Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings: July 23

Welcome to the Inside Track's Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings, which returns after a week away. Each week of the racing season, the Gazette's Jeremiah Davis will rank the area's top 10 drivers across all divisions.

Think the list should be different? Tweet him at @jeremiahdavis10, or send him an email at jeremiah.davis@sourcemedia.net

New this week: Brian Happel, Damon Murty

Dropped out: Nathan and Brad Chandler, Jenae Gustin

RANK

+/-

NAME

CLASS

THOUGHTS

1

--

Justin Kay

Late Model

These were the hardest rankings to do so far, but only after the top spots. What else can be said about Justin Kay? Back to back Deery Bros wins. He's won seven in a row at Dubuque (Tuesday's from 21st), four in a row and six of eight at Davenport and (lacking specific numbers) is close to perfect at Jackson County Speedway as well. 

2

--

Austin Moyer

Sport Mod

Since the last time we were here, he won both Farley Speedway main events, got a win Tuesday night at Dubuque for the County Fair Race, and finished second at Jackson County Speedway last Saturday. He's been trending upward in the Sport Mod class all season. Fellow Sport Mod racers can't wait until he moves up.

3

--

Troy Cordes

Modified

Speaking of trending upward. This guy has been nearly unbeatable himself since his Aftermarket Nationals win, and - like Moyer - won both Farley Speedway features since the last rankings. He also won at Benton County Speedway in Vinton on Sunday, a week after a ninth in the Hogan Memorial. 

4

+2

Benji Irvine

Hobby Stock

The inconsistent early summer has given way to solid finishes throughout July for the Stanley driver. He won at Independence on July 16, finished third and fourth in the two Hobby Stock features in Vinton last Sunday (makeup feature for one), and finished fourth in the Hogan Memorial night. 

5

+4

Tony Olson

Sport Mod

The Cedar Rapids driver went from a top-five spot in the rankings, to out completely, to back in and now once again in the top five. Olson broke through his string of second place finishes, and has been winning. He won at West Liberty last Saturday and Vinton on Sunday. He also had a winning car in the Hogan Memorial, but settled for fourth.

6

+1

Andy Eckrich

Late Model

The mark of a good racecar driver is making chicken salad out of chicken ... well, you know what. Eckrich said as much after his third place run at West Liberty on Saturday, when passing was at a premium and he used restarts to get to the front. He's still chasing Kay in Deery shows, though, and the points lead is getting farther away each week. 

7

+3

Bill Whalen

Sport Compact

He's rock steady in the Sport Compact division, and it shows every week in the results. He won at Southern Iowa Speedway on July 17, then finished fourth on Saturday in West Liberty - came from the back after being pinched into the wall early - and won again at Benton County Speedway on Sunday. 

8

N/R

Brian Happel

Hobby Stock

The Vinton native makes his first appearance in the Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings because over the last two weeks, he's been in the hunt for a win over and over. He had a frustrating start to the season, but got wins at his home track two weeks in a row - Sunday and the Hogan Memorial - and ran 2nd and 3rd and Farley and Independence a week prior.

9

N/R

Damon Murty

Stock Car

Chelsea, Iowa is a long haul to race around here, but Murty does it regularly. And he, too, earned his first spot in the rankings this week. He has two wins this week already, winning at Vinton on Sunday and Dubuque on Tuesday night (LONG drive to Dubuque), and top fives in Marshalltown (7/11) and both nights at Osky last week.

10

-5

Ronn Lauritzen

Modified

The Jesup driver hangs on to the last spot, but barley. He and Jenae Gustin - both stalwarts of the rankings this season - have both had a rough few weeks since the last rankings on July 9. Lauritzen gets the spot because he still had a few top fives sprinkled in, finished fourth and second at Marshalltown and fourth at Vinton on Sunday.

l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@sourcemedia.net