Well, it looks like this upcoming Friday will be the maiden voyage for the Galde Racing, Automotive Fuel Systems, Bruce Tae Kwon Do #11 Hobby Stock driven by your truly. Hopefully the rain will stay away this time.
Onto the West Liberty recap.
I spent a good part of Saturday cutting down the tree in the front yard, as it was desperately needed due to the storms on Friday. A few of my neighbors had shingle damage also. I checked in on my favorite racing websites and seen that it looked like West Liberty was a go for tonight.
I was a tad bit tired, but after some coaxing from the kids, we went to the track. I was able to meet up with a fellow poster from Iowastockcars.com, 72fan, Warren Busse. Warren broughtd a scrapbook loaded with old pictures and I thoroughly enjoyed looking at those pics. Anyway onto tonight's show.
Even though the track was rough in spots, the prep crew did an excellent job of at least providing a racing surface for tonight's show. The track received about 1.5 inches of rain which moved out early Saturday morning.
The first feaure up was the IMCA-type Stock Cars. 11 of the 12 cars that signed in started the feature event. David Brandies quickly shot into the lead overtaking Andrew Burke by lap 2. Brandies would win the caution-free feature by a full straightaway over Burke by the time the checkers flew. Layne Kaufmann finished 3rd with Shane Paris and Tad Payne the top 5. Heat races were won by Payne and Burke.
Next up was the IMCA-type Modifieds. 15 cars were here tonight. Robbie Verbeck was the early leader, but wasa then overtaken on lap 5 by Richie Smith. Smith would hold onto the lead as the laps ticked off. With a few laps remaining Smith would engage in a brilliant battle with Steve Stewart for the lead which ended with Stewart taking the win by half a car length. Larry Herring, Ryan Dolan and Tim Murty rounded out the top 5. Heat races were won by Stewart and Murty.
The IMCA Sport Compacts were the next feature on the track with only 7 cars in this class tonight. Nathan Chandler took the early lead from his outside second row start, but would briefly lose the lead to Nick Jordan on the white flag lap in turns 3 and 4. Chandler stood hard on the gas and got back by Jordan at the start/finish line. On the white flag lap, Jordan went too hard into turn 3 trying to take over the lead and spun himself out giving the win to Chandler. Cody Thompson finished second, with Ryan Walker, Bill Whalen, Jr, and Jordan Walker the top 5. The heat race was won by Nick Jordan.
The SPI Open modifieds were next with 17 cars on hand. 15 cars would start the feature as Stumpy Brockert and Terry Walker were scratched from the main event. Noah Coppess took the early lead and looked to be heading towards his first feature win of the year at West Liberty. Unfortunately the racing gremlins were in full force and on the white flag lap, Coppess right rear tire shredded handing the lead and the checkers over to Todd Hanson. Scott Doickey finished second with Nick Nevins, Brad Dubil,a nd Johnny Spaw the top 5. Heat races were wonb by Rick Hixson and Coppess.
The final event was the IMCA Late Models. 17 Late Models were here tonight. This race had it all. Drama, Exciting racing, and a vintage moment. Before we even started, Nick Marolf broke the suspension on the parade lap. Heat race winner Jay Chenowith was the early leader. On lap 10, youngster Jonathan Brauns took over the spot from Chenowith and would hold onto the lead for a good portion of the race.
The caution would fly on lap 15 for the spun machine of Kyle Hinrichs. The top 5 running order at that time was Brauns, Ron Boyse, Kevin Kile, Chenowith, and Andy Eckrich. Echrich had a great hole shot on the restart shooting himself up to 3rd place. By lap 15 the running order was Brauns, Kile, Eckrich, Guss Jr, and Chenowith.
Another caution would fly on lap 18 after Mike Klinkhammer was stopped in the bottom of 3/4. The youngster was still holding off some heavy hitters as the top 5 was Brauns, Kile, Eckrich, Guss Jr, and Boyse. During the ensuing restart Guss Jr had a strong restart that put him into the top 3.
On lap 22, the races final caution would fly as Tommy Elston spun in the middle of turns 1 and 2. Tim Simpson had no where to go and was collected in this accident. The top five at that time was Brauns still holding his ground with Guss Jr, Eckrich, Kile, and Boyse the top 5. This final caution would be the downfall for Brauns as Ray Guss Jr was able to get by Brauns on lap 23 in vintage Ray Guss Jr style by outpowering on the bottom of turns 1/2. Eckrich also got around Bruans for second. Brauns finished third with Kile and Hinrichs the top 5. Only 9 of the 17 starters finished the race.
Track announcer Jerry Mackey noted this was Ray's first weekly points victory of the season. Boyse won the other heat race.
Please note there will be NO RACES, next week at West Liberty. The next event is a Tornado Tuesday show on July 10th at the regular start time. This will be an IMCA Deery Brothers Event with SPI Open Modifieds as the support class.
Once again, thanks for reading another episode, "From the Driver's Seat"
