DAVENPORT, Iowa — A racing milestone was reached Friday, at the Davenport Speedway. Friday was the 100th anniversary of the first automobile race at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds.
It was also time for the 15th Weedon Memorial, honoring local racing legend Ronnie Weedon. IMCA Modifieds were the featured class, with a huge trophy and a $1,500 prize awaiting the winner.
The Eriksen Chevrolet IMCA Modified feature started with Jason Bahrs grabbing the early lead. Bahrs led through the first nine laps and two caution periods. On lap 10, Spencer Diercks went to the front. Despite a lap twelve caution, Diercks pulled away from the field and had a full straightaway lead at the checkers.
Jeff Aikey started 10th, but worked his way up to a second place finish. Bahrs held on to finish third, followed by Chris Zogg and Mitch Morris. Bahrs, Diercks, and Darin Duffy won Mod heat races.
Justin Kay used several lapped cars to pass Matt Ryan and win the Petersen Plumbing & Heating IMCA Late Model feature. Kay had been running third behind Ryan and Chuck Hanna. When the lapped cars came into play, Kay dove to the bottom, moving from third to first. The victory was Kay’s seventh of the year at Davenport.
Ryan held on to finish second with Hanna taking third. Logan Duffy and Eric Sanders completed the top five.
Tyler Soppe returned to victory lane in the IMCA SportMod feature. Jeremy Gustaf led lap one and Dustin Schram laps two and three. After a lap four restart, Soppe grabbed the lead and never looked back. Ben Chapman would finish second with Kevin Goben third. Dustin Schram and Brandon Jewell were fourth and fifth, respectively.
Nick Hixson captured his sixth Davenport feature of the year in Koehler Electric Street Stock action. Hixson took the lead from Tony VonDresky on lap three, en route to the victory. Jeff Struck Jr. finished second again. VonDresky, Jesse Owen, and Joe Bonney finished third through fifth, respectively.
The QCjeeps.com Sport Compacts were racing for a $500 prize that went to Jimmy Dutlinger. The Nostalgic Stock Car Racing Club was in action with Ray Guss Jr. taking the victory.