For the past few years the Davenport Speedway has been able to capitalize on literally being in between two of the biggest events in Late Model racing; the Silver Dollar Nationals and the Prairie Dirt Classic. And by scheduling the Tuesday night show as a MARS series race, it has made for an interesting roster with drivers from both the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series and the World of Outlaws Late Model Series converging on the track that more and more drivers have proclaimed to be their favorite. Plus, with the MARS sanctioning you would add in a few of their points contenders as well and the result has been some fantastic racing. In fact, the 2021 version of this event was named the Dirt On Dirt race of the year when Hudson O'Neal edged out Jonathan Davenport for the victory.
The Hoker 50 was once again scheduled in that prime location here in 2023, however when the XR Super Series shifted a two-day $100,000-to-win event originally scheduled for an April date at the Off Road Speedway in Norfolk, Nebraska, to this Monday and Tuesday in July, that would peel off nearly all of the current national stars of the sport. Also, if you want proof that the MARS Series is truly a regional effort, four of the top ten in series points were not in attendance at Davenport likely because it was a Tuesday night and at a track that is on the edge of its region. Note that I used the word "current" above, because in the twenty-four drivers that were in action here, there were at least a couple who will likely be national stars in the very near future. Most notably the two that would finish the fifty laps in first and second.
Young Drake Troutman has been wowing fans along the UMP Summer Nationals trail in 2023 as the Pennsylvania driver made his way west and while he showed a great deal of speed nearly every night, the results just weren't falling in to place the way that he wanted. Shredded tires while either at the front or making a big run through the field, jumping the cushion while leading at Quincy or getting caught up in other drivers messes, Troutman did not pick up a win on the Summer Nationals despite dazzling the fans who were perhaps seeing him for the first time. Even here at Davenport's Summer National stop "The Kid" earned some new fans in June when he went from third to first on the final to win his heat race so on this night it would come as no surprise to see him go the distance to pick up the $10,000 top prize.
Troutman was right where he wanted to be when he drew the outside of row one for the Hoker 50 as he was a rocket off the cushion on both ends. Frank Heckenast Jr. would try to maintain the quick early pace, but the bottom had not come in yet and after Jake Little slid off the top of turn four on lap nine, Garrett Alberson would move to second. With his Roberts Racing Team based here in the Quad Cities, Alberson was the only national tour regular in the field on this night and after setting quick time earlier, he was nipped on the final lap of the first heat race by Heckenast to finish third and drop him out of the redraw. But Garrett was quick again now coming from seventh to second and he was trying to find a line that was better than Troutman's rim ride.
Some drama for the MARS series point leaders would play out just before the mid-race mark, first when points leader Jason Feger exited the speedway under green on lap twenty-two and then just two laps later championship contender Ryan Unzicker slowed on the speedway to draw a caution. All four tire were still up on the #24 and he would still be in the work area when the field came back to green with twenty-six laps remaining. Chris Simpson would move to second on this restart, but soon found out that he could not keep up with Troutman and the caution would wave again on lap thirty-two when Matt Furman and Justin Duty both slipped off of the turn two banking.
Alberson would get back to second on this restart and Simpson's race would come to an end when he pulled to the infield with twelve laps remaining while running fourth. One lap later the caution would fly again for Furman who was in the same predicament as before and once back to green both Alberson and the ninth starting Bob Gardner would drive under the leader racing into turn one. Troutman's bite off the cushion was phenomenal though as he flew back around both of them on the back stretch and the question now was whether or not the young driver could close this one out without a mistake.
With the cushion now pushed to the very top of the banking on both ends, all it would take would be just a slight miscalculation to drop the right rear off the top and lose several positions, or worse yet to completely slide over the banking and fall to the back. With the luck that Troutman has had here in the Midwest over the past six weeks, that had to be going through his mind, and that showed a bit in the closing laps as he entered the turns a bit lower and then "grabbed" the cushion out of turns two and four. This allowed Alberson to close the gap and even show the leader his nose a few times in the closing laps, but Drake would keep his cool and close out the flag to flag run with the big win.
Alberson would be just a couple of car lengths back in second while Gardner appeared to have made up some valuable MARS points on Feger and Unzicker with a third-place finish. However, in post-race tech Gardner was disqualified for a deck height violation dropping him to the end of the running order. This would move Jeff Larson up to third with Heckenast in fourth and, after starting from twenty-third, Justin Kay would wind up in the top five. Only nine cars, including the disqualified Gardner, would finish the race.
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| Drake Troutman's ride ready for action |
IMCA Modifieds and the track's Outlaw Stock Car class would run in support on this evening. In the twenty lap main event for the Modifieds, young Charlie Mohr would control the first seventeen laps before the trio of Brad Dierks, Chris Zogg and Matt Werner converged on him. It was an entertaining four car battle for the lead when, with just two laps to go Dierks would drive under Mohr to take the lead and as Charlie tried to battle back, he would drop two more spots as the white flag waved.
Chris Zogg would charge to the outside of Dierks entering turn three on the final lap, but Brad would have the bite exiting turn four to take the win by a car length over Zogg. Werner, who had started ninth, would finish in third ahead of Mohr and Scotte Lemke.
Tony Von Dresky would lead the way early in the fifteen lap money race for the Stock cars until lap six when he would be joined by Nick Hixson and Jeff Struck Jr. for a three car battle for the front. Hixson would take the point on lap seven and, as Von Dresky tried to grab the cushion in turn one to mount a comeback, he would drop off the top and slip to fourth after recovering. Struck would then make his move to the front on lap eight and two laps later Hixson would exit the track while still running second.
The checkers were just about to fly for Struck when two cars tangled in turn one, so the caution waved instead. On the restart Von Dresky tried to make a run at returning to the point over the final two laps, but Struck was just too strong as he scored his fifth win of the season. Von Dresky finished second, third goes to Landen Chrestensen, Joe Bonney finished fourth and Cary Brown completed the top five.
As always the Davenport Speedway crew presented an efficient and entertaining program that wrapped up just before 9:30 and they can all take a break now as the Mississippi Valley Fair takes over the facility until racing returns on Friday August 11th. And don't forget about the World of Outlaws Late Model tripleheader here on Thursday, Friday and Saturday August 24th, 25th and 26th.
Tonight I make the trip up to the Dubuque Speedway for the annual appearance by the Sprint Invaders, plus some big money on the line for the Modifieds, Sport Mods and Hobby Stocks. Then on Thursday night I will take in the sights, sounds and racing action of the Louisa County Fair at the CJ Speedway in Columbus Junction. Look for me trying to choose from one of the many fantastic food options at these fairs!
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