Chris Simpson Scores First Ever “Slocum 50” Win at 34 Raceway
Chris Simpson and crew! Photos by Mike Ruefer
by Brian Neal
West Burlington, IA (Saturday, April 15, 2017) – The much anticipated “Slocum 50” was held on Saturday, April 15th at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, and with the weather forecast bleak everything was moved up one hour in hopes of beating mother nature. Many might believe a certain angel, Brent Slocum, was looking down on the track on this night, as severe thunderstorms moved into northern and west central Iowa much of the night. But nothing reached 34 Raceway until the night was completed and many had left for home.
The first feature to take to the track was the 20 lap WT Gabeline & Sons Trucking 305 Sprints, with Harold Pohren and Shane Quam drawing the front row. Pohren took advantage of his starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over John Schulz and Tanner Gebhardt. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 4, when Nick Guernsey and Donnie Steward spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pohren jumped back out front, with Schulz and Gebhardt still close behind. Just after lap 5 was scored complete the second caution of the race appeared, as Colton Fisher spun off the track in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. Pohren once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Schulz and now Quam following. Just as Pohren started to pull away from the field, the final caution of the race came out on lap 9. This time Brayden Gaylord spun off the track in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Pohren moved back out front, with Schulz and Quam close behind. While Pohren paced the field out front, Ben Wagoner, who started 11th, used the top of the track to work himself into second on lap 18. But he wasn’t able to chase down Pohren for the lead, as Pohren held on to pick up the win and the $1,555 top prize to go with it. Wagoner settled for 2nd and won the hard charger award, Schulz was 3rd, Quam was 4th, with Jarrod Schneiderman rounding out the top 5.
David Brandies and Abe Huls led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 20 lap Pepsi IMCA Stock Car feature, with Brandies jumping out front on lap 1 over Huls, and Tom Schmitt. The action up front was slowed for the first time on lap 3, when Schmitt, who was running 3rd, slowed with a left rear flat to bring out the yellow. On the restart Cody Washburne spun in turn 2 to bring the yellow light back on. The following restart had Redmann edge out Brandies at the line to lead lap 4. But Brandies would come back on the top of the track to take the lead back on lap 5. While Brandies and Redmann battled for the lead, John Oliver Jr., who started 9th, worked his way to the front. The great action up front was slowed for the third time on lap 7, as Schmitt spun in turn 1 to bring out the yellow.
Brandies jumped back out front on the restart, with Oliver Jr. and Huls close behind. On the completion of lap 8, Michael Larsen got sideways coming off turn 4 and collected Ray Raker and Mark Bowman to bring out the fourth caution of the race. Once again Brandies grabbed the lead on the restart, with Oliver Jr. and Tom Bowling Jr., who over took Huls for third, close behind. Brandies then held the lead until lap 12, when he slipped high in turn 2 that allowed Oliver Jr. and Huls to go by for first and second. Then after the lap was scored complete Larsen spun in turn 2 to bring out the final caution of the race. On the restart Huls slipped under Oliver Jr. coming off turn 4 to edge him at the line by inches. Only to have Oliver Jr. slip back by to lead lap 14. Huls didn’t give up though, as he was able to slip under Oliver Jr. to take the lead back on lap 17. But Oliver Jr. again slipped back by Huls to take the top spot back on lap 18. Huls tried to work under Oliver Jr. over the final 2 laps. But Oliver Jr. would hold him off to pick up the win and the $1,055 top prize to go with it. Oliver Jr. also won the hard charger award. Huls settled for 2nd, Redmann was 3rd, Dustin Griffiths was 4th, with Bowling Jr. holding on for 5th.
The final feature to take to the track on the night was the 50 lap Corn Belt Clash Late Models, with Chad Simpson and Brian Shirley making up the front row. Chad Simpson, Shirley, and Chris Simpson raced three wide into turn 1 on the drop of the green flag, but it was Shirley who emerged from turn 2 to lead lap 1 over Chris Simpson and Chad Simpson. Coming off turn 4 to complete lap 2, Chris Simpson was able to slip under Shirley to grab the top spot away, with Chad slipping past Shirley for second one lap later. Chris was setting such a fast pace that he would start to enter lapped traffic by lap 9. Then by lap 14 he encountered heavy lapped traffic, which allowed Chad to cut into his straight-away lead.
While brothers Chris and Chad raced through lapped traffic, Bobby Pierce, who started 11th, was working his way towards the front. On lap 25 Pierce worked himself into 4th, as Chris and Chad continued to maneuver lapped traffic. Once Chris had a clear track in front of him, he started to pull away again. Then on lap 40 more lapped traffic allowed Chad to close back in on Chris’ back bumper, which also helped Pierce to close in. Coming off turn 2 on lap 47, Pierce slid up in front of Chad to take over the runner up spot. But he wasn’t able to catch Chris over the final 2 laps, as Chris went on to score his first ever “Slocum 50” win and the $10,555 prize to go with it. Pierce settled for 2nd and won the hard charger award. Chad Simpson was 3rd, Shannon Babb was 4th, with Shirley coming home in 5th.
Coming up next week, Saturday, April 22nd, at 34 Raceway is Mountain Dew Kick Start Night. The WT Gabeline & Sons Trucking 305 Sprints, Victory Lane Suspension IMCA Modifieds, Pepsi IMCA Stock Cars, Casebine Credit Union IMCA SportMods, Sunoco Fuel Mod Lites, IMRA Midgets, and Sonny’s Market 4 Cylinders will all be in action on the night. All classes will be draw / redraw, with track points being awarded along with IMCA national, regional, and state points in the Modified, Stock Car, and SportMods.
Pit gates will open at 4:30 PM, the grandstands at 5 PM, hot laps at 6:30 PM, and racing at 7 PM. Grandstand admission will be $10 for adults, seniors (60+) and students will be $8, and kids 10 & under FREE! Pit passes will be $25.
For more information about 34 Raceway you can visit the tracks website at www.34raceway.com, like them of Facebook, or download their new AP on your cell phone.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
34 Raceway, West Burlington, Iowa
Saturday, April 15, 2017 – Slocum 50
Corn Belt Clash Late Models
A-Feature: 1. Chris Simpson, Oxford, IA; 2. Bobby Pierce, Oakwood, IL; 3. Chad Simpson, Mt. Vernon, IA; 4. Shannon Babb, Moweaqua, IL; 5. Brian Shirley, Chatham, IL; 6. Ryan Unzicker, El Paso, IL; 7. Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, IL; 8. Frank Heckenast Jr., Frankfort, IL; 9. Bob Gardner, Metamora, IL; 10. Jason Feger, Bloomington, IL; 11. Spencer Diercks, Davenport, IA; 12. Rickey Frankel, Quincy, IL; 13. Dave Eckrich, Oxford, IA; 14. Mike Fryer, Freeport, IL; 15. Jordan Yaggy, Rochester, MN; 16. Rob Toland, Davenport, IA; 17. John Gardner Jr., Creve Couer, IL; 18. Denny Woodworth, Mendon, IL (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. Chad Simpson; Shannon Babb; 3. Frank Heckenast Jr.; 4. Dave Eckrich; 5. Mike Fryer; 6. Denny Woodworth
Heat 2: 1. Brian Shirley; 2. Ryan Unzicker; 3. Jordan Yaggy; 4. Bobby Pierce; 5. Rickey Frankel; 6. Jason Feger
Heat 3: 1. Chris Simpson; 2. Bob Gardner; 3. Dennis Erb Jr.; 4. Spencer Diercks; 5. Rob Toland; 6. John Gardner Jr.
WT Gabeline & Sons Trucking 305 Sprints
A-Feature: 1. Harold Pohren, New London, IA; 2. Ben Wagoner, Emden, IL; 3. John Schulz, West Burlington, IA; 4. Shane Quam, Burlington, IA; 5. Jarrod Schneiderman, West Burlington, IA; 6. Tanner Gebhardt, Burlington, IA; 7. Dave Getchell, Sperry, IA; 8. Nick Guernsey, Burlington, IA; 9. Donnie Steward, West Burlington, IA; 10. Bailey Goldesberry, Springfield, IL; 11. Nathan Murders, Burlington, IA; 12. Devon Rouse, Burlington, IA; 13. Wyatt Wilkerson, Morning Sun, IA; 14. Colton Fisher, Mediapolis, IA; 15. Damian Getchell, Sperry, IA; 16. Brayden Gaylord, Wever, IA; 17. Travis Pence, Stronghurst, IL; 18. Joe Laue, Morning Sun, IA; 19. Andy Huston, Roseville, IL (DNS); 20. Daniel Bergquist, Burlington, IA (DNS); 21. Blaine Jamison, Mediapolis, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. Harold Pohren; 2. Shane Quam; 3. Brayden Gaylord; 4. Nathan Murders; 5. Joe Laue; 6. Andy Huston; 7. Daniel Bergquist
Heat 2: 1. Bailey Goldesberry; 2. Ben Wagoner; 3. Jarrod Schneiderman; 4. Tanner Gebhardt; 5. Devon Rouse; 6. Wyatt Wilkerson; 7. Colton Fisher
Heat 3: 1. Donnie Steward; 2. Dave Getchell; 3. John Schulz; 4. Nick Guernsey; 5. Damian Getchell; 6. Travis Pence; 7. Blaine Jamison (DNS)
Pepsi IMCA Stock Cars
A-Feature: 1. John Oliver Jr., Danville, IA; 2. Abe Huls, Carthage, IL; 3. Jim Redmann, Lockridge, IA; 4. Dustin Griffiths, Hedrick, IA; 5. Tom Bowling Jr., Danville, IA; 6. David Brandies, Atalissa, IA; 7. Jake Wenig, Burlington, IA; 8. Shane Watts, Burlington, IA; 9. Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 10. Les Blakley, Fairfield, IA; 11. Mark Bowman, Burlington, IA; 12. Dean Kratzer, Ft. Madison, IA; 13. Michael Larsen, Monroe City, MO; 14. Cody Washburne, New London, IA; 15. Ray Raker, Danville, IA; 16. Tom Schmitt, Independence, IA; 17. Matt Strassheim, Morning Sun, IA; 18. Derek Schwandt, Burlington, IA; 19. Kevin Weak, Burlington, IA (DNS)
Heat 1: 1. Abe Huls; 2. Jim Redmann; 3. Tom Schmitt; 4. Tom Bowling Jr.; 5. Ray Raker; 6. Mark Bowman; 7. Cody Washburne
Heat 2: 1. Dustin Griffiths; 2. John Oliver Jr.; 3. Les Blakley; 4. Shane Watts; 5. Jake Wenig; 6. Michael Larsen
Heat 3: 1. David Brandies; 2. Dean Kratzer; 3. Chad Krogmeier; 4. Kevin Weak; 5. Derek Schwandt; 6. Matt Strassheim
Category: 34 Raceway, Iowa
