Rothzen, Bowling Jr., and Lennox Start 2017 34 Raceway Points Season With Wins

 

 

 

by Brian Neal

West Burlington, IA (Saturday, April 8, 2017) – Finally mother nature was kind to the crew at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa, as Saturday was sunny with temperatures in the low 70’s by race time. Which helped to give the driver’s a fast race track all through the night. The Victory Lane Suspensions Modifieds, Pepsi Stock Cars, and Casebine Credit Union SportMods kicked off their 2017 points races on Saturday in support of the Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Car Series, that returned after a 7 year absence.

The first feature to take to the track on the night was the 20 lap Casebine Credit Union SportMods, with Levi Laymon and Brett Timmerman drawing the front row for the event. Laymon would take advantage of his front row starting spot to grab the lead on lap 1 over Brandon Lennox and Timmerman. Just after lap 1 was scored complete the first caution of the race appeared to slow the action. Scott Williams, who was running 5th, spun off the top of turn 1 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Lennox slipped under Laymon coming off turn 4 to take over the top spot, leaving Laymon to fend off Timmerman for the runner up spot. Lennox then started to pull away from the battle behind him, when the second caution of the race brought the field back to his back bumper on lap 8. This time Brandon Ryan spun down the backstretch to avoid another car pulling into the infield in front of him to bring out the yellow. Once again Lennox jumped out front on the restart, with Timmerman, Kyle Hill, who started 6th, Brandon Dale, who started 7th, and Laymon racing for the second spot. While the battle for the runner up spot went two and three wide at times, Lennox was putting some distance between himself and that battle. When the third and final caution came out on lap 14, to bring the field back to his back bumper. Joey Gower and Sean Wyett got together in turn 4, with Wyett spinning to bring out the yellow. Lennox once again grabbed the lead on the restart, with Hill and Dale battling for second. On this night there was no catching Lennox, who pulled away over the final 6 laps to claim the $500 top prize. Hill won the battle for 2nd, Dale was 3rd, Jake Morris came from 19th to finish 4th, with Austin Howes coming home 5th after starting in 9th.

Tom Bowling, Jr. and Jason Cook led the field to the drop of the green flag in the 20 lap Pepsi Stock Car feature, with Bowling Jr. grabbing the lead on lap 1 over Dustin Griffiths and Cook. While Bowling, Jr. set a fast pace out front, Griffiths, Cook and John Oliver, Jr., who started 8th, swapped the second, third, and fourths spots. With Oliver, Jr. grabbing the runner up spot on lap 4, and then went to work on chasing down Bowling, Jr. for the top spot. The straight-away lead that Bowling, Jr. had built up was erased on lap 12, when debris down the front stretch brought out the first caution of the race. On the restart Bowling, Jr. jumped back out front, with Oliver, Jr., Griffiths, and Cook glued to his back bumper. Two laps later, lap 14, the final caution of the race appeared to slow the battle out front. This time debris in turn 2 brought out the yellow. Once again Bowling, Jr. grabbed the lead on the restart, with Oliver, Jr. and Griffiths looking for a way around. Oliver, Jr. would look under Bowling, Jr. for the lead over the final laps, as Griffiths worked the top side trying to get around the both of them. But Bowling, Jr. was able to hold them off to pick up the win and the $500 top prize to go with it. Oliver, Jr. held off Griffiths for 2nd, Griffiths was 3rd, Jake Wenig came from 10th to finish 4th, with Cook holding on for 5th.

Up next was the 20 lap Victory Lane Suspensions Modified feature, with Brandon Rothzen and Dustin Smith drawing the front row. But just as the green flag waved the caution light would come on, as Jardin Fuller spun off the track in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the original restart Rothzen jumped out front to lead lap 1 over Mitch Morris and Smith. While Rothzen started to pull away, Morris was working to hold back Colby Springsteen, who started 8th, for the second spot. The action up front was slowed for the first time of the event on lap 6, as debris down the backstretch brought out the yellow. Rothzen grabbed the lead on the restart, with Springsteen slipping past Morris for second. Once again Rothzen started to pull away from the battle for the runner up spot, when the second and final caution brought the field back to his back bumper. Dugan Thye, who was running 5th, spun in turn 2 to bring out the yellow. On the restart Rothzen jumped back out front, with Morris, Springsteen and Dennis LaVeine, who started 12th, racing two wide at times for the second spot. Rothzen would pull away over the final 9 laps to claim the win and the $500 top prize. Morris won the battle for 2nd, LaVeine got Springsteen for 3rd on the final lap, Springsteen was 4th, with Bobby Six coming home 5th after starting in 9th.

Coming up next week, Saturday, April 15th, at 34 Raceway is the 9th Annual “Slocum 50”, which is an event that honors the life of Bent Slocum. The MARS UMP DIRTcar Series and Corn Belt Clash Open Late Models will be competing for a top prize of $10,555 to win, with it also paying $750 to start the feature race. Also in action on the night will be the WT Gabeline and Sons Trucking 305 Sprints racing for $1,555 to win and the Pepsi Stock Cars going for $555 to win. The 305 Sprints and Stock Cars will be awarded track points, but the Stock Cars will not be sanctioned.

Pit gates will open at 3 PM, the grandstands at 4 PM, hot laps at 6 PM, Late Model time trials at 6:15 PM, and racing to follow. Grandstand admission will be $20 for adults and seniors, students will be $15, and kids 10 & under FREE! Pit passes will be $35, with the exception of the 305 Sprint and Stock Car driver’s pit pass will be $30.

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 Raceway

Saturday, April 8, 2017 – Bumper to Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Car Series Night

34 Raceway, West Burlington, Iowa

 

Victory Lane Suspensions Modifieds

 

A-Feature: 1.  Brandon Rothzen, Gladstone, IL; 2.  Mitch Morris, Eldridge, IA; 3.  Dennis LaVeine, West Burlington, IA; 4.  Colby Springsteen, Morning Sun, IA; 5.  Bobby Six; Warsaw, IL; 6.  Creston Williams, Newhell, IA; 7.  Jardin Fuller, Memphis, MO; 8.  Darrow Lillie, Burlington, IA; 9.  Chadwick Giberson, Richland, IA; 10. Dugan Thye, Burlington, IA; 11. Dakota Simmons, Douds, IA; 12. Paul Nelson, Colchester, IL; 13. Mitch Boles, New London, IA; 14. Dustin Smith, Taylor Ridge, IL; 15. Bill Roberts, Jr.; Burlington, IA; 16. Kelly Buckallew, Memphis, MO; 17. Seth Bundy, Carmen, IL (DNS)

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Heat 1: 1.  Colby Springsteen; 2.  Dugan Thye; 3.  Mitch Morris; 4.  Mitch Boles; 5.  Creston Williams; 6.  Darrow Lillie; 7.  Chadwick Giberson; 8.  Seth Bundy; 9.  Dakota Simmons

 

Heat 2: 1.  Brandon Rothzen; 2.  Paul Nelson; 3.  Dustin Smith; 4.  Jardin Fuller; 5.  Bobby Six; 6.  Dennis LaVeine; 7.  Kelly Buckallew; 8.  Bill Roberts, Jr.;

 

Pepsi Stock Cars

 

A-Feature: 1.  Tom Bowling, Jr., Danville, IA; 2.  John Oliver, Jr., Danville, IA; 3.  Dustin Griffiths, Hedrick, IA; 4.  Jake Wenig, West Burlington, IA; 5.  Jason Cook, Mt. Pleasant, IA; 6.  Jim Redmann, Lockridge, IA; 7.  Dean Kratzer, Ft. Madison, IA; 8.  Chad Krogmeier, Burlington, IA; 9.  Shane Watts, Burlington, IA; 10. Mark Bowman, Burlington, IA; 11. Drake Fenton, Burlington, IA; 12. Les Blakley, Fairfield, IA; 13. Cody Washburne, New London, IA; 14. Derek Schwandt, Danville, IA; 15. Kevin Weak, Burlington, IA; 16. Ray Raker (DNS)

 

Heat 1: 1.  John Oliver, Jr.; 2.  Jason Cook; 3.  Tom Bowling, Jr.; 4.  Shane Watts; 5.  Chad Krogmeier; 6.  Dean Kratzer; 7.  Mark Bowman; 8.  Derek Schwandt

 

Heat 2: 1.  Dustin Griffiths; 2.  Cody Washburne; 3.  Ray Raker; 4.  Les Blakley; 5.  Jake Wenig; 6.  Jim Redmann; 7.  Drake Fenton; 8.  Kevin Weak

 

Casebine Credit Union SportMods

 

A-Feature: 1.  Brandon Lennox, New London, MO; 2.  Kyle Hill, New London, IA; 3.  Brandon Dale, Arbella, MO; 4.  Jake Morris, Eldridge, IA; 5.  Austin Howes, Memphis, MO; 6.  Brett Timmerman, Wapello, IA; 7.  Daniel Keltner, Grandview, IA; 8.  Joey Gower, Quincy, IL; 9.  Brandon Ryan, Carthage, IL; 10. Jacob Whittington, Davenport, IA; 11. Rance Powell, Davenport, IA; 12. Levi Laymon, Muscatine, IA; 13. Sean Wyett, Danville, IA; 14. Scott Williams, Atkins, IA; 15. Austen Becerra, Carthage, IL; 16. John Oliver, Jr., Danville, IA; 17. Tom Lathrop, Ottumwa, IA; 18. Travis Hartman, Burlington, IA; 19. Dustin Ravelin, Burlington, IA; 20. Jayme Duinink, Pella, IA (DNS)

 

Heat 1: 1.  Daniel Keltner; 2.  Brandon Lennox; 3.  John Oliver, Jr.; 4.  Brandon Dale; 5.  Sean Wyett; 6.  Dustin Ravelin; 7.  Jake Morris

 

Heat 2: 1.  Kyle Hill; 2.  Joey Gower; 3.  Tom Lathrop; 4.  Scott Williams; 5.  Jayme Duinink; 6.  Jacob Whittington; 7.  Austen Becerra

 

Heat 3: 1.  Austin Howes; 2.  Levi Laymon; 3.  Brett Timmerman; 4.  Brandon Ryan; 5.  Rance Powell; 6.  Travis Hartman

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Category: Iowa