Mars Takes Davenport, Pierce Becomes First Two-Time Slocum 50 Champion

A beautiful warm spring day turned quickly to Ice as veteran Jimmy Mars from the frozen tundra of Menomonie Wisconsin turned back the clock to win at the historic Davenport Speedway Half Mile track. It wouldn’t be easy for the Iceman to repeat his last victory at Davenport during the 2008 Governors Cup. Mars took the lead on lap 16 from Rodney Sanders and then had to fight local Iowa ace Justin Kay from Wheatland Iowa. Kay had the best run of his open motor dirt late model career when he took the lead briefly from Mars on the lightning fast half mile during the lap 23 circuit.  Jimmy Mars came back to retake the lead from Kay to win the $5000.00 bounty. Kay held on to second with, Tony Jackson Jr., Rodney Sanders and Chris Simpson rounding out the top five.

The drive of the night went to Brian Shirley from Chatham Illinois. Shirley one of the hottest dirt late model drivers in America had to restart on the tail of the field after an early race spin. He rallied to finish 6th.

Heat #1  
1 56J Tony Jackson, Jr Lebanon, MO
2 15K Justin Kay Wheatland, IA
3 10 Scott Schmitt Tonica, IL
4 58 Ray Guss Jr Milan, IL
5 5t Randy Timms Wheatland, OK
6 1M Rob Moss Iowa City, IA
7 6 Jay Chenoweth Wapello, IA

Heat #2  
1 20s Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
2 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
3 77A Justin Asplin Birch Tree, MO
4 29d Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
5 58e Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
6 4G Bob Gardner Washington, IL
7 28J Leroy Johnson Brookline, MO

Heat #3  
1 28 Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
2 99jr Frank Heckenast Jr Orland Park, IL
3 00 Jesse Stovall Galena, MO
4 14r Jeff Roth Bentonville, AR
5 25m Miles Moos Lincoln, IL
6 15L Payton Looney Republic, MO
7 26r Randy Roth Bentonville, AR

Heat #4  
1 32 Chris Simpson Oxford, IA
2 91 Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
3 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
4 31u Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
5 25c Chad Simpson Mt Vernon, IA
6 3b Brad Stewart Milledgeville, IL
7 93 Jay Johnson Burlington, IA

B-Main  
1 5t Randy Timms Wheatland, OK
2 58e Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
3 25m Miles Moos Lincoln, IL
4 1M Rob Moss Iowa City, IA
5 15L Payton Looney Republic, MO
6 6 Jay Chenoweth Wapello, IA
7 93 Jay Johnson Burlington, IA
8 3b Brad Stewart Milledgeville, IL
9 26r Randy Roth Bentonville, AR
10 28J Leroy Johnson Brookline, MO
11 4G Bob Gardner Washington, IL

Davenport $5,000 to win A-Main  
1 28 Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
2 15K Justin Kay Wheatland, IA
3 56J Tony Jackson, Jr Lebanon, MO
4 20s Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
5 32 Chris Simpson Oxford, IA
6 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
7 99jr Frank Heckenast Jr Orland Park, IL
8 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
9 58 Ray Guss Jr Milan, IL
10 77A Justin Asplin Birch Tree, MO
11 5t Randy Timms Wheatland, OK
12 31u Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
13 14r Jeff Roth Bentonville, AR
14 15L Payton Looney Republic, MO
15 1M Rob Moss Iowa City, IA
16 26r Randy Roth Bentonville, AR
17 6 Jay Chenoweth Wapello, IA
18 00 Jesse Stovall Galena, MO
19 25m Miles Moos Lincoln, IL
20 29d Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
21 10 Scott Schmitt Tonica, IL
22 91 Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
23 58e Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
24 28J Leroy Johnson Brookline, MO

It was another picture perfect spring day in Iowa and the Standing Room only crowd at 34 Raceway made the night even more special to honor the memory of the late Brent Slocum. Bobby Pierce the 2014 Champion of the race made the night exciting as he sailed the High Side of the super-fast 34 Raceway 3/8th oval to take the checkers. Pierce dominated the fierce Corn Belt Clash competitors, passing everyone up to 7th place.

Ryan Unzicker last year’s winner appeared to want to repeat in the early laps but was passed by Pierce early in the race. Unzicker held on for second, followed by Brian Shirley, Chris Simpson and Jason Feger. It was an emotional victory lane for the Pierce and Slocum family. With Fire Works blazing in the night sky, everyone went home raising a “High 5” for Brent Slocum.

Heat #1
1 24u Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
2 32P Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
3 1st Justin Reed Quincy, IL
4 77A Justin Asplin Birch Tree, MO
5 25c Chad Simpson Mt Vernon, IA
6 26r Randy Roth Bentonville, AR
7 14r Jeff Roth Bentonville, AR
8 93 Jay Johnson Burlington, IA
9 28J Leroy Johnson Brookline, MO

Heat #2
1 28 Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
2 29d Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
3 31u Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
4 58e Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA
5 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
6 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
7 5t Randy Timms Wheatland, OK
8 7B Mark Burgtorf Quincy, IL

Heat #3
1 00 Jesse Stovall Galena, MO
2 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
3 10 Scott Schmitt Tonica, IL
4 91 Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
5 4G Bob Gardner Washington, IL
6 20G Dustin Griffin Camp Point, IL
7 15V Kolby Vandenbergh Ashland, IL
8 33M Tim Manville Highland, IL

Heat #4
1 32 Chris Simpson Oxford, IA
2 20s Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
3 99jr Frank Heckenast Jr Orland Park, IL
4 56J Tony Jackson, Jr Lebanon, MO
5 11G Gordy Gundaker St Charles, MO
6 04 Tad Pospisil Norfolk, NE
7 84 Sam Halstead New London, IA
8 15L Payton Looney Republic, MO

B-Main  
1 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
2 25c Chad Simpson Mt Vernon, IA
3 11G Gordy Gundaker St Charles, MO
4 04 Tad Pospisil Norfolk, NE
5 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
6 5t Randy Timms Wheatland, OK
7 4G Bob Gardner Washington, IL
8 7B Mark Burgtorf Quincy, IL
9 84 Sam Halstead New London, IA
10 20G Dustin Griffin Camp Point, IL
11 15V Kolby Vandenbergh Ashland, IL
12 14r Jeff Roth Bentonville, AR

$10,555 to win Slocum 50 A-Main at 34 Raceway  
1 32P Bobby Pierce Oakwood, IL
2 24u Ryan Unzicker El Paso, IL
3 3s Brian Shirley Chatham, IL
4 32 Chris Simpson Oxford, IA
5 25 Jason Feger Bloomington, IL
6 28 Jimmy Mars Menomonie, WI
7 99jr Frank Heckenast Jr Orland Park, IL
8 20s Rodney Sanders Happy, TX
9 31u Jason Utter Columbus Junction, IA
10 56J Tony Jackson, Jr Lebanon, MO
11 91 Jason Papich Nipomo, CA
12 10 Scott Schmitt Tonica, IL
13 77A Justin Asplin Birch Tree, MO
14 11G Gordy Gundaker St Charles, MO
15 14r Jeff Roth Bentonville, AR
16 00 Jesse Stovall Galena, MO
17 25c Chad Simpson Mt Vernon, IA
18 29d Spencer Diercks Davenport, IA
19 04 Tad Pospisil Norfolk, NE
20 15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine, IA
21 1st Justin Reed Quincy, IL
22 15L Payton Looney Republic, MO
23 7B Mark Burgtorf Quincy, IL
24 58e Dave Eckrich Oxford, IA

Stories and Recaps by Mike Ruefer