Denning speeds to East Moline checkers

By Rob Hinckley EAST MOLINE, Ill. (July 20, 2022) – The emotion was real on the face of Jacob Waterman in the winner’s circle at East Moline Speedway.  Waterman outdueled Chuck Hanna on a lap 19 restart and won the midweek Tribute to Ron Gustaf IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature.   “(Ron) built my motor when I first started racing,” Waterman said post-race. “What he meant to us and racing is great.”  That caution had flown for race long leader Gary Webb, who went too wide off turn two and smacked the wall while on the point. Waterman started on the tail and worked his way through the field to restart on the double front row. The race went caution free the rest of the way with Waterman pocketing $2,090.86 for the 30-lapper, using the top groove especially in turns one and two. “I just had to be patient. I was actually hoping (Hanna) would take the top on that restart. I thought I could get by him on the bottom easier but it worked out,” [Read More]

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]

By Rob Hinckley EAST MOLINE, Ill. (June 13) – The car tiptoed off turn four and all could feel Shawn Mulvany’s sigh of relief. Mulvany paced all 25 laps of the IMCA Sunoco Late Model feature Sunday evening at East Moline Speedway.   “We almost stayed home,” Mulvany said in the winner’s circle. “We haven’t had much luck lately, struggling with little stuff.” B.J. Jackson showed his nose a couple times, but Mulvany stayed the course on the bottom groove. “This is great to finally get one at my home track. I think we finally found something. We haven’t been able to get forward so this is great.” The race went without a caution. Gary Webb, Jacob Waterman and Andy Nezworski started to close on the front battle and finished in that order behind Mulvany’s seventh career Late Model win, but first in a while. Travis Denning moved out front early and stopped Jeff Larson’s win streak at three in the IMCA Modified finale. Larson, Nezworski, Brandon Durbin and Doug Lenth followed. Jarett Franzen took the [Read More]