7/24/2020
Davenport Speedway
Track Champions crowned at Davenport
DAVENPORT, Ia. (July 24, 2020) – Track championships were on the line Friday night at the Davenport Speedway. To help make the point battles more interesting, a front row challenge was offered to the top two in each class, with a chance to earn extra money, or a shot at the track championship.
In the Petersen Plumbing & Heating IMCA Late Model feature, Justin Kay and Matt Ryan both turned down the extra money for a shot at the track championship. Ryan would get the jump at the green flag and lead lap one. After that it was all Justin Kay. Justin drove to his fifth points win of the season and more importantly, his third track championship at Davenport. Matt Ryan finished second in the race and the point standings. Chuck Hanna finished third, followed by Andy Nezworski and Jacob Waterman.
Kay’s other two championships came in 2013 & 2014. At night’s end, the difference between first and second was a mere four points.
Spencer Diercks picked off his third Eriksen Chevrolet IMCA Modified feature win of the season. Diercks took the lead from Ryan Duhme on lap five and never looked back. Duhme would finish second in the Modified main, but that would be enough to capture his first Davenport track title. Third in the feature would go to Jeff Larson. Timmy Current and Chris Zogg rounded out out the top five.
The IMCA SportMod title and feature went down to the very last lap. Jarett Franzen came in leading by a single point over Gage Neal. Franzen’s car was sporting the sheet metal of the late Keith Blum. Both Franzen and Neal turned down the front row challenge and the race started with Franzen taking the early lead. After a lap four restart, Neal would grab the top spot. With the laps winding down, it looked as if Neal was headed to the Hoker Trucking victory lane. Coming to the white flag, Neal received damage to the front end and slowed dramatically.
Franzen didn’t let the opportunity go to waste. Jarett won his first feature of the season and locked down the track championship. Ben Chapman also passed Neal and finished second. Neal took third, ahead of Ryan Walker and Tyler Soppe.
In Koehler Electric Street Stock action, Nick Hixson won the battle, but Jeff Struck Jr. won the war. Struck led the first four laps of the feature, but Hixson took over after a lap five restart. Hixson led the remainder of the main for his fourth win of the season. Struck finished second, clinching his second Street Stock title at Davenport. Donnie Louck and Jesse Owen finished third and fourth respectively. Frank Waters made a late race charge to finish fifth.
The two point leaders in QCjeeps.com Sport Compacts were the only drivers to accept the front row challenge. Shawn McDermott and Ashley Reuman both opted to start at the rear. This gave other racers a chance to lead. Jack Fitzgibbon led lap one with Brandon Dahl leading laps two through seven. On lap eight, Joe Lafrenz took control. Lafrenz collected his fifth feature victory of the year. Brandon Dahl held on finish second. Zach Dahl took third. Shawn McDermott rallied to take fourth and secured the track title.
Although the 2020 track champions have been determined, it doesn’t mean an end to racing at Davenport Speedway this year. Post-season action begins on Tuesday (July 28th), when the World of Outlaw Late Models make another visit to the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds track. SportMods will be the support class.
A full slate of races have been scheduled for August as well. For additional schedule information, visit our facebook page or “davenportiaspeedway.com
Results:
Davenport Speedway
July 24, 2020 –
IMCA Late Models
Heat #1: 1. Justin Kay; 2. Chuck Hanna; 3. Ryan Claeys; 4. Dave Wada; 5. Jacob Waterman;
Heat #2: 1. Matt Ryan; 2. Gary Webb; 3. Andy Nezworski; 4. Don Pataska; 5. Bryce Garnhart;
Feature: 1. Justin Kay; 2. Matt Ryan; 3. Chuck Hanna; 4. Andy Nezworski; 5. Jacob Waterman; 6. Bryce Garnhart; 7. Dave Wada; 8. Joe Ross; 9. Don Pataska; 10. Gary Webb; 11. Ryan Claeys; 12. Eric Sanders; 13. LeRoy Brenner; 14. Colton Leal; 15. Brian Webb;
IMCA Modifieds
Heat #1: 1. Ryan Duhme; 2. Jeff Larson; 3. Timmy Current; 4. Spencer Diercks; 5. Jason Pershy;
Heat #2: 1. Mitch Morris; 2. Matt Werner; 3. Mike Goben; 4. Bob Dominacki; 5. Kelly Meyer;
Heat #3: 1. Joe Beal; 2. Eric Barnes; 3. Brunson Behning; 4. Bryce Garnhart; 5. Chris Zogg;
Feature: 1. Spencer Diercks; 2. Ryan Duhme; 3. Jeff Larson; 4. Timmy Current; 5. Chris Zogg; 6. Jason Pershy; 7. Mitch Morris; 8. Matt Werner; 9. Bryce Garnhart; 10. Bob Dominacki; 11. Matt Stein; 12. Brandon Durbin; 13. Mike Goben; 14. Kenlly Meyer; 15. Jon Coombs; 16. Todd Dykema; 17. Tim Simpso; 18. Blake Woodruff; 19. Nick Hillyer; 20. Joe Beal; 21. Dustin Smith; 22. Eric Barnes; 23. Brunson Behning; 24. Craig Crawford; 25. Rob Dominacki; (1-DNS)
IMCA SportMod
Heat #1: 1. Ben Chapman; 2. Rance Powell; 3. Chance Huston; 4. Bryan Ritter; 5. Andrew Francis;
Heat #2: 1. Ryan Walker; 2. Kevin Goben; 3. Matt Fulton; 4. Jed Frederick; 5. Alex VerVynck;
Heat #3: 1. Gage Neal; 2. Dakota Cole; 3. Anthony Franklin; 4. Randy Farrell; 5. Brad Salisberry;
Heat #4: 1. Jarrett Franzen; 2. Perry Gellerstedt; 3. Brandon Jewell; 4. Tyler Soppe; 5. Trey Grimm;
Semi #1: 1. Jared Waterman; 2. Randy Farrell; 3. Trey Grimm; 4. Henry Carson; 5. Alex VerVynck;
Semi #2: 1. Tyler Soppe; 2. Brad Salisberry; 3. Chuck Fox; 4. David Engelkens; 5. Levi Heath;
Feature: 1. Jarrett Franzen; 2. Ben Chapman; 3. Gage Neal; 4. Ryan Walker; 5. Tyler Soppe; 6. Matt Fulton; 7. Jared Waterman; 8. Chance Huston; 9. Trey Grimm; 10. Kevin Goben; 11. Anthony Franklin; 12. Rance Powell; 13. Randy Farrell; 14. Perry Gellerstedt; 15. Henry Carson; 16. Chuck Fox; 17. Dakota Cole; 18. Brad Salisberry; 19. Levi Heath; 20. Bryan Ritter; 21. Brandon Jewell; 22. David Engelkens; 23. Terry Stevens; 24. Alex VerVynck;
Street Stocks
Heat #1: 1. Nick Hixson; 2. Jeff Struck Jr.; 3. Gene Ehlers; 4. Rick Schriner; 5. Rob Henry;
Heat #2: 1. Jesse Owen; 2. Donnie Louck; 3. Joe Bonney; 4. Nick Proehl; 5. Jake Lund;
Feature: 1. Nick Hixson; 2. Jeff Struck Jr.; 3. Donnie Louck; 4. Jesse Owen; 5. Frank Waters; 6. Gene Ehlers; 7. Joe Bonney; 8. Nick Proehl; 9. Rob Henry; 10. Rick Schriner; 11. Jake Lund; 12. Erick Turner; 13. Tom Riggs; 14. Veronica Anderson; 15. Austin Riggs; 16. Cameron Exline; (1-DNS)
Sport Compacts
Heat #1: 1. Jack Fitzgibbon; 2. Shawn McDermott; 3. Brad McDermott; 4. Tim Sibley; 5. Austin Nelan;
Heat #1: 1. Zach Dahl; 2. Wayne Cox; 3. Brandon Dahl; 4. Todd Sibley; 5. Ashley Reuman;
Feature: 1. Joe Lafrenz; 2. Brandon Dahl; 3. Zach Dahl; 4. Shawn McDermott; 5. Jack Fitzgibbon; 6. Brad McDermott; 7. Dustin Begyn; 8. Tim Sibley; 9. Todd Sibley; 10. Austin Nelan; 11. Jason Rhoads; 12. William McPherson; 13. Gary Schlieper; 14. Wayne Cox; 15. Ashley Reuman; (2-DNS)
Article Credit: Mike McGuire
Submitted By: Derek Collum