Who would have guessed that we would be racing in northern Missouri and southeastern Iowa the first weekend of November? With last weekend's complete washout of racing in the entire Midwest, the folks at Scotland County and Lee County made the bold move to reschedule both of their races to this weekend and those of us, frustrated with the wet weather the last few weekends of October, would be the beneficiaries with another chance to get out and see some racing before the snow flies.
And oh, by the way, the snow has already flown where I live as we had about three inches of the white stuff this week and the ground was still white as I pulled out yesterday, although we may have warm enough temperatures this weekend to remove most of it, at least temporarily.
The Race-Tacular at Scotland County on Friday night would be the first of the two weekend treats. This weekend event would also find new promoters running this show as Brian and Marcie Gaylord were running things here this weekend with Mike VanGenderen away doing track prep for a race in Arkansas that he had been hired to do and this race being a late addition to the Scotland County schedule. The Gaylord's were helped greatly this weekend by the new Fair Board and Race Committee from Memphis. Apparently the previous Fair Board all resigned recently with the last race here being put together by the new Board and Race Committee in less than one week. What this means for racing going forward at Scotland County I do not know but clearly there may be some new folks in charge in 2024. I met a couple of the folks on the Race Committee and they were both very friendly and accommodating, something this not always the case at some tracks.
There were some familiar faces helping with the operation on Friday though, as "Big Guy" Kevin Eggleston was waving the flags and Tony Paris calling the action. I did also catch a glimpse of Kevin Feller who I would assume was doing scoring and timing.
The program would feature the six classes of cars that most frequently race on area tracks with everything from Sport Compacts to IMCA style Late Models in action on this night. Eighty eight cars would sign in to race and while that is not a pit exploding number of racers, quite frankly, on a cool late Fall night, that for me is just about the right number of cars with no B Features needed and everyone getting to run a main.
And speaking of the weather, after all the promises of such nice weather, things kind of took a nasty turn as Friday progressed with lots of clouds and even some rain in the forecast. It did sprinkle on and off for at least a couple of hours as drivers were arriving and while it never got to the point to threaten the show, there were no doubt some that chose to leave their race cars home on a such a damp and cool night while others sat on their couch and watched the event on tv. Even after the show, I ran into long stretches where the highway pavement was still wet, indicating that some got more than just sprinkles.
Two heats and a feature would be the program except for the Sport Mods where they had enough cars for three heats. The track was heavier on this night than I can remember seeing before and while the speeds were high, it took some time to widen out the groove. However, there was not a whisper of dust all night and although just a bit choppy early, the track seemed to smooth out as the night progressed.
The program started right at the advertised time and with a one spin rule and only a single yellow flag in the thirteen heat races, all qualifying was completed in just sixty three minutes. The kids got to come on to the track at that point for the candy toss and then it was time to go feature racing.
The six feature races would provide some fine racing action with several of them not decided until the last laps and some great side by side racing for the top spot. In fact, things were so intense that in at least two of the features, there was some spirited jousting between drivers battling for the lead, both during and following their respective contests.
However, with all this going on, the performance of Todd Reitzler, who came from the back after a near disaster during the Stock Car feature to end up the winner, stands out from the rest. Fifteen cars would start the Stock Car main with Dustin Griffiths taking the early lead. He could only hold the point for two laps though, until he was passed by Jason See for the lead. John Oliver Jr. would move into second and was giving See plenty to worry about.
Just at the halfway point, Reitzler, who was running fifth, would get wildly up on two wheels heading into turn three and nearly take a wild flip. However, he was able to right the car but still flew off corner three at a high rate of speed, into the bean field that had just be combined in the hours that the pits filled up.
Reitzler was able to return to the track and the race but he had to go to the tail plus the right front of his car was clearly damaged with it nearly dragging the ground. Nevertheless, he would return to the race when just one lap later, Josh Robinson would take a violent flip in turn one and trigger the red flag. He would be OK and the race would continue.
See would continue to lead with Oliver Jr. chasing but Reitzler was working his way back up through the field, picking off car after car despite his front end issues. He would get back into the top five and continue to charge, moving pas Oliver Jr. for second and setting out after See. Coming to the white flag, Reitzler would get under See in turn four and make the winning pass while pulling away on the final lap to record quite the stunning victory. See and Oliver Jr. would trail at the finish.
The Modifieds would roll out next and provide another barn burner of an event. Jarrett Brown would move past Kurt Kile and Austin Becerra to lead lap one but soon after, Becerra would work the outer lane and make the pass to move into the lead. Meanwhile, Chris Spaulding, who started sixth, was on a tear as he came flying up and fought his way into second spot.
He set off after Becerra and they separated themselves from the pack. Spaulding was all over Becerra as he looked for a way by. Finally, he pulled a bold slide job in turn three and dove under Becerra to take over the lead. However, Becerra tried to counter by diving under Spaulding but he unfortunately caught the rear end of Spaulding's car and turned him around leaving turn four.
The yellow flew and as track officials tried to sort everything out, Spaulding made Becerra aware that he didn't appreciate the move with several dive bomb moves under the yellow. The call was made that Spaulding would go to the tail for the spin but Becerra would join him there for "questionable driving."
That would put Kile into the lead and he would hold on for the last seven laps to take the win. Tim Ward would pass Brown for second but too late to make a charge on Kile, who pulled into victory lane with his own set of issues as the right front on his car was damaged and the race ended just in time for him.
The Sport Compact feature would find Cyle Hawkins taking the early lead with Barry Taft and Jeffrey Delonjay challenging him. Delonjay was especially fast and he moved into second and tried for several laps to get past Hawkins. Finally, with just three laps to go, he was able to make the pass on the high side in turn one and would then pull away.
The race produced a one lap sprint to the finish when Taft broke on the track and while Delonjay would pull away, Hawkins would go up in smoke on the final tour with Chevy Barnes moving into second and Matt Moore third.
The theme of the night was close racing and the Late Models following that script well. This race would see a battle that wouldn't be settling until the closing laps with one competitor not happy with the results.
Sixteen cars would take the green with rookie Josh Foster leading the first four laps. He would be challenged by Evan Miller who would make a bold pass on the tall side of turn four to take over the lead. On the move was C. J. Horn who redrew poorly, starting eighth but he quickly passed cars and moved into a challenging position.
Horn would catch the leader and press Miller and the two would thrill as they tore through lapped traffic and tried to maneuver past each other. Horn dropped back slightly and then made one last charge that would see him get side by side with Miller. They raced that way for two laps as neither would give and inch and as they took the white flag, they were still side by side.
However, both tried to squeeze low into turn one and there just wasn't room with Horn going for a spin and the lone yellow of the race triggered. Miller would retain the lead and would then hold off Tommy Elston for the last two laps for the win with Darrel DeFrance edging into third on the final lap. After the race, Horn was not happy and dive bombed the winner as well as trying to plead his case to "Big Boy." Neither were successful.
Nineteen Sport Mods would go nonstop in their main event and it would be a familiar face in victory lane as Brayton Carter would fight his way past John Oliver Jr. to collect the win. Oliver Jr. would take the early lead with Carter quickly moving up from third to challenge. Those two would separate themselves from the pack and they had quite the battle with Oliver Jr. working the outside line and Carter trying to get inside of him.
Finally, on lap ten, Carter would edge in front but Oliver Jr. was staying right with him. Lapped traffic was heavy and that made the difference as Carter made a couple of spectacular moves in traffic that allowed him to earn some distance over Oliver Jr. which he held to the finish. Brandon Lennox would finish third.
The Hobby Stocks would wrap up the night with another nonstop main and this race would be dominated by Bennett Johnson. He would start on the pole, take the early lead and then pull away from the pack. He would never be challenged as he made the top side of the track work for him, pulling away from the pack.
There would be quite the battle for second though, with a group of drivers fighting for that position. After sliding back into the field, Nathan Ballard would make a late charge that would see him get to second as he passed Tom Killen Jr. late for that spot.
The final checkered would fall at 10:05 pm, making this exactly a three hour show that was full of excitement and close racing. Congratulations to all for a fine night of racing. Thanks to the Gaylord's along with the Scotland County Fair Board and volunteers for their help. everyone overcame what was kind of a dismal weather day to provide an excellent night of racing and a good way to wrap the season at Scotland County Speedway.
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