Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings: July 19

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: Darin Duffy, Tyler Bruening

Dropped out: Cayden Carter, Chris Simpson

Others considered (in no order):  David Brandies, Luke Goedert, Benji Irvine, Ronn Lauritzen, J.D. Auringer, Nathan Ballard, Matt Ryan, Rob Toland, Mark Schulte, Mitch Hovden, Kyle Olson, Johnny Spaw, Daniel Wauters, Dalton Simonsen, Richie Gustin, John Emerson, Kyle Brown, Troy Cordes, Dan Hovden, Bryce Garnhart, John Oliver Jr, Darrel DeFrance, Jimmy Gustin, Andy Eckrich, Chris Zogg, Joel Rust, Brody Willett, Jeff Aikey, Chris Simpson, Cayden Carter

1.

Jeremiah Hurst

Late Model

Late Model

He won the most important race he had to win this weekend - the one to the hospital in time where they were able to treat him

He won the most important race he had to win this weekend - the one to the hospital in time where they were able to treat him for congestive heart failure and set him up for a new heart valve that will leave him without limitations going forward. That he got his car stopped while unable to breathe is as close to a miracle as we can see in real life. Here's to hoping he gets back by the Yankee as he hopes - and that we get to see him race for years.

 

2.

Justin Kay

Late Model/Modified

Late Model/Modified

We missed last week's edition of the rankings (sorry, I was racing karts), so since the last rankings on July 5, Kay had one win in Modified, a win at Farley in Late Model and Tri-Track Challenge wins at West Liberty and Dubuque. He also finished no worse than third in the six main events that made up the three nights of Tri-Track races at Farley, West Liberty and Dubuque. Same went for the week before. Dude is just as automatic as he's been for the last four years.

We missed last week's edition of the rankings (sorry, I was racing karts), so since the last rankings on July 5, Kay had one win in Modified, a win at Farley in Late Model and Tri-Track Challenge wins at West Liberty and Dubuque. He also finished no worse than third in the six main events that made up the three nights of Tri-Track races at Farley, West Liberty and Dubuque. Same went for the week before. Dude is just as automatic as he's been for the last four years.

 

3.

Hunter Marriott

Modified

Modified

Speaking of automatic, it seems to be automatic that this guy has been in the top three or top five at every big-money event recently. Like a few others from Eastern Iowa (Joel Rust and Justin O'Brien) he went up to North Dakota for the IMCA Dakota Modified Tour. Just like last year, he came home the champion - and won three of the six nights to get it done. Between June 18 and July 18, he's collected $18,000 in winnings. Not too shabby.

Speaking of automatic, it seems to be automatic that this guy has been in the top three or top five at every big-money event recently. Like a few others from Eastern Iowa (Joel Rust and Justin O'Brien) he went up to North Dakota for the IMCA Dakota Modified Tour. Just like last year, he came home the champion - and won three of the six nights to get it done. Between June 18 and July 18, he's collected $18,000 in winnings. Not too shabby.

 

4.

Tyler Droste

Modified

Modified

Hey, at least I know now I'm not the jinx for Droste and his runner-up finishes. Droste ran second to Darin Duffy on Friday night at Davenport Speedway at Modified Madness, for what has to be the one millionth second place finish he's gotten this summer. It's kind of amazing at this point, actually, and a little bit humorous to be quite honest - but don't tell Droste I said that, cool? Seriously though, like he's said: keep running like this long enough and the wins will come.

Hey, at least I know now I'm not the jinx for Droste and his runner-up finishes. Droste ran second to Darin Duffy on Friday night at Davenport Speedway at Modified Madness, for what has to be the one millionth second place finish he's gotten this summer. It's kind of amazing at this point, actually, and a little bit humorous to be quite honest - but don't tell Droste I said that, cool? Seriously though, like he's said: keep running like this long enough and the wins will come.

 

5.

Tyler Soppe

Sport Mod

Sport Mod

Soppe is up to 22 wins so far this season, which by July 19 is kind of absurd. This year has been a lot like last year for him, only better, and he doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. He'll be in the thick of the national points race, which likely will again come down to bonus points. If there's anything that's holding him back, it's the car count at a couple of his weekly tracks. His validity as the best in his class right now is solid, though, given his versatility.

Soppe is up to 22 wins so far this season, which by July 19 is kind of absurd. This year has been a lot like last year for him, only better, and he doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. He'll be in the thick of the national points race, which likely will again come down to bonus points. If there's anything that's holding him back, it's the car count at a couple of his weekly tracks. His validity as the best in his class right now is solid, though, given his versatility.

 

6.

Damon Murty

Stock Car

Stock Car

Murty got another win at Marshalltown last week, after a runner-up the week before. While it's fun to watch him race a car, I personally can't wait to watch him race his son, Dallon, who will be in a Stock Car. The idea of fathers racing sons has always been really cool to me. I never got a chance to race mine, but that Murty will should make for some interesting Stock Car races at Marshalltown and Vinton.

Murty got another win at Marshalltown last week, after a runner-up the week before. While it's fun to watch him race a car, I personally can't wait to watch him race his son, Dallon, who will be in a Stock Car. The idea of fathers racing sons has always been really cool to me. I never got a chance to race mine, but that Murty will should make for some interesting Stock Car races at Marshalltown and Vinton.

 

7.

Darin Duffy

Modified

Modified

Duffy almost didn't make it to Davenport. A car accident slowed traffic on I-80 and he just about turned around to go home. Instead, he kept driving, made it to Davenport Speedway after his heat race had already ran, and tagged the back of his B-main. He made the A with the final transfer spot, and started 22nd. Then he went out and won the whole dang thing. That's a helluva story - and a solid reward for not giving up thanks to bad traffic.

Duffy almost didn't make it to Davenport. A car accident slowed traffic on I-80 and he just about turned around to go home. Instead, he kept driving, made it to Davenport Speedway after his heat race had already ran, and tagged the back of his B-main. He made the A with the final transfer spot, and started 22nd. Then he went out and won the whole dang thing. That's a helluva story - and a solid reward for not giving up thanks to bad traffic.

 

8.

Tony Olson

Sport Mod

Sport Mod

For someone who doesn't seem dramatic in person, it sure seems to follow him around, doesn't it? Every crazy-successful racer has dealt with it, and apparently this summer is Tony's turn. We'll leave the details of the drama to ya'll on Facebook, but remember this: also like every crazy-successful racer out there, he's dedicated to winning races. It's a quality that transcends accusations. It's not unique, but it's what he's facing now. 

For someone who doesn't seem dramatic in person, it sure seems to follow him around, doesn't it? Every crazy-successful racer has dealt with it, and apparently this summer is Tony's turn. We'll leave the details of the drama to ya'll on Facebook, but remember this: also like every crazy-successful racer out there, he's dedicated to winning races. It's a quality that transcends accusations. It's not unique, but it's what he's facing now. 

 

9.

Nathan Wood

Stock Car

Stock Car

It's been a super consistent summer for Wood, and that continued the last couple weeks. He's got wins at CJ Speedway and multiple top fives at Vinton, Webster City and Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa on his resume since we last met in this space. His consistency and the tracks at which he's been fast set him up to be in good shape at Boone in September, He's one to watch to win that race.

It's been a super consistent summer for Wood, and that continued the last couple weeks. He's got wins at CJ Speedway and multiple top fives at Vinton, Webster City and Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa on his resume since we last met in this space. His consistency and the tracks at which he's been fast set him up to be in good shape at Boone in September, He's one to watch to win that race.

 

10.

Tyler Bruening

Late Model

Late Model

Justin Kay had a really good Tri-Track Challenge. Tyler Bruening had a better one. Bruening swept the main events at Farley on Friday night, then won one of two at West Liberty and was second and third at Dubuque. A couple big paydays are stout. What made the weekend the most special - in my opinion at least - was his dad Greg winning the Jeremiah Hurst poster bid for $1,000, then donating the picture back to be bid on for a third time. That's straight class.

Justin Kay had a really good Tri-Track Challenge. Tyler Bruening had a better one. Bruening swept the main events at Farley on Friday night, then won one of two at West Liberty and was second and third at Dubuque. A couple big paydays are stout. What made the weekend the most special - in my opinion at least - was his dad Greg winning the Jeremiah Hurst poster bid for $1,000, then donating the picture back to be bid on for a third time. That's straight class.

 

Previous weeks: May 10, May 17; May 24; May 31; June 7; June 15; June 21; June 28; July 5

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