Rain cuts short Julien Dubuque Classic during Dubuque County Fair races

Wow, did we ever need that rain! I'm not sure how much rain fell in Dubuque, Farley, Dyersville or any other town along Highway 20 on Wednesday night, but I, along with a number of other fair-goers, drove through every inch of it on the way home from the Dubuque County Fair. In fact, the rain was so heavy at times, my return trip to Vinton was 30 minutes longer than it would have been on a normal night.

I can't count the number of separate torrential downpours that slowed the trip home. The waves of rain and the blinding lightning displays forced me to pull off the road a number of times, along with many other motorists. Despite all that (and some wicked hydroplaning along the way), this was one rare time when nobody should be upset that Mother Nature won the night.

Prior to the rain, two of six scheduled features were completed in the annual Julien Dubuque Classic during the fair at Dubuque Speedway. Austin Moyer topped a field of 19 IMCA SportMods while Mitch Bielenberg ran away with the IMCA Sport Compact feature.

Eric Pollard took the early lead in the SportMod feature. From his outside front row starting spot, Pollard went to work on the high side while Matt Miller pursued the leader from the low groove after starting in the third row.

Moyer, who started right behind Miller, quickly advanced through the pack on the low side of the multi-groove surface. Although a handful of cautions slowed the early to middle stages of the event, Pollard maintained his lead while Moyer made his way through the field.

Following a lap eight caution, Moyer ran the low side past Miller, then pulled even with Pollard. The leaders put on a whale of a show for the lead before Moyer pulled ahead to take the win. Pollard ran second ahead of Austin Heacock and Miller.

Bielenberg raced from a second row starting spot to take charge by the completion of the first lap of the Sport Compact main event. In just a handful of laps, Bielenberg extended his advantage to a full straightaway as he cruised to the win over Lane Vohringer. Ryan Schilling and Bob Taggart completed the top four.

Just as the IMCA Modifieds were ready to resume racing following a lap four caution, the rains came and washed out the remainder of the program. The Modifieds, along with the IMCA Hobby Stocks, SPI Stock Cars and IMCA Late Models were unable to complete their features. Keep your eye on www.simmonspromotionsinc.com for word on if/when those events will be rescheduled.

Special thanks to Keith Simmons, Kevin and Carey Feller, Jerry Mackey, Larry Bontz, Doug Haack and the entire SPI crew for their hospitality Wednesday night. It was also a very pleasant surprise to see Jerry's wife, Marnee, who also used to work at the speedway. I hadn't seen Marnee in around eight years, but had the opportunity to catch up with her before and during the races. Marnee, I don't think you've aged a bit! Those grandkids are keeping you young!

Speaking of the Mackeys, Wednesday night was my first visit to Dubuque since May 19, 2002. Although that was over 10 years ago, I remember it well because I was there to report double Late Model features for Hawkeye Racing News and that night I said farewell to a friend who was moving to California the following day. The friend was Travis Mackey, a fellow co-worker at Hawkeye Racing News and the son of Jerry and Marnee. I knew it had been a while since my last visit to Dubuque, but it seems even longer when I realize Travis and his wife Jessica have had two kids and re-established themselves in the Cedar Rapids area since that time.

Out of curiosity, I thought it would be interesting to see who was in attendance during my last trip to Dubuque. After a 10-year absence, I was pretty sure the names would change. While there were a few names in those results that you don't see today, a number of drivers are still making circles at tracks throughout the area. Below are the results from the double features 10-plus years ago:

First feature - 1. Gary Webb, Blue Grass; 2. Darren Miller, Chadwick, Ill.; 3. Steve Boley, West Liberty; 4. Denny Eckrich, Tiffin; 5. Luke Merfeld, Dubuque; 6. Dave Eckrich, Oxford; 7. Darren Mish, Cassville, Wis.; 8. Ed Sanger, Postville; 9. Terry Neal, Ely; 10. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls; 11. Troy Bruder, Freeport, Ill.; 12. Bobby Hansen, Dike; 13. Mark Merfeld, Dubuque; 14. Bob Silaggi, Freeport, Ill.; 15. Mark Curwen, Hazel Green, Wis.; 16. Steve Johnson, Camanche; 17. Ed McGuire, Monroe, Wis.; 18. Steve Ihm, Kieler, Wis.; 19. Jon Rogers, Freeport, Ill.
Second feature - 1. Denny Eckrich; 2. Webb; 3. Miller; 4. Boley; 5. Aikey; 6. Sanger; 7. Neal; 8. Hansen; 9. Curwen; 10. Merfeld (no clue which one); 11. Ihm; 12. Bruder; 13. Silaggi; 14. McGuire; 15. Johnson; 16. Mish; 17. Merfeld (no clue on this one, either); 18. Dave Eckrich.

Aikey, Hansen, Luke Merfeld and Ihm were among those from 10 years ago who were scheduled to take the green in Wednesday night's feature. Current points leader Dan Shelliam was winning many Pro Stock features a decade ago at the speedway.

A lot has changed at Dubuque, most notably the new MUSCO lights that were recently installed. Along with the lights, my last visit was also prior to the installation of the wall that was built around the entire track. Although it had been a few years, Dubuque remains one of my all-time favorite places to go racing. Thanks again to SPI for a fun night, even though it was cut short!

Thursday, I'll be at Benton County Speedway in Vinton for the annual mid-week fair races. IMCA SportMods, IMCA Hobby Stocks and IMCA Sport Compacts will be competing in a draw/redraw show for track points. Nostalgia cars will also be added for the fair event. I'll be splitting time with promoter Mick Trier behind the microphone and scorer's table. Former IMCA Modified driver Shawn Fisher will also be working that event. He'll be waving the flags while regular chief starter John Huff races his Nostalgia car. I'm looking forward to working with you, Shawn. It should be a blast!

Friday, I will be making the trip to Lee County Speedway in Donnellson for $1,000-to-win IMCA Modifieds, which will also include points racing in the other weekly divisions, plus Mod Lites. While I'll be in attendance, I won't be behind the microphone in Donnellson. When new management takes over a business, there are growing pains. It takes a certain length of operation to see what's viable and what is not. Race tracks are no different. After discussing the matter with promoter Dewain Hulett earlier in the week, it was mutually decided that I would serve as a fill-in on an as-needed basis.

As I mentioned to fellow LCS announcer "Dan the Man" in the booth last Friday, "You live in town and I live two hours away. Why aren't you announcing here weekly? They don't need two of us." With that, my Fridays will be free for the most part, and it may also allow me to visit some other tracks for the remainder of the season. Regardless how I fill my Fridays, I wish the Lee County Speedway crew the best of luck for the remainder of the season and I hope to make it back down there a few more times before the end of 2012.

Before I forget, I recently posted a press release on the Independence Motor Speedway web site and facebook page about the August 6 World of Outlaws Late Model Series event. That event, which will include $1,000-to-win IMCA Modifieds ($200-to-start), has been generating a lot of discussion. If you want to avoid standing in potentially long ticket lines on race night, I have grandstand tickets available for purchase in advance. Along with Vinton and Donnellson the next two days, I'll also be in Independence on Saturday and back in Vinton on Sunday. Tickets for that event (cash only) are $30 for adults and $15 for ages 12 and under.

The weather looks much more comfortable for the coming days. If you have the opportunity, take the time to get out and support your local track! I'll see you at the races!