Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings: June 4

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, or comment in the comments section.

New this week: Jay Schmidt, Troy Cordes, Tim Goettsch

Dropped out: Jeff Aikey, Austin Moyer, Tony Olson

RANK

+/-

NAME

CLASS

THOUGHTS

1

--

Justin Kay

Late Model

He only got to race once this weekend because of all the rain in the area, and came very close to making it 1 for 1, finishing second at Davenport Speedway on Friday night. Late models didn't race at Jackson County Speedway on Saturday night, and Dubuque rained out Sunday. His Deery Brothers race rained out Tuesday, too.

2

--

Andy Eckrich

Late Model

Let's establish this policy now, in the likelihood it happens again: rainouts will not count against drivers in the Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings. Eckrich was a victim of rain everywhere he went -- Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday, making the trip to West Liberty Raceway on Saturday and only getting to run heat races. 

3

+1

Bill Whalen

Sport Compact

The IMCA Sport Compact fields may not be especially deep in many places in Eastern Iowa, but it's not hard to see Whalen is one to beat wherever he goes. The Riverside driver went 2 for 2 over a long race week, winning last Wednesday at Southern Iowa Speedway, then again Sunday at Benton County Speedway.

4

+1

Jenae Gustin

Sport Mod

Gustin had an up-and-down race week, equal parts frustrating and fulfilling. The Marshalltown native was sixth at Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa last Wednesday, won at Marshalltown Friday, then fought the car all night at Independence, finishing seventh. Not to shabby when sixth and seventh are frustrating.

5

+1

Ronn Lauritzen

Modified

Speaking of up-and-down. 'Uncle Ronn' was the definition of that this week. He finished seventh at Marshalltown, won at Independence (for the third time in six races), then had mechanical issues ruin a promising day at Benton County Speedway, giving him a DNF in Vinton on Sunday. 

6

-3

Benji Irving

Hobby Stock

This weekend was one to forget for the Stanley native. He finished fourth at Farley, but had a disastrous Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday night, he was running in the top five at Independence, but damage from early wrecks led to a DQ from race officials, and an ill-handling car led to a spin and seventh in Vinton.

7

+3

Scott Hogan

Modified

He may not have gotten a win over the weekend, but he was in the mix for one both nights he raced. He finished third at both Independence on Saturday and Benton County Speedway in Vinton on Sunday, but battled for the lead both nights. Consistency is rewarded here, without a doubt, and Hogan has shown plenty.

8

N/R

Jay Schmidt

Stock Car

The Stock Car division has been overlooked in the Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings thus far, and it's high time that changed. Schmidt got a win at Marshalltown on Friday night, and was among five drivers under a blanket for the win on Sunday in Vinton -- where he'd been 2 for 2 this season before Sunday. 

9

N/R

Troy Cordes

Modified

By the end of the weekend, this guy had to have been feeling pretty good. He ran third at Farley Speedway on Friday night, then battled changing track conditions through rain delays for sixth at Independence. He capped the weekend with a last lap pass for the win in Vinton, showing some nerve running the high side all race.

10

N/R

Tim Goettsch

Legends

The defending Legends car track champion at Hawkeye Downs Speedway is backing that up this year at the paved Cedar Rapids oval. He has two wins in the four races he's run at Hawkeye Downs this season, and finished fifth and second in the other two. He won Friday, qualifying him for the year-end INEX championship.

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