Fleck of success: Local driver gets Mid-Ohio win

A good start has become a little better for Dudley Fleck.

The Cedar Rapids race car driver won the Sports Car Club of America U.S. Majors Tour event last weekend at the MId-Ohio Road Course in Lexington, Ohio. Fleck raced to victory in the first of twin races in the C Sports Racing division, leading the second before suffering an accident with four laps remaining.

“Without any testing we went to Mid-Ohio for the first time in 20- to 25 years,” Fleck said. “We qualified real well, made a good start and ended up winning the first race ... I was pretty happy about it."

Fleck has experienced success since he devoted himself again to road racing a couple years ago. Many local race fans are aware of his exploits at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, especially in the late model class. Fleck actually started his auto racing career with road racing in 1986.

“I just kind of evolved,” Fleck said. “I'd race it for a while, step back a few years, getting back in it on and off over the years. The last two or three years I've been focusing on this, and have a really good car and team that operates it.”

Fleck also earned two second-place finishes in the event at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in March. The Mid-Ohio race had a strong field, according to Fleck. He said many drivers that will be favorites for the national championships in September ran the race. The disappointing conclusion to his race weekend briefly overshadowed the triumph.

“It takes your elation away from the first win,” Fleck said. “About all you can think about is the bad part.”

An even more important event awaits Fleck. He will compete in the SCCA June Sprints at the Road America circuit at Elkhart Lake, Wis., on June 14-16.

The event has been momentous in Fleck's life on and off the track. It was the site of his first checker flag. Fleck added another win there during a "driving rainstorm" in 2011.

“That was one of the highlights of my racing career,” Fleck said. “It was the 25-year anniversary of my first win, which was at Elkhart Lake.”

In 2006, Fleck and wife, Wendy, were married at Elkhart Lake the weekend before he raced in the June Sprints. The race holds special meaning to the Flecks. He wants to gain another title.

“We always celebrate it,” Fleck said. “We treat it as kind of a family event, going up there.”

The June Sprints is the most-coveted except for the national championships, according to Fleck. He called it a "crown jewel" of SCCA racing.

“All the favorites for the national championship are going to be there,” Fleck said. “This will be a good indicator who are the ones to watch and who are contenders."

Fleck plans to contend for a title. He is attempting to improve his runner-up national championship finish in 2010. This season is proving to be one of his best opportunities to place himself in position to capture it.

“We're looking to build toward winning one of those darn things after all these years,” Fleck said. “This is probably our best shot we've had to date. We're trying to do the right things leading up to the qualifier for the national championships and be ready to jump at the chance to win it.”

INDEE RACE CANCELED

The Entry Level Extravaganza scheduled for Independence Motor Speedway on Thursday has been canceled because of wet track and pit conditions. The event will not be rescheduled.

According to a news release, the purse of the weekly program June 22 will be increased with money devoted to the canceled races for SportMods, hobby stocks and sport compacts.

“We typically run those divisions as support classes during special events,” Promoter Darin Burco said in a news release. “Although the weather hasn't allowed us the proper time to prep the track for their own mid-week special, we want to show our appreciation for all of those drivers by giving them an extra night to race for a bigger purse.”

Weekly points races at Independence are expected to be held Saturday night. Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts in uniform will be admitted free and receive a free hot dog and drink. A candy dash will be held for children.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for students ages 12 to 17.

CEDAR COUNTY RACEWAY HOSTS DEERY BROS. SERIES

Cedar County Raceway will host a special Tuesday event on June 11. The Tipton dirt track will feature the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series Late Models and Hawkeye Dirt Tour IMCA Modifieds, beginning at 7 p.m.

Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for senior citizens and $10 for students with anyone 10 and younger admitted for free with paid adult. Gates open at 4 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30.