Our annual Spring trip to the Beatrice Speedway was certainly warmer than the norm. With temperatures in the 70's both days, it was a far cry from having to bundle up as is often the case, or even fend off snow flurries! This time, we enjoyed more comfortable weather, though the winds were more than calm! With the warm, sunny and windy weather, it made for the track conditions turning slick and shiny in no time--both nights. The good news was, it was smooth!
Friday night's show had the IMCA modifieds, IMCA stock cars,(back after several year's absence at the track)IMCA Northern SportMods and IMCA Hobby Stocks on the docket. Running in the heats were 39 stock cars, 56 sportmods, 36 hobby stocks, and 65 modifieds--196 total cars in the heats. That's just by my count, so there may have been more that did not make the call.
The IMCA hobby stock feature ran first on Friday and the finish resulted in a controversy that not many in the grandstand seemed to observe--from our perspective anyway. With just a lap in, a rolling car or two halted the action in turn one, requiring a lengthy time for clean up. The group that we were enjoying the racing with, observed that a certain car was realigned in what we didn't believe to be the proper place. However, there didn't seem to be any protesting in the stands and the race resumed with the car in that position. It seems that the problem arose due to the fact that there were several cars with the same number--though different letters--difficult circumstances for some scorers. The finish was thus scored with Adam Armstrong taking the eventual win. Scott Pippert, Elberon, Iowa and an area driver we often see, led much of the race but was overtaken by Armstrong, and had to settle for runner up. Third was Mike Hansen, fourth Shane Slezak and fifth went to Brian Stich.
The 20-lap Northern SportMod feature was up next and Tyler Frye dominated in taking another win. He was the defending Spring Nationals champion as well as the defending track champion. Tad Reutzel, northern Iowa driver from Burt, finished in second place, third was Minburn, Iowa driver, Clint Luellen, fourth went to former modified driver, Jeff Jones out of Council Bluffs, and rounding out the top five was Jeremy Leiting.
The IMCA stock cars also ran a 20-lap feature. We were pleased to see the stock cars back on the schedule again. It's still one of our favorite classes, and by the nice turnout, looked to be a popular re-introduction. This feature turned into a a good battle up front between three drivers; Elijah Zevenbergen, or "EZ", Damon Murty, the Chelsea Charger, and local favorite, Kyle Vanover. Perry Misner from Garden City, Kansas threw his hat into the ring at the end, mixing the running order up. Zevenbergen, from Ocheyedan, Iowa led it from start to finish however, taking the win ahead of Misner in second, Vanover in third, Murty was fourth, and fifth went to Jesse Taylor, who made the trip over from Ft. Morgan, Colorado.
The IMCA modifieds ran 30-laps for the night cap. Jay Noteboom, who started on the outside front row, had the lead early, passing former national champion Dylan Smith, and Dunkerton, Iowa's Troy Cordes. From there on, there was no looking back, as Noteboom motored home for the win. He won comfortably over another former national champion, David Murray, and third was yet another former national champion, Gordon Grabouski. Fourth went to Colorado driver Brett Smith, and fifth was Dylan Smith.
Saturday saw another warm and very breezy day. We expected much the same track conditions for the races that night, and that is what evolved--the track rubbering over early on. Tonight's racing included the IMCA Sport Compacts joining the four classes from the previous night.
The IMCA Sport Compacts ran a 12-lap feature with Aaron Betz, besting the field. Betz, who made the long haul down from Avoca, Minnesota, had a twenty-plus feature win season in 2011, and looks to be picking up where he left off. Tyler Whalen, from Riverside, Iowa took home the runner-up position, third was Ole Olson, fourth was Brock McDougall, and fifth was Scott Spellmeier.
The IMCA Hobby Stocks ran 15-laps for their feature event. Shaun Slezak, a popular area driver, took the win tonight. Slezak, in a borrowed car because his own was not ready, dominated the race. Mike Hansen, from Weeping Water, Nebraska (love that name), took second over Brendon Stigge from nearby Fairbury, Nebraska, fourth was Blain Petersen from Essex, Iowa and Adam Armstrong was fifth.
The Northern SportMods ran their 20-lap feature next. Mike Pruitt from Redfield, Iowa was the lucky re-draw #1 and started on the pole along side Jeremy Leiting. Pruitt led all but the first lap when he passed Leiting, and drove his Raven Chassis to the victory. Jesse Sobbing tried his best to sneak past Pruitt, but was unable to make it happen, ending up with the bridesmaid spot. Leiting held on to take third, fourth was Kyle Prauner, and Racer Hulin from Laurel, Iowa took home fifth spot.
Chelsea, Iowa's Damon Murty established his dominance early on in the stock car 20-lap feature, taking home the victory. Andrew Altenburg from Minnesota and Beatrice's Tyler Phelps applied some pressure to Murty, but he never relinquished the lead. Altenburg finished second, Phelps came from starting in the fifth row, to finish third, fourth was Casey Werkmeister and Jesse Taylor rounded out the top five.
Thirty laps awaited the modifieds that would cap off the night's racing. Who should draw the pole, but Jordon "Grabo" Grabouski, who certainly knows his way around the Beatrice Speedway. Grabouski, from Beatrice, was the defending Spring National's champion, as well as the 2011 IMCA National Champion. Grabouski led all but the very first lap of the event though things were looking to be getting interesting in the late laps of the race. That's when David Murray came charging into second in a desperate attempt to over take the #30 car of Grabouski. That challenge would end when at lap 27, on a restart, Murray dove to the inside, clipped a track tire, then shot across the track and made contact with the outside wall, and ended up with Jeremy Frenier driving over the top of his car...and bringing out another yellow.
Grabouski kept command from that final restart, taking the checkers first. Jay Noteboom finished in second, third was Dylan Smith, fourth was Brian Mullen from Seymour, Wisconsin and fifth went to David Karst from Mills, Wyoming.
What a way to start off our 2012 racing season around these parts! The pits were packed...well over 230 on the second night of racing, and the stands and cat walks were full! The weather conditions were warm, though a bit too windy, but if this was any indication of the racing action, the car count, and the fan count to come, it is looking up for racing. It was nice to see the full stands and great to see so many race friends we knew who were in attendence...all enjoying the sport we love!
Don't forget the Frostbusters coming up in our area soon. The Frostbusters will kick off their five-night schedule at the Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa on Wednesday, April 4, followed by Thursday night, April 5th at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Speedway in Des Moines, the Marshalltown Speedway on Friday, April 6, the Boone Speedway, Boone, Iowa on Saturday April 7th, and finishing up on Sunday April 8th at the Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa. We hope to make many of those events. Hope to see you there. Happy racing!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Racing at Daytona
It's been a while since we've checked in here. It's been a quiet time racing wise for us since last fall. However, we did recently get some racing in when we ventured to Florida and took in Speedweek at Daytona International Speedway. No doubt, most of you know about the rain postponed Daytona 500 that we got to experience! We not only saw the first ever postponed Daytona 500, but also the only one run at night. Plus...it lasted into the wee hours of Tuesday morning, so also spanned two days!
For the most part, other than that Sunday when the Daytona 500 was to be run, we enjoyed the nicest/warmest weather ever for racing in Florida. Thursday was beautiful for the running of the Duels. Duel #1 was pretty uneventful until Danica Patrick took a rough ride into the backstretch wall. Tony Stewart took the checkers (to my delight) in the first race of the day. The second race went to Matt Kenseth, which I was quite pleased about as well! We always enjoy the Duel races, as it gives you an opportuity to see ALL the drivers who are attempting to qualify. Also a little chance to wrap your head around all the car/driver changes from the previous year.
Friday wasn't quite as early a call to head to Daytona from our hotel in Orlando, since the race was a night running. The race vehicles are always beautiful under the lights. Little did we know then, it wouldn't be the last time we would see a race at night there! There were several cautions in the race but it was on a late-in-the-race restart, that things really changed up the game. I should have known when they announced the restart would be the "first" of a green-white-checkered finish, that they really knew what they were talking about! Yup...finally on the THIRD, green-white-checkered, the "bumper trucks" finally got the race in. That was after the second try resulted in a RED flag situation and then at the conclusion of the third restart, a big mess ensued after the white flag had flown and the race was called completed. It was nice to see a first-time winner in John King, get a victory, but an unfortunate situation that eliminated up-front runners all night being taken out of a good finish at the very end. It happens, as we've all seen before. One of the incidents resulted in a truck flipping pretty high just down from our seats, bending one of the catch fence poles at a pretty good angle. It was replaced by the next day.
Saturday, it was back again to the Speedway, and this time for the running of the Nationwide race. There were many lead changes early in the race, and once again, more than several cautions. And, once again, a big mess happened on the final lap of the race, taking out the top running cars. The lucky winner of this race was James Buescher. Not a bad deal for him since he had been running in 11th place as he rounded turn four coming to the checkers. He skillfully avoided the massive wreck in front of him involving the leaders.
Now comes Sunday, and the scheduled Daytona 500. We knew all week that Sunday was calling for rain. However, all those cells that pop up and move in can just as quickly dissipate as they form in that area. We were all hoping that would be the case on Sunday. It didn't happen...not for long anyway. We sat in the vehicle in a pretty convenient location to the track, so could hear the jet dryers on the track periodically as they attempted to get the job done. It drizzled off and on and with the scheduled start time approaching, we opted to head to the track. As we stood beneath our upper section seats (we were in the very top row of the frontstretch, just at the pit exit) the pre-race ceremonies were underway, Lennie Kravitz performing, and then the driver introductions. We were encouraged that this might just happen! Then, it poured!! We ended up standing there under the protected area of our section, for four hours, just waiting. We did get to know one of the ushers quite well though. When the rain let up, we decided to head back to the vehicle just to be able to sit down and rest, knowing that it would still be at least two hours before they could even get the track dried if and when it stopped. Wasn't long after we got there, that the word came that they had decided to postpone the race. This was for the first time EVER in the history of the Daytona 500. It was rescheduled to run at noon the next day. Thanks to a track text messaging, we got the word quickly, though it was also announced over the radio and people in the parking lot were also listening on their scanners. So...back to Orlando we went, booked our hotel room for an extra night, and crossed our fingers for getting the race in on Monday.
Monday dawned drippy too! Oh no, tell us it wasn't so! But we headed over to Daytona hoping for the best. We had heard that they probably wouldn't delay the 500 and run it on Tuesday if Monday didn't happen, but instead, would schedule it for an "off weekend" in April. That wouldn't happen for us then. It sprinkled off and on Monday morning and then came more than a sprinkle! The word then came that they had once again postponed the race, but were hopeful that a window of opportunity would come later that evening....races to be run at 7 p.m. Yup, got to see another night race.
The Daytona 500 ran at 7 p.m. on Monday, and the conditions of the track and the weather were actually quite pleasant. Of course, everyone had their ponchos close at hand! No umbrellas allowed in the grandstand, and apparently, many didn't know that as observed by the stash of umbrellas confiscated at the gates! Luckily, no more than a very few sprinkles fell the remainder of the night, and none enough to stop any action on the track.
Jimmy Johnson's night ended nearly before it started, with involvment in a wreck on lap 3 that took him out. A blown engine on lap 64 took out Jeff Gordon early as well. Everyone had their fingers crossed looking for that magic 100th lap, knowing that if rain came, the race would be declared offical. There was rain showing on radar, nearby. But no more than those few sprinkles mentioned earlier, ever appeared and the race continued. Late in the race, a caution came out and the yellow flag laps were counting down the conclusion of the race. During this time, we kept observing cars pitting...one right down from us. That would be the infamous car #42 of Juan Pablo (or JP as they are now calling him) Montoya. They checked it over, but didn't appear to make any changes, but he did go tearing out of the pits after his stop, in an attempt to catch the pack of cars on the track. We weren't really paying too much attention to the action on the track, since it was under yellow, but I suddenly looked up at the giant jumbotron to observe the wrecked, and on fire, car of Montoya! What the heck. About that time, a glance toward turn three brought a huge, "BOOM" and an enormous fireball! Thinking his car had exploded for some reason, we were still a bit puzzled (we didn't have a scanner) but soon learned that he had hit the back of one of the jet dryers! Not a good thing at all! Thankfully, Montoya and the jet dryer driver were able to escape safely...though I don't know how! The flames burned for a long, long time, the race was red flagged and not many people expected the race to be able to continue. The dryer melted to the track surface, and we thought that was it. Someone heard Dale, Jr. to say he didn't think there was anyway the track would be safe for racing. But....race they did. That would be after a two-hour cleanup of the track, using Tide! I am sure no one was more hopeful the race would NOT continue than Dave Blaney, who was scored the leader when the inferno occurred.
At 12:56 a.m. on TUESDAY, almost 36 hours after it was originally scheduled to run on Sunday at 1 p.m., the 54th running of the Daytona 500 was in the books...winner Matt Kenseth!! This race would also end under a green-white-checkered finish. A common happening during the four races we saw. Kenseth won the 500 for the second time in his career.
We not only saw a Daytona 500 that we will never forget, but along the way, ran into other fans who love the sport as much as us. All those hours of waiting around for the sky to clear, you meet a lot of people! We also, just by chance, were in a restaurant the week after the races....extending our vacation to catch up with our son and family who had flown down, when a couple dining just across from us, made a comment about a shirt Dick was wearing--D.T.U., Dirt Track University. That would bring about a conversation about racing in our neck of the woods here in Iowa and their dirt track racing...in Canada! They told us they were affiliated with Brighton Speedway in Brighton, Ontario. The track, a 1/3 mile slightly banked clay oval had previously been a sanctioned IMCA track, but they told us the newest promoter had opted out of sanctioning, though they ran nearly IMCA rules. It was nice to visit with Huck, who is the announcer at the track, and his wife Mary Ann. A chance meeting of people who love the great sport of dirt track racing. We encouraged them to try and make it back to Iowa for some racing in the near future and mentioned the IMCA Super Nationals. They said they had heard about that spectacle and would love to come sometime. So, Huck and Mary Ann, if by chance you happen to get to read this blog, as I gave them the link to this and a couple of our local tracks, "come on back" and enjoy some racing Midwest style.
We plan to head to Beatrice, Nebraska this Friday for the Beatrice IMCA Spring Nationals. That has often been our kick-off racing each spring in our area. We hope it happens and we get to see some good racing...dirt style!! Happy racing!
For the most part, other than that Sunday when the Daytona 500 was to be run, we enjoyed the nicest/warmest weather ever for racing in Florida. Thursday was beautiful for the running of the Duels. Duel #1 was pretty uneventful until Danica Patrick took a rough ride into the backstretch wall. Tony Stewart took the checkers (to my delight) in the first race of the day. The second race went to Matt Kenseth, which I was quite pleased about as well! We always enjoy the Duel races, as it gives you an opportuity to see ALL the drivers who are attempting to qualify. Also a little chance to wrap your head around all the car/driver changes from the previous year.
Friday wasn't quite as early a call to head to Daytona from our hotel in Orlando, since the race was a night running. The race vehicles are always beautiful under the lights. Little did we know then, it wouldn't be the last time we would see a race at night there! There were several cautions in the race but it was on a late-in-the-race restart, that things really changed up the game. I should have known when they announced the restart would be the "first" of a green-white-checkered finish, that they really knew what they were talking about! Yup...finally on the THIRD, green-white-checkered, the "bumper trucks" finally got the race in. That was after the second try resulted in a RED flag situation and then at the conclusion of the third restart, a big mess ensued after the white flag had flown and the race was called completed. It was nice to see a first-time winner in John King, get a victory, but an unfortunate situation that eliminated up-front runners all night being taken out of a good finish at the very end. It happens, as we've all seen before. One of the incidents resulted in a truck flipping pretty high just down from our seats, bending one of the catch fence poles at a pretty good angle. It was replaced by the next day.
Saturday, it was back again to the Speedway, and this time for the running of the Nationwide race. There were many lead changes early in the race, and once again, more than several cautions. And, once again, a big mess happened on the final lap of the race, taking out the top running cars. The lucky winner of this race was James Buescher. Not a bad deal for him since he had been running in 11th place as he rounded turn four coming to the checkers. He skillfully avoided the massive wreck in front of him involving the leaders.
Now comes Sunday, and the scheduled Daytona 500. We knew all week that Sunday was calling for rain. However, all those cells that pop up and move in can just as quickly dissipate as they form in that area. We were all hoping that would be the case on Sunday. It didn't happen...not for long anyway. We sat in the vehicle in a pretty convenient location to the track, so could hear the jet dryers on the track periodically as they attempted to get the job done. It drizzled off and on and with the scheduled start time approaching, we opted to head to the track. As we stood beneath our upper section seats (we were in the very top row of the frontstretch, just at the pit exit) the pre-race ceremonies were underway, Lennie Kravitz performing, and then the driver introductions. We were encouraged that this might just happen! Then, it poured!! We ended up standing there under the protected area of our section, for four hours, just waiting. We did get to know one of the ushers quite well though. When the rain let up, we decided to head back to the vehicle just to be able to sit down and rest, knowing that it would still be at least two hours before they could even get the track dried if and when it stopped. Wasn't long after we got there, that the word came that they had decided to postpone the race. This was for the first time EVER in the history of the Daytona 500. It was rescheduled to run at noon the next day. Thanks to a track text messaging, we got the word quickly, though it was also announced over the radio and people in the parking lot were also listening on their scanners. So...back to Orlando we went, booked our hotel room for an extra night, and crossed our fingers for getting the race in on Monday.
Monday dawned drippy too! Oh no, tell us it wasn't so! But we headed over to Daytona hoping for the best. We had heard that they probably wouldn't delay the 500 and run it on Tuesday if Monday didn't happen, but instead, would schedule it for an "off weekend" in April. That wouldn't happen for us then. It sprinkled off and on Monday morning and then came more than a sprinkle! The word then came that they had once again postponed the race, but were hopeful that a window of opportunity would come later that evening....races to be run at 7 p.m. Yup, got to see another night race.
The Daytona 500 ran at 7 p.m. on Monday, and the conditions of the track and the weather were actually quite pleasant. Of course, everyone had their ponchos close at hand! No umbrellas allowed in the grandstand, and apparently, many didn't know that as observed by the stash of umbrellas confiscated at the gates! Luckily, no more than a very few sprinkles fell the remainder of the night, and none enough to stop any action on the track.
Jimmy Johnson's night ended nearly before it started, with involvment in a wreck on lap 3 that took him out. A blown engine on lap 64 took out Jeff Gordon early as well. Everyone had their fingers crossed looking for that magic 100th lap, knowing that if rain came, the race would be declared offical. There was rain showing on radar, nearby. But no more than those few sprinkles mentioned earlier, ever appeared and the race continued. Late in the race, a caution came out and the yellow flag laps were counting down the conclusion of the race. During this time, we kept observing cars pitting...one right down from us. That would be the infamous car #42 of Juan Pablo (or JP as they are now calling him) Montoya. They checked it over, but didn't appear to make any changes, but he did go tearing out of the pits after his stop, in an attempt to catch the pack of cars on the track. We weren't really paying too much attention to the action on the track, since it was under yellow, but I suddenly looked up at the giant jumbotron to observe the wrecked, and on fire, car of Montoya! What the heck. About that time, a glance toward turn three brought a huge, "BOOM" and an enormous fireball! Thinking his car had exploded for some reason, we were still a bit puzzled (we didn't have a scanner) but soon learned that he had hit the back of one of the jet dryers! Not a good thing at all! Thankfully, Montoya and the jet dryer driver were able to escape safely...though I don't know how! The flames burned for a long, long time, the race was red flagged and not many people expected the race to be able to continue. The dryer melted to the track surface, and we thought that was it. Someone heard Dale, Jr. to say he didn't think there was anyway the track would be safe for racing. But....race they did. That would be after a two-hour cleanup of the track, using Tide! I am sure no one was more hopeful the race would NOT continue than Dave Blaney, who was scored the leader when the inferno occurred.
At 12:56 a.m. on TUESDAY, almost 36 hours after it was originally scheduled to run on Sunday at 1 p.m., the 54th running of the Daytona 500 was in the books...winner Matt Kenseth!! This race would also end under a green-white-checkered finish. A common happening during the four races we saw. Kenseth won the 500 for the second time in his career.
We not only saw a Daytona 500 that we will never forget, but along the way, ran into other fans who love the sport as much as us. All those hours of waiting around for the sky to clear, you meet a lot of people! We also, just by chance, were in a restaurant the week after the races....extending our vacation to catch up with our son and family who had flown down, when a couple dining just across from us, made a comment about a shirt Dick was wearing--D.T.U., Dirt Track University. That would bring about a conversation about racing in our neck of the woods here in Iowa and their dirt track racing...in Canada! They told us they were affiliated with Brighton Speedway in Brighton, Ontario. The track, a 1/3 mile slightly banked clay oval had previously been a sanctioned IMCA track, but they told us the newest promoter had opted out of sanctioning, though they ran nearly IMCA rules. It was nice to visit with Huck, who is the announcer at the track, and his wife Mary Ann. A chance meeting of people who love the great sport of dirt track racing. We encouraged them to try and make it back to Iowa for some racing in the near future and mentioned the IMCA Super Nationals. They said they had heard about that spectacle and would love to come sometime. So, Huck and Mary Ann, if by chance you happen to get to read this blog, as I gave them the link to this and a couple of our local tracks, "come on back" and enjoy some racing Midwest style.
We plan to head to Beatrice, Nebraska this Friday for the Beatrice IMCA Spring Nationals. That has often been our kick-off racing each spring in our area. We hope it happens and we get to see some good racing...dirt style!! Happy racing!
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