The World of Outlaws Late Model Series made their first ever
appearance at I-35 Speedway in Mason City, IA Wednesday August 4th. The race was held one day after originally scheduled due
to Mason City receiving a torrential downpour on Tuesday leaving the town with over an inch of rain. The rain postponement
was not all bad as it allowed the teams to relax a bit. Some headed to nearby lakes for fishing while others chose to
partake in a little friendly pit cart poker. David Wade of Scott Bloomquist’s crew reported catching a northern pike that on
race day was 39” long. There was no rest for the #21 team of Billy Moyer though who were hard at work using the day off to
prep the back-up car in case it would be needed before they returned back home.
Former World of Outlaws feature and dash winner Shane Clanton with Rookie of the Year contender Tim McCreadie on his outside
brought the field of 24 late models around to take the green flag before the crowed of nearly 2,800 excited fans. Clanton
and McCreadie raced side by side through turns one and two, but it was McCreadie’s #39 Sweeteners Plus/A-C Speedworld/Texaco
Havoline/Rocket Chassis Chevrolet Monte Carlo that pulled into the lead on the back chute holding off the charging Clanton.
Meanwhile at the back of the pack the #0 Miller Brothers Coal/Hawkeye Trucking/Custom Race Engines/Allstar
Performance/Hoosier Tire/Sweet Manufacturing Ford Taurus of Scott Bloomquist was beginning to work its way through the
field. Bloomquist was forced to start at the tail of the field due to car problems that plagued the team early in the night,
forcing them into their back-up car.
Lap four showed Rick Eckert’s #24 Raye Vest Excavating/Rocket Chassis Ford Taurus, passing the #7 of Matt Miller for third
and Dale McDowell and Darrell Lanigan battling for fifth. Lanigan moved his way into fifth using the low side on lap nine,
but McDowell continued working on Lanigan’s back door.
The near capacity crowed went their feet on lap 14 as Chub Frank, Steve Francis, and Brian Birkhoffer went three-wide racing
for 8th position. Francis prevailed and continued his charge toward the front.
The front running cars including McCreadie, who by this time had built a substantial lead over the field, were bunched back
up on lap 16 as the caution was brought out for Steve Shaver who had slowed to a stop in turn two. At this time the top five
running order consisted of McCreadie, Clanton, Eckert, Miller and McDowell.
As the field took the green flag on the restart Eckert quickly moved in to second and began to challenge McCreadie for the
lead. McCreadie’s car soon pulled ahead of Eckert and began to slowly pull away, leaving Eckert to make up a two car-length
lead.
McDowell and Miller began fighting for fourth on lap 17. McDowell advanced into fourth the following lap but his position
would be short-lived. McDowell, running the high line, tagged the wall in turn four causing him to lose his position and
bring out the yellow.
Eckert tried for McCreadie on the low side off of the restart again, but McCreadie’s high side momentum allowed him to
maintain his position and pull ahead of Eckert. Francis in the #15 Valvoline/Mopar/Freeport Recycle Center/Action Auto
Mart/Rocket Chassis Dodge Intrepid also began to challenge Clanton on the low side for second, but couldn’t get it as the
file entered lap 24.
On lap 33 Eckert and McCreadie entered lap traffic and began to work their way through. With McCreadie running high and
Eckert running low they approached the lap car of Kerry Hanson on the back chute, Eckert went low and McCreadie went high.
With the three-wide racing, McCreadie on the outside soon ran out of real estate and was forced to detour through the corn
field and bring out the yellow leaving Eckert as race leader.
Francis came on strong after the restart and went low taking second position second from Clanton. Lanigan saw the open door
and followed Francis, bumping Clanton back down to fourth. Billy Moyer in the #21 J&J Steel/McCarthy One Hour Heating and
Air/Banner Valley Hauling Chevrolet Monte Carlo crept his way up through the field after having to come all the way from the
tail of the B main, and now found himself running in fifth.
Moyer soon found his way around Clanton and with ten-to-go was testing Lanigan for third. Moyer continued to challenge
Lanigan for third and the two were side by side at the line as Eckert took the checkered flag on lap 50.
“I didn’t think I was going to get by Timmy, I would get in behind him and he didn’t rattle,” said Eckert. “I figured I was
going to get second and he was going to win and I wouldn’t have cared because Timmy and I are friends. I got around him
(McCreadie) when we got in to lap traffic; I figured he would lift if I boxed him in.”
Second place finisher Steve Francis was happy with another second place finish. “We had a good car in the feature but we
just started too far back to finish any higher,” commented Francis. “We were set up a little too tight and just had to run
the same line as Rick. I ought to be called Mr. Second the way I have been finishing lately, but I’m happy, second is better
then third.”
Darrell Lanigan, who scored as finishing third commented, “The car was good all night but we gambled again on tires and the
long run killed us. But you can’t complain when you start 8th and can finish third.”
The on-demand broadcast of the A main feature from green to checkered flag, will be available for viewing at
www.dirtvision.com. Dirtvision memberships are currently free of charge, but you must register to view the broadcasts. Visit
www.dirtvision.com for a schedule of upcoming broadcasts. |
