Eastern Iowa Driver Rankings: August 27 (Final)

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 send him an email at jeremiah.davis@sourcemedia.net.

Also, the 2014 Eastern Iowa Driver of the Year will be announced Sept. 13, the day of the Yankee Dirt Track Classic finals at Farley Speedway. Tweet, email or send a message on Facebook with who you believe that should be.

New this week: Bryce Garnhart, Curt Martin, Jarrett Franzen

Dropped out:  Damon Murty, Scott Pippert

RANK

+/-

NAME

CLASS

THOUGHTS

1

--

Justin Kay

Late Model

He's been the best all season in the IMCA ranks, by every measure, and it can't really be argued. Every racer will tell you racing luck has as much to do with winning as talent and preparedness, and Kay has had heaping helpings of all of it in 2014. He won two track titles (Davenport, Dubuque), and leads Deery Bros and national IMCA points, and has a good chance to make it four titles this season. His win at Dubuque on Sunday gave him 27 wins this season.

2

--

Troy Cordes

Modified

Cordes only really chased points at one track this season, and he wrapped up his track championship at Independence Motor Speedway with a win on Saturday. He also got a win Sunday at Benton County Speedway in Vinton He's had an incredible season by any standard, with big money and big-event wins. 

3

+3

Benji Irvine

Hobby Stock

It wasn't the smoothest summer ever for the Stanley driver, but he wrapped up a second straight track championship season at Independence Motor Speedway with another victory, then ran fourth at Benton County Speedway on Sunday. Has to be a relief to have as much success as he has with as many bumps in the road as he's crossed this season.

4

+1

Jenae Gustin

Sport Mod

Finished third at Marshalltown Speedway on Friday and second at Independence on Saturday, remaining consistent as the season comes to a close. She proved she belonged because of consistency, despite some rocky weeks mid-season. She gets one more crack at a win at her home track with Marshalltown's final night this Friday.

5

-2

Tony Olson

Sport Mod

Oh, the ebbs and flows of the IMCA Sport Mod class in Eastern Iowa. Last week, Olson was on top with a couple wins and an impressive effort with one left rear wheel stud. This week, he didn't finish at Cedar County Raceway in Tipton and was fourth after some issues in Vinton. Such is racing. Still a pretty great summer for the Cedar Rapids driver.

6

-2

Brian Happel

Hobby Stock

He may not believe it, but the way he ran from mid-season on was solid, and among the best in the area. He ended up second again at Benton County Speedway on Sunday. Resiliency cannot be ignored, and he and his team showed plenty of it through how they ran in July and August. He gets one more shot at a win with Vinton's final night Sunday.

7

-1

Ronn Lauritzen

Modified

It may not have been the summer he wanted after such a successful 2013 - Hawkeye Dirt Tour championship, Independence domination - but he was still pretty darn successful this year. On top of the multiple feature wins, he all but clinched the Marshalltown Speedway track championship with a fifth on Friday. Finishing second so many times - especially at Indee, a place he loves - will only light the fire for next season.

8

N/R

Bryce Garnhart

Sport Mod

I'll admit this guy slipped past my radar this season, mostly because he lives across the river in Shannon, Ill., and doesn't race west of Davenport and Dubuque, but I felt he deserved recognition when I looked at the numbers. He won and clinched a track title at Davenport, and finished second and mathematically clinched the title at Dubuque.

9

N/R

Curt Martin

Late Model

Some impressive longevity numbers: Martin got his 95th career Late Model win at Independence Motor Speedway and his 11th track championship at the speedway on Saturday. His first track title came in 1984. A 30-year bookend on championships is really cool, if not really impressive. In addition, he finished the weekend with a fourth at Vinton.

10

N/R

Jarrett Franzen

Street Stock

He only consistently ran at Cedar County Raceway, with Street Stocks an unsanctioned class, but was the class of the field there all season. He won eight of the first nine races, and cruised to the track championship with another win there on Friday night for season championships night. Would love to see him travel and test his talents.

10a

-1

Austin Moyer

Sport Mod

Moyer didn't race the last few weeks of a dominant season as a personal choice to spend some important time with family, and to save some funds for Supernationals next week. And despite some rumors to the contrary, he hasn't sold any of his equipment yet. He's still undecided about a switch from Sport Mod to Modified. 

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