Durbin makes it two straight at East Moline Speedway

Results

Brandon Durbin was back in victory lane with his second straight Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature win at East Moline Speedway on Sunday. (Photo by Jensen Racing Photos)

By Rob Hinckley

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (May 22, 2022) – He slowed the car in turn three, but the accelerator was down off turn four.

Brandon Durbin found a way to negotiate the final two turns and won his second straight 20-lap Friesen Performance IMCA Modified feature Sunday evening at East Moline Speedway.

The Colona, Ill. hotshoe bested Travis Denning in another classic battle.

 “Me and Denning had quite the battle there,” Durbin said in victory lane. “The car was too free in the center, but once I got it straight I had good traction.”

Durbin started in the front row and held off Denning lap after lap, with both cars on the cushion of turns one and two.

“It was extremely slick on the bottom. There wasn’t much there. I figured if I got out front, got up top and held that line, I’d be all right.”

Andy Nezworski, Jim Sandusky and Anthony Guss rounded out the top five.

R.J. Gonzales also made it two-for-two by dominating the IMCA STARS Mod Lites 15-lap finale. 

Jon Padilla chased, but had to settle for the runner up spot. Anthony Guss, doing double duty, Mike Morrow and Brandon Freeburg followed.

Chuck Hanna took off from the front row and paced all 25 laps of the IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature.

A late-race caution adjusted the running order as early leader Dustin Schram came across second followed by Matt Ryan, Jacob Waterman and Gary Webb.

Logan Veloz had redemption on his mind and put his Friesen Performance IMCA Northern SportMod in victory lane after leading all 15 laps. 

David Engelkens, Erick Turner, Doug Burkhead and Matt Speidel came next. 

Randy LaMar beat Michale Putt, Donnie Cole, Josh Lane and Nathan Smith in a wild IMCA Sunoco Hobby Stock 15-lap ender. 

Related Articles

Results

Hanna will help hand out the trophies as new promoter at East Moline

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (Feb. 1, 2023) – Last season, Chuck Hanna wanted to take a trophy home from his Sunday night race at East Moline Speedway. This season, he’ll be helping hand them out. Hanna, a long-time IMCA Sunoco Late Model driver, takes over as promoter of the 1/4 -mile dirt oval, where five sanctioned divisions return to Speedway Motors Weekly Racing programs in 2023.  “Ultimately, we want to improve this facility and work closely with the fair board to make the changes to keep it successful in the future,” Hanna said. “We’re going to add dirt to the racing surface, do terrace work outside turns one and two, and change some of the existing fencing around to help race car traffic flow in the pits,” he continued. “We will do some painting, update the signage and concessions, and are also looking at an earlier start time.”  The upcoming point season at East Moline runs from April 23 to Aug. 27 and weekly shows feature the IMCA Late Models for a 20th consecutive season.  Friesen Performance IMCA [Read More]

Feature

Larson rolls out banner for 100th IMCA Modified win

FREEPORT, Ill. (Aug. 13, 2023) – Jeff Larson was beginning to wonder if they’d ever get to roll out that Friesen Performance IMCA Modified 100 Wins banner. The answer became a resounding yes on Sunday night. From Freeport, Larson became the 69th driver in division history, and the first from Illinois, to reach the 100 career win mark Sunday night at East Moline Speedway. “We weren’t running for points at the start of the season. I knew we were getting close but didn’t know how close we were until IMCA called me,” Larson said following his 14th checkers of 2023 in a TCE Team car. “Once we found out it became a goal we wanted to get to.” “Getting 100 IMCA wins was not ever a goal back when we started,” noted Larson, who’d become a first-time IMCA Modified winner in 2016. “We never kept track of all our wins when we started racing. Now I wish we would have.” The wins started to accumulate with 15 in 2019. He followed with 22 checkers and the national [Read More]

Results

Zemo makes mark at East Moline STARS Mod Lite special

By Rob Hinckley EAST MOLINE, Ill. (Sept. 12) – The Z Man once again left his mark.  As he rocketed around the top groove of East Moline Speedway, Mike Zemo, Jr. knew the work he and his crew put into the Sidewinder Chassis all year paid off.  The Davenport, Iowa ace passed early leader Randy Bryan, Ames, Iowa, early and zipped to the IMCA STARS Mod Lite 25-lap special win and took home $1,000. It was also win number eight at EMS against increased competition on this night. “I was a little worried,” Zemo said in the winner’s circle. “I just knew the outside would be pretty good for me. I just hit my marks. It was really treacherous up there so hoping my experience would work.” The race was slowed just once by caution.  R.J. Gonzales had mechanical issues in his heat and started at the tail. He charged toward the front, taking second with seven laps left. He was unable to cut into Zemo’s advantage.  Jon Padilla, Bryan and Anthony Guss rounded out [Read More]