Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings: June 17

Welcome to the Inside Track's Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings. 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, send him an email at jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com or leave a comment at The Inside Track by Jeremiah Davis Facebook page.

New this week: Jenae Gustin, Damon Murty

Dropped out:  Tyler Soppe, Jerry Miles

Just missed the cut:  Nathan Wood, Brayton Carter, Cayden Carter, Brody Willett, Jarrett Franzen, Nick Marolf, Chris Luloff, Jeff Aikey, Matt Ryan, David Brandies

RANK

+/-

NAME

CLASS

THOUGHTS

1

--

Justin Kay

Late Model

I've said before and I'll say again: racers won't be penalized for being rained out. Kay was washed out Friday for Davenport Speedway, Saturday for West Liberty Raceway and Sunday for Dubuque Speedway. Mother Nature should probably be No. 1 this week, in all honesty, as all but Independence, Vinton and East Moline rained out. It's a safe bet Kay will be back strong next weekend.

2

--

Tony Olson

Sport Mod

Here's one of a select few who got to race twice over the weekend, and was back to his regular form of 2015. He ran second on Saturday night at Independence Motor Speedway, then went out and won $700 at the Urbana 5 Memorial/Iowa Donor Network Night at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. He's up to 10 wins this year in his Sport Mod.

3

--

Nathan Ballard

Hobby Stock

He only got to race once this weekend (with a rainout at Hawkeye Downs), and he didn't get a win. But he did pass 20 racecars en route to a third place finish at the aforementioned Urbana 5 Memorial/Iowa Donor Network Night at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. He had started 23rd after a flat tire in his heat. It's clear his car is still as stout as ever.

4

+1

Tyler Droste

Late Model/

Modified

This Waterloo driver said before the 2015 season he's committed to going from good to great in his IMCA Late Model, and doing so at Independence Motor Speedway. Well, he proved he's on track for that with his first win at the track (and second overall) in a Late Model on Saturday - and on his 19th birthday, no less. He then ran third at the Topless 50 in Webster City on Tuesday in his IMCA Modified.

5

+1

Benji Irvine

Hobby Stock

Someone finally broke this guy's streak at Independence Motor Speedway on Saturday, forcing him to fall as far as third at the finish in what was clearly an off night (note the sarcasm). He rebounded from that setback to win $750 in the Urbana 5 Memorial/Iowa Donor Network Night main event

 in Vinton on Sunday. Seriously, wherever he goes, he's going to be in the hunt.

6

-2

Troy Cordes

Modified

This weekend was one Cordes will love to forget soon. He ran ninth at Independence Motor Speedway on Saturday, then was sixth on Sunday at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. This just proves how on it you have to be in IMCA Modified in this area each week. Any slight setbacks and you're relegated to the middle of the top 10.

7

+2

J.D. Auringer

Modified

The opposite of what I just described would be the weekend Auringer had. He too was one of the few who raced twice, and he got wins both times. First, he won the IMCA Modified A-main at Independence Motor Speedway on Saturday, then took home the top prize of $1,250 for the Urbana 5 Memorial/Iowa Donor Network Night victory at Benton County Speedway in Vinton.

8

-1

Jeremiah Hurst

Modified

Rained out at his regular track of Jackson County Speedway in Maquoketa, Hurst made the haul to Independence Motor Speedway on Saturday night. He adapted on the fly well, driving his No. 41 to fourth on the high-banked 3/8-mile track in Independence. Seems like he hasn't lost the magic he found last weekend.

9

NR

Damon Murty

Stock Car

No, he didn't get a win this weekend, but he came within a few feet or so of getting one at Urbana 5 Memorial/Iowa Donor Network Night at Benton County Speedway in Vinton. He lost a photo finish to Jarod Weepie. I doubt too many will feel terribly for the all-time winner at BCS, though, especially after he won one like that earlier this year.

10

NR

Jenae Gustin

Sport Mod

She's been out of the rankings for a few weeks, but returns after a big win at the Topless 50 night at Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City. Her consistency hasn't been what it was early this year, but the win at a track she rarely, if ever, goes to shows she's still as strong as ever when things come together. 

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l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com