Notebook: Eckrich back in IMCA Deery Brothers Victory Lane after difficult 2015

The 2015 season was not a fun one for the Eckrich family and its Precision Performance race team.

A family and race team that had been accustomed to winning a lot of races didn't see that happen much throughout the year, and all the while, Doug Eckrich battled an illness that had him in and out of the hospital. Doug, who served as Denny Eckrich's crew chief, couldn't be at the track, and both Denny and Andy Eckrich's race program suffered as a result.

But as 2016 gets rolling, Doug is healthy and back to the track. Having him around again paid off quickly for the veteran racer in Denny, who got the victory in the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series opener at West Liberty Raceway.

'We've got the team back together. Now we've got Doug and everyone else back out, and it definitely makes things easier. You can see the results already,' Denny said. 'It was real difficult last year, trying to get the car maintenanced. By the time you got the car ready to go, you were wore out before you even got to the racetrack.

'We're always making each other better. It's such a plus to have him back.'

The Eckrich clan was spinning its wheels over the course of 2015, too, because of commitments away from the track. Everyone in the family repeated last year that family came first, and helping pick up the slack with Doug's absence not only from the racetrack, but also from his farm was priority No. 1 for Denny, Andy and Dave.

So with everyone back on track away from the track and the shop, Denny said Monday it's been both a joy and a relief to be able to focus on racing again.

They're as competitive as anyone, and they want to get back to how they expect to run. Precision Performance added Black Diamond Chassis to its stable, which also includes Barry Wright Race Cars, and Denny won on the new chassis Saturday night.

'We're going to realign things after Doug got sick. There are things that are more important. When we can do both, it's great. But we'll be doing some family things only, too,' Denny said. 'Basically it was relief we could get stuff done and happiness we won. The fix winning can give you is a miracle.'

What comes of 2016 for Denny personally remains to be seen. He said in his Victory Lane interview on Saturday night that family commitments will keep him away from the track again this year — by choice, not obligation.

Perspective has helped, Denny said, and there will be plenty of situations in which he and the crew stay home on a weekend they might've been racing in the past — even if it's tempting to go gangbusters after a win to start the season.

'I knew we'd get it back, I just didn't know how quickly we'd get it back,' Denny said. 'We're just trying to figure this new car out and do the right things.

'It's too early to say (it's figured out). But we're one step closer than we were last year. We can still screw it up as much as we can make it faster. At least we're in the game right now.'

THORNTON CLAIMS LAST TWO FROSTBUSTERS

Ricky Thornton Jr. has won plenty of IMCA Modified races over the last few years. He's found himself in Victory Lane at The Dirt Track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Canyon Speedway in Peoria, Ariz. and several other places on the west coast.

But now he's getting it done in the Midwest — against what's most often considered the best crop of IMCA Modified racers in the country. Thornton won the final two IMCA Frostbusters this weekend, the first at Boone Speedway on Saturday and again at Benton County Speedway on Sunday.

Oh, and he did so on a car that was a bare frame one week ago.

'On Monday (April 4), it was a bare chassis,' Thornton said. 'Me, my wife (Savannah), my buddy Taylon and a few other guys down at Karl Performance and Victory Chassis just busted our butts all week.

'We could go high, low, do whatever we wanted to all weekend. Overall it was great. It was definitely a risk for me (going to Victory) because I've been in a Shaw car the last four or five years. It's something different. They build top-notch stuff and it says a lot we were fast right out of the box.'

Thornton is in Iowa all summer to go racing, and is not only adjusting to switching from a Shaw Race Car to a Victory Chassis for his summer in IMCA racing, but also to the various racetracks and competitors in this area.

The Chandler, Ariz. native is understandably excited about the prospects of running the big shows here, but also about his reception. A guy coming in from out of state to win races — especially so quickly after hopping in a new car — isn't always met with warm feelings. Thornton said it's been the opposite here.

'It's been open arms since we've been here, honestly,' Thornton said. 'Everybody wants to help you. If you need a helping hand, somebody's been there. It's been nice. We'll know if something happens, we'll have people to rely on.'

FARLEY, WEBSTER CITY NEXT FOR DEERY BROS

After its initial opening weekend pair of events was trimmed to one, the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series has two dates set for its second weekend.

Farley Speedway serves as Race 2 for the Summer Series, getting Farley's season kicked off with $2,000 to win for the 50-lap main event. IMCA Late Models and Modifieds will hit the track in Farley with hot laps at 7 p.m. and racing at 7:30.

The Summer Series then heads west of I-35 for one of just two dates on that half of the state this season with a race at Hamilton County Speedway in Webster City. The third race of the Summer Series season also runs for $2,000 to win, with hot laps set for 5:30 p.m. and racing at 6. IMCA Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, Stock Cars and Sport Mods also will be running.

MODIFIED SPECIAL IN WEST LIBERTY, LATE MODELS IN INDEE

West Liberty Raceway got its season started last weekend with the IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series, and continues this weekend with the IMCA Modified Extravaganza. Both IMCA Modified and Sport Mod will serve as the premier events Saturday night, with Modifieds running for $1,000 to win and Sport Mod running for $500 to win. Hot laps are set for 6:30 p.m., with racing at 7.

Independence Motor Speedway also has an increased payout this weekend. Indee gets its season started with the Late Model Invitational headlining action on the 3/8-mile oval. Both IMCA Late Models and IMCA Modifieds will run for $1,000 to win in the season opener. Hot laps in Indee are set for 6:30 p.m. with racing to follow.

CORNBELT CLASH IN DAVENPORT, BURLINGTON

The first pair of several Open Late Model shows come through Iowa this weekend, with the Cornbelt Clash Series and MARS DIRTcar Series running combo dates at Davenport Speedway and 34 Raceway in Burlington.

Area drivers, including Chad and Chris Simpson, Dave Eckrich, Jason Utter and Spencer Diercks, are expected to be in attendance to race for $5,000 on the ½-mile at Davenport on Friday night, and for $10,555 to win in the annual Slocum 50 at 34 Raceway in Burlington on Saturday.

The weekend pair of shows are the only back-to-back shows in Iowa for either series. Grandstand gates at Davenport Speedway open at 5 p.m., with hot laps at 6 and racing at 6:30. In Burlington, hot laps begin at 5:30 p.m., with time trials set for 6:15 and racing at 7.

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