Weekend #1 Recap

Thankfully the wet weather gave us a big enough window this weekend for the first ASCS Midwest/Northern Plains event of the season at I-80 Speedway on Friday and Saturday. It sure does feel good to have racing season here at last!

My take...

Friday

-Historically the first ASCS Midwest/Northern Plains shows brings together a pretty strong contingent of cars, and this year was no exception. Friday night had 40 sprinters in the pits, and it was a stout field of cars.

-The track Friday was heavy and fast. Lots of motor causalities the first night out.

-Thankfully there wasn't a lot of torn up equipment, with the exception of Adam Gullion. Gullion's car was ill-handling in hot laps forcing him to slow in the middle of turns 3 and 4. Unfortunately Gullion came into contact with another car. The result was Gullion's new Maxim driving straight into the turn 4 wall, cutting off the entire front clip of the car.

Fortunately Gullion wasn't seriously injured, but I hate to see anyone junk their car in hot laps the first weekend out. I'm told Gullion still has last year's car and should be able to return to action very soon.

-Billy Alley turned in one of the most dominating performances I've seen for several years, winning the A feature by half a straightaway over runner up Brian Brown. Alley started outside of the sixth row, but proceeded to machine through the field on his way to the front.

Alley enters 2009 as his own car owner with no major sponsor. A win like this can provide much needed confidence and perhaps catch the eye of a potential backer.

-Brian Brown turned in a fine performance in Friday's A Feature. After finishing 4th in his heat, Brown won one of two B mains and started the A 14th. From there, Brown raced all the way to second behind Alley. Brown needed a late caution for a chance race for the win, but never got one. Still, it was a remarkable drive through a strong field.

Friday's top ten:
1. Billy Alley
2. Brian Brown
3. Mike Chadd
4. Dusty Zomer
5. Wade Nygaard
6. Jonathan Cornell
7. Mike Boston
8. Eric Lutz
9. Don Droud Jr.
10. Jason Danley

-I would like to compliment IMCA modified driver Jesse Cowles on a nice run Friday night. Cowles is an Iowa native who is a new addition to the Cornhusker state. I believe Cowles finished 7th in the mod A feature, and I won't be surprised to see him win a few this year. Look for his black 83 at Beatrice and I-80 in 2009. Cowles has the dubious distinction of having to work with yours truly at Speedway Motors.

-There's nothing quite like that first smell of hot oil and alcohol fumes at the first race after a long winter. Did I mention I'm happy it's race season?

Saturday

Saturday's race surface was a complete 180 from Friday's. Instead of tacky and wet, Saturday's races were on a hard and slick track.

-Even with the loss of a couple cars from Friday, Saturday's car count was around 45.

-It was definitely a night of "Slow is Fast" racing, especially early on. I'm typically not a big fan of dry slick, but I will say tracks like that definitely require more imput from the driver and less motor.

-Jonathan Cornell from Sedalia, Missouri won his first ever ASCS Midwest/Northern Plains feature event Saturday. The youngster looked real smooth and held off hard chargers Wade Nygaard and two time Northern Plains champion Lee Grosz.

-I always enjoy watching the races from the pits, and I-80 is a somewhat unique pit venue. With three classes, cars, haulers and pushtrucks, it's an extremely cramped and chaotic infield. The best part about I-80's pits is their close proximity to the action on the track. It's still awe-inspiring to stand only a few feet away from sprint cars at speed.

-When I wasn't watching near the fence in turns 1 and 2, I was standing on top of Brian Brown's hauler, or riding in Mike Peterson's maroon Bronco push truck. Three distinct ways to watch the same event.

-Friday's top two finishers weren't in the mix to win Saturday night, but Billy Alley and Brian Brown raced hard to finish 5th and 6th repectively. It's going to be a fun year watching those two battle (along with a lot of other great cars) for the 410 points championship at Knoxville.

-One of the best parts about Saturday's show was the lack of flips. In fact, I don't recall anyone getting upside down or tearing up any equipment.

Saturday's Top Ten:
1. Jonathan Cornell
2. Wade Nygaard
3. Lee Grosz
4. Lou Kennedy Jr.
5. Billy Alley
6. Brian Brown
7. Jody Rosenboom
8. Bryan Dobesh
9. Don Droud Jr.
10. Gregg Bakker

-The best part about the first race weekend of the season is the realization that you have many, many more to look forward to in the coming months. I can't wait!