116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Kay completes Friday-Saturday sweep in IMCA Late Model
Apr. 12, 2015 2:02 am, Updated: Apr. 12, 2015 2:57 am
WEST LIBERTY - No, this is not a repurposed story from one of nearly 40 nights in the last year-plus of IMCA Late Model racing.
Yes, Wheatland native Justin Kay won again. This time he did it for the second time in as many nights - the first pocketing $5,000 at Davenport Speedway in the Rebel 5k on Friday, then $3,000 in the second race of the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models on Saturday night.
He started in the middle of the field both nights, but was able to knife through cars with relative ease in both wins. Whatever roll he and his team are on, it doesn't seem to be stopping soon.
'It's just working right now. When it's going your way, it just seems to stay going your way,” Kay said. 'We worked on the car to get it so I could maneuver it a little better. Kind of took a little traction out of it to get it to turn a little better in traffic, and that seemed to really help.”
Racers will say wins come in the details, and Kay and his crew certainly have them sorted out in the IMCA ranks. For many, those details include superstitions, too.
Some wear the same t-shirt or socks from a win the next time out. Others have a regimen of how they put on equipment. Some listen to a certain song before a race. Kay said he isn't as superstitious as he used to be, but still has one he holds onto.
'One thing we do is we keep all the trophies in the hauler until we lose a race,” Kay said, and added that second trophy Saturday night. 'You always have them little things here and there. It probably doesn't make one bit of difference, but it's fun. We won't change it now.”
Kay beat teammate and fellow Wheatland driver Scott Fitzpatrick by about a straightaway.
Fitzpatrick, who finished fourth in Davenport on Friday, might've been the only driver with a chance to give Kay a run for the win. He cut into Kay's huge lead when lapped traffic clogged the track late in the race, but didn't get the breaks he needed.
The third-year Late Model driver was actually ahead of Kay on the lone restart at lap 13, but the difference there came down to seat time. His results, though, are still better than any start to a season in his career.
'His experience kind of outdid me there, especially on the restart; didn't get my tires warmed up right away,” Fitzpatrick said. 'Midway through the year last year I had a good run at Dubuque (Speedway) that got my confidence up. By the end of the year I was right up there in the mix. To go into this year starting out with this confidence and these new racecars, it's pretty sweet.
'We just need to build off this confidence and try to keep it going.”
Speaking of confidence, another driver who got a shot of it at West Liberty on Saturday was Davenport driver Brian Harris, who didn't even qualify for the main event at his home track on Friday and made the A-main on Saturday by one position in his B-main.
Harris started 21st in the 24-car field, but some subtle changes on the car between the B-main and A-main were enough to rocket him to the front and a third-place finish. After such a frustrating start to this season in his opening two events - plus on all-new equipment that's different from anything he's driven before - having a top-three run is enough to let he and his team know they're headed in the right direction.
'We're learning it. It's a little better, but we've still got work to do. It's not for a lack of effort - everyone's trying hard,” Harris said. 'Whenever you move up that many spots it's always fun and exciting for fans and sponsors.
'The way the first couple races went, it's definitely a confidence booster. And not only for me, but everyone in the shop, to keep them motivated. That's the most important thing.”
Confidence and experience may be growing among his competitors, but it's still Justin Kay's world until further notice among IMCA Late Models.
In Victory Lane, Kay gave insight to what might fuel all the success - and it's not superstition or even preparation necessarily. So much of what he's accomplished can be traced back to his perspective and patience. It showed again at West Liberty on Saturday, as he lapped all but the top 11 cars in the 40-lap victory.
'I was getting a little frustrated with a few lapped cars, tried to keep my cool and not stick my nose in there. It doesn't matter if (second) is right behind me or a straightaway behind me, if I wreck the car I can't finish,” Kay said. 'I try not to push it too hard to get by them, but if there's an opportunity, I need to take it quickly and get by. Otherwise you might get boxed in so long guys can catch you and get past.
'Those guys are racing for position too, so they need to race hard. It's my job to get around them and try to be patient and fast at the same time.”
The Deery Brothers Summer Series is next in action on Friday at Farley Speedway.
RESULTS
IMCA Late Models
1. Justin Kay, Wheatland; 2. Scott Fitzpatrick, Wheatland; 3. Brian Harris, Davenport; 4. Andy Nezworski, Buffalo; 5. Andy Eckrich, Oxford; 6. Kevin Kile, West Liberty; 7. Colby Springsteen, Wapello; 8. Chad Holladay, Muscatine; 9. Jonathan Brauns, Muscatine; 10. Corey Zeitner, Bellevue, Neb.; 11. Nick Marolf, Moscow; 12. Jason Rauen, Farley; 13. Jeff Tharp, Sherrill; 14. Ray Guss Jr., Milan, Ill.; 15. Ryan Dolan, Lisbon; 16. Joel Callahan, Dubuque; 17. Todd Malstrom, Silvis, Ill.; 18. Ron Boyse, Kalona; 19. Kyle Hinrichs, Swisher; 20. Jay Johnson, West Burlington; 21. Jeff Aikey, Cedar Falls; 22. Nate Bueseling, Silvis, Ill.; 23. Denny Eckrich, Tiffin; 24. Jon Poll, Delmar.
l Comments: (319) 368-8884; jeremiah.davis@thegazette.com
Wheatland driver Justin Kay leads his heat race through Turns 1 and 2 during the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models event at West Liberty Raceway on Saturday, April 11, 2015. (Jeremiah Davis/The Gazette)
Wheatland driver Scott Fitzpatrick leads his heat race through Turns 1 and 2 during the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models event at West Liberty Raceway on Saturday, April 11, 2015. (Jeremiah Davis/The Gazette)