By Rob Hinckley
MAQUOKETA, Iowa (April 6) – Crews and drivers discussed the track conditions throughout the pit area Saturday evening at Maquoketa Speedway.
The consensus was fast and tacky even at feature race time.
Leah Wroten adjusted and ‘Mrs. Dominator’ did just that, dominated, en route to the 20-lap Shawn’s Auto Service IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock feature win.
“This heavy track usually isn’t my style this late in the night,” Wroten said in Hoker Trucking Victory Lane. “But I was able to put the car anywhere I needed and it worked. I can’t thank everyone on the car enough. They had it ready to go.”
Wroten, of Independence, wheeled from middle of the starting field and bided her time to the front, which gave her a view of what feature two may look like with an inverted start.
“I started this one eighth so it gives me a good idea what to watch for and we know this car can do it.”
Justin Kay was all smiles in Victory Lane following a 20-lap sweep in the QCJeeps.com IMCA Modified feature.
Kay paced every circuit from the pole for his first 2019 victory, holding off charges from Matt Werner and 2018 champion Bryce Garnhart. Travis Denning and Matt Short were next.
Tyler Soppe was just four points short of a 2018 track title. He quickly laid claim to 2019 by winning the B&D Pit Stop IMCA Northern SportMod 15-lap finale.
Soppe launched from fourth starting spot and grabbed the point early from Shane Paris. The 2018 champ Gage Neal, Jerry Miles and Austin Heacock completed the top five.
It was sort of a last-minute decision for Tom Schmitt to wheel his GRE/REV Chassis IMCA Sunoco Stock Car at the season opener.
The choice was good as he sped away with the 15-lap feature win for a sweep of the night. Cole Mather, Chase Zaruba, Tim Bader and Terry Dulin followed.
A total of 84 race teams from three states hit the track to start the season.
Action continues on the 3/8-mile, dirt oval this Saturday April 13 highlighted by the Hershel Roberts/Ray Guss Sr. Memorial for IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series Late Models.
The winner of the 50-lap feature takes home $2,500. Start times have been moved up for this event. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Hot laps are 5:15 p.m.
