On Saturday, April 25th I ventured my way south to Adrian Speedway for an MLRA late model show. Also on the card were street stocks and hobby stocks, which closely resembled Iowa's version of hornets (4 cylinders). Thirty-two late models checked in while only eleven street stocks and hobby stocks, respectively, were on hand. Upon arriving at the track, it was interesting to note that a train track runs alongside the backstretch. This track, much like Tipton last night, also faces towards the west.
Track officials kept the show moving throughout the night as the heat races got underway at 7:30 and were done by shortly after 8:00. After running two late model consi races, the street stocks took to the track for their feature. Unfortunately, I was unable to get any names of the support class drivers as the PA system did not work where I was sitting. The #32 car started on the pole and drove away from the rest of the field. Portzen was the name on the bottom of the door panel.
Hobby stocks were up next for their main event of the evening. This race was very close between #7 and #172 with #7 pulling out the victory at the end.
The MLRA late model feature concluded the night on a high note. This would be my first MLRA "stand alone" sanctioned event to go along with my first ever visit to this track. Terry Phillips redrew the pole position with veteran Joe Kosiski sitting to his outside. Twenty-three cars started the feature on the 1/3 mile oval. Phillips quickly gained the advantage and pulled away from the field. Eric Turner appeared to be getting a great run on the top side going while most of the other drivers were on the bottom groove. Al Purkey began to follow Turner until a caution flag haulted the action momentarily. Purkey and Turner battled side by side for several laps, allowing Phillips to pull away and take the checkers. Purkey got by Turner with about five laps to go and began to reel in Phillips as he got caught up in lapped traffic, but Turner ran out of laps at the end and would settle for second. Turner finished third, Mike Collins fourth, and last year's series champion John Anderson rounded out the top five. Anderson utilized the mid to high side of the speedway to make numerous passes as he had to transfer out of a consi and started 18th. Story City, Iowa driver Jeremy Grady had a decent night as he started ninth on the grid and finished in tenth position.
All in all, the races were pretty good. Support class cars were down a little from what I expected, but the show was moved along at a good pace without any major delays in the program. The only drawback, as I mentioned earlier, was that the PA system did not work where I was sitting. I was only familiar with about half the late model field and would have liked to have known the others. Races were completed by 9:25, giving fans plenty of time to either visit with drivers in the pits or to head home.
UNOFFICIAL MLRA late models
1. 75 Terry Phillips
2. 33 Al Purkey
3. 99T Eric Turner
4. 3 Mike Collins
5. 2 John Anderson
6. 53 Joe Kosiski
7. 45DW Denny Woodworth
8. 22 Alan Vaughn
9. 43 Jeremy Grady
10. 15T David Turner
11. 74 Jeremy Payne
12. 29 Bill Koons
13. 88
14. 2B Jason Bodenhammer
15. 73B
That's all I got. 23 cars started the feature.
- Racing may be a hobby, but it's DEFINITELY addictive!
No comments:
Post a Comment