of Billy Moyer's car while he was running second. That would end the night, and perhaps the whole weekend for Hall of Famer.....Jonathan Davenport wasted no time coming from sixth to third in just the first two laps of the final heat race that was highlighted by a three car battle for the final transfer spot in the closing laps. At the checkers it would go to Brandon Sheppard who slipped by both Frank Heckenast Jr. and Garrett Alberson on the final lap......Bobby Pierce started on the outside of the front row of the first B-Main, but jumped the cushion on the opening lap. He slowed to draw a caution, but since the leaders crossed the line before it waved he was sent to the rear of the field for the lap one restart. Perhaps he thought this was one of those "free restart" scenarios, or as I have called it in the past "the stupidest rule in racing?" Not here at Knoxville! Back to the race, Mike Marlar was languishing in fourth one spot out of a transfer until Jesse Sobbing spun just past the mid-race mark. On the restart Marlar would show why he is a three-time champion of this event as he quickly went to the front to take the win over Ricky Thornton Jr. and Spencer Hughes, leaving Chris Simpson as the first man out.....Starting from the pole, the second B-Main seemed like it would be all Brandon Overton, but when his right front tire went flat it sent him into the turn three guardrail ending his night with six laps remaining. Contact on the restart with Daniel Hilsabeck would send Tyler Bruening for a spin and he too would retire, plus Daulton Wilson slowed to a halt early in the race while running third. This race of attrition would see Alberson, Hilsabeck and Chris Spieker be the three transfers of the six cars that finished......Jonathan Davenport's total of 489 points tops the list after night one followed by Earl Pearson Jr., Shane Clanton, Tim McCreadie and Jimmy Owens. They all go at it again tonight to try to improve upon their standings!

That will do it for me as a series of non-racing activities and events will fill up these final three weekends of September. My next planned racing will be a big one though as I hope to attend all five nights, Tuesday through Saturday of the Summit Racing USRA Nationals October 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th at the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, Missouri. In the meantime I hope that you will get out there and take my place at one of the many great events in our area!

Blue Ribbons for Sanders, Crawley and Zevenbergen at Clay County Fair

With a perfect weather forecast for September 13th and the lure of three of my favorite divisions on the card, my Positively Racing colleague and friend Danny Rosencrans and I made the five hour drive up to the annual Clay County Fair in Spencer Tuesday for what turned out to be a fantastic night of racing. I have always wondered why this county fair would be held nearly a month after the Iowa State Fair each year and after a walk through the midway along with a review of the many food options, let's just say that what they have here is pretty darn close to what goes on in Des Moines in August. 

Plus they still have AUTO RACING at the Clay County Fair with a huge crowd taking it all in from comfortable seats in a big and beautiful covered grandstand!

After choosing a spectacular Rueben sandwich for dinner, I settled into watch a perfectly distributed field of 80 cars with 27 IMCA Stock Cars, 26 Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour Sprint Cars and 27 Tri-State Late Model Series competitors. Heat race action clicked off without a caution and the intermission prior to two B-Mains and three features gave me plenty of time to slip back out to "fair food row" to get an order of Lava Brownies. So much for the diet......

The Stock Cars would be up first with twenty laps for a $1,000 winner's check and it would be Jim Horejsi taking the early lead. That streak of no cautions came to a screeching halt as three yellows would be needed in the first three laps scored and once back to racing it would be Mike Albertsen making the pass on Horejsi to take the point on lap five.

Two more cautions on lap nine would again bunch the field with seventh starting Chanse Hollatz now in contention. With Albertsen working the low line and Hollatz up high the top two would cross the stripe in a virtual dead heat on laps eleven and twelve with Hollatz finally nosing ahead on lap thirteen. Still, as Hollatz went to the top in turn one and then drove low to exit turn two Albertsen would hold the lead down the back stretch only to have Chanse take it back on the front straightaway.

Just after lap fifteen went in the books, Hollatz would shut the door low entering turn one but as the lead duo raced down the back stretch both drivers had to get on the binders briefly for a lapped car that changed lanes. This would allow the third place car of Elijah Zevebergen to quickly close the gap and with his momentum still at full song, Zevenbergen would steal the lead around the outside of turns three and four.

Hollatz would try to get back to the front over the final four circuits but there would be no catching Zevenbergen who would score the win. Albertsen would settle for third followed by Horejsi and Brandon Nielsen.

Prior to the Sprint Cars coming to the track for their twenty-five lap headliner the water truck made some quick laps to spread some moisture on the upper two-thirds of the surface and then the "lay lay" roughed up the cushion in turns one and two. Once the race went green that is where outside front row starter Tim Crawley went, to the top, and it would be a high speed chase from there. Fourth starting Blake Hahn would be the primary challenger and when Crawley reached the first car at the back of the field running the high line, hometown driver Clayton Christensen, he made one failed attempt to slide him coming to the crossed flags in turn four and then settled in behind him.

With Crawley trying to stick his nose under Christensen while still running the high line, Hahn was banging the cushion as hard as he could looking for an opening to take the lead and with six laps to go he was able to pull even with the leader exiting turn two. Crawley's natural line though would take him up the track squeezing Hahn over the top of the racing surface and Blake had to scramble to get back onto the track without giving up a position to pole-sitter Wayne Johnson.

With that near miss behind him, Crawley would finally get past the lapped car with five laps remaining and that would all but seal the deal as the legendary driver from Arkansas picked up the victory not many days after his announcement that this would be his final year of racing. Hahn seemed to be a bit dejected in second while Johnson stated "I wish they would have just left the race track alone" during his podium interview. Third-starting Matt Covington finished fourth while sixth starting Kyler Johnson was fifth.

The Late Models would close out the evening with twenty-five laps for $3,000-to-win with Scott Ward leading the way on lap one before yielding to the fourth starting Tyler McDonald. Just as he did in his heat race, Rodney Sanders made a big early move coming from fifth to second, but he did not appear to have anything for McDonald through the first half of the race.

The red flag flew on lap twelve when David Carlson sailed off the top of the entrance to turn one, landed hard and then rolled onto his top. Thankfully he emerged from the battered car uninjured.

On the restart Chad Olson and Shane Demey joined the mix with Sanders holding them off as McDonald again opened up a lead. As the laps clicked away though, Sanders came charging back and with just three laps remaining he was able to muscle under the leader exiting turn four. That would be the winning move as Sanders took the Late Model out of storage and put it into victory lane. I was impressed with McDonald who without one small mistake would have taken the win while Olson and Demey finished third and fourth. Keep in mind that this is Shane's first year in a Late Model after some very successful IMCA Modified seasons. Gary Brown Jr. rallied from fifteenth to complete the top five.

The final checkered flag waved just past 10:30 on another great night of racing at the Clay County Fair. And, if you are in northwest Iowa as you are reading this, they do it all again tonight (Wednesday) with five classes of IMCA action all starting at 7 p.m.

Next up for me will be the annual Lucas Oil Knoxville Late Model Nationals with opening night action on Thursday. Hope to see you there!

Five Years Later The Light Bulbs Are Finally Turning On

I wrote this blog entry in June of 2017. Please, click on the link and at least read item "One" otherwise you take away my glory in saying "I told you so".

Go ahead, I'll wait.

I only make this boast again because of the words from two different dirt track promoters who have recently stepped up to express their concern about the proliferation of live streaming races. And to think, five years ago when I made my illustration, I could have never imagined that we would now be in a situation where somebody could buy an annual subscription for as low as $150 and be able to sit, at home, and watch over 1,000 events from the comfort of their easy chair!

I found it amazing that Florence Speedway promoter Josh King expressed his true feelings about live streaming to FloRacing's Ben Shelton, even at one point saying "this is all going to get edited out". Here is the link to the full interview and if you want to skip ahead to about the 8:40 mark for this topic you can do so. By the way, kudos to Flo for not making the edit.

Then this morning I stumbled across the following Facebook post from promoter Roger Sellers on the Smoky Mountain Speedway page.

The Great Decline

On any given Friday or Saturday night across this great country, there is probably a dirt track around each of us that is attempting to bring entertainment and put on a good show for the fans. We do this because we have a passion for a sport that we truly love - with the hope of making a few dollars to pay our insurance, utilities, ambulance, fire department, EMTs etc. - and have a little left over for our workers and ourselves.

What most will never see are the endless hours that we spend mowing, cleaning, painting, and making repairs to our equipment and facilities to make it as enjoyable as possible for our fans. A person that has never been directly involved with the daily operation of a dirt track more than likely has no idea of the amount of time it takes to run an operation like this and how much it takes us away from our families or other pleasures that we have in life.

I say all of that to get to my point. As a track owner or promoter, we can take a quick look at our grandstands and know whether the crowd is up or down. We have several factors that can determine a good night or a bad night. The weather, other area events going on, a poorly prepared racetrack, a facility that is not fan friendly, or a lack of proper promotion. Certainly, all of these can be a factor.

Unfortunately, in my personal opinion, the biggest decline in fan count is rarely mentioned and the reason it is never mentioned is because we all love it and have grown accustomed to it - myself included. It’s live streaming. There’s nothing more convenient than to sit at home in your man cave with all of your buddies with your pizza, beer, or whatever, and when the race is over - you’re already home. I’m sure fans assume that the tracks are being compensated for the revenue lost by streaming, but I assure you that is not the case.

This is the greatest thing ever and I love it too. But what about the tracks that bust their butts for weeks leading up to an event only to look up from the infield to see half-empty grandstands and know they have lost money?

As I’ve already mentioned, I’m as guilty of having all of these streaming options as the next guy. It’s too far to drive, it’s too hot, it’s too cold, or it looks like rain are all reasons fans will stay at home and watch the broadcast from the comfort of their own living room. I mention all of this to say it is time for us as owners and promoters to stand together and demand part of the streaming revenue to help us continue to operate.

Presently, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series is the only series that shares the streaming revenue, however the other “big” series is currently giving it consideration. Several regional series have decided to sign long term contracts with streaming providers without considering the loss of income to the tracks. This is the reason those series have not been and won’t be on my schedule.

I have expressed my concerns multiple times with one of the largest streaming providers only to be told that I’m the only one to complain and that streaming is good for dirt racing. Don’t compare us to Fairbury, Bowman Gray, Eldora, etc. We’re not the Kings of dirt racing but we are the backbone.

I know I’m not the only track that is unhappy about this. When I travel across the country, I make it a point to introduce myself to the owner or promoter of every track that I’ve been to. I've developed some great relationships with many of the other track owners. I have never had one tell me how it helps them - everyone says that streaming is hurting them. Remember that for every streaming view gained, our crowd drops and this is just the beginning.

please contact me at

Roger Sellers

865-607-7213

Rlsellers57@gmail.com

We'd love to have you join our group and take back our sport!

As always I encourage you to read through the archives here on the Back Stretch as that June 12, 2017, entry was definitely not the last time that I have expressed my concerns and now that we see promoters stating the same perhaps we can figure out a way to have a happy medium.

I could go on and on, but frankly I am getting ready to hit the road and attend a race in person tonight. Yes, with two great choices to stay at home tonight and watch on Flo, instead I am going to spend the money on fuel to make the five hour drive and buy my ticket, and I have picked up a pretty good deal on Priceline for a motel to get some rest before getting back home on Wednesday morning, all to be there in person tonight at one of those two events.

Yes, I know that I am lucky to be able to do so on a Tuesday night in September, but if we don't make "that choice" as often as possible going forward, the grassroots of our sport will fade away into the sunset.  

September 1st, Specials Season Is Upon Us

We have turned a page on the calendar today and with that we enter the Fall Specials season here in the upper Midwest. Of the fifty-two tracks where drivers can earn All Iowa Points, fourteen of them have finished their season so there are still plenty of races for drivers to make a move to earn a championship in this the 56th season of the All Iowa Points.

2021 All Iowa Points Four Cylinder Champion Cyle Hawkins

Just ask Cyle Hawkins, the current leader in the Four Cylinder division. When I previewed how the Points might wrap up in mid-September of 2021 I didn't even mention the driver from Blue Grass as by my calculations Caine Mahlberg had a lead that would be hard to overcome. However, with a strong showing during the many October specials in eastern Iowa, and by borrowing an IMCA legal car for a pair of races in November, Hawkins was able to come from behind to take his first championship over Mahlberg who may have shut things down early after wrapping up the 2021 IMCA Sport Compact National Championship. 

As we head into the specials season Hawkins holds a twelve point advantage over Tyler Fiebelkorn as he looks for a repeat championship. Fiebelkorn is known to travel from his southwest Iowa base as he is also in the hunt for the IMCA title so perhaps we will see the top two face off at some events this Fall. Oliver Monson is in the third spot and still in contention, especially if he can run against car counts of ten or more as this is the only All Iowa Points division that changes the scale if car counts are less than ten.

All Iowa Points

Four Cylinder

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Cyle Hawkins Blue Grass 116

2 . Tyler Fiebelkorn Creston 104

3 . Oliver Monson Clear Lake 98

4 . Kolby Sabin Des Moines 90

5 . Kaytee DeVries Spencer 83

6 . Jade Lange Humboldt 81

7 . Trent Reed Missouri Valley 78

8 . Conner Brown Yankton SD 73

9 . Blake Driscol Dysart 65

10 . Brad Stahl Ossian 64

11 . Caine Mahlberg Dunlap 64

No All Iowa Points race is tighter than what we have in the Late Models as the top six drivers are separated by just six points. Three-time champion Matt Ryan (2017, 2019, 2020) is on top of the list heading into the Labor Day weekend with Keokuk's Tommy Elston jumping up to the second spot just one point back. Elston, who ranks 12th on the Cumulative All Iowa Points list since 2000, is looking for his first AIP title as are Jacob Waterman and Andy Nezworski who rank third and fourth right now. This would be Justin Kay's fifth championship if he makes his way back to the top and Zach Zeitner would be only the second Late Model driver based west of I-35 to win an All Iowa Points championship if he can come from sixth to join the 1992 champion Joe Kosiski.

All Iowa Points

Late Model

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Matt Ryan Davenport 76

2 . Tommy Elston Keokuk 75

3 . Jacob Waterman Colona IL 72

4 . Andy Nezworski Buffalo 71

5 . Justin Kay Wheatland 70

6 . Zach Zeitner Bellevue NE 70

7 . Nick Marolf Moscow 60

8 . Denny Woodworth Mendon IL 56

9 . Jacob Brown Omaha NE 47

10 . Dalton Simonsen Fairfax 46

The top two drivers in the Modifieds went head-to-head three times last week as current points leader Austen Becerra ventured up to Davenport on Thursday night where Travis Denning is a regular, then Denning made the trip south to race at two of Becerra's regular haunts in Donnellson and at 34 Raceway west of Burlington. Fourteen points is the advantage right now as Becerra looks to add an All Iowa Points Modified title to the Four Cylinder state championship that he won in 2014, while Denning is looking for his first AIP honors.

All Iowa Points

Modified

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Austen Becerra Carthage IL 143

2 . Travis Denning Sterling IL 129

3 . Kelly Shryock Fertile 104

4 . Chris Abelson Sioux City 103

5 . Jacob Hobscheidt Plattsmouth NE 100

6 . Jeremy Mills Garner 96

7 . Matt Werner Geneseo IL 96

8 . Jarrett Brown Ainsworth 93

9 . Tim Ward Gilbert AZ 91

10 . Jed Freiburger Dubuque 87

The top eleven drivers on the Limited Modified list have all accumulated over 100 points already in 2022 and at the top is defending champion Logan Anderson who holds a ten point cushion over Colby Fett and an eleven point advantage over Jake Sachau. For Fett or Sachau it would be their first AIP title, but they will need to venture east in October and November to not only beat Anderson, but also the 2020 champion Brayton Carter and two-time champ Tony Olson (2015-16). Shane Paris is also in the hunt in fifth.

All Iowa Points

Limited Modified

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Logan Anderson Eddyville 154

2 . Colby Fett Algona 144

3 . Jake Sachau Denison 143

4 . Brayton Carter Oskaloosa 130

5 . Shane Paris Muscatine 125

6 . Tony Olson Cedar Rapids 122

7 . Jarrett Franzen Maquoketa 112

8 . Ty Griffith Webster City 106

9 . Matthew Looft Swea City 104

10 . Dan Hovden Decorah 103

11 . Rusty Montagne North Sioux City SD 103

The Stock Car battle will be fun to watch play out as well with three-time All Iowa Points Modified champion Kelly Shryock (1989, 2017-18) currently leading the way. Last year's AIP Hobby Stock champion Kaden Reynolds is just two points back in second with Derek Green and Mitch Hovden also in the hunt. Dustin Vis who got out to a big early lead in the Stock Car standings has faded to fifth and even loaned out his #20V recently to Brayton Carter to drive at Donnellson.

All Iowa Points

Stock Car

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Kelly Shryock Fertile 119

2 . Kaden Reynolds Cedar Rapids 117

3 . Derek Green Granada MN 115

4 . Mitch Hovden Decorah 101

5 . Dustin Vis Martelle 98

6 . Damon Murty Chelsea 93

7 . Chanse Hollatz Clear Lake 92

8 . Dallon Murty Chelsea 90

9 . Jeffrey Larson Lakefield MN 88

10 . Myles Michehl Fort Dodge 88

The Hobby Stock title will likely go to one of the current top three ranked drivers with Mike Smith enjoying a three-point advantage over Randy Lamar as of right now. If Smith wins he would join his uncles Devin, Dustin and Donavon as an All Iowa Points Hobby Stock champion and for Lamar the title would be a nice prize after a long career of racing in support divisions around the Quad Cities. Don't count out the 2020 champion Dustin Gulbrandson who comes into September just 21 points off the lead.

All Iowa Points

Hobby Stock

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Mike Smith Lake City 146

2 . Randy Lamar Buffalo 143

3 . Dustin Gulbrandson Hartford SD 125

4 . Dylan Clinton Edgewood 104

5 . Jeremy Crimmins Fort Dodge 98

6 . Luke Ramsey Bedford 93

7 . David Miller Sioux City 92

8 . David Crimmins Dubuque 83

9 . Ryan Havel Lone Tree 82

10 . John Watson Des Moines 81

In the three Sprint Car divisions if the driver that currently sits on top holds on to win, it would be the first AIP title for each of them and keep in mind that points paying Sprint Car races become few and far between over the next four weeks. In the 410's Austin McCarl holds a five point advantage over two-time champion Brian Brown (2018-19) and if Austin holds on to win he will join his father Terry who is listed an amazing twelve times on the All Iowa Points Wall of Fame. And that count might grow to thirteen championships if the elder McCarl can overcome the one point deficit that he sees to young Chase Randall in the 360's. The four remaining Sprint Invader events, with the first one coming this Saturday at 34 Raceway west of Burlington, will decide the AIP title for the 360's. And, in the 305 division, Lee Goos Jr. holds a one point lead over the 2020 champion Dusty Ballenger while the defending AIP champion Stu Snyder is seven markers back and tied for third with the 2018 champion Mike Houseman Jr.

All Iowa Points

410 Sprint

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Austin McCarl Altoona 54

2 . Brian Brown Grain Valley MO 49

3 . Aaron Reutzel Clute TX 41

4 . Carson Macedo Lemoore CA 33

5 . Ryan Timms Oklahoma City OK 31

6 . Ayrton Gennetten Gravois Mills MO 24

7 . Kerry Madsen St. Marys NSW 22

8 . Logan Shuchart Hanover PA 22

9 . Justin Henderson Sioux Falls SD 20

10 . Lynton Jeffrey Sydney AUS 20

All Iowa Points

360 Sprint

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Chase Randall Waco TX 59

2 . Terry McCarl Altoona 58

3 . Aaron Reutzel Clute TX 45

4 . Clint Garner Sioux Falls SD 44

5 . Paul Nienheiser Chapin IL 33

6 . Kaleb Johnson Sioux Falls SD 31

7 . Chris Martin Ankeny 19

8 . Troy Schreuers Baltic SD 18

9 . Chris Thram Sanborn MN 17

10 . Brant O'Banion Sioux Falls SD 16

11 . Jason Martin Lincoln NE 16

All Iowa Points

305 Sprint

Pos. Driver Hometown Points

1 . Lee Goos Jr. Hartford SD 57

2 . Dusty Ballenger Harrisburg SD 56

3 . Mike Houseman Jr. Des Moines 50

4 . Stu Snyder Waverly NE 50

5 . Tyler Groenendyk Oskaloosa 39

6 . Cody Wehrle Burlington 37

7 . Trevor Serbus Redwood Falls MN 37

8 . Joey Danley Lincoln NE 36

9 . Mike Mayberry Fremont 35

10 . Brandon Bosma Rock Rapids 34

You can always follow the All Iowa Points at our Positively Racing website and if you would like to learn more about how they are tabulated and why, click here. I have listed the top ten in each division here today not only to preserve the current standings, but also because the Webmistress is a couple of weeks behind with her updates. Yes, it will be warm over the next few weeks, but that can only last so long so visit our Special Events Calendar and make your plans to close out your 2022 season in style.

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