5/2/2016
This past weekend was to be a Lucas Oil Late Model Series Double Header at Tri-City Speedway and Macon Speedway. The Weekend would have been a complete washout if not for Promoters Tammy and Kevin Gundaker staying on top of the weather and expediting the program in front the Standing Room Only crowd making sure the super late models got the complete show in. Kevin and Tammy had a window and made it happen – awesome job as always !!! Unfortunately the other classes will need to make up feature events !!
Temps Friday were cool and the skies were cloudy but it did not stop the fans from showing up and was one of the biggest crowds I have ever witnessed at Tri-City. The track was in perfect shape and the pits were full with 3 classes running. The late models were supported by 2 modified divisions. 35 Super Late Models were on hand for the Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series Budweiser 50.
Dennis Erb of Carpentersville, Illinois was the fastest qualifier overall stopping the clock with a 14.350 lap. Talk about local drivers making an impact Friday night we always talk about our tough regional drivers including Bobby Pierce, Shannon Babb, Jason Feger, and Brian Shirley, well tonight how about Tim Manville, Jeff Herzog and Michael Kloos.
Tim Manville held the top spot in the heat over Scott Bloomquist almost the entire ten laps before Scott passed him with just two to go. Tim went on to finish second behind the legend of dirt late model racing Bloomquist. Bloomer even mentioned to me after the heat races were over, who was that in the 33 car, and I told him it was our hot dog local driver Tim Manville. Scott, mentioned to me that kid did a helluva job, I gave it all he had to beat him. Jeff Herzog won a heat race beating Darrell Lanigan and Chris Simpson. Michael Kloos finished 3rd in his race locking him in the big show. Other locals including Jim Shereck and Track Champion Billy Laycock each won a consi earning their way into the feature. Kloos, Manville, and Herzog would all finish in the top 15 in the feature, great job boys !!!
And OH !! What a feature it would be, no yellows 50 straight laps in your face green flag racing. When the green flag dropped it was clear the two biggest names in dirt late model racing Scott Bloomquist and Jonathon Davenport starting near the front running first and second in the points on this race track it was ON!! We were not disappointed Davenport would take the lead early and Zero would run him down in lapped traffic to take the lead but not without Davenport taking it back from him again in lapped traffic. Scott would grab the lead with 7 to go and go on to take the checkers. Scott is pretty good on the high banked 3/8 gumbo mile Tri City Speedway making it 3 in a row !!
Scott told me after the races, you know when you win here, you know you were the best car !! You can race all over this place. The race track is perfect, tough to hold off somebody faster than you, this place is just that good !!!
Davenport finished second with Erb taking the final podium spot. Don O’Neal and Tim McCreadie rounded out the top five. Jared Landers passed the most cars, he took a provisional and started near the tail and finished 10th. With the win, Bloomer moved within a hundred points of Davenport for the series championship. The series will be back for its final visit July 15 at Tri-City.
The Rainout of Macon will now be made up Tuesday July 26th, just a couple days before the Prairie Dirt Classic at Fairbury. The event will be sanctioned by the Lucas Oil Series. Up next for me, I will be at Fairbury Speedway next Saturday evening for the $10,000 to win MARS/UMP Late Model Race.
Enjoy the races everyone !!!!!
Don Martin – STLRacing