Originally Posted by Jerry Shaw:
I had always taken note of, but had never been to this high profile race on the racing calender. Since it was right at 400 miles one way for me, I decided to ask around and take a poll among race fans that had been there. Ones that I knew would give me their honest opinion, on whether it would be worth the effort required to go to this event. Well, I had three for and three against, so the only thing that taught me was to sample an odd number the next time I use this method for anything. My secondary method was the "what the hell, you only live once" approach. So I loaded up the Buick and headed out through the Midwestern countryside. Having customers in places like West Burlington and Fairfield, Iowa over the years, I knew at least the journey would be one that was pleasing on the eyes. The two major observations along the way were the enormous amount of Recovery Act dollars that were being spent in the President's home state, as most of the World's supply of orange barrels surely have to be sitting on and along I-74, right now. And the almost complete absence of a small river town, that used to be known as Gulfport, Illinois. It sat right across the Mississippi, from Burlington, IA. Other than a little bit of new construction, you pretty much wouldn't know that was ever even there. The sight of this left me stunned for at least 50 miles.
Once I drove right by, looped back around and found this semi-concealed facility, the first impression was that this was a real nice looking fairgrounds type of facility. It even has more a farm-like look than most of it's genre do. I walked up the path that takes you up to the grandstand and my first bit of luck was running into Koonzee, where I received some real good advice from a veteran of Osky, on where the best places to sit are. So with that info I was able to go to the ticket booth knowing what I wanted and they hooked me up with a ticket one row from the top, in the uncovered grandstand. It was an excellent vantage point. There wasn't a spot on the track that I could not see.
One thing that would make this interesting and break the "I know what's gonna happen next" pattern in my brain, from going to so many USAC events, was that they would be running a Sprint Bandits-type format. The first obvious great thing about the track was the large electronic info board, facing the grandstands and a Top 5 scoreboard, on a pole, towards the end of the front stretch. The PA was plenty loud. But if it hadn't been, it would have mattered as much, because all in attendance were up to date on everything going on and well informed.
In the first set of heats, it was obvious that the track was very fast, but passing was a little tough. However, each of this first set of heats got progressively better. The track was coming in and you just had the feeling that this was a harbinger of things to come.
Same with the second set of heats (or qualifying races, as I thing those are called). Ending with the last, that you could have thrown a blanket over the Top 4, at the line. Kevin Swindell came out of turn 4 in 4th place, but somehow ended up winning, when the checker was thrown. And this really fired up the pro-Sammy partisans in the crowd. Which was the majority of the people there.
Then came the B-Main, which wasn't as eventful, except for one thing. Matt Westfall showed that the bottom was getting progressively better and it was there, to be used, if a driver needed it.
Once the A-Main lineup hit the info board, everybody there know that from the beginning, a rumble would break out between Jesse Hockett and Dave Darland and they didn't disappoint. Dave grabbed the early lead, but the momentum started to change and Jesse started reeling him in. The Rocket was actually handling traffic better than Darland, who is a master of this. He caught and passed DD and just when you thought Jesse had it sewed up, here came Dave, stalking the leader. DD caught Jesse on the last lap and actually nosed ahead of him at some point of the final circuit. When they passed us, between turn 4 and the flag stand, they were dead even and both were trying to negotiate the same lapped car. At the finish, most race fans had no freakin' clue who had just won the Instant Classic they had just watched!! Much like the Sprint Week race @ Kamp, they had to wait for Klepper to tell them who the winner was.
Then, at the end of the victory lap, Jesse Hockett did something like I'd never seen before. The only way I can describe it would be to call what he did a flying donut. He was still going at a pretty high rate of speed off of turn 4 and gassed it a little more, applied some brake and did a couple of high speed 360s, all while moving towards the flagstand. Amazing! I used to think Daron Clayton had the best victory donut. Not any more. DC will have to come up with a new one, because this one topped all that I've ever seen.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of the other great battles that went on, though out the field, because there were many. But Chad Boat and Hunter Schuerenberg just duked it out, for most of the first half of the race. That one was so good, that I had to take my eyes off of what the two lead cars were doing, for many laps. And the way Cole Whitt reeled in and passed Kevin Swindell to grab the 5th spot away from him, at the very end was great, too.
It was a great group of fans to get to watch a race with, too. A lot were wing fans, who began the night talking about how bad the previous night's winged race was and how little passing there was. And ended the night with that "Holy crap, was that ever a great race" look that I'm accustom to seeing, where I come from. And also, something that I run into a lot, met several fans that have been following IOW for years, but just don't post a lot. These guys were good guys and educated race fans. Bill probably has no idea just how many people there are, that depend on IOW for so much of their information and racing news, but just don't post a lot.
It was a great race, at a great facility, hosted by people who love what they do and it shows in the way they treat their race fans. This was my first time to go watch the Ultimate Challange and I guarantee you, it won't be my last. The only regrets I have are that I didn't time it so I could stop in Fairfield, Iowa (home of the Maharishi International University, believe it or not) for some of the best Indian food, this side if South Asia and that I didn't look first to make sure my $4 buffalo burger, right before the track entrance, wasn't a size slightly larger than a silver dollar, before I paid for it.
Now on to another track that people rave about that I've never been to. Headed to Belle-Claire to watch the Arnie Knepper Memorial.
Jerry
Jerry, glad that you enjoyed yourself, have been there with my son several times between 1996 & 2001.First time we were there a car wound up out in the street.Great facility, staff and all.McTwo Promotions puts on a hell of a show.Just an awesome event, which is surrounded by the Nationals, which if you haven't attented you need to, along with the weekend preceeding.Enjoy!
