By Don Martin – Last Weekend I went to Granite City for the Deuces Wild Program and 34 Raceway in Burlington, Iowa for the Slocum 50. Tri-City Speedway paid $2000 to in win 3 classes featuring the UMP Late Models and Modifieds, and it was the season opener for the MOWA Winged Sprint Cars. Burlington was paying $10,555 to win for Late Models and was sanctioned by the Corn Belt Clash, ALMS, and MARS Racing Series.
Back to action Friday the first feature of the evening was the 30 Lap Modified Feature, no yellows and Quincy, IL driver Michael Long picked up again another win at Tri-City Speedway. The #25 of Tyler Nicely from Kentucky led the first handful of Laps before Long reeled him and showed him the way around the smooth 3/8 mile clay oval. Mike Harrison was the show, he started the feature mid pack and finished second putting on a great show as always. I would have loved to see a late yellow to see if he had anything for Long. Long is so good at Granite and it doesn’t matter who is in the house. Tait Davenport from Kentucky was third, followed by Tyler Nicely, and Tennessee driver Matt Cooper rounding out the top five. There were a total of 33 Mods on hand for the event.
The race of the night had to be the UMP Late Model Feature with Bobby Pierce on the pole, I didn’t think anyone had a chance of beating him, but that is why they race. Local Hot Dog Tim Manville never gave up and put the pressure on Pierce the entire race before passing him with a few laps to go in the 30 lap main event, one in which went green the entire distance. Manville after taking the lead got a little high in turn 4 heading to the checkers giving Pierce a shot at the win. The race was decided by inches with Highland, Illinois driver Tim Manville taking the win in his TMCI Trucking Rocket Chassis. Bobby Pierce finished second with Tanner English, Michael Kloos, and Jim Moon rounding out the top five. 28 Super Late Models were on hand.
The last feature of the night was the MOWA Sprint Car Series Opener. Morton, Illinois driver Ryan Buntin took the checkers in the 25 lap feature. Jimmy Hurley lead early on and looked like he was the car to beat before getting into a lapped car suffering a right rear flat. Jordan Goldsberry inherited the lead and spun out on his own giving way to Ryan Buntin. Buntin would charge on to the checkers for his first MOWA feature win. Brad Loyet was second with Kody Kinser, Paul Nienhiser, and IRA Champ Scotty Neitzel rounding out the top five. 30 Sprint Cars were on hand for the event.
Onto to Burlington, Iowa for the Slocum 50 featuring the Super Late models. This is always a great show and you never know who is going to show up for this one. It was a homecoming for Brian Birkhofer making his first start in Iowa since leaving the sport for over a year. Brian struggled, its clear the car needs some work and the team will continue to work make the car better. Brian told me afterwards its going to be a challenge and they need to work on some things and probably won’t race again until mid May. Other drivers making the tow were Gordy Gundaker, Tim Manville, Jesse Stovall, Tony Jackson Jr., Rodney Sanders, Frankie Heckenast Jr., California driver Jason Papich, and Wisconsin’s Jimmy Mars to name a few. 33 Cars were on hand on the spacious fast 3/8 mile clay oval. The track has some character featuring no wall in turns 1 & 2 yet and ten foot concrete wall in 3&4.
The feature kicked off with Bobby Pierce taking the initial lead from last year’s Slocum winner Ryan Unzicker. The 19 year old Pierce would pick up his first win of the year dominating the 55 lap feature. Defending champion Unzicker would come home second in his Bob Pierce Race Car with one of the hottest drivers in the country Brian Shirley taking home another podium finish. Shirley had to battle Mars, both Chad and Chris Simpson to get the final podium spot in his Bob Cullen Longhorn Chassis. Chris Simpson would come home fourth with Jason Feger rounding out the top five in his Black Diamond Chassis. Feger had to come from the consi just to make the race. Great run for the Highside Hustler!!